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beekeeperofeden
Acolyte
2 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Apr 2016 : 04:31:08
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I'm trying to find information about water rights in Calimport. I know that each drudach is supposed to have a water supply of some kind, but given weather patterns, droughts, and the differences in well-construction, it would seem likely that water supply is extremely political in a high-population desert city.
So, I'm trying to find more information about how the politics of water supply (specifically on the drudach and sabban levels) are affected by power politics and criminal activity, preferably between the years of approximately 1340 to 1380 DR.
It would be especially helpful to know about cultural mores and such related to this topic. Is there a cultural taboo, even among the thieves guilds, of messing with your enemy's water supply? If not, do thieves guilds have guards on their local wells to deal with exactly that? Is well-duty a prestigious thing or considered a job for the weak? Are the water supplies in poorer areas likely to have worse maintenance or water quality? Is (for lack of a better word) poaching a problem? What happens if/when drudach boundary lines shift and someone ends up with two wells? Is there a history of riots when a drought hits and the groundwater goes too low? If there's ever a need for rationing, does that happen and if so, who's in charge of it and how is it enforced? (I'm aware that many of these questions may not have answers, but I have to try.)
Unfortunately, I'm not even sure where to start looking for this information. Please help?
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Edited by - beekeeperofeden on 07 Apr 2016 04:57:08
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12022 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2016 : 13:52:08
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| How much would a decanter of endless water sell for in Calimport? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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beekeeperofeden
Acolyte
2 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2016 : 21:51:51
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Good point! It's hard to say, but the average cost of that item (from the SRD) seemed to be 9000 gp. This seems prohibitively expensive for the average citizen. While the government might use it to replenish groundwater in times of drought (and depending on the political situation I'm not sure that they would), this still wouldn't address things like saltwater intrusions, leaking sewage, or toxic minerals being leached from surrounding soil. It also doesn't address problems like sabotage or shifting territory.
Edit: (I'm also not certain how common endless decanters of water are in Faerun. Is that something that a lot of people would know exists?) |
Edited by - beekeeperofeden on 08 Apr 2016 21:54:26 |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2016 : 19:07:33
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Individual higher level wizards are bound to know about the existance of decanters of endless water. A typical adventurer wouldn't necessarily know, and commoners might have rarely heard a story about such things.
There are examples of streams or gardens whose existance rely on decanters.
The Rose Garden is found south east of the Battle of Bones area, and features a nearly impenetrable rose garden labyrinth in an otherwise sun- and windblasted wasteland. Its only in a 140 square ft area though, but a certain source provides enough moisture for a whole garden of roses of all kinds (poisoned, thorned and blood drinking) to grow prodigious amounts.
Elsewhere, in the High Dale of the Dale lands there used to be a stream leading to a fountain made of a statue of a wizard. The stone wizard in the middle of the fountain spewed an endless amount of water, but was actually a result of a failed magister coup and the corpse of a petrified and cursed wizard.
With the tradition of the Art being so old and strong in Calimshan, I expect that most noble families in Calimport have acces to endless supplies of water if they want. You could spin this that they control their slaves and the lower classes through a rigid system of potable water distribution with the families in firm control, especially of the quality of drinking holes for the commoners are endangered by the city's affluent waste and embedded diseases. |
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Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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MrHedgehog
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2016 : 05:28:22
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Rampant use of things like Endless Decanters of Water might upset deities concerned with weather or balance, too. I would personally shy away from magic items like that greatly affecting the environment.
I am not sure there are answers to your original questions. They are very specific... they seem like things up to a particular GM |
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moonbeast
Senior Scribe
USA
522 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2016 : 10:28:55
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
How much would a decanter of endless water sell for in Calimport?
It would cost exactly the hiring price of a good assassin. Cuz I'd hire a good assassin to obtain me that thing.
But more seriously…. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the likelihood of IMPORTING (drinking) water as a mercantile commodity. There are several freshwater rivers to the North and to the East. A smart Calimport merchant would be in the water-selling business. He would use caravans pulled by many horses. And each caravan wagon would hold several barrels of potable water. He also makes sure that he hires caravan guards. Because once his water-caravan comes near Calimport, he could be ambushed by those who want to steal his water….. since water is a valuable commodity. |
Edited by - moonbeast on 10 Apr 2016 10:40:41 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36878 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2016 : 14:08:23
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| Calimport likely has some source of fresh water already... The city wouldn't have sprung up there if fresh water wasn't available. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4693 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2016 : 14:51:30
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From http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Calimport
quote:
The city contained many springs and wells to provide water for the population. These were heavily guarded by amlakkar and members of the Guild Arcane to prevent against poisonings.
The water rights thus would appear to be vested in the leaders of these guards of each sabban and in some cases the smaller drudachs. |
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Water Rights and Power Politics in Calimport
