Droden Shallop

Though several sets of Droden's islands are connected by bridges, it would be impractical to join the entire nation in that manner. For most purposes, the system of ferries that cross the internal waters suffice. The origin of the term 'shallop' is unknown, but it is used also in Coda and Teldus, and refers to a small vessel designed for navigation of coastal waters, typically where larger boats lack the manoeuvrability to effectively traverse. Each cluster of islands has at least one shallop-port; most have two or three. They operate on set routes, on a rota which is controlled by the Ferryman's Guild and the Droden Navy, in order to avoid the potential for collisions. The Ferryman's Guild is also the one responsible for maintaining and crewing the shallops, and as such is a vital part of Droden's infrastructure, as the shallops are used daily by people travelling or moving materials between Droden's islands.

Propulsion

It would be impossible for a sailing vessel to be used for the purposes of the shallops, and it was decided that a boiling water globe would take up too much space on the vessel. Instead, each one is crewed by 12 rowers who operate in shifts. It is not uncommon for young men and women fresh out of education to work for a few months as a shallop-rower while seeking a more permanent employment.

Communication Tools & Systems

The navigators on each shallop carry with them a set of coloured flags, which can be raised in various combinations to send simple messages to other vessels in the area. The signals are learnt by all Droden sailors, and are sometimes used on other vessels for a similar purpose. Unfortunately, I cannot write down what the combinations mean, as the Droden Navy has deemed it a national secret.

Hangars & docked vessels

Shallop-ports are found on every one of Droden's islands, usually separate from other ports or harbours. Some are simply stopping points on the vessels' routes, others are designated docks, where spare shallops are stored in case of trouble. Since the shallops have no sails, the ports are sometimes covered or even set into the side of the island. Each dock also has areas where the rowers can rest between shifts, and a few have even formed small towns around them.

Complement / Crew

2 navigators plus 12 rowers

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Up to 20 people or 1500kg