Turtle Barges
One of two well known variants of the Kawakani barges is this more defense oriented martial vessel. The turtle barges will most commonly be the intention of appropriated barges for wartime application, but some turtle barges have been uilt specifically for the purpose of wartime use and sit idle until such needs arise.
Propulsion
Much like the Kawakani barges, the turtle barges are oar powered with a rudder to traverse the river systems of the Basin went not simply relying on the current to carry them on their own. However, it must be noted that often the rudder is much larger on the dedicated turtle barges, as are their oars so that the barges can be beached to unload their cargo in the form of soldiers.
Weapons & Armament
Turtle barges do not carry much in the way of weaponry, save for their armed crewman and frog spears for minimal ship-to-ship combat. Nets are usually the most well used in this capacity as they can disorient enemies and be used to pull them off balance.
Armor and defense
What turtle barges lack in weapons, they more than make up for in defensive armor plating. Earning their name from the layered armor plating that resembles a turtle shell. Most commonly, the armor plates are made of wood, but some are made of both wood and metal, usually iron to reinforce the defensive quality. The sides of the barge also include murder holes for archers and thrown weapons, usually javelins. And where most barges have a shallow docking rail, the turtle barges carry a much larger wooden ramp at the front meant to be lowered when the vehicle is beached.
Communication Tools & Systems
Due to the much more apparent lack of visibility on the turtle barges, they rely very heavily on drums, and horns to signal each other. For this purpose and because of the chaos a battle can ensue, especially one on the water, these signals are more rudimentary to understand.
Class
Nickname
Turtle Shell Barge, Beachers
Current location
Price
Starting at 3000 gp
Rarity
Uncommon
Beam
10'
Length
Commonly 22'
Height
8'
Weight
4 tons
Speed
20 knots per hour
Complement / Crew
as few as 5 and as many as 25
Cargo & Passenger Capacity
3.3 tons
