Ink Cart
The term "ink cart" is used to describe two different vehicles which see regular use throughout Endref and which have also been used in Daendar, Phesunlay, Brist, and very seldom in Anwer.
The primary usage of "ink cart" is a special type of travelling desk that is often used by scribes, wizards, poets, and others who require access to writing materials regardless of where they might be. These ink carts are comprised of a small, folding desk with a square desk top, three shelves above the desk top, two drawers (both hanging down under one half of the desk top), and a small stand that can be lifted (to hold open books). These desks often collapse in the same manner, with the drawer front collapsing from a locking hinge, the shelves falling forward after pins are removed, and the legs of the desk collapsing inwards as pins are removed to make the desk the size of a large suitcase. After being folded, the shelves are re-extended (with each shelf rotating to a flat position) and a small bar that normally rests just on top of the back of the top shelf is used as a pulling handle. The back legs of the desk, at all times, have wheels affixed which helps the desk to move. These desks can be made from a variety of wood, and other folding and travelling configurations are available. Some wealthy folks have such travelling desk with cloth covers or with gilded components or particular carvings.
The secondary usage of "ink cart" is more specifically restricted to Endref and concerns carts which are constructed for the the primary purpose of transporting heel squid to locations outside of the main fishing villages (usually from Eleele to the Rotten District). These wooden carts, which are often made of poor quality wood and are quickly dyed black from the heel squid ink, are mostly seen on the Dead End and the Swim as heel squid hauls are transported. The carts feature a deep, high-walled bed that features horizontal slats tacked to vertical support and framing beams. The base of the cart back is made of particularly bad cuts of wood, and sometimes even small branches sat side by side, which do not allow the squid corpses to fall through but which funnel any dripping ink into a shallow, lined wooden pan that is cradled under the main bed. This pan is typically the most expensive portion of the cart as it is solid and lined, but it also featues a slight angle towards the centre where there is a funnel-like opening filled with different layers of woven mesh. At the end of this funnel, there is a small cradle that can hold one large glass jar which can be removed and replaced by hand, if it is filled before the cart reaches its destination. Given the high value of the pan and funnel components of the cart, these parts are usually designed to be easily removable from the rest of the cart structure, which is likely to be burned without little concern after several uses as the smell of the carts can become unbearable over time. It is standard that most heel squid processing locations clean the ink meshes with water upon the arrival of any ink cart as dried ink within these meshes can render them useless and, if it is a central mesh, require the cart owner to replace the entire funnel portion. The creation of these ink carts is largely limited to the Port of Lauthor as the citizens of Eleele are viewed as too inept to make the carts. While ink carts are uncommon outside of this supply chain, some have begun to use the design for crops and other game when secondary substances, such as pulp, juice, or blood, may have other purposes or value.
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