Gathetoken War Galley

The Galleys of the north are dominant in the seas between Novaborea and Kathau. These long, thin vessels can better withstand the heavy seas of the North Channel than the Southern Galleys.

Construction

The Gathetoken War Galley is made from Wood and the planks sewn together using leather or nailed with trenails or even metal ones! It takes about 6000person-hours to construct a single vessel.

The Mast is made from a single tree-trunk and is about 15m tall.

Propulsion

The War Galleys used in the North Channel are double-banked Oar-Powered vessels with Square-Rigged single-masts. Steering is by steering oar on the right-hand side of the vessel.

Weapons & Armament

The Gathetoken War Galley may mount a single catapult or ballista forward. This is more used to injure and disable crew and ward off larger sea-creatures than to sink ships directly. The crew of a warship will often include spell-casters - Gathes water-temples being particularly generous in that respect.

Armor and defense

The Gathetoken War Galleys are all blessed by Gathe in the annual Ship Blessing Ceremony conducted on the River Gathe.

Communication Tools & Systems

Mundane Methods

The Gathetoken War Galleys employ three communications methods. The first is that they carry drums used to beat the stroke of the oars. These can also be used to communicated messages to nearby ships of the same fleet. They also carry flags and lights that can be used to pass crude messages between vessels nearby and in sight. Finally, they carry flying and/or swimming creatures with a homing instinct that can be used to carry messages back to their home.

Magical Methods

The Gathetoken War Galleys carry communication staves that allow vessels out of sight to communicate messages with each other over longer distances.

Vessels

The Corporation of Gathetoken maintains 16 War Galleys, storing them in the Galleyhouse.