Pleasure Barge

The Pleasure Barges of R'Do are the vessels upon which the last ceremony of the N'manta are performed. Each barge is renamed by a poet of the temple with a name inspired by the passengers earlier temple ceremonies. They most often are named for natural objects of beauty such as the T'hido tree or N'Otaka Mountain.
The marriage rituals of R'Do culminate in a holy ceremony performed while on a journey down the T'solo River from the holy city of Mancha'Napal to the frozen shores of the T'naga. Sixteen couples affirm their vows through song, poetry and lovemaking while in a central communal area overseen by a priest and thirty-one acolytes. Accompanying music is played by twelve musicians, one for each of the sacred winds.The numbers of couples, attendants and crew are rooted in scripture and never vary.
The journey begins at sunset of the 5th day of the week from the docks of the temple and ends two dawns later on the last day of the week at the shores of the northern T'naga ocean. These voyages occur every week with enough fully occupied barges to accommodate all unions resulting in average numbers of twenty to thirty barges per week. The largest flotilla numbered 351 on the first week of the 200th Wanaka. The barges are adorned with colorful lanterns causing the riverside to glow as they pass. The music performed draws citizens to the shores to meditate and absorb the positive energy of new and reaffirmed loves.
The upriver return trip is accomplished by towing the barges up canals constructed parallel to the river. Oxen pulling on giant hawsers and a series of locks accomplish the trip in a little over a week (7 to 8 days).

Propulsion

42 rowers on a mid-deck level

Weapons & Armament

None

Armor and defense

None

Nickname

Lights of N'manta

Beam

42' (mandated beam)

Length

162' (mandated length)

Complement / Crew

1 priest, 31 acolytes, 12 person band, 42 rowers

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

16 couples