Pínastícló

General introduction

The pínastícló is a small and sturdy cart that can be pulled by beings with the Gift of Reason and animals alike. It is special to eastern Tarrabaenia, where traders use is as a means of transportation across the Sévo Mountains.

Pínastícló are named after the wood they are made from: A kind of spruces imported from the Skaura Hrís called pínastis provide the raw material for these very shock resistant small carriages.

Functionality and construction

The wood of the pínastis is not rare, only the transport over the mountains poses a problem. To circumvent that, two workshops already assembling the pínastícló north of the Sévo mountains exist, one of which in Silvéturre, the other directly at the foot of the mountains. The wood is actually the main secret of these carts, as it is very flexible within itself and the often bumpy roads do not break the carts nearly as much as those made of other wood. Especially hard wood like oak or olive wood had proven very brittle when being subjected to the constant up and dowm and the numerous pebbles on the mountain passes.

The term pínastícló is rather unprecise. It may refer to any kind of land vehicle made from that kind of wood. Most pínastícló are quite small, though, as to provide maximum maneuverability. Pínastícló are mostly closed carts, but if wares unsusceptible to the weather are transported, open carts are used as well to save on weight.

Powering, use and overall importance

They can either be pulled by an oxen or two smaller beasts of burden or by two to four Beings with the Gift of Reason, depending on the availability or the requirements of the road. Other than that, pínastícló have to be maintained more meticulously than other means of transportation. They regularly get oiled, normally after every crossing of the Sévo Mountains. There are special mixtures in use made of Olive oil, linseed oil and beeswax. This mixtures are called 'lippa'.

Pínasícló are exclusively used for the transportation of goods. Some traders even prefer special forms of pínastícló for special types of wares. During the time of the Tarrabaenian Empire, emperors and especially entitled high ranking officials were granted a so called 'pínastícló életissimó' to get carried over the mountains for royal inspections. This habit was abandoned with the anti-luxury legislation enforced after the abolishment of the empire.