Ships and Shipbuilding
If this land really is beyond saving than salvation lies out there, across the oceans. And, our fleet will deliver us to that salvation!
Prehistory
The art of shipbuilding is a truly ancient one. Simple rafts and canoes were fabricated by the ancient tribes long before even the bricks of even Skyrir. They used these simple ships to access fish and reach island sanctuaries far from the dangers of the mainland. Some cave drawings even depict the first tribes as having arrived in Tairos by ships from across the oceans but such idea seems unthinkable considering the tumultuous nature of waters.
There is likely no one single origin for ship building technology. Most probably, all of the races crafted their versions of boats as the need arose and from what materials they had on hand. These first craft would have been simple and fragile, held together by twine, mud, and luck. They'd of been bound to the coasts and perhaps a few miles out at best and their purposes rather uniform; fishing or conveyance across short distance.
As time marched on and the civilizations rose the burden placed on shipbuilders magnified. Skyrir war the first to create barges capable of hauling supplies up and down the coasts of Tairos. Though still simple in design the shipwrights were able to create designs that made feeding armies and transporting trade goods a possibility. Later, after the rise of Zharkhaddos and the embrace of necromancy, such vessels became floating abattoirs carrying the conquered to eager and hungry masters.
Later, the the elven tribes would be the first to reinvent the art of shipbuilding. Ships had devolved into simple fishing canoes again but the elves had set their sights on a promised land supposedly ordained by Corellon The Dawn Master, their new patron god. The built massive ships to carrying their entire across the waters of Lake Lunarch and to the island where Melanthris was to be founded.
Meanwhile, the Dwarves were using small, narrow little crafts to explore the many rivers, lakes, and waterways both below and above ground near the Ghal Ankhar mountains. Such travels brought them into first contact with human and halfling tribes as well as more dangerous races such as Kobolds, Orcs, Goblinoinds , and the giants. It's likely the the primitive Ghal Ankharans were the first people to use ships for the purpose of free trade with other races and between their own settlements. The concept of merchant vessels is born here but does not remain exclusive to the dwarven people for long.
The Fang Crusades
The conflict with the Ximezci marks the first time in history that ships that ships would be pressed into military action. The sleek, swift, fleets of Melanthris were made of of large dhow and powerful trimaran styled ships[ ideal for cruising along the coast of the Serpent Lands to hurl spells or launch invasions. Their smaller sloops were well suited for navigating up small waterways and rivers to deliver strike teams capable of attacking the Serpent Peoples' vital bases as well. However; the elven ships were more suited to the calmer waters of Lake Lunarch and the Tairos River than they were to fierce weather of the south western ocean. Once the entire The Grand Concordance of Tairos was formed and devoted to the cause ships from all the nations soon flooded the area. The yawls of Balmoral and longships of Frostmere were far more suited to fight in the tropical storms that assailed the region.
Their enemy had no need for ships. Every Ximezci was its amphibious assault vehicle and the better of ten or more of the Concordance's soldiers. Their favored tactic was to to strike at night, slithering along the coastal waters or rivers and into onboard the ships of their enemy where they'd silently slaughter every crew member and soldier on board before slipping back into the water. A mere pair or trio of serpents was enough to turn a battle ready troop transport into a derelict bound for death on the rocky shore or open ocean.
The Plague of Undeath
To win the Fang Crusade the Concordance had secretly ventured down roads that many would condemn as unnatural. And, while the origin and blame for Plague of Undeath is a story unto itself ships played an unexpected and pivotal role in the events. The sickness would find its way onto the ships of homeward bound warrior setting sail for their motherlands. Many of these ships quickly turned into drifting tombs that would run aground and release their hungry cargo upon new lands.
Many nations would send their functional ships in search of these ghost ships and burn them from a distance. Though for some these vessels offered opportunity. Privateers of all sorts would seek out these ships to plunder their cargo holds of all the riches that the former crews hoped to return home with. For most this ended in disaster and a place among the dead trapped on board. A lucky few would succeed and carry home unimaginable wealth and arcane secrets.
While no full accounting exists of all the ships that never returned home it can safely be said that dozens of them may have crashed along the shores of Tairos and are just waiting to be found. Rumors even circulate today that some of these ships still sail to this day... waiting to be found or to be fed.
The Queen's War
Naval action didn't play a very significant part the Queen's was the enemy was so deeply rooted in Tairos by the time conflict erupted. That is not to say there were no pivotal roles filled by ships.
Frostmere and Ghal Ankhar's navies were forced deal with the every increasing raids from the Stormlands. The Stormlanders saw the chaos happening on the mainland as an invitation to strike at their distracted neighbors and pillage whatever they pleased. While some particularly cunning or lucky Storm Lords managed to make off with considerable wealth the majority met with defeat at the hands of their ancient rivals.
A rather famous raid known as Decklin's Gambit took place during the Queen's War as well. Barbarus Decklin was notorious pirate sailing out of Far Harbor during the later days of the fae war and he had come up with a dangerous idea. He reckoned that Melanthris was using its fleet to guard the shores of Lake Lunarch to prevent any would-be invaders from gaining entry. Knowing this he used his swift schooner, The Azalea, to creep along the Lunarch river and into the lake itself where he became the first and only soul to every successfully invade Melanthris itself. While his raid lasted only a brief hour or so and resulted in most of his crew being killed or captured Captain Decklin made off a good deal of stolen riches as well as one of the elves' own trimarans. The ultimate fate of Barbarus Decklin is unknown but his story is the stuff of legend in Far Harbor.
Rumors do persist even to this day about the supposed Airships the Gnomes used defend their nation and explore beyond the borders of Tairos. If such a thing truly did exist they were lost during the war and with them the expertise needed to recreate such marvels.
Ships in Modern Tairos
Today, few governments maintain a fleet of any sort as the need for such a thing has mostly vanished. The ironclads of Ghal Ankhar all rust away in subterranean ports that have long since see use. Rather than guard their waters the dwarves have instead chosen to seal their mountains and abandon their surface holdings. Balmoral's vessels and ports have long moldered away or been plundered for the steel they were so famous for. The ships of Melanthris still cruise the waters of Lake Lunarch and open ocean of the southwest though their purpose is largely ceremonial now. They fly the colors of their allied houses and collect taxes from coastal holdings and little more. A small number in service to the crown directly are tasked with watching over the Serpent Lands for signs of the ancient enemy's return.
The Tengu are the most recent comers to Tairos and they were carried here in their massive barges. Many compare these hulking ships to small floating cities with sails large enough to bundle a pair of Dragons in with room to spare. Though truly alien and awe-inspiring to look at they were armed as well with cannon technology that weaponized their artificial manacite) in short-ranged lightening like arc generators. The four barges their people arrived in lay anchored in the deep water far off the coast of Tengu Town , requiring those greater depths to accommodate their heavy hulls.
Utility
Varies based on each ship's build out. Today, most are used for hauling and commerce
Manufacturing
Ships require considerable raw material and access to a waterway large enough to accommodate them
Access & Availability
All of the people of Tairos have access to some form of ship or ship building know-how.
Complexity
Complexity can range from simple rafts to the highly complex trimarans of the elves. Some require expertise not widely known like the barges of the Tengu and ironclads of Ghal Ankhar
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