The Streamwood Riverboat

Written for Prompt 27 (2019 Summer Camp)

Written by David_Ulph

With the everlasting dangers of open sea travel on Terralba, the ever present Merfolk Khanates raiding ships in their supposedly religious crusades against above-waters and much more, travel in the Great Western Empire is usually done by road or rivertravel. Thus, many forms of riverboat have been developed to accommodate this demand, usually utilised by merchants and nobles. In the Skìrah Hold of Streamwood, riverboats have been adapted to suit the forested waterways that crisscross the lands being the main highways of locals, as well as to protect from the high levels of undead hordes and beastblood hordes that plague the Great Pine Forests.

Construction

The Streamwood Riverboat is built from the very Great Pine Forests they generally patrol against the undead and beastbloods. However, while minor settlements may build riverboats that can be used in Streamwood, the unique military Streamwood Riverboat is usually built by the master ship-builders of Valsport in the Hold of Valhol. It can take any time between 11 and 20 days to construct just one of these riverboats, without taking into account the time it takes to cut down a tree in Streamwood, then transporting it north (usually via standard riverboats) through the Great Pine Forests, the Direwood, the barrowlands and then into the Cityport of Priests and Thieves.

Propulsion

Differing from standard riverboats, the Streamwood Riverboat is propulsed forward by oars like a rowboat or traditional Korgic Longboat. The trees that surround the Streamwood rivers impede wind that would usually be the source of momentum to usual riverboats, and so oars are required to give this riverboat the movement it needs as a military-focussed ship.

Weapons & Armament

Unless with rare exceptions, the riverboats themselves are not armed with any offensive capabilities. Instead, they are generally filled with crossbowmen alongside the little sailors needed to use the craft. These warriors are the true military significance of these riverboats, with the aim of the vehicles to protect merchant convoys and travelling nobility. In times of war, House Aesmann of Dun Fur and their liege Houses will utilise these riverboats to protect supplies across Streamwood and it's allies' lands. They have also been used in battle, criss-crossing rivers in Streamwood to flank forces attempting to traverse the Great Pine Forests.

Armor and defense

What makes the Streamwood Riverboat unique are the strong defences built directly into the boat. Movable and lockable palisades rise up from the edges of the boats, hiding all passengers and warriors inside from anyone standing on the riverbanks and seeking to fire missiles onto them. Arrow slits are built into the palisades to allow for the crossbowmen inside to fire out into would-be raiders and threats, though they can be taken down with hinges, hooks grabbing into the soil on riverbanks to allow the warriors to charge out, purely dispatch or even create temporary river crossings.

Nickname

Korgic Knarr

Owning Organization

House Aesmann of Dun Fur

Price

600 Imperial Hulti (450 Korgic Gold)

Rarity

Rare (due to expensiveness)

Length

10 m

Complement / Crew

At least 6 Crewmen

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Up to 30 Crossbowmen

Construction Time

11 - 20 days