The World Of Twilight

Do large ships exist in twilight? so far talk has only been about dainty sailing boats but im talking about Galleys! Surely a Smart trader would invest in large ships to carry their cargo from one end of the continent to the other? (considering how dangerous travelling by foot is!).
So do they exist? and if so where? I would be interested in perhaps moving the free city there, so to speak (The Lanak has a taste for seafaring it would seem...).
Whats the oceans/seas like? and what creatures inhabit the briny deep?

I don't think Mike ever explored the ocean, there is this post here from about a year ago:


and later in the same post:


Another post by Mike about Fubarnii and boat building:



Just info I found looking through the forums :)

Ah well at last that's some minor confirmation that boats on seas on exist. Would like to think of what the huge boats looks like. I imagine they might look like american paddle boats of the south (their actual name escapes me)

Well researched Scalifano! I had forgotten I had shared some of that  :)

I like the idea of floating islands pulled along by tugs, but that isn't a fully developed idea just yet. Paddleboats are almost a certainty - they somehow feel more fubarniish (new word...) than sailing boats. With all the interest in the boats I certainly want to investigate them more and firm up a few designs. Maybe sketch out some of the aquatic creatures they have to deal with at the same time.

The great lakes open up other options as well - flat bottomed boats to deal with the marshy banks.

I think rafts, potentially pretty big ones, feel quite good for the Fubarnii as well, though that may be just me...

I wonder how well rafts cope with oceans though... and of course that brings up the question of the oceans themselves! like whats the climate? are they like the Atlantic or Pacific? Also on a creature design note Fubarnii-esque whales would be awesome! I like the idea of them being hunted for blubber etc

Whale hunting? I wouldn't have thought they were that enthusiastic for hunting anything too big on the seas. I did mention a few fish and sea beasties in my clan fluff and have been meaning to sketch some of them. Might take a while though as am fairly busy at the mo.

HN

Majority of those quotes I read myself before posting about the idea of River barges/domed dinghies etc. Good to see even more thought appearing on the forums now! :)

Funny you should bring that up as an example, my first Furbarnii will be from the Great Lakes region. After reading your break down on the various regional tribes, I like their temperament the most.

I'd like to say I'm also for the notion that Fubarnii utilise paddle boats when at larger scales. That Roman battle barge link completely sold me on the probability of this as a means of water transport.

- Taelan.

This might be for the Dhogu then? Do they fear water as much as the Fubarnii?. I want to see a little guy with a harpoon! I got a good image of a whale in my head, slightly beaked etc.

I believe that Dhogu are still Fubarnii though a slightly smaller branch. I imagine they would still consider death by drowning bad for their souls as it prevents them reaching the lands of the Enarii.

HN

I know the fubarnii fear water but is it so crippling to rule out alot of potential story? I mean drowning has always been a human fear but we still sail etc i know that none of our deaths have religious significance like the fubanii but still. there must be athiest fubarnii? Who dont worry about souls etc I just find the "fear of water" notion a bit of a white wash.

The dhogu don't really share the same beliefs as the empire, although a large number have pledged allegiance to the Enarii that walk with the Delgon. The Casani also have very different beliefs, but I'm not sure what they think of water.

I think the Fubarnii will generally try to overcome most of their fears, so there will be plenty of boats etc. The fact that they simply can't swim is a big problem, but I'm sure some engineers have come up with life vests and swimsuits...

There is a sketch in one of my ooold notebooks of a large creature that floats in the oceans. It lives to a great age and gathers masses of 'seaweed' around it, forming a small floating island with an entire echosystem surrounding it - trees growing on its surface and creatures living in its shade. I haven't revisited the idea, and I'm not sure if it is real or a fubarnii myth (like the 'aircow', a large airfilled floating creature that is often seen in jenta-stories), but I like the feel of it (kinda like kelp forests...).

The floating land creature is as twilight as it comes! I love it.
Slightly off topic but woo 300th post :-D

It is a very cool idea. I could imagine one such beast floated near the shore for many years and was slowly colonised by a small family of fishermen then when it swam off they became a lost tribe.

I'd love to see some herders for an air cow :D

HN

Relatively easy Fubarnii to spot, they the ones running about on Enuks, jabbing skyward with impossibly long cattle prods.

The idea of a sea creature island is a little Pratchett for my liking, but certainly a fun idea. You could also consider giant lily like seaweed?

Trawling the ocean for nutrients with trailing forests of kelp-like fronds, these seaweed giants also grow expansive round leaves above water to draw energy from the sun, incidentally allowing themselves to be blown along by seasonal winds.

They grow so large and for so long, they are colonised by all sorts of crustaceans, avians, insects and even small shrubbery as the silt collects, becoming a veritable eco system.  When the opportunity arises, coastal Fubarnii like to paddle out and live upon these vast lily rafts whilst they harvest various unique fungi foodstuffs, and fish out in deeper water safely. They even set up logging style camps and begin cutting up the younger lily leaves, this exotic seaweed cousin a delicacy on the mainland. Stories of these rafts being blown out to sea by a sudden storm, with many still aboard, are not unheard of. However the haul of food and unique items make it worth the effort.

- Taelan.

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30563524/96394.jpg)

I think these are suitable for rural Fubarnii. Decent size, wide and low, feel safer.

The above picture is certainly what i imagine rural boats to look like. Quite wide so the fubarnii feel safe

Maybe small sea going versions with the twin hulls for the extra stability. Small boats could then have a paddle between the hulls with a Fubarnii or two pedel-powering them.

HN

Is that a paddle or is he punting? Looks like he's punting, but has a paddle in teh boat.
I like the look of it.

Certainly punting but no reason a few rows of oars couldnt be incorporated. Same with Hairy's idea of a twin hull with a paddle drum between.

I think the boat above is called a bangala ?