Jeff Richard wrote:
> I am inclined to agree with Mr Dunham and had imagined that the
> majority of
> > the Rightarmers onboard the Kethaelan fleet were in positions of
> command,
> > although I imagine some of the Rightarmers would have worked below
> decks too.
Being a fisherman, familiar with boats, does not qualify a person to be
an officer of a warship.
> >From what I have read about trireme warfare, the quality of rowers may
> well have been more important than the quality of the officers in
> determining success.
Anyone can learn to row as a team. I learned to do it as a rebellious,
recalcitrant boy scout. Motivated free men, whose lives depend on their
rowing skill, would do better.
> This being the Holy Country, I imagine that each Sixth was assessed a
> number of triremes to build and maintain.
Perhaps. But let us recall the hostility of the air towards the water, and remember to subtract that sixth from the total. And the God Forgot guys, well, they are pretty specialized and not suitable for rowing. And uz triremes? Hmmm....
>The quality of the ships
> likely varied wildly. The Rightarm Islanders likely maintained about
> a score of triremes and constituted the elite of the navy. The bulk
> of the fleet were likely Esrolians or Heortlendings from the coastal
> cities. The worst were likely the uz and the Caladralanders (who
> likely just paid for ships). And so on.
I 'd suggest that that the populous Esrolians provided most of the
ships, if not all of them; and that the others provided specialists to
assist with their magic.
> > However the losses still made an impact, removing the cream of
> Rightarm
> > Islanders sailing skills from the navy and many widows back home.
This was likely true, despite my caveats above.
> Joining the Navy
> > is of course one way of escaping the humdrum life of fishing,
> however as a
> > relatively conservative people, they enjoy the humdrum. However it is
> a great
> > loss all the same.
I think it's a better opportunity for the peasants of Esrolia to try to
get ahead. Ten years at the oar, and be promoted!
> Here's another question - what is the role of the ludoch of Deeper in
> the Holy Country navy?
Magical support, as provided via liason through the Rightarm Islanders
(their specialty, as the Heortlanders would have their wind magic to
supply, etc.)
--Greg
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