Messing about in the Marshes
Due to the nature of their environment the Pelaskans have developed sever= al=0Adifferent modes of transport within the marshes. Contrary to outside= jokes,=0Anot all Islanders wear stilts, although stiltwearing fishermen = are common and=0Astilts are used for short distance journeys. Of the othe= r modes, the use of=0Aboats and rafts is most common. (Several types are = included below.) The=0Aconstruction of trackways, both free standing and = floating have allowed=0Amovement between dry spots and over swirling chan=nels. Lastly there is the use=0Aof magic (Waterwalking).
Fishing Boat.
These wooden vessels are the main stay of life for many families.=0ATradi=
tionally they are =93canoes=94 hewn out of a single tree, often stolen fr=
om=0ACaladraland. These canoes are covered in elaborate carvings and pain=
tings. The=0Avessel is easily manoeuverable in the winding, shallow chann=
els of the=0AIslands. In recent times plank built boats have started to b=
e used, both flat=0Abottomed and keeled types. (The keeled type is suite=
d to open water and more=0Acommon in the Southern oceanside islands. Whil=
e the Islanders of the Bayside=0Aislands prefer the Flat bottomed barge s=
tyle Smack. Both have lateen sails and=0Arudders.)
Hull Type: Merchant/Barge Hull Quality: 2D6+3 Sea Worthiness Max: 22/18=
=0AStructure Points: 35-50
Length: 10m Beam: 4m Capacity: 5 tons Freeboard: 1.5m Draft: 2.5m/1m Crew=
: 6=0APaddlers 1 Rudderman (With sails, 2 paddlers are sailors.)
Pelaskan Skiff.
Within the islands the Skiff is popular for transit of goods, people and = other=0Anon fishing activities. It is a small wooden boat, looking much = like a=0Arowboat. Except it is poled rather than rowed to avoid getting c= aught in=0Arushes and is of higher quality build. Some Islanders still us=e rush built=0Askiffs, or rafts.
Hull Type: Merchant Hull Quality: 1D3+6 Sea Worthiness Max: 17 Structur= e=0APoints: 20 Length: 3m Beam: 1.5m Capacity: .5 ton Freeboard: = - -6m=0ADraft: .3m Crew: 1 Poleman
Coracle.
Tiny circular boats of oiled hide, or rush over a hazel frame. Used by a=
=0Asingle Islander for short jaunts between islands or across narrow stre=
tches of=0Awater.
Hull Type: Barge Hull Quality: 1D3 Sea Worthiness Max: 5 Structure Points=
: 10=0ALength: 1.5m
Beam: 1.5m Capacity: .25 ton Freeboard: .3m Draft: .3m Crew: I Paddler
Food & Drink. The Cuisine of Seapolis
Fish, fish and more fish. The type of fish and the numbers eaten by the=
=0Aresidents is only surpassed by the inginuity of locals when it comes t=
o recipe=0Avariations. These culinary creations have more than doubled in= recent times=0A(since 1600) with the rise of the so called Sesh-Tesh coo= kery, combing unusal=0Aingredients from all along the coast of Genertela =in mouth-watering and often=0Aspicy dishes. The main stay of local fishers, apart from fish, is Cattail-bread cobs,=
akfast=0Adish with the cooking water, Congee, allowed to cool before drin= king later in=0Athe day. Oat porridge is also eaten in vast quantities, s= weetened with white=0Aclover honey traded from the Bee people of Esrolia.= All types of rice dishes are common. Pharaoh=92s hair is especially favou= red,=0Amany a time eaten rolled up in oat pancakes and served with spicy = Teshnan=0Adips. Shell fish broth has long been eaten as a main meal of t= he day,=0Anowadays spiced up to produce a Seapolis style =93Gumbo=94. Res= idents eat lots of=0Asea plants, with Sea Kale, Kelp and seaweed being re= gular side dishes, as is a=0Asalad of Mirrorweed shoots, which are also e=aten boiled and dipped in=0Askullbush oil. Among the more unusual dishes = are: Sturgeon eggs on thin oat=0Acrackers, dishes of live sand eels, also= eaten sugared, and plates of=0Agarishly coloured, boiled sea cucumbers.
Kalomin tea is often drunk cold in the late afternoon, but the most popul= ar=0Abeverages are the multitude of Esrolian white and red wines, and the= ever=0Apopular, if murky oat beer. On special occasions Seapolites consu=me Tusoweo, a=0Asea urchin spirit.
More to follow including brief outlines of the cults of Pelaskos and Oys= ter=0AGirl, a couple of Cameos and details on the mysteroius Poldari Recl= aimers of=0ASeapolis.
Martin Hawley
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