Lunar Roundup: Moonboats

From: MOB <mrmob_at_ozemail.com.au>
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 20:56:54 +1100


G'day all,

Lunar Roundup: Moonboats

Theo asks:
>First, regarding Moonboats, that magical subject.
>I'm not totally clear on some basic facts on them:

For starters, you could check out my article on them, which I wrote for Strangers in Prax (the Lunar Coders arrive in Pavis on one: at first people mistake the reddish glow on the horizon for the Crimson Bat!). The article itself actually first appeared in Codex Magazine #2, but is also available on my Glorantha Page: <http://www.ozemail.com.au/~mrmob/moonboat.html>

Also check out "Ye Booke of Tentacles II" which has a seminar transcript where Nick and Sandy have a whacko discussion about Lunary things including Moonboats.

Finally, there was quite a bit of discussion about this is in the Digest some time ago, so if you do a wade through the archives, you'll come up with some priceless gems, such as:

  # why if you're heading out of the Glowline, you want an Arrolian trained     pilot, not some wanker from the Heartlands;

  # why the safety demonstrations the gorgeous Lunar priestesses go through     at the start of each flight are a waste of time;

  # why there are a pack of lewd, filthy Darjini down in the hold     yelling "pull, pull".

>* How many exist?

A finite number: they are made in only one place, using a specialised magical process. However, unlike boats that sit in the water, they probably last much longer, especially those that ply the relatively placid skies of the Heartlands. I don't think there are supertanker-sized moonboats (at least not ones that travel anywhere far, though the idea of floating pleasure barges is cool) because we postulate that the skies are like a roiling ocean: the Red Goddess and Orlanth are in conflict, both striving to dominate the middle air. Moonboats have to navigate their way through this, much like ships in the golden age of sail, tacking and weaving to make best use of the available moonshine.

>* Are there different types?

Although my orginal article might imply no, I actually think there are all manner of shapes and sizes of moonboat. The smallest ones need a crew of about a dozen.

>* Are they ever used for trade? Or just military
>rapid movement?

I don't think they're used for either, much. Their primary purpose to move important personages about the Empire. Of course, an "important personage" might be the Satrap of Elz Ast's 33rd concubine's grandmother and her chief hairdresser, heading off to Jillaro to buy a new set of curling tongs...

Cheers,

MOB



MICHAEL O'BRIEN
Department of Science and Mathematics Education The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052 Australia
           Telephone: +613-8344-8526  mobile: 04-3828-9048
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