Re: Dragon Pass Architecture

From: BEThexton <bethexton_at_...>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 16:05:46 -0000


As always with the Heortlings, looks to the gods, or at least the cults....

The main craft god of the men is a carpenter, and he is the only one that you can expect to find in most clans (per Thunder Rebels). However, Orlanth Allfather initiates have access to the Making affinity (surely one of the most potent of magics over the long term!), which implies that although most are not skilled craftsmen, when they want to they can make fairly impressive structurs that take more perspiration than inspiration. There other craft gods, but their followers are fairly rare specialists, found maybe at the tribal centres, and of course in the cities. We know of the redsmiths, but presumably there is also a stone worker (for what it is worth, I implieed Saruvan, son of Quivin, as such a sub-cult in part of my contributions to the gazeteer. I have no idea if that will make it through to the final draft or not). However, the number of these in Sartar can probably be counted in the dozens (maybe a few per tribe, and some tens per city).

On the distaff side the main craft god is the potter, but weaving is also difused all through the cults. In addition, Ernalda the Queen devotees have some ability to summon and control Daimones of the earth. Presumably these are not quite as abusable as in RQ days, but still for significant enough projects magic earth moving is a possibility.

This suggests that the vast majority of Heortling building work will be made out of wood--just like Storm Village was (if it was good enough for Orlanth....). When looking at big projects, the easiest way to effect big changes is with earth works, as with hill forts. First because of the potential of magic, but second because a lot of strong backs equipped with pick, shovel, wheelbarrow, and Making magic can probably move a lot of earth in short order. I'm not suggesting that the Heortlings would be quite up to the standards of Ceasar's legionnaires, but they are probably that much better than most earth cultures because of the magic. So ditch and earthen wall is probably pretty easily accomplished, and putting a wooden palliside (also aided by magic) on top should also be pretty straightforward (barring issues with the local elves....).

On the other hand, working in stone to any large extent would be much slower because of the shortage of skilled workers to cut the stone.

On balance, I expect that there are some very impressive buildings scattered around Sartar, but of wood, not stone. Again in what I wrote in my contributions to the gazeteer I mentioned the famously graceful steads along the upper reaches of the scenic Chorn river (now mostly raised and replaced by ugly Lunar buildings). I didn't go into detail, but I imagined these using the contours of the land to achieve dominating views, topped with wooden spires, and with broad wooden platforms cantilevered over the hillsides, to give flat areas to gather on during warmer weather.

--Bryan

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