Re: Of fords, bridges and ferries in Sartar (and everywhere)

From: donald_at_p-ffYWYxouNPreGPmouuyV2TCoy2D6lRZEwyhiI2KoO1TJMkGsBv61Kage733SysO0HWW
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:59:20 -0000

> Selon julianlord <julian.lord_at_t5TWbup0d6WmZBv6CUyv35qAxz60fRzIDKFRULu1u2HMhQH7HPw21W8QHzs6knqkSjaN5LfrxH1pvZRVj8Uy.yahoo.invalid>:
>
> > A few planks balanced precariously on some rocks, and regularly washed away
> > by Heler or the river spirit are hardly wonders of engineering ;)
>
> /// Ain't a bridge then, it's a mere "passerelle". Anyway you can't use one for
> lengths over a few meters, you'd need to stick pillars in the river bed, which
> becomes a more complicated issue. It's weird magics called "en-gi-nee-ring" by
> meldeks.

I'm sure the Heortlings are capable of building bridges. They don't because it's too much effort for something which is probably going to be swept away every sea season. The exceptions are the ones built by Sartar who had the help of dwarves.

Most European bridges were built before the science of engineering. Once you know the principle of the arch you just build one or more arches over the waterway. If it falls down in bad weather you rebuild it bigger and stronger.

In Glorantha there's the additional problem that water spirits don't like being bound by bridges so you have to get their agreement.

-- 
Donald Oddy