Ship types used in Takshendal

There are several types of sea going vessels to be found in Takshendal;

Búza, (Buss).
The Búza is the primary sea going vessel of the northern people's, and is found in large quantities in Takshendal due to its proximity to Skavvia. Búza are flush decked, with two masts and a bowsprit and can be any where from eighteen to twenty four metres in length. They are typically stronger than other coastal traders, and designed to withstand ice filled northern waters. Skavvian merchants ships are typically crewed by nomadic merchant familes.


Caravel.
A development of the dhow, caravel's are the primary coastal trading ship type in northern waters. Small and highly maneuverable they are perfect for the many small seas which make up the known world. Caravel's come in a variety of sizes but most are twin masted, lateen rigged and without a bowsprit. Sizes vary greatly with tonnage ranging from 50 to 200 tons. The average caravel might have a length of thirty metres and a beam of six metres. Some larger caravels have three or four masts, but these are not common.


Carrack.
Designed for longer voyages than the coastal trading caravels, carracks are the heaviest trading vessels available and are designed around the concept of defence. Evolved from the cog, the carrack has fore and aft castles, two, three or even four masts and a bowsprit. They are usually armoured and often carry a compliment of soldiers to resist boarders. A typical large carack may be twenty five to thirty five metres long, eight to ten metres broad and weigh upwards of seven or eight hundred tons. Ship's complements range from forty to one hundred men.


Galley.
Most fighting vessels are galleys, and consequently there are a number of sizes and variants. In Takshendal, these are named by the conventions of Serrenisma which is largely regarded as the birth place of the modern war galley. Galleys built in the south are regarded as superior in design and speed, where as those built in Takshendal are usually regarded as superior in strength and enduarnce. The ship yards of Takshendal have access to the great forests of the north and experienced ship wrights from the south and this has meant the city has become a centre of warship construction.

Bergantine.
10-15 oars per side. A slim, fast vessel used for a variety of inshore tasks. Bergantines are circa sixteen metres long and two metres wide and may carry 10-20 soldiers.

Fusta.
10-15 oars per side, with two rowers per oar. This is the smallest class of sea going galley. Fustas are small, sleek vessels used primarily for raiding. They are generally twenty to twenty two metres long, usually have no masts nor forecastle and generally carry 30-40 soldiers.

Galiot.
16-20 oars per side with two rowers per oar. Typically twenty seven metres long and three metres wide, the galiot is a smaller variant of the galia sottila and is favoured as a fighting vessel due to its size and relative costs. Most galiots carry a single mast, and some have a forecastle capable of carrying an engine of war. They may carry as many as 60 soldiers over a limited range.

Galia sottila.
25-28 oars per side with three rowers per oar. The primary warship design. Galia sottila are the main fighting vessels of any significant navy. They are usually forty to fifty metres long, four to six metres wide, bear one or sometimes two masts and carry two engines of war in a forecastle. In battle, a galia sottila may carry as many as 100 soldiers.

Lanterna.
28+ oars per side with as many as six rowers per oar. Lanterna are generally flagship vessels used to command fleets. They get their name from large lanterns on the poop deck which they carry for signalling to the fleet. Lanterna are usually fifty to fifty five metres long, six to eight metres wide, bear two masts and carry as many as six engines of war on their forecastle. In battle, a Lanterna will carry from 250 to 350 soldiers.


There are also several lesser other types of vessel used in lesser quantities. These include;

Cog.
Older trading vessels, known as cogs can still be seen in northern waters in a variety of types. In former times, cogs were used for most all coastal trade in northern waters, but with the development of caravels, larger cogs have become rare. Smaller cogs, used for local trading, fishing and carrying passengers are still plentiful.

Galia grosse.
A trading variant of the galley. These are usually forty to forty five metres long and six to eight metres wide.


Dhow.
The primary trading vessel of Turskur and the Sabaean Sea region, the dhow is a dependable, old and conservative design that has proven its worth as a trading ship for centuries. Dhows come in a variety of sizes, and have one or two lateen rigged masts and a bowsprit. Caravels are a northern variant of the dhow.

Baghlah.
A larger and more luxurious version of the dhow, though with much the same basic design and rigging, a baghlah is a sea going vessel, typically used by Turskurian princes. King Phelonius of Takshendal owns a baghlah named Royal Swan, which was presented to him by Bey of Sorgun the on the event of his coronation.

Felucca.
Although rare in northern waters, some felucca's, usually fishing boats from Turskur or small traders sometimes travel north and stop in Takshendal to resupply or sell their wares. Felucca's are small, broad vessels, with one or two lateen rigged masts, usually capable of transporting eight to ten people.