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| An Overview of the Mesian Seafaring Culture; by Selrid Brewald | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 31 2015, 12:39 PM (75 Views) | |
| Admin | Jan 31 2015, 12:39 PM Post #1 |
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It is widely known that the ancient Mesians of Eidaes were the most adept sailors in history, but what made them so? What secrets did they possess that the other inhabitants of Eidaes and Yalas did not? Was it sorcery, technology, anatomy, ability, or is it simply allegory? In this document, I will examine all facets of Mesian culture which can be verified by modern science, and come to a conclusion devoid of any bias or fantasy. A Brief History: The Mesians were inhabitants from the continent of Eidaes, which is to the west of Yalas. All of its inhabitants are descended from a single group; the Adans. Their origin is unknown, but evidence points to their being an extremely complex culture for their time. I will avoid details, as information on the Adan's can be found in my other work; "Observations of the Culture of the Adans". In short, the Adans began to settle over more and more of Eidaes. At first, their laws and government served them well. Eventually, however, their society started to decline. With groups of Adans living isolated from one another, each group began to change the Adanian laws to better fit them in their region, and in accordance with their lifestyle. This led to drastic changes that caused certain groups to become entirely separate cultures. As time wore on, these groups became more and more numerous, until the Adans were no more, and Eidaes was home to dozens of warring tribes. - The Mesians were formed by Uldren, a renowned warrior from a coastal village. He was given the blessing of his master (the leader of the Hadrian tribe) to return to his village, and create his own minor territory within Hadria. Uldren would pay taxes, and be subservient to their leader (Alder). The cunning Uldren agreed. He returned home to his fishing village, and declared himself the leader of a new tribe. These people, who considered themselves Hadrians, were skeptical, but tales of Uldren's heroics were being spoken across Eidaes. With minimal acceptance, they submitted. Uldren continued to scour the coasts, recruiting dozens of fishing villages to his newly formed tribe. After nearly three years, he had gained control of the entire southern coast of Eidaes, and was considered a tribal leader in his own right. This outraged Alder, who had promised Uldren a village, not a kingdom. Uldren retaliated by swearing fealty to Alder, and pledging his forces to help take control of Werthen, a territory to the north. Alder agreed, and war was instigated. However, after four long months, Uldren revealed his master plan. He acted against Alder, by taking control of his southernmost city. Being attacked from both sides was too much, and Hadria was taken over by Mesia and Werthen. Uldren formed a peace treaty with the Werthenian chief by giving up the Hadrian cities taken over in the conquest, and was able to build up the strength of his empire. - And now that the stage has been set, we shall take a look into the many advancements which were made by the Mesian culture. Part I: The Vessels: The first fishing vessels to be used by the Mesians were small harpooning vessels called 'Fiscere', which were usually about 16-18 ft in length. Several specimens which are centuries old have been found on the coast of Fjarr, but their design has since been significantly changed. Their original purpose was to be used for a single day of fishing, brought in, and taken out again the next day. Fishing was not a profession, or a past-time. It was a facet of every day life. All Mesian men would have owned at least one fiscere, and would have taken it out with all of the others for their daily catch. Upon returning, the Mesians would pool their catches, and a feast involving the entire village would be held. Again, this was a daily occurrence. There were no social classes. One ate just as much as another. Each man had his own boat; his own home. These were the only standards of wealth in their society. - Eventually, other tribes began to invade Mesian territory and attack them. Naturally, the Mesians would defend themselves. Like every other society of guerrilla fighters in history, they used their environment to their advantage. And they did so by putting to use their nautical understanding and ingenuity. They created unique canoes called 'becréopan', which means 'to creep into'. These canoes were hollowed out logs (about 7 ft long) with weights (most often stones) contained within, which kept them from turning over, despite their often rounded shape. The lower portion of the canoe was left in tact, keeping the pilot's legs concealed. The top portion was carved out, often at an awkward angle, so as not to appear unnatural. The pilot would also cover his torso with moss. The guiding rod, which doubled as a spear, was very heavy, and attached to the bottom of the canoe with a rope, so that it could be dropped quickly, but recovered thereafter. Should the pilot see any enemy warriors, he would drop his spear, lay back in the canoe, and allow the current to carry him. This quickly became a preferred method of ambush, which is still in use today by the Messaran navy. It is known as 'díeglan', which means 'to hide oneself'. - After the invading armies had been pushed back, the Mesians created their first vessel designed for sustainable living on the open sea. It was a houseboat of about 70 ft in length, which contained an iron still that was used to turn saltwater into freshwater. There was also a conclave for a harpooning vessel to be secured. This was designed so that explorers and cartographers may travel with no limitations on resources. The need for this stemmed from the manifest destiny of the Norðdæl. The Norðdæl, originally a territory to the far north (hence the name 'Northern'), had conquered three territories, and were now bordering Mesia. The Mesians knew well that the Norðdæl were far superior warriors, and they were intent on finding a new place to call their home. |
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| Admin | Feb 7 2015, 12:44 PM Post #2 |
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Part II: The Skills Move forward now nearly a century and a half. Eidaes is controlled by four tribes. Three of them are massive in size, and control the strongest fighting forces. The fourth encompasses the southern and western coast. Only through undying resolve have the Mesians survived this long against their enemies, but their tactics of guerrilla warfare are becoming predictable. In response, the Mesians have moved closer and closer to the coasts, and away from the inland swamps and marshes which they used to dominate as well. In doing so, however, they have become much more adept at seafaring. Now, many families actually live in houseboats off the coasts, so as to remain safe from the inland enemies. They have also developed a devastating weapon of war, called a ballista. Originally, it was more akin to a bow than the modern ballistae. The arms were mounted on the ship, and the harpoon was placed on a bracing area between the arms. Usually, two men would then draw the drawstring and release it. In a matter of years, however, the Mesians would invent widgets, which would draw the string mechanically, providing much more power. Now that the Mesians have been living in such harmony with the sea, they have undergone physiological changes. One of which was that nearly all Mesians were capable of holding their breaths underwater (while still performing actions) for well over thirty minutes. |
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12:20 AM Jul 11