Galleys were large ships used by pirates and other sailors, largely defined by their use of oar-power. The term "galley" could also refer specifically to one with only one bank of oars.[3][4] They shared many similarities with longships and drakkars.[5][6]
Description[]
Although galleys could have at least one mast, they primarily relied on oarsmen to propel the ship, and had the advantage of not being reliant on the wind and had improved manoeuvrability over sail ships. However, the amount of rowers needed had several drawbacks that lowered its appeal compared to sailships. The large crew demanded a proportional amount of supplies, which meant that a galley had to either stay close to shore and make constant resupply landings, or carry all its supplies, reducing its effective cargo capacity. The crew themselves were more difficult to manage; either the crew was paid well and kept loyal, or a body of slaves were used but posed a constant threat of rebellion. Finally, the crew could quickly become exhausted from engaging in intense "combat speed" rowing for more than very short periods.[7][8]
Variants[]
- Biremes, a common variety of galley that was used by various nations in east Faerûn[9][10][11][12][4] and that were noted as having two banks of oars.[13][14]
- Dromonds, an exceptionally large galley with sails developed in Chessenta.[15]
- Galleass, an attempt at combining the qualities of the galley and galleon.[16]
- Great galleys, a design based on the dromond.[6] They were sometimes fitted with spelljammer helms by inexperienced or desperate groups, creating ad-hoc spelljammers with poor performance.[17]
- Pentekonters, a variant of bireme.[14]
- Ramships, small, disposable galleys used by Inner Sea pirates.[18]
- Strikers, a variety of small galleys that sported lateen sails.[19]
- Triremes, another variety of galley that was used by nations in east Faerûn,[9][10] but that were noted for having three banks of oars.[13][14][20]
History[]
A simple galley.
Galleys were the first large ships to be developed in Faerûn, and continued to be used in later ages through continual refinements. They were largely superseded by ships with sails, which required far smaller crews and could potentially reach higher speeds, albeit with complete dependency on the wind.[8]
Unther once dominated its part of the Inner Sea with a fleet of one hundred biremes and triremes, but their numbers and effectiveness declined significantly until by 1359 DR their battles with pirates and other navies had reduced them to five ships in harbor at Unthalass. Worse, the Galley of the Gods was stolen by pirates, inspiring them to rebuild their navy if only to reclaim the holy relic.[11]
Chessenta's cities had fleets primarily made up of biremes and triremes due to the unfavorable winds in the Bay of Chessenta.[12] Dromonds and great galleys were also popular there.[15][6]
Mulhorand's fleet was reduced to twenty rotting galleys at Skuld by 1359 DR, mirroring Unther's navy.[21] Great galleys were also widely used.[6]
Notable Galleys[]
- The efreeti of the City of Brass traversed their plane's Sea of Fire through use of galleys that were constructed of brass[22][23] that was magically enchanted.[23]
- The Mulhorandi pantheon entered Toril by sailing on the Matet, a huge war galley. At the same time, the Untheric pantheon arrived by sailing aboard the Galley of the Gods.[24]
- The Wave Wyvern, the personal galleass of the Seasilver family.[25]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Kate Welch (May 2019). Ghosts of Saltmarsh. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 187. ISBN 978-0-7869-6686-8.
- ↑ Richard Baker (Nov 2009). Corsair. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786953071.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), pp. 126, 127. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 83. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 85. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (1990). Ironhelm. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8903-6.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 80. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 69. ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Steve Perrin (1988). Dreams of the Red Wizards. (TSR, Inc), pp. 19, 59. ISBN 0-88038-615-0.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 46. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Richard Baker, Joseph D. Carriker, Jr., Jennifer Clarke Wilkes (August 2005). Stormwrack. Edited by John D. Rateliff, John Thompson. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 102–103. ISBN 0-7869-3689-4.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Keith Francis Strohm (September 1997). Of Ships and the Sea. (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 0786907061.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 84. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Keith Francis Strohm (August 1998). “Warships of the Sea”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #250 (TSR, Inc.), p. 46.
- ↑ Dale "slade" Henson (March 1992). “Ship Recognition Manual”. In Jon Pickens ed. War Captain's Companion (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 1-56076-343-4.
- ↑ Paul Culotta (January/February 1998). “Operation Manta Ray”. In Christopher Perkins ed. Dungeon #66 (Wizards of the Coast) (66)., pp. 45, 46.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 11. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 45. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 55. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Richard Baker, John Rogers, Robert J. Schwalb, James Wyatt (December 2008). Manual of the Planes 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7869-5002-7.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 94. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Troy Denning (April 2014). The Sentinel. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 3, p. 56. ISBN 0786964596.