A lateen was a style of sail used on various ships across Faerûn[1] and Zakhara. Some Zakharans mistakenly believed that this style of sail was unique to ships in the Land of Fate and not found anywhere else on Toril.[2][note 1] Ships that sported a lateen sail were referred to as "lateen-rigged".[3]
Description[]
Unlike most sails in Faerûn, which took on a rectangular shape,[2] lateens were triangular.[2][3][4][note 2] This shape allowed lateens to remain effective at sizes larger than rectangular sails and enabled ships to sail more windward.[2]
Availability[]
In the city of Waterdeep, the Most Diligent League of Sail-makers and Cordwainers sold lateen sails of "standard" dimensions for around 500 to 700 gold pieces, though could lower those prices by thirty percent if several months' notice were given. Some Waterdhavians unaffiliated with the guild sold sails for as low as 200 gold pieces, though they carried no guarantees.[1][5]
History[]
The existence of lateens on Toril dated as far back as the Netherese Empire, where they saw some use on small caravels used to sail the Narrow Sea.[6]
Notable Users[]
Named Ships[]
- The Gleason, a galleass belonging to the Dhostars, was outfitted with lateen sails.[7]
- Queen of the Night, a merchant galley belonging to the Zhentarim, had two lateen-rigged masts.[8]
- Sea Sprite, a caravel captained by Deudermont, was outfitted with three lateen-rigged masts.[9]
- Wail of the Banshee, a unique galleon style necromancer ship, had two lateen-rigged masts.[10]
- Wave Wyvern, a galleass belonging to Grand Duke Farnig Seasilver, had three lateen-rigged masts.[11]
Organizations[]
Regions, Nations, & Settlements[]
- Amnian caravels were typically outfitted with lateen sails.[14]
- In the city of Marsember, both civilians and soldiers used canvas covers on their skiffs as makeshift lateen sails.[15][16]
- The people of Lantan were widely known for their lateen-rigged ships.[17][18]
Types of Ships[]
- Battle dolphins, a type of spelljammer, were outfitted with a lateen sail on their forward deck.[19]
- Coastboats, a type of vessel used throughout Aglarond to sail along its coast and many rivers, were typically outfitted with lateen sails.[20][21][22][23][24]
- Feluccas, a type of twin-masted vessel used by fisherfolk in Rashemen, was typically lateen-rigged.[25]
- Folding boats commonly sported a lateen sail.[26][27]
- Galleasses.[7][11]
- Gigs, a type of sail boat found in Calimshan, were typically outfitted with lateen sails.[28]
- In Zakhara, lateen sails were commonly used on dhows, such as barijahs,[3] baghlas,[2] and sambuks. Beyond dhows, qaribs were sometimes outfitted with lateens and achieved faster speeds with such rigging.[3]
Index[]
Notes[]
- ↑ In the book Golden Voyages, it is stated that lateens are "a style not used in the northern or eastern lands". These lands most likely refer to Faerûn and Kara-Tur respectively. However, instances of lateen sails in Faerûn can be found in numerous other sources both prior to and following this book's publication. This could be interpreted as a case of in-universe misinformation, with Zakharans having little exposure to or knowledge of the many Faerûnian ships that do sport lateen sails.
- ↑ Golden Voyages describes lateens or at least a variant of lateen as not being true triangles, but as having a corner cut off. This would instead refer to what is known as a settee sail
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Ironhelm • The Giant Among Us • Masquerades • Passage to Dawn • Mortal Consequences • Star of Cursrah • Realms of the Deep: "Forged in Fire" • The Sea Devil's Eye • The Rose of Sarifal • The Reaver • The Sentinel
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Isle of the End
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), pp. 31, 42. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 David Cook (October 1992). “Home Port: Wherein the Tale Begins”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), pp. 94–95. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ Keith Francis Strohm (August 1998). “Warships of the Sea”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #250 (TSR, Inc.), p. 52.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Who's Who in Waterdeep”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), pp. 35, 50. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
- ↑ Clayton Emery (January 1998). Mortal Consequences. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 2, p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-0683-9.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jeff Grubb and Kate Novak (July 1995). Masquerades. (TSR, Inc), chap. 12, p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-0152-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1989). Tantras (adventure). (TSR, Inc), p. 23. ISBN 0-88038-739-4.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (August 2008). Passage to Dawn. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 1, p. ?. ISBN 978-0786949113.
- ↑ Dave Sreniawski (August 1999). Isle of the End. Living City (RPGA), p. 14.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Troy Denning (April 2014). The Sentinel. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 6, p. ?. ISBN 0786964596.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 11. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Campaign Guide”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 10. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (1990). Ironhelm. (TSR, Inc), p. ?. ISBN 0-8803-8903-6.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 92. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 38. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 55. ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood and Julia Martin (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 108.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (1991). The Legend of Spelljammer. Edited by Dori Watry, Steve Winter. (TSR, Inc.), p. Cannot cite page numbers from this product. ISBN 1-56076-083-4.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 22. ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
- ↑ Steve Perrin (1988). Dreams of the Red Wizards. (TSR, Inc), p. 19. ISBN 0-88038-615-0.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood and Julia Martin (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 119.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 52. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Mel Odom (May 2000). The Sea Devil's Eye. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 18, p. ?. ISBN 978-0-7869-1638-2.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 73. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 138. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 170. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ Clayton Emery (January 1999). Star of Cursrah. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 1, p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-1322-3.