Submarines, also known as sub-marines or submersibles, were a rare form of watercraft designed to traverse the depths of seas and oceans. They were typically built by gnomes[1][2][3][4][5][note 1] or at least operated by them.[2][3][6]
Description[]
Submersibles were described by some as looking like strange galleys,[7][8] whilst others had designs inspired by marine life.[2][3][9] Constructed from metal, they were entirely enclosed vessels,[1][2][3][5][6] typically only having a single, trapdoor hatch to enter them from.[6][10] Though some also had a second hatch to allow for diving into the water or entering from the water.[1][11] Submarines tended to be able to accommodate most demihumans, though their dimensions were typically designed with gnomes in mind.[2][12]
Being enclosed watercraft designed for underwater traversal, submarines were pressurized in order to keep water from leaking in and flooding them.[6] They were designed to maintain an air supply,[13][14][15] whether it be through a complex system of ventilation[13] and machinery utilizing conjuration magic[15] or by extending a metal tube above the water's surface to retrieve air.[14] Additionally, some were designed without any form of interior lighting, as gnomes could just easily rely upon their darkvision.[13][note 2]
These vessels were powered by a collection of complex and noisy machinery,[3][13][14][16] sometimes quasi-magical in nature[16] and typically kept within a room separate from the main command room.[13][14] These machines were what allowed for submarines to ascend, descend, change their direction, and be propelled through the watery depths.[16] With these engines being in separate rooms from the command deck, metal speaking tubes were put in place to allow for swift communication between the two.[13][14] Consequently, such machinery necessitated having one or more engineers on a crew.[13][17]
A mermaid observes a pair of drow on the Scarlet Marpenoth through one of its portholes.
Besides the command room and engine room, submarines were typically large enough to have a handful of other rooms or quarters for the crew members.[13][18] For viewing the watery depths outside a submarine, there might be portholes,[3] circular or dome-like windows[14][16] fashioned from glass[14] or glassteel,[16] typically within the command room. These rooms might also sport a "periscope", metal tubes that functioned similarly to spyglasses and could be raised or lowered at any time.[14][16]
History[]
At some point a gnomish submarine operating in the Trackless Sea had a run-in with the storm giants of Maelstrom. Pieces of the wreckage were kept by the giants in the fortress's study, while an apparatus of Kwalish that was recovered from the vessel's pressurized hold was placed within the royal treasury.[4]
Notable Submersibles[]
- Blue Glaucus: A submarine in the late 15th century DR that was captained by the fallen aasimar Aiden and a crew of goblins.[19]
- The Great Fish: a fish-shaped steel submarine designed by a gnome in the Vast known only as "the Professor". The hatch to enter it was only big enough for gnomes or halflings to enter, rendering most of its crew to be gnomes. Sometime shortly after the War with Myrkyssa Jelan, the Professor showed up to Ravens Bluff and loaned it to a group of adventurers in their efforts to reach the beholder mage XAXANTHRAXIS before he could destroy their city.[2]
- RBNS Nautilus: one of two submersibles that were owned by the reformed Ravens Bluff Naval Militia long after the War.[20]
- Sea Voyager: another fish-shaped submarine. Made of brass and steel, it was designed by Leapold Manfeld, a gnome engineer in the Vast in the 14th century DR, who maintained a crew of halflings. During the War with Myrkyssa Jelan, the Sea Voyager was used by the Ravens Bluff Army to retrieve a group that had been sent behind enemy lines on an infiltration mission.[3]
- The underwater boat, a small submersible developed by Nadul DaRoni that was self-propelled and could only seat a single individual.[21]
- unnamed precursor to the Sea Voyager: Sometime prior to the War with Myrkyssa Jelan, Leapold had designed another steel submarine.[3][22] This one was built to utilize a steam engine, what his home village called the "Grand Design". Early tests with this machinery caused him and his crew to pass out, as the coal burnt by the engine would use up all oxygen inside the enclosed space. Though this effect was observed, the only thing Leapold understood of the process was that fire was somehow involved. Seeking a new source of heat, he returned to his mountain village in hopes that they might help him explore a nearby hot cave, but the villagers were reluctant to aid him. A group of adventurers visiting at the time agreed to do the exploration for him, in return for helping clear the Ravens Bluff Harbor[22] of a recent shipwreck.[23] This submarine was later lost, along with all of its crew except for Leapold himself.[3]
- Scarlet Marpenoth, a submarine shaped like a manta ray[9] that was designed and built on the island-nation of Lantan[24] in the late 15th century DR. A miniature model of it was kept on display in the House of Inspired Hands.[9] The vessel later fell into the possession of the mercenary Jarlaxle, who maintained a crew of rock gnomes that were very knowledgeable about submarines.[6]
- Unnamed submersible of the Absolute: Sometime in the late 15th century DR, a clan of svirfneblin enslaved by Enver Gortash were forced to construct a submersible for the purpose of accessing Iron Throne headquarters that laid sunken beneath the depths of Gray Harbor. Wanting to use the discrete location as a hidden prison for the Cult of the Absolute, Enver had the abandoned building retrofitted with a metallic, cross-shaped structure atop its tower with a hatch that allowed for entrance from his submersible. This submersible featured interior lighting, a manta ray-like design, and utilized oil. During the time in which it operated the submersible was leaking oil into Gray Harbor, causing local fish to die, and in 1492 DR the Umberlant Holli Dylford died from being rammed into by the submersible.[5]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Out of the seven submersibles detailed in this article, four of them are specified as having been created by one or more gnomes. The Blue Glaucus and the two submersibles of the Ravens Bluff Naval Militia are of unknown origin. And with the Scarlet Marpenoth having originated from Lantan, it is possible that rock gnomes could have contributed to its construction.
- ↑ The other submarines discussed in this article did not have any details about interior lighting provided for them, though they likewise lacked any mention of players having trouble seeing whilst inside them.
See Also[]
- Apparatus of Kwalish, another submersible magical vehicle.
- Manta, a sort of submersible barge used by sahuagin.
Appearances[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, Jeff Quick, and James Wyatt (March 2003). Arms and Equipment Guide 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 54. ISBN 978-0-7869-2649-7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Mark Jindra (May 1998). Eye of the Storm. Living City (RPGA), pp. 6–7.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Roger Rhodes (July 1996). The Longest Night. Living City (RPGA), p. 16.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 210, 212. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 141–142. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ Tom Nolan (January 2002). A Kind of Magic. Living City (RPGA), p. 6.
- ↑ Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, Jeff Quick, and James Wyatt (March 2003). Arms and Equipment Guide 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 59. ISBN 978-0-7869-2649-7.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 46. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ Mark Jindra (May 1998). Eye of the Storm. Living City (RPGA), p. 6.
- ↑ Mark Jindra (May 1998). Eye of the Storm. Living City (RPGA), pp. 7, 25.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 142–145. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 Mark Jindra (May 1998). Eye of the Storm. Living City (RPGA), p. 7.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 143. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ Mark Jindra (May 1998). Eye of the Storm. Living City (RPGA), p. 25.
- ↑ Mark Jindra (May 1998). Eye of the Storm. Living City (RPGA), p. 24.
- ↑ B. Dave Walters (January 2020). “A Darkened Wish 4”. A Darkened Wish #4 (IDW Publishing) (4)., pp. 14–15.
- ↑ Tom Nolan (January 2002). A Kind of Magic. Living City (RPGA), p. 7.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 159. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Todd Kline (March 1995). One Thing.... Living City (RPGA), pp. 20–21.
- ↑ Todd Kline (March 1995). One Thing.... Living City (RPGA), p. 6.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 132. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.