Triremes were a type of galley related to the biremes,[1][2] noted for having three banks of oars[2][5] as opposed to a bireme's two banks.[6] They were extremely seaworthy,[2] being known for their speed and superior handling compared to other types of galleys.[7]
Description[]
A side and interior view of a trireme.
On average, from bow to stern these ships measured 135 feet (41.1 meters) in length,[2][4] a beam (width) of 15 feet (4.6 meters), and required a depth of at least 3 ft (0.91 m) in order to float.[4] These ships were only partially decked, lacking any coverage over their three oar banks. They usually had a walkway that ran the whole length of the ship, between and overhead of the benches where the oar rowers would sit.[1]
Triremes had single mast that could be lowered and it typically was during battles. They also had two stern rudders, a detachable ram, and little space for cargo on a trireme.[2] Each trireme could man a crew of 170 individuals,[1][2][3] all rowers,[3] but could easily fit an extra thirty warrior passengers.[2][3] The bare minimum of rowers necessary to sail a trireme were seventy, with the other hundred acting as a skeleton crew. Triremes could also be loaded with small artillery, though at the cost of deck space for passengers.[3]
History[]
Over the years triremes were primarily used on Toril by the nations of east Faerûn.[8][9][10][11] These included the three nations that made up the Old Empires region - Chessenta, Mulhorand, and Unther[11] - as well as the navies of Aglarond[9] and Thay of the Unapproachable East,[10] and the nation of Chondath in the Vilhon Reach.[8] Outside of naval use, triremes originating from both Chessenta and Chondath were among the pirate vessels one could encounter in the Pirate Isles as of 1356 DR.[8]
Unther's navy was once the terror of the southern Inner Sea with its fleet of a hundred warships, most of them biremes and triremes, but over the course of several years their navy was whittled down until by 1359 DR it consisted of just five ships that were kept docked in the port city of Unthalass.[12] By that year, triremes were considered to be a rare sight in the Inner Sea, primarily being used by the Mulhorandi,[5] whereas the Chessentans rarely took their triremes outside the Bay of Chessenta.[13]
On Flamerule 9, in the Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR, two triremes were cut loose in the Bay of Chessenta and ran aground at Airspur. The Dragon Watch blamed this upon raiders from the Chessantan city-state of Soorenar, but later learned that it had been done by a raiding party of sahuagins.[14]
In the 15th century DR, triremes were still widely considered to be the vessel of choice for sailing the Bay of Chessenta.[15]
Notable Triremes[]
- Argent, a Zhentarim trireme that sailed during the Time of Troubles. It was used by the deity Cyric and a handful of other Zhents to sail back to Tantras when Bane ordered their return.[7]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 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.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Keith Francis Strohm (September 1997). Of Ships and the Sea. (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 0786907061.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Keith Francis Strohm (September 1997). Of Ships and the Sea. (TSR, Inc), p. 14. ISBN 0786907061.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Keith Francis Strohm (September 1997). Of Ships and the Sea. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 0786907061.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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. 126. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Scott Ciencin (June 2003). Tantras. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 15, p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-3108-6.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 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.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Steve Perrin (1988). Dreams of the Red Wizards. (TSR, Inc), p. 19. ISBN 0-88038-615-0.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Steve Perrin (1988). Dreams of the Red Wizards. (TSR, Inc), p. 59. ISBN 0-88038-615-0.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), pp. 46–47, 127. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 46. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Larry Hobbs (March 2000). “The Patrol”. In Philip Athans ed. Realms of the Deep (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-1568-4.
- ↑ Brian R. James (May 2010). “Backdrop: Chessenta”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dungeon #178 (Wizards of the Coast) (178)., p. 72.