Falun (ship)

The term Falun describes a large, multi-decked sailing ship developed in Aslock and first used as armed cargo-vessels in the early 300s. These vessels are the principle merchant large ships of the Otheiae, and due to their great size, they are often drafted for wars. Some are purpose-built as warships.

Similar in construction to the Janiko Galleon, which may have influenced the design of the class, the Falun carries three-or-more masts rigged with fore-and-aft lateen sails, and are carvel built, possessiong a prominent, squared-off raised stern.

Such vessels are a mainstay of Otheiae maritime commerce, and make up the bulk of the Otheiae war-fleets contending for control of the Warm Sea.

### Entymology

The word *Falun* is thought to derive from the Talensi word *Galleon*, meaning "Armed ship of Burden". Another potential origin of the name is from the *Fela*, from the ancient Rasek dialect, meaning "Rowed Merchant Vessel". The Fela is an archaic ship which was used along the Channel Estuary and along the Janilho River, in use from ancient times until the early Augkarate period. Fela comes from the Old Uthono word *Vula*, meaning "Little Shark"

### History

In the late 3rd century, the Falun was beginning to take shape. It was very much a top-down effort to construct these ships, in order to compete with the large vessels which were appearing at the mouth of the Estuary Channel with startling rapidity. Compared with the lightly built and small vessels of the Otheiae, these enormous ships could displace as much as 100 times their mass, and could pose a serious threat to the security of the Coastal Realms.

Shipbuilders from across the Coastal Realms converged upon shipyards of Aslock, whose government was sponsoring the construction of these vessels, and began to design the new ship. While the first steps that would result in the creation of the Falun, such as the lengthening and widening of a vessel's hull, had begun to be taken by merchantmen and warships in the 230s, these new ships would come to appear like a parody of that trend. The vessels were significantly lengthened, to in some cases beyond 40m in length and up to 11m in beam. Additionally, a large raised stern, with multiple cabins, was added. Three or more masts would be placed on the vessel, featuring the traditional lateen sail rigged fore-to-aft common to Otheiae shipping.

The result of this design process was the modern Falun. The first ships were built as purpose-made warships, constructed with the purpose of keeping the large galleons of the Talensi out of the Channel and away from the Coastal Realms. However, the Aslock Warm Sea Company soon took notice of the class's potential as a long-range bulk-cargo-carrier, and began to order the vessels at a dizzying rate from the various shipyards capable of building them. Soon, most shipyards in the Coastal Realms were constructing the vessels on contract with the AWSC, and these large merchantmen would begin to show up at ports across the Warm Sea.

The Falun are powered entirely by wind, with only a few small falun equipped with sweeps. They are used in both trade and military applications, most famously by the Fleet of Firm Earth and Fleet of Shattered Land, the trade-and-treasure fleets of the AWSC, which prowl the east and west of the Warm Sea respectively. Falun are so versatile that a single ship might be refitted for wartime and peacetime roles several times during its lifespan.

The principle warships of the Coastal Realm of Aslock and Rasek, as well as the primary ships employed by the AWSC are Falun. They show both great utility in combat and endurance in battle, being hammered by broadsides with little structural damage to show for it.

### Construction

Falun Are constructed from oak (for the keel), pine (for the masts) and various hardwoods for hull and decking. Hulls are typically carvel-built. The expenses involved in falun construction are enormous. Hundreds of expert tradesmen (including carpenters, pitch-melters, blacksmiths, coopers, shipwrights, etc.) worked for months before a falun was seaworthy. To cover the expense, falun are often funded by groups of wealthy businessmen, or large companies and corporations such as the AWSC, who pooled resources for a new ship. Therefore, most Falun are originally consigned for trade, though some are built or converted for military service.

The most common gun used aboard a falun is a small, 9 pounder cannon, though guns up to 42 pounders are possible.

Because of the search to cut down costs for profit and the resulting poor conditions on board, advanced rigging systems were developed so that the vessel could be sailed home by an active sailing crew a fraction of the size it could potentially carry.

The conditions of the Estuary Channel place limits on the size of Falun the Coastal Realms can construct. The Realm of Aslock can construct larger vessels of greater displacement and cargo capacity, while the Realm of Rasek is limited by its position further up the channel, where the waters are shallower. As such, it's ships are smaller, with a lower draft, and can carry less cargo and armament.

### Distinguishing Features

Falun are a class of blue-water sailing ship that combined the easy-to-maneuver fore-and-aft rig of smaller shipping with the a large hgull suitable for carrying high quantities of cargo, men, or cannon. The falun solidified the place of the centrally situated tallest main-masts and the slightly shorter fore-masts of a ship characteristic of the Otheiae on the open sea.

The most distinguishing features of the Falun include the foremast and mainmast, both noticeably taller than the single or double mizzenmasts behind, and below those the square quarter gallery at the stern. On average with three masts, in larger falun, a fourth mast was added.