Most trade between the
City Martians is conducted by the land caravans but there are a few
merchants that prefer to use skiffs to transport goods across the
deserts. This or course has it's risks but more often than not they
are bettered by the profits. The travel time is quicker than the land
caravans but the chance of meeting Sky Martin raiding parties is
increased tenfold.
The skiff convoys
consist of two or three tug-neffs attached to several tenders that
carry the cargo. As many as five tenders can be attached to the
biggest tug-neffs but this is traded off for a slower speed. The
tug-neff can be armed with several ballistas and usually the rear
tender will have a ballista along with a crew that are ready to fight
for their cargo.
The skiffs are made in
a similar way to the Sky Martian skiffs and have a more bloated
appearance than the elegant Sky Martian skiffs. There is some rumour
that construction methods for the tugs have been traded for rare
goods and information about the land caravans with certain Sky
Martian clans but this, is as of yet, unfounded... If it is to be
found that trade and information is being passed between the Skiff
Merchants and the Sky Martians then there will be retribution from
the City Martians for the betrayal.
The tenders are
basically large hulls with a main deck and a small cargo hold below
this deck. The tug-neff has a similar appearance to the Sky Martian
skiffs albeit shorter and rounder with an upper deck at the rear
which the trimsman will use and the captain of the convoy will have
his place under this upper deck. The tugs and tenders usually aren't
decorated but occasionally an affluent Skiff Merchant will adorn his
tug with geometric patterns and these pattens can be used as an
identification of the Skiff Merchant from a distance.
Using the trade winds
that traverse the planet the Skiff Merchants ply their trade between
as many cities as possible using well known routes through the
lowland canyons; most trying their best to avoid the Sky Martians.
During the night the tugs will preferably anchor against the cliffs
of the canyons with a watch posted throughout the night. If the
convoy finds itself in the open then they will reduce their height
and anchor to the desert floor.
The crew themselves are
made up of the braver City Martians and some of them can become
somewhat of a legend to the more domestic City Martians. But, there
is some resentment from many of the leading families as the Skiff
Merchants become arrogant the longer they are in the sky. This
arrogance is increasingly likened to the attitude of the Sky Martians
and if it continues then the cities elders will have to make a
decision as to what to do.
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