Is Altaruk a silt port? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Is Altaruk a silt port?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
baronspam
Sep 29, 2010 23:45:10
Based on the 4th ed map, it actually looks like it is 10 to 15 miles from the end of the Estuary. But there are many references that I run across that point out its relationship to Balic, which is know for its shipping, and the fact that it is at the end of the Estuary of the Forked Tounge. Can you get a skimmer all the way to Altaruk? If not, I am wondering about trade patterns. There is a road, of course, but it might be easier to move cargo by skimmer as far as Ledopolus and then overland to Altaruk. Is there anything in any of the fiction or the 2nd ed material that cleared this up? I am leanind toward no as an answer to my own question but there are just enough implications scattered around to make me wonder.
#2
Grummore
Sep 30, 2010 12:22:40 It is not, but since it's near the estuary, it could be possible to have a small external dock with a few warehouse.
#3
Pennarin
Sep 30, 2010 12:56:48 Being miles away from the silt reduces the frequency of giant attacks, which all editions have mentionned Altaruk gets. It is comprehensible, Altaruk being so small, and poorly protected and defended compared to Balic. Their trade is mostly landbound, the Tyr-Balic trade route.
#4
baronspam
Sep 30, 2010 14:24:24
It is not, but since it's near the estuary, it could be possible to have a small external dock with a few warehouse.

This is kind of what I was thinking myself. The CG says at a couple of points that there are lots of small outposts and villages not marked on the map, there probably would be a fort with some docks, a cistern, some rudimentary trade facilities, etc, somewhere down the road from Alaruk on the Estuary. Since the town troops are supposed to keep the area twenty miles or so around the town fairly safe, I image they have a number of redouts and watchtowers scattered here and there, early warning against the next wave of gaints if nothing else.
#5
OneWeirdCat
Sep 30, 2010 14:54:47 I always thought that Altaruk was pretty near the estuary, so I would make it defensible to some degree, with some towers near the docks with siege weapons to deter the Giants. Also, I think the Giants don't trash it completely every time, a smart ant eater doesn't clean out the anthill so to speak.
In that way, I assumed Silt skimmers would make it all the way from Balic to Altaruk, otherwise, why make it so close to the Estuary of the Forked Tongue?
Altaruk has to have a water source of some kind, as it is a largish permanent settlement, the trade houses of Balic invest heavily in Altaruk as well. maybe a population of several hundred, with as many transient population as well. It is a major stop on the road after all.
#6
baronspam
Sep 30, 2010 16:33:42
I always thought that Altaruk was pretty near the estuary, so I would make it defensible to some degree, with some towers near the docks with siege weapons to deter the Giants. Also, I think the Giants don't trash it completely every time, a smart ant eater doesn't clean out the anthill so to speak.
In that way, I assumed Silt skimmers would make it all the way from Balic to Altaruk, otherwise, why make it so close to the Estuary of the Forked Tongue?
Altaruk has to have a water source of some kind, as it is a largish permanent settlement, the trade houses of Balic invest heavily in Altaruk as well. maybe a population of several hundred, with as many transient population as well. It is a major stop on the road after all.

About the water source- yes, Altaruk is pretty big. DSCG gives the population as 2,000. On the 4th ed map it seems to be at the crest of some minor mountains/hills. The rise in evavation would likely cause moist air masses that come in during Sun Descending to drop significant (by Athas standards) amounts of rain. I imagine they have good wells and possibly cisterns as well. If they had better soil they might support a even larger population, but I imagine most of the food supply has to be brought in.
#7
OneWeirdCat
Sep 30, 2010 18:02:48
I always thought that Altaruk was pretty near the estuary, so I would make it defensible to some degree, with some towers near the docks with siege weapons to deter the Giants. Also, I think the Giants don't trash it completely every time, a smart ant eater doesn't clean out the anthill so to speak.
In that way, I assumed Silt skimmers would make it all the way from Balic to Altaruk, otherwise, why make it so close to the Estuary of the Forked Tongue?
Altaruk has to have a water source of some kind, as it is a largish permanent settlement, the trade houses of Balic invest heavily in Altaruk as well. maybe a population of several hundred, with as many transient population as well. It is a major stop on the road after all.

About the water source- yes, Altaruk is pretty big. DSCG gives the population as 2,000. On the 4th ed map it seems to be at the crest of some minor mountains/hills. The rise in evavation would likely cause moist air masses that come in during Sun Descending to drop significant (by Athas standards) amounts of rain. I imagine they have good wells and possibly cisterns as well. If they had better soil they might support a even larger population, but I imagine most of the food supply has to be brought in.

Yes, Altaruk is along a major Tyr-Balic trade route, with Abalath ( a permanent Tsalaxa trading town of 500), Grak's Pool, Silver springs, Ledopolus etc as all major water stops along the way. If you use Dune Trader, you see many forts etc in the region, which all must have wells or control an oasis to sustain themselves as well. That is why they are established where they are in all likelihood. Numerous other small oasis's must abound, for desert tribes and the like.
We imagined that Altaruk had some limited agriculture, but not near enough to support the population. I believe it was listed as a major source of livestock in Dune Trader, so meat may be heavy on the menu there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 baronspam Sep 29, 2010 23:45:10	Based on the 4th ed map, it actually looks like it is 10 to 15 miles from the end of the Estuary. But there are many references that I run across that point out its relationship to Balic, which is know for its shipping, and the fact that it is at the end of the Estuary of the Forked Tounge. Can you get a skimmer all the way to Altaruk? If not, I am wondering about trade patterns. There is a road, of course, but it might be easier to move cargo by skimmer as far as Ledopolus and then overland to Altaruk. Is there anything in any of the fiction or the 2nd ed material that cleared this up? I am leanind toward no as an answer to my own question but there are just enough implications scattered around to make me wonder.
#2 Grummore Sep 30, 2010 12:22:40	It is not, but since it's near the estuary, it could be possible to have a small external dock with a few warehouse.
#3 Pennarin Sep 30, 2010 12:56:48	Being miles away from the silt reduces the frequency of giant attacks, which all editions have mentionned Altaruk gets. It is comprehensible, Altaruk being so small, and poorly protected and defended compared to Balic. Their trade is mostly landbound, the Tyr-Balic trade route.
#4 baronspam Sep 30, 2010 14:24:24	It is not, but since it's near the estuary, it could be possible to have a small external dock with a few warehouse. This is kind of what I was thinking myself. The CG says at a couple of points that there are lots of small outposts and villages not marked on the map, there probably would be a fort with some docks, a cistern, some rudimentary trade facilities, etc, somewhere down the road from Alaruk on the Estuary. Since the town troops are supposed to keep the area twenty miles or so around the town fairly safe, I image they have a number of redouts and watchtowers scattered here and there, early warning against the next wave of gaints if nothing else.
#5 OneWeirdCat Sep 30, 2010 14:54:47	I always thought that Altaruk was pretty near the estuary, so I would make it defensible to some degree, with some towers near the docks with siege weapons to deter the Giants. Also, I think the Giants don't trash it completely every time, a smart ant eater doesn't clean out the anthill so to speak. In that way, I assumed Silt skimmers would make it all the way from Balic to Altaruk, otherwise, why make it so close to the Estuary of the Forked Tongue? Altaruk has to have a water source of some kind, as it is a largish permanent settlement, the trade houses of Balic invest heavily in Altaruk as well. maybe a population of several hundred, with as many transient population as well. It is a major stop on the road after all.
#6 baronspam Sep 30, 2010 16:33:42	I always thought that Altaruk was pretty near the estuary, so I would make it defensible to some degree, with some towers near the docks with siege weapons to deter the Giants. Also, I think the Giants don't trash it completely every time, a smart ant eater doesn't clean out the anthill so to speak. In that way, I assumed Silt skimmers would make it all the way from Balic to Altaruk, otherwise, why make it so close to the Estuary of the Forked Tongue? Altaruk has to have a water source of some kind, as it is a largish permanent settlement, the trade houses of Balic invest heavily in Altaruk as well. maybe a population of several hundred, with as many transient population as well. It is a major stop on the road after all. About the water source- yes, Altaruk is pretty big. DSCG gives the population as 2,000. On the 4th ed map it seems to be at the crest of some minor mountains/hills. The rise in evavation would likely cause moist air masses that come in during Sun Descending to drop significant (by Athas standards) amounts of rain. I imagine they have good wells and possibly cisterns as well. If they had better soil they might support a even larger population, but I imagine most of the food supply has to be brought in.
#7 OneWeirdCat Sep 30, 2010 18:02:48	I always thought that Altaruk was pretty near the estuary, so I would make it defensible to some degree, with some towers near the docks with siege weapons to deter the Giants. Also, I think the Giants don't trash it completely every time, a smart ant eater doesn't clean out the anthill so to speak. In that way, I assumed Silt skimmers would make it all the way from Balic to Altaruk, otherwise, why make it so close to the Estuary of the Forked Tongue? Altaruk has to have a water source of some kind, as it is a largish permanent settlement, the trade houses of Balic invest heavily in Altaruk as well. maybe a population of several hundred, with as many transient population as well. It is a major stop on the road after all. About the water source- yes, Altaruk is pretty big. DSCG gives the population as 2,000. On the 4th ed map it seems to be at the crest of some minor mountains/hills. The rise in evavation would likely cause moist air masses that come in during Sun Descending to drop significant (by Athas standards) amounts of rain. I imagine they have good wells and possibly cisterns as well. If they had better soil they might support a even larger population, but I imagine most of the food supply has to be brought in. Yes, Altaruk is along a major Tyr-Balic trade route, with Abalath ( a permanent Tsalaxa trading town of 500), Grak's Pool, Silver springs, Ledopolus etc as all major water stops along the way. If you use Dune Trader, you see many forts etc in the region, which all must have wells or control an oasis to sustain themselves as well. That is why they are established where they are in all likelihood. Numerous other small oasis's must abound, for desert tribes and the like. We imagined that Altaruk had some limited agriculture, but not near enough to support the population. I believe it was listed as a major source of livestock in Dune Trader, so meat may be heavy on the menu there.