Although the Sivaliya people tend to call their Varsha Port "the largest port on the west coast comparable to the Port of Parnira in the Padrosi Empire" when they flatter themselves, in fact , they are indeed the largest ports on the east and west coasts, but this "comparable" one has extremely high water content.
Before Avenella spent several months building this small port, the only ports on the entire west coast were the one in Thoradin Highlands in the south and the port of Varsha. The remaining ones were more like fishermen than ports. pier.
Therefore, you have to give Varsha Port the title of the largest and most powerful on the west coast like the Shivaliers did. This is barely acceptable. Even though it is taller than the short one, it is still appropriate. But if you compare it with Parnilla, you are doing yourself a disservice.
A good port requires more than just excellent construction craftsmen. Whether it is a merchant ship or a warship, as the volume and load capacity increase, the displacement increases and the draft requirements also increase accordingly. This alone is enough to exclude most of the beach terrain. This is why most large ships carry small boats. On the one hand, they can be used to escape in critical situations, and on the other hand, they are also used to escape when there is no port. Landing in the wild areas.
In order to prevent the ship from being damaged and sunk, there must be no reefs near the port. To sum up, a standard port must have a certain draft and must not have rocks or excessive undercurrents. In addition, the nearby land terrain should also be convenient for movement and transportation. Therefore, the port, especially for ships carrying long-distance voyages, must have a certain draft. Large harbors where ships are anchored are extremely rare throughout the world of Rigal, with only a few in total.
Among them, the most famous and prosperous one, excluding unconventional harbors like Ella, the water capital of the Southern City-State Alliance, is the Port of Parnira, which has existed since before the establishment of the ancient Lamanite Empire.
When approaching from a distance, it is difficult to realize that this is actually a port.
What is worth mentioning here is that although we have always referred to the huge inland sea of Mobigas as the inland sea, in fact, just like the wider outer sea, there are also many islands and reefs in the inland sea - and the Port of Parnilla , it is surrounded by a crescent-shaped island.
Thousands of years ago, the locals discovered this natural harbor with excellent shelter. Although the inland sea is relatively calm, natural disasters that rage during the stormy season can still destroy the proud warships of mankind, and when facing foreign enemies, these Islands also provide excellent protection. Therefore, when the Lamanite Empire rose, they listed the port of Parnira as their top priority for conquest.
The merchant ship slowed as it approached the port.
The Lamanites spent thousands of years doing everything possible to perfect the fortifications on this harbor, but before entering the artificial fortifications inside, the first thing the helmsman had to face was the natural terrain of the harbor itself.
A small boat with white sails approached, and sailors from the south stood on the port side waving black and white flags vigorously. After identifying the flag, the small boat quickly approached, and our Luoan girl, who had been a little nauseous during this period because she had not been on a ship very often, now brought up her never-ending curiosity again. Heart.
"Teacher, that is?" Mira asked. Although she was not sure whether her teacher had been to the East Coast, it was the right thing to ask anyway. The girl didn't think twice, and Henry responded with a short word: "Navigator."
The sage continued: "One side of Port Parnilla is surrounded by islands. Although the other side seems calm, the water flow is only familiar to the locals. Therefore, foreign ships often need to hire pilots when passing through external passes. ."
"Look, those are all." Henry pointed into the distance. The far end of the horizon was slightly glowing with white light due to the sunlight. Unlike him, Mira had to squint her eyes to see countless small sailboats of various shapes swaying, as if they were Waiting for guests to arrive.
"Pilot boats are usually small boats with big sails, because despite the constant flow of merchant ships, no one would mind having more gold coins in their pockets. The locals even have a song called 'Children of the Wind and the Sea' , the song is about the navigators who race boats to get jobs." Henry shrugged, and the sailboat approaching the small merchant ship raised a rope ladder from below due to the gap. After holding the ship's edge firmly with the help of the sailors, the lightly-clad Padrosi pilot climbed up quickly.
"Bono, Martina." He spoke to the sailors in the south. Mira could barely understand that this man was saying "good morning", although the Luoan girl's Laman language was pretty good. But the Padrosi-style Lamani language, which is the Lamanite orthodoxy, combined with the dialect and slang expressions of Port Parnira is still a bit difficult for her to understand.
But this can only be done gradually.
"Ponoig." The sailors from the Southern Territory responded to each other with their customary greetings from the Southern Territory. Although they also spoke Lamani, the language gap developed in different regions has become wider and wider as time goes by.
After collecting two Ella silver coins, the navigator took over the position of helmsman - this is not the entire fee. If it must be said, the tips and deposits are more in nature. The remaining funds will not be paid until safe entry into the port. .
The ship started to move again little by little, and a nauseating feeling brewed in the belly of the white-haired girl for no reason - after all, it was her first time on a ship. If she went to the outer sea where the waves were more dangerous, she was afraid that this would happen. Now I can't even stand up anymore.
"Let's rest inside." Henry said, but Mira just shook her head. She found a wooden barrel placed on the edge of the boat to support and sat down. The wooden barrels contained various kinds of fine wines produced in the South. This trip took a long time. If it was just transporting people, it would be overkill for the merchants in the South. Although this was only a small merchant ship, the nature of the merchants was always the same. If you can, try to install as many as possible.
"Woo——" Although the pilot's skills were very good and he knew the nearby water well, as soon as the ship started to rise and fall, Mira still experienced a feeling that her internal organs seemed to be churning.
"Ugh -" "Hiss -" But just when the girl's face turned pale and she wanted to get up and lie on the edge of the boat to vomit out the little food left in her stomach, a cold hand reached out to her. In front of me, there was some kind of liquid with a pungent smell on my fingers. As I inhaled the breath, my whole body became much more energetic.
"What is this?" Mira turned her head, and Ming Na, who had naturally disheveled blond hair, stood beside her and smiled softly: "A mixture of peppermint oil and other things, for people who are seasick. But Asia Venella can't buy this, I just bought it from the navigator in Padrosi." The blonde girl said and handed her a small dark brown stoneware bottle with no decoration on it. With instructions, Mira pulled out the cork and applied some on her upper lip under Mingna's instructions. After taking a deep breath, she was refreshed by the cool stimulation.
"After this section, you will find the calm interior of the harbor." Henry stared straight ahead and said calmly.
There was a burst of yelling in front of her. Mira shook her head, regained some energy and looked there. It was obviously her first time to take a boat, but she didn't know if it was because she saw the sea. Muna was pointing excitedly into the distance and talking to the prairie warriors beside her.
"Enjoy it."
"The so-called most splendid and glorious civilization in human history, what it really looks like." The sage said again, and the front of the island beyond the barrier suddenly became brighter, and the girl subconsciously looked along the light -
The seagulls that filled the sky were so small compared to the huge and empty background that they looked like just small dots.
The black flag of Padrosi fluttered high above the huge white city-state with its back on the mountains. A series of giant merchant ships with a size of twenty times the size of the merchant ship they were riding on were neatly arranged in front of them with distinctive family emblems. At the port, the farmers who went fishing in small boats in the distance were as small as insects under their shadows.
"So...big..." Words are so powerless in this situation. Although I have been to Otolo and even entered the palace, that kind of quick glance or being in it The situation is difficult to compare with the current situation. The huge bronze statue stands in the central square of Parnilla City. Even from this distance, the girl can still clearly see the way it reaches forward and spreads its light to the world.
The huge castle erected high up, the neat and frightening white city walls stretch endlessly, and the rows of colorful houses below are full of the aesthetic essence of the Lamanite people's thousands of years of cultural cohesion.
It is noble yet majestic, flamboyant but not offensive.
"If you think about it, compared to the meaningless monuments of the Mobigans, the essence of our civilization is Laman. These huge buildings perform their own duties. In addition to aesthetics, they also play a very important practical role. ." Henry said this in Lamani, and his pronunciation was so standard that the navigator in front turned his head and looked at him blankly for a while.
"Karl Oridumbo Sekesiutu." During the trip, she carried many books related to the Laman Empire and the Padrosi Empire. Minna, who was desperately trying to make up for it, had it at her disposal at this time. She turned her head to Henry He smiled slightly, and then continued: "I am confident because I can, and I am arrogant because I can. I am the king of Laman, and I am the king of the world."
"I."
"omnipotent."
"Then he was poisoned to death." Henry shrugged, and his words caused everyone on the boat to laugh in unison. Even the navigator, who was a native, laughed to tears. Thousands of years of Lamani culture has created countless scholars who can be called "venomous tongues". This open and free nature is deeply rooted in the culture, so even if you ridicule the deceased emperor, it will not cause any confusion. What a nervous hostility.
The scenery gradually grew larger as the ship approached, and by this point the navigator was able to return the helm to the sailors in the south. He clapped his hands and approached with steady steps. The way he walked made Mira and Ming Na next to him wary, but this middle-aged man with a smile on his face stretched out his hand towards Henry.
"Alessandro." He said this, and the sage glanced at Mira, who was standing on the right side of the ship. The hand was covered with calluses, but this was not something common workers and farmers had. appearance. The ring near the tiger's mouth and index finger clearly seems to be formed when holding a sword, and the unusually thick callus on the second section of his index finger proves that this person has the habit of clasping his fingers on the guard of the sword.
——This is not a skill that ordinary soldiers can understand. The swordsmanship learned by this person comes from the same source as the Luoan Maiden Master. It is a simple and effective high-level swordsmanship.
"Henry." Mira believed that the sage must have discovered these places, but he remained unmoved and shook hands with the other person without warning.
"A Weislan name, interesting. I thought you were a local. Your accent sounds like you are from Heinzworm." As he said this, the merchant ship gradually slowed down. , they were almost arriving at Parnilla, and the noisy noises and endless crowds were close at hand - Alessandro raised his voice: "Anyway, you look like you are here to find some work. .You seem to be right up my alley, so if you need anything, come see me at Jenny’s Tavern, where I work as a bodyguard—until this job is over, of course.”
"Yes." Henry nodded, and the middle-aged navigator, who was rushing to take over the next job, climbed out before the ship even docked, unhooked the hook, and together with his companions, drove the small sailboat toward the outside again. Drive away.
"Click--" The pedals nailed with horizontal wooden strips were put down. This small merchant ship had a dedicated port. Mira couldn't wait to run down first. She had never loved the feeling of being down to earth so much. The exit on the other side of the far port is sparkling in the morning sun. Looking from here, you can see a huge iron chain with one end immersed in the sea stretched between the two castles, and look beyond it to look further inside. Go there, and there are rows of murderous Padrosi battleships with black sails and black flags.
"That's used to block enemy warships." The sage answered proactively without the girl asking.
"Pah." More and more people got off the ship behind them. The flat stone road was more than ten meters wide from left to right, and some flatbed trucks pulled by livestock were transporting goods from various merchant ships. There were all kinds of busy people, and after taking over the weapons and armor from the sailors in the south that had been wrapped and preserved in layers to prevent them from being corroded and rusted by sea salt, Henry and the others also said goodbye to these sailors who had been with them for a long time. , heading towards a new location.
The sun shines and seagulls circle and fly.
The soles of hard leather boots made crisp sounds on the stone slabs, and the city ahead stretched as far as the eye could see.
"Let's go." Henry turned around and said.
————
Notes: ①: Wisland: The collective name given to the large and small kingdoms on the west coast by the people on the east coast, mainly Padrosi. In the past, it had a certain derogatory connotation such as "barbarians", but now it has become more biased towards Neutral words.
②: Heinzwom: A city-state on the northern east coast, famous for its aurora and beautiful lakes created by meteorites in the past.
