Post by themidnightscribe on Aug 16, 2009 16:40:21 GMT -6
The planet of Tirah is not one some would call habitable by many standards. Yet, thanks to several centuries of taming, the barren deserts have yielded a utopia. The majority of the planet is made up of mountains and deserts. The valleys are more often than not are temperate at best, and quite fragile systems. The face of the planet is carved by canyons, and it is in these deep river beds that humanity has survived. Each canyon houses a village or city, depending on it's size and accessibility to rare natural resources. On the western sea coast there are tall, jagged cliffs which also house dragon-riding communities. However, they collect rain from heavy downpours in their porra and dragons fish for sea demons, which are giant shark like creatures.
However, it is important to note that humans would not be able to survive with out the help of their dragon companions. While rivers carry fresh water through the canyons, it is not enough for every one to take what they want. Dragons, carrying large kettles called porra, fly to the mountains and bring back freshwater from the lakes. This may only take a day for dragons, while if a human were to walk or ride a beast of burden would take days, even months. Porras are made in different sizes, depending on the size of the dragon, and made from steel. Most carry 50 gallons in the least, and can range up to 100 gallons for larger dragons. The water is then deposited in a large aquifer or well beneath the canyon floor by way of a chiseled tunnel sort of like a chimney at the top of the canyon walls.
Besides getting fresh water, dragons also help hunt food. Most of the grassy canyon bottom is used for planting (and to avoid Tragedy of the Commons) since the raising of livestock is near impossible in more populated canyons. Dragons hunt large sand serpents in the desert, and a kill of a medium serpent usually takes 4 dragons. Most of the time, hunting parties bring back only small serpents since the medium and large ones are rare to find and hard to kill. The meat is taken to be roasted, boiled, grilled or dried and spiced. It is a staple in the Tirahan diet. Other vegitables, herbs, and medicinal plants are grown along the river in the canyon.
Raw materials, such as metals, wood, jewels, wool, and granite, are items that are supposed to be shared, but can be traded once each canyon gets their share. Due to the rarity of these materials, occasionally one greedy lord or another hordes them, and war may break out if negotiations do not work out.
However, it is important to note that humans would not be able to survive with out the help of their dragon companions. While rivers carry fresh water through the canyons, it is not enough for every one to take what they want. Dragons, carrying large kettles called porra, fly to the mountains and bring back freshwater from the lakes. This may only take a day for dragons, while if a human were to walk or ride a beast of burden would take days, even months. Porras are made in different sizes, depending on the size of the dragon, and made from steel. Most carry 50 gallons in the least, and can range up to 100 gallons for larger dragons. The water is then deposited in a large aquifer or well beneath the canyon floor by way of a chiseled tunnel sort of like a chimney at the top of the canyon walls.
Besides getting fresh water, dragons also help hunt food. Most of the grassy canyon bottom is used for planting (and to avoid Tragedy of the Commons) since the raising of livestock is near impossible in more populated canyons. Dragons hunt large sand serpents in the desert, and a kill of a medium serpent usually takes 4 dragons. Most of the time, hunting parties bring back only small serpents since the medium and large ones are rare to find and hard to kill. The meat is taken to be roasted, boiled, grilled or dried and spiced. It is a staple in the Tirahan diet. Other vegitables, herbs, and medicinal plants are grown along the river in the canyon.
Raw materials, such as metals, wood, jewels, wool, and granite, are items that are supposed to be shared, but can be traded once each canyon gets their share. Due to the rarity of these materials, occasionally one greedy lord or another hordes them, and war may break out if negotiations do not work out.