The Shipbuilder Irratus was carving away at the plank. His arms hurt from shaping the wood, his back hurt from being hunched over, and his eads hurt from having to listen to Eliyaas. The old Shipbuilder always spoke harsh P'ufspuji to Irratus, though the harshness was largely due to the way Eliyaas spoke than the language. But he could hardly blame the old man - he had a number of craftsmen to arrange, and a... particular king to contend with. The worst kind of patron.

King Sitasi was a nuisance. She had been the king of Nalro for a scant few years, and already most wished that her clan didn't win the kingship. Not in a way that would lead to an overthrow, just... she liked things a certain way. And liked the interfere with work in a certain way. And liked to specify things that did not matter.

Like the carvings that Irratus was making.

Eliyaas himself was put in charge of carving her new ship's prowmast, and engraving the story of her great triumph in the war and some of her clan's history. He had done marvelously, and the completed prow now stood proudly in place and was being lacquered and dustgilt now as the keel and the ribs of the ship were finalizing construction. She had been by many, many times to ensure the details were just right... And to gawk at it. But why did particular carvings have to be put in the handrail? It was obscene. Half of them were liable to be filled in by the bronze fittings anyways.

Oh yes, of course, the bronze fittings. Wooden ones simply were not good enough. P'ufspuj tin had to be brought in and made into bronze cleats. This ship was a work in extravagance, with a second mast in addition to the first. In a way, Irratus took pride in even having worked on it. The hull was smooth and flush like the skin of a whale shark. She would cleave through the water like an finely sharpened axe. And its growing hulk was enormous - a luxuriant five spans across, and fifteen in length! A decadent palace upon the water, that would certainly inspire awe. If Irratus had a prow, he would ensure that his carving of this Korshall ship would be carved on it. But did it truly need to be this extravagant? Nalro was not the smallest city, but it simply could not compare to the vastness of sovereign Snehta. Sitasi's family was not that big, despite her own mother being a great beauty. How many children did Sitasi intend to have...? How would she maintain her image as a ferocious king when with child? Sitasi was not yet even married.

"Boy!" roared Eliyaas. "No lollygagging! Get back to work!"

Irratus snapped out of his thoughts and carved all the more hurriedly. It would not do if Eliyaas banished him from this craft - he would be hard-pressed to continue it without Eliyaas's assent. It also would not do for King Sitasi to see a layabout in the building yard! The intricate carving that Sitasi had chosen resembled a wave and dots on either side - schools of fish and stars, above and below the sea. It was to trace the length of the scrollwork, and was yet another lavish expense. Sitasi's meteoric rise had been the result of her prolific piracy. Indeed, the tomahaak fit nicely in her hand. She had become an important tool in Snehta's competition with Kuru. Now Kuru had fallen under the sway of Taa-Rokna, and to the victor went the plunder. And evidently a doublemasted ship disproportionately large for the family it would bear.

Speaking of those masts, they would be raising them both any day now. Eliyaas had been surveying strong young men to help him raise them high, as they were at a critical stage in the shipbuilding process. First the prow was made, then the keel was laid. The ribs of the ship would take shape, and the hull would have it's planks put in and sewn together. The ship would build up its shell, but not before the masts would be raised and affixed in place - it would not do to try and move masts around a completed hull! The first deck, then the second would be put in, and the rear platform would be added last. All the while, the hull would be caulked and the niceties would be put in. It was a long process.

And that was before the sails even had to be made. Of course, Sitasi wanted her Korshall ship to be easily recognizable so that her presence would be known. She likely had an elaborate design planned out for those poor weavers and dyers - one for the mainsail, one for the aftsail, two for the jibs, one for the foretent, and a smattering of them for the windows in the rear. A village's worth of cloth, for more needless luxury. Irratus was unsure how often she intended to be at sea, but she had selected a chief astronomer, high priest, court chancellor, and viceregal diplomat from her clan to aid her in her efforts. And run her kingdom while she was off raiding and warring. Evidently they would be kingless for quite a bit.

Not that their previous king was a paragon of virtue. At least this one had some energy, and brought wealth to Nalro in her conquest. Hopefully these officials would do the same.

Sitasi's particularity was still a chafing point for much of the city. She incessantly stopped by various craftsmen quarters, to make sure they were being productive. She did fortunately try to see that they had all they needed and shielded them from interference from various Sasnak clans who came and went. There were a lot of Sasnak around lately, it seemed like half the city was always filled with them sailing out to the Luzum or coming back from it. The lands the Sasnak-ra generally inhabited had doubled since his grandfather was a boy, as his grandfather often said. The range of the Sasnak was tenfold larger. And Sitasi was the one who had to deal with all the politics of the city coalitions. Perhaps that's why she was so particular with what she wanted. Still, it felt an awful lot like Irratus had someone watching over his shoulder.

"Boy," said Sitasi behind him. Irratus jumped.

"At ease, boy. I only want to see your work. Flighty, aren't you?" said the king. Irratus paused, and then stood aside, and King Sitasi looked at his handiwork. She was quiet for a while, and Irratus caught Eliyaas's eye. He frowned (well, frowned more) and walked over.

"Is there a problem, king?" he said when he arrived.

"No, master shipbuilder. What's this boy's name?"

Eliyaas looked at Irratus for a moment and raised an eyebrow, "His name is Irratus, king. If it's not to your liking, I can have him beaten and start anew."

Irratus's eyes went wide, and he was suddenly aware of the difference in arm thickness between him and his master. The king shook her head, "no, I would say this is adequate. More than adequate. Your boy knows his way around that chisel."

As Irratus raised his eyebrows, Eliyaas lowered his and said, "I wouldn't go that far."

The king laughed a kind laugh. She said, "He's a strapping young lad too, with a lot of promise. I might ask after his services again. My bed might need some carving."

Irratus blinked a few times, and the king spoke again, "I must be off - the Sasnak Tide is always coming and going, there are more coming in tonight. Carry on, shipbuilders," and the king turned and walked off with her guards in tow. Did that actually happen?

Eliyaas smacked him on the back of the head, "Dream later, boy. You have no chance! Now get carving!"

Innuendo aside this one references how the outer sea's kingship works as opposed to inner sea kingship. Also, it's mostly a boat tech post for my many, many, many boat techs this week. And it references expansion and political scene. Lots of Sasnak around.