Technology in the Green Coast: An Overview

Technology in the Green Coast has seen several advances in the last few decades. Boats that travel up and down the Black Ash River are powered by steam engines, armies have been broken by balls of stone launched at them with a crack of thunder and a cloud of smoke, advances in clockwork have allowed for timepieces that fit into a pocket, and a movable-type printing press reduces the time to copy a book from days to hours. All either put into use or invented in the last thirty years.

Dwarves

Dwarves view the advancement of technology with something akin to reverence. While they do not worship technology and would be insulted by anyone suggesting such, they view a new invention with an almost childlike awe and wonder. Even a simple innovation, such as a leather strap to the base of a battle ax to prevent disarming, is something worth noticing.

     The steam engine that has improved trade between Chor Kolav and Argoport was invented by the dwarves of Chor Kolav. Though no seagoing vessels yet exist that are powered by steam, the dwarves of Meresk Delas have been experimenting with several different designs. Some in Chor Kolav have been attempting to design a land vessel that can travel the Under-Road, though no design has yet been deemed feasible.

     The only dwarves to regularly use firearms are the dwarves of Glastig. While each shipment of black powder and ammunition from the foreign gnomes across the sea weighs several tones, the constant siege by hobgoblin forces means that they are always in danger of running out by the time the next trade shipment arrives between one and a half to two months later.

     While dwarves have admired and collected clockwork pieces for centuries, and the largest clock in the Green Coast is part of Batergo-Hundegez (“Batergo’s Faithful”) in Meresk Delas, they were not the ones to develop the miniaturized gears and clockwork that allow for pocket-watches. They do however greatly appreciate them, and only the poorest of dwarves do not have at least one.

     The moveable type printing press swiftly made its way into dwarven cities shortly after its invention in Sylvanor six years ago. While certainly useful for those that need to create multiple copies of the same document, most dwarves aren’t quite yet sure what to do with it.

Elves

The view that elves have of the new inventions depends on whether they are from Drynaryn or Wainryn. Drynaryn’s isolationist policy means that the only elves from there that are exposed to these new technologies are exiles and how they react varies depending on the individual. Elves from Wainryn however for the most part have a disdainful view of the steam engine and printing press. They view both as being loud, clunky, and inelegant. On top of that, the printing press lacks the ability to apply the flowing and elegant filigree that is a crucial part of elven writings.

     Elves view the miniaturized clockwork as quaint. While they admire the precision involved in making them, as well as the beautiful artwork on some, elves for the most part don’t see the practical value in a device that only keeps track of hours and minutes.

     The elves of Wainryn have mixed views of firearms. While loud, inelegant, and ill-suited to their traditional means of waging war, they have heard the stories of how firearms are changing the way war is waged in Glastig. So with reluctance, the leaders of Wainryn have begun training elite squads specializing in muskets. The ideal use of these musketeers would be to have more traditional forces gain the attention of their enemy, and when the enemy is committed the musketeers will open fire on them from the sides. While excellent in theory, thus far these musketeer squads have seen no live combat.

Gnomes

Gnomes have a very practicality oriented view towards technology. If a given technology aids in their research, study, or archaeological digs then it is a boon to be used. If not, then they do not care about it. Of the new technologies, the one most widely used by gnomes is the one that was invented by a gnome: the printing press.

     The printing press was invented by a scholar in the city of Eszath in Sylvanor whose job required that he make multiple copies of his notes to be sent to various officials and higher-ups. Unfortunately his assistant kept loosing these extra copies, and the scholar eventually became so frustrated that he made a machine that would make multiple copies of his notes and give his aching hand a chance to rest.

Halflings

Halflings approach the new technologies the same way as any craft: nothing less than perfection is sufficient. A halfling craftsman learning to make pocket-watches will spend upwards of fifteen hours a day learning how to make each individual gear and cog. When that halfling is happy with his work, the finished piece will be both functional and a work of art.

Humans

In general humans tend to adopt new technology as it comes and incorporate it into their lives. While they lack the awe and wonder of dwarves, they also lack the distain for it that elves do. In addition, a few years after incorporating a new technology it becomes almost a fact of life to them, to the point of some wondering how they lived without it.

Orcs

For the most part, the orc clans don’t use any of the recent innovations; largely due to a lack of need. Their histories and traditions are passed down orally, and most of their lifestyle revolves around their herd animals rather than the written word. They have no need for timepieces, and firearms are bulky and cumbersome to reload while mounted on their bison. The lack of easy access to black powder only further reinforces their lack of interest in adopting firearms.

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