64 Foot Dak

64 FOOT DAK 1
2005, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games Inc. HrnWorld

64 FOOT DAK LORKIN
Home Port: None
Owner (Aboard): Eshrel Ranals
Crew: 5 officers, 15 seamen
Passengers: 0 9 (4 semi-permanent)

INTRODUCTION
This article contains a description of a large commer-
cial cargo vessel, a 64-foot dak named Lorkin. A full set
of GM Notes and a description of the crew and passengers
is available separately in Friends, Foes and Followers Part
6, entitled A Company of Adventurers The Crew of the
Lorkin. This allows a GM to re-use this ship for different
crews, times and places.

HISTORY
Originally named the Lady Rayas, the ship was con-
structed in 682TR at the shipyard of Joss of Whedon, in
the city of Murshel, Trierzon. She was one of more than a
dozen daks commissioned by the Duke of Trabant for his
private commercial fleet. She gave solid service for 29
years, before being retired and replaced by a newer, more
modern vessel in 711TR.
The Lady Rayas and her sister ships are simple, con-
servative, solid designs, built to last. Fashioned from the
finest oak and fir from the Dukes own woodlots (a con-
siderable cost saving), the large timbers were cut from a
single tree whenever possible. For extra strength, long-
life and durability in the rough Gulf of Ederwyn, the ships
were Kamba straked (double planked) using continuous
planks running the full length of the hull. No expense was
spared on the hull or rigging, but the ships interiors were
left exceptionally plain and workmanlike, with the Duke
refused to spend money on what he considered frippery.
Based in Murshel, the Dukes commercial fleet works
the profitable sea-trade between Trierzon, Palithane and
points north. The Dukes agents deal in fruit, wine, honey,
iron and ceramics, anything that makes a profit. For
many years, the Lady Rayas was a solid, if unspectacular,
piece of the Dukes far-flung commercial enterprise.
In 692TR, after the loss of several commercial vessels
to pirate attacks; the Duke ordered an expansion of his

CREDITS
WRITERS
Kerry Mould
Ken Snellings
Andy Gibson

MAPS
Ken Snellings (Lorkin)
Peter Fauconnier (Original Dak)
ARTIST ART SPONSOR
Juha Makkonen Andy Gibson
64 FOOT DAK 2
HrnWorld 2005, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games Inc.
war fleet and a number of his commercial ships were refit-
ted as warships or transports. In 693TR, the Lady Rayas
returned to Murshel for refit as a troop transport.
Originally, built with only a small, open sterncastle and
no forecastle, the Lady Rayas was a basic trading vessel.
The refit extended and enclosed the sterncastle, creating
cabins for troop transport, and installed the most recent
innovation, an enclosed forecastle, with two cabins for the
ships officers. When work was complete, the ship could
carry thirty soldiers, twenty crew and 167 tuns of cargo
(provisions, horses, siege equipment and the like).
After the refit, the Lady Rayas returned to work as a
commercial cargo vessel, occasionally transporting pas-
sengers, usually the Dukes bonded mercantylers. When
the Duke needed additional warships (a rare event), the
refitted commercial vessels were pressed into service.
Despite the modifications, the Lady Rayas never saw ac-
tive duty in the Dukes war fleet, though the new quarter-
deck and focsle proved their worth in her own occasional
skirmishes with pirates. Unfortunately, time and one too
many storms, took its toll on the old girl and in 711TR she
was paid off and put up for sale. Unfortunately, several
better ships were also retired that year, causing a glut on
the used ship market. Tied to one of the Dukes wharfs,
she sat alone and uncared for until 713TR.

RECENT EVENTS
Despite her age, the dak is a rugged dependable ship.
Her plain fit and finish, lack of decoration and conserva-
tive design do not obscure the eight large cabins, great
room and kitchen, ample cargo hold, finest clinker straked
oak hull, fir masts and solid stone ballast of a true work-
horse. It was these features that caught the eye of a for-
mer sergeant, Eshrel (Sh) Ranals. He had recently
come into some money and was looking to buy a ship.
In the autumn of 713TR, Sh purchased the Lady
Rayas for the princely sum of 88 and renamed her the
Lorkin. Sh and his first mate, Zo, were among the
handful of survivors of the Siege of Lorkin Castle, the fi-
nal battle of the Jarin Rebellion in Orbaal. After the rebel-
lion was crushed, they fled to Trierzon where they worked
as mercenaries for the next nine years. In the summer of
713TR, during a skirmish on the Plain of Karetan, Sh had
the good fortune to capture a Shorkyni baron. His 120
ransom allowed Sh to retire and follow his lifelong dream
of buying his own ship.
The purchase price was only the beginning. After two
years tied up and ignored, the Lorkin needed significant
repairs just to make her seaworthy. Unable to afford a full
refit (which would have cost at least 48), Sh was forced
to limit work to just the most critical repairs. Twenty-two
pounds was just enough to have her pumped out, repair
the worst of the leaks, purchase some threadbare used
sails, replace some rigging, stock a few spares, purchase
some provisions and hire a crew. In the spring of 714TR,
with Shs last 10 invested in a speculative cargo; the
Lorkin set sail on her first voyage under her new captain.
Since then, Captain Ranals has managed to break
even. He hauls cargo (for himself and others), transports
passengers and occasionally participates in the small
package trade (a euphemism for smuggling). This earns
him enough, barely, to pay his crew, buy new provisions
and keep on sailing. The Lorkin is a little tired and worse
for wear, but he intends to have her refitted as soon as
time and money permit. For now, his chippy, Kayly, does
the best she can to keep up with the maintenance.

OUTER DECKS
1. Quarterdeck. The raised deck at the rear of the
vessel, above the enclosed sterncastle, this is where the
captain, pilot and other officers keep watch and command
the ship. The dak has a steer-post rudder, which the pilot
controls by means of a tiller bar. In fine weather, the pas-
sengers will often congregate here to enjoy the sun. In
event of combat, archers will be posted here to take ad-
vantage of the decks added height.
2. Focsle. The superstructure at the fore of the
ship, this deck is also used as a fighting platform in event
of combat. It is also the site of the toilet (heads).
3. Main Deck and Mast. Located six feet above the
water, this is the main working area of the ship. From
here, the crew loads and unloads cargo, works the rigging
and climbs the mast to loose or haul in the sails. The cap-
stan (winch) for raising the anchor is just ahead of the
cargo hatch. The anchors are strapped to the ships sides.
4. Cargo Hatch. This large (10 ft x 12 ft) opening
gives access to the Lorkins main cargo hold. Using lines
and pulleys strung from the yardarm, crates, barrels and
heavy freight are hoisted off the dock or pinda, swung
around and lowered into the hold. Once loading has been
completed, the hold is secured with a heavy oak hatch
that is covered with oiled-canvas to make it watertight.
5. Pindas. The Lorkin carries two small twelve-foot
pindas. These four man boats are mainly used to shuttle
passengers and crew to and from shore.

CABINS
6. Great Room. This room functions as a combina-
tion kitchen, dining room and lounge for the officers and
passengers of the Lorkin. A large table with benches
dominates the room and is the center of social activity
during long voyages at sea. Water barrels, a counter and
small wood stove line the sides of the room and serve as
the kitchen. Since there is no permanent cook, the
64 FOOT DAK 3
PLAYER MAP
Maps 2005, Kerry Mould, Ken Snellings and Peter Fauconnier.
64 FOOT DAK 4
GM MAP
QUARTER
DECK
MAIN
DECK
TWEEN
DECK
ORLOP
DECK
Maps 2005, Kerry Mould, Ken Snellings and Peter Fauconnier.
64 FOOT DAK 5
officers and passengers take turns cooking. The room is
cheerfully painted a bright yellow with a painted flower
trim (courtesy of Kayly). One of Shs more unusual tro-
phies, a strange bronze crest reputedly from the Diramoan
Empire, hangs on the wall.
7. Passenger Cabin. Derrial Parma, an Inithiar
(Cleric) of Siem, currently rents this comfortable double
berth. He spent several years in Evael at a Holy Grove in
the South Downs. He joined the ship in Cherafir, seem-
ingly unconcerned about its destination, telling Kayly I
have been out of the world a while, Id like to walk it a
spell. He was a paying passenger, but recent events have
made him more like crew and his fare has been waived for
the last few legs.
8. Crew Cabin. The door to this double berth is
decorated with a colorful sign announcing this is Kaylys
Room. The ships carpenter (or chippy), Kaylys room is
brightly decorated with souvenirs of her travels, including
a very large, very fluffy, very pink, dress. It is in complete
contrast to Kaylys often masculine clothes and dirt
smudged face.
9. Mates Cabin. The ships only married couple,
Hoban Firfohd (the pilot) and Zo Alleyne (the first
mate), share this large triple berth. The room has a com-
fortable double bed with a thick feather mattress and a
chest of clothes. Zo has a sizeable collection of weapons
and armor in a chest under the bed. Hobans pilots rutter
is carefully concealed in a false panel behind the bed.
Only Zo, the Captain and he know of its hiding place.
10. Captains Cabin. Captain Eshrel Ranals has a
triple berth to himself. A fine double bed, locked chest
and small desk and chair fill the room. The chest contains
the ships often meager operating capital and his personal
records. Sh also has a significant arsenal of weapons and
armor under his bed.
11. Crew Cabin. The ships muscular problem-
solver, mercenary and marine sergeant, Eryla Cobb, has a
double berth to himself. The cabin and a 10% share of the
ships profits were part of the deal he cut to switch sides at
a crucial moment when his gang tried to rob the Lorkin.
The wall next to his hammock is lined with a large and
varied assortment of weapons, all with easy reach.
12. Passenger Cabin. A master physician from Sel-
denbaal, Llwar Tam, boarded the ship with his sister,
Kib, in a drug-induced coma, hidden in a large trunk. He
rescued Kib from the Order of the Crimson Dancer, who
had enticed her with promises of a special education and
instead conducted unknown experiments on her mind.
The combination of the young mans skill as a surgeon
and Shs inconvenient sense of charity have resulted in
the pair being given free passage and the crews protec-
tion in return for his services as ships physician. Their
large double berth also serves as the ships infirmary and
surgery. It is well stocked, results of a recent job.
13. Passenger Cabin. The focsle has two cabins, the
larger, triple berth is home to the ships Ambassador,
Inara Serra, a guild certified courtesan. A beautiful and
desirable woman, she has many wealthy and noble clients
vying for her services in every major port. She pays cash
for her passage and thus demands complete privacy. She
sometimes entertains clients in her cabin, but more often
is shuttled ashore by pinda and stays in fine inns or her
clients homes. Her status lends respectability to an oth-
erwise scruffy and low-class vessel.
14. Passenger Cabin. This double berth is currently
vacant and is being used to store the officers liberty
chests and the passengers excess baggage. The last pay-
ing customer to use this cabin turned out to be a Crimson
Dancer agent who attempted to kidnap Kib and hijack
the ship. Sh killed him and threw him overboard. Since
then, the cabin hasnt been used. However, if finances get
tight, the Captain may have to revisit that decision.

BELOW DECKS
15. Provision Locker. This storeroom holds suffi-
cient food and water for 24 people for 30 days. Only the
captain and first mate have keys.
16. Spares and Discrete Storage. This locker
holds the ships spares, including material for repairing the
hull, replacement rigging and sails. The spares are
stacked right to the door. The ship has several trouble-
some little nooks where small packages can be safely
concealed from an overly inquisitive harbormaster.
17. Main Cargo Hold. The main profit maker for the
ship is her hold. A respectable 167 tuns net burthen, the
Lorkin can transport a hefty amount of cargo at one time.
Often, finding enough cargo is a problem, especially with-
out a supercargo (bonded master mercantyler specializing
in marine trade) or links to legitimate merchants ashore.
The ships anchor cable and the crewmens liberty chests
( tun each) are also stored here.
18. Crew Quarters. Operating a ship the size of the
Lorkin requires substantial manpower. The Captain em-
ploys a bosun and about fourteen seamen (a mix of
able/ordinary seamen and deck boys). The crew shares a
large 10ft high common cabin below the enclosed focsle.
The hammocks are tightly packed, two levels high. Dur-
ing the day, some of the hammocks are stowed and this
becomes the crews kitchen, eating area and lounge.
19. Bilge. (Not mapped) Covered by an orlop deck, the
lowest interior part of the hull is where water collects and
from where baling is done. Some ships have loose stone
for ballast. The Lorkin has a ballast of cut granite blocks
which fit tightly between the ships ribs.
64 FOOT DAK 6
CREW OF THE LORKIN
Not a large ship, the Lorkin still requires a sizeable
crew of five officers (see FFF6) and fifteen crew. The bo-
sun (or second-mate), an able seaman with good leader-
ship skills, leads the crewmen. The first mate (Zo) com-
mands the starboard watch; the bosun takes the port
watch. The Lorkin does not have many long-term crew.
The men come and go, joining or leaving the ship as the
mood takes them. Thus, individual NPC descriptions are
not listed; instead, generic profiles with average stats and
skills are provided. GMs are advised to generate names
and individual details as necessary (such as home port,
when they signed-on, when they are scheduled to be paid-
off, amount owed and any other additional pertinent in-
formation). If this is more detail than the GM or PCs are
interested in, this facet of the operation of the ship can
also be ignored, under the assumption that the Captain
and First Mate manage this as part of their daily routine or
delegate much of it to the Bosun.
The crew consists of three groups: able seamen, ordi-
nary seamen and deckboys. The best leader among the
able seaman is generally appointed bosun, this may or
may not be the most senior man. He and the first mate
then each appoint two lead hands, generally the next
most experienced able seamen. The remaining able and
ordinary seamen are equally distributed between the two
watches. The most junior crewmen are the deckboys,
equivalent of apprentices. They generally get the worst
jobs, but are not given dangerous or critical duties until
they have at least a years experience. Many of the deck-
boys are little more than teenagers.
The crew of the Lorkin are well treated and well fed.
Captain Ranals is also known as a hard, demanding Cap-
tain with little tolerance for disloyalty or slackness. He
pays only an average wage, but he pays on time and has a
good reputation for being fair and trustworthy, if slightly
shady. The Captain has little trouble filling his berths and
the Lorkin normally sails with a full crew.

UNIFORMS
A former sergeant, Eshrel Ranals has a particular
quirk, he insists all crew wear a basic uniform: the red
shirt. It also sets the crew apart from the crews of other
vessels, most of whom wear cheap, un-dyed cloth. A vet-
eran soldier, he knows how chaotic things can get,
whether it is during an attack by pirates or a simple port-
side tavern brawl. Quick and easy identification of fellow
crew members is vital. The captain has purchased a
quantity of brightly coloured red shirts. Each sailor is is-
sued one when he signs aboard and must return it when
he signs off. As a result, the officers have taken to calling
the crew red-shirts.
BOSUN (Able Seaman)
Str 12 Agl 12 Sml 12 Wil 12 Cml 12
Sta 12 Eye 12 Voi 12 Aur 12 End 12
Dex 12 Hrg 12 Int 12 Mor 10 Mov 12
Physical Skills: Climbing 60, Condition 60, Jumping 48, Stealth 36,
Throwing 48.
Communication Skills: Awareness 48, Intrigue 36, Oratory 24, Rhetoric
(Command) 48, Singing 36.
Combat Skills: Initiative 60, Unarmed 48, Dodge 60, Club 60, Dagger 48.
Craft Skills: Fishing 36, Piloting 24, Seamanship 72, Shipwright 24,
Weatherlore 36.
Armour / Weapons: Wool Cap, red cloth shirt and short pants, leather
belt and shoes, knife, belaying pin (club).
ABLE SEAMAN
Throwing 44.
33, Singing 33
Weatherlore 33.
ORDINARY SEAMAN
Throwing 40.
30, Singing 30.
Weatherlore 30.
DECKBOY
Throwing 36.
27, Singing 27.
Weatherlore 27.
64 FOOT DAK 7
VESSEL PROFILE

VESSEL NAME:
LORKIN
VESSEL TYPE:
SINGLE MASTED DAK

PORT OF REGISTRY:
UNREGISTERED
EXPIRY DATE:
N/A

History Dimensions Cabins Burthen
PORT BUILT:
Murshel, Trierzon

LENGTH:
64 feet

GROSS BURTHEN:
233 tuns
SHIPWRIGHT:
Joss of Whedon

BEAM:
26 feet

THREE 3-BERTH CABINS (4 tuns ea):
Captain, Mate,Guest
12 tuns
CREW QUARTERS:
(15 x 0.5) = 7.5 tuns
DATE OF LAYING KEEL:
1 Nolus 682

DEPTH:
14 feet

PROVISIONS/LOCKERS:
7.2 tuns
DATE LAUNCHED:
22 Halane 682

DRAFT:
8 feet

FIVE 2-BERTH CABINS (3 tuns each):
Chippy, Marine, 3 Guests
15 tuns
SPARES/STOREROOMS:
6.9 tuns
DATE OF COMMISION:
23 Ilvin 682

FREEBOARD:
6 feet

ANCHORS:
(3x2.33) = 7.0 tuns
TOTAL MANDAYS:
5673
VESSEL COST (new):
52,758d

MASTS:
One

OTHER:
Great Cabin & Kitchen
8 tuns
PINDAS:
(2x15ft) = 4.4 tuns
REPAIR FACTOR:
2
VESSEL COST (used):
21,103d

HEIGHT:
78 feet

TOTAL CABINS:
35 tuns

NET BURTHEN:
167 tuns

Crew Port Watch Stbd Watch Pilot/Chippy Provisions
VCF:
8

SEAMANSHIP:
Zo = 62

SEAMANSHIP:
Bosun = 72

PILOT:
Fir = 119

SAILING CREW:
15+5 officers = 20

SHIPWRIGHT:
48

SHIPWRIGHT:
48

APPRENTICE:
Sh = 61

DAILY
CONSUMPTION:
24 mandays
PASSENGERS:
4

HAZARD RATING:
91

HAZARD RATING:
67

CHIPPY:
Kayly = 98

TOTAL COMPLIMENT:
24

FATIGUE:

FATIGUE:

CHIPPYS MATE:
none

PROVISIONS
ABOARD:
30 days/man

Hull Factor: Tightness: Rigging Sailing Factors:
BASIC:
74+10 = 84

BASIC:
74+6 = 80

BASIC:
68+(26/3)+5 = 82

SAILING GRADE:
Square/D
STEERING:
Rudder
DAMAGE:
28

DAMAGE:
26

DAMAGE:
27

BEAT MPs:
21
HAUL MPs:
10
RUN MPs:
4
CURRENT:
56

CURRENT:
54

CURRENT:
55

Equipment:

Flooding:

SQ1:
16
SQ3:
48

Oar Factors:
SPARES:
23x0.1 = 2.3 tuns

SQ2:
32
SQ4:
64

OAR GRADE:
N/A
OARSMEN:
N/A
OAR MPs:
N/A
ANCHORS:
3x2.33 = 7.0 tuns

Notes:

PINDA:
2x12ft = 2.4 tuns

DISCRETE STORAGE:
4.6 tuns

OTHER:

OTHER:

OTHER:

1. Fir Mast (+5 to RF)
2. Kamba Strake Hull (+10 to HF)
3. Damage to HF, TGT and RF due to lack of maintenance
64 FOOT DAK 8
CREW LIST
VESSEL:
LORKIN
REGISTRY:
UNREGISTERED

NAME RANK POSITION WAGE ML WATCH PORT SIGN-ON PAY-OFF OWED NOTES
Eshrel Ranals AB Captain 50% 61 SB n/a n/a n/a n/a
Zo Alleyne AB First Mate 20% 62 P n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hoban Firfohd Master Pilot 10% 119 P Thay n/a n/a n/a
Kayly Frye Jrnymn Chippy 10% 98 P Sarkum n/a n/a n/a
Eryla Cobb n/a Marine 10% 90 n/a Golotha n/a n/a n/a Best combat ML
AB Bosun 3d 72 SB
AB Leadhand 2d 66 P
AB Leadhand 2d 66 SB
AB Deckhand 2d 66 P
AB Deckhand 2d 66 SB
OS Deckhand 1d 60 P
OS Deckhand 1d 60 P
OS Deckhand 1d 60 P
OS Deckhand 1d 60 SB
DB Deckhand n/a 36 P
DB Deckhand n/a 36 P
DB Deckhand n/a 36 SB
DB Deckhand n/a 36 SB

Llwar Tam Master Physician 3d 101 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Kib Tam n/a Passenger n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Teenager
Derrial Parma n/a Passenger n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Cleric
Inara Serra n/a Passenger n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Courtesan

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64 FOOT DAK 1

2005, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games Inc. HrnWorld

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