Tuesday, October 31, 2006
 

Saurian Tech & Culture: A Merchant's Foot


Shnakvorum, rikoyoch!

Book Update: Had a blast over the last few weeks putting my characters through some crazy stuff, not the least of which was meeting some crazy spika who were worshipping a bit of ancient technology. I'm around probably just shy of three-fourths of the way done now, if I'm able to keep up this pace the book will be done before Christmas! Seems hard to think that not too long ago this book was nothing but a blank file.

Oh, Bailey also insists that I let everyone know that my cast is off, and has been for a while now (no more clumping around Kanner Lake for me). Though I have gotten into the habit of needing to have my left leg propped up on a chair to feel comfortable when writing.

But keeping in the theme of feet, today's post will be about the artificial foot on that stubborn merchant that gave me so much trouble in the past. After all, little details like this can help flesh out a culture, even if you never use even a 10th of it in the actual book.

Now a Saurian leg isn't built like ours. They have normal knees, but they walk on their toes, so the ankle is held high off the ground (with a small "spur toe" on the lower side of the ankle). Goshren (that's the merchant) lost part of his right leg when he was just a hatchling, barely over one aboyoch (a Saurian year) old, so his leg ends just below the knee.

So Goshren's artificial leg extends for part of the middle "calf" section of his leg, and has a complex joint for his ankle that also allows the "toes" to flex naturally during weight distribution. All this held in place by a leather casing and magnetic strips. The main body of the "foot" is made up of a hard steel, using springs and magnetic repulsion technology (where we might use hydraulics) to give a natural flex. The three toes are capped in removable leather sheathes.

You see Karnian culture (one of the major cultures on Sauria) is a very militaristic society, and even the merchants are expected to know how to fight. Even though they are made up mostly of elder Saurn or those with injuries like Goshren's and who aren't allowed to serve in the Karn army. So the artificial limbs often double as weapons. So where most Saurians use their toe claws as a weapon in combat, Goshren can trump all but the Deinon clan with his dagger like foot in a kick.

Anyway, that's a quick look at some minor piece of tech that fits the theme of broken legs and walking again. Next time I'll be dealing with some much more interesting topic of the Karnian Light infantry battle gear. After all everyone should know their tathnak from their kothas!

-- S-man


Posted by ~ Bailey Truitt @ 7:00 AM
Comments:
No wonder you're typing all day at Java Joint. You're probably not actually writing all that time, but making notes on your Saurian world--figuring it all out. Man, sounds like a lot of work. Wouldn't it be easier just to write about earth?
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 7:46 AM
 
An artificial limb that doubles as a weapon. Now there's something our earthbound technology might consider.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 8:52 AM
 
"After all everyone should know their tathnak from their kothas!"

And people think Bible names are hard...
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3:05 PM
 
Hey, talk to Wilbur. He makes things up all the time.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 9:09 PM
 
Oh, really, in-the-know. And how do you know what you supposedly know? I say you don't know nothin'. You don't even know your own name!
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 9:10 PM
 
You're right about describing earth...esp since it changes allll the time. Tectonic plates moving here, sunami's there, atomic bombs, and hurricanes... hmmm does sound a bit alien, doesn't it? Come to think of it, if you made up a place on earth, it might not be tooo far off............
Posted by Blogger midspoint : 6:05 AM
 
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