What follows is an excerpt from an official document describing the naval vessels of Östlaed, known as the Östfleot.The Östfleot is the unified former merchant fleet of the Order of Sanct Creopbaina, the longboat warships of the Östron thanes, peasant longboats + barges as a privateer transport force, and most recently, larger cogs that some are calling a carrack for defense against more heavily armed powers. Some thanes operate independent of the Östfleot, because they are vassals of other nobles other than Eorl Mark Stefan within the Mercurian Empire. The merchant fleet that handles all inter-realm trading was integrated into the Östfleot as a result of the integration of the Order into the government of the Eorldom. Independent traders at this point are required to hire members of the Östfleot merchant marine to man their boats, and are also on occasion required to ferry goods for state business.
FaeringSummary: The Faering is a small sailed longboat capable of carrying a few people and a few tons of cargo.
Purpose: It is primarily used for ferrying people and goods along the coasts, inland lakes, and rivers.
Length: 15m
Used by: Fishermen, smaller traders, and privateers.
Locations: Coasts, rivers, lakes, occasionally across the Ostsee when in sufficient numbers/with larger vessels.
SkeidSummary: The Skeid is the most numerous warship used in the Östron fleet. It can carry 60+ people.
Purpose: Troopship, basic warship, also used as a merchant boat
Length: 28m
Used by: Östfleot, some traders
Locations: All oceans of the empire, larger rivers, lakes.
SnekkjaSummary: The Snekkja is essentially a 40% larger Skeid. It can carry over 100 people.
Purpose: Troopship and basic warship, often armed with very large crossbows and large slingshots to shoot flammable objects at other boats.
Length: 37m
Used by: Östfleot
Locations: All oceans of the empire, larger rivers, lakes.
CynnsnekkjaSummary: The largest Östron longship, built only for nobles. Capable of carrying huge numbers of people.
Purpose: Transporting nobles and their military entourage.
Length: 57m
Used by: Nobles of Östlaed
Locations: All oceans of the empire, and far beyond. Capable of going around the entire world.
Small CogSummary: A popular trading vessel of Östron merchants, can carry a dozen people or 2-3 tons of goods.
Purpose: Transporting goods for sale and supplies for Östlaed.
Length: 21m
Used by: Merchants
Locations: Coasts, rivers, lakes, occasionally across the Ostsee when in sufficient numbers/with larger vessels.
Cog
Summary: The main trading vessel of Östron merchants, can carry over 150 people or dozens of tons of goods.
Purpose: Transporting goods for sale and supplies for Östlaed.
Length: 26m
Used by: Merchants
Locations: All oceans of the empire, larger rivers, lakes.
Large CogCog on the left, Large Cog/Early Carrack on the rightSummary: The larger version of the Cog.
Purpose: Transporting goods for sale and supplies for Östlaed. Some are retrofitted with cannons.
Length: 37m
Used by: Wealthy merchants, official envoys, Östfleot warship.
Locations: All oceans of the empire
Early CarrackSummary: A pending design for an even larger warship than armed large cogs, also to be used as a trading vessel by wealthy traders. The first one was built as an official flagship of Ealdorman Mark Accynnafon I.
Purpose: Warship, trade
Length: 45
Used by: Östfleot, very wealthy traders
Locations: All oceans of the empire, oceans outside of the empire
Small CarrackSummary:A fully evolved design from the Early Carrack. Armed with over 30 fire charge cannons aimed for the waterline of other boats, it can devastate enemies unlike few boats that came before it. The first one was built as the flagship of the Östfleot under Ealdorman Mark Accynnafon II.
Purpose: Warship
Length: 50
Used by: Östfleot
Locations: All oceans of the empire, oceans outside of the empire