Seafaring vessels

Calradia is a large place, and seafaring vessels have been utilized to lessen traveling time in many places since time immemorial. However, the dangers of the Leviathan's Sea has meant that massive vessels are not ideal, since they tend to attract larger creatures of the deep. Instead, Calradians have focused on building smaller fast craft that are ideal for use in the inland The Perassic Sea and The Nordic Sea, while also being able to skirt the Western coasts and sail up and down the great rivers.    With this context in mind, most seafaring vessels in Calradia are essentially galleys with a couple of masts for sails, supported by ranks of rowers below deck who can either row to support the sails or keep the vessel in motion when the wind is against them. The size of the vessel usually correlates to adding additional decks for rowers, or extending the length of the ship to add more sails. The largest ships are used mainly for trade, and are generally unable to sail up and down shallower rivers and estuaries, while smaller "river runners" are used to get people and goods up and down smaller rivers from the large cities.    Most countries have, despite their open warfare, allowed a semi-independent merchant sailing class to exist, that can freely travel and trade between cities (though merchants from a rival country may face steep 'duties' and 'import taxes'), as most states realize the value of continuing trade to fill their own war coffers.    Warfare on the high seas is very frequent, as states compete for control of trade routes for their own merchants to travel unimpeded, as well as to allow their own warriors to travel freely on the seas. War galleys of all sizes have been developed by the nations of Calradia, and navies are maintained. The Tsardom of the Vaegirs in particular are masters of raiding and sea-based warfare.    Battle on the high seas often involve ships ramming each other, and using their ships as "floating islands" to have battles upon their decks. some ships are even fitted with Iron prows, to pole holes in enemy ships. Think "get me close enough to hit them with my sword".   In addition to all of this, the beasts and monsters of the deep must constantly be contended with. Unlike the land, the seas still have many terrors within them. Most of the largest predators in The Perassic Sea and The Nordic Sea have been hunted by the hunters of the Order Nautilus, but many more creatures exist, and the leviathan's sea is dangerous even with the best armed vessels. However, sometimes risking the Leviathan's Sea is sometimes more safe than trying to cross over numerous warzones by land.