Watermills

Water is one of the most important elements known to man. Whilst fire keeps us warm and helps us cook our food, and wind brings us fresh air and makes our plants strong—we would not survive without water.   Yet, water can be as equally as dangerous as well. Our bodies have no chance against the rushing rage of a flood or the careless plunge of a waterfall. Instead of catching us when we fall from too great a height, it tenses and apathetically crushes our bones.   Despite this, we have harnessed that frightening power of water. It took time, with many a trial and error and life lost to accidents, but we have harnessed it all the same.   In the southern half of Talnor and in the heights of Dazuvell, the people have harnessed the power of water to run their mills and grind grains into flours. In the city of Thím Gûthuwal, The Thoroughfare river is swift and powerful, and strong enough to turn the massive wheels of the mills, which in turn grinds the two millstones inside the mill. Many a watermill has popped up along the river because of this.   Watermills are preferred over windmills due to the fact that, when not in use, the wheel can be lifted and the mill stopped, while windmills have to be constantly fed grain to keep the millstones from grinding together and creating sparks.   Unfortunately, there are restrictions when it comes to the constant operation of a watermill and its waterwheel. Any bodies of water north of the latitude in line with The Athenaeum will freeze in winter—and this leads to the waterwheels needing to be lifted out of the water before the rivers freeze. This is not a problem for latitudes where the temperatures doesn't lower enough for rivers to freeze over completely.