[Eorl of Rohan]

Originally Posted by Fordim Hedgethistle

One other point: I don't think that there would be "shifts" or "quarters" for the slaves -- historically, at least, slaves would spend their lives chained to their oars. They would eat, sleep, everything right there on the slavedeck. Once in a while they would be released to go up on deck and exercise, but that's it.

Please note: As His Royal Perkiness has decreed that there shall be no shifts, so I adhere to his wishes. However, I am merely stating the facts here.

Here I am forced to disagree. In fact, I don't think the 'historical facts' that you put up with such assurance is actually real. The popular perception of galley slave's life derives from twopenny novels and movies, I'm afraid, contrary to reality, reason, and common sense. Think about it.

Galleys, especially pirate ships, have to be constantly on the move. For instance, who would row while the slaves are sleeping? For sleep they must, if they are men. Every second is precious in battle and few hours of the ship being immobile would be disasterous. If it is discovered suddenly and pursued, and the slaves were sleeping, there would be no time to wake the slaves, and even if it could be done quickly, they would be so tired from the day's work that they would be of little use. Also, what of excretion? Yes, slaves do have needs, although the romance novels do not dwell on the fact. How would they excrete if they do everything chained to the decks, sleeping and eating and everything else? Of course, they could do it there, but corsairs are not so stupid as to allow that and yet contagion wipe them all out on the high seas. Then? Would they be all released at the same time to go to the washroom? But then, they easily risk an insurrection. Not only that, rowing is a harder work than people imagine - I am not telling you that it is impossible for a grown man to row eighteen hours a day, under extreme restraints, merely that it is NOT efficient. You row for more than a few hours, your limbs cramp and harden, your muscles protest, and despite the threat of the whip hanging over your head, the repetitive work saps your strength, so that by the end of the day, however much you try, you can't row with one-third of the power that you started out with. Of course the pirates have no mercy, but they have cunning enough to know this, see? Shifts are the natural solution to all these problems. Where in 'history' was it said otherwise?

Please Note Again: I would have sent this through PM, but Fordim said something about needing to tell this on the thread to make everything clear to others.

Note #3: Yes, I am prone to delivering long rants and getting excited over every small thing, but this doesn't mean that I think any less of the other - actually, I admire Fordim very much.