Eyria Map (n00b requesting tips)

[Azélor]

In order to have a creature not sink, you have to overcome the square-cube law.
Basically, if you double the size or area of something, you multiply the weight by 4.
Therefore, if you want a creature large and strong enough to carry a rider over a muddy terrain without problem, it needs low and very wide, shaped like a rug.

[Filipe Passos-Coelho]

This thread is getting more and more interesting. I had no idea swampy marshes were common in a sub arctic area and the first thing that comes to mind when I think of creatures that can move fast in the mud is frogs, but I can’t imagine six legged horse frogs would be very realistic.

i know right?? i am baffled that I actually started something that isnt a steaming pile of horse sh#t!
well, true, but I am sure there's a dinosaur in the past that would fit the bill.

In order to have a creature not sink, you have to overcome the square-cube law.
Basically, if you double the size or area of something, you multiply the weight by 4.
Therefore, if you want a creature large and strong enough to carry a rider over a muddy terrain without problem, it needs low and very wide, shaped like a rug.

basically like the Basiliscus, those lizards that run on water.

If you increase the surface contact of the animals' feet, would that improve stability an speed?

Not deep mud though.
Edit Remember Artax in the Neverending Story, yeah deep mud is dangerous to horses too.

A silent prayer for Artax....
Can we establish (in a scientifically sound enough way) that this region, with the height, and winds, wouldn't have super deep mud? something that could be a hassle for Men, but not for an animal adapted to that environment?

[Falconius]

A silent prayer for Artax....
Can we establish (in a scientifically sound enough way) that this region, with the height, and winds, wouldn't have super deep mud? something that could be a hassle for Men, but not for an animal adapted to that environment?

I think that is definitely feasible that an area could have a surface of mud but fairly solid dirt underneath. I think it is feasible to have an area like that that would be suitable for horses, sort of, but not for men.
However I don't think such an area would actually be a marsh. Such an area would require a period for things to dry out, so that really only the surface turned to mud whilst there was still a solid layer underneath. So it'd be rather seasonal. and would be fine for everyone at certain periods. To have a permanent marsh or wetland and your riders, you'd need your special creatures.

At least those are my thoughts.

[kacey]

But I’ve seen horses run through mud several times in real life and they aren’t shaped like rugs.

[Falconius]

Not deep mud though.

Edit Remember Artax in the Neverending Story, yeah deep mud is dangerous to horses too.

[Azélor]

The feet would have the be really large and likely heavy. At that point, skidding might be easier than running.

Did you know that some organisms are so small that they can swim in the air?
They can remain in a static position without falling on the ground, with 0 effort.

[Filipe Passos-Coelho]

The feet would have the be really large and likely heavy. At that point, skidding might be easier than running.

Did you know that some organisms are so small that they can swim in the air?
They can remain in a static position without falling on the ground, with 0 effort.

Well, birds fly and they are quite light, so maybe if the animal's structure it mainly cartilaginous, it could be big enough to hold a rider, and with pawns ride enough to reduce the kg/cm2...
mind blown! you know the name of these organisms?

[kacey]

What about moose, I don’t know if you’ve come across one in real life but I have and they are absolutely enormous and they do spend allot of time in marsh lands and swampy areas in Northern Ontario and if standing beside one doesn’t intimidate you then something is very wrong.

[Filipe Passos-Coelho]

I think that is definitely feasible that an area could have a surface of mud but fairly solid dirt underneath. I think it is feasible to have an area like that that would be suitable for horses, sort of, but not for men.
However I don't think such an area would actually be a marsh. Such an area would require a period for things to dry out, so that really only the surface turned to mud whilst there was still a solid layer underneath. So it'd be rather seasonal. and would be fine for everyone at certain periods. To have a permanent marsh or wetland and your riders, you'd need your special creatures.

At least those are my thoughts.

suitable for horses, not for men is what i am going for, to be honest.
seasonal, if matching a climate pattern, would work best as well. The Vorfon (these steppes/whatever guys) are constantly rebelling. And they often rebel when the land is harder to traverse. When the weather gets better (warmer summer, drier land), they get their asses whooped, because they lose a significant portion of their "home" advantage. but if the weather is crap for many years, not only they keep their area, they can expand the sphere of influence because, due to the worse terrain conditions that suit them better, they are more of a force to be reckoned with.

What about moose, I don’t know if you’ve come across one in real life but I have and they are absolutely enormous and they do spend allot of time in marsh lands and swampy areas in Northern Ontario and if standing beside one doesn’t intimidate you then something is very wrong.

A Moose "screaming" is terrifying, and would be an interesting beast for the Vorfon to tame. they also migrate, which fits the nomadic nature of the Vorfon; have warm fur, which works better than having reptiles as mounts. Good one kacey

[Charerg]

They could always have domesticated bears . They're pretty good at crossing swamps with their big wide paws.

Also the major sub-arctic bogs (apparently the correct term) are basically all peat bogs, they're not really muddy (see the wikipedia article).

Oh, and btw, horses can do pretty well in marshlands (it's just not their natural habitat), see the Camargue horse.