Quadrant
“The quadrant reveals the path of the gods.”
-saying among Tulamydian astronomers
While few know what exists beyond the skies above Dere, quite a few astronomers’ discoveries make their way into common use. The astronomer’s quadrant started out as an essential tool in mage’s laboratories and observatories but soon became indispensable to all who journey in the wilderness or sail upon the oceans.
This device resembles a subdivided protractor and is usually made from wood, but brass and other metals are also commonly used. As its name implies, it is a triangular plate comprising a 90-degree arc of a full circle, with special markings and a movable arm for taking different kinds of measurements.
Brabak’s mage academy buys quadrants only from local manufacturers, but most quadrants are made in Vinsalt, site of the world-famous instrument workshop of Leuerich Kolrean. As the factory’s Prime Mechanicus, he oversees the design, production, and delivery of the finest quadrants in all Aventuria. Many regard items from Kolrean’s smithy as status symbols, and nobles buy them simply for the associated prestige of owning one.
When used for astronomy, the quadrant helps determine height and position of the sun and stars to aid with navigation, and thus is popular with seafarers, who combine this with other instruments and their knowledge of the expected positions of the stars at different times of the year to determine their ship’s location and maintain course. Additional calculations using this data can reveal the distance between stars as well as a celestial object’s distance from Dere. The quadrant’s workings remain a mystery to most Aventurians because they cannot grasp how someone can glean so much knowledge from such a simple item. Many even believe that predicting an occurrence of shooting stars must somehow involve clairvoyance. Others think the quadrant is merely another tool used by orators to reinforce their philosophy about events occurring outside of Dere.
“We Thorwalers were already using quadrants long before you Middenrealmers ever arrived in Aventuria.”
— Tjalva Garheltsdottir, Hetja of Prem
“But we Horasians now use a newer, more accurate model called the sextant.”
— Carolan Calavanti, Vinsaltan vagabond
“Braggart.”
— Tjalva Garheltsdottir, Hetja of Prem