Structures - Watchtowers

Watchtowers are set at regular intervals along the raised roads of the Guarded Land and form not only the primary communications systems of the Commonwealth as well but also provide the Wise with a 'sensory grid' with which they 'see' much of what goes on in the Guarded Land. Lookouts sitting in deadman chairs maintain a constant watch from each tower. In addition, each tower is garrisoned with enough auxiliaries to defend the gate over which each tower stands guard.

The notebook pages show the superstructure which lies above the level of the leftway. This consists of a number of floors connected by ladders that can be raised by means of counterweights. The upper storeys provide barracks for the garrison: the uppermost accomodation for the staff of ammonites who operate the heliograph. Six ribs curve up like horns from this upper storey holding aloft a platform at the centre of which is located the heliograph mechanism. Beneath these stories there are stabled aquar for the couriers and a ramp giving access to the main carriageway of the road.

Lookouts sitting in deadmen's chairs maintain a constant scrutiny of the Guarded Land as well as on the road below.

Many watchtowers are the centre of extensive stopping places where travellers camp for the night

communications

There are two separate, distinct communications systems: one using couriers, the other heliography/naptha flares. Sealed despatches and other packages are carried at furious speed along the leftway by couriers who can obtain fresh aquar at each tower. Couriers and what they carry are protected by stringent codiciles of the Law-that-must-be-obeyed.

Each heliograph is complemented by piped naphtha flares which are used to maintain the integrity of the communications system at night. Messages are encoded (thus encrypted) then transmitted from tower to tower by using heliographs to turn the rays of the sun into signals.

A journey from Nothnarlan to the City at the Gates outside Osrakum that would take a traveller along the road more than forty days can be covered by a courier along a leftway in a single day. A message of reasonable length can be transmitted by heliograph from Nothnaralan to the Wise in the heart of Osrakum in around one third of a day.