The Rumratel

Not all of Umbar’s seafarers sought to pillage and ruin. Some were willing to stand against the schemes of Sauron and his puppets, while making a pretty penny on the side.

The Rumratel—known as the Rum Raisin by hobbits—is a one-of-a-kind Umbari dhow-cutter, easily recognized by its large, battened, triangular mainsail and the aggressive forward rake of its mast. The cutter’s design allows a talented mariner to easily outrun similarly sized ships in shallows and riverways, especially when sailing against the wind. Running one’s pursuers aground is also a common tactic with a vessel this agile—a maneuver employed to great effect during Ren and Cate’s endeavors against the Corsairs of Umbar. The Rumratel’s performance falters, however, in great storms and open ocean.

The ratel, for which the name ‘Rumratel’ is derived from, is a species of badger native to Harad, known for its diverse diet, independence, and fearless demeanor, even in the face of larger predators.

The Rumratel was originally built by Ren’s parents, Ranûr and Remíra, as an agile courier vessel. The Rumratel has since gone through countless refits and repairs over its decades of service, where not a single nail, plank, or thread is from the original. Despite its age and the countless opportunities to do so, few improvements have been made on the Rumratel’s design, a mindset born from stubbornness and superstition. According to rumor, Ren had even refused suggestions from the legendary elven shipwrights of the Grey Havens, fearing that extreme changes to the Rumratel would upset the ship’s spirit, and invite grave misfortune upon those at its helm.

(For a higher resolution version for easier zooming, please see my post on bluesky)