The Ametrine Fish

A colorful performance upon the water.

If you leave the capital and travel along the Cesetmoun River you will eventually encounter the Ametrine Fish - a stately riverboat painted in glorious purples, yellows, and oranges. While officially the Ametrine Fish is a merchant vessel ferrying goods and passengers from Drinnado to cities further inland, it is better know as a source of entertainment to those living in the less populated towns and farming communities along the river.
The Ametrine Fish is owned by the Brodeur family of merchants, who trade primarily in fabrics and other materials for garment-making. Known as a patron of the arts, the eccentric patriarch of the family regularly commissions bards and poets to accompany the boat on its travels up and down the river, on the condition that the perform on the upper deck four times a day for any folk who might gather along the banks nearby. Many young artists begin their travels this way, performing to the open air and the occasional laugher, applause, or possibly raucous jeering of crowds on the Cesetmoun banks.
The vessel itself is 50 feet long but only 20 feet wide to allow for narrower stretches of water. The large paddle wheel at the stern of the craft propels it upriver, while the natural current helps carry it back down. Turned by an ingenious steam system, the huge wheel made of lumber and iron is as wide as the boat and taller than any orc. The ship has two decks, each bordered by a brightly painted railing and promenade. Because the river is relatively shallow when compared to lakes or the sea, there is not a typical "hold" like one sees on a sailing ship. Instead a long structure is build into the hull just a few feet below the water line. This is dived into stalls for stowing goods, rations, and tools for potential repairs that might be needed along the way. The lower deck also houses the boat's small crew. Stairways both fore and aft lead up to the second level, on which colorful floral arrangements are planted in boxes along the rails adding to the already eye-catching paint. The upper deck has the captain's quarters, the designated artist's quarters, and four small staterooms for paying travelers. The bow of the craft features a raised stage and canopy imbued with a minor enchantment causing the performer's voice to carry a bit farther over the the water than it could unassisted.
Especially during the summer months, it is not uncommon to see folk running to the Cesetmoun bank, laughing and talking as they hear the Ametrine Fish approaching from miles away. Children wave at the boat's passengers, jumping up and down to try and get their attention. If the day's performer is especially talented the gathered audience will bundle flowers and local produce, which is passed aboard from the river's edge using long poles. If you're ever walking near the river and see an unexpected crowd gathering, be sure to join them as the Ametrine Fish swims by.