Swamp Sled

The swamp sled is a sled pulled by trained teams of armadillo beetles to travel over ice and other hard frozen matter.
Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function:

• Small, light sleds are used recreationally, (by children mostly) with the armadillos pulling in a fan shape in front of the sled.
• While for for heavier use, the armadillos pull side by side in pairs.

Propulsion

A unique harness composed of several straps connects to an axal rod midway and perpendicular to the length of the beetle. Therefore, when it rolls into a ball, the rod sticks out of both ends where the straps are fixed, pulled to a torque, under the animals' muscle power, and released to rotate the insect about its axis; thus propelling the sled forward.
However, every so often these harnesses and their elastics fibers need to be checked and refitted given their tendency to misalign or over stretch.

Armor and defense

The only real defense a sled has, is its comparative speed. It is really the only means of getting around, save for the most dense or clogged terrain in the Cold Swamp, quickly.
It must be admitted that the sled's armadillo beetles are the toughest component of the sled. Their hard shell sections are made of bone and connected via tough tissues. But during the creatures' bi-yearly shedding, they become unsuited to the traumas of travel, so no far-run excursions are possible on the sleds.

Rarity

Fairly Common

Beam

1.7 feet

Length

8 feet

Height

3.5 feet

Weight

Empty- 13 stones

Speed

32 strides per drop

Complement / Crew

One driver with a compliment of 6 beetles minimum

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

3-4 passengers or 50 stones