[jurble]

Why hasn't Kellhus equipped the Ordeal with flying chariots like those of the Nonmen?  Especially on the plains, they would offer protection and mobility to the Schoolmen beyond that of just the billows.

And we're told that Kellhus lost numerous expeditions trying to reach Injor-Niyas.  The Three-Seas are still using galleys, but Kellhus should've been able to design a junk, caravel or carrack fairly easily - the hard part in their design is that of the masts and the manner of sail rigging, which would Kellhus would be able to easily see.  Edit: Someone pointed out to me that Cironji Carracks are mentioned frequently in the series.  Are these less ocean-worthy than historical carracks?

[The Sharmat]

We don't know much about the coast off Zeum. it may be hideously storm wracked, or the coast beyond Auvangshei may be harsh desert in which case keeping enough potable water will be difficult. As to why Kellhus doesn't just design caravels or whatever, he's still just one man. There's tons of useful things for him to invent or manage to quasi-perfection. He can only be so many places at once, even with teleportation.

[Wilshire]

He probably could design one. But engineering drawings without skilled laborers are fairly useless in this case. Might be that he just couldn't string together enough carpenters to have one made without getting too involved.

Beyond that, might just be a tough trip. If there are interactions like the gulf stream with the north sea, that would cause lots of issues. Right around where the cold waters of the North are meeting the warm coastal waters of Zeum, that would create some pretty bad storms and choppy water. Couple that with (speculating) limited natural ports akin to western Africa, and you've got yourself a huge problem.


As for chariots, I think the same reason that there are nonman tech that only the nonmen have an no one else. I dont know what that reason is, but there are several examples of this throughout the books. Kellhus is managing/manipulating things (people, gods, circumstances, etc.), rather than spending his time engineering technologies, magic or otherwise.