A Warlock Alone, Island Empire solo game

[J. Alexander]

Discussion on the Raid

"There is always the option of finishing the refiting here and sailing to other smaller ports in the region and make small trades so as to tempt them or we will need to discern who may best benefit in Terger from such acts" Looking at Chandar and the Priestess,Michael will say 'Is there by chance a local group of resistance fighters here on Tergere who engage in such acts as do their counterparts on Axiopolis" When saying this he will watch both the priestenss and Chandar very closley and if necessay sense motive on them.

"We could also just make a series of quick voyages to shake the ship down and famarize the crew with the rigging and the way she handles in the neighborhood of the villiage and tempt them that way. The "Retribution is a fine prize even though she lacks a huge cargo of goods.

 

[J. Alexander]

Other Matters Discussed

During the course of the discussion of the raid, Michael will make it clear to them all that this group with perhaps the addition of one other will be his counselors. He will so tell them and state that the chain of command shall run as follows:
Captain Michael Storm
Grond Stonebuilder - in all matters except the actual sailing of the ship.
Chandar Sweetwater - in all matters relating to ships defense, and raids
1st Officer
Guiessippe Cardossa

He will then motion to the priestess, Madame I feel it best if you be outside the formal chain and help us all temper our decsions and actions with wisdom and compassion with your counsel.

If there is no complaint, Michael will ask Chandar to recruit the Rangers he mentioned as they would be a most valuable addition to the crew even if for just a short voyage as well as the recruting of the other two lizardmen to round out the 1st squad of mariner.

Michael will then ask Chandar and the Priestess if they know of who owns the abandoned docks and shipyard and if they may be for sale. He will inquire as to how long they have been in ruin and what types of ships were built here. Further he will ask if there are still among the populace suffiecnt master carpenters and shipwrights to help build ships again. Also is there a source for sheet steel in the area. Say 3x8 foot 2 inch beams as well as sources of local timber. Finally, do they know of a local dyeer who would undertake the dying of sails for the Retribution.

OCC: Michael is thinking of having his main sails dyed with the black with a saffron fire eagle in the center. It would advertise his wares and be cool

 

[Scotley]

Dinner with the Officers

Nac'Losin addresses your questions first. "There have always been members of our races on Tregere who have resisted the yoke of outside rule. It is certainly possible that the more foolish among them have dealings with the Sahaugin. To my knowledge the resistance here is small and largely inefectual, just a rag tag band living out in the deep swamp. Such movements come and go and have not held real power since the time of the Eradicationists." Chandar nods in agreement with Nac'Losin's comments and both seem to be truthful in their answers. Chandar asks a question, "Your idea to sail about in the retribution and attract the attention of the Shark men, what about the retribution will make it a more appealing target than the dozen other ships that likely pass over their lair each day?"

 

[J. Alexander]

Dinner with the Officers

"Honestly I have no idea, but I am hoping the change in her apperance and perhaps some costly looking sails will tempt them" "Failing that we could just throw their leaders body overboard and hope they mount an attack in anger" " "Another option is perhaps they may wish to recover this (Michael will show them the necklace and earrings as well as the shark pendante). "This was hidden by their leader and perhaps Nac"losin here could tell us exactly what they are/"

'I do appreciate your answering about the rebels but who else may benefit from the loss of so many ships in this area? If we can erradictate this threat, perhaps it may encourgae trade as there is no longer fear of losing a ship in this area."

"If all else fails, I will load several chest of gold aboard the ship by cashing letter or credit so as to get everyone's attention and hpe that the information gets back to them. In fact, I may do that anyway as I think we will need hard currency in the future not paper"

 

[Scotley]

Dinner with the officers

Chandar addresses the issue of who might benefit. "Certainly 'freedom fighters' might gain from recovering goods from the ships, but locally I would guess that competitors selling the same goods would benefit if their rivals lost cargo. It could also create a shortage allowing a given merchant to have a virtual monopoly and thus charge more for their own goods."

Nac'Losin says, "I have some skill in divination and might be able to figure out the nature of the items in question given a little time to study them. As to the question you raised earlier, I believe all the dockside land it Tregere is an Imperial possession and the current users hold it by lease only. The lands under the failed businesses likely reverted back to Imperial control when the lessors stopped paying. There is little enough in the way of facilities remaining, but in the old days they build small fishing vessels here."

 

[J. Alexander]

Michael will poor himself another glass of wine as well as one for each of the participatants. As he is pouring it, he will ask it they would like somthing stronger, to contiume with the wine or shall he send for coffee. Michael is trying to create a colleqial atmosphere but one in which there is no doubt who makes the final decision but create the impression as it is indeed the case that the decesion is reached only after each one has had a chance to argue their issue or be a part of the process. It will make for a more lenghty decesion making process at times, but Michael thinks it is the best approach for now.

"Then the question to be asked would be (Which merchant has continued to prosper while all is rivals have sufferd losses while he has sufferd no or minimal loses).or better yer (Which merchant has the greed or hunger for power that would comple him to do something like this)

In a side bar to Nac"losin Michael will ask "Would the local Magristate have the power to lease the dockyard to someone if not who would I need to see"

Another question springs to mind from you thoughts Chandar "Has there been any local shortages lately, say the last 18 months either here on Tergere or other islands you have heard about in which someone has made an abnormally large profit on.

 

[Scotley]

Nac'Losin will stick with the wine, which she seems to be enjoying. Chandar has been only sipping at his, appearently not to his taste, but when something stronger is offered he requests a whiskey and water. Grond is learning to enjoy the wines and continues with that.

Chandar says, "We always seem to be short of something here, but no one seems to be making a profit. I'm not sure the Sahaugin's activities have been focused on Tregere. The main exports here are dye and tobacco, both of which are all but useless underwater. I suspect that we'd need to visit richer markets to find the villians in all this."

"I believe there would be someone here local that would handle dockside leases. While technically an Imperial holding in pratice the locals handle the dispensation. You'd need to talk to someone more knowledgeable." says Nac'Losin.

 

[J. Alexander]

Discussion with the Officers.

"Well it seems as if we are at an impasse until we can develope further information. Let us refit the ship as best we can, lay in our cargo and sail in three days time. I need to pick up my frined in Ambar in Mermaids Rest and after that we can trade around here and visit the local ports hoping to acquire some high quality trade goods at a very decent price before we set sail to the north. We must be in "Name the norther port mentioned in the letters "in two months time so that will affect our timetable. If any of the crew or officers know of any ports in which we may call and potientailly trade for local materaial please inform me so we can discuss the merits of going there." After the purchase of the dyes, we will have a little over 5000gp left to purchase cargo with and still retain enought for the ships operations plus a small reserve" With that in mind are there any other comment or suggestions before we adjourn?

Before closing, Chandare will be asked to contuie is recruitment of the two rangers and two more lizardmen for the first squad.

Then Michael will ask Nac'Losin is she would be willing to work with Grumbar and see about setting the crew sailing party for two nights from now.

The first thing in the morning Michael will drop by the Port Officals office and ask about the lease and if the local Magristate handles that sort of thing.

OCC; If they sail in three days time, that should put them in Mermaids Rest roughlty 7 days after the arrival of the Rumpled Bedsheet but perhaps sooner if the Retribution is as fast as I think she is with all sail laid on.

 

[Scotley]

Evening on the Retribution

OOC: The Retribution can likely make Mermaid's Rest in 3 days.

The dinner breaks up and the officers proceed to their duties. Just as Michael is taking a last stroll about the deck as is his habit, an apparition appears and lands on the deck before you. It is in the shape of a pelican, but Michael knows the whispy form is a magical sending. The bird seems to regurgitate a small bundle and leap into the air. There is appears to be flying away as it fades out of existence.

 

[J. Alexander]

The Pelican

Michael will head to the bag, pick it up and head to his cabin to examine the contents.