In with the tide, one among the many vessels for whom Cothon stands as a port of call, the hru-type sailing-merchant Qartnana's Star moors herself among the quays. The Guild of the Longshoremen (linked is an essay about the development of cargo-containers and how they changed the break-bulk nature of shipping and the labor of longshoremen involved; I found it useful in conceptualizing dock-work) begin working out her break-bulk cargo to be further distributed in Cothon's markets and in markets beyond, while the merchant-captain herself, Ilasha, gathers a smaller baggage of goods borne by slaves to sell personally herself among the taverns.
The cargo of the "Star" being the cumulative investment of a number of merchants from whence the vessel came, to be sold in bulk at profit and returned in kind as goods more valuable in the ship's home-port, Ilasha's baggage meanwhile represents her own smaller entrepreneurial effort to make "small change" in side-trades. The goods below are what she has to sell; as noted in the table, her inventory is limited, so please post any purchases to the comments on this blog to make the tracking of inventory easier (all purchases are first-come-first-serve).
Not limited merely to selling her inventory, Ilasha readily partakes in drink among the taverns, indulges in rousting up the local gossip, and is more than happy to return gossip for rumor.
Foremost among her news is that of the beginnings of the campaign contra the pirates--and unfortunately for those investing in the relevant war-bonds, the initial engagements have not been especially promising. Her vessel, Qartnana's Star was amongst a group of west-bound merchants escorted by Hanseatic galleys, which was attacked by a lesser group of piratical pentekonters. Though the escort galleys proved sufficient to ward off the attacking pirates, later rumor suggested that they might have been better used elsewhere:
For at near the same time of the attack on the sailing-group, a flight of piratical galleys fell on the coastline near Strobilas and laid waste the countryside by their raiding. A group of Hanseatic triremes managed to blockade the pirates, holding in a channel between an island and a farther-peninsula; but overeager for battle, the captains rushed in to grapple and found themselves overwhelmed in a general melee when attempting to board the pirate vessels as they attempted to flee. A Hanseatic pentekonter, the Waverunner was sent forth after the failure because of its speed as a messenger to the nearby ports to warn them of the disaster, and potential further piratical vengeance or fury following, the failure to blockade the pirates' vessels--and thus did Ilasha hear of the battle.
Other News of Note
The newly chartered Survivors of the Tel have entered into some kind of alliance with the House al Rashid, and according to rumors in the taverns, are writing some kind of separate charter concerning an adventure in the Spire of the Attines is expected to be produced sometime in the near future, promising riches and adventure for those who sign up.
In related news, the public chartering of the Survivors has led to an emulation of the idea of an "adventuring company" which will ultimately shift the waters somewhat concerning the hiring of retainers. First of note are the Heroic Companions, hastily put together by Akin the Beautiful, an associate of the Herm & Stone, on hearing of the Survivors' charter. The smaller group (known to include Akin, his Kzin companion, and at least a couple other members) hope to "rival" the Survivors, and to organize their own adventures into the Tel al Safina using their particular advantage of the Prospectors' maps.
Meanwhile, certain among the "pool" of hirelings who lurk amongst the taverns hoping for lucrative work have agreed to band together in a kind of "guild" or "society"; remembering the death of Uthia, and the fact that her body was never returned, the new-formed Society of Lamplighters and Treasure-Bearers intend to establish new norms for the treatment of hired help, including better wages and dignity (in the form of wergeld) for any who are injured (remembering also Mad Matho) or who die in the course of service to an "adventurers' guild".
(The timeline of the week being easy to massage), there is the foreign festival of the Burning Night still to be considered. The last day to participate is nigh (2/13!), so let those who are interested pay what they may and roll their dice (and let the Referee know of their participation!). This festival is one introduced by player-character Durham, born of his foreign home, and its focus is on strengthening bonds of friendship or kinship where those bonds may exist.
Rumor from the inland south whispers that the Kzin Hero the Red Cloud is on the move again. Long has he moved at the edge of the civilization of the Ten Cities, ravaging where he may and escaping where force is leveled against him (the Kzinti are able to forced-march greater distances than any human man--a "foot cavalry" they are indeed!). The House al Khalid are said to have set their armourers to forging double-time, and are known to harbor a grudge against the Red Cloud ...
Concerning the Guild of Longshoremen, new tensions have arisen along the quays: rebelling against the "stranglehold" of the Longshoremen on the goods coming in and their price and their availability in the market, a number of business-holders in Cothon have sent slaves and hired-men of their own to "break-bulk" the goods of incoming ships for their own interests. The vested-interests of the Longshoremen naturally militate against such intrusion, and so scores of men "armed" with cut-down boat-oars and clubs of freight-lumber have been seen patrolling the docks; though no conflict has yet erupted between the rival gangs, an explosion of violence is almost inevitable.
Naturally, screeds from either side claim the other is in the pay of the menace of the pirates, or are the shills of such foreign interests as the Hansemenner. Things are only likely to get uglier before they get better ...
Lastly, an embassy of Attine Klackons was seen to traverse the Pallbearers' Way south, and thence to enter into the city of Gadeed after a prolonged negotiation between themselves and the Xolda Klackons who hold the walls there. Just what the import of this embassy shall be remains unclear, as negotiations began only last week, but it is difficult not to match it up with the rumors swirling around Master Aljadd's recent discoveries at Cothon-Under-Star and with whatever agreement has passed between the Survivors of the Tel and the House al Rashid. ...
......
Perhaps the scribes have forgotten other news? Feel free to address it directly with them, or more engagingly, lay out a case in the comments below!
Bart would like to purchase the unidentified scroll.
ReplyDeleteBartholomew MU has heard tell of this Captain, and especially of the scroll with potentially arcane writings. Bartholomew will approach Captain Ilasha with an offer to purchase a round of mead or ale, and some roasted meats and vegetables with fresh bread and gravy - and initiate the purchase of the scroll. Bartholomew would also be interested to hear about how this scroll came to be in the esteemed Captain's possession.
Durham will buy the 4 pairs of Vringula wings, 14 tsi'il horns and 6 batranoban crest
ReplyDeleteThe masked June purchases both philters of persuasiveness.
ReplyDelete