And here we begin (posted here for general delight - players please respond to the e-mail, not here!): -
Since dawn, the Serpent's Teeth islands have been getting steadily
closer. Breakfast saw your ship navigating past a small island on which
some kind of giant construction is being erected, and in towards the
main island of the cluster, on which the town of Freeport is located.
Your captain's grumbling. He's just discovered that the vegetables he'd
intend to sell here have all gone rotten. His only profit is your
passage fees... which as you are now arriving are due. 100gp a head.
Cash. Now.
So, whatever your reasons for arriving, here you are. Freeport - a new
place. He didn't know much, but the captain says that it was originally
founded by pirates, and for a long time was a really wild place. Then as
other seafaring nations organised themselves against the pirate threat
and sent whole fleets out to protect shipping, so too did the pirates
band together for mutual protection. Eventually, and after about a
decade of warfare, the captains elected a leader, Drac, and settled down
to more civilised life. Of course, being pirates, even this was
accomplished amid bloodshed and treachery... That was almost 200 years
ago. Since then things have been a bit more peaceful, with a succession
of captains occupying the office of Sea Lord, supported by the Captains'
Council. Fifty years ago, a descendent of Drac called Marten Drac was
appointed, but this seems to have been a bit of a mistake - including
the imposition of a law stating that only descendents of Drac could be
Sea Lord. The next incumbent was Anton Drac but he was assassinated,
being replaced by a hitherto unknown cousin called Milton Drac - who
began the construction of a massive lighthouse.
The shore is lined with docks and warehouses, with businesses and
taverns catering to seafaring trades. Inland there is a small walled
area, the old city, surrounded by more sprawling suburbs. Crime's on the
rise, so keep a hand on your wallets.
And so you arrive. The captain, now he has no cargo to sell, is eager to
be off; so you and your possessions are dumped unceremoniously on the
dock.
During your time aboard you have got to know each other reasonably well
- so it's assumed you know each others' names, professions, etc.
The action on the docks is mesmerising. There are ships in port from all
over the world, carrying every manner of exotic goods. Sailors and
merchants of all races and backgrounds mingle on the wharves, with money
changing hands so fast you can barely even follow.
As you stand there, you all notice a toothless man with tattooed
knuckles approaching. He smiles crookedly and says, "You've all just
volunteered for an exciting life at sea. Do you want to go the easy way
or the hard way?"
He taps a belaying pin meaningfully against his hand, and you realise
that eight similar individuals, tough-looking fellows clad in ragged
canvas clothing and armed with saps and belaying pins, have formed a
loose group around you.
What will you all do?
Mexal the DM.
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