Re: Merchant organizations in Wildspace

>The idea is to create organizations to which the players belong which
>own the ship they use, and much of the profits.  The biggest problem
>is giving a good reason for why the players don't abscond with the
>ship and start their own business.
>
>The Jammers PBEM game has a simple method, Geas all crewmen of the
>ship to the organization.  This is extremely expensive, and not really
>suitable for short term contract work!

The players in the Jammers campaign are _not_ geased.  Instead, they've
signed a _Contract of Nepthas_ from the _Tome of Magic. I posted to the
list a year or more ago about their use, I'm including that below.  These
contracts are very different from a geas, and while expensive,  they are
far cheaper then helms.  As an added advantage, unless the terms of the
contract prohibit it,  signees can be added and removed:)

>Contracts of Nepthas are arcane scrolls usually sold blank by the Arcane,
>who are rumored to acquire them from extraplanar sources.  They are
>reasonably common among the wealthy in most societies with significent
>Arcane trade (such as the Rock of Bral).   These magical documents are
>often used in situations where a mundane contract would have about the same
>security as a handshake- almost known.  Typically,  wildspace merchant
>houses will have the senior officers on their vessels sign such a document
>as a precaution.  The contracts typically cause those who violate them to
>be struck blind, deaf, and dumb,  though other cariations exist.  In other
>cases, someone sending an especially valuable cargo (like a mage hiring a
>party of adventurers to transport a powerful artifact from point A to point
>B) will have everyone involved sign the contract.
>
>These contracts offer at least a limited amount of insurence against theft
>or betrayal, but are far from foolproof.  Because the contract is
>interpretated literally by the magic these contracts can have unforseen
>repurcussions similar to a wish spell.  The magic of the contract provides
>a slight blurring and deafness when an action is taken which skates on the
>edge of breaking the contract.  This insures the contract cannot be broken
>accidently.
>
>Notes:
>Contracts of Nepthas are described in the Tome of Magic (and the Magic
>Encyclopdeia, I expect).  This is just a short essay on their use I
>composed for my players and thought the list might enjoy.


"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Department, Columbus State Community College