Re: Bral Business Postfest

well, here goes, my first post (hopefully).
   
  just a couple of businesses i had been thinking of for a while (the
second sort of followed from the first) (and i hope the formatting
doesn't go crazy)
   
  **************************************
   
  Name: New World Outfitters
  Type: Terraforming Company 
  Location: Great Market
  Quality: 4
  Prices: 5
  Danger: 1
  Description: 
  Not exactly what most people are expecting when they see the name, New
World Outfitters does not primarily sell exploring or adventuring gear,
but rather actually sells "worlds" (or at least, planetoids). They sell
pre-terraformed asteroids as well as custom-built ones, of any shape and
size (and in almost any location, even!). The company is owned by a
human mage named Harald Sheppard (LN, 14th level), who mostly uses it to
finance his research in terraforming. Occasionally, he has been known to
offer smaller planetoids with minor "quirks" at reduced prices, and
typically has 1-3 of these at any given time, typically 100 spatial tons
or less. (Quirks may include, but are not limited to: unusual gravity
planes, asteroids made up of unusual substances such as ice or sand,
minor spell effects, various small animal or insect species
infestations, overgrown plant life, and so forth. Quirks should not be
life threatening or dangerous, but should be minor flaws that might
 result from using various mundane or magical methods to terraform an
asteroid, or planets terraformed to non-standard requirements).
  Recently, because he gets tired of telling people he doesn't have
exploration gear, he has begun to include a limited selection of mid-
high quality equipment, which he largely buys through his sister, Jenna
(see the Stonewall Exploration Company). He also has a 'catalogue' of
sorts, with a list of equipment he can order for a later date if you
need, as well as offering the full range of services from that company,
and this takes up most of the front room. Apart from the front room full
of this equipment, the shop is largely full of reference books, drawing
tables, star charts, and loose stacks of paper, most of them detailing
processes to create atmospheres, or to make land usable for farming, or
other asteroid modifications (including a few that make you wonder who
they're desireable to).
  It is possible to purchase a plan to modify an asteroid, but most
people don't have the training to follow these processes. The necessary
equipment can also be bought here, although certain items are not
actually stored here (if you want 4 tons of seeds for a fast-growing
moss, for example). Depending on the processes used, converting an
asteroid may take anywhere from less than 1 day (using magic) to 2-3
years (depending on how big of a change you want made; it takes time to
create arable land, but merely getting the atmosphere breathable could
be rather quick, provided you don't mind a moss-covered rock when it's
done). He also offers services to move planetoids; 100 tons is not
usually a problem within the sphere, or even larger ones (provided you
don't mind it being moved 100 tons or less at a time), but larger
objects generally cannot be moved all at once for very long distances
except at great expense.
  Perhaps the most interesting thing the company offers to some would be
what Harald calls an "Instant Terraformation Kit". This magical kit
includes a Transmute Rock to Mud effect (enough to provide a layer of
topsoil, but not enough to turn the entire thing to dirt), various low
level fog cloud spells (ie spells that produce fog and renew an
atmosphere), and a plant growth effect, all sufficient for 100 spatial
tons of asteroid (plant life not included). Multiple kits can be used
for larger asteroids.
  The company also rents a small warehouse near the docks, and owns a
lifejammer helm, a tradesman, and 2 wreckships (the tradesman is powered
as needed using Create Minor Helm spells; the the lifejammer is for
transporting asteroids and is actually kept stored when not in use (and
typically teleported to an asteroid), being too expensive to lose. It is
powered using animals commonly considered pests, such as rats, in large
numbers. the wreckships have nonmagical engines, and are used like
tugboats)
  *****************************************************
  Name: Stonewall Exploration Company
  Type: Surveying, Exploration, and Prospecting
  Location: Just outside of Bral Territorial Space (Services can be
bought through New World Outfitters in Bral's Great Market, however)
  Quality: 3
  Prices: 3
  Danger: 3
  Description:
  Actually a 75 ton asteroid outfitted with a nonmagical engine to allow
it to reposition itself (to stay outside of Bral's territorial space),
the Stonewall is the headquarters for the exploration company of the
same name. A large ovoid rock covered in plant life of various types,
designed to allow easy access for small ships to dock at. (2 wreckships
are typically available for travel to the Rock of Bral; depending on how
far away you place the Stonewall, they are either powered by nonmagical
engines, or by Create Minor Helm spells) The Stonewall is set where it
is to avoid paying the various taxes at Bral, and is designed to be as
self sufficient as possible. The company has close ties with New World
Outfitters in Bral, through the owners of the 2 companies: Jenna
Sheppard (HF TN Thief, level 6) is the sister of Harald, the owner of
New World Outfitters, and has arranged for the services of the Stonewall
company through his shop. The stonewall company owns several small
 ships which it uses for carrying out it's various activities. Primarily
they explore nearby asteroid belts, charting them, and marking them.
  The first thing the company checks for is potential for mineral
resources, and the location of these asteroids are typically sold to the
highest bidder from the various noble houses on Bral, as well as any
others who are interested. Naturally, the presence of an air envelope is
a definite plus, and if the asteroid already has an air envelope they
will often mark it's location for other forms of exploitation. These
asteroids are also auctioned off, mainly to those who have farming
interests or other colonial interests. Naturally, if the asteroid has
plant life, the value becomes much higher. (often, the services of
Harald are used to increase the value of an asteroid before sale; the
two companies share a lot of business).
  Asteroids (particularly small asteroids) which are not immediately
useful are often turned over to Harald, with a star chart detailing it's
location, physical description, and any other information gathered by
the company. the company also owns a few small asteroids itself
(sometimes it's really convenient to have close ties to a terraforming
company), and offers resupply services in various locations, including
various gear needed for exploration and travel (including the office on
Bral); while the company owns a few small ships, these supply posts
offer their services to other explorers and prospectors as well
(ironically, while the company is almost completely external from Bral
to avoid paying air taxes, they do charge them to others). They do offer
transport between these various outposts and Bral, and other nearby
stops along the way, as well as detailed star charts for the areas
nearby and along the routes in between them (including other small
communities in the
 area). Their outposts require that they keep a small engineering corps
available, including the production of small (10 tons or less) wooden
ships, ship weapons, and such. They can also build small buildings (hard
to find a construction company in the middle of an asteroid field
sometimes). Finally, they also offer temporary storage just outside of
Bral where goods can be left (so you won't have to pay the tax for
bringing them into Bral, and aren't restricted by Bralian laws)
  Due to the Stonewall's location (just beyond Bral territory), they are
not under the same laws (and, more to the point, they don't have as many
guards), nor are they under the protection of the Bralian forces (who
naturally resent the deliberate evasion by the company). Occasionally,
these combine to cause a little bit of excitement, such as pirate raids
or hassling by the Royal Bralian Navy when the ship gets too close to
Bralian territory (the precise location of which can be extremely
subjective); visitors are advised to be cautious.
  

       
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