Re: Bral Business Postfest

Wow, that's really cool! Any truth to the rumors of a rival terraforming
group called Genesis Incorporated? I hear they use some powerful magical
ballista bolt to shoot asteroids and terraform them in six minutes. 


-Mike
"Genius? Nothing! Sticking to it is the genius. I failed my way to success."
-Thomas Edison

-----Original Message-----
From: Spelljammer Setting Discussion
[mailto:SPELLJAMMER-L@??????.???????.com] On Behalf Of Brian Faller
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 9:12 PM
To: SPELLJAMMER-L@??????.???????.com
Subject: Re: [SPELLJAMMER] 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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