Re: Bral Business Postfest

Spooooooock?

On Sep 2, 2007, at 9:47 AM, Michael Billard wrote:

> 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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