Re: Bral Business Postfest

I am, and always shall be, your cohort.
- Spook the Half Elven after taking a lethal dose from a radiant golem

-Loki, who is now, once again, ducking

On 9/2/07, Matt Hoffman <manta928@?????.com> wrote:
>
> 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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George "Loki" Williams, writing and other aberrations

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