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Post by SouthWestern Traders on Mar 7, 2016 6:06:03 GMT
From the north, the Northern Traders have held true to their word. A ship, Big Blue, has arrived to the Southern Trader court. It joins the remainder of the Southern Guilder fleet, to be sailed under the joint command of Grand Admiral Aethor of Helna, and Acting-Commodore Victor.
When Big Blue docks in Dumonia, Aethor is prepared to receive it, as is its new crew. With the recent victories in Dumonia and Nemeth earlier in the year, the Southern Traders have plenty of semi-skilled potential captains to choose from. The newest captain is a young and eager merchant, Charles of Exmoor (now Captain), who was instrumental in providing advance warning of the Hibernian fleet’s approach. Hailing from Exmoor in Dumonia, he first proved his ability as a guilder. Now, his ability to coordinate the efforts to reach out to the Southern Trader fleet, and his years of experience aboard a smaller merchant vessel, has afforded him the right to lead a larger vessel by commission of the Southern Traders.
His crew is a motley group, hailing from all over the south of Albion, and with a significant presence of sailors and mapmakers from Gawant and Caerleon.
The old crew and captain from Big Blue are well-received by the Southern Traders, and arrangements are made for them to journey back to their familiar trading grounds in the north. Let it not be said that the Southern Traders were ever poor hosts to their guests.
[OOC: Result of T2 diplomacy between ST and NT]
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 15, 2016 20:43:28 GMT
Big Blue, the new Southern Trader vessel, departed from the city of Nem fully laden with wax, wax candles, all manners of cloth and finished clothing, and copious quantities of ale (brewed only from the finest barley and wheat to be found in Nemeth, of course!). With the great harvests of summer and fall upon them, it was no trouble at all for the ship to fill its holds to the brim.
Personally appointed by Grand Admiral Aethor, Big Blue’s captain, Charles of Exmoor, lead the crew towards new riches, past autumn winds and rains, in the hopes to establish a more permanent name for himself in the guild’s annals. By the captain’s orders, the ship would be docking where the Southern Traders had a guilder presence, excepting Tir Mor so as not to interfere with the Eastern Traders. Each port would bring new riches from goods sold, and new goods to buy.
As for Autumn weather, it was of little concern to the captain. They would adjust their course if need be, but unlike the harsher winds and risk of ice that winter would bring, the winds and rains of Autumn were not deemed so threatening that it would be beyond the captain's abilities to guide his ship, and for the crew to perform their duties to their captain's satisfaction. The first stop was Helna, where a shipment of silver lay waiting for the ship to collect. Some salted fish would not be entirely amiss to collect as well. In any case, wherever the ship were to dock, it would appear that the concerted efforts of the captain and the Grand Admiral ensured that all was ready for business.
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 15, 2016 20:59:43 GMT
Docking at the seaside city of Novas, Big Blue was welcomed by the traders, merchants and guilders of the Southern Traders. Having expected its arrival, a shipment of silver lay waiting for the crew to load. Not wanting to spend too much time in this smaller town, Captain Charles of Exmoor had his men unload just enough of the ship’s current cargo in order to fit both the promised silver, and several barrels of dried, salted cod, and a single barrel of fresh cod for the crew to feast on their continued journey.
With the added variance in the ship’s cargo, it was now more prepared than ever to set sail towards the larger provinces in trade region. Though other port cities would require more time, as the guild only had a guilder presence there, the hope was to make use of their local connections to quickly unload as many goods as possible for the best price possible, and then continue on their way to the next city.
When next Big Blue would set sail, it would set sail for the province of Alined, where the noble merchants and tradesmen were expected to have quite the funds to pay for goods, and the means with which to sell them on their own as well. It would be a good visit, by Captain Charles estimate. A visit that would further add to the selection of goods the ship could carry, but also one that would leave both the Captain and the Grand Admiral having wished that Big Blue could carry more goods yet.
As it were, they would just have to accept the limitations of reality, and the profits to be gained from this simpler venture.
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 17, 2016 1:59:54 GMT
Sailing from Helna to Alined, Big Blue brought its cargo back to the mainland shores of Albion, at the bustling ports established by King Arthur Valiant. Captain Charles of Exmoor viewed the docks with a measure of envy, but they would make a good market for the Guild’s goods. They furled the wool sails as they approached the ports at a lighter, more graceful speed, taking advantage of the rising tide to bring them in with less effort from the rowers.
Though the nobles of Alined might view such pursuits with a small measure of disdain - with trade beneath ultimately beneath them until the moment they lacked funds - to a man such as Charles, this was the ultimate purpose of the guild. To bring goods from one noble to another, past feuds, marriages and age-old alliances. To ensure the common good of the people, merchants and nobles alike.
At a hefty profit too, if he could make it happen.
Still, with the size of the docks as they were and knowing his crew were exhausted from their journey and hard work so far, he figured it was time to give them a bit of shoreleave. To encourage them, he promised them a round at The White Hart if they finished the day’s work before nightfall. That should get their spirits up, he figured, as they sold their goods, purchased new ones, and left the profits with the local guildsmen.
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 18, 2016 1:41:18 GMT
The problem, as it were, with getting spirits up lay with the spirits consumed. At least two of the men had had more than they could handle. While one of them was merely useless for the day and punished accordingly (one week of scrubbing the ship clean), the other had started a brawl fight over a maiden at the pub.
That did not sit well with Captain Charles, as it reflected poorly upon the new ship, its crew and its captain. It also reflected poorly on the guild. Still, somehow the captain had convinced the marshals that maritime law would be a harsher punishment than Alined’s law. The truth was probably not too far off, but the important difference was that the crewman would still be working. However, first he’d have to suffer ten lashes for it. Second, he’d be put to work scrubbing the ship for a week. Third, he’d be thrown off the ship if it ever repeated itself again in the next year (albeit, given the offense, not literally off the ship as some other offenses might actually warrant). That set the tone for that type of behavior upon Big Blue - not tolerated.
On the bright side, the sun was shining, and a week later the ship was scrubbed clean, its goods traded for new ones; most of the silver now sold to the local guilders, jewelry sold to the nobles, and wax sold to the various groups of messengers in charge of bringing dispatches to and fro. In exchange, they had purchased the finest metalcrafts that Alined’s smiths could produce, barrels of cider from the apple orchards, dyed fabrics, and whale oil from the dock’s whalers.
Most of those goods would be unloaded at the guild’s court in Dumonia, but the captain had made sure to buy them at a favorable price. If not in gold, then the guild would benefit from saving on hosting the coming winter ball. In terms of accounting, the results would look quite the same - it wasn’t like it was some sort of accounting trick the captain or the guild was using.
The next stop, of course, was the guild’s docks in Dumonia, where they would unload the whole ship’s goods into the court, and instead fill up with the finest leathers and furs that Dumonia had to offer. Winter had yet to come about, so it was chiefly leathers at this point, and in any case, the spring auction was where most of the furs were sold. Before they could do any of that, though, they first had to make it to Dumonia, so with the ship ready to set sail, the crew rowed Big Blue out with the ebbing tide and out onto the sea.
[ooc: when I wrote this, I realized there was a possible misconception of trying to save on future actions - there is no such attempt!]
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 18, 2016 20:53:35 GMT
The short trip from Alined to Dumonia was uneventful for the crew. Either the seas were calm or the wind blew the wrong way, so they had to mostly row Big Blue to its next port of call. It was good experience for the relatively new crew who had otherwise mostly served on smaller vessels - whether merchant, fishing or transport. As they now served aboard a warship, rowing was no longer just a matter of getting from point A to point B; it was now potentially a matter of life and death, and better to get that experience while their life was not on the line than later.
As planned, they unloaded the ship when they docked in Dumonia, bringing all the goods to the court’s storage. Rather than continue empty-handed, they loaded the ship up with canvas, wool cloth, paints, and miscellaneous cargo destined for Gawant and Caerleon. Here, Captain Charles also gave the men shoreleave as he spent a few days at court, speaking with Aethor about the trade venture thus far; giving his report to and receiving any pertinent weather and troop reports from the Grand Admiral.
Finally finished with his duties at court, Captain Charles set sail to round the cape of Dumonia. This was a riskier sea, with potentially strong waves and hidden reefs, but it was also a sea he knew well, having grown up on its northern shores. He knew how to avoid some of the sandbanks hidden by the ebb and flow of the tides, and while some captains would have been impatient and tried to cut across early, he rounded the cape quite some distance from the shores, avoiding grounding his ship for potentially a full day on the tidal flats.
The sharp reefs born from the rock cliffs of Dumonia were also avoided by keeping a safe distance from the shore, and a safe distance from the open sea. Here, the crew were on edge on account of being the meeting point where pirates and slavers were both a threat. Fortunately, it was also the closest the crew could ever be to the court of the Southern Traders and, as a consequence, the remainder of the guild's fleet. Laden with goods or not, the ship was still a capable warship, and having no intention to engage any enemy vessels, Captain Charles trusted that he and his men could avoid combat by evasion.
With the cape successfully rounded, the trip to Gawant proceeded as planned, and the Captain had no intention of making any stops at his hometown on the way there - there was nothing there for him to do at any rate, aside from sampling the day's catch, which he could do just as well onboard his own vessel.
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 20, 2016 3:00:59 GMT
Making their way past the cliffs of Dumonia, Big Blue sailed the sea to Gawant. The waves battered against the ship, as they followed the guiding lights from fishing cabins along the shore at night. During the day, they followed the shore whenever it was within sight, and sailed with caution if mist and fog ruled the day.
Almost at their last port of call, in the Kingdom of Gawant they would sell their canvas and paints to the royal painters of Gawant. A stray cat had also made its way onboard at Dumonia, and the crew would see if the cat prefered to stay or continue on its way to strange new lands.
Destined for Caerleon, they filled the ship with dried meats, mushrooms and pheasants. The beautiful feathers of a multitude of birds were carefully boxed and stowed away. Finally, golden jewelry and ingots were likewise loaded onto the ship.
It would seem the cat had chosen to grace the ship with its continued presence when the ship decided to depart. The crew had taken a liking to it, and it to the crew. The ship would be its home for a while now, and with any luck there’d no problems with rats and mice for a long time.
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 21, 2016 2:43:34 GMT
Bringing a cargo of golden jewelry and ingots, beautiful feathers, dried meats, mushrooms, pheasants, leftover canvas and paints, and various collectible knick-knacks (like scrimshaw, wooden figurines and other carved objects), Big Blue made its way to its last port of call, as it would thereafter return to the Southern Trader court in Dumonia, hoping to bring with it more goods for the winter ball.
It was approaching the last weeks of autumn, with the many stops Big Blue had made. Captain Charles was not entirely sure if they had made good time or not, but they certainly hadn’t been slow about sailing from one port to the next. He’d know when he was back in Dumonia if they had been as rapid as he had hoped to be, and also if they’d made the profits that Aethor had expected them to make.
Big Blue made a pass by the pilgrim’s city of Pwlldefaid. Though most chose to walk, some with the funds had purchased passage from Gawant by sea. Most of those pilgrims had done so due to injuries sustained on the road, and so as they could not walk. Bringing them by ship, it was a unique opportunity for these pilgrims to finish the last leg of their trip and reach the shrine of Saint Columba. However, the crew would not depart their ship this time around, as the pilgrims were all they were bringing to Pwlldefaid, and they would depart with nothing but the blessings of the local priests, and with news from the local, formerly western, guilders.
Hugging close to the shore as they made their final approach to Aberffraw, they made their way to the largest settlement of Caerleon. It was a port much the same size as could be found in many of the other provinces of Albion (save perhaps for Alined), albeit annoyingly operated by the Northern Traders. Ultimately, it was the local guilders, and very few of the traders if any at all, who helped berth the ship and unload its goods. There was clearly some animosity between the guilders, both those Southern and Western, against the Northerners. The same animosity had also been clear in Gawant, to be fair.
However, not all was gloomy. As the large ship had approached, it had attracted the attention of Queen Jessica Caerleon. She and her entourage could be found at the docks to welcome the berthing of Big Blue. The crew (many from Gawant and Caerleon) went to work throwing ropes around, tying them as need be, and unloading the vessel while waiting for the many bushels of wheat and wheels of cheese they were hoping to bring back to court.
Captain Charles of Exmoor, meanwhile, approached the Queen of Caerleon. He was clearly a bit uncertain on the appropriate etiquette, but as a man of Dumonia who would potentially have faced the wrath of King Oden, he tried his best to be presentable.
“Your Grace” He nervously began “You grace us with your presence. I trust that our guilders are welcome in these lands?”
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Post by Jessica Carleon (Carleon) on Mar 21, 2016 3:24:22 GMT
As Jessica approaches closer to more easily converse with the Captain, a strange silence drops over the docks, every eye turning towards the Queen as she strides forward casually her hair flashing brilliantly in the sun like spun gold. Then the moment passes and work at the docks resumes.
"Quite welcome Captain, so long as you and yours obey my laws I'm sure we'll have only the normal amount of trouble that sailors bring." She pauses briefly while casting an eye over the Big Blue. "And I am sure that what little trouble your sailors bring will be overshadowed by the patronage Aberffraw inn's receive from them."
"Still I must admit Captain that it is not happenstance that bought me here to meet you. My Seneschal is away from Caerleon at the moment, assisting Camelot with some small matters, and so I have taken it upon myself to undertake some of his duties. It is in completing these duties that I seek your assistance."
"I seek passage for a single chest to your guilds headquarters in Dumonia, and storage of said chest until such time as I arrive for the winter ball."
"I also have a more personal request that I am hoping you can assist me with Captain. We don't make them quite that big here in Caerleon," indicating the ship with a lazy wave, "Might I trouble you for a tour before you depart?"
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 21, 2016 3:37:24 GMT
A wave of relief washes over the Captain Charles' face; for a few brief moments, he had been concerned the Queen's presence bore ill tidings. He had a very hard time containing a chuckle thinking about the trouble he had seen sailors bring in ages past, and with winter almost upon the lands of Albion, there'd be quite a few sailors in many seaside villages and cities with too much time on their hands and too much drink down their throats.
The sailors had slowed their work in the Queen's presence, except for the essentials, as they did their best standing to attention as a landed guard would - they were not particularly good at it yet, having barely done so before the admiral, but they weren't the worst either. Experience eluded them still, but to call them entirely untrained would have been unfair. All the same, a berthing ship had many tasks to complete and not every man could cease his task.
"If I know my admiral's wishes true, he would have me bring the chest free of charge. If I am mistaken, rest assured that I shall make any payment necessary for its passage."
Turning to the matter of a tour and the Seneschal, his brow furrowed slightly. "Forgive me Queen. I am honored to accept the tour, however, I must admit that I am but a new Captain of an equally new ship" (New to the guild at any rate, was left unsaid) "I'm as curious as our ship's cat with how I might be able to be of assistance."
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Post by Jessica Carleon (Carleon) on Mar 21, 2016 5:06:55 GMT
As Charles mentions his willingness the transport the Queens clothes she inclines her head in thanks, "Thankyou Captain, my maids were in a fair state about the potential for damage to my gowns. Your gallantry on this matter is appreciated and will be remembered."
"As for other matters in which you might assist, the tour, as best you could would be most appreciated. I have some faint memories of ships of this size, but have never had the chance to personally view one. It would be an enlightening experience to be shown around one."
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 21, 2016 20:20:38 GMT
Realization dawned on the captain. “Ah. Of course. Forgive me, I sometimes forget the Guild’s fleet is quite unique in these lands for its size. Please, follow me.”
Although Big Blue was a recent addition to the fleet, both the Southern and Northern traders had a focus on trade (albeit perhaps with slightly different intents in mind). As such, the ship remained similar to the other Southern Trader vessels.
“You’ll find that this vessel is one both suited for war and trade.” Captain Charles began explaining “As is the crew. On the side of the ship, we store the crew’s shields, so they are right at hand if we are to board or be boarded.” His hand waved across the railing adorned by small wooden shields suitable for a mariner on a ship. It was certainly no knights shield and a lance would tear it apart - but then there were few knights who could ride a horse upon the sea itself.
“You won’t find many weapons onboard at present - only what the crew have brought themselves as far as bows, crossbows and spears go. If we were fitted for war, we’d have far more weapons onboard, not to mention a larger crew. As is, we are fitted for trade for this season, and it does take some time to make a ship ready for either.” On the deck of the vessel, Captain Charles brought the Queen to the bow of the ship.
“Here at the bow - that is to say the front, my Queen - we have a covered compartment to store weapons, sleeping crew and soldiers, or goods of trade. The prow of the ship you see up ahead is what cuts through the waves, whether we move by the grace of the wind or by the strength of our men.” Captain Charles indicated the figured-head that adorned the prow, carved a long time ago in the north by a skilled Northern guilder. The battered, yet intricate carving of an eagle reaching down to catch its prey in the water represented the unity of the ship and the sea, and the ferocity of both.
“I have more to show, but does Your Grace have any questions before I continue?”
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Post by Jessica Carleon (Carleon) on Mar 22, 2016 0:01:01 GMT
"I suspect Captain that I will have many questions for you, but I shall hold them back till you have completed your tour. It may be that the answers will come in the normal turn of things."
And as the tour continues, whilst Jessica does asks some small clarifying questions she does hold most back to the end of the tour.
"This is a beautiful vessel you have here Captain, and while I would love to see her cutting though the waves by the grace of the wind as you so stirringly described I regret that my duty calls. Please pass my compliments to both your crew and your Admiral or the condition and appearance of your ship. I wish you luck with your trade, and good winds as you return south before the winter storms."
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Mar 23, 2016 20:43:43 GMT
"It has been an honor, Your Grace. I hope to one day find myself back in Caerleon - as do many of the crew that hail from here, I am sure. With luck, such serendipity will be in matters of trade and not war." The implication leaning towards war meaning in protection of Caerleon, as the Guild had previously come to the aid of Dumonia and Nemeth.
Parting with the Queen and her entourage as gracefully as the Captain was able (which is to say, somewhat, but not quite good enough for a courtly appearance), the full crew went back to work on getting the vessel ready for the last leg of the trip home. Winter would soon be upon them, and the Captain's presence back in court was requested before then.
With as full a cargo as was possible for Big Blue, the vessel would make its way out of port and towards its homeport in Dumonia. Until Captain Charles met up with Grand Admiral Aethor and reviewed the venture, there would be no means of knowing if it had been as much of a success as the Captain had hoped it to be. At the very least, they could rightfully claim to have performed a service for the Queen of Caerleon. At best, the Guild would relish in the additional funds that would be available to pay for the costs of hosting the Winter Ball in Dumonia.
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