Background
As per the Corasirs background, Teboa is being literally mined to death by the mining magnates of the Alderil Empire to the east. They have bought off enough of the council to obtain more of the magical repellium that allows the sky ships to sail above the Molten Sea. It also happens to keep the floating islands floating above that same sea, and Teboa is slowly sinking into the steaming depths.
The Council
The council consists of a dozen members drawn from all over the island, from Sebury to the far west to Pegate to the north east. The council convenes in Deathorp a week of every month to pursue governance. The remaining three weeks they are at their own estates, generally with a a stack of papers that takes most of the three weeks to go through.
The Council is lead by Sir Dayton Griffiths, a stout and older gentleman with his estates in the farmlands of Chaydale. Constantly smoking one of his prized cigars and not looking his age, Dayton was a Naval officer who returned almost a broken man. For him, the depths that people would go to were disheartening and caused him to return to his family estates, hunting and governing Chaydale. He was voted to to the council a few years later, and through the years rose to the leading position.
Henrich Holmes is from Bregate, His parents were from the northern islands, and he shares their Dwarf nature. Stubborn as he is short and wide, he mines the crystals that are used for timepieces and the navigational tools. His position on the council was achieved just a few years back and he is the most recent council member, though far from the youngest. He and Dayton will often hunt together as well. His niece, Glory Tumblestone, often accompanies them and her uncle to the big city of Deathorp on their private sky ship, the Birdsong.
There are several other members, but I am saving them for how the game evolves and what is needed. Just needed the council lead, and Heinrich, in various names, has shown up in several of my games. He started as an NPC character in a Fantasy Trip game, managed to get him into the Traveller game, and here he is in Corsairs. I may have to add a Heinrich tag.
The Pull
The various characters are brought to Griffith's estates in Chaydale. A sprawling farm house with a sky ship dock nearby, the estate has a forest to the east and famrlands as far as the eye can see to the east. Smaller farm houses are scattered about, and one can hear the lowing of cows and oxen, cackling of chickens and the soft sibilant sound of water flowing through raised troughs, similar to the Roman aquaducts. These take water from the mountain springs to irrigate the farm lands. The sky ship they can see docked is a sleek two masted war swoop.
Dayton knows some of the characters personally, others by reputation, and some perhaps via Heinrich, who is at the estate. The characters are brought into his study, where they are both puffing on oversized cigars. Deep chairs surround a table, with maps of Teboa spread out. Floor to ceiling book cases are on one wall, with a library ladder to reach the higher volumes. A broad glass door open to a veranda with expansive views of the farms. A butler brings in the party, who are seated about the table, and wine, water or juices are brought in. In the corner, curled up and reading a book, a young girl occasionally looks up as the conversation starts.
With a gruff clearing of his throat, Sir Griffiths starts. "Gentlemen (and gentlewomen if anyone will be playing a woman. the game doe snot differentiate) I am sorry to say I bring you together for a matter of grave importance. As you know, we've fought, and continue to fight, for Teboa's very life against the threats of the Alderal Empire. While the other empires may be biding their time, Alderal is our most significant threat to our very existence. There are members of the council who, shall we say, have been bought off, and living in largesse beyond what the council and their holdings would pay. They are selling our very right to life away to the highest bidders, and will leave Teboa before it inevitably sinks to a fiery death upon the Molten Seas below."
Heinrich takes a deep puff of his cigar, nodding.
Dayton continues: "We've brought you hear to help with the latest atrocity: there is a new repellium mine in Coastone, backed by the Alderal Empire and Sir Byron Windsor, the scallywag! We've some idea of where. While we cannot act in the providence of the Council " and here Heinrich grunts sarcastically, "we can hire private citizens to accost and destroy this mine with all due haste. You gentlemen I know either personally or by your fine reputation, and believe we can entrust you with the Samue to pursue these villains and strike at the very heart of the corruption in our council!"
There is suddenly the sound of running steps fading off to the distance, and Glory looks out the bay window she is in and exclaims: "Uncle! A lugger has just landed on the chicken house!"
Ta-Da
And here is where the game starts. Can they catch the runner who has apparently overheard the conversation? Can they then catch the lugger (a smaller ship than the one they saw earlier) before it gets away? These questions and more to be answered in the game!
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