<span style="color: #FFFF00">The OOC can be found <a class="postlink" href="https://creativefreedomrpg.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&amp;t=42040">here</a></span><br/><br/>First, some information. I'll be giving information like this as it becomes relevant throughout the story. That said, don't be afraid to ask questions about the world... I if you're wondering about something, I may just have forgotten to tell you about it!<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFF00">NAVIGATION IN THE NEW WORLD:</span>One of the side effects of the shattering was the destabilization of the magnetic poles- this, combined with the blinding or destruction of a majority of satellites and the covering of the starry sky with a veil of warping air originally presented a near insurmountable obstacle to early exploration, as it was nearly impossible to find one's way on the open sea.<br/><br/>This obstacle was eventually overcome with the combined efforts of Manufactorium personnel and physicists. Utilizing quantum resonance, the Manufactorium created three beacons along the shore of the mainland forming an equilateral triangle.<br/><br/>The idea is simple- each ship will carry three compasses, each attuned to one of these beacons. Using a precise magical-instrumental interface, a ship would be able to tell which direction it is facing, as well as its precise location in relation to the mainland. Additionally, the beacons are capable of sending map data, and a list of dangers in the local area.<br/><br/>Planting these beacons soon became one of the mandates of the explorer teams- on each habitable island that they visit they are to place a beacon and upload map data to it in order to improve the accuracy and usefulness of the navigational computers.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFF00">YOUR SHIP:</span>The N.W.E.S. Bandersnatch (New World's Exploration Ship) is designated as a Superior Galleon- a four-masted, three deck ship with a 2000 tonne displacement, and is of primarily wooden construction; it has a steel/aluminium alloy keel and an oaken carvel built hull. It is designed to be manned by between forty and sixty people at a time, but<span style="font-style: italic">can</span>be sailed by as few as ten in non-combat situations and in ideal weather; that being said, it can bunk up to 240 fairly comfortably, even while carrying its maximum amount of cargo.<br/><br/>The Bandersnatch is outfitted with high grade photo-electric (solar) cells at the aft of the ship, which are capable of fully charging the battery banks in as little as half a day. The lithium ion battery banks are held in a sealed waterproof room in the bilges, and can hold up to one week's worth of electrical power if only being used to power the standard appliances. The battery life recedes to roughly ten hours when the engines are engaged at full power. (standard appliances include lighting, a large freezer, a fridge, and the navigational computer)<br/><br/>Speaking of which, your ship has a 2420 horsepower electrical engine that is meant to be used only when the wind will not suite your purposes.<br/><br/>The Bandersnatch has three modern cannons on a swivelling platform on the forecastle.<br/><br/>As for the measurements: The Bandersnatch is 56 metres long by 12.5 metres wide and stands about 19 metres out of the water when completely filled.<br/><br/>Your ship has a complement of 158, including your characters. There are two healers, one botanist, two journeymen and one Tradesman of the Manufactorium, a cook, an archaeologist, a journeyman of the Oracle, a surveying crew of 20 and 103 sailors- the rest of the crew is made up of the four of you plus 22 combat personnel. If you lose too many sailors over the course of your journey and cannot replace them then you will either be forced to turn back, or, if you lack the manpower to sail at all, you will be stranded.<br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">-------------------------------------------------</div><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Prologue</span></div><br/><br/><br/>A child is born amidst long shadows and flames and its new lungs take in air for the first time, the world shakes and millions of eyes gaze up at unfamiliar stars, a being of metal and stars sits in the bowels of the earth sleeping and forgotten, a boy takes up his staff of pure darkness, unaware that he is watched from shadows even his eyes cannot pierce, a distant island is slowly coated in creeping ice, an old necromancer stumbles upon a child sprawled lazily upon a pile of knocked out guards.<br/><br/>Every beginning is simply the ending of what came before; the beginning of spring is the end of winter, the beginning of night the end of day, the beginning of knowledge the end of ignorance. Again and again, a cycle of beginning and ending and beginning again.<br/><br/>This world has begun many times. The Origin mages say that eons ago the gods created the world- that they wrought it of fire and water, they wrought it of earth and air, they wrought it of light and darkness, they wrought it of life and death, and when it was thus wrought they did set it in motion. Millenia ago the first humans came to be, and their workings carved the earth and shaped it. Civilizations have risen and fallen, and with each rise and fall have changed the world. Twelve years ago, the world began as magic was reawakened to the sound of war drums, and then a mere six years later began again when, in reawakening, magic did shatter the world.<br/><br/>The day is June 31st, 3018, and on this day six years ago the Last War came to a close. Today, on that auspicious anniversary, comes a grand event- the end of one journey, and the beginning of the next.<br/><br/>The sun beats down on the wooden docks and the hundreds of men, women and children gathered there to witness the launch of the eighth voyage of project Reclamation. The air is filled with the call of gulls, the creak of ropes, the voices of restless children and the scents of salt and sea and wood baked by sun and soaked by surf.<br/><br/>The man in charge of organizing these journeys stands at a pulpit, wrinkled hands grasping the wood as his wavering voice is projected past his wispy halo of snow white hair, carried by wind and by magic to the ears of those crowded about the docks. He is not what one would call an inspired speaker; his speech is all but devoid of passion, all concerned with dry facts and figures and precise measurements, and not with the human elements of the mission at all, but it has been near an hour since he took the stand, and his speech is now coming to a close.<br/><br/>Your characters are aboard the Bandersnatch, awaiting the end of the speech. For a time there was a bustle of frantic activity as the organizers searched for a missing passenger- the infamous Kaiden Bloodlance- but that has since died down as the decision was made to leave without him. The search has now given way to sailors scrambling about the ship, making last minute checks and preparations for the voyage with dogged efficiency. Meanwhile, farther down the docks, the dock hands work to unload the Danaus, unloading the leftover rations, the raw materials found over the voyage, and the few refugees and their belongings. Their ship is far, far smaller than the Bandersnatch- merely a caravel- and its mission was far shorter than what has been proposed for this new voyage... Yet its lack of severe damage is encouraging.<br/><br/>Now, back to the man making the speech... This speaker is George Hephaestus Fabbro, first Master of the Manufactorium, and the father of project Reclamation; a brilliant man when it comes to the logistics of sea travel, but sadly lacking in the ability to keep the attention of those not interested in the minutiae of shipbuilding techniques and materials. Yet now he goes over the last detail of cost, and pauses- for the first time in the afternoon looking down at his notes. The audience shakes themselves awake for the final ceremony...<br/><br/>“...and now, ladies and gentlemen, I will bid you a good day, and in a moment we will welcome Captain Oliver of the Danaus to launch the Bandersnatch... but first, a short speech prepared by my script writer. I would leave it out, as I have the rest of what he wrote, to his unending dismay... but my wife, wherever she is, would certainly not approve of ignoring his hard work entirely.”<br/><br/>George clears his throat, and a sudden hush falls over the docks, even the gulls seeming to hold their breaths in anticipation. “Project Reclamation is more than simply a mission to rediscover the globe; it is us. It is humanity. Like a ship, humanity sails a winding journey, seeking favourable winds and helpful currents. We know where we want to go, of course; to explore, and find the land that we haven't been before, to bring back friends and family, and stories to tell... but just like those brave souls aboard the Bandersnatch, and the Danaus before it, we have no map or chart to guide us. All we have as guides are our mistakes which tell us which way we must not go again, and our successes that tell us where we already were. All of us are in the same ship, straining for the next island, hoping that<span style="font-style: italic">this</span>one will hold those thought lost, hoping not only to spread the word that<span style="font-style: italic">they</span>are not alone, but also to confirm that we aren't either...”