Swift Black Eel Moonboat

From: Roderick and Ellen Robertson <rjremr_at_...>
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 21:40:09 -0700


Hi gang,

Here's a Courier Moonboat for the Orlanthi to try to stop, or the Lunars to catch for a quick trip to the Empire. It normally runs once a week, trying to fly the most hazardous part of the journey (wherever that might be - it can vary from week to week if the rebels get "uppity") on Full Moon day, when its powers are above normal.

RR
It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has done what he has done.
- Richelieu

++++++++++++++++++

Swift Black Eel
Through flight we bind the Empire together.

Common Names Sky-boaters
Form: Ship's crew of the moonboat Swift Black Eel Typical Homeland: Darjiin
Cultural Context: The Swift Black Eel is a light, fast Moonboat used as a courier by the Lunar Army
Ideology: A passion for the empire and a passion for flying their boat. Look and Feel: South-sea islanders in the sky Purpose: To fly the Swift Black Eel. Currently this means to be a courier for the army.
Headquarters: Haranshold, Darjiin.
Reactions: As typical Darjiinnans.

Resources
Leader: Leksassu Windswimmer. He is the captain of the boat, and can swim through the air as easily as a normal man can swim through water. Renowned Members: Greenhand Kassu, the navigator, who can read the stars as well as any buseri Skygazer. Ombedi, Leksassu's wife and cook, who once made the emperor himself weeps tears of joy at her Glazed Marsh Slugs and Ginger. Membership: There are five crewmen on the Eel, all members of the same family.
Other Contacts: Other Vargar worshippers will rally to their call.

Organization
The hero band is simply the crew members and family of the Swift Black Eel. Leksassu is the ship's captain, and pater familias to the rest of the band.

Membership Keyword
Entry Requirements: Belong to, or marry into, the StavGasu family, and be a worshipper of Vargar.
Skills taught: Sail Moonboat, Repair, Weave Reeds Typical Personality Traits: The StavGasu family is noted for their Love of Freedom and lack of Modesty, even for Darjiinans. Magic: The StavGesu family has an understanding with eel spirits of the marsh, and are the sole worshippers of the Marsh Eel practice.

Guardian
The Swift Black Eel is not the Guardian for the band, unlike many other Moonboats; their Guardian is One Red Tooth, embodied in a scarlet banner flown from the masthead.
Method: Emanation.
Form: A long scarlet windsock shaped like a gape-mouthed eel with one distinctive red fang in a mouth full of silver teeth. Communication: The flapping of One Red Tooth can be understood by all crew members.
Guardian Requirements: Always go barefoot, drink a cup of BitterGrass tea every morning, Necer wear the color red
Functions:
Awareness function: Sense shift in Wind 3W Blessing function: Resist Falling Overboard 12W

The Swift Black Eel
The Swift Black Eel is the courier boat used by Tatius to communicate with his superiors in the empire. It can make the run from the Siege area to Mirin's Cross in about three days - about half that time is spent outside the Glowline and vulnerable to Orlanthi magic and flying warriors. The crew is not extravagantly armed - knives and marlinspikes are normally at hand, though there is an "arms locker" with a couple old crossbows, and some spears and shields. The crew doesn't expect to fight, instead they'll typically use their Fly Fast to get out of an ambush. The Black Eel can fly over most of the mountains in the Dragon Pass area, though it prefers to fly only about 200 feet off the ground - no matter what Leksassu might prefer. His notable ability is "Sweet Talk the Black Eel 18W2", used to control the boat.

The Black Eel can carry about 5 passengers and their gear, or their equivalent in cargo (about � of a ton/680 kilos), but each additional passenger (300 lbs/136 Kilos) inflicts a -3 penalty to Fly and Fly Fast. Crew: 5
Passengers: 5
Notable Abilities: Fly 12W, Fly Fast 15W2

Powered by hypermail