Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 13 May 2003 to 14 May 2003 (#2003-127) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 15/05/2003, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 5 messages totalling 206 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. =?iso-8859-1?B?UmU6IFtNWVNUQVJBXSBRdWVzdGlvbnMsIFBvcnRvIE1hbGRp52FvIGFu?= =?iso-8859-1?B?ZCBQb3J0byBFc2NvcnBpYW8=?= 2. Mercs (4) ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 10:58:50 -0300 From: Asgor Ironfist Subject: =?iso-8859-1?B?UmU6IFtNWVNUQVJBXSBRdWVzdGlvbnMsIFBvcnRvIE1hbGRp52FvIGFu?= =?iso-8859-1?B?ZCBQb3J0byBFc2NvcnBpYW8=?= Hi Yes, you're right, both Zuyevo and LB Trade Company would be involved in this battle. I didn't included Zuyevo because this nation don't have an shared border with Baronato de Portos (Porto Maldição and Porto Escorpião) and don't have an powerful fleet. So, Zuyevo would need renardian ships to move it's troops across the bay (to protect Preuve and to try to attack Portos). So, even Zuyevo being an very powerful nation, it's help on this battle would mean little in the end. Well, i think. And i included LB Trade Company as an neutral force in this war because it dislikes both sides, Zuyevo/Renardy (that conquered Richland) and Texeira/Vilaverde (LB TC surely don't like to share it's profit with the verdan baronies), and it would rather let both sides destroy eath other than envonve itself on this war. At leats, that's what i think. But indeed the LB TC would start another war, agains Vilaverde or Texeiras after the conflit at the Yalu Bay, trying to weak it's trade rivals. But LB TC (and Cimarron) knows that it's fleet is still smaller and less powerful than the verdan fleet, so it might seek aliances with Torreón (that wants to conquer the Red Lands, Texeiras and, why not, Vilaverde) and the City-States Hojah and Zvornik (and some Slagich mercenaries too =). But Slagovich probably would try to not be involved in this battle, i think). Texeiras and Vilaverde might would try to find some allies too, like Slagovich (that probably would refuse to be involved, or send just secret help to the verdans, to weak Hojah and Zvornik) and Narvaez (that probably would accept to join the war and try to expand the influence of the Church of Narvaez). Wow, an large-sacle war! This would lead to interesting events on the near (and far) future, like Vilaverde taking the control of some os the naval City-States trade routes, eventually reaching Sind, attacking Jahore and then come back to Vilaverde with a lot of spices and other things to sell (based on the RW Vasco da Gama's journey to India in 1498); an sucessory war at Vilaverde, with the new barão of Portos against one of his brothers (something like Don Pedro I of Brazil and his brother [Miguel I, i think]); and, pehaps, the unification of the City-States, with the help of an high level kerendan revolucionary adventure (based on RW Giuseppe Garibaldi), who might try to help some verdan colonies to become indepedent. Ok, it was a little too far, hehehehe Well, that's another reason that i didn't included the LB Trade Company in that battle, because it's hard to fit it in that war without the war became an large-scale one ^^'' Bye _________________________________________________________________ MSN Messenger: converse com os seus amigos online. http://messenger.msn.com.br ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 10:30:57 -0400 From: Geoff Gander Subject: Re: Mercs Ashaktur wrote: > Absolutely Geoff. Kastelios may even act as a conduit for mercs from the > Davanian Hinterland - places like Telos Taksidhi, Polkatsikes, Cyclonia etc. I would think so, too. Aside from Kastelios, the only other decent-sized port that accesses the interior plains of Davania, outside of Raven Scarp, is Garganin, and the Garganinese are rather insular, and uncomfortable with large numbers of foreigners within their walls. I could certainly see sell-swords from as far away as Cyclonia, Hrissopoli, and Ilioloosti (especially), making their way to Kastelios to earn a few coins. For many young lads in that part of the world, the prospect of adventure in the unknown north, or even on the Sea of Dread, would be enough of a draw. Depending on the volume of traffic (which would likely increase as contacts with the Known World and other regions grow), the Kastelian government might even set aside space for a mercenary market, where people with coin could interview scores of eager souls without hindering the city-state's burgeoning trade with Sind, Ierendi, Yavdlom, and Thyatis. Geoff -- Geoff Gander, BA 97, MPA 02 Carnifex Loremaster/Mad Roleplayer Master of the Elemental Plane of Bureaucracy au998@freenet.carleton.ca : www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Realm/2091 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 08:09:12 +1200 From: Chris Furneaux Subject: Re: Mercs > is Garganin, and the Garganinese are rather insular, and uncomfortable > with large numbers of foreigners within their walls. I could certainly > see sell-swords from as far away as Cyclonia, Hrissopoli, and > Ilioloosti (especially), making their way to Kastelios to earn a few > coins. For many > young lads in that part of the world, the prospect of adventure in the > unknown north, or even on the Sea of Dread, would be enough of a draw. You just reminded me of something. IIRC historical mercenary armies were dangerous to have around. On several occations when they were no longer needed in the employ of a nation they banded togeather and continued marudeing the countryside to support and continue their lifestyle. Found it I think: ----------------- Hawkwood, John 1320?-1394?, English Soldier of Fortune The second son of a tanner in Essex, Sir John Hawkwood became the most famous mercenary captain of his day. His military career began in France in the Hundred Years' War, but it was in Italy that he made his reputation. Hawkwood fought at the head of numerous mercenary companies ("free companies"), serving such masters as Milan, the Pope, and Florence. Using military tactics developed by the English in the Hundred Years' War (lance, longbow, infantry), Hawkwood gained impressive military victories (Castagnaro, 1389); between wars, he led companies on raids, extorting large sums of money from communities. (!!!see!!!) His enduring fame rests as much on his military success as on his reputation as the one honest, reliable soldier among a treacherous lot—a reputation gained by his refusal to accept a Florentine bribe while employed by rival Pisa. Indeed, when Hawkwood died, the Florentines granted him burial in the cathedral, an honor denied their greatest poet, Dante Alighieri, a generation earlier. ------------------ It's easy then to understand why someone would be uncomfortable with large numbers of foreigners within their walls. Chris. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 15:32:10 -0600 From: John Hare Subject: Re: Mercs > You just reminded me of something. IIRC historical mercenary armies were > dangerous to have around. On several occations when they were no longer needed > in the employ of a nation they banded togeather and continued marudeing the > countryside to support and continue their lifestyle. > ------------------ > It's easy then to understand why someone would be uncomfortable with large > numbers of foreigners within their walls. > Chris. Another reason why you wouldn't want too many mercenaries around, is because they will affect the economy. Luxury goods and common goods will wind up costing more because of the increased demand. Basically inflation being caused in that the mercenaries will spend their coin to make themselves more comfortable while in town, which means price increases on food, ale, wine, weapons and armor, not to mention any goodies they might want to take home. And considering that to hire mercenaries means they will normally get better wages than the town guard or standing army, they will have more coin to spend (not counting any successful looting they may have done). So generally when you hire mercs, you want to get them ready and shipped out to where they are needed to fight as soon as possible. And if you decide that you can cut them free, then doing that in some other countries borders might be a good plan. John Hare "My good fortune is your good fortune." - Q ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 22:38:51 -0400 From: Geoff Gander Subject: Re: Mercs Chris wrote: > You just reminded me of something. IIRC historical mercenary armies were > dangerous to have around. On several occations when they were no longer needed > in the employ of a nation they banded togeather and continued marudeing the > countryside to support and continue their lifestyle. If you look in the Vaults, you'll find writeups of various merc companies a bunch of us did a few years ago. It might be worthwhile for someone to look at them again, perhaps to see whether any of them might easily be incorporated into any of the scenarios we've been discussing lately. All this talk of mercs jogged my mind. Of course, if anyone has further ideas about other merc companies that might be operating in the Known World (or beyond it), your ideas would always be most welcome! :-) Geoff -- Geoff Gander, BA 97, MPA 02 Carnifex Loremaster/Mad Roleplayer Master of the Elemental Plane of Bureaucracy au998@freenet.carleton.ca : www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Realm/2091 ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 13 May 2003 to 14 May 2003 (#2003-127) ****************************************************************