(A re-imagining of the life of the first colonists)
The Year is 1500 A.D.
Eight years ago, the Spanish funded a quest to find a new and better route to the East Indies. The captain of that mission, a Christopher Columbus, failed in his initial quest but was not defeated. While he didn't find a way to the East Indies, he discovered an entirely new and unconquered world, a world which the European powers at the time began to scramble over one another to conquer for themselves.
The Kalmar Union knew of legends among the people that their Viking ancestors had sailed far enough to the west to have found new lands but had returned home due to unknown reasons. Perhaps the legends were true. The fact that some no-good Italian, at the behest of the Spanish government had tried to claim lands that they had claimed to have found first stirred up anger within some of the more notable members of the Kalmar Union. In secret, John, King of Denmark made preparations to send a well-equipped group of ships to the west in the hopes of establishing a colony that would enrich the Union.
Gone were the days when long-ships were to be used in sailing across a vast ocean, thus the Crown selected two ships, a large Carrack and a Caravel to be used in taking the selected volunteers to their final destination.
Some of those who volunteered were skilled in various arts and crafts and due to their willingness to serve in this way, the kingdom granted them better tools of their trade than they owned themselves before blessing them for their journey.
The ship set out under the cover of darkness with no fanfare or even knowledge of its whereabouts, as the Union had no desire that their colonial attempts be made known. It was the very end of the winter season when they left and the crew and passengers were dressed warmly for their journey across the bitter waters.
About a week into their trip, the ships faced a devastating storm, one of the last that winter would bring, but it was a ruthless and wicked sea that they fought against. Several of the passengers were encouraged and eventually pressed into service as crewmates and one such passenger was led to an early death and a watery grave. He attempted, quite valiantly, to save the sailboat that was being brought to the new land but had broken free of its lashings. Both he and the boat went over and neither was seen again. When the sea calmed back down, both crew and passengers were saddened by the loss of their fellow but happy that the storm was over leaving the group none the worse for wear.
After 5 weeks of hard sailing, a mound of greenery was sighted on the far horizon and a cheer went up among the crew and passengers. It took one more day to finally come close enough to see the new land that would be called their home, but at the Captains urging, they didnÔÇÖt disembark immediately, but instead sailed further south along the coast until he found a suitable place to land. After one more day had passed and the captain found himself with a nearly mutinous crew, such that worry lines etched into his face, he was happy to find himself just outside an inlet which led into the still waters of a bay deep enough for the Carrack to enter. The bay was only about twice the Carracks length wide, but as the bay was so deep, the sailors and passengers unable to see the bottom, the captain was happy with his decision to stop.
The Caravel, with a somewhat flatter bottom, was able to sail further into the bay and help with the offloading of the materials and goods. It took two full days of grinding work before every last passenger and supply had been offloaded onto the shore. In that time period, makeshift canvas tents were erected to keep the offloaded supplies as dry as possible and In the following days, additional makeshift tents were quickly erected within the edges of the tree line which hugged the thin strip of beach.
<INSERT MAP>
Enough food was given to the 99 remaining colonists to feed them for a year, it wouldnÔÇÖt be the most tasteful or filling, but it would help them survive. As there was a small river which ended into the bay, the sailors refilled their water supply but left several of the empty barrels which they had brought with them on the journey.
Minus the supplies that they had spent on the trip here as well as for the sailorÔÇÖs trip back, the following was what was offloaded.
As the colonists settled into their temporary homes, the sailors said their goodbyes and promised to return from time to time to look in on the colony, occasionally bringing supplies or new colonists as well as shipping trade goods from the colony to the homeland. At first the colonists seemed lost in this brand new world, unsure of where to start or what to do. They remembered however, the kings orders about electing one of their number to be governor. None of the unskilled workers felt strong or smart enough to lead them in their conquest of this new world and they turned to the opinions of the ones who had skills. These skilled workers were themselves unsure and very humble about taking up the mantle of leadership in the fledgling colony, but finally chose one of their number, a man by the name of Groff who begrudgingly accepted the position.
Current Season: Summer
.[tabs: Spider]
Name: Thormod Thorgilsson
Skills:
Carpentry (1)
1d4(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Soldier (1)
Action Required
Blacksmith (3)
1(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Food: 4
[tabs: Thinks]
Name: Freya Olafsdottir
Skills:
Farming (2)
1d7(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Brewing (3)
1d4(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Food: 4
[tabs: Theis]
Name: Ymer J├©rgensen
Skills:
Medicine (4)
1(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Botany (1)
1d4(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Food: 4
[tabs: M0rt]
Name: Groff
Position: Governor
Skills:
Lumbering (3)
1d7(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Fishing (1)
1d4(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Soldier (1)
Action Required
Food: 4
[tabs: Gathers]
Name: Bjorn Cloudhammer
Skills:
Carpentry (2)
1d4(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Masonry (3)
1d4(/month) + JS(*5%) x ToT(If >0)
Food: 4
[tabs: NPC's]
Quantity: 94 colonists
Skills:
Sailing (2)
Food: 4/each[/tabs]
Each turn (a 3 month season), I need 3 actions from players and orders from the current governor. The exception to this is colonists.