Sunday, November 23, 2014

Hispaniola Terrain Map


Marais D' Tarascon


Marais D'Tarascon is an old Spanish plantation town from the mid 1500s revitalized in the past two decades or so by the French.   It is named after the Tarascon family which currently owns and runs the nearby sugar plantation.  Most families in the town work as freehold farmers working a plot of land rented from the Tarascons, or are trappers and hunters working the nearby wilderness.

To the North is Etang Saumatre (english: "Brackish Pond"), a 13-mile long semi-saltwater lake

To the West is the salt water marshes/swamps, currently flooding high, allowing passage only through certain winding footpaths.

To the East is an abandoned Spanish plantation,Tristepas, and beyond that, more of the Etang Saumatre

To the South are more swamps leading into highlands and mountains.

1. Full Moon Inn - This and the Church (9) and old cemetery (11) were the only buildings left from the Spanish era.

2. Bakery

3. Carpenter

4. Cemetery Caretaker cottage

5. Constable's cottage

6. Mordu the Scribe's cottage

7. General store

8. Blacksmith

9. Old Church (originally Spanish, refurbished by the French)

10. New Cemetery (French)

11. Old Cemetery (Spanish)

12. Barricaded home, affixed with crosses and strange plants

13. Tarascon Townhouse - Used by the Tarascon Family while in town, or for their guests.

14. Tailor

15. Tarascon Sugar Plantation

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Campaign Log 4

CAMPAIGN LOG 4


1630


June 22 -- Meet with Governor D'eon.  Hand over insane Captain Burgess.  Learn of Henry's possession, Serafina's murder and details. Sid sees Dark Specter in mansion corridors.  Meet with the McPhees at the farmhouse.

June 23 -- Talk with Father Benois, learn of Da Vinci scrolls, Claude, possible clue at Port au Prince

June 24 -- Serafina convinces Inigo to sneak her on board The Lion's Whelp.

June 29 -- The Lion's Whelp  departs Tortuga

July 5 -- Ship arrives at Port au Prince.  Sid, Inigo, Serafina (possessing Henry), Adan and Big Tiny left off to investigate Claude's whereabouts.

July 6 - Inigo has dream vision of the Dark Specter.

July 8 - The party departs for inland town of Marais D'Tarascon.  Toward sundown they meet gypsies; Grandma gypsy tells Inigo that only part of Serafina's spirit is present,a nd to beware the dead.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Campaign Blog 3

Campaign Log 3

"Island of Madness Part 2"

1630



May 30 -- Inigo buys poison and antivenin from Abranel Apothecary; Teak asks Inigo and Sid to join the crew permanently.

June 1 -- Sid propositioned again by Changeling Queen

June 2 -- The Lion's Whelp departs for Salt Cay

June 9 -- Spanish ketch Astuta spotted, engaged, and captured.  Henry D'eon de Beaumont rescued.

June 10 -- The Lion's Whelp returns to Salt Cay with the Astuta in tow with a prize crew.  Henry D'eon has strange encounter on mast with Inigo.  Sid stalks, and brings down Captain Burgess.  Silver recovered from dig site,

June 12 -- Departs Salt Cay

June 13 -- Burgess interrogated.  Confesses to several other minor treasures hidden around Salt Cay, including purses of coins, weapons, and a masterwork sword hidden in the salt marsh.

June 22 -- Arrival back in Tortuga.  Shares from treasure and capture cargo distributed to crew.



NEWS

-- The governor's son rescued from Spanish 'pirates' by The Lion's Whelp crew.

-- Rumors of major construction by the French on the western shore of Hispaniola.

-- English break ground on Nan Gris site on Tortuga to build a second (and English-controlled) port on Tortuga; approximately 5 miles west of Coyona on Tortuga's southern shore.  Many express doubts as to viability, as its not a natural harbor.

NPCs

TORTUGA

-- Le Viscount Renee D'eon de Beaumont -- Newly assigned 'unofficial' governor of Coyona and Fort De Rocher
-- Henry D'Eon de Beaumont -- Son of the governor; known to be a bit crazy
-- Samantha -- African-born house slave of D'eon family

-- Serafina D'eon de Beaumont -- Daughter of Renee and sister of Henry. Deceased.

-- Father Benoit -- Local Parish Priest (Catholic)
-- Jean Charlois -- Farmer, father of Catherine, original owner of PC's farmhouse

-- Catherine Charlois -- one of the kidnapped girls.  now mindless.
-- Genevieve Poole -- One of the kidnapped girls.  Half-Taino.  The only one who still retains some memories. Occasionally visits the farmhouse on her own.
-- Arabel Stockton -- one the kidnapped girls.  Now Mindless.

-- Captain Burgess -- Insane cannibal madman hermit.  Currently being held for trial

-- The Gray Lady -- Queen of the changelings, seems to have a passing interest in Sid

THE LION'S WHELP

-- an English Ketch privateer; 2 masts, 14 guns, holds up to 70 crew (currently 55.)  Officially operates out of Bermuda, but recently has been using Tortuga as home port.

-- John Teak, captain; in his 50s, former navy.  Kind of grim and cynical.

-- Pepe Abney, first mate.  Born French, raised in England since 10.  Handles much of commerce with french on Tortuga; popular with crew

-- Obediah Latchkey, sailmaster.  Older, looks overweight but is very spry.

-- Kinnear Cassidy: 14 year old cabin boy.  An irish-born slave owned by Captain Teak.

-- Adan Cyprien: Young French crewman rescued after being stranded on Salt Cay for months.  Nervous and twitchy at times.

-- Tiny.  Big muscular crewman.  Fraternal twin of Big Tiny.

-- Big Tiny: Skinny and spry crew man.  Fraternal twin of Tiny.

-- Other Crewmen: 

Ackerman
Herman
Reed
Plimpton
Kennicot
Oswald
Paddock
Swithin

-- Rossalyn McPhee. Scottish woman in late 20s.  A 'Fairy Doctor' she has the "sight' to see the Fae and the supernatural.

-- Rory McPhee. Scottish man in mid-20s.  He and his wife had to flee Scotland for Bermuda when local harassment because of wife's gifts became too much. A normal doctor in training, knows herbalism.


WHEREABOUTS UNCERTAIN


-- Artecius and Pythagorus -- Changeling brothers who kidnapped the girls.  Last seen in Fae land near Santo Domingo

-- Father Gregoir -- Fanatical Jesuit Priest; last seen in Fae land near Santo Domingo graveyard

-- Captain Caron -- Captain of the L'Esprit Du Henri, whose crew the PCs attacked in Tortuga port

-- Captain Weller -- Captain of the English Galleon the Speedwell.  Has a long standing hatred and rivalry with Captain Teak.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Campaign Log 2

"Isle of Madness"

1630

May 4 -- Rossalyn (the 'Fairy Doctor') and Rory Macphee visit the Farmhouse

May 5 -- Genevieve visits; Rossalyn explains about Changelings and that Genevieve will never get her mind back; Captain Teak hires the PCs onto the English privateer ketch The Lion's Whelp; Inigo duels English sailor

May 6 -- The Lion's Whelp departs Tortuga for Salt Cay

May 9 -- Sailmaster Latchkey tells PCs of treasure rumors on Salt Cay

May 16 -- Confrontation with rival English Captain Weller and his ship, the galleon The Speedwell.  The Speedwell gives chase but The Lion's Whelp shelters in the shallows of Salt Cay's east shore, forcing Speedwell  to retreat to western shore.

May 17 -- Crew and PCs investigate beached French shipwreck.  Inigo captured by insane cannibal Captain Burgess.  PCs and Lion's Whelp crew fight Burgess and Speedwell crew.

May 18 -- Fight with Speedwell crew at Burgess cave; emerald jewelry recovered.

May 19 -- The Lion's Whelp departs Salt Cay

May 29 -- Arrival back on Tortuga



NEWS

-- Renee D'Eon de Beaumont (officially, Le Viscount D'eon de Beaumont) arrives on Tortuga as new official French Governor of Cayona and Fort de Rocher.   Wants to better consolidate French holdings on island for better defense, but also pledges continued cooperation with the english colonists.  However, English and other ships must now pay higher dock fees and other fees while French ships dock for free.  English grumble about building their own port elsewhere on island.

Changeling Queen / The Lady in Gray


Changelings (true forms)




Saturday, September 13, 2014

Salt Cay


Satellite Image


Map with distance scale and features


Turk and Caicos Island Group


Nicknamed the "Ghost Isles" in 1630 as the Spanish depopulated the islands between 1500 and 1550, killing or removing all of the native Taino people for use as slave labor on other island colonies.  The islands have been uninhabited since.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Campaign Log 1

"Changelings"

1630

April 1 -- Inigo Montoya and Sid the Dutchman arrive in the port town of Cayona on Tortuga
April 2 -- Recruited by farmers to investigate sick daughters
April 3 -- Encounter with the Lady in Gray
April 4 -- Battle with Changeling at farmhouse; learn of kidnapped daughters
April 5 --  Battle with the crew of L'Esprit Du Henri at Tortuga docks; depart for Santo Domingo
April 6 -- Get lost on open ocean
April 11 -- Stopover at Dario's Village (small settlement) on southern Hispaniola coast
April 13 -- Unknown ship spotted and avoided
April 16 -- Arrival in Santo Domingo
April 17 -- Encounter at SD Cemetary. Battle with Changelings, Father Gregoire in unknown Fae Land; girls rescued
April 18 -- Fled Santo Domingo at dawn with girls
April 29 -- Arrival back on Tortuga.


NEWS (just reaching Tortuga)

-- King Adolphus Gustavus of the Swedish Empire threatens to send forces into the Holy Roman Empire's civil war (aka 30 Years' War) (occurred early 1630)

-- Dutch fleet of 69 ships capture Portuguese colonies in northern Brazil; rename conquered territory New Holland (occurred Jan 1630)

-- Bubonic plague outbreak in Northern Italian States (including Tuscany, Milan, and some of the Papal States) spreads to Venice. (as of late 1629)