This Blog May Become a Web LOG

My dad has cancer (again). My sister-in-law had suggested that my mom keep a journal and I think I may have to do that. So that got me to thinking, this is a web LOG, or a journal. Then I thought, no that's too public. Then I thought, well, no one comments even if I beg them so the 20 or less people who come here a week are probably not here to read or participate, what the heck.

It's an entirely different perspective on this blog. I've always seen it as a soap box, a public forum, a mouthpiece, a place to publish my writing and my ideas. This new perspective is that it is a private, personal journal of things I write to me for me, except that it is left out on the coffee table of the public TV room for anyone to read. Since I'm not a millionare or a teen aged girl, no one is interested in reading my thoughts. I'm safe in leaving it here in the open.

As long as I don't expect a discussion this would be a fine place to record my thoughts and feelings.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love for this blog to become the hottest thing on the net. I'd love for people to flock here for a lively debate and a really good read. I'd love for some big shot producer (like maybe Speilberg) to call and say, "Hey Prop, I read that story on your blog and I'd love to make a movie out of it, have your people call my people..."

But I'm not expecting it.

And maybe I shouldn't be disappointed if it doesn't happen.

Happy Autumnal Equinox

"That's all I have to say about that."

Well, almost.

I'm not a tree hugger; I don't subscribe to the Gaia theory; I'm not Wiccan or Neopagan; heck, I don't even subscribe to the current notion of global warming (they still haven't shown me definitively that humans caused it, that it is a bad thing, that humans can "fix" it, that humans should "fix" it, that trying to "fix" it won't do more harm than the "problem", that we should spend any money on it...) but I am an Eagle Scout.

I believe we should live in harmony with the land. Is nature perfect, no. Are animals or trees more important than people, no. However, I think we should work to make our technology help nature and work with it instead of against it.

We have become too detached from nature. Heck, we ignore day and night by just moving the clocks as we will. Not only are we missing out on something truly spectacular, if we ignore nature, surely it will come back and bite us on our collective tushes.

And THAT is all I have to say about that.

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

ARGH It Be Talk Like a Pirate Day!

I done went ta the Talk Like a Pirate Day website an' took their bloomin' test. I mean I completed the test, I didn't take it, like booty or plunder.

The first time 'round they pegged me fer a pantywaist, but I came 'round agin and gave it 'nother broadsides. I scored me a Cap'n rate.

ARGH! I be good ta be the Cap'n!

New Horror Story Ideas

I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo this year (I think I'm going to write a noir mystery), but because the weather was so bad last week, I felt like writing a horror story.

I did a lot of background work, but then I got an email that the deadline for the Whortleberry Christmas anthology is 1 Oct 08 so I have to stop for now and write that.

I really think I will come back to this story though, because I like it so much.

By the way, I didn't win the Wildclaw Theatre radio play contest. I entered two plays and I think there wer nine winners, but I'm not one of them. They did ask if they could keep all the plays so they could put them on later in the year if they have time. If they don't then I'll post them here.

Anyway, without further ado, I will post the background information I developed for my horror story. I'm calling it "Beneath the Altar of an Unnamable God."

I. Possible Story Titles:
A. Beneath the Altar of an Unnamable God
B. In the Hands of Angry Gods
C. Aliens Among Us
D. Darkness of the Book

II. CHARACTERS
A. Librarian - Jerome "Jerry" Lawrence
--1. Is an archivist
--2. Chews nicotine gum
--3. Wears glasses, tie and vest
--4. Wears leather shoes oxfords mostly
--5. Tall and thin
--6. Loves collecting books
--7. Awkward around women, but not a virgin
--8. Brand new grad student still in dorm, but never spends time there
--9. Tenor voice
B. Young woman - Imogene
--1. Cherub with platinum curly hair (recently permed), emerald eyes with flecks of forest green, freckles and a very curvy body. Often wears very low cut tops and the highest heels she can because she is only 5'. Today she is wearing knee high brown boots, jeans and an Icelandic sweater in blues, crème and green that accentuates her breasts. He can only smell her when she gets really close, and then it is a clean, healthy smell with very slight hint of lavender.
--2. He knows her or has seen her around
--3. Dies before the end
C. Femme Fatale - Chloe
--1. "Slender woman who moves, not like a cat or a dancer, but deliberately and forcefully, not a movement wasted, like a powerful athlete, but not built overly athletically." She wears a white blouse and a tight wool skirt with stilettos and her dark, straight hair in a ponytail. Her skin is olive.
--2. She too does not have a strong aroma, but when close she smells fresh and sharp like a cold ocean breeze.
--3. The first photo is her initial appearance to lure unsuspecting men; the second is used if she needs to entice a man.
--4. What does she do or say?
D. George Sebastian
--1. "There was a young man with an arm load of books who glanced at me and said, 'good morning,' but didn't stop moving his books. He had a white tee shirt and jeans on. He was barrel-chested and just a bit shorter than me. His skin was the color of dark chocolate and he wore his hair natural, but short. He put his books down and asked me, 'may I help you?' I said, 'I'm Jerry Lawrence, I'm going to be the librarian here.' He smiled broadly and extended his hand, "Happy to meet you sir. I'm George Sebastian."
--2. Son of a Chicago Firefighter. Learned good manners and hard work from his father who learned it from his farmer father. George loves to visit his grandfather's farm and he loves dirt and rocks. He is a natural geologist.
--3. Goes to lick the temple and is stopped. He seems confused that they are so afraid. Geologists do it all the time.
--4. Completely and unshakably sane.
--5. Not talkative
E. Peter Nicostratus PhD
--1. Blind prof. Heavyset and bearded. Looks evil, but is good
--2. No eyes
--3. Office next door to the library.
--4. Suspected of abducting Imogene
--5. "'You must understand, I had to stop the visions. I gouged my own eyes out with my fingers.' 'Dear god.' George said. 'Yes.' Nicostratus' breath was ragged and he smiled only with his mouth, 'The thing is, you don't dream with your eyes. It did me no good.' He shook his head and his smile spread to the rest of his face, 'so I got chummy with some people who were connected with the mafia. The interesting thing about mob doctors is they will do any thing for money and they won't tell a soul. I had my optic nerve severed and I could finally sleep at night.'"
F. Lucy La Barbara PhD
--1. Thin wears long clothes so you can't see her body.
--2. Evil. Member of the cult (or actually a modified version of an EA) and she's modified her body (maybe hairy or deformed and twisted with the power)
--3. Jerry's advisor
--4. "Professor La Barbara called me into her office. She was wearing a typical outfit for her, a long sleeve blue blouse and an ankle length peasant's skirt with blue and green paisleys. She never wore any jewelry that could be seen outside her clothes. The only parts of her body I had ever seen, in fact, were her ankles, hands, neck and face. I had the impression that she was a long distance runner because she always seemed to be swimming in her ubiquitous baggy clothing, but I had never been able to confirm her build as athletic and I had never seen any other evidence that she ever exercised. She was always full of energy, but not bouncy. Her skin was ivory white, like she had never seen the sun, but not veiny or sickly. Her face was pleasant enough, but highly angular and I couldn't tell how old she was. She had to be over thirty, because of her position and the fact that she just didn't have that glow and softness of youth, but she could have been anywhere between thirty and eighty. Her hair was almost black and she wore her waves long enough to cover her collar and her ears, but with no discernable style. Her eyes, too, were almost black. Her teeth were her own, I was sure, but they were almost too straight, too white. She arranged her face into a smile when I came into her office."

III. STORY
A. Jerry is assigned to the new Geology library for the Earth Science Department.
B. Chloe and George are there. Chloe is looking out the window smoking and notices the black stain of a fire on the roof below.
C. Jerry assigns handy work to G and shopping to C
D. Later I comes in and just wants to spend time with J
E. Prof N is seen and is scary
F. G finds the temple in the wall behind a crack caused by the '08 earthquake
G. They all examine in and I offers to take it to her GF to look at
--1. She never arrives with it
--2. Temple and I are missing, presumed dead, but the police won't investigate
--3. C tells J that he has to find out what happened
H. J dreams the translation of the temples carved words
I. Investigation ends up showing that the cult has been making sacrifices on the roof
--1. All the windows on the library wall are blackened or covered. The opposite wall is blank (the outside wall of a theater).
--2. J escapes with the knowledge of the cult, but they are watching him and he can't do anything about it. They let him live.
--3. N helps protect J because he knows things
--4. G physically helps J, pulls him out of somewhere, physically rescues him to take him to N
--5. I was killed by aliens, not the cult

IV. Possible Story Components
A. Statuette of temple that is made of 5 billion year old rocks and is wrong geometry. Or it's carved from fossils that are from before life in its current state existed on Earth (>4 billion yo)
B. Reel to reel tapes that contain information that someone died for. That person never intended to have anyone else see the info, but died before he could destroy it.
C. Same as above, but with floppies (not quite as old)

V. Possible Storylines
A. Librarian is sent to a new library (think NG armory) really a very small old office.
--1. Pile of books and old desks
---a. Tapes or floppies could be found in old desk or closet
--2. Two ROTC part time help or part time help from whatever college this is
B. Cherub approaches librarian (this could be a lot like Maltese Falcon) with
--1. Keys to grandfathers …
--2. Brother died trying to find out about the cult
--3. Offer to show him the temple
--4. A book
--5. 5.25" floppies or key to where they are stored
--6. Reel to reel tape or key to where they are stored
C. Librarian discovers the true nature of the Night of the Purple Fog
D. Illinois earthquake
--1. '08 Earthquake cracked open a wall revealing the temple statue
---a. In the library
---b. In Imogene's GF's or brother's
--2. There is an alien under the NMSA
---a. Revealed by the new Geology library find (tapes etc) (NM or recent)
---b. Revealed by Imogene's GF or Bro's investigation (NM and/or recent)
---c. Cult worship and prayers/spells CAUSED the earthquakes

I think these are three separate stories, but they could all be investigated by the same librarian:
§ Temple
§ Noir
§ Night of the Purple Fog
§ Earthquake

Won't Get Fooled Again

I wrote this story for a contest somewhere a while ago. I didn't win. I'm going to write a radio play for a contest by Wildclaw Theatre and I'm going to use the antagonist in this story, I think.

The story is a sort of sequel to Bellwether's Asteroid and it concerns the entity Aachiang.

As a side note, I hate the proliferation of the present tense in contemporary speech and how it is corrupting literary skills. People use the present tense when they tell stories to each other and now I'm seeing it more and more in "literature." I don't think most even know they are doing it.

There is a time and place for present tense and talented writers can use it at time to draw the reader in and make the story more real and personal. That is what I tried to do here. I consciously chose the present tense and I hope I made it work.

EDIT: I just realized that this story was posted on Illini6 earlier. I took it off the previous post and I put it here.

CAUTION : CONTAINS SCENES OF A VIOLENT RAPE.

Won’t Get Fooled Again

“Don’t make a sound.” He slams me, face first against the car with his hand clamped on my mouth.

My asthma. Throat tightens.

He’s undoing his pants. Oh God! My eyes search the dark empty lot. Dear God. He’s hiking up my skirt with his free hand. He’s using his left thigh to press mine against the car. His erection is sticking me in the ass cheek.

Can’t breathe. Gasping through his fingers, mouth open wide.

“Not a sound bitch.” He’s growling. His breath is hot on my ear. It stinks. He reeks. I’m tasting it.

His hand moves to the back of my neck. He’s sliding me down to the hood of the car. He’s smashing my face into the steel. He’s kicking my feet apart.

I’m gasping and wheezing.

“I said shut the hell up bitch whore.” He hits me in the head. He’s ripping my panties off, finding his target. I feel hard, wide flesh pressing against.

The hood is hit with something like a bullet. The noise it makes is like a tiny airplane crashing.

“What the hell?”

Another hits, and punches right through. They are falling all around. Falling from the sky.

He’s looking up and loosens his grip. I’m looking up. The sky is filled with tiny glowing meteors. They strike the asphalt lighting it on fire.

“What the hell are they?” He’s saying just as one hits him in the head. Half his head is gone before he knows it. I’m splattered with blood and brains.

He’s falling away from me. Falling to the ground. I curl up beside the car.

His body is lying there in filthy rags. The meteors are punching the lot, melting it. They glow white-yellow, the size and shape of pumpkins seeds.

My breath is coming back. The car rocks as more strike, but I’m in the shadow.

The body is moving. God, he’s getting to his knees. I see it, the meteor glowing in the shattered eggshell of his head, but he’s moving. On his hands and knees now, head bowed toward me.

His brain is bubbling, sizzling. I’m smelling hot tar and burning flesh.

His bones are growing. His skull is closing around the boiling, glowing meteor-brain mix. It’s closing faster. It seals with a snap.

He’s lifting his head. His eyes have that same yellow-white glow. His face is blank.

He’s beginning to smile. It’s spreading across his face and up to his eyes. He’s looking at me.

He’s standing above me. He’s looking out over the car.

“Yes. This time Aachiang understand. Aachiang, I won’t misjudge again.”

He’s looking down at me. He’s licking his lips.

“Yes. A rape is an excellent way to start,” he’s laughing.

I wheeze and wheeze.

Fiction vs Nonfiction

I find fiction far easier to write than nonfiction.

That's probably why my posts here have been few and far between. I've been writing, but the stuff I've been writing I'm sending out to try to get published for money.

Crass I know, but if I'm going to have writing as a hobby I have to pay my way with it a bit. it seems selfish and a waste of time if my writing doesn't pay SOMETHING.

They say, do what you love and the money will follow. If that's true then money is taking the long way around.

Anyway, the point of this post is that I have a hard time writing nonfiction, maybe because the world doesn't work the way I think it ought to (see my last paragraph) but it will if I'm writing it. On this blog you get either original fiction, which means that I've abandoned all hope of making money off that particular piece; or nonfiction, which I struggle with.

Should I give out more free fiction or make my posts both nonfiction and very few and far between?

Quick Update

This is going to be a quick update because I have been long absent from this site and I have a major change.

I have moved to a new shift and now work mornings and get off at 1430.

I will make more posts, some even backdated, I promise.

The Barfight on Simplicity Genoid

Here is a story I wrote for a contest. The requirements for the contest were 1000 words or less, about a punch, and ending in the words, "until there was nothing left." This is the story in which I introduced the term "genoid" to mean an artificially created world (to replace the term "spabitat" for space habitat).

The Barfight at Simplicity Genoid

"The Barsoom Princess is ready to fly." Felton Lamy of the Medelhanian military officer caste looked down at me disapprovingly with his red eyes. I was far from ready to go.

"That woman is here isn't she?"

I smiled.

"I don't know why you have to see her every time she’s on a world we visit." He sat next to me and waved for a drink.

"Call it devotion."

If a woman wasn't of the genetically engineered caste Lamy was approved to mate with, he had no interest with her. Me, I liked Earth women on the rare occasion I could get them. Simplicity was probably the last world in the System I'd expected to find any Mudders, let alone my dear Sarah Durrah.

Simplicity was a backwater genoid off the Belt’s trade vectors. It was a hollow cylinder of rock, barely larger than a Bernal Sphere housing about twenty thousand "Simpletons." Like the Amish of twentieth century USA, the Simpletons didn't believe in “modern” technology, but they did believe in modern cash. Simplicity meant no danger from the League, just prudish local leaders.

They weren’t overly religious. The no-technology kick was more a philosophy than religion. They didn't believe in god any more than anyone else in the System. Their moral code did not extend to seedy bars, prostitution, or thankfully to, let’s call it exotic dancing.

The house lights went down, the stage was limned and tinny music played. Technology of the twentieth century was backward enough for these people. Electric lights and canned music were fine.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the voiceover announced, "please join me in welcoming a very special performer, Miss Sarah Durrah!"

Sarah leapt onto the stage. She was from Earth, with Earth grown muscles and bones. They were far more than adequate for the System Standard Gravity employed on Simplicity. SSG, dating back to the first missions to Mars, was equal to the gravity on that planet. It was used whenever humans had control of the level of gravity.

For Sarah Durrah it meant that she had to be careful not to launch herself into the ceiling or let her act get too acrobatic. She didn’t want to give her origin away to the xenophobic Simpletons. She was a master though, and within those constraints, she was amazing.

She jumped and twirled around the chrome poll center stage. She wore sheer silk pantaloons and a blouse, but their translucency revealed only promised glances as her body moved and swung in great arcs. Like a true artist, she was suggestive and exhilarating without being salacious, although the audience would later swear that she wore less and showed more than she ever did.

It was over all too soon. Long minutes had passed with no one noticing. The audience was satisfied, but not satiated. In content delirium, they gave her a standing ovation as she left the stage. I took the opportunity to grab Lamy's arm and encourage him to follow me to the back of the bar.

This place was so poor they didn’t have a backstage, just one dressing room for all the acts with a door leading right from the main room. Sarah made her way along the wall that led to the door. She had to wait for the next act, a blues band called The Old Chicago Five, to pass her.

As she moved and waited, men harassed her. They wanted a more personal dance, but she wouldn’t do that for all the money in this backward rock. They ignored her refusals. By the time we were close enough to hear, she had had enough.

The leader of the rude crew grabbed a couple of pieces of her topography that should have remained terra incognita and she forgot herself.

She delivered a right uppercut that broke his jaw and not only lifted him off his feet, her Earth-grown muscles, unleashed, threw him over the heads of those behind him.

Even the Simpletons couldn’t ignore her muscles and their undeniable origin. The cry went up, “Alien!”

Those that witnessed the punch knew the alarm was for Ms. Durrah, but not everyone had seen the earthly feat of strength. The majority only saw a crowd descending on their object of desire with intent to harm. Those rose to her defense. Some near us thought the warning was regarding Lamy, whose massive bulk and fiery red eyes could only be tolerated if he were spending money and his departure were imminent. Neither was true now and he posed a perceived threat. They attacked him.

I somehow escaped notice. I knew that if no weapons more dangerous than a falling piano were brandished both Sarah and Felton Lamy were in no real danger. Our mission on Simplicity was though.

I examined the situation for an exit strategy when I noticed the sax player from the band beckoning me toward the stage. I positioned myself so that Lamy’s fight would be canalized toward the stage. I had to throw a couple of elbows and knees, but I kept him moving in the right direction.

By the time we got to the stage the different native factions were so busy fighting each other for the chance to defend Sarah or to alternately attack her or Lamy that they were too preoccupied to actually fight either one. I focused Lamy’s attention to the aged sax player.

He seemed like a spry centenarian, old but with all his faculties. That is, until he opened his mouth and said, “Where are you from Miss?”

At that point I realized that the course I had designed for myself and my crewmate was also made clear for the originator of the fight. Sarah Durrah stood next to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Earth,” she shouted above the din. The old man rolled his eyes.

“Where on Earth?”

“Chicago.”

“Ah! I thought so. I’m from ‘da cidy’ myself, but I left a hundred years ago.”

“Really?” He didn’t seem that old. He was well preserved.

“That’s why they call me ‘Old Chicago.’ Listen, we’re regulars here. There’s no back stage, but there is a back door. For a fellow Chicagoan and such a pretty lady to boot, I’ll show you the way. You’re with her, right?” He nodded to Lamy and me.

I hesitated.

“Falcon Butler, if you’ve got a fast ship I’m with you. I’m going to need a ride.”

A chair flew over my head, indicating that they belligerents had remembered their true enemy, but it didn’t register in my mind at all. Sarah Durrah knew my name. Sarah Durrah was coming with us. I was going to save Sarah Durrah.

“You got a boat Romeo?” Old Chicago asked. He had moved to the worn velvet curtain at the back of the stage.

“Yeah,” I looked into her eyes and she smiled.

“Then come on.” The old man pulled the curtain aside to reveal a door.

I later heard that the apes of Simplicity never did figure out our vanishing act. They took their frustration and xenophobia out on each other and the furniture of that bar until there was nothing left.

Whortlberry Summer and the Inner Prop

I'm in. I sold my global warming Godzilla story, named "The Northern Faerie Ring" to Whortleberry Press and it will be included in their summer anthology, Whortleberry Summer.

Woo Hoo! I have now doubled the amount of money I have made writing in the last 20 years. I could now buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Whortleberry Press are the same folks that published Cats Around the Christmas Tree with my story, "Carolers."

I like them. As soon as it is available you should go buy a copy.

New Contest, New Game

I wrote a new story for a new contest at Mirable Visu. This contest deadline is Sunday (so you too can enter).

The topics you can choose from are: Vibrate, Journey, or Despair. The additional challenges are: Set 50 years in the past or future, set in Asia and organize the words and the spaces to heighten the feeling of the piece.

I can't tell you what my story is about because this is an anonymous round. No one puts their names on the stories and everyone has to guess. It is also a prize round with $10 in Amazon.com credit going to the winner (now do you think you'll enter?).

I've been trying to get a sailing game worked out. I really like the spirit of pirate games, so I to write one. We played it about one and a half times and it is a bit too complicated. I wanted it to be more of a "Beer and pretzels" sort of game with more simple strategy and very little luck. The original game, Traders, Raiders and Pirates (TRP) is more of along the lines of an Axis and Allies or Risk (which may be considered BandP by some and VERY serious by others).

My second attempt kept some of the mechanics of TRP, but dispensed with the empire building aspects. I've played Buccaneers' Race once with my daughters and it had real potential as a BandP. I will have to play it a few times with my brothers and some friends that really know games. It may actually become something to share.

Then I realized that my youngest (barely 7) was not able to play any of these. The concept of wind and sail is too much for her. She does like the little ships I bought from the Pirates of the Spanish Main game. I wanted to come up with a game that she can play, but again wouldn't be entirely based on chance and wouldn't be boring to older players. This is my attempt.

CORSAIR BOAT RACE

1. SET UP
a. Place checkered cloth on table as the playing surface (we have fabric with black and white squares 2in on a side (like a victory flag).
b. Place the buoys so that they form an equilateral triangle with one point on the far right, this will be East and the wind will be from the East.
c. Buoys should be 18 squares apart.
d. Place all boats so that they form a line on the outside of the eastern buoy. This will be the starting and finishing line.

2. WINNING
a. Determine how many laps the race is and the first ship to cross the finish line while sailing around the outside of the triangle formed by the buoys is the winner.

3. MOVING
a. Each player rolls one six sided die (1d6). The players will take turns in the order of their dice roll, highest goes first.
b. Players will move their ships up to 4 squares in any direction except directly to the right (East). That is into the wind.
c. When all players have moved roll again to determine the order of play for each following turn.
d. Ships cannot pass through or end their turn in the same square as another ship.
e. Ships may go "inside" the triangle, but it will not count unless they pass the buoys on the "outside."

That's it. What do you think?

This month's poll, What's your favorite type game. Comments welcome here.

Joining Archaeology Fieldwork.com

I'm joining a forum called Archaeologyfieldwork.com. I want to get my hand back into the Anthopological game again.

Mrs. Prop and I decided when we decided to get married, that I could continue my education and work on my doctorate in Anthropology when we retire.

I want to keep Anthropology very much alive in our thoughts plus there have been quite a few "developments" in Paleoarchaeology since I left school (good God!) eighteen years ago.

Which image do you think I should use as my avatar on that forum? I posted a couple of choices I like.

Monster Fungus

I'm working on a horror story for a book anthology that needs summer stories.

I working on the general premise of "Global Warming Godzilla."

I also added a poll on cryptids since my main character is a Cryptobiologist (Gudrun (formerly Cocaine) Forkbeard).

You are welcome to discuss cryptids and that sort of thing here too.

What do you think of the idea and the story brief?

I. Where: Just outside of Churchill, Manitoba Canada

II. When: Mid June

III. What: A team from the PAABGW investigates reports of a mysterious creature that is killing and eating polar bears. While investigating, a UFO launches from underground nearby. They find that an alien race had come to earth during the Little Ice Age to stop the spread of another alien (the "Mud Monster"). The aliens of the UFO created the LIA to stop the "creature" but now they are giving up on humanity because we just won’t help ourselves.

IV. Who:
A. Presidential Auxiliary Advisory Board on Global Warming (PAABGW)
-1. Roland Coaster PhD. - head of the board
-2. LtCmdr Tenesha Flax - USN military leader of the PAABGW
-3. Ezekiel Hose PhD - Leader of this investigation. PhD in Biology, Vet Med etc.
-4. Gudrun Forkbeard PhD - PhD in Cryptozoology, Biology, Anthropology
-5. Hoyt Beaubien PhD - Creole Geologist and Chemist
-6. Fatma Erdogan PhD - Turkish woman Meteorologist
-7. SGT Jesus Pena - driver and NCOIC
-8. SPC Videl Vega - driver
-9. CPT Robert Gullette - Canadian Army OIC

B. Natives
-1. Diane Gillock - PA and Tundra Buggy driver - guide to village
-2. Vernia Longwell - Tribal elder

C. Aliens
-1. "Mud Monster" aka "The Creature" [give this another, cool name] a portion of the same mold /fungus creature from "Nay So Much a Man." An ancient intelligence bent on destroying mankind [why?]
-2. [Cool named aliens that fly the UFO]

V. Storyline:
A. Gudrun joins the team in Churchill. They take two hummers with RV trailers to the village. Along the way, Gudrun talks to Diane and learns that Diane visits villages on a monthly medical round during the off-season. Recently the village told her that something, not of their legends, was killing and "eating" polar bears. Diane has seen one.

B. When they arrive at the village, they meet the elder, Vernia Longwell who leads them to one of the PB. It is dead with no decay and a circle of death all around. Anything that touches it dies. No natural decaying agents (mold, bacteria, insects etc) have invaded the corpse, even though it's been dead and above freezing temp for a week. The team investigates the rest of the day.

C. During the night, they hear some strange noise and something is strange about the night sky. In the morning, they get a call from NORAD to investigate a UFO nearby.

D. They go out to investigate the launch site of the UFO and find it is near the PB, which is now gone. They find a huge hole in the tundra.

E. At some point, they leave the hole and the last one out gets grabbed by something inside the hole. When they run to help they find that the hole has been filled in.

F. Gudrun realizes that it is the same entity that she found in Alaska and that they creature is really that big and trying to pull itself together.

G. Narrow escape and aftermath

Fiction Story Ideas

I thought I would share some of the things that bang around in my fevered imagination.

I haven't written stories on any of these yet. You are welcome to use the ideas, but please let me know so I don't use them too!

The World Builders
SF Story Idea
26 June 2007

A story that is broken into very short scenes set at the time when building spabitats [must change that word, find a better one (I have since coined genoid and like it better)] has just been opened up to privatization. The story is centered around a company that builds worlds.
Among characters is

• Top salesman who likes to focus on religious groups
• A world designer [female, based on the women who have worked with us on our house].
  

[Back-story] The USA is waning in prestige and power when we begin space colonies. A fortuitous close pass of an asteroid provides the first spabitat. The US is revitalized when they catch the idea and run with it that we have manifest destiny to conquer the solar system. The US does actually work space like an empire in a race against the EU and East Asia (which unites). The US has the upper hand though, and the race is not head to head fighting, but a race [although a subtle undercutting of each empirical power is a good undercurrent].

• Also at the setting time the first armed cargo escorts are hired. The story will center around one person who is related to someone in the world building company. I think the soldiers will be called Vacuums since Marines is short for Marine Infantry and these soldiers will be infantry for the vacuum of space. I don't like the name, "spacers."
• Pirates have started stealing cargo off unmanned cargo vessels. The story can also interweave the story of a pirate ship.
• The government has been providing Homesteader Worlds for some time at a very low cost.
• These are still available, but they are just hollowed out asteroids, sealed with soil, atmosphere and mirrors. They have no external factories or farms and are easily amalgamated or conglomerated [what is the difference?].
• Also follow the story of a homesteader family.
  

There are three types of Warships: Battleships, Frigates or Cutters.

• The distinction between battleships and frigates is not based on ability, but on cost. The frigates are smaller and cheaper so they are more plentiful.
• Battleships look for other battleships to fight. They are also symbols of an empire's power.
• Frigates look to fight other frigates, perform convoy escort, perform patrols, do inspections and so on. Frigates are far more useful than battleships.
• Cutters are not capable of long-range missions, simply because they don't have the capacity [or maybe engine type].
  

Of course developments in engines, weapons, armor sensors and the like make a wide variety of classes. When an older class becomes obsolete it may be given a different role.

[How prolific are warships? If the empires don't interact much, what is their point and if pirates are just now becoming a threat then would there really be a history of a navy? Maybe the development of the Vacuums will be echoed in the development of frigates.]

· 19 Jul 07
o "The Man Who Sent His Brain To Space" – a man has his brain replaced by a computer in order to exchange ethnographic data with an alien culture.
o He's a Xenoanthropolgist and he just lost his wife. He announces that he volunteered for the project to his family at Thanksgiving and he returns, changed, for Christmas.
o He wants to erase the memory of his wife.
o He is too much like the "real" man for the family to tolerate.
o Human brains and memories can be read, but only by taking apart (and destroying) the brain. Artificial brains are more efficient and have more capacity. They run the body more effectively and are not susceptible to strokes or other forms of brain damage. Human brains are too analog for transmission. You need a digital brain. The aliens and we can exchange brains (the software of the alien mind can be put into a human brain and vise-versa).
o There is no practical FTL travel, but information can be sent by Quantum Communication.

6 Oct 07 Horror detective story
Man just lost his job (he was a corp drone) and his wife so he starts a consulting firm to investigate spreadsheets and databases. His young female cousin is a college student who needs a roommate and a job. She convinces him to hire her as a secretary, but he can only pay her on a per case basis. She always tries to drum up business and gets him involved in supernatural cases until he gets a rep for those sorts. Eventually he teas up with a Muslim woman who a a Green Beret and loves guns. He also gets with Benji from "Alone." He gets a PI licence when he starts the consulting service.

• First story is "The Thing in the Barn"

What do you think?

Meet the Crew of the Barsoom Princess

I recently wrote a story for a contest at Mirable Visu. The story is called "The Barfight on Simplicity Genoid" and it is about an exotic dancer and two crewmembers of a spaceship called the Barsoom Princess.

EDIT: I have since lost the competition.

The feel I was trying to capture and exploit with Empire Beyond Mars manifested itself in this story almost unbidden. In other words, what I was trying to do with EBM (in serial form on this blog) seems to have just popped into this story and is working pretty well (IMHO).

Since I really like the idea, there is one story that already exists and I am currently working on another, I thought I should introduce the readers of this blog to the crew.

Genoid is my new word for space habitat. I intend to replace my own coined word, spabitat with genoid. Spabitat is a bit unwieldy.

The Barsoom Princess is something of a Q-ship. She began life as a cargo vessel and was converted to be a cross between a commerce raider, an anti-commerce raider, a smuggling ship and a blockade-runner. Her captain, Hugh Botha held a letter of marque from the government of the Confederated Earth Orbiting Worlds (CEOW pronounced see-ow) during the Terra-Jovian War. Now that that war is over the Barsoom Princess mainly smuggles, still with somewhat official sanction from the CEOW.

The crew is:

Captain - Hugh Botha
Ship's Computer - IYF-53-BASU referred to as Princess
1st Mate / Pilot - Falcon Butler
Engineer - Wynward Longnecker
Engine Knobot - LOP-32-QULO called Qulo or just Q
Weapons - Felton Lamy
Weapons Knobot - AEN-78-BIGU called Big U or just U
Communications - Wen Li
Navigation - Gaius Ganymedius Septimus

The computers and knobots. At the time of these stories computing abilities have advanced so far that many computers are self-aware. The AI technology that allowed self-aware computers and robots is called knobotics (a term I coined). In general, usage the robots that are self-aware are called knobots.

The standard cargo ship consists of a ship's computer and an Engine Knobot. The Engine Knobot is a redundant system that backs up all the functioning of the ship's computer with the added advantage that the knobot is mobile outside the ship. Long range passenger ships often add a human captain, but could also have additional human or knobotic crew. Since the Barsoom Princess is a Q-ship, she has a much-expanded crew.

Each knobot is programmed to develop a personality. There is no such thing as the Three Laws of Robotics because such broad concepts are useless for computers. Additionally, the checks that the Laws were developed to provide are not necessary. Knobots are so specifically programmed in their standard operating instructions and personality development that problems like questioning authority just do not come up. All three knobotic minds on the Barsoom Princess have affected female personas.

Captain Botha is South African by nationality and was born in the CEOW. He spent his early career in the CEOW Area Defense Fleet. After twenty years in the fleet, he joined the Long Range Merchant Fleet and became the Captain of the Barsoom Princess. Five years ago he accepted a letter of marque and the Princess was refitted and her crew beefed up. The captain is a large man with very dark skin, white hair and brilliantly white teeth.

The Princess ship's computer has developed the personality of an elegant and loving wife to her captain. Captain Botha was not her original captain, but his personality meshes well with the ship's and they get along like a loving couple.

First Mate and Pilot Falcon Butler. Like NASA tradition, the second in command is called the pilot, but unlike NASA, the ship flies herself. There is no human pilot, however in combat situations the Pilot is the one in direct contact with and responsible for giving the ship maneuver instructions.

Falcon was born on Earth and went to the US Air Force Academy. He is unusual in that he actually can fly a plane, in atmosphere. While in the USAF he was assigned to the Moon where he learned to play Flockball. He was assigned by the USAF to the Princess. While under Captain Botha's command he left the USAF and the USA to take up citizenship with the CEOW.

Falcon is tall and tan with unkempt hair. He has the swagger and banter of a pilot and lady's man.

Engineer Wynward Longnecker was born in The Belt. His mother was Hispanic and he has her dark features. He is average height and wears a crew cut. He is a genius with engines and almost everything to do with spacecraft. The trouble is he knows it. He considers himself an artist with the machines. His hobby is beer and he has a microbrewery in the engine rooms.

Engine Knobot LOP-32-QULO, called Qulo or Q. She is the nurturing mother type and handles most of the life support problems because she always wants everyone to be comfortable and safe. Her personality is like a stout mama-san. She is unassuming and likes to write poetry, which is actually quite good.

Mendelhanian Felton Lamy is Weapons. He is genetically engineered just like everyone from Mendelhan Genoid. His caste is military officer and is designated by his bright red hair and red eyes, as if you wouldn't notice his massive height, girth and strength. He was assigned to the Princess to help ensure Mendelhanian interests are supported by the CEOW.

Big U is the weapons knobot. She as assumed the persona of a ditzy amazon. She is very self-disciplined but the weapons on the Princess are not first rate, which makes her less effective than she normally, would be. She makes due with what she has rather than exploring improvements. The really unusual thing about U is that she was "married" to a human man, but they have since "divorced." She still misses him and is somewhat melancholy.

Wen Li is Communications, which deals not only with communicating across the vast distances and time lag of the Solar System, but also with encoded and encrypted communications, ECM, ECCM, subterfuge, camouflage, intelligence, counter-intelligence, etc.

Li was born on the Moon. He is tall with a paunch and although he is not strong, because he was reared in the low gravity of the moon, he is quite agile. He is very possessive about his area and position. He has a very high opinion of his own skills, with good reason. His parents were both very prominent politicians on the Moon and his mother was instrumental in the peace accord ending the Terra-Jovian War. Li and his wife are separated.

Gaius Ganymedius Septimus as his name implies was born on Ganymede within the Galilean League. He has "defected" from the League mostly because of personal and family issues rather than politics. He is fiercely loyal to Captain Botha, although no one else in the crew is sure why. By personality, he is also fiercely loyal to the crew of the Princess because they are his team, his crew, his family. As a member of a royal family of the League, he was genetically engineered to be smarter, faster and stronger than "normal" people. He has also been through military and political training.

"Navigation" as such is not really a required position on a Q-ship with the three knobotic minds aboard. He analyzes flight paths with Princess in light of the current intelligence estimate, relieving Li of that responsibility. For this he is supremely suited due to his history. By agreement, Septimus has also taken up the life support portion of the engineer responsibilities, which he works through Qulo.

What do you think? I really, REALLY need comments. Do you think it's a good idea and would you like to see more? If so, let me know.

Reading and Snow

The last poll ended with three people saying that Mystery was their favorite genre to read and one person who liked Fantasy best.

One of the best times to curl up with your favorite genre of book is the middle of a snowstorm. Here in northern Illinois it has been the snowiest season since 1981-82. Sure there is no snow now (actually there still are mountains of snow in the corners of parking lots all over, but those can last well into May) but there was a lot.

Each year I think can get by without a snow blower. Some years I regret it, but then it's too late. I have three good shovels, a pretty good system and a couple of helpers now, so if we don't get a 1979 or 1967 type snow I'll be fine.

Besides, my neighbor has a snow blower and he seems to really love using it. After he does his own he usually does mine (if I can't get there in time to beat him to it) and then he moves on down the block.

What do you do about snow? Do you shovel, snow blow, or snow plow? Do you even have a driveway or sidewalk to shovel? Do you live where there is snow? Do you live where there is so much snow that you could never remove it anyway?

Let me know, vote now.

The photo is of yours truly on our garage roof with my father (he's the one actually working) in 1979. We had to shovel off the garage roof so it wouldn't collapse under the weight. I was twelve and despite having fallen down in the photo, I did help.

Rugby Poll Results

The recent poll I had on Rugby in the US is over and these are the results:

Five people voted on the question of why Rugby isn't more popular in the US.

60% - The youth of America didn't grow up with it.

40% - There is no money in it.

40% - Because we already have American football.

20% - Too violent.

20% - Bad reputation

20% - Other

I think this is rather hopeful. The majority opinion is that Rugby isn't more popular because it isn't what we grew up on. I will hopefully deduct that if we had grown up on it, it would be more popular. Therefore the effort to spread Rugby to the youth of America should result in the kind of growth and acceptance that soccer has seen in the past twenty years.

Why Isn't Rugby Union More Popular in the US?

There is a big push right now to get more Rugby in High Schools in Illinois.

HS Rugby makes all the sense in the world to me, low cost, high action and impact, something to keep American footballers in condition off season, better tackling technique for American footballers, better for teaching TEAMWORK are just a few things that spring to mind.

So why isn't Rugby Union more popular in Illinois, or for that matter in the USA?

Too complicated? It really isn't any more complicated than NFL football or NCAA basketball. People don't understand it because they didn't grow up with it, but I really don't see why they couldn't grow up with it.

Too violent? My brother, who played college football for Drake and plays Rugby for the Chicago Griffins said that studies have been done that show that the more equipment you wear the more likely you are to get injured. In Rugby there are no weapons out there, just mano-a-mano. Is there a chance for injury, yes, but I don't think it is really any greater than American football.

Bad Reputation? College Rugby in America has a well deserved reputation for rude, vulgar and even criminal behavior off the field. I never participated in that and it wasn't very evident at Illinois when I was there, but it does happen and some of the college players take some pride in the rep. I think the more comepetitive the team the less that sort of thing happens, but as long as it happens the game will suffer. The question is, is this the main reason the sport isn't more popular.

We already have American football, why do we need another kind of football? I can see the validity of this argument. I don't really see any parallel. None of the really popular sports in the USA are similar to each other at all.

There's no money in it. This is the biggest reason I see. Until 1996 all Rugby Union players, worldwide could NOT be paid to play Rugby.

There is a thing called Rugby League which to my mind is an evil bastardization implemented by greedy people who just wanted to get paid. League has been around since the 1800s and has become more like American football, too much for my tastes.

That's further evidence for this last argument. League and American football, both children of Rugby Union, made changes that were designed to help them make money. So not only is Union not starting from a base of youngsters dreaming of getting rich playing Union, the money making elements in the game aren't there. I hope some of them never get made and that society comes to appreciate the Union game for what it is, but that may be an empty hope.

Why do you think Rugby Union isn't more popular in the USA? You can just vote on the poll and/or you can leave a comment.

Cigars for Christmas (Late but Highly Anticipated)

I got my cigars today!

I regularly go to a forum called EDCF (Every Day Carry Forum). The forum focuses on the stuff you carry with you everyday. Some of it is survivalist stuff (you know, stuff you gotta have with you for when the balloon goes up), but a lot of it is just regular everyday stuff that folks that want to be prepared carry.

As an Eagle Scout, I am fairly dedicated to the Boy Scout Motto of: Be Prepared.

Anyways, there was a thread on this forum about what your favorite cigars are. One of the guys participating is from Holland. He was touting the merits of Dutch cigars and offered to send some to anybody who wanted to learn of the majesty of cigars from the Low Countries.

I thought it was a great offer so I asked for some back in November. They finally came today.

I am not complaining at all. Never look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when he is carrying free cigars.

He sent nine cigars (9!) in a VCR tape case. They were also in a Ziploc bag (which was opened, presumably by Customs). Very very generous and now I owe him something, most likely a favorable review of the products of Holland (although some of them may actually be from Cuba (shh)).

I'm really looking forward to trying them and reporting on my experience. My main posts will be on the EDCF, but I'll copy them here.

New Year's Resolutions

Well, the poll is closed and nobody voted. I did, but that doesn't count.

I went looking for my last year's resolutions and I could have sworn that I had made a resolution to swim 100 miles (that's just about one mile twice a week, but I never got my schedule so I could actually go swimming for an hour at a time) but I guess I didn't.

Here are my resolutions for the last two years and the new ones for this year:

2006

• Get paid to publish Reach Out Didn't happen
• Complete Level 1 of Rosetta Stone Greek Not quite
• Communicate with extended family once a week Still need to work on this
• Write another book Guya Principal, see post on this blog
• Christmas Story Book on CD Nope
  

2007

• Publish Reach Out - Edit - Submit to publisher - Sign contract Didn't even do the editing
• Publish Guya Principal - Edit - Submit to publisher - Sign contract Some editing, that's all
• Complete Level 1 of Rosetta Stone Greek Still nope
• Communicate with extended family once a week I hope their not too disappointed in me

So why do I do it? Why do I keep making resolutions when I can't seem to keep them? It feels SO good when you do make them (I did once, back in 99 or so) and besids, it gives your Jiminy Cricket one more bullet for his guilt gun.

Here are the ones for 2008:

• Make >$1000 Writing
• Communicate with extended family once a week
• Submit 12 Novel Queries
• Complete Level 1 of Rosetta Stone Greek
• Swim 100 miles

TRP After a Trial

On New Year's Day we finally got a chance to play Traders, Raiders and Pirates.

I think everybody enjoyed the game after wrapping their brains around the idea of it.

Here are the rules we played under and some comments from a friend who really knows his wargames.

Traders, Raiders and Pirates
Game Rules

Traders, Raiders and Pirates (TRP) is a pirate board game for two to seven players in which you get to design your ship, build a fleet; you get to decide if you want to be a loyal trader of your chosen nation or if you want to go free-lance and become a pirate. You can make treaties and you can make war. You can even become a Pirate Prince, Princess or a Royal Governor!

I. Object of the Game – To make money! Seriously, the object of TRP is to make as much money as you can, by trading, stealing, fighting, cheating and capturing prizes. The first player to become a Royal Governor or a Pirate Prince(ss) wins.

II. Equipment
A. Map
B. Ship counters
C. Ship logs
D. Ship log markers (3 for each ship)
E. Treasure marker
F. 6 six sided dice (d6 means six sided dice hereafter called dice)
G. Checkered tablecloth for a map board
H. Poker chips to keep track of money
I. Model ships (Lego, wood or cardboard)

III. Set Up
A. ORDER OF PLAY –
1. All players roll a single die (d6) with the highest roller going first throughout the game.
2. The other players take turns in a clockwise direction.
3. This order of players never changes no matter how may ships a player has or doesn’t have (see Capture).
B. CHOSE A NATION - Each player chooses a nation to belong to, or chooses to be a pirate; they then chose a home port to start at.
1. Spanish (Green) ports are Santa Claus and San Jose.
2. French (Red) ports are Saint Franc and Monique.
3. British (Blue) ports are Porkport (on Pork Island) and Chickenton (on Chicken Island)
4. The pirate port is Tortuga on Tortuga Island.
C. MAP
1. Place the map on a good, big table.
2. In order of play each player places their home island. Tortuga is always exactly in the middle.
3. Once all home ports are placed then in order of play each player places the other island port of their nation from 12 to 18 squares from their home port.
a. Measure from the ports with no regard for the other island spaces
b. No islands may touch each other
c. Islands from the same nation must be east and west of each other (not north and south of each other).
D. BUILD A SHIP
1. Traders and Pirates each get $30 to build a ship (you cannot start the game as a Raider).
2. Each Class of ship (size of the ship that determines how many guns and how much cargo a ship can carry) cost $6.
a. Class can never be changed.
b. Circle your class on your ship’s log
3. Each level of Speed or Gun cost $1.
4. You do not have to spend all your BoG, but it is recommended.
5. Name your ship and put the name and yours on your ship’s log. Circle your nationality.
6. Place markers on your Speed and Guns.
7. Any poker chips of money you have get placed on the “Gold” block of your log.
E. CARGO
1. Place your Cargo counters on the port you load them on.
a. This will assure you remember from what port you last sailed.
b. You cannot sell your Cargo at this port, but you can trade your Cargo for repairs.

IV. Phases and Keeping Track
A. Play occurs in four “Phases,” Move, Fight, Move, Business. Any of these phases can be skipped.
1. MOVE. A player moves into position. Both move phases can only add up to the total of a ships movement points.
2. FIGHT. Players can fire on one or more ships, but each gun can only fire once per turn.
3. MOVE2. A player can close after a battle, move on to conduct business, or retreat.
4. BUSINESS. This includes capturing a prize ship, exchanging pay or bribes, conducting repairs (while in port), selling cargo, picking up new cargo, building a new ship, looking for treasure, or buying a port (and winning the game).
B. KEEPING TRACK
1. CARGO
a. Cargo can be stolen in battle,
b. given up as a bribe,
c. traded with other ships,
d. traded for repairs in any of your nations ports,
e. or sold in a port other than the one in which it was acquired.
f. Circle the maximum amount of Cargo your ship can carry and keep track of how much is actually carried with your counter.
2. SPEED
a. Can be lost in battle and regained or increased in port.
b. Circle the level of Speed you have purchased and keep track of damage with your counter.
3. BoG
a. Can be stolen in battle,
b. given up as a bribe,
c. earned by selling cargo
d. used to pay for improvements in your ship
e. and used to buy a new ship or port.
f. Keep track of how many BoG a ship has by placing poker chips in the “Gold” block.
4. GUNS
a. Can be lost as battle damage or gained by buying more in port.
b. Circle the number of Guns you have purchased and keep track of damage with your counter.

V. Movement
A. The total number of points your ship can move is the points of speed you have at the beginning of your turn. The total number of points you move in both movement phases can only add up to this number.
B. The wind in the Caribbean during the game blows from East to West.
C. Changing direction costs one movement point regardless of the ship’s relation to the wind.
D. Movement costs are dependant on the ship’s relation to the wind.
1. Moving diagonally into the Northeast or Southeast square costs 2 movement points.
2. Moving into the North, South or West squares costs 1 movement points.
3. Moving into the Northwest or Southwest squares cost ½ a movement point.
E. A ship cannot move over or through another ship or a land square.

VI. Battle
A. After the initial movement, a ship may fire one of all of its guns on any ship directly in line with their broadsides. Each gun may only be fired once per turn.
B. The player rolls a die for each gun fired. If the roll is less than the distance between the ships then a hit is scored.
C. Hits cost a BoG, a point of speed or the removal of a gun. All costs are taken before return fire is given.
D. A defending ship may return fire.
1. Return fire is done with any remaining guns.
2. Fire may only be returned if the defender’s broadsides are pointed at the attacker (therefore it behooves the attacker to rake the bow or stern).
E. When a ship’s speed goes to zero it will sink if the attacker does not take it as a prize.
1. When a ship sinks all her BoG, guns and cargo sink away.
2. A Trader whose ship sinks will get one replacement ship back in their home port. The player builds a new ship with $24.
3. Pirates who sink do not get a replacement ship.
F. An attacker may fire on more than one ship during their turn, but each gun may fire only once per turn.

VII. Capture
A. An attacker may choose to take a prize of a ship that is sinking.
1. The attacker must move adjacent to the sinking ship.
2. The attacker chooses the number of speed points to transfer from the attacking ship to the sinking ship in the form of a prize crew. The attacker must move at least one speed point to the sinking ship to keep it afloat.
B. A defender may strike her colors, or surrender. The defending captain states that he surrenders.
1. A defender may not fire or escape after striking.
2. The attacker need not move adjacent to the striking ship, unless the attacking captain wishes to transfer guns, cargo, speed (crew) or BoG. The attacker may also provide a captain for the struck ship (thus taking the other player out of the game).
C. A captured ship may be left to be captained by the original player, who now must obey commands of the owning player. The captured ship also becomes aligned to the new owner (becoming pirate for instance).
D. A captured ship takes their turn when the capturing ship does.
E. The captured captain, if left in command may escape control of the capturing captain (commodore) on the next turn.
F. A Trader does not get a replacement if their ship is taken as a prize.

VIII. Plunder
A. A Pirate or Raider who brings a ship to 0 Speed may come alongside and Plunder the ship of BoG, Guns or Cargo.
B. After Plundering a ship the attacker lets it sink without taking her as a prize.
C. Ships sunk after being Plundered are still eligible for replacement if they are Traders who have not yet replaced a ship.

IX. Business
A. SELLING
1. When a ship enters port the captain may sell the ship’s cargo.
a. Traders receive 1 BoG for each ton of cargo brought to port.
i. Cargo may only be sold in a port other than the one in which it was loaded.
ii. A Trader that enters port will sell their cargo and receive a new load of cargo to transport to their other national port.
b. Pirates sell their cargo on the black-market and therefore roll one die for each ton of cargo.
i. A roll of 2, 3, 4, or 5 returns that many BoG.
ii. A roll of 1 or 6 means the pirate cannot find a buyer for the loot. The pirate looses the loot if they cannot sell it.
c. Raiders may sell cargo they take in a raid at Tortuga on the black market just like a pirate.
B. REPAIR
1. A captain may repair battle damage in one of their nation’s ports.
2. The captain may use BoG earned in that turn or trade Cargo for repairs.
3. Repairing 1 point of Speed or 1 gun each cost $1 BoG.
C. BUILD A SHIP
a. A captain with 7 or more BoG may build an additional ship in port.
b. The new ship will be placed on the board after the original ship leaves port on the next turn.
D. IMPROVEMENTS
1. Speed and Guns may be improved while in port.
a. The cost of improvements will be equal to the total cost as if you were taking that level as building.
i. Example 1: If you want to improve from 3 guns to 4 then it will cost $4.
ii. Example 2: If you want to improve from 4 guns to 6 it will cost $6.
b. You may not improve a ship above 6 in either speed or guns.
E. BRIBES
1. A defending captain may pay bribes to an attacker to keep from being attacked.
2. Bribes may be in guns, cargo or BoG.
3. You may bribe your way out of being a Pirate. It cost $30 for each ship to change from Pirate to Trader or Raider and all your ships must convert at the same time.
F. BARTER
1. Any ships may barter with each other. Bartering is trading.
2. Bartering with a Pirate if you are a Raider or Trader is illegal and will get your status changed into Pirate.

X. Treasure
A. The treasure is hidden on Tortuga Island.
B. Ships may search for the treasure by coming adjacent to an island square and rolling three dice (3d6).
1. If the player rolls three ones then they have found the treasure.
C. The treasure is worth 100 BoG.
D. You may not search the same square for treasure two turns in a row.
E. The treasure may be taken to a port and used to buy the port and win the game.
F. The treasure may be taken in battle or offered as a bribe, just like any other cargo.
G. If the treasure has been found and is in the possession of a ship then another ship will not “find” it on Tortuga.
H. If a ship with the treasure is sunk and the treasure isn’t Plundered from her, it returns to be hidden on Tortuga.

XI. Changing Your Status
A. Becoming a Pirate
1. You may change from a Trader or a Raider into a Pirate at anytime by simply doing something illegal (like attacking a ship from a friendly nation or selling cargo in Tortuga if you are a trader).
2. Mark a big, black "X" Through your nationality and circle "Pirate" on your ship's log.
3. If any of your ships become Pirates voluntarily then all of your ships are Pirates.
4. Involuntarily becoming a Pirate when captured.
B. Becoming a Raider
1. If your nation is at war, you may become a Raider if you are a Trader.
2. Put an "R" near your national designation on your Ship's Log.
3. If you have more than one ship, you may have any combination of Raiders and Traders.
4. Raiders sell cargo at Tortuga just like Pirates
5. Raiders may attack either Pirates or ships from the nation with which you are at war.
6. Raiders get one replacement ship for a destroyed ship, just like Traders.
7. Raiders may take cargo themselves from a home port to a home port, but why would they?
C. Becoming a Trader
1. Raiders may return to Trader status at any time.
2. Pirates may never change back into either a Trader or a Raider. Once a Pirate, always a Pirate except when you aren't.
a. You may return to Trader or Raider status from Pirate status if your ship had been captured and you were kept on as captain. If you escape control of the Pirates you may return to your former status.
b. You may pay a $30 bribe for each and every ship to return to Trader status.
i. All ships must convert at the same time.
ii. The money goes to the current Governor (who doesn't really exist so all the money is just taken from the players coffers).

XII. War and Alliances
A. War
1. At the end of each complete turn (all players have taken a turn) the first player rolls two dice (2d6) to determine the war status.
a. England is 1, France is 2, Spain is 3.
2. If there is no war and 1, 2 or 3 are rolled with a 1, 2, or 3 then those two nations are at war.
3. If a 4, 5 or 6 are rolled on either of the dice then there is no war. If doubles are rolled with any number, there is no war.
4. If a war already exists then it will end when a double is rolled. Any other combination of numbers means nothing.
· Example 1: If there is no war and a 1 and 2 are rolled then England and France are at war until a double is rolled.
· Example 2: War exists between France and Spain and a 1 and a 2 are rolled, nothing happens.
B. Alliances
1. Alliances may be made between any two friendly nations.
2. Alliances may be any sort of deal between the two colonies as long as they are not illegal.

XIII. Buying a Port or Winning the Game
A. A player intending to buy a port must bring the first ship into port and announce the intention to buy the port.
B. Each ship is brought into port and leaves all the BoG.
D. A Pirate or a Raider may enter the port and steal the BoG there during the process.
E. Once $100 are in port the player (as a Trader or Raider) has bought their Governorship and wins the game.
F. A pirate follows the same rules in the port of Tortuga. When the port is bought, the pirate becomes a Pirate Prince(ss) and wins the game.

These are the comments that MMC made:

1. Movement point cost to change “heading” with the wind should be 0.

2. Smaller islands…maybe add a few that are not ports as well, just obstacles. Make a random island location generator. Make the islands with wavy/curved shoreline drawn onto the “squared” pattern for better visual playability. Maybe even draw mountains or ground features to make them more pleasing to the eye. Cut them out of “green” poster board.

3. Allow a ship in port to be fired upon, but at an increased difficulty to be hit, maybe from adjacent range and with a roll of six to hit only.

4. Allow trade from any nationality port to any nationality port. Cargo would have a chance at having more value if taken to a more distant port. So, when cargo is delivered, roll to determine 1-3 gold pieces per cargo for a “near” port, 3-5 for a “medium” port, and 5-7 for a “distant” port. Trade to an enemy (at war with) port is not allowed.

5. Make up movement point ‘compass” that can be placed on map for the players quick and easy reference.

6. Ports should generate 1-3 (or something random) cargo each turn. When cargo is picked up, it would be actually removed from the port and placed upon the ship. Sometimes a port would have an abundance of cargo; sometimes it would have a dearth of cargo. This would cause the trade ships to race to a particular port that had cargo available. Cargo delivered and turned into gold would be removed at the port, and not added to the ports available cargo.

7. Make a very visible COLOR marker to distinguish each player’s ship(s) for easier game play recognition. Maybe place a colored die adjacent to each ship on the board.

8. Half the gun range, from a six squares (needing a roll of six to hit) to three squares (needing a roll of six to hit).

9. Reduce the variety of ship classes to four; ship-of-the-line, frigate, sloop, brig.

10. Change the term “guns” to “gun batteries”, sounds like you have more guns then.

11. I think you’ll need a playability rule so that no one blocks a port with their ship in it. Maybe you can only remain in port for one turn. This would keep a player with multiple ships from blocking a port that had an abundance of cargo available.