Thomas Blakeney

From mentions in the papers I think Alan Standing is in game an American Merchant/Explorer who has dealings with Indians (The Fur Trade?).


"Dealings with the Indians" sounds like a safe option for poor Tom (hollow laughter in background). At least they're not bothered if your Protestant or Catholic, or royalist or rebel...

Thanks for the closer reading/memory of the newspapers than I'd managed. (Why keep a brain if you can ask someone else?)

jimbotten wrote:

"Dealings with the Indians" sounds like a safe option for poor Tom (hollow laughter in background).  At least they're not bothered if your Protestant or Catholic, or royalist or rebel...

a scalp is a scalp is a scalp......  

OOps! It's so long since Tom sent a letter that I'd forgotten it cost a guinea to write and a guinea to send (assuming you can't do either of these for yourself). Only having had 1 guinea to his name, poor Tom is now in possession of a beautifully-written letter, but zero cash and no way to send said missal until he's earned some...

Frustrating, because this letter was by way of being a particularly important reply, and one would not want to be thought disrespectful...

In for the long haul.

you've got to pick a pocket or two, you've got to pick a pocket or two.......

Too much of a gentleman to go in for outright thievery (besides which, vs Richard, that would be also a dangerous option). Having said which, the orders I'm considering for next turn leave me wide open to Richard-style mischief. But that's where the fun is. I guess??

correct....

jimbotten wrote:Too much of a gentleman to go in for outright thievery (besides which, vs Richard, that would be also a dangerous option).  Having said which, the orders I'm considering for next turn leave me wide open to Richard-style mischief.  But that's where the fun is.  I guess??

If Tom is too much of a gentleman to pick a pocket I guess in G7 America's this leaves:

- Piracy with Blackbeard.........according to current stories this is perfectly safe and the Spanish anti Pirate Patrols are not at all interested in the £60K reward.

- Sign on as a slaver or fur trader with the HWIC

- Act as a guide for Jesuit missions trying to convert the Indians

- Join the Russian, Spanish, Dutch, French or Williamite Military as a Merc.

What could possibly go wrong?.............apart from Ship-wreck, yellow fever or getting captured by hostile Indians?

hiring yourself out as a bully boy

The post of head Vodka taster to the Indian nation is also open send a CV to the govt. in Yorktown. You'll get a new coat with matching hat, scarf & gloves, & a very fast horse.

All tempting offers/suggestions! Tom is pursuing what could be any of them via hoping to get some employment (of any kind, so long as it's paid) from this Alan Standing npc. (Isn't selling alcohol to the Native Americans illegal yet?)

jimbotten wrote:All tempting offers/suggestions!  Tom is pursuing what could be any of them via hoping to get some employment (of any kind, so long as it's paid) from this Alan Standing npc.  (Isn't selling alcohol to the Native Americans illegal yet?)

With the American Colonies sold to the Czar also known as "The Chief Vodka Taster of all the Russia's" I dont think Puritan policies such as not selling alcohol to the Natives is going to make much legal progress.

But I guess flogging a load of guns & alcohol to the Indians may break a few colonial bye-laws.

Ah, the opportunity of honest trade... if only. So, Tom has finally made the pages of the Newsletter by name, in more frustrating circumstances. Is any one else's character suffering quite so much? Don't think I've had any character-generated turns of good fortune since setting out. Only helping hands from other player-characters, all of which have gone adrift. Or maybe it's just me? Either being too clever, or not clever enough. Ah well, back to the grindstone of inspiration to see what can be made of a pig's ear..

jimbotten wrote:Ah, the opportunity of honest trade... if only.  So, Tom has finally made the pages of the Newsletter by name, in more frustrating circumstances.  Is any one else's character suffering quite so much?  Don't think I've had any character-generated turns of good fortune since setting out.  Only helping hands from other player-characters, all of which have gone adrift.  Or maybe it's just me?  Either being too clever, or not clever enough.  Ah well, back to the grindstone of inspiration to see what can be made of a pig's ear..

When playing Gloire du Roi I have always attempted to have one unit or two units suitable for "Swashbuckler" characters to join.

But for some reason no one ever wanted to join the Belgrade Horse in G2.............still dont understand why no one wanted to join since you only needed to take five heads to get into the unit.

If Tom or another swashbuckler needs a career option in G7 they may wish to consider one of the Spanish Palace Guard Companies inc the Viceroys Guards in Mexico City etc. Basically as well as standing round the Palace Gates these men have a wider responsibilty to protect the King/Queens/Cardinals/Viceroys reputation and interests inc the arrest etc of his foes etc.

Nice coats, pay, what could go wrong?

Would the recruiters be willing to come and break Tom out of gaol in New York?

stu are you still in G2?

jimbotten wrote:Would the recruiters be willing to come and break Tom out of gaol in New York?

The Vice-regal Guard Company in Mexico City & the Texas Rangers do not sent recruiting parties to American Goals!!!

These units accept volunteers from a) the Spanish-American Noble & Gentry classes b) men who have shown extreme valour or c) preformed a service the Viceroy wants to reward.

Basically:

a) Is Tom of Spanish-American Noble Blood or married to one?

b) Has he single handed saved a Spanish Lady from Bandits or Pirates?

c) Rode 160 miles across a burning desert dodging arrows to bring advance warning of a Apache Raid?

d) Does he know the location of Blackbeards latest base?

Basically what we want more proper Swashbuckling like the Three Musketeers in the America's and less Captain Blood meets Titus Oats.

Still I have no doubt the Czars Navy in the America's have lower standards. Just show a willingness to drink Vodka rather than Rum and Tom is half way to his Admirals Flag!

Kingmaker wrote:stu are you still in G2?

Finally retired Iskander Kruppa Leyerbey of Rumelia later Sultan of the Ottomans when he ran out of people he wanted to kill.

In his military campaign's he fought - Austrians, French, Spanish, Portugese, Irish, English, Persians, Poles, Russians, Germans from L-C and Bavaria, Italians from Venice, Genoa, Florence & the Papal States as well as the Janissary & other rebel dogs in Moldavia, Syria, Egypt, & Anatolia.

For the spread of different types of opponents and number of wars/campaigns if not the geographic spread of his campaigns I think this medium ranked Ottoman Civil Servent may hold the record for a Glori du Roi character.

Hmm, another month another problem... (not one to be gone into in public, as yet). But I have noticed a small reference in the Newsletter which almost reads as though the intended recipient of my un-posted letter is aware of at least some of its contents. More damned spies? (Or is Richard stealing my thunder?)

Okay... so we never quite made it to gaol, and are now on the run, still coatless but at least with a pistol and a couple of guineas. So may (Richard willing) be able to finally post that damned letter (now in reply to two received). There are more complications than that (of course), but shouldn't say too much of that as yet...

Another month, another curve-ball... First I'm caught out by not recognising someone I met in passing over a year (real-time) ago, and now I'm stuck between two characters wanting to go in opposite directions, with me not wanting to go in either of them (but sort of honour-bound to accompany both!) Ho hum... back to the type-face...

A month on, and at least I and my two contrary companions have made it safely out of New York. Apparently headed for Albany (having "gambled" (my weakness) on following the first bird to fly overhead headed inland). Currently faced with a couple of grumpy Indians who I believe I can decipher and pacify so long as my noisy English companion can be kept quiet. Have also received a very long and interesting reply which is making me regret a request put in my previous (and last, until i can get some more funds) letter sent. Still all at sea about the political situation in the assorted settlements of New England (but then, who isn't?). But for now my first priority is these red men..

Christmas passed quietly, sharing a fish-dinner with the local Indians - and sometimes it's really quite pleasant when nothing disastrous happens...

no Richard was stealing all my money thats why..... 

That may only be because Tom has no money (or much of anything else, come to that) to steal... But it's nice to know that what goes around comes around, and maybe Tom's turn is due for some of that promotion, wealth and fame ?

hope so...