Welcome back to the preparation for the upcoming Reader Driven Story, "Splintered Light". We now have 15 of the 50-ish crewmen identified! In case you forgot from last week, here are the 15 characters and their positions:

Captain: Alistair Jacksoni, Ilysean Tiger
First Mate: Ash-Moon, Lehsunian Tribesman Jackal
Bosun: Rolf Severna, Lehsunian Prong Horn
Foreman: Willem Zuider, Doelichian Goat
Gunner: Lt. Karl Jack, Wyranese Rottweiler
Missionary: Rev. Gustave Fischer, Wyranese Sea Otter
Engineer: Somus Veridius, Mehnzilian Dragon
Surgeon: Dr. Christine Brownell, Lehsunian Mouse
Armourer: Mr. Chen, Jiuyanese Housecat
Scientist: Tobias Severna, Lehsunian Prong Horn
Master-at-Arms: Jacques le Blanc, a Lynx Tactician from Trevosse
Rigger: Viktor of Soyria, a Snowshoe Hair ex-Convict from Soyria
Quartermaster: Pierre "Peter" Leroy, a Human Con-Man from Trevosse
Cook: Uben (Ben) Veektur, a Water Buffalo Alemeister from Doelich
Cabin Boy: Lee Sento, a Runaway Teen Tanuki from Jiuyan

Readers of the last journal were given an option to replace one of the established characters from the batch of 5 and they selected to remove Yuri the Blade, this Viktor is his replacement. Here's Viktor and his STEAM.


Name: Viktor of Soyria
Nation: Soyria
Breed: Snowshoe Hare
Job: Rigger of the Wave Rider
Age: late-20s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 15797
Viktor was raised at an orphanage from birth and ever since he could walk he was climbing EVERYTHING. His favorite place to stay in the Orphanage was on the roof and he would often use it as an escape when he was in trouble or sought out for questioning about an 'undesirable event' (which was almost daily). Two years before he was of age, Viktor killed a Fox kit a year older than he using his own weight via a pulley system to hoist the other boy off the ground and hanging him until dead. Although several other young boys at the orphanage were witness to the Fox terrorizing, bullying, and even raping one of the other orphans (stories abound that the final offense was to Viktor himself), the act of murder was not looked upon lightly. Viktor was moved from the orphanage to jail where he spent the next two years of his life as a prisoner. At the age of eighteen he was released and forced out onto the street with not a single Soyrian Copper Monyeta to his name. He originally hired on with the Snow Bird, a small caravel sailing out of northern Wyra but after it capsized the remaining crew were hired on by the rescuing vessel, The Wave Rider. Viktor served aboard the ship for a few years before gaining the title of Rigger which, despite the abject hatred almost everyone had aboard for the rabbit, his skill off deck was second to none.

Still don't like the Rigger? Any given Reader gets one "Gimme" in this story (and extras for art/story contributions), so if you're following the story and just can't stand the idea of Viktor of Soyria being the Rigger feel free to speak up now and he'll be replaced by another randomly generated Snoeshoe Hair from Soyria!

At this point we have 15 crewmen, but we have three more to go. Unlike the past journals were crewmen were selected based on categories, this time readers get to fill in their choice for one of the first two slots from the following list of ten:

Crewmen x2
a) Calus Len, Salamander Translator from Mehnzil
While the vast majority of Mehnzilians believe that all mindful men of the world should speak Mehnzilian they also realize that it is not truly the case. Calus was trained by the Church to know the languages of the various kingdoms and also how to listen closely to new ones and decipher them. <9,7,4,6,4>

b) Dustin Sander, Cape Dog Carpenter from Wyra
Despite growing up among the poor, downtrodden masses of Wyra Dustin put his time of military conscription to good use. Rather than picking up all of the battle skills and combat talent that many others sought he instead used his years of service to honing a profession; he has worked as a ship's carpenter ever since. <6,6,6,6,6>

c) Anders Falling-Sky, Elk Yew Tribesman from Lehsunia's tribal lands
While those of the Yew Tribe are known as great hunters, very few among the horned folk are known as great warriors. After successfully stalking and killing a grizzly with nothing but a stone blade, Falling-Sky became one of the heroes of the tribe and, later, when called to learn the ways of the settled folk of Lehsunia he took the name Anders to better fit in among them. <5,5,6,7,7>

d) Nikolay de Sandoval, Husky Axe Man from Soyria
The majority of people who first meet Nikolay are stunned by his good looks and piercing blue eyes but they'd never believe that he was raised from common stock. He is well mannered, if quiet, and conducts himself as any gentleman would-- not bad for a Dog who was born the son of a woodsman from the far north in service to Lady Sandoval. <5,4,7,6,8>

e) "The Enzo", Skunk Artist from Trevosse
Enzo LaPriere was raised by his blue-collar working father but he has come a long way in his scant two decades. Anyone familiar with artists from Trevosse would say that they are flamboyant, personable, a little eccentric, and usually money-grubbing. All of these descriptions fit the Skunk who refers to himself only as "The Enzo". <7,7,5,6,5>

f) "Itty", Corgi Merchant from Ilyse (TWO VOTES)
Originally born Thomas Jameson Joseph Carter Richman, Itty spent the first part of his life saying how much he hated having a name longer than he was tall. Upbeat, optimistic, and gregarious, the Corgi merchant got tired of maintaining a shop in one location and instead turned to a life of adventure and exploration, allowing him the opportunity to meet all interesting varieties of people. <8,7,5,5,5>

g) Ern "Ernie" Polis, Gecko Lookout from Mehnzil (ONE VOTE)
Ern left Mehnzil at a young age, serving first as a Cabin Boy aboard a Mehnzilian sloop and then later becoming a standard crewman aboard an Ilysean merchant ship. Years later, Ernie has readily taken to the life of a sailor and love spending his time as high up off the deck of a pitching ship as he is allowed; his climbing skills and keen eye make him the premier choice for a lookout. <5,5,6,8,6>

h) Mr. Tetsuo, Bullfrog Crewman from Jiuyan (FIVE VOTES)
As with all low-born Jiuyani peasants Mr. Tetsuo does not use a family name. Due to naming conventions used commonly by the rest of the world he is referred to as Tetsuo or Mr. Tetsuo or, on rare occasions when a name and surname are required, Tetsuo Tetsuo. Anyone who has worked with him for any length of time acknowledge his skill as a sailor but complain that he has a bland, subdued (but polite) personality. <6,5,6,7,6>

i) Salvatore Volpello, Fox Seer from Ilyse
Most Ilysean seers don't achieve any real standing until their fur starts to turn gray but Salvatore is an exception. In his early 20s, the Fox is exceptionally astute and personable, creating the perfect combination for a man seeking to aid others... just so long as they remember that his name has four syllables: Sal-va-tor-ay, not Sal-va-tore. <7,7,5,6,5>

j) Kane Ahrens-Flew, Stallion Soldier from Wyra
Not all purebred Horses who serve in the Wyranese military achieve officer rank and Kane is an example of one who didn't. Due to injuries sustained in a martial action some time back he was discharged from service as a squad man. Some soldiers would never recover from such a social blow but Kane bounced back and made a life for himself with his lover, a Raccoon Dog scholar and clergyman. Refusing to be a 'kept man', he instead chose to enlist for a tour of duty in the private sector. <5,5,7,6,7>

The first Crewman will be chosen as the highest voted character on SF, and the second will be chosen as the highest character voted on FA. Readers are welcome to vote on EITHER site, but anyone voting on BOTH sites will have their first time-stamped vote selected as their vote. Yes, it is still possible to approach this from a tactical angle, but you'll just have to think harder. In the event both sites select the same crewmember then the character with the next highest number of votes from both sites combined will take the second spot. Also note: Readers who are familiar with The Lead Crown might like to know that the Stallion from Wyra has its first iteration currently earmarked as Kane (the audience may now ooh and ahh).

But, you may note, that only covers TWO sailors and I just stated that there would be three! Very astute! The final character will follow a tradition I have established wherein a character from a prior Reader Driven story is revamped and introduced into a new one-- thus, we now look at the "It's Pronounced Cameo" character, and the options that follow are only able to be voted on by Contributing Readers of past Reader Contribution Stories. That is to say, if you have presented a character for The Zombie Apoc-Fur-Lypse, Zion, Fathom's Phantoms, or The Lead Crown, you and you alone may vote on the following options:

It's Pronounced "Cameo" Character
a) Majh Blackpaw, Striped Hyena from Soyria (Zion) (THREE VOTES)
b) Ephram Zoari, Alligator from Mehnzil (Zion) (FIVE VOTES)
c) Matthew Prescott, River Otter from Ilyse (Apoc-Fur-Lypse)
d) Samuel Cox, Raccoon from Lehsunia (Apoc-Fur-Lypse)
e) Jeremiah Fowler, Long Haired Pointer from Wyra (Fathom's Phantoms)
f) Kyle LaGriss, Human from Trevosse (Fathom's Phantoms)

Finally, in case nobody noticed, more character info was made available for the "Crewmen x2" listing. Between now and the cutoff date for votes you may CHANGE your choice if you decide! Just place another comment saying you're changing your vote and denote what you would like it to be instead!

The votes for both selections of characters will continue through midnight on Saturday, April 23rd or until applicable characters have achieved 10 votes.
After this we're almost ready for the introduction, so if you're waiting patiently worry not; you don't have much longer to wait!
Now that you know and your time frame, go to it! Questions, comments, etc are now open!