Well, my page is back up on SoFurry! Thanks to the extra efforts of the powers that be, I once again have a presence over there. Unfortunately it will still be a few more days before my stories and artwork are put back up, but I have full faith in SF crew.

Thanks again for your patience and, as always, you can still find all of my work here on FurAffinity!

I've received a few PMs now about my SoFurry page being deleted/gone/not-present/removed.

I check both FA and SF a few times a day and have been unable to access SoFurry lately-- I had simply thought their site was down. Now that I've received a heads-up it appears that there is an error of some kind that has caused my presence on SF to be "absent". This was not of my doing and I have no intention of removing my presence from SoFurry.

I'm waiting to hear from the admin so I can increase my understanding of events. I will, of course, continue to post here on FurAffinity and will catch up on my posts over on SF when my page becomes available again.

Thanks for your concern, your support, and your patience.

I'm uploading Ch 3 of Battle Master this week to my Patreon page to celebrate the second set of printed novels of Slave Trade going out from my publisher.

My Patreon page can be found here:


Battle Master Ch 3 will be available for all of my paying patrons. If you are not yet a contributor to my Patreon page now is a great time to join up. Don't have the funds or aren't interested in donating? Never fear: I'll be uploading Ch 3 here later this month.

As always, thank you all for reading!

Good news for readers who have missed reading a regularly updated Burb Dog story:

After much planning and a lot of logistics work, I am finally ready to reveal my next big Burb Dog project... and it's a CROSSOVER STORY!

The past eight months have been spent preparing one hell of an amazing plot for the biggest collection of everyone's favorite Dogs from my series. Here's the outline, and I hope it grabs your attention:

Jason and Paul are going to be attending a European summit on the Burb Dog condition. It is a collection of important personalities and powerful individuals who are working together to create equality for mixed species couples. In addition to Jason covering the event in a media sense, he's also been asked to speak. Paul will be going as a representative from his non-profit, but also to spend some time at Mein Hund meeting some of the execs. All in all, they will be in Europe for almost 3 months. Where, you ask, does this leave Tanner and JD, and Sullivan?

Enter CJ, and a downtown apartment.

For a three month period, everyone's favorite Burb Dogs will be sharing a 5 bedroom flat, and hilarity will ensue. The story's title comes from the name of the band they put together as a way to have jam sessions and entertain themselves, but eventually they end up playing the local scene. With CJ on guitar, Tanner on vocals, Sullivan on keyboard, and JD on drums, how could they go wrong?

So stay tuned for Ch 1 of Three and a Half Dog Night, entitled Ch 1: Five Rooms For Four Dogs?

I hope everyone has a wonderful April 1st!

With Slave Trade now printing and work started on Battle Master, it seems like it's an idea time to discuss "Where to next?"

I've arrived at something of a crossroads here in the furry community and in my creative endeavors.

Slave Trade is printing and will soon be shipped to those who have ordered it; sales have been going for a month on the eBook version.

Battle Master is underway and I look forward to posting the next chapter very soon to my Patreon. Speaking of Patreon, now that Slave Trade is complete and published I will be reworking my patron categories in the near future.

Tales of the Wave Rider, Vol 1: Splintered Light is nearing an end and will be coming to a close in just two weeks.

Q: So where does that leave me?

A: Moving forward, as always.

Over the next few months I plan on doing some regular updates to stories that have been neglected or set by the wayside; my objective is to complete at least one or two of these before moving on to something new. I'm certainly open to suggestions, but right now I'm eying Dragon in the Dishwater, No Chance, and Pawford for (semi)consistent updates. Thoughts?

Some time toward the end of summer I will also be introducing my next reader-involved tale, which will involve smaller updates on a more regular basis and involve characters contributed by readers rather than all author-designed. Think of it as a combination between a reader contribution story and roleplaying. One or two pages every two days, with full reader input on characters, actions, and plot. The genre will be fantasy, but more on "Ransor's Hollow" at a later date. ;)

In the meantime, I simply wanted to make sure my readers are up to date on my plans and where my work will be going. Thank you all for your support and inspiration!

In case you haven't yet noticed it, the publisher of Slave Trade has purchased ad space here on FA!

Be on the look out for the banner advertisement for the Slave Trade novel, which comes out this Sunday, Jan 15th!

All of my $5 patrons over on Patreon get to see Ch 2 of Battle Master early. It's getting posted over there today.

Not a patron but interested in becoming one? Check out my Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/comidacomida

Not a patron and not interested in becoming one? Don't worry; you'll still get to see Ch 2 when I post it in celebration of Slave Trade hitting Amazon Kindle and hardcover print on January 15th. You can find more information about it here: http://legion-bhm.com/publishing/coming-soon/

As promised, pre-orders for Slave Trade start today.

What will you get? The entirety of the Slave Trade story plus 11 full page black and white illustrations drawn by the incomparable  SpottyJaguar along with 42 chapter header sketch pictures prepared by the talented  CBH. The hardcover book includes a wrap-around full color art piece done by the amazing  Viral_Divinity!

Standard pricing for the hardcover is going to be $29.99 (plus shipping) and the eBook purchase will be $9.99.

There is a 10% off special going on for preorders of the hardcover!

This will make the hardcover price of $26.99 (plus $6.95 priority shipping within the united states, or more abroad).

You can purchase a hardcover version from an affiliate of my publisher:

http://legion-bhm.com/publishing/coming-soon/

Also, you will be able to preorder the eBook from Amazon:
Search for B01MT08KEG and you'll get right to the kindle version!

As we continue the celebration of Slave Trade pre-order (which starts this Friday), it is time for a Q&A!

Readers may pose questions to their favorite Slave Trade characters between now and 11pm (PST) on Wednesday Dec 14. Questions will be answered in character by the characters thereafter!

A few ground rules:

Readers are limited to either 5 questions of the characters (all on one character, split among multiple characters, etc) or a single question aimed at a large number of characters.

If a Reader asks more than 5 questions then the characters will answer the first five, or I may pick-and-choose based on the questions if I see one or more I really like. :)

Due to the power of "author's will", questions may be asked of dead characters too.

Dead characters (except those affected by a certain Sorrani's gift) will not have any knowledge of the world after their death.

The timeline for character information places everyone exactly where we left off at the end of Slave Trade so their knowledge ends when Book 1 of the Sorrani Chronicles does. That is to say: no Battle Master (Book 2) questions will be answered.

Since questions will be answered in character anticipate questions outside a given character's scope of knowledge to be answered with confusion (example: characters from the Sorrani Chronicles won't know what an airplane is).

Be warned: if you ask for spoilers you may get spoilers. (answers that contain spoilers will be in italics).

Tatiana is a viable character for questions; even if she is only an April fool's joke I'll still allow it. Like her, any questions she answer may be non-cannon.

I will respond to inquiries or comments as the day proceeds but answers to character facing questions will not be provided until after 11pm (PST) on Wednesday Dec 14th. Questions directed to the author do not count toward the maximum allowable per reader.

Lewd questions will be answered in a character's voice so depending on the character a lewd question may be met with honesty, a lewd answer, an insulted objection, or just embarrassment as a response.

I will be posting this Q&A over on SF as well, so be sure to look over there for other questions that may be answered (and yes, you may ask questions there too!)


So those are the guidelines, folks! If questions related to the 'rules' pop up in comments I may add to the list but for now that's it. Time to consider your questions, and ASK AWAY!

I'm spending the week celebrating the publication of Slave Trade.

Starting today I will be posting daily journals including various tidbits of information and fun activities for fans of the story, all leading up to the preorder sale that will commence on Friday!

As many of you know, my first official Furry Novel is in the works and preorders are set to begin this Friday! Slave Trade is book 1 of 5 in a series entitled The Sorrani Chronicles.

To celebrate, I am going to be doing a week-long series of journals to provide fans of the series (new and old) with additional information and some fun activities. Here's what I have planned:

Monday: Tidbits of Trivia about the world in which the Sorrani Chronicles takes place and the stories as a whole.

Tuesday: Post questions for your favorite Slave Trade Characters to be answered in character the following day!

Wednesday: Get answers from your favorite Slave Trade characters to the questions posed between Tues morning and Wed evening!

Thursday: Chapter 1 of Book 2 will be posted on SF and FA:

Friday: Preorders will be accepted for eBooks and Hardcover copies of Slave Trade with a special 10% off offer from the publisher! (more details on Friday).

So, please join me in celebrating the start of preorders this week as we begin with some interesting trivia:


Slave Trade is Book 1 of five of "The Sorrani Chronicles", a collection of five stories that will cover a large, overarching plot involving many central characters. It will be over 400 pages in length and include 42 chapter headers, 11 pieces of full page artwork, and a wrap around cover of color artwork.

There are six nations in the world of the Sorrani Chronicles not including the Cheifdom of Sarvis.

The six nations are the Kingdoms of Pross, Diermyna, Meisenyl, and Vensii, the Oligarchy of Tenvier, and the Republic of Larana.

Diermyna and Meisenyl were once the same nation until Meisenyl won its independence through war; Tenvier and Larana used to be the same nation until Larana seceded peacefully.

Although Slave Trade takes place in Pross, further stories in the series will include all kingdoms and Sarvis.

Battlemaster, Book 2 in the series will take place in Tenvier, Vensii, and Pross.

Most favorite (and many despised) characters from Book 1 will make a showing in Book 2.

New heroes and villains will also appear in Book 2.

There are four languages in the world: Prossian (spoken in Pross), Diermynan (spoken in Diermyna and Meisenyl), Vensian (spoken in Vensii) and Tenvierian (spoken in Tenvier and Larana).

Sarvestinians do not speak*, and do not have their own language though they can learn to understand other languages as easily as any other species.

*Ian, Talvin's Lifebound Sarvestinian servant will have dialogue in the upcoming Book 2 of the series.

All civilized beings in the world are mammals with lizards exclusively from Sarvis. There are no avians, save the beings known as 'Angels', which we would call 'Griffons'. (Though they are a combination of lion (or horse) and eagle).

In addition to Angels (Griffons) there are also Heralds (Unicorns), who may have horns of pearl, obsidian, or amber but Angels and Heralds always have white fur (and feathers).

Humans are considered to be creatures of legend in the world of the Sorrani Chronicles and some artists and sculptors occasionally choose them for depiction.

White Fur is considered a rare and significant piece of symbolism. It is exceedingly rare in the world aside from Angels and Heralds.

Hector Desanti is the only member of his family to have been born with white fur.

King Levid's fur was not white just from age; he was born with white fur.

Although Choel has white fur the fact that he has black stripes qualifies him as a Snow Tiger and not marked by the same symbolism as others.

Soraani never* have white fur.

*Talvin and his brother Baedyn have white fur, and are Sorrani.

Sorrani are marked by spiritual symbols known as Fildoma that glow when their powers are in use, at moments of high emotional significance, or when they are in close proximity to magic.

Fildoma can be located in one of six spots on the body and each location has significance in identifying a given Sorrani's power to see/affect fate. These locations are: Left Arm, Right Arm, Chest, Abdomen/Stomach, Back, and Tongue.

Most Sorrani are from Vensii that is not always the case.

Most Fildoma glow bluish-green but there are exceptions.

We will be meeting Hector Desanti's ex-wife in Book 2.

Book 2 in the series will be much more epic in scale than Book 1 but it will continue to include intimate moments too.

With "Slave Trade", the first book of the "Soraani" series soon to hit the printer's I thought it would be great to celebrate by releasing the full first chapter of book two, which is entitled "Battle Master". For those of you who are big fans of Slave Trade I encourage you have patience: preorders will open soon.

For those of you interested in the continuing tale of many of the characters involved in the Slave Trade story you need look no further than book two, which I hope to share with all of you online as time goes by. For now, the teaser first two-ish pages has already been posted for some time but my Patreon contributors get to read the chapter in its entirety already! Not familiar with my Patreon page? Go look here:

https://www.patreon.com/comidacomida

What if you don't have the money to help fund my projects? That's alright-- I have always made it a point to provide my work free of charge by posting it here and on SF. I will continue to do so, but you'll just have to wait a little longer for it.

So, if you recall having liked Slave Trade, go back and read it again! If you haven't read it, then get to it! Battle Master is right around the corner, and so is the chance to get your very own physical copy of Slave Trade, Book 1 of the Soraani Series!

I look forward to sharing much more in the coming weeks. Until then, Min Sarul!

Not yet, mind you... but soon[/I].

Three things you'll need to know:

1) hardcover and ebook will be available.
2) preorders tentatively set at 10% off (final pricing to be determined in the next few days)
3) 12 amazing, full page pieces of internal artwork with 42 chapter headers and a beautiful wrap-around full color cover.

More on that in the immediate future.


So... if you're interested, does physical or electronic version appeal to you more?

The talented  SpottyJaguar has sent me the first set of interior artwork for the Slave Trade novel and man, is it looking awesome! You can check out the Ch 3 piece on SpottyJaguar's announcement post here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21069305/

Also, $5+ patrons of mine on Patreon get a sneak peek at the Ch 8 artwork for Slave Trade. If you're a patron go check it out and if you're not yet a patron but are excited about Slave Trade I encourage you to sign up; I am financing the novel through my Patreon contributions! You can find me on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/comidacomida

I'm heading out of town for a time. Although I will have computer access I'll be focusing on friends (with whom I am staying), and business (which I shall be conducting).

Some business is actually fandom related, so look forward to announcements in the near-distant future, and other business is related to my 'day job', which I'm sure you'd all find boring, so I'll just leave it at that!

Yes, you can expect a Splintered Light post on Sunday with a reader vote, so no worries there.

See you all again soon after I get back from 'The Bay Area'!

It is with great joy that I provide readers an update on the pending Slave Trade novel publication:

Slave Trade is a novel length story set in the kingdom of Pross, a nation rife with civil unrest and various factions of nobles vying for power and influence. Pross is a Slave Nation, employing vast numbers of slaves in all manner of occupations from field hands to soldiers. This is the first book of a series of five entitled "The Soraani" and is posted in its completeness here:http://www.furaffinity.net/gallery/.....28/Slave-Trade
Warning: M/M adult content.

The artists for Slave Trade have been chosen!

The biggest piece of art will be the wrap-around cover art, which will be full color and VERY impressive.  Viral_Divinity will be doing the cover art!

There will also be 8 (or more) interior black and white art pieces, put together by  SpottyJaguar who is reading through the story right now for inspiration; I'm certain there will be some amazing visuals!

Finally, each and every chapter is going to have a stylized, sketched chapter-head picture, done by the talented  cbh which should truly add to the experience of reading and owning a physical copy-- wonders await!



Once Slave Trade heads off to the publishers I will also be looking forward to posting chapters of the second book in the Soraani series, Battlemaster on Patreon where my patrons will be able to see them WEEKS before the rest of the fandom. Thank you again for your continued support, and, as always, thanks for reading!

Pawford Ch 10 is out now!

I'll be waiting to post it here on FA until things quiet down a little but, rest assured, it's coming.

If you absolutely can't wait then you can go read it over on SF: https://www.sofurry.com/view/1010198
psst: it contains adult material-- be warned.

Splintered Light was posted today on SoFurry but I will delay the post here on FA until everyone's massive amounts of uploads slacks off. Considering FA has just come back online I don't want to contribute to the bottleneck of uploads and so today's upload of Splintered Light will be made mid-week instead.

Keep in mind that reader voting (this IS a Reader Driven story after all) will still be ongoing over at SF so if you want to help shape the chapter you may want to go over there and vote since there's no guarantee that voting will still be valid on wed or thurs when the post finally hits here on FA.

My SF page is:

https://comidacomida.sofurry.com/





That is all!

If I have not mentioned so before I greatly enjoy writing. My current project, preparing for 4 story updates in May means I've been very busy as of late. For those of you who have read what has been posted of Dragon in the Dishwater I doubt I need to say how much I enjoy writing this story. I am putting the finishing touches on the next chapter, which will be part of my May update including four different stories. Anyway, I wanted to reaffirm that I really love this story and greatly look forward to presenting the next chapter to everyone. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

The human fell backwards, hands going to his ears as the dragon reared back up, clawing at the air with his foretalons, maw pointing skyward as he issued forth a roar that Eric could feel as much as hear. A powerful conflagration easily thirty feet long seared across the sky, jetting forth from Hiraeth's open mouth like a flamethrower. After what felt like forever the roar and fire came to an end... and the dragon eased back down onto all four legs. Hiraeth lowered his head so he could observe Eric and a long, black, sinewy tongue slid out from between his scaled lips to lick at the dribbling rivulets of flaming spittle that still clung to his chin. "Is THAT 'dragon-like' enough for you, Eric?"

"....wow."

If you couldn't tell, Dragon in the Dishwater is going to be picking up speed in many ways. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

It's almost time for The Wave Rider, Vol 1: Splintered Light to begin!

As we draw closer to starting Splintered Light we also start focusing on finishing touches for the crew members. For that we need to focus on the 18 crewmen selected for the voyage. The opportunity to effect these characters is complete.

After the several rounds of voting, here are those crewmen, officers, and passengers along with their STEAM ratings in parenthesis (Social, Teachings, Endurance, Athletics, Might):

Captain: Alistair Jacksoni, Ilysean Tiger (8,6,6,6,5)
First Mate: Ash-Moon, Lehsunian Tribesman Jackal (4,5,7,8,7)
Bosun: Rolf Severna, Lehsunian Prong Horn (7,5,6,7,6)
Foreman: Willem Zuider, Doelichian Goat (6,6,7,5,7)
Master-at-Arms: Jacques le Blanc, a Lynx Tactician from Trevosse (7,6,6,6,6)
Gunner: Lt. Karl Jack, Wyranese Rottweiler (4,6,7,6,8)
Chaplin: Ephram Zoari, Alligator Monk from Mehnzil (4,4,9,6,8)
Rigger: Viktor of Soyria, a Snowshoe Hair ex-Convict from Soyria (2,5,7,9,7)
Missionary: Rev. Gustave Fischer, Wyranese Sea Otter (8,6,6,5,6)
Engineer: Somus Veridius, Mehnzilian Dragon (5,8,7,5,6)
Surgeon: Dr. Christine Brownell, Lehsunian Mouse (6,9,5,6,5)
Translator: Calus Len, a Salamander Translator from Mehnzil (9,7,5,6,4)
Armourer: Mr. Chen, Jiuyanese Housecat (5,5,6,9,6)
Scientist: Tobias Severna, Lehsunian Prong Horn (6,8,6,6,5)
Quartermaster 1: Pierre "Peter" Leroy, a Human Con-Man from Trevosse (8,7,5,6,5)
Quartermaster 2: Thomas Jameson Joseph Carter Richman, "Itty" (8,7,5,5,5)
Cook: Uben (Ben) Veektur, a Water Buffalo Alemeister from Doelich (7,5,7,5,7)
Crewman: Mr. Tetsuo, a Frog Sailor from Jiuyan (6,5,6,8,6)
Crewman: Salvatore Volpello, Fox Seer from Ilyse (7,7,5,6,5)
Crewman: Nikolay de Sandoval, Husky Axe Man from Soyria (5,4,7,6,8)
Cabin Boy: Lee Sento, a Runaway Teen Tanuki from Jiuyan (7,6,6,6,6)

It is important to remember that STEAM ratings range from 1 to 9 with a 5 being average; as you can plainly see the men and woman aboard the Wave Rider are certainly above average. The numbers shown above are the end results of the reader influenced decisions.

The SECOND option for Reader Input of this journal is now complete. Two final crewmen have been elected:

1st) 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>

2nd) "Itty", Corgi Merchant from Ilyse
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>

Next, the THIRD portion of this journal is dedicated to character depth and relationships.

All character relationships are now decided:

Mentor/Student: Mr. Chen & Lee Sento
Conflict: Viktor & Willem Zuider
Friendship 1: Ash-Moon & Rolf Severna
Friendship 2: Gustave Fischer & Rolf Severna
Friendship 3: Gustave Fischer & Ephram Zoari
Rivalry 1: "Peter" Leroy & "Itty" Richman
Rivalry 2: Lt Karl Jack & Salvatore Vopello
Romance 1: Tobias Severna & Dr. Christine Brownell
Romance 2: Mr. Chen & Lee Sento
"Something?": Ash-Moon & Alistair

Finally, and possibly the most important (depending on who you ask), is the FOURTH matter: equipment and supplies. The Wave Rider is a long voyage ship capable of handling almost anything the world throws at it, but this width of preparation often leaves its ability to handle specific situations somewhat lacking. There are numerous encounters that could put the Wave Rider and its crew at risk, and the better prepared the more likely it is to make it through safely. The Wave Rider, like its crew, has its own STEAM: Supplies, Training, Endurance, Armament, and Morale. As the ship is designed to handle all situations the ratings are relatively even:
Supplies 5
Training 5
Endurance 5
Armament 4
Morale 6

The final sub-traits are listed below:

Supplies
Being prepared for a long voyage means having all the necessary supplies. This includes not only food and water, but extra rope, lumber for repairs, ample clothing, medical aid, and more. The five sub-traits of Supplies are Rations, Repairs, Ammo, Fuel, Medical. When encountering a situation when one of these sub-traits are used the sub-trait will decrease. This category is the most easily changed as supplies can increase or decrease quickly if utilized. It is important to note that the Wave Rider's hold can only accept a maximum of 40 sub-traits of supplies at this time.

Rations 5 (1 unit of rations will be enough to supply 100 people for one day)
Repairs 5 (it takes 1 unit of Repairs to fix minor damage, 2 to fix moderate, and 3 to fix major)
Ammo 5 (ammo will only be deducted for major engagements or as indicated in encounters/story lines)
Fuel 5 (fuel will only be deducted when indicated in encounters/story lines/events)
Medical 5 (medical will only be deducted when indicated in encounters/story lines/events)

Training
No matter how well-manned a ship might be all that manpower is useless if the crew doesn't know what to do. Training is an indicator of how familiar the general crew on board the Wave Rider are with their tasks. While expert leadership can get the most out of even an untrained individual, it's always good to have people who know what to do. The sub-traits here are target numbers for general success when compared against a randomly generated number between 0 and 9; the objective is to come in at or under the sub-trait. The five sub-traits of Training are as follows.

Combat 5 (an indication of the crew's readiness to conduct combat, both on and off ship)
Maneuver 5 (used when attempting to make quick course adjustments under duress)
Navigate 5 (the crew's ability to get the ship from A to B after plotting a course)
Sailing 5 (used as a general understanding of how well the ship can travel at speed on sail)
Danger 6 (used as a base line level of survival in natural disaster situations such as storms)

Endurance
Ships can and do suffer damage during travels and this Trait indicates how well The Wave Rider is able to handle adverse conditions. While a sub-trait like Maneuver or Danger might help reduce the chance of The Wave Rider taking damage, Endurance helps determine how well the ship can shake off a failure. The higher the sub-trait in a given area the hardier The Wave Rider is. The sub-traits here are target numbers for general success when compared against a randomly generated number between 0 and 9; the objective is to come in at or under the sub-trait. The five sub-traits of Endurance are as follows.

Crew 6 (how likely the crew are to survive everything from collisions to cannon shots)
Hull 5 (the more damage a hull sustains the faster a ship sinks. a high sub-trait means floating)
Rigging 6 (if the rigging takes damage the sails come down. if sails come down the ship stops)
Mechanism 5 (how well the ship's mounted weaponry, engine, and oars are able to resist taking damage)
Rudder 5 (a ship's maneuvering system must remain working or navigation becomes impossible)

Armament
The Captain of the ship is a civilian and as such The Wave Rider is not made for combat, but combat may well find it. In this case the ship's stock of weaponry will play a big part in its survival. Captain Jacksondi has made it a point to have the Wave Rider ready for a fight but does not seek any out. The sub-traits of this Trait are used directly by the ship as well as by landing parties as Armament includes mounted weaponry as well as hand-held. The sub-traits here are an indication of the quality of weaponry aboard The Wave Rider and, as such, have a sliding scale of values to indicate just what the Captain has loaded on board.

Deck 5 The Wave Rider is equipped with 4 cannons per side.
Swivel 5 The Wave Rider has two fore chase cannons & aft swivel gun that fire grapeshot or small bore cannon balls.
Heavy 3 The Wave Rider has a single aft-mounted small artillery cannon.
Melee 5 Crewmen aboard the Wave Rider have access to a short blade a long blade.
Missile 5 Half the crew have crossbows and a quarter have access to black powder pistols.

Morale
A general indication of the crew's overall interest, ability, and dedication to following orders from their superior officers. While Captain Jacksondi treats all of his men fairly and will respect there are certain situations where they may not be willing to do as asked. Whenever an order may be questioned Morale will come into play. The sub-traits here are target numbers for general success when compared against a randomly generated number between 0 and 9; the objective is to come in at or under the sub-trait. The five sub-traits of Morale are as follows.

Courage 6 (how well the crew will listen to orders when under duress)
Loyalty 7 (how likely the crew is to resist opportunities to mutiny or rebel)
Faith 6 (the crew's general adherence to the Mehnzilian Church's teachings)
Trust 7 (how accommodating the crew is to the Captain's plans, goals, and objectives)
Duty 6 (the higher this is the less likely crewmembers are to slack off or lollygag)

All reader input is now on hold-- the first part of the prologue will follow soon!

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!

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 were the ten characters and their positions:

Captain: Alistair Jacksoni, Ilysean Tiger
First Mate: Ash-Moon, Lehsunian Tribesman Jackal
Bosun: Rolf Severna, Lehsunian Prong Horn
Foreman: William 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


What follows are the next five characters who were determined to be members of the crew. Like those above have already received, these five characters will now be detailed with their description and S.T.E.A.M. For a review, the S.T.E.A.M. attributes are as follows:

Social is a rating of how well a character can handle situations where discourse, negotiation, and other verbal interaction is at play. A character with a higher Social score will be better equipped to deal with tasks where dialogue is important.

Teaching governs how much a character knows; while a large portion of this may include book smarts and education there is also a certain element of life experience that contributes to this attribute. A character with a high Teaching score will be able to handle riddles, puzzles, and intellectual problems.

Endurance determines not just how much physical punishment a character can stand, it also provides a baseline expectation for willpower, mental resilience, and a character's aptitude for survival despite adverse conditions. Adventuring is dangerous business and characters with less Endurance should probably stay at home (or at least on the ship).

Athletics is not just a measure of a character's knack for movement in all its forms (swimming, climbing, running, and jumping) it also indicates just how much panache a character might be able to display while acting. Characters with high Athletics tend to be the best for physical challenges and exploring unsettled areas with uneven terrain.

Might is a pure and unadulterated view of a character's ability to lift weight, deal damage, and apply physical force to problems that may arise. Characters with a high Might score are generally considered to be the heavies, bruisers, and lifters thus no real group is complete without at least one character with a high Might rating.

Here are the next set of five characters, info about them, and their STEAM, You will note a listing on each description entitled "Mutable?". Like last time, each reader may select a single character of the following five to have revised or, if there's a character that a reader absolutely doesn't want changed they may vote to save that character which will counteract a vote to change them. Readers may only vote to save OR replace one character; one or the other-- not both. Here are the new characters:

Name:
Nation: Jacques le Blanc
Breed: Lynx
Job: Master-at-Arms of the Wave Rider
Age: mid-30s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 66666
Mutable? YES
Jacques spent his youth living on the streets of almost every city in Trevosse, constantly on the move and never staying anywhere for very long lest he risk being picked up by an orphanage. Later, when he had to turn to crime to survive he continued his nomadic lifestyle to avoid being arrested. Ultimately his luck ran out and he was apprehended. Rather than being sent to jail, the local magistrate offered him the opportunity to join the Treossean military for an eight year service term. Within the first year he was identified of being in possession of a keen tactical mind. The military not only sought to redeem him and forge him into a contributing member of society, they also nurtured his natural talents and he became a prominent tactician for the Southern Legion. Four years ago he completed his second term in the military and chose to retire, moving away from the military and accepting a commission aboard the Wave Rider.

Name: Yuri the Blade
Nation: Soyria
Breed: Snowshoe Hare
Job: Rigger of the Wave Rider
Age: late-20s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 65586
Mutable? YES
Yuri is a murderer; he killed six of a family of seven. A grandfather, husband, wife, and three of four offspring died at his paws-- the husband and wife had their throats slit; the sister and two brothers were disemboweled, and the grandfather died from dozens of deep wounds. In any other circumstance he would have been put to death after turning himself in, but the extenuating circumstance involved him not only being the sole surviving member of the family, but also the fact that he was fighting for his survival. Yuri was the second youngest member of the family; his youngest sister had, due to a particularly harsh winter and a lack of food, been eaten by the family-- and he was the next on the menu. Rather than being put to death, Yuri was instead banished from Soyria. He spent the next several years traveling south and ultimately signed on board the Wave Rider. Yuri provided full disclosure of his past which was good for establishing honesty and trust with the leadership but didn't help his popularity among the rest of the crew.

Name: Pierre "Peter" Leroy
Nation: Trevosse
Breed: Human
Job: Quartermaster Aboard the Wave Rider
Age: mid-30s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 77565
Mutable? YES
Pierre, who prefers to go by Peter, would be a good example of a success story involving a young man rising from nothing to have everything if not for the fact that he gained his fortune through fast talking, con games, and deception... and the summarily lost almost all of it through very poor decision making. Having become familiar with the Jacksoni family through some of his rarer honest business dealings, Mr. Leroy managed to scrape together the last of his money to obtain the licensing, bonding, and inventory required to run a store out of the Wave Rider. He has been with the crew for only a few months but he has the people skills that leaves them well disposed toward him. Those aboard the ship who know of his past realize that, while he may not cheat, swindle, or work-over anyone onboard there are enough eyes on him during port trips that he has no choice but to stay honest among strangers.

Name: Uben (Ben) Veektur
Nation: Doelich
Breed: Water Buffalo
Job: Cook Aboard the Wave Rider
Age: late-30s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 75657
Mutable? YES
Uben has been a part of the crew for close to five years. Despite his first name being pronounced Ooh-Bin, the crew of the Wave Rider have taken to calling Uben "Ben" or just "Cookie". The galley aboard the Wave Rider is not a large place which is, in many ways humorous that Ben is one of the largest men on board. Including his horns, Ben is just shy of eight foot tall and weighs in at close to four hundred pounds If one were to believe the old adage that you should never trust a skinny chef the cook has a very 'trustworthy' build and tends to prepare food from his homeland along with some slightly more higher level cuisine from Trevosse. While some would object to the fact that Ben is only a mediocre cook he more than makes up for it with the simple fact that he is a certified ale-miester from a kingdom that is well known for its alcohol; he even has the skill to brew his own while at sea. As such, the crewmen aboard the Wave Rider are quite fond of their captain's choice.

Name: Lee Santo
Nation: Jiuyan
Breed: Tanuki
Job: Cabin Boy Aboard the Wave Rider
Age: mid-to-late-teens
Sex: Male
STEAM: 75666
Mutable? YES
As the newest member of the crew, Lee is also the youngest. He has been on board the Wave Rider for a handful of months, ever since Alistair elected to accept a plea for passage away from Jiuyan. Lee started his time on the ship knowing only a handful of words other than his native language but he has since picked up a working understanding of Mehnzilian and is therefore able to communicate much more fluently with the sailors. Most of the crew consider Lee to be more of a mascot than an actual member of the team since he is still learning about sailing. The less respectful sailors often refer to him as a the captain's pet or, more recently, the Armourer's lackey as Lee spends almost all of his free time with his fellow countryman. Despite how often others make fun of him, Lee is fully and whole heartedly respectful to everyone, referring to them as 'sir', 'master', or 'lordship'. As there are no professional terms of address for women in the Jiuyani culture he refers to the ship's physician as "Mom", the only female pronoun in his culture as a position of honor.

Readers may select ONE character from the above listing. The character with the most votes will be revised and rewritten, given new statistics, new STEAM, and a new backstory. Do you like all the characters as they are? Great! Find one you particularly don't want changed and vote for them to stay the same; you'll counteract the next vote to change them thereby maintaining them in their original glory!

Voting will continue through midnight (PST) on Saturday, 4/16. It's not a long time to vote so get your vote in! Sunday the 17th will have the next journal post which will help us round out and name a total of 1/3 of the crewmen.

Now that you know and your time frame, go to it! Questions, comments, etc are now open!

Moving on, it's time to continue selecting the crew for the Wave Rider!

Welcome back, readers! This journal continues the earlier one found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/7485223/

We are pressing forward with the crew roster and finishing off the last of the named and titled crewmen on board. That is not to say others won't be introduced-- merely that we're getting a good jump on who is to be introduced.

As with last time there will be a vote open on what character takes what position and that vote will be left entirely up to all of you! Look at the open positions in the list below and decide on which option you like the most for it-- and then vote! You can vote on as many or as few positions as you like! Here are the final five positions where readers have determined the character. Unlike last week each option will remain open until one selection receives TEN votes (as opposed to the five required last time). Any position that doesn't get 10 votes on a single choice will be decided at the end of the week where the choice with the most votes wins. Here we go:

Master-at-Arms
As one of the most combat-capable member on board, a Master-at-Arms is considered the commander responsible for all martial maneuvers taken by the ship's crew. In times of combat the Master-at-Arms is considered the (almost) equal in command to the Captain and is usually a veteran of battle.
The Wave Rider's Master-at-Arms is:
Jacques le Blanc, a Lynx Tactician from Trevosse

Rigger
Although not a position of command, the Rigger is nevertheless a very important (and very valued) member of the crew. Usually considered the most able-bodied and knowledgeable seaman aboard a ship, the Rigger is responsible for anything higher than 10' off of the deck. They are fifth in command.
The Wave Rider's Rigger is:
Yuri the Blade, a Snowshoe Hare ex-Convict from Soyria

Quartermaster
Although technically a member of the crew, the Quartermaster is actually a position held by a merchant who is recruited rather than hired by the Captain. Essentially a businessman stationed on the Wave Rider to run a shop all his own, he keeps the profits of his endeavors.
The Wave Rider's Quartermaster is:
Pierre "Peter" Leroy a Human Con-Man from Trevosse

Cook
While not an OFFICIAL position by any means, the Cook is still the individual on board everyone wants as a friend. In charge of handling the feeding of the crew, a ship's Cook has a lot of discretion as to who gets what both in quality and quantity. A smart sailor will stay in the Cook's good side.
The Wave Rider's Cook is:
Uben (Ben) Veektur a Water Buffalo Ale-Meister from Doelich

Cabin Boy
Usually a sailor in training or else an experienced young man who is studying for an official position rather than just that of a crewman, a Cabin Boy is a general aide for the officers aboard a ship. Cabin Boys handle anything and everything asked of them from swabbing a deck to delivering messages.
The Wave Rider's Cabin Boy is:
Lee Sento a Tanuki Run-Away from Jiuyan.


Readers have one week to get their votes in and votes from both sites will be added together to determine the winners! Keep in mind that characters will then receive a write-up much like the ones that came out earlier this week. That brings us to one last piece of business and that is to introduce the new ship Foreman as the recent vote determined that Alan Driesel would NOT be a crewmember. Instead, the following character will be substituted as the Foreman instead:

Name: Willem Zuider
Nation: Doelich
Breed: Goat
Job: Foreman of The Wave Rider
Age: Late-40s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 65757
Despite the fact that Willem is not good with people when it comes to work duties he is still perfectly capable of getting results from the crew. Grating and abrasive, almost anyone who meets Willem takes an immediate dislike to him; this works to his advantage when civility is off the table and brow-beating or intimidation comes into play. Willem, or Will for short is a Goat who is getting on in his years. He spent much of his life working on the docks and shipyards of Wyra and later Trevosse but after an accident that left him with an injured leg he was dismissed from service. Shortly thereafter he was picked up as a deckhand aboard The Wave Rider and within a handful of years he worked his way up to a Senior Midshipman and, ultimately Foreman. Willem tends to pick fights aboard the ship with anyone who so much as looks at him sideways and is rumored to LITERALLY head-butt crewmen who aren't pulling their weight. He ignores just about everyone other than the Captain (who pays him), the Man-at-Arms (who has put him in his place physically on multiple occasions), and the Bosun (who is his direct commanding officer). Any of those three get his attention but not always his respect.

Still don't like the Foreman? 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 Willem Zuider being the Foreman feel free to speak up now and he'll be replaced by another randomly generated Goat Foreman from Doelich!

Now's the time for questions, comments, quandaries, and, of course, VOTES! Votes will be accepted until all positions have a definitive winner or until midnight (PST) on Saturday, April 16th!

Surprise voting opportunity and more info about the characters in the upcoming story!

With the quick response on the first set of votes we're a little over half way through the wait until the next set of crewmen come up for a vote. In order to keep everyone's head in the game I'm going to give the first set of sailors a little jump ahead on the next vote.

After determining the members of the crew readers will also have a say in their backgrounds. I originally planned on presenting all ten at once but considering the extra time we have due to how quickly the votes came in on the first set of sailors I may as well fill the empty air-time with the second portion of their creation!

What follows are the ten characters who are already determined to be members of the crew presented alongside their details. Those readers already familiar with my past stories know that there is a variable nature to them that I include, not just so readers have input but because I like to be kept on my feet. In the Wave Rider these numbers will be summarized by attributes provided on each important character in the story; as with The Lead Crown the attributes will be ranked from one to nine and summarized with S.T.E.A.M. specifically:

Social​ is a rating of how well a character can handle situations where discourse, negotiation, and other verbal interaction is at play. A character with a higher Social score will be better equipped to deal with tasks where dialogue is important.

Teaching​ governs how much a character knows; while a large portion of this may include book smarts and education there is also a certain element of life experience that contributes to this attribute. A character with a high Teaching score will be able to handle riddles, puzzles, and intellectual problems.

Endurance​ determines not just how much physical punishment a character can stand, it also provides a baseline expectation for willpower, mental resilience, and a character's aptitude for survival despite adverse conditions. Adventuring is dangerous business and characters with less Endurance should probably stay at home (or at least on the ship).

Athletics​ is not just a measure of a character's knack for movement in all its forms (swimming, climbing, running, and jumping) it also indicates just how much panache a character might be able to display while acting. Characters with high Athletics tend to be the best for physical challenges and exploring unsettled areas with uneven terrain.

Might​​ ​is a​ pure and unadulterated view of a character's ability to lift weight, deal damage, and apply physical force to problems that may arise. Characters with a high Might score are generally considered to be the heavies, bruisers, and lifters thus no real group is complete without at least one character with a high Might rating.


Here are the ten already-determined characters, info about them, and their STEAM, You will note a listing on each description entitled "Mutable?". Details on that to follow.

Name: Alistair Jacksoni
Nation: Ilyse
Breed: Tiger
Job: Captain of The Wave Rider
Age: Mid-20s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 85665
Mutable? NO
Alistair is the eldest son of famed Ilysian merchant Nico Jacksoni. Unlike his father, Alistair has no interest in business and prefers to use his family's ample fortune in an effort to turn the world into his personal playground. Unlike most carefree children of rich families, Alistair prefers to do something with his antics and so he has chosen to put together a crew who can help his ship cater to his desire for adventure while at the same time exploring parts of the world usually left unseen by civilized man. Another rarity among the children of the rich, Alistair often comes across as a puritan; he takes no part in any vices yet he seems at ease with allowing drinking, gambling, and other questionable activities aboard his ship so long as nothing is done to excess.

Name: Rolf Severna
Nation: Lehsunian
Breed: Prong Horn
Job: Bosun of The Wave Rider
Age: Early-30s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 75675
Mutable? NO
The Eldest of three brothers, Rolf was one of only two who survived childhood; the middle brother, Dennis died shortly after being born. Due to their loss, Rolf's parents became extra protective-- especially his father. Having grown up under the careful watch of his highly religious father, Rolf eventually rebelled in his early teens and took off with Reverend Gustave on an adventure anywhere a sailing ship would take them. He has been at sea almost ever since. In addition to learning all there is to know about sailing, Rolf also studied extensively with Reverend Gustave which means that he is also seen as a junior pastor on board. Many years at sea also helped him hone his skills at swashbuckling works backup for the Wave-Rider's Man-at-Arms in leading the troops.

Name: Reverend Gustave Fischer
Nation: Wyra
Breed: Sea Otter
Job: Missionary Aboard The Wave Rider
Age: Mid-40s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 86655
Mutable? NO
Those who know Reverend Gustave usually like him, and those who do not know him often come to like him. He is a jovial fellow whose loud voice is a perfect herald for his enormous height and commendable girth. Despite the fact that many would call Gustave 'portly' he is still capable of moving when the need calls for it and has proven on multiple occasions to be a skilled warrior. Nevertheless, the good Reverend prefers to avoid violence and would rather spend an evening crossing wits rather than swords. While many stereotypes suggest that otters make poor singers Reverend Gustave loves hymns and even a few select popular songs and spends his spare time humming and singing in a rich, rumbling bass.

Name: Dr. Christine "Chris" Brownell
Nation: Lehsunia
Breed: Mouse
Job: Surgeon Aboard The Wave Rider
Age: Late-20s.
Sex: Female
STEAM: 69555
Mutable? NO
Dr. Brownell has the distinct privilege of being one of the few female physicians acknowledged by the University and she owes that distinction to the fact that her certificate of merit is written to "Chris Brownell". Dr. Brownell has always been the insightful sort and when she applied for classes she did so by correspondence and so nobody at the University knew she was a woman. She is a progressive-thinking mouse who realizes that she has to fight for every ounce of respect due to her sex, and that means she has the heart of a warrior. Despite a rocky start, Chris will soon be celebrating her two year anniversary with her paramour, Tobias Severna. Not only a skilled doctor, Dr. Brownell also has extensive scientific knowledge involving herbs which was taught to her by the tribal people of Lehsunia.

Name: Tobias Severna
Nation: Lehsunia
Breed: Prong Horn
Job: Scientist Aboard The Wave Rider
Age: Late-20s.
Sex: Male
STEAM: 68565
Mutable? NO
The youngest of three brothers, Tobias always grew up in someone else's shadow. He was just starting to grow up when his brother Rolf left home and since his other brother died before he was born that left Tobias as the sole child left in his family; his father was obsessively protective. Even though he grew up in a highly religious household he was always amazed at the wonderful tribal stories his mother told to him and so his love of nature blossomed. Eventually he became a student at the University of Progressive Understanding with the goal of combining the ancient wisdom of the Tribals and the scientific knowledge of the University. During an extended foray out in the field he met Dr. Christine Brownell and after something of a rough period of courting-alternating-with-fighting the two became a couple.

Name: Ash-Moon
Nation: Tribes of Lehsunia
Breed: Jackal
Job: Fist Mate of The Wave Rider
Age: Early-30s.
Sex: Male
STEAM: 35787
Mutable? YES
A member of a tribe that is universally despised by all others within Lehsunia's wild eastern lands, Ash-Moon had seen his fair share of conflict well before his twentieth birthday; he served his tribe for many years as a hunter, a warrior, and a slaver. Before the unification of Lehsunia's tribes Ash-Moon went his own way, desiring to learn more about the settled people of the land. Due to his aggressive and uncivilized nature he spent a fair amount of time imprisoned until, during one of his short bouts of freedom he protected Alistair from a mugging. He's served Captain Jacksoni faithfully for the past three years. After a particularly nasty attack by pirates out at sea the crew gained a new respect (and fear) of the Jackal after they saw him pull a man's heart out of his chest and eat it. It's safe to say that few would willingly ignore an order from the first mate.

Name: Alan Drisel
Nation: Doelich
Breed: Goat
Job: Foreman of The Wave Rider
Age: Early-40s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 44868
Mutable? YES (1 VOTE TO CHANGE)
Although all of Alan's history involved working as a laborer on land for the Jacksoni family, Captain Alistair elected to hire him on as The Wave Rider's foreman. Having worked together for a number of years Alan is able to anticipate almost all of the Captain's needs before they're even spoken. In fact, despite Foreman Drisel's sour disposition and great love of brow-beating anyone who doesn't move fast enough the Goat has nothing but the most pleasant words for the Captain. Many assume that this is just high quality ass-kissery (which usually gets them deck scrubbing duties from the Foreman if spoken aloud) but the truth of the matter is that Alan was one of the few employees of the family business who Alistair respected and so, in return, earned the old goat's respect. Alan is also one of the few people onboard who can reign in the Captain's over exuberant enthusiasm long enough to get the tiger to stop and think... sometimes.

Name: Lt. Karl Jak
Nation: Wyra
Breed: Rottweiler
Job: Gunner of The Wave Rider
Age: Late-30s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 45768
Mutable? YES
Despite over a dozen years of honorable service to the Wyrean Navy Lt. Jack had his commission revoked due to a catastrophic event on board his ship caused by the First Mate; the blame was redirected to the Lieutenant. After being discharged Lt. Jak was ready to lay down and die until the uppity son of a merchant walked into the bar, encountered him and refused to stop talking to him long enough that the Rottweiler had no choice but to respond; that was over five years ago and Karl hasn't lost his liking for Alistair Jacksoni. More than anyone else on board Lt. Jack has the look of a warrior; his fur is crisscrossed with blade scars and numerous patches of furless skin show through areas where he had been wounded by small (and large) arms fire. He often wears a wide brimmed hat to hide the fact that he lost most of his left ear and in the rare instance he smiles the left side of his lower lip peels away to show a split almost the width of a thumb.

Name: Mr. Chen
Nation: Jiuyan
Breed: Housecat
Job: Armourer of The Wave Rider
Age: Mid-30s.
Sex: Male
STEAM: 55596
Mutable? YES
Very little is known about Mr. Chen save that he was, at one time, a master craftsman in Jiuyan. He has served aboard The Wave Rider for the past three years and has done so faithfully and with no complaint. The Cat is neither socialable nor reclusive, simply choosing to focus on his work and ignore everyone else as much as possible. Any visitors are met with indifference; senior offers are spoken to respectfully and with deference though still coldly; underlings and junior officers are usually insulted out of the room (at least, they assume what the Cat is saying are insults-- none of them speak Jiuyani). Most new sailors ignore the Armourer since he does a good job of convincing those not familiar with the ship that he doesn't speak anything but his native language. Those who dare spread rumors about Mr. Chen seem to think he was disgraced and forced to leave Jiuyan because he had a preference for "relations with men" but that hasn't been substantiated and the sailors are too afraid of him to be rude enough to ask him.

Name: Chief Somus Veridius
Nation: Mehnzil
Breed: Dragon
Job: Engineer of The Wave Rider
Age: Late-20s
Sex: Male
STEAM: 58656
Mutable? YES
Despite being young, Chief Somus (he tells sailors to call him Somus or just "Chief" if they feel they have to) is well respected aboard the Wave Rider. Originally hired in an apprentice position to the prior Chief of the ship, Somus saved the crew from a raiding party of privateers who had disabled the ship's sail. While the steam engine aboard The Wave Rider is useful for maneuvering and for slow travel on windless days, Somus used his fiery breath to superheat the boiler, allowing the ship to quickly outdistance their pursuers. The old Chief died in the attack and Somus was granted appointment right then and there. To those familiar with Dragons, it seems odd that Somus breathes fire, especially since that is usually found only among the Priesthood rather than scholars of science-- as are his very elegant wings. Just one more mystery to be talked about on dull voyages, but he weathers it well.

With regard to the "Mutable?" listing: this IS a Reader Driven story, so it wouldn't do to simply have these characters placed right into the story, now would it?

Readers may select ONE character with a "Mutable?" status of "YES". The character with the most votes will be revised and rewritten, given new statistics, new STEAM, and a new backstory. Do you like all the characters as they are? Great! Find one you particularly don't want changed and vote for them to stay the same; you'll counteract the next vote to change them thereby maintaining them in their original glory!

Voting will continue through midnight on Saturday, 4/9. It's not a long time to vote so get your vote in! Sunday the 10th will have the journal post for the final five crewmembers.

Now that you know and your time frame for doing it, have at it! Questions, comments, etc are now fair game!

My goal this month was to reach the $100/month Patreon level of contribution and as of today I'm there!

As such, as long as April ends with that level of support or higher my plan is to update Pawford, No Chance, Cohen Loop, and Dragon in the Dishwater all next month! That will be in addition to the Green Grove post(s) and the upcoming Reader Driven Story!

Think I should do this every month? Head on over to my Patreon page and show your support!
https://www.patreon.com/comidacomida

In the event you did not notice, the Journal posted yesterday was an April fool's joke.

The Reader Driven Story shall continue and the winner was The Wave Rider, Vol 1: Splintered Light. Henceforth the title will be shorted to "Splintered Light".

Over the course of the next few weeks I will post Journals to help plan out the story and further involve Readers interested in helping to direct this tale. These Journals will remain open for several days so Readers may take time to consider the questions asked within. These questions may sometimes be open ended but will usually be multiple choice.

Before we get to that, however, for the benefit of those not familiar with it, we should discuss this story setting. Splintered Light takes place in a steam-punk world, which is to say a genre that involves incredible steps forward in science; where previously there was a lack of understanding there is now a great hunger for more information and advancements in all walks of life (not always for the best, unfortunately) happen daily!

The three points of focus on this discussion involve religion, science, and government. Readers from The Lead Crown may recognize much of this, but remember: the world has changed a little since the events 18 months prior.

Religion
The one and only acknowledged religious organization is the Church. The numerous kingdoms of the world all acknowledge the power of the church and adhere to the doctrine that reinforces the thought that there is a single God and that the men and women of the world must worship, fear, and love Him. Although the dogma of the Church varies from kingdom to kingdom it is a relatively unified organization that some suggest has more power than any singular nation; considering that it has ordered the death of kings in the past, this assumption does seem to have a strong basis in fact.

The founding of the Church heralds back to Mehnzil, the First Kingdom. Ages ago when the kingdoms were based on species, the great Dragon nation of Mehnzil spanned the majority of the continent. Almost a millennia ago, during the height of the Race Wars it fell to the combined might of numerous smaller kingdoms. The lands were divided by the victors and settled. The world became unified as species began to coexist within kingdoms devised by land boundaries rather than blood.

Even with the fall of Mehnzil, however, the Dragons, known as "The Servants Divine" maintained an arm's distance relationship with the people of the newly forged kingdoms. Holding onto their strong faith and conviction many withdrew from the mortal world and devoted themselves wholly to quiet study of the divine. Most dragons, however, accepted their new place in the world as punishment for their hubris and, over the course of several generations integrated into the kingdoms.

For the next several centuries the Dragons began to divide as a species; over a matter of generations those that stepped away from the sacred halls began to be born without wings or the glans that produced the fiery breath that had been known to dragons throughout history. The Servants Divine, those Dragons who maintained a life of study and piety, on the other hand, maintained both. These "holy agents" pointed to their devotion to God as the reason why they should be able to fly in His sky and exhale His cleansing breath.

In the modern age it is exceedingly rare for any Dragon born within the kingdom to have wings and almost unheard of for any to be capable of breathing fire; any who do exhibit either trait are immediately turned over to the Church for reclamation into the fold of The Servants Divine. To do otherwise is to risk excommunication, and the uninitiated child is usually put to death as irredeemable. This is a well-known law among Dragonkind but the occurrence is not common enough for most others to be familiar with it in this day and age-- and current winds of change indicate that this may not be as iron-clad as it had once been.

In the past fifty years there have only been sightings of five winged Dragons outside the church; three of the five were taken in. Sadly, the parents of the fourth divinely touched hatchling attempted to keep him from the church for personal gain-- the child was finally reclaimed at two years of age... far too late to be saved; all three were put to death. As far as the fifth? That rumor is mostly unsubstantiated. In that same time no reports of Dragons with The Breath have been formally documented.

Despite the Church being a traditionally draconic (draconian?) organization, far more than Dragons are counted among the priesthood these days. During the Gray Plague several hundred years ago there was a massive return to the divine word. The dragons opened up positions within the church for anyone willing to pledge themselves as servants to the one and only God. Even though Dragons remain the majority within the Church, the breakdown is now approximately 50/50... though the highest ranks of the divine institution remain scaled by vast majority.

The strongest political and social supporters of the Church are known as Traditionalists. Though they may or may not be pious themselves, they see the importance of the Church and encourage others to live by the divine rules set forth by its teachings. Most, though not all, also tend to model their lives after the Church's teachings and are generally inclined to regularly attend services and donate willingly. There is also a growing micro minority that are embracing other aspects of religion that coincides with but does not specifically follow the Mehnzylian Church doctrine.

The majority of Traditionalists are usually very rich or very poor. The former tend to view the Church as a stabilizing force in the world which helps maintain their place on top of the pecking order; the latter often seek the aids and comfort of the Church and its God during their times of need. Despite the broad extremes of the Traditionalists, there is usually a noted lack of representation among the middle class. This does not mean that the general public is not religious, it simply suggests that they follow the Church without having to side with it all of the time.

Science
Although there are many sources of knowledge and research, the best well-known center for enlightenment is known as the University of Progressive Understanding, or UPU for short. The organization's charter defines its purpose as a location where any may come to further man's comprehension of all things scientific and to work in unity to uncover the secrets of the world. Most would agree that the UPU has done just that... and then some. Having been the forerunner of developing science and industry the University has brought about a great revolution of learning, accomplishing more in the last hundred years than in the entire millennia before.

Originally sprouting up almost overnight in the kingdom of Lehsunia, the UPU started as a collection of learned Humans meeting several nights weekly at an ale house. Over time, the scholars increased their numbers as other races' thinkers, philosophers, and collectors of wisdom sought them out, looking for the opportunity to count themselves among the enlightened few. Eventually the tipping point was reached and the gathering created a formal charter then pooled their resources to make the University a reality.

King Hammond the Eleventh provided recognition of the University's charter and provided it a land grant and funding in the hopes that its studies would ultimately provide a lasting mark on the world; he had little idea just how much of an impact the UPU would truly have-- nearly elven decades later, the world is almost completely different, and shows signs of changing even more dramatically in the next hundred years. The king's lasting legacy is chronicled in the institution's records and honored by a brass statue of the wolf in the University's Great Hall.

While all races are allowed (and encouraged) within the halls of the University, few argue that it was the spark of ingenuity found among its original Human founders that led it to become what it is today. Considering the University's own teachings, many suggest that the Humans have always had a strong connection with innovation and creativity as they lack the natural weapons and the fur, scales, or feathers found among the other races-- these deficits instead instilled in them the importance of developing alternatives... and therein lays the seeds of invention that continue to drive the University onward.

Despite the strong influence from its Human founders, the University of Progressive Understanding holds no prejudice and welcomes all who are interested in contributing to the collection and development of knowledge. Even so, the percentage of Humans to other species remains relatively high within the walls of the University; approximately 25% of the scholars within the establishment are Humans while the ratio is barely 1 in 10 on the street. One curiosity in enrollment however is that there is a great lack of Dragons; most assume that this is due to old racial affiliations within the Church.

General studies are considered widely acceptable within the UPU, though most scholars, inventors, and researchers will tend to focus on a specific field. These fields were once related to the four elements: the Fire scholars (Alchemists) were dedicated to the understanding of chemicals and their numerous uses; Earth scholars (Engineers) studied metallurgy and construction; Water Scholars (Biologists) studied all aspects of life and health and the natural living world; Air Scholars (Technicians) elaborated on the various schools of study and focused their learning on how they could be combined for greater results.

During a great shake up (literally, as it involved a bomb in the Council of Deans) of power within the UPU, a revision was made to the charter and the methods used within the University. The organization that had once been ruled by the heads of the departments and fractured desires of the various scholastic disciplines has become a much more unified collection of learning. All scholars are expected to learn about the various sciences to the point that they have at least a passing understanding of other disciplines to better understand how their own chosen field fits among them. While this gave Air Scholars a leg-up in the beginning it also meant that they would either have to choose another specialty, or instead become devoted entirely to helping with the logistics of meshing the areas of study into an amalgamated whole.

The most recent, and one of the greatest discoveries from the University comes in the form of steam power. Only in the last twenty years has the incredible versatility of steam power truly begun to find places in every day life. It seems almost daily now the UPU is developing even more uses for their great ability to harness steam and turn it into inventions that continue to improve society in ways previously unimagined. Combined with numerous other advancements Steam Power has contributed to faster travel, more convenient energy generation, and efficient heating in homes. This is obviously not an exhaustive list.

The strongest political and social supporters of the University are known as Progressives. Although many Progressives are among the scholars at the University, it can be said that any man, woman, or child that seeks a better life through the innovations and discoveries of science may as well count themselves among their number. Most Progressives are quick to adapt to the new technologies being discovered and, though their willingness to help society evolve doesn't preclude the possibility that they may also be quite religious, most feel that the Church would rather smother progress instead of adapt, and that couldn't possibly be right.

Progressives can be found in any walk of life; the rich Progressives generally act as patrons for researchers and scholars while the middle class often has the most to gain from inventions and discoveries that benefit society as a whole; the poor, ideally find their lot improved as advances in industry and production provide them new jobs and more ways to increase their standing (ideally being the operative word). It is important to note that individuals may be both in favor of learning and a devout follower of the Church but, should that be the case they are not likely affiliated with either faction as they would probably be condemned for their lack of conviction.

Global Powers
Doelich (Doh-Lick)
Lodged between the high mountains along the southern border of Soyria and the meandering foothills north of Mehnzil are a step-like collection of plateaus and valleys that house the land-locked nation of Doelich. The people who populate this nation are hardy and resilient, making their living as sustenance farmers, hunters, and, within the most recent 200 years, shrewd traders. Despite how closed off Doelich is from the rest of the world almost any land-going caravan worth anything will choose a Doelichine Wagon Master over any other.

Doelich itself is rich in precious metals and so mining has always been a popular profession-- even more so as metal is becoming as popular as wood and stone when it comes to building materials. The people of Doelich tend to be wary of outsiders but once familiarity sets in they are warm, welcoming, and jovial. Major sought-after goods from Doelich include alcoholic beverages, candies (especially chocolate), and their spiced sausages. Although not always accurate, the usual stereotype for a Doelich native fits into one of two categories: the shrewd, hard-as-nails woodsman who knows the mountain trails like a city goer would know their front porch or a rotund drunkard who is more interested in his next meal than what's going on in the world.

Ilyse (Il-E-aze)
When one envisions Ilyse the usual impression is of a single, gigantic city stretched out along a western coastline as far as they eye can see. That impression is not entirely inaccurate. The vast majority of outsiders only ever see Vanica Bay, the largest city in Ilyse. In truth, however, Vanica Bay ONLY takes up 1/3 of the nation. Ilyse is a kingdom of traders, merchants, and businessmen. While the vast majority of Ilyse is poor the kingdom is incredibly obsessed about appearance, meaning any visitors to the nation will find that those without money do a surprisingly good job of patching together a semi balance of riches... usually at the expense of his neighbor, or else risking debtor's prison. Anyone incapable of putting on sufficient airs is usually kept out of sight of anyone and everyone that might matter.

Ilyse is, for all its poverty, a very rich nation, especially considering its lack of resources. In addition to relying on foreign trade, Ilyse also makes a solid income from its unequalled service industry. Nobles from all other kingdoms visit Vanica Bay to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and experiences that the city has to offer. Leading the world in art, fashion, and all things desired by anyone of interest, Ilyse is far more about appearance than substance. Stereotypes of the typical Ilysean are either a shrewd, nigh-criminal merchant who will do anything to make his next coin or else a vacuous, addle-brained fop who rarely understands even the most basic concepts that don't involve a well-kept lifestyle. Although only accounting for about 2/3rds of the population, most people think that all Ilyseans are Birds.

Jiuyan (Joo-yan)
The only nation of any note that is not part of the Mainland, the island kingdom of Jiuyan is located south east of Lehsunia in the Southern Sea. Known among its people as The Glorious Jiuyan Empire due to the fact that the Jiuyani consider each of its six islands a separate kingdom, the majority of the world simply consider it a nation and simply move on. Aside from what merchants and sailors have learned about the secretive island nation very little is actually known; only two of the islands will even except outsiders and the largest island, which is said to be home to the Emperor himself will execute any non-Jiuyani on sight for merely landing there.

The Jiuyani craftsmen are all masters of their field and their goods are desired far and wide. Despite this, trade is limited as few ships and fewer merchants from the outside world are given permission to conduct business with the island kingdom. The people of Jiuyan are mysterious and reserved in a way few can match and it is said that, although there are Dragons among them, they are far different than those of the Kingdom of Mehnzil and most travelers who have claimed to have seen one say they are incredibly tall, very thin, and of an otherworldly, airy appearance; most of these claims are proved to be fabricated. Despite there being so little information available about the Jiuyan people are quick to come up with first impressions and varied rumors rather than any specific stereotype. The one consistent thing said of the Jiuyani is that they live very strict, very regimented lives that focus on perceived respect; lack of respect is considered grave insult.

Lehsunia (Leh-Soon-E-Uh)
A moderately sized kingdom situated on a broad, roughly triangle-shaped peninsula, it is the youngest nation of the mainland. The majority of the kingdom's population live along the south-eastern portion of the land where the beaches and coast line are best suited for construction and the tides are most beneficial for trade. The kingdom is bordered on that side by the Iblian Gulf and its north-eastern border connects to the mainland while its western and south-western shores are comprised of the cliffs and rocky coastlines of the Southern Sea. Due to its ideal location Lehsunia serves as a central hub for all coastal trading, especially between the east and west coast of the mainland.

Despite being the birthplace of the University of Progressive Understanding the majority of the world still considers Lehsunia a quaint little backwater nation which is only once step up above the savages that make up the tribal people of its eastern lands. Until recently, most people of the settled lands believed that Lehsunia was nothing more than a neutral ground allowed to exist because of the peace accord between Ilyse and Wyra; once King Malcom, the nation's newest ruler took control he gathered a coalition of forces sufficient enough to successfully hand Wyra its first decisive defeat in over a hundred years. This has understandably given the rest of the world pause and they are reevaluating the stereotype of the average Lehsunian being a know-nothing, backwards savage. That's quite an achievement considering the Tribal Folk of Eastern Lehsunia are very much not what settled people would consider 'civilized'.

Mehnzil (Men-Zill)
Still known as "The First Kingdom", Mehnzil was considered the birthplace of modern society. Unlike other nations which were formed by multiple species, Mehnzil has always been comprised of reptiles and, most specifically, Dragons. Mehnzil brought together the world into its modern kingdoms, responsible in one way or another for the current national boundaries. Directly responsible for Ilyse, Wyra, and Soyria, the three kingdoms were at one point territories belonging to Mehnzil; Lehsunia was far enough distant that it was never conquered while Doelich resisted invasion long enough that eventually the rest of the kingdoms rose up and fought off control. Even if each kingdom has shaken off Mehnzyl's governmental control, the Mehnzylian Church still holds sway over them all.

Since the global defeat of the Dragons, Mehnzil has become much more open to other races and now the total population of The First Kingdom is now almost 20% "Other". It remains the religious center of the world and also an important civic influence but now stands more of a melting pot that includes other national identities in its popular culture. Nobody beyond the borders of Mehnzil has met with Mehnzil's Queen though she is assumed to be ancient, perhaps extended beyond the already lengthy lifespan of most Dragons due to her close spiritual connection to the divine. The average Mehnzylian stereotype involves an ultra-pious scaled priest who is just as likely to pray for the forgiveness of a sinner as they are to execute the wrath of God upon them.

Soyria (Soy-Re-Uh)
While the vast majority of kingdoms reside in relatively temperate regions Soyria spends nearly seven months out of the year covered in snow. During its brief spring and even shorter summer the people of Soyria are forced to work multiple professions as the kingdom transitions from planting, building, and harvesting in half the time most other nations have to complete the same amount of work. While it might be assumed that this means there is little room left for creative or artistic pursuits it is also important to bear in mind that long winters provide ample hours for what the hectic schedule of good weather days don't permit.

While the majority of good produced by Soyria are consumed in Soyria it does have two major exports: textiles and steeds. Clothing and other woven goods have been a staple of Soyria production for hundreds of years but recent changes in taste for raiments in Ilyse has led to a popularity for Soyrian garments to be considered at a premium. Soyrian Whites are rare steeds bred, raised, and trained only in Soyria by master animal handlers and are considered the best of the best, desired by the monetary elite all across the world. Despite how in-demand their goods, few people have positive opinions of the Soyria people, who are seen as staunch individualists who are more interested in survival than making friends; when running away from something alongside a Soyrian the common thought is that you should worry as much about the Soyrian as what your pursuit.

Trevosse (Treh-Vo-Say)
Shaped something like a bow tie, Trevosse is split between verdant, airable land on its western side and long, sloping, sandy beaches bordering the Sunwatch Sea on its eastern. South of Wyra and northeast of the wild lands separating Lehsunia from the rest of the mainland, Trevosse is a nation that has a little of everything coupled with a lot of personality. Art, culture, and cuisine are all the rage in Trevosse, second only to the nation's devout worship of God. Unlike the majority of Kingdoms, Trevosse's primary religion is reformed version of worship rather than the Mehnzylian Church itself. The primary clergy consist of females rather than males, which is another rarity. While there ARE male priests the majority of worship is led by the Order of the Sisters Divine of the Holy Hearth, a venerated and elite cadre of women in service to God.

While culture is considered to be Trevosse's greatest export that one subject includes multiple facets such as cuisine, art, style, and more. The upper class people of the world often argue whether Ilysean or Trevossian goods are 'the best' but there's enough opinion to go around and so both nations make a killing off of being the source for "the next big thing". The dichotomy of loyal service to God and the aptitude with which the Trevossian people adapt and create to social whim creates an unfair stereotype of a two-faced individual who appears to be pious and yet engages in all kinds of elicit activities in private. As such, the motives of most folk hailing from Trevosse are second-guessed more than most.

Wyra (Why-Ruh)
Although Mehnzil was once a great empire spanning the entire continent, eventually a coalition arose to resist it; the lands that would one day become Wyra spearheaded that resistance. A nation with an aggressive and martial temperament, it is said that the chief export of Wyra is war. While this is something of an exaggeration it is not entirely untrue. All boys join the military at the end of their primary schooling (age 10) and then spend the next six years in progressive service learning what there is to know about protecting their kingdom. Finally, upon reaching the age of 16 they then spend two years in the military. The best of these young men then move on to obtain the prestigious position of Soldier, which opens many doors within the kingdom for further advancement.

In addition to its military, Wyra is also known for its expert smiths, both those who create weapons or armor and those who work metal in much less martial ways. It has a standing navy second to none (though it is still recovering after having suffered some extensive losses in its defeat during the recent military action against Lehsunia). Although the majority of people who think of Wyra first consider the stereotypical brown-blood (a term for a Wyranese patriot since they bleed the colors of the kingdom), those who personally known a Wyranese can immediately identify an individual who has a great strength of character with true devotion to their beliefs, family, and friends. On the opposite side, most Wyranese are considered to be thick skulled and inflexible in their views.

Reader Input
Now that an overview of the world of The Waver Rider is available it's time to talk a little bit about the crew. While there are about 50 individuals on the ship there are fifteen positions of merit among the ship's crew accompaniment. Some of those positions are already filled and as the first act for Readers helping to Direct the story I'd like all of you to give some input on the open positions. This means we have our first set of questions! Look at the open positions in the list below and vote on which option you like the most for it-- and then vote! You can vote on as many or as few positions as you like! Included here are the 5 pre-assigned positions and 5 of the yet-to-be-determined ones. The remainder of the positions will be presented next week.

Bosun
This individual is third in charge of the ship (behind Captain and First Mate). In general, the Bosun serves as the supervisor for the crew, is the direct manager of the Foreman, and verifies that assigned tasks are completed to an acceptable extent.
The Wave Rider's Bosun is Mister Rolf Severna, a Prong Horn adventurer from Lehsunia.

Surgeon
This is the medical officer on board the ship. Usually a male, the Wind Rider has the unique status of having a female surgeon whose job it is to care for the crew and maintain their health by fixing wounds, repairing injuries, and curing those on board of any sickness or infection.
The Wave Rider's Surgeon is Dr. Christine Brownell, a Mouse doctor from Lehsunia.

Missionary
The ship's Missionary leads the ship's religious services and is responsible for acting as the diplomat to all indigenous people met during the Wave Rider's travels. A Missionary is expected to be a pious linguist with extensive people skills.
The Wave Rider's Missionary is Reverend Gustave Fischer, a Sea Otter preacher from Wyra.

Scientist
While not technically a standard maritime position, the Wave Rider's exploration of new and interesting locales certainly has need of a learned individual. This particular task involves familiarity with identifying edible, dangerous, and other noteworthy flora and fauna.
The Wave Rider's Scientist is Prof. Tobias Severna, a Prong Horn scholar from Lehsunia.

Captain
As the Wave Rider is not a commissioned ship nor is it a company vessel the Captain in this case is the owner and operator. It is naval custom to refer to this individual as "Captain" even though he does not truly hold a maritime rank.
The Wave Rider's Captain is Alistair Jacksoni, a Tiger adventurer from Ilyse.

First Mate
A ship's First Mate is the immediate subordinate to the captain. While military vessels may have a second, third, or even fourth mate, The Wave Rider has power delegated to only one other individual; if neither Captain nor First Mate are available then the next in line would be the Bosun.
The Wave Rider's First Mate is:
Ash-Moon, A Jackal Bone Tribesman from the Lehsunian Tribelands (By Reader Vote)

Foreman
Reporting immediately to the Bosun, the Foreman is considered his right-hand man and is responsible for any activities as assigned by the Bosun. In many cases a Bosun will run half the deck crew and have the Foreman handle the other. The Foreman is considered the fourth in command on the Wave Rider.
The Wave Rider's Foreman is:
Alan Drisel, A Goat Laborer from Doelich (By Reader Vote)

Gunner
The Gunner is in charge of the ship's naval artillery and other large weaponry. He is in charge of supervising the Armourer and the Engineer in areas where their tasks overlap. Unlike the Armourer, the Gunner is usually not a member of a landfall party.
The Wave Rider's Gunner is:
Lt. Karl Jak, A Rottweiler ex-Military Gunner from Wyra (By Reader Vote)

Armourer
The Armourer maintains and repairs the smaller weapons on the ship. This is usually limited to handheld weapons such as blades and pistols but he may occasionally be called to assist with the ship's cannons, mounted guns, and ballistae. The Armourer is also often chosen as a member of a landfall party.
The Wave Rider's Armourer is:
Mr. Chen, A Housecat Disgraced Grandmaster from Jiuyan (By Reader Vote)

Engineer
Commonly referred to as "The Chief", the Engineer is responsible for all operations and maintenance that has to do with machinery and equipment throughout the ship. Despite the fact that The Wave Rider is a sailing vessel it also has mechanical components including but not limited to guns and engines.
The Wave Rider's Engineer is:
Somus Veridius, A Dragon Scholar from Mehnzil (By Reader Vote)


Again, readers may vote on all 5 position but the first option in each position to reach 5 will win. Voting will be valid through next Saturday, 4/9 up until midnight (PST) whereupon any position that hasn't had 5 votes for a specific character will be chosen by the option with the most votes. In the case of a tie there will be a coin flip with the one not chosen being set aside as an option for next week's positions.

Time for questions, comments, and, of course, VOTES!