Port Mahon Marginalia

Personals

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Rare Double Mad Moon

According to the astrologists and other experts on the Mad Moons, next month should see a rare occurrence of a double Mad Moon. During a double, the Mad Moon remains in the sky for longer than usual, and then it rises again the next day before resuming its normal monthly appearances. An unprecedented amount of monster activity can be expected in October.

Calahorn Thwarted in Takeover of Port Mahon!

Last Mad Moon, the citizens of Port Mahon and loyalists in the garrison defended the town from an attempted annexation by the Caliphate of Calahorn. Pitched fighting occurred in Azeel and Achmed's shop, as the citizen adventurers fought members of the Black Hand, Calahorn's elite fighters. Elsewhere in town, the garrison struggled to put down an insurrection within its ranks. In the end, the Caliphate's plan to take over Port Mahon failed, due largely to the fighting skills of the citizens and the courage of Bruno.

During the Mad Moon of July, Azeel approached several residents of Port Mahon in an attempt to gain support for their annexation. Azeel explained that in Calahorn, garrison towns such as Port Mahon are subject to the whims of the commander, who is usually cruel or greedy.

To avoid that fate, and Imperial taxes, Azeel conveyed a 'generous offer' from the Caliph of assistance for Port Mahon to gain it's independence from the Pragmatic Empire and his willingness to recognize Port Mahon as a sovereign nation. The 'assistance' would be arriving in August.

Bruno recognized that the Caliphate was actually interested in annexing Port Mahon, and that the Pragmatic Empire would not allow it to be taken. The resulting war would leave Port Mahon in ruins. To try and prevent this from happening, he agreed to assist Azeel and Achmed in order to gain knowledge of their plans.

Between the Mad Moons, Bruno contacted other people to determine which side of the upcoming insurrection they were on, and to pass on the news that he had already gained. During the August Mad Moon, he continued to reveal what he learned. Because of Bruno, everyone was aware that the acting garrison commander was working for Azeel and Achmed, and the number of Black Hand fighters that were in town, and an incredible amount of other information that was vital to the success of the resistance. If Azeel or Achmed had ever suspected that Bruno was the person passing the information on to the other citizen adventurers, he would have been Disintegrated.

Tertullian Monocles, after being told that two-thirds of the garrison had been subverted by Azeel and Achmed, including all of the officers, verified the information by getting himself killed. That was the seed crystal needed to organize the fighting resistance. Most of the citizen adventurers accompanied the acting garrison commander into Azeel and Achmed's shop, in spite of warnings to stay out of the shop. When they were confronted by the people of Port Mahon, Azeel and Achmed sprang a deathtrap that they had constructed into the shop, which dropped heavy steel plates over the doors and windows and signaled the Black Hand fighters to drop down through the ceiling. Fortunately, the Calahornians underestimated the combat abilities of the citizen adventurers of Port Mahon, who emerged victorious.

How the Plan Unfolded

The plan to gain control of Port Mahon was developed over several months, according to the records that Azeel kept.

In March, Azeel and Achmed arrive as spies for a planned military invasion of Port Mahon. The effectiveness of the citizen adventurers in repulsing the Scalavir raiders convince them that an invasion is futile.

April, Pho T. On uses divination to determine whereabouts of item stolen by Black Hand. Thief commits suicide to prevent incrimination of Azeel and Achmed. Pho T. On is marked for death if he cannot be suborned.

May, weapons sold to orcs, with an understanding that if they killed humans and gained more silver, more weapons would be sold. Assassination of Lieutenant Carus "Niger" Galerius, the Night Watch Commander. "Hand of Wisdom" claims the act in an attempt to divert attention away from Azeel and Achmed.

June, additional weapons sold to orcs. Attempt to lure garrison out of Port Mahon with an attack on Fort Rollins fails. Assassination of Lt. Julius Marius, Lt. Galerius's replacement. Identity of Julius Marius assumed by Black Hand. Subversion of garrison started.

July, Azeel approaches disaffected citizens of Port Mahon and attempts to gain their support for the upcoming take over.

August, Commander Octo Castor murdered and the false Lieutenant Julius Marius assumes command. If the plan had succeeded, Azeel would have been named as Governor of the new Calahorn province of Port Mahon. The garrison would have supported him. Taxes would have been imposed on all production and trade in Port Mahon. Kern pod trade would cease.

Loyalist Casualties

In Azeel's attempt to take over Port Mahon, loyal members of the garrison died, both before the plot was revealed and in the fighting between the troops still loyal to the Emperor and those that were treasonous.

Cmdr. Julius "Octo" Castor

Lt. Carus "Niger" Galerius

Lt. Julius Marius

Sr. Linesman Leo "Baldy" Valerianus

Sr. Linesman Gaius "Lucky" Severus

Sr. Linesman Decius "Minimus" Probus

Sr. Linesman Quintillus "Leo" Lucius

Linesman Nerva "Longshanks" Geta

Linesman Hostilian "Fido" Tiberius

Linesman Anastasius Brokensword

Linesman Basil the Forager

Linesman Tiberius Ironfist

Linesman Valens Rufus

Linesman Petronius Greyhair

Margin Notes: an Editorial

Duelling In Port Mahon

Fighting monsters and other dangers to Port Mahon is no longer enough, at least according to some of the citizens of the town. They feel that they must now fight each other. Allister of the Black Company and Olaf of the Cuisinart Corps exchanged angry words near the end of the last Mad Moon, and only the actions of calmer heads in both of those groups prevented another melee from occurring.

As honor must sometimes be assuaged, but combat to the death is wasteful and often provokes retaliation, I propose:

The Dueling Code for Port Mahon.

The challenged party gets to select the terms of the duel -- length of the duel (touch, first blood, unconsciousness, death), and weapon types allowed.

Location and time of the duel should be mutually convenient, and at a time not more than two Mad Moons in the future.

Once the challenge is issued and the terms named, the challenger may retract his challenge with a suitable apology. He may not attempt to coerce the challenged person to change the terms.

The duel should be fought to the length of the duel and no farther. If the duel is to unconsciousness, the winner is responsible for returning the loser to consciousness, or making sure he is returned to consciousness, before death. The victor should remove nothing from the loser, nor should he expect any item to be forfeit, unless agreed upon in advance. Both duellists must provide mutually agreeable seconds.

Any violations of the code are the acts of a bully and a brigand.

Out of Game

Next game date: October 18th & 19th. Safety lecture will start at Noon, October 18. No player or NPC may play without the safety lecture.
Game times: Saturday: Noon to 10 PM. (With a break for dinner. Bring meals or be prepared to make meal runs.) Sunday: 8 AM to 4 PM.
Winter game dates: November 16th, January 17th, 1998, February 21st, March 21st. (All dates are tentative)
Game dates for next summer: April 18th, May 9th, June 20th, July 18th, August 15th, September 19th, and October 17th. (All dates are tentative)
Winter games check-in opens at 10:30am. The game starts at noon, and ends at 6:00pm.
Summer games are held at Camp Wowitan, winter games are held at St. Pious Catholic High School. Check-in opens at 10:30am. The game starts at noon, and ends at 6:00pm.

DIRECTIONS TO YMCA CAMP WOWITAN: Take US 45 north from Milwaukee (or come down south from the north, whatever). Exit East Pleasant Valley Road (about 10 miles north of Milwaukee, 3 miles south of West Bend) and go east. At the stop sign (County Hwy P) turn left. Go one mile and turn right on County Highway NN (also known as Hwy 143). Go about 4 miles to Church road, then turn left on Church Road (going north) and stay on Church road until it dead ends. The building at the end of the road is Grede Lodge, where check-in is located.

Problems with the page? Email Ken Burnside.