Stories

“Senior Captain” – Space Tramp – Chapter 18 (Megatraveller Fan Fiction)

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Tyr’s Day!

Just a reminder this will be a week of fiction instead of the normal posts. Enjoy your holiday presents readers.

Stories:

Jeremiah sat at a table and was longing for the moment that this whole oral examination process was over.  He had been drilled all day long by Senior Captians in the Free Trader Guild and quite frankly he was getting tired and all he wanted at the moment was a stiff drink and a warm willing woman.  The Naked Gypsy was calling to him, no mistake.  As he reveled in these thoughts the door open once again and female Senior Captain who he had never seen before came in and sat down across from him. She smiled.

‘Congratulations Captian Kilwood, you can now claim the rank of Senior Captain.  Welcome aboard.”

She handed him his new insignia which was basically a circle of five pips with another pip in the center.  It was the highest rank in the Free Traders. He had done it the fastest anyone can and a feeling of pride filled his heart.  Not bad for a poor orphan boy from Strouden.

This was a great way to end a fairly interesting year.  Not a dangerous one but technically challenging.  The Countess had him basically shuttling her across the Spinward Marches conducting various points of business and even though they did keep the ship operating at times; there were other times she simply didn’t want the hassle so they just traveled with no cargo or passengers.

The real issue was the fact they spent a lot of time in a spaceport and in low orbit so repairs and such were done in vacc suits and for the first time, Jeremiah could say he learned how to handle one a little better.

During this time he worked on learning how to be his own broker for transactions so he could save on commissions for transactions as a Trader.  He still turned a tidy profit despite the Countess’s not always running for-profit stance for the voyage. He had still personally put money aside for his starship by at times acting as a Broker for others in their transactions.

Promoted he stood and shook his fellow Senior Captian’s hand and then exited the Free Trader headquarters on Regina.  He started the short walk to The Naked Gypsy.  When he arrived he was greeted by old friends, Several Captians he had served including Captian Juros who simply beamed with pride. Even the Countess was there looking awkward in a place that was a little less high society than she was used to.  The party was pretty grand for the Gypsy and the free drinks, at the expense of the Senior Captains, flowed.

After several hours the crowd started to die down until he found himself with a few close friends and then once they left, he headed upstairs to the brothel part of The Gypsy. He discovered with not too much surprise that his fee had been paid for the evening and Anabelle the Madam herself was his for the evening.  She smiled at him and took him by the hand leading him to her room.  During their evening’s activities, she told him she was now available to him whenever he wished. A service provided for Senior Captains along with a discounted fee for the other girls. he was already enjoying the perks of his new rank and it made him smile.

He now faced the task of finishing up his fifth and probably the last term of service.  Three years to go and he would muster out, claim a ship and go into business for himself. It was his last goal and he could now see it coming to pass.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A84   Age: 34  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 8, Bonus Money: 112,500 Cr.

Year Seventeen:

Roll for position availability: 8  + 1 for Intelligence = 9 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 8 + 1 for Social 5- = 9 – Charter Trade Assignment

Survival Roll: 6  – Survives easily.

Skill Roll: 7 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  5 + 1 for Trader-2 – 6 – No Bonus.

Promotion: Rolls 8 – Promoted to Senior Captain

Roll for Skills: (2 total – 1 for skill roll, 1 for promotion) – Rolls on Free Trader Service  Table: 3 – Broker -1.  Removes Streetwise -1 as it is already a default under Liason.  Rolls Free Trader Business Table: 5 – Exploratory Csasacade: Picks Vacc Suit-1, Removes Sensor Ops to maintain skill level limit as Sensor Ops is also a Default under Navigation.  This has to be done to stay under Jeremiah’s current 18 skill levels limit.

Gaines 1 Brownie point of the Promotion

Year-End:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O6 – Senior Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A84   Age: 35  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Broker-1, Turret Weapons-1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Vacc Suit- 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0

Brownie Points: 9, Bonus Money: 112,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Relentless Time” – Space Tramp – Chapter 17 (Megatraveller Fan Fiction)

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Mani’s Day! Just a reminder this will be a week of fiction instead of the normal posts. Enjoy your holiday presents readers.

Story:

As he laid in Sarah’s arms he began to realize that for the first time he felt the creep of age.  She couldn’t be more than 20 years old but she was one of the most popular girls according to her profile on The Naked Gypsy’s roster.  Curious, Jeremiah had paid the extra fee for the ‘last call’ with her and found the experience more than enjoyable.  For someone so young, she definitely had some serious horizontal skills. It was just the fact she was so much younger than her that bothered him a little.

His age had really bothered him this year in retrospect,  He had noticed a small decline in reaction speed and dexterity and so he took to training on it using the pilot simulator, handgun practice as well as a little brawling and small blade work. That said in the end, it took a lot of work to maintain his reflexes and gain nothing at all.  He felt the same, but the fact is he should have been more for all the training he did, but nope- just the same.

This year he would have described as a wonderfully profitable and boring speculative trade route.  The Countess asked him to find more markets for her good being produced by her fiefs and he went and obliged her to the point she was very pleased.  Full bonus and it was the only part of the trip that wasn’t dull.  He couldn’t;t complain though as it gave him time to keep his body maintained and do some extra reading.  He was starting to gain the reputation of being a reliable Captain.

He credited a lot of that to the fact he would look at a person’s record before hiring them and looked for patterns of good solid work and knowledge.  He rarely took on a rookie as part of his crew but he would remember that Captain Juros would on occasion take on tramps like himself had been and he would take a chance on a youngster from time to time.

Sarah’s arms were wrapped around his neck and her body felt good against his. it wasn’t so long ago that he was that age, becoming a spacer for the first time.  As he looked at the future he knew this next term would probably be his last for the Free Trader service. He just wanted the base retirement and the opportunity to be his own shipowner.  He still needed a little more money.  But his own investments in many of the trades he had done was providing a lot of Megacredits toward that end.

He smiled.  It wouldn’t be long now.  For the moment though he turned his attention back to Sarah.  There was still one activity that made him feel young as when he had first joined and he had paid the extra fee for a lot of Sarah’s time. Time to get his money’s worth.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 33  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 7, Bonus Money: 87,500 Cr.

Year Sixteen:

Roll for position availability: 8  + 1 for Intelligence = 9 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 9 + 1 for Social 5- = 10 – Speculative Trade Assignment

Survival Roll: 11  – Survives easily.

Skill Roll: 7 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  6 + 1 for Trader-2 – Bonus. Rolls – 6 – 25,000Cr

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls on Free Trader Life Table: 1 Physical Cascade – Picks Dexterity + 1

Aging Crisis:

Strength: rolls 9 – no loss; Dexterity rolls: 5 loses one point of Dexterity; Endurance: rolls 9 no loss.  Basically, the dexterity gained was lost due to aging.

End of Fourth Term: 

1 Brownie point for Term served, Reenlistment roll: 7 + 1 (1st Officer rank or better) – reenlists.

Year-End:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A84   Age: 34  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 8, Bonus Money: 112,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Epilogue I” – Rogue Wizard – The Fire of Fury – Part 23

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sol’s Day!

Rogue Wizard’s Journal – November 6th, 2019

Currently, we are in the basement of an old burned-out farmhouse.  The place is actually quite nice and hidden by magic.  An old safehouse according to Lunette. it is pretty much a well-hidden magical apartment with three bedrooms, a couple baths, and a living and dining room area next to the kitchen.  We are quite comfortable and using only one bedroom at present.

When I came to, Amber was there to greet me and my tears about Elpis’ death.  Lunette was on a scouting run trying to get some information from her sources.  When she got back and heard my tale she started to weep herself.  I don’t think I ever saw Lunette and Elpis get along and Lunette had a lot of reasons to dislike and even hate her, but in the end, it was the last link Lunette had to her past much like me and she knew it.  Needless to say, I held a sobbing pixie while I cried with her for about ten minutes.

Amber for her part tried to comfort us both and the whole thing kind of delayed Lunette’s report.  When she finally calmed down she took a deep breath and reported the following:

  1. The fight we had with the Death Angels had been observed by other agents of the Council and it was truly believed that I was dead. No one survives as death bolt. My case file was closed.
  2. While the Council was interested still in finding Lunette, they had bigger fish to fry after my death and so she was to be left free for a time.
  3. Despite Amber’s defense of me, it was ruled she was acting according to the Lioness’ directive so she was under orders to protect me which she could not shirk.  The council simply ruled that House Venus would decide her fate, but no word had come what the Lioness would do.
  4. The war was going badly for both sides as the casualties were mounting.

‘You’re dead Edward.”

I did a quick divination connection check on the letter I had dropped and it was still hidden.  My magic hadn’t kicked in for death so I was dead to the magical world, but the real one still hadn’t been informed. I wasn’t dead according to magic.

“Yeah, but I will still just be a missing person’s case to my family.”

Lunette spoke very directly, ” You need to keep it that way, at least until the rebels win against the two sides.  You need to go into deep hiding for a while.”

“But the rebellion will need us.”

“No, don’t you see. Elpis gave you a gift of more than your life.  She gave you the possibility of a new one.”

Amber spoke, “Yes.  But in truth, she gave us all a chance at that.  A pixie and her female lover are not going to be much on the radar of either side if they are both outcasts. Especially if both sides think we are too far distraught from losing you.”

“But, Elpis told me to love you both and let you love me.  You are not just proposing I hide but that we separate.  I don’t know if I could take that right now.”

“You have to for a little while.  Until you find a place that is safe from discovery and then we can join you.  If the Council is defeated, then we will all be safe to come back together. We will know you are safe and how to find you with the tattoos.”

We argued well into the night, but I had to eventually agree with both of them. They insisted that I recover, but I am fine.  I just need to prepare for a long time away from my girls and to find a place where I will be safe.

I don’t know about this.

Writer’s Notes:

I am going to wrap this series up by the end fo the month latest. I will probably replace it after I finish Space Tramp as well.  My main issue is to wrap up some loose ends in this series and then finish Space Tramp as well and then move on to something else.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Profitable” – Space Tramp – Chapter 16 (Megatraveller Fan Ficiton)

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sif’s Day!

Story:

Jeremiah looked at his personal device and the balance his investment account now had was much more to his liking.  25000 Credits was a big haul for an extra bonus but the trade route into exploratory territory had opened up some new markets for both his ship and the Countess. She had kept him on as promised as her captain and he had been working hard to open up new trade routes involving her holdings.  The results had been spectacular so he and his crew all pocketed some serious extra change.

This was good as Jeremiah was still investing a lot of his extra money and everything else he could save into getting his own vessel.  This meant a pretty spartan existence but he managed quite well.  If he kept it up and played his connections right, he might just achieve his dream. At least it seemed far more tangible than before.

He had had to learn how to ‘box ears’ this voyage though.  On a couple of occasions, the monthly time spent in some port often resulted in a brawl and he would have to break it up.  He had a tough as nails crew and the places they were going were frontier in feeling.  It was important that he and the crew did not look weak and they pulled it off with the local dockworkers and a few other crews.

The Countess herself was very pleased and the profitability of several of her fiefs just increased by quite a dramatic margin. She was certain that she would keep Jeremiah on as captain of her ship another year as she credited his trader skills. Jeremiah was beginning to see how his relationship would lead to his own starship sp he smiled and said thanks. He kept his gear in the captain’s cabin and headed to The Naked Gypsy. He, after all, and an annual tradition to keep with a glass of rum and a pretty girl of his choosing.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 32  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 7, Bonus Money: 62,500 Cr.

Year Fourteen:

Roll for position availability: 8  + 1 for Intelligence = 9 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 3 + 1 for Social 5- = 4 – Exploratory Trade Assignment

Survival Roll: 8  – Survives.

Skill Roll: 8 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  7 + 1 for Trader-2 –  Bonus. Rolls – 6 – 25,000Cr

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls on Merchant Life Table: 1 – Brawling-1

Year-End:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 33  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 7, Bonus Money: 87,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Ghost Dryad” – Rogue Wizard – The Fire of Fury – Part 22

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sol’s Day!

Rogue Wizard’s Journal – November 5th, 2019

Yesterday I spoke about what happened according to my girls after I was hit with the death spell by the necromancer Death Angels.  I need to now speak about what happened to me while unconscious because it needs to be written down before the nature of it slips away.   Before my emotions about it swallow up the memory of it.

I spoke before of how my consciousness slipped away and I fell down ‘dead’.  I found though that I was not feeling too much death, but rather peace and love. It was a strange feeling and then as I lay there with my eyes closed I heard a voice.

“Edward”

I knew that voice instantly and in my excitement, my eyes fluttered open.  I was shocked at what I saw because I wasn’t in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan anymore. I was in The Red Tree Grove.  Like it was when I was young.  Full of life, trees, ferns, birds, squirrels, and bright colors. There was the tree not too far away.  Large like an oak, but covered in red maple leaves and white birch like bark.  A truly unique tree. Majestic and making anyone standing next to it feel small and very young.

My eye focused however on the throne part of the tree was in front of.  There she was sitting – Elpis.  She was covered in the same birch park skin as the tree so it was hard at first to see her but the red hair like the color of the tree’s leaves set her off a little.

She stood up and walked toward me and as she did the bark skin was shed and revealed the naked woman beneath.  Her body was short but the kind of sensual curvy that made a lump in my throat every time. Large breasts with cute nipples and nice curvy backside.  Her round face dripped innocence but eyes that were deep and spoke of long years of life but youth at the same time. Her hair was brown, but it could have been any color she liked.  She changed the color and length often.  Her smile beamed right into my heart.

She was not so much the gorgeous dryad of legend but the young teen girl and ancient matron all rolled into one. The experience of meeting Elpis is something people do not forget. I know the first time I did, I fell hopelessly in love with her.

“Hello Edward, it is good to see you again. You got old. Still, look good though”

For the first time, I realized I was naked myself and for once felt old.  The last time I was in her presence I had been eighteen. Now my body had suffered the years of a few decades of mortality.  I hoped at that moment I wasn’t a disappointment to her. But there was an old deep emotion that began to take over in me.  I crossed the few feet that separated us and took her in my arms and hugged her.  Crushed her really and kissed her hard. When the kiss stopped I whispered in her ear.

“I love you.”

“I love you too Edward.”

She kissed me this time and then breaking away she took me by the hand and led me to the side of the tree where we used to make love.  She pulled me close to her and we made love again.  I will not speak of the details here.  That is my memory and one I will cherish for all my remaining life.  When we were done she spoke again as we lay in each other’s arms on the soft grass.

“Well Edward, you are still good at that. Better actually”

“I had a good woman teach me.  She was wonderful and gentle with me. I have missed her.”

Elpis teared up but then she took a breath and spoke.

“I don’t have much time. I can’t maintain this reality much longer and soon I will be gone. The powers have granted us this one moment to say goodbye for good.”

I began to cry and she took me in her arms again.

“I took the death ray for you, Edward.  I possessed you and took the death intended for you. You will live, but I am now finally dead and at peace.  My regret is that I will have to leave you behind again.  I don’t know if we will see each other again.  I don’t know so many things about what is after death.  I do know that you will go back to Lunette and Amber and you need to love them and let them love you.  The moment you live is all you really have so live life.”

“Elpis, there is so much I want to say.”

“Edward, sweet Edward.  There is no time.  ‘I love you’ is enough. close your eyes.”

I closed them reluctantly taking in one last look at Elpis’ face.

“I love you, Edward.”

“I love you, Elpis.”

I felt her lips against mine as we held each other in the grass and then the feelings of her body and lips next to mine faded away.  When I awoke, she and the grove were completely gone and I was laying on an open empty field that stretched as far as I could see. I began to weep. I wish things had turned out very differently. So much do I wish that.

It wasn’t but a few moments that I felt the tug of mortality pulling me back to the real world. When I woke up, I had Amber hovering over me and she started to cry as she held me.  I was crying too, but for a very different reason.

I am alive because of Elpis’ sacrifice.  I guess she lived up to her name after all by giving me hope in the midst of death.

I am a little emotionally distraught after writing this so I will break for now and try to write the rest tomorrow.

Writer’s Notes:

This was a hard part to write.  The emotions were pretty high on this one. Elpis is a character based on Miss Salty and the connection is very emotional.  I never built a  series like the Hedge Wizard of Redberg which contained: 1) Love for a woman, 2) My own life and 3) my favorite genre of fantasy fiction – urban fantasy.  It was a labor of love for someone and I never have done that before.  It ended abruptly when the whole affair between Miss Salty and I came to light.  I had to literally delete the blog and everything on it because people were reading it as reality. 

Which is why I make this final note. There is no love scene in either the Hedge Wizard of Redberg or Rogue Wizard that has ever been real.  They are fantasy, perhaps longing and desire at times, but never real life. 

Now, I truly do need to take a break.  But I wanted to send Elpis off as she deserved –  a heroine with a deep love for Edward at the end. As a character, she was a labor of love I will never forget. I did weep like this when Miss Salty left me and now I will probably at least cry again.  There are a few more scenes to Epilogue this series and bring closure, but Elpis had more act to play and I sent her out the way I wanted to, the way she deserved, and not by someone else’s hand.

Elpis means “Hope”.  

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Captain On Deck” – Space Tramp – Chapter 15

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sif’s Day!

Story:

Jeremiah Kilwood looked at his new uniform in the mirror. He had purchased it with part of his bonus money but a good chunk had gone into investments. It has been a good year and a surprising one as well.  Countess Borgosman had hired him to be the captain of her newly purchased Suibstidized merchant and it had been an interesting year of speculative trading on planets where her holdings were.

It had taken him by surprise when she called a couple days after his promotion celebrations and it was a welcome one that he was going to find a position so easily.  The speculative route was hopefully going to take the resources of the Countess’s holdings and fiefs and make them a little more profitable by trading on the open market with them  Jeremiah was tasked with examining these resources and finding the best interstellar trade routes from a profitability standpoint.

This last year had been him doing just that and it was a fairly safe operation.  The beauty also was finding a crew was not necessary as the countess handled that part.  All Jeremiah had to do was run the ship and engage in the trades personally.  The Countess stayed on Regina and he took the stars. The subsidized merchant The Borgosman Lady was clean and smelled new.

It was a good first command in many respects in that the crew was skilled and respectful despite his youth as Captain.  He learned much fo the command responsibilities were more a matter of routine than any major leadership decisions. His main decisions were trade-oriented while at the same time keeping the passengers list full as well.  He then made sure each crewman did what they were supposed to do. He rarely had a problem.

In the end, he created about five major trade routes between the countess’ holdings and other systems.  It was quite profitable and the whole crew and himself were treated to a solid bonus. The countess thanked him and then told him that she had others taking over the routes and she might have another assignment for him next year but he would have to wait and see. So he gathered his belonging into his bag and threw it over his shoulder and headed to The Naked Gypsy.

He had a few drinks and headed upstairs and found a girl that had horizontal skills and as it turned out a sense fo fashion as she told him a captain should probably have a nicer uniform.  So after they had sex she helped him find something simple but more high-end than before.  It was nice and comfortable as well.,  The five pips on his shoulders in a circle was a nice touch. He liked it and it looked smart.  The girl was right, he looked much better, like a leader.

He looked back at the girl sleeping.  She was naked and lying face up so he was getting a good look at her assets.  He smiled and took the uniform back off and slipped in the bed next to her.  One more time before he headed out. After all, things rarely stay the same so it’s important to enjoy the moments.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 31  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-1, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 7, Bonus Money: 52,500 Cr.

Year Fourteen:

Roll for position availability: 9  + 1 for Intelligence = 10 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 9 + 1 for Social 5- = 10 –   Speculative TradeeAssignment

Survival Roll: 11  – Survives easily.

Skill Roll: 7 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  8 –  Bonus. Rolls – 5 – 10,000Cr

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls on Free Trader Service Table: 2  – Trader-2

Year-End:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 32  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 7, Bonus Money: 62,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“The Edge of Death” – Rogue Wizard – The Fire of Fury – Part 21

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sol’s Day!

Rogue Wizard’s Journal – November 4th, 2019

The last few days are a blur and it is probably going to take a few journal entries to sort out.  Of course, by seeing this entry you know that I survived the encounter with the Death Angels on Halloween Night.  I will note so none worry, that Amber and Lunette are also with me.  We are all alive and in a new place.  That said, I don’t think I will be the same again.  None of us will.

The Battle was one of the closest I had ever been in.  There were as far as we can tell six Death Angels.  According to Lunette and Amber, there were three men and three women.  I only got to see two because it is the one I fought and the one who hit me with the death spell that I noted.  The girls were busy with the other members of the Council’s death squad. The one that was immediate in my face was a man and he had bad breath and came with a hoard of rats that he used to tap into his powers.  He was wielding a sword made of magic – the green shit of the movies.

Honest and he came at me full speed and it was all I could do to hold the porch of the cabin against his attacks which were rapid and continuous.  I could see Amber burning something out of one corner of one eye and Lunette doing her pinball thing out fo the other.  But it was a full-time shield act to keep this guy from landing a blow plus keep his rats away from biting my ankles.  My whole attention was focused on this guy and that is what lead to my downfall.

I heard the death spell being chanted and could not do anything about it.  I backed up a little to the edge of the door and then I could see her.  Pale as shit and skyclad.  Her alabaster body was beautiful as was the rest of her and her hair long and pure white. Her one hand was extended toward me and she was chanting the Death Spell, the other hand was wrapped around the neck of a young teenage girl.  The sacrifice for the spell.

I could do nothing except strengthen my shield and hope that one fo the girls helped my ass. But no help came and the spell steaked like a bolt of eldritch green from her hand and hit me square in the chest.  At the last minute though, I felt something strange and yet loving; it made me feel at peace.  As I fell, I could feel my shield slipping as death came over me. I lost consciousness and dropped to the floor of the porch.  It was the last thing I remember of the fight.

According to the girls, they saw what was happening too late and then when I fell they got pissed.  Lunette literally when psycho at that moment and streaked off at the naked witch. When she struck she didn’t hold anything back and literally started to do her pinball thing and hitting hard enough to break bones.  Amber for her part let loose a fireball on two necromancers she was fighting with and I guess it burned them to a cinder where they stood. In a matter of seconds, it was two on three.

The other two Lunette had been dealing with turned tail including the guy we had seen in town.  Lunette turned her attention to rat necromancer and because his rats couldn’t fly like she could, she made short work of him.  The snap of his bones as she struck was audible to all.   According to Amber, she was screaming rage the entire time. Amber for her part concentrated a fireball in her hands for a few seconds and let fly after the last two and when it struck the scream echoed in the night. 6-1 our win, but I was down.  Lunette steaked to my side and grew full-sized ripping her miniature garment to tatters.

Amber and Lunette examined me.  Probably crying their eyes out but neither girl spoke to me about that.

“Lunette, I can still feel him.  He isn’t gone.”

Puzzled, Lunette reached out with her tattoo and confirmed I wasn’t dead.  But I wasn’t alive either. They checked on the teenage girl and she wasn’t dead either.  Barely alive.

According to the girls, they acted quickly gathering up our stuff, throwing everything into the pickup.  The placed me and the girl in the back and took off.  They left the girl in town on a park bench and called 911 and then took off again.  Lunette knew a place that might be safe so she was determined to get to it and find out what happened with me.

What did happen to me?  I need to think about it before I write about it.  But I can tell you, I have many life-changing events and this is definitely in the top three.  I will relay this tomorrow.  The emotions of this whole thing are still pretty strong.

Writer’s Notes:

Two to one is a fair fight with my trio.  If there is one weakness I have in real life it is a lack of speed.  This played into the story.  I prefer to think things out, create a plan and execute.  In a situation where I can’t do that, its full-on defense and wait until I can.  Yeah, that gets you busy and then dead if you’re facing as deadly an opponent as the Death Angels. 

My emotions are real on this one and the couple to come. Particularly the next one.  

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Captain Kilwood” – Space Tramp – Chapter 14

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sif’s Day!

Story:

Jeremiah stared at the five pips on his shoulders in the mirror and felt a surge of pride.  He had done it, achieved Captain rank at the earliest possible time one could at age 31.  The exam had not posed any problems and he was given an oral review by several captains. When all was said and done, he was lead to a ceremony where he was presented with his Captian pips and congratulated by the Captains who reviewed him.  He was still trying to take it all in.

This last year had been a simple route assignment, but the captain, one Nathan Briggs, of the far trader The Jasmine Hopper was determined to give his 1st Officer Jeremiah Kilwood a full experience by not only placing him on the bridge to be his Pilot and Navigator, but he also handled all duties involving cargo (buying and selling it) and securing passengers for each voyage.  This brought him into contact with a lot of various types of people, administration and those trying to move their cargo.  He was Captain in many respects in all but name this last year.

He learned a lot about the business wend of running a starship and it was a good route assignment but not as profitable as he had hoped so No bonus. But he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. He kept the staterooms and low berth cold sleep beds full.  They always had cargo.  he navigated the customs agents like he navigated the stars and his experience with dock workers helped with the cargo issues.

Jeremiah had made a couple decisions as well. Firstly, he decided to forgo starting to take anagathic drugs to slow down the aging process.  The expense would cut into his ability to get a Starship and he figured he was still in great shape and could start taking them later if he wished. The second decision was to commit himself to full retirement which would provide a pension if he served a couple more terms.

Right now though the moment was overwhelming as he stepped out of the Free Trader Guild Headquarters and headed for The Naked Gypsy.  He had done it – made captain and now Captain Jeremiah Kilwood wanted to celebrate.  When he arrived at the Gypsy he recognized a whole lot of old comrades from various ships and sure enough, there was a party planned in his honor.

Drinks flowed and he had a hard time drinking so much so he sometimes poured it aside into a plant or another person’s drink when they were not looking.  Even so, he still was not exactly clear-headed halfway through the night.

Captain Juros had come in form her retirement home in the country and hugged him properly and said she was so proud of him.  When he checked his messages, there were several congratulating him from old shipmates as well as the Countess who was on Regina at the time and saw the announcement.  She apparently still kept tabs on him.

Eventually, the evening wore on to the point people went home and he found himself ready for his annual ritual of heading to the brothel.  He found however that he didn’t have to pay as madam Anabelle took him by the hand and lead him to her room for the evening – on the house.

He woke the next morning with her naked body still entwined with his.  His thoughts turned quickly to his finding a starship owner who needed a captain.  This would be his new life now and it filled him with a little fear and excitement.  Being in charge of a starship himself for the very first time.  From a promotion standpoint, there was only one left, and that was becoming Senior Captain and he wouldn’t be eligible for that until next term. For now, he kissed Anabelle ever so gently and began running his hands along her back, he was still young enough for a second round this morning.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader 1st Officer Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O4 – 1st Officer   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 30  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 6, Bonus Money: 52,500 Cr.

Year Thirteen:

Roll for position availability:  7 + 1 for Intelligence = 8 – position available, serves as 1st Officer

Roll for assignment: 6 + 1 for Social 5- = 7 –   Route Assignment

Survival Roll:  5 – Survives.

Skill Roll: 7 – Skill acquired.

Roll for Promotion: 9 – promoted to Captain.

Bonus:  5 –  No Bonus.

Roll for Skills: (2 for skill roll and promotion) – Rolls on Officer Skills: 6 – Liason-2, Rolls Free Trader Service: 4 – Economic Cascade: picks Trader-1

1 Brownie Point for promotion:

Year-End

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 31  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-1, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 6, Bonus Money: 52,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Spectre” – Rogue Wizard – The Fire of Fury – Part 20

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sol’s Day!

Rogue Wizard’s Journal – October 31st, 2019 – Halloween

We have survived our first attack by the Death Angels.  Halloween is always a mixed blessing for me and playing into that is the convergence of the spiritual world and this one that makes life difficult.  The necromancers of the Death Angels are going to have an advantage tonight and they used it because it is clear they know where we are.

A couple hours ago they sent some various forms of the undead to attack us and we fought them off. The first wave was zombies and skeletons probably raised to life from some local cemetery.  They were probably more difficult to kill because of what night it is, but all three of us are experienced with these creatures of nightmare and they pretty much are burned ashes to us now.  My fire is definitely a lot hotter and more deadly with the tattoo.   My shields are what really did it though.  There is an effect not just of protection now but it seemed to burn these undead creatures a little as they attacked it.

The next wave was far more difficult as it was some ghouls (strong bastards) and a Spectre.  In the course of that battle, the girls were handling the ghouls and I drew the Spectre.  Specters are raised from mages.  In a sense, they are an undead mage and that makes them fucking dangerous. They are the nightmares that were the inspiration of Tolkien’s black riders.

This one was wielding a sword that put my shields to the test quite a bit.  But whatever enchantment was woven into the ink of my tattoo for my fire it is once again deadly to undead in ways I hadn’t expected.  Either that it is tapping into the crossover of worlds tonight as well.  Regardless I was able to hold it off for some time while the girls took care of the ghouls.  Tne we combined our efforts on the spectre and between the flames fo Amber and myself, burned it back to oblivion.

We torched the skeletons, zombies, and ghouls too and soon there was a nice little bonfire beside the cabin.  The cabin is a little worse for wear now too.  Several windows are gone and we had to put out a few small fires. Lunette seems sad as probably part of her memories has been scarred and there is a good possibility we will have to leave here and never come back.

The thing we are all curious about is why the Death Angels haven’t attacked as well. The answer probably lays in what the council’s objective is for us and what strength the Death Angels have.  The re is one theory that they are a very small group sent only in the most special of cases, so the one we saw might be the only one and he is basically sending other forces he can conjure up waiting for reinforcements.

Or these last two rounds were trying to soften us up.  Wait.   … Lunette says there is movement near the sauna and one of my wards just went off in a fiery explosion.  This may be it.  I need to go.  Hopefully, there will be another entry.

Writer’s Notes:

Magic in writing is a bugaboo.  Mostly because even though in writing you could do what you want with magic, it isn’t much fun if it is basically an all-powerful stick. It also helps if your magical system is consistent.  My magical system in this series is basically one of the very specific schools of magic and usually a mage in only capable of being good at one of them.  In the case of the Rogue wizard, he is expert in two, abjuration (protective spells) and evocation (aggressive spells like fire, ice, and lightning.  He is average in divination too but dislikes using it.  His advanced nature is not due so much to ability as to an unfettered learning process. 

Emotionally we are coming down to a very emotional climax.  As I am looking at where this series might end, I am thinking before the end fo December.  At that point, I will take a breath for a couple weeks and new year will start something new.  

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Countess Redux” – Space Tramp – Chapter 13 (Megatraveller Fan Ficiton)

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sif’s Day!

Story:

As Jeremiah crossed the threshold of The Naked Gypsy, he smiled as this last year had been quite profitable. His 25000Cr bonus now deposited in his savings was welcome and this last year had been a peaceful mission running charter for, of all surprises, Countess Borgosman for a second year. Captain Kingwood had called him the next morning after his last contract had expired with her and asked him to sign on as pilot/navigator again.  He hesitated but then the Captain told him that the countess had guaranteed 10x the bonus this time.  He said yes without hesitation.

The Countess was pretty much looking at more of her holdings and doing inspections on a few other worlds.  She liked the ship and the crew and wanted to keep them on. She was willing to do a larger bonus to keep them.

Jeremiah, however, found one change was present.  For some strange reason, the Countess took an interest in him professionally. She said she had watched him the last year and noticed that from his speech and knowledge he was a practical man but lacked some education.  She wanted to change that and offered to tutor him herself on some things.

Jeremiah hesitated but then agreed not wanting to spoil the contract for Jill the Engineer or the Captain.  The weird part was the Countess was probably four years younger than him but he could not deny she knew a lot of things he didn’t.  She started him reading literature, writing, politics, and history.  He was reading a lot of different things on a lot of different subjects. When he relayed what was going on to the Captain she smiled.

“Sounds like she is taking you through the first year of university education.”

Indeed that is what she was doing.  It was a lot of general education and for a year they spent at least an hour a day together and he got to know her very well. He also got past the hard and critical exterior to see a young woman who was doing the best she could while taking on a responsibility that she thought would not be hers for a long time. He came to respect her despite her criticism at times because he began to see it for what it really was – she cared about people. Even him the orphan boy from Strouden.

In her own way, she came to respect him too.  She even said that it was a remarkable achievement that a young man born in that social condition had achieved as much as he had.  She hoped he would take what she was trying to teach him and continue to be successful.

Their relationship was professional and was kept that way by the countess’ sense of duty and his sense of not wanting to spoil a contract. On the last day when they said their goodbyes, he thanked her and wished her well.  She smiled and then kissed him on the cheek.

“If you need a favor sometime, just let me know,”, she said.

He nodded and watched her leave.  Then helped Jill and the Captian secure the ship, said his goodbyes to them and walked down the ramp and off to the Gypsy.  The promised bonus was there with a little note from the countess with her special number and the words: “If you need me, call.”

Jeremiah had finished his third term in the Free Traders.  He signed his reenlistment papers for his fourth term with no problems.  He had recently turned 30 and no longer felt like a rookie. He was now eligible for the one thing he had been aiming for – Being a Free Trader Captain.  This next term was the one he had been waiting for.

For now, though he settled into the ritual of seeing if there was someone he knew to have a drink or two with at the bar and at the end of the night head to the brothel and engage the services of a woman who would remind him he was a man in other ways. He wouldn’t even be surprised if she looked like the countess.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader 1st Officer Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O4 – 1st Officer   Terms Served: 2

UPP: A67A74   Age: 29  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 5, Bonus Money: 27500 Cr.

Year Twelve:

Roll for position availability:  7 + 1 for Intelligence = 8 – position available, serves as 1st Officer

Roll for assignment: 8 + 1 for Social 5- = 9 –   Charter Assignment

Survival Roll:  11 – Survives easily.

Skill Roll: 10 – Skill acquired.

Bonus: 10  –  Bonus: roll: 6 – 25000Cr.

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls Free trader Life Table rolls: 4 Mental Cascade – picks +1 Education

Roll For Reenlistment: 9 – reenlists

1 Brownie Point for term served.

Year-End

Free Trader 1st Officer Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O4 – 1st Officer   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 30  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 6, Bonus Money: 52,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!