Second Dawn:Dierdre Lamprey

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This is a reference document for the LARP The Second Dawn.

Dierdre Lamprey Player: Emily B Great Lake Pirate captain Age: 30s

Background: You were born on a boat, and you gained your sea legs before your land legs. The ways of the pirates are in your blood, and you joined a crew as young as they’d let you. Even at 14 you were tough enough to stand up for yourself, and you quickly acquired a group of friends and hangers-on. You realized you had a knack for leadership, and once you were 18, you staged a successful mutiny against your old captain. It’s all been uphill from there. You didn’t stay captain for long, but that was alright; that old ship was a piece of junk anyways. Your deeds earned you the attention of Lyman Shark, the famous captain of the hovercraft Leviathan, and it was more than ten years ago now when you signed on to be his first mate. Far from the capricious jerk of your first captain, Shark was quick-witted and an able leader and mentor. He taught you everything you know about being a good captain; how to sneak up on a ship, how to toe the line in the neutral port of New Buffalo, how to drive your men to the utmost. You’d never admit it, but he was like the father you’d never had. You were only with Shark a year before he died. He was poisoned, assassinated by real professionals, probably folks working for a government. The Plains States government, almost certain; Shark had caught a big catch out on Lake Huron a few months ago, a transport ship hauling a fusion reactor for the Plains. You and Shark’s men scoured the town for his killers, but they escaped your grasp. You did get a name, though: George Stavraky. With Shark gone, and your competitors soon gone as well, the Leviathan was yours. Captain again at last, this time you knew what you were doing. You hovered the Leviathan across the five Great Lakes, looting and pillaging and killing and earning fame. You quickly became one of the most famous and feared across the Lakes, raiding trading ships and the occasional coastal town and competing pirate ship. You got your new pilot that last way; a kid named Peter Dogfish, he used to be on the crew of some mid-sized ship called the Frigid Lass, but they were nosing in on your territory and wiped them out. He worked hard as a slave at first, then proved himself a loyal sailor and top-notch pilot. He’s a brave kid; you like him, and look forwards to the day when he kills and replaces your current first mate. Apparently, your fame has reached farther than you expected. A few weeks ago a messenger tracked you down in New Buffalo. He offered you a fantastic deal; some fine little bits of science as a down payment, and an enormously intriguing offer. He told you about a new sort of ship, a “space” ship, that the Eastern Union was going to launch soon, called the Second Dawn. He said his sponsor would get you to the launch safely, and have lots of work for you there. He proved his goodwill by offering you papers- official diplomatic papers, claiming that you were some Plains States diplomat. What a laugh! How could you refuse such a chance to have fun and earn some extra cash and fame? You couldn’t bring the whole Leviathan, so you asked for volunteers to come with you on the little hoverlaunch all the way to New Providence. You just told your crew that you were looking for new horizons, wanted to see this “space ship” and do some things no other Captain had ever done. To your satisfaction, the only volunteer was Peter Dogfish. You made your way across the dry Erie Canal, then south along the Hudson River. Patrol boats stopped you every so often, but when you showed those papers they let you through, even when you and your weaponry were hovering in the shadow of Albany. Those papers were a damned fine forgery! They got you down past New Hudson, and out along the Atlantic coast, sailing waters that no Lakes Pirate has ever seen. At long last, you’re here tonight at this spaceship’s launch party. Officially you’re part of the Plains States delegation, which still gives you a chuckle- the Plains folks hate you Pirates. Tonight will be a time of fun and adventure. These are people of power and wealth, and you want to leave tomorrow morning with as much of it as you can. You scarcely care about their politics and plans, so you’d be happy to do just about any job they might offer, in exchange for valuables. You’ll have some damned fine stories to tell when you get back to the Leviathan, that’s for sure! Of course, while you’re here, there are two other things you might be able to do. First off, maybe you can find out something about good old Shark’s death; there are tons of powerful folks here, and it was surely someone powerful who got him killed. Second, you can’t help but notice how pretty some of these soft foreign men and women are. You hate having to knife your lovers (as things so often end), here you might be able to find someone who’ll show you the respect you deserve. Just one more treasure you’d like to haul home, although you suppose they may have to be at least partly willing, if you’re going to get them back to the Lakes without getting caught!

Roleplaying Notes: You are an experienced and competent pirate captain, though you are slightly (and mostly subconsciously) awed by the civilization and prosperity you’ve seen on this side of the Eastern Union. You love a good time, which sometimes includes recreational cruelty. You have a clear sense of style, knowing how to balance charm and intimidation, appeal and fear. You know the value of a reputation, so you always keep your word, which is why you try to avoid giving it whenever possible. Most of all, you want tonight to produce some damned good stories.

Goals: 1) Earn as much money as you can through threats, violence, or anything else. 2) Investigate the death of Lyman Shark. 3) Acquire a new lover from among these soft foreigners. 4) Find the man who brought you here, and find out what he wants.

Opinions: Second Dawn: That’s something else, right there. Huge and metal, and they say it’s gonna sail to the stars. You really are impressed, no bones about it. Space: Maybe there are pirates up there too, waiting to raid the Dawn! Black Science: Forbidden. Not because you really think it’s wrong, but because that’s part of your deal with the Maple Kingdom. Maple Kingdom: Few Pirates know it, but they secretly keep your people armed and supplied with the best weapons. You do raid their ships sometimes, but not often. Plains States: Your primary targets for years and years, they can be tough, but have historically been a bit disorganized. You wonder if this Warlord of Minneapolis will eventually go after the Pirates. Eastern Union: You get a few chances to raid these folks too, when they sail far enough away from New Buffalo. This side of their nation is much richer, more developed, more complacent. El Dorado: Wow, those zeppelins are stupid. Sure, they fly, but you bet you could pop one with a hunting rifle! Religion: You’ve never had time for that claptrap.

Key Information •You and Peter are ostensibly part of the Plains States delegation. It may be best to keep up that pretense, though you’re both obviously pirates and you doubt the security here wants to tangle with anyone so well-armed. •Captains tell their crews about a “High Captain” who supplies you all with weapons. That’s a lie. The weapons come from secret trade deals with the Maple Kingdom, arranged by a team of senior captains who do the negotiating but have no broader authority. •The Great Lakes Pirates primarily prey on the Plains States, though they also hit the Eastern Union and the Maple Kingdom from time to time. Any of these nations ought to want relief (or promises to attack their enemies). Maybe you can promise things on behalf of the pirates in return for money. Once you get back to the Leviathan, those promises might even be kept, you’re pretty influential and powerful. Of course, you can probably make the fastest money of all by getting involved in personal things here and now in New Providence. •New Buffalo is a Union town on Lake Erie, but a sort of neutral zone to the pirates. Local authorities let you come ashore safely, so long as you stay peaceful and don’t harass ships within a certain distance of the city. •Here, it’ll be much more fun to make people pay you to do things, than it is to mug people and take your stuff. That way, you can know you’re messing with all their plans for each other, being a wild card in their stupid games. •You hold some small gratitude for the mysterious man who arranged for you to come here, but what he’s paid so far about covers your costs for the trip. If he wants you to do something, he’s gonna have to pay like anyone else. You haven’t told Peter about him, or the source of your mysterious papers. He’s supposed to identify himself with the phrase “You’ve come a long way just to watch some fireworks.”

People (in approximate order of importance): Peter Dogfish (Bryce K): A loyal sailor and top-notch hovercraft pilot, there are few people you’d rather have by your side. Not as enthusiastic a killer and pillager as some, but there’s no shame in that, not when he’s got other skills to contribute. He’s really loved traveling the Atlantic’s edge. Walter Palmer, Plains States Ambassador (Ilya M): When you showed up and claimed to be part of his delegation, the look on his face was priceless! He doesn’t seem about to blow that cover, it’d be embarrassing for him. You need some time to pin him down and find out what he knows about George Stavraky, you’d bet your mainmast that assassin worked for then Plains. Elizabeth Rowell (Isabel K): Huh- you recognize her face, plain as day. She was in New Buffalo back when Lyman Shark died. Maybe she knows something about George Stavraky? Come to think of it, didn’t some Pirates attack her or something, a few weeks before Shark’s death? Conrad Gaudet, Ambassador from the Maple Kingdom (David C): His government secretly supplies you Pirates with weapons. If you need to make him sweat, you could threaten to reveal that secret; it would sure make the Plains mighty pissed. That might be a bad long-term decision for the Pirates, since it could jeopardize those useful trade deals, but it is an option. Kara Atkinson, Minister of the Army (Hillary K): She knows the threat the Great Lake Pirates can pose to either the Union or the Plains. She might be interested in having the pirates target the latter rather than the former. You already do, relatively speaking, but who knows which direction things might change? New Buffalo might not stay a Freeport forever, and you haven’t seen anything impressive yet in the Union’s navy. Charles Bazett, Minister of the Borders (Paul E): He might be concerned either with the border the Lake Pirates currently patrol (between the Plains States and the Union), or with the long border on the Atlantic to the East. Jonothan Grant, President of the Eastern Union (Ted M): You hear this “Second Dawn” is his project. Boy, sure would be a pity if something happened to it, wouldn’t it? You’d rather not blow up such a pretty ship, but sometimes you have to do things you regret. Regardless, you didn’t bring a bomb big enough, too bad. Rutledge the White (Michelle B) Donald Baxter (Jerry S): Apparently he’s some local moneybags. If this were Lake Erie, you’d just rob the guy, but you’re not sure you could get off the platform with your loot alive.

Ratings: Pilot: 1 R: 0 D: 1 G: 2

Nametag Symbols: K, R

Attributes: Physical: Defense 4 Pool Rating 4 [] [] [] [] Mental: Defense 2 Pool Rating 2 [] [] Social: Defense 3 Pool Rating 3 [] [] []

Recoveries: -Threaten, terrorize or intimidate someone (+1 point, 3/hour) -Acquire a Valuable item (+1 point, 2/hour) -Do something in Flashy Pirate Style (+2 points, 1/hour)

Abilities: Fisticuffs, attack, survivor (x1), intimidate, charm, suspect, theft, a practiced eye, terrorize, entice

Items: Fusion battery, sleekly designed pistol, knife, smoke bomb, piece of jewelry