CapOnBOBS

The Merchants of the Le Bellan Shipping and Freight (LBSF) are determined that Nola Mar take it's logical place as a center piece in the Kingdom of Light's colonial possessions. Such a long term investment in development can not be built out of thin air though. And that is why the Merchants have constructed a LARGE FACTORY in Nola Mar for the production of bricks. Two furnaces fed coal through ports on the side. Workers rotate in and out of the attached shake, lovingly referred to as, "The hot room" in between the two furnace towers. Inside, clay is packed and pressed into LBSF patented brick molds... Bricks are then baked like pizza's until tempered and hardened. The floor is busy, today's quota will be surpassed, the owners will be pleased with the report.

In the industrial quarter of the "Large City" ( @Ayrlego and @Ross Fisher, I think this one will complete the requirements to upgrade the city) of Nola Mar, a new and oddly shaped smokestack has emerged. A large factory has been built by the merchants of Le Bellan Shipping and Freight (LBSF) to capitalize on the insatiable demand for pottery in the growing city and for transiting trade ships. The oddly shaped smoke stack is in fact a giant industrial kiln for the curing of ceramics. Requiring longer cook times, but lower temperatures than the metal industry, this giant adobe kiln uses logs for fuel to bake the clay shapes into any number of useful items. Once baked, outdoor drying racks allow a gradual cooling process before any additional design work is added and before the final products are packaged in the recognizable dark blue boxes and white lids of LBSF products. Inside, racks of molds, colored pigments to add designs to the pre-baked clay and workstations for final designs on the final products are all arranged to maximize high output and efficiency from factory. As always, the LBSF aims to corner the market at scale and quality in mass production vs employing individual artisans for custom expensive pieces. Nola Mar continues to grow, this large factory, one more industry adding to the economic and cultural importance of this rising star in the Kingdom of Light.

Great details in every little corner of the build. Obviously the stairs are unmatched. The story and moment captured are great lore and super appropriate given the "troubles" the island has gone through.

While the Crown's attention, and more importantly funds, have been focused on New Haven and the trouble with the Lotii, limited resources do in fact remain available to develop and expand the Kingdom's hold in Terraversa. SOMEWHERE on the list of Crown priorities on Terraversa was to survey for strategic resources on the island. Well see the trouble with that is, "you get what you pay for" remains as true in 623 as it has always been. It may be that one too many pennies were pinched for the survey team detached to the hills outside Nola Mar. "BRIGHT SPARKLY ROCKS!" is what the site chief backbriefed the officials in Nola Mar he would be searching for. On the day of their departure, it was also noted that they had an awful lot of wine for a 3-man geologic survey team. Well, checking in, they actually seem to be working hard and playing hard. They have filled multiple cases full of samples from the hills surrounding Nola Mar and many of the samples show some promise. Kinda like a broken clock being right twice a day perhaps, but either way, lets check in with the Crown Geologists office in Nola Mar to see if they have found anything. ( @Ayrlego this is licensed and ready for the Geology Report.

@AyrlegoThank you good Sir

***Interested in Becoming an LBSF Shareholder?! See Details at the Bottom of this Post*** With the blessings of the high council and a freshly signed charter from the King himself, the merchants and nobles of Oleon have established a new trade venture: Le Bellan Shipping and Freight. The Company maintains its headquarters in a venetian style royal palace in Eltina. Admiral Beauchamp gifted a large warehouse to the LBSF to serve as their initial trade terminal. As well as the donation of a newly launched CL V trade ship, the LBSF Demeter. Expanding and Diversifying in New Haven with the establishment of the LBSF Wheat Farm in Fort Arltrees and the adjacent mill to support hungry troops. ***Interested in Becoming an LBSF Shareholder?!*** Why Invest with LBSF? The vision of the Executive Board at LBSF is to hedge against the unpredictability of trade across the high seas while also capitalizing on the aggregated economic opportunities of free commerce. As such, shares in this "hedge" fund may not be for all investors. Though, while purchasing shares in LBSF is a commitment, the fund guarantees a monthly return on investment. How can you purchase a share in LBSF? In order to deliver a steady ROI to our customers, shares in LBSF require payment in BOTH real property AND DBs. Purchase price for 1 share is a transfer of 25 DBs to LBSF AND 1 x small build licensable in the EGS. Example: A medium warehouse build, posted as a licensable property in the BOBS forum and a transfer of 50 DBs to the LBSF would generate two shares. All builds must be approved by the Executive Board AHEAD of publication in order to be valid in a share purchase. If interested, please contact our HQ in Elina (@CapOnBOBS) or inquire at one of our properties across the Kingdom of Oleon. Who can purchase shares in LBSF? Where does LBSF operate? Anyone can purchase a share in LBSF. However, LBSF's charter is to operate within the Kingdom of Light. All builds used in the purchase of shares must be in Oleon Settlements. What does a share in LBSF do for you? Shares bring with them a guaranteed monthly return of no less than 3 DBs per Account Summary cycle. This guaranteed income represents a floor which your share will not drop below while shares will also earn a percentage of additional income above this guaranteed rate based on the success of trade voyages and the overall financial state of the company writ large. *Note: Currently, the Executive Board of LBSF is locked and purchase of a share does not entitle the holders to vote on company policy. Dividends paid over previous Account Summaries? JAN-FEB 23: 7 DBs per share NOV-DEC 22: 7 DBs per share How many shares are currently in circulation? 23 shares are in circulation as of the JAN-FEB 23 Account Summary.

LBSF paid 7 DBs to shareholders off the JAN-FEB 23 Account Summary, despite losing a ship pirates. Meanwhile, in Nola Mar, the LBSF opened a new Large Brick Making Factory. LBSF has also constructed a Large Pottery Factory to capitalize on the insatiable demand for home goods in the "Large" city of Nola Mar and for transiting mariners.

Le Bellan Shipping and Freight Monthly Financial Statement Jan-Feb 623. Despite the dastardly action of evil doers and the capture of LBSFs sole trade ship, our diversified portfolios are specifically designed to protect against such catastrophes and as such, the board is happy to announce that through this rough patch we remained solvent and for the second period in a row have paid out 7 DBs per share to our shareholders for Jan-Feb 23. Once our fleet is restored, the board is bullish on our ability to maintain or exceed this dividend. Interested in purchasing shares in LBSF, click here or contact our office in Eltina ( @CapOnBOBS)

While Breshaun is the jewel of Le Bellan and Le Bellan is the jewel of Oleon, Eltina is by no means a backwater. The Crown continues to invest in the cultural and social development of Eltina as the sister city to Breshaun. One of these Crown funded capital projects has recently been completed as Eltina now is home to a public library. Fountains and statues surround the tall somewhat ornate new landmark in Eltina. Patrons enjoy the peaceful atmosphere from the upstairs balcony and enjoy sitting quietly to read amongst the bountiful natural light from tall windows. Inside, stacks of books crowd in upon library goers to maximize the volume of books on display. Along the walls and on top of the stacks are works of art and artifacts from the Royal Collection. This large educational structure will do well in promoting Eltina as an important city amongst colonial possessions in its own right beyond the support the city provides to the social scene and high society of Breshaun.

The Crown has invested in promoting Eltina as a principle city in its own right. In this effort, they have built and funded a new public library, filled with art and artifacts from the Royal Collection.

LBSF has constructed a Large Factory for the production of bricks to fuel the economic and cultural development of Nola Mar. LBSF has also constructed a Large Pottery Factory to capitalize on the insatiable demand for home goods in the "Large" city and for transiting mariners.

Just trying to stay true to our Absolute Monarchy lore. The answer is "why not have both." To any who would be alarmed by such heavy taxes. The boundless generosity of the Sovereign rains down boons on those in need, while our patriotic nobility happily (eh hem... I said Happily!) support the Crown's every request. Also, being the best faction ain't cheap. Thanks for looking I to it!

Good Sir @Ayrlego, Column "P" for LBSF for the second summary in a row, no taxes were collected against he LBSF and such fine upstanding merchants "insist" that the Crown get theirs. 32 DBs bitte. @Thomas Waagenaar... just... you know... making sure you are aware of the LBSF's efforts to correct the "irregularity..."

Hazaaaa! Congratulations @Ross Fisher, and thanks for the great wrote up @Captain Genaro! I love the way Nola Mar has risen from the ashes! I am excited to see this next chapter play out and the role that the Archbishop will play in turning Nola Mar into a beacon of faith across the Brick Seas! Well done Ross!

It happens... Sailors and such you know

Despite some early setbacks and misunderstandings of exactly what the Royal Court had sent Luis Gabon to Kojima, he eventually validated his own worth as a human and proved wrong all those who had doubted him, so many of them, for so long, his parents, his teachers, anyway. He proved them all wrong and saved his mediocre name in court when Captain LaMond pointed out the teal tint in the sand along a creek they passed. The "Blue cliffs" turned out to be rich Copper Ore, erosion of the flowing water had, over time, exposed the rich vein basically at surface level. (For some reason, one of the miners was smote by the rendering software. He exists though, I swear) In fact, things could not have been any more fortunate for Luis Gabon. Because not only did he not understand international relations, or the process of colonization, he also didn't understand excavation or mining in general. Turned out, the entire ridge was exposed ore and the process was as simple as breaking the ore loose and sliding it down into waiting carts. Which again, was fortunate because Luis was also not great with money and this endeavor would have impoverished him had he been forced to make the absolutely logical and (should have been anticipated) investment in a serious extraction operation. On this particular day, CPT LaMond arrived to inspect operations, because Luis assumed that once he had declared the ore found, the rest would sort of take care of itself. Well, he wasn't too far off, LaMond shook his head, "I have been in this business a long time... I've never seen such dumb, stupid, stupid luck"

The faces absolutely make it

Epic!

@Bricksbypidy so, each island has a description and rumors. Consider those notes have some impact on the probabilities. But, it is intentional that we dont KNOW what is in the ground.

As we left our unlikely heroes making first landfall in the not so uncharted land of Ile sous le Vent... They quickly and quite literally stumbled upon a solid cliff of rock, more than suitable for a quarry, easy access to the stone, near to the nascent settlement of Kojima. Captain LaMond thought his troubles with the young and... enthusiastic Nobleman, Luis Gabon, would soon be over. *** 3 weeks later *** Maurice: "I'm going to murder him, you need to help me!" LaMond: "Stop that, insubordination is one thing, dragging me into it makes it a conspiracy!" Maurice: "Ok, fine... fair... I'm going to kill him... you just keep your mouth shut about it!" LaMond: "Look, he will tire of these games soon enough. Just, think of something pleasant..." Maurice: "I am thinking of something pleasant... murdering this idiot..." LaMond: "I meant like enjoying the wildlife! Now knock it off!" Maurice: "I wonder what that pile of bones used to be... probably 'a wildlife' at least it doesn't have to drag these boxes of rocks around the whole island! That is a pleasant thought... death and sweet release" LaMond: "Look, did you want all this effort to be for a rock quarry?" Maurice: "yup.... I get paid by the day regardless of whether this idiot finds rocks or diamonds the size of my fist" LaMond: "Mmmm... well it could be worse, at least he has stopped trying to motivate us with visions of glor...." Gabon: "Keep up the pace Gentlemen! Glory awaits us!" LaMond: "Maurice" Maurice: "What?" LaMond: "I'm gunna murder him! You need to help me!" Prospecting Build outside Kojima Attempt #2. @Ayrlego licensing meow.

@Bricksbypidy thanks. Scroll down in this link to see details for mines. The probability of what you may find is based on the island you are on but what those probabilities actually are is known but to bhe court. When you license a prospecting build, the court roles a random number generator for that island and spits out what you found.

Of course the RNTC will not stand by idle as the LBSF scoops up prime real estate in Nola Mar. Recently, a upscale villa was purchased in the city center and renovated into a large artisan cafe. Some token grape vines have been placed in the gardens to attract patrons with the promise of the RNTC's own private label "Vineyard of Light" wines. Maintaining the classic villa feel and obligatory observance to the Faith, the central atrium contains a fountain and a marble likeness of Hermes, a well played move to ask for swift and safe voyages for RNTC ships traversing the Brick Seas. RNTC seems to deliberately recruit beautiful waitresses to all of their establishments. This just can not be coincidence. Well, it certainly attracts those Grenadiers, up from their Headquarters in North Sil on a pass no doubt. Sigh... taking the good with the bad, they are loud, but jolly, quick to fight, but only amongst themselves and regardless of how it started and how rough it gets, it ends with laughter and another bottle opened. Anyway, the ladies seem to find them charming and they certainly know how to run up a tab. "So it goes... I keep things well stocked for both food and drink, so long as everybody has a drink in hand, all is well." says Pierre, the manager of this latest RNTC establishment. As he pours a drink from a tapped barrel on the bar, he continues without looking up. "You know, those Soldiers fought like hell to free us from the yoke of King's Port..." shaking his head to himself, "things are much better here now, and we have our glorious king and those brave Soldiers to thank for it!"

The central location of Nola Mar along the East - West trade routes made it a logical location for refining the silver ore mined in the far corners of the empire. RNTC has built a large factory for just this purpose. Raw ore is brought in, in large buckets. In a double coal fired furnace, the impurities are burned away, the pure silver is then poured into molds. The slanted roof provides high ceilings, ventilation, and plenty of sunlight for the quality control and marking of the ingots. Smiths check the ingots for imperfections and then mark each after they have cooled in the cooling racks. The finished ingots are loaded into chests for onward movement to local artisans, as payment for RNTC and Crown affairs, or loaded on ships trade across the Brick Seas. Security is high for obvious reasons.

Thank you good Sir

*splash!..... slosh slosh slosh.... thud* "eh hem, I claim this land... for Oleon... and in the name of his Royal Majes..." Proudly declared Luis Gabon until his grand moment was cut short. "Wait, what, you know 'this land' is already 'claimed' by 'his Royal Majesty, right!?" RNTC Engineer Captain LaMond said half to himself and half to Luis. Utterly perplexed at the scene unfolding before him. "What!?" Luis didn't even turn around to face the inquisition. Formerly of Granoleon and Royal Court politics meddling, and now, having apparently found the last straw of certain members of the high counsel, newly appointed 'Royal Geological Surveyor of Ile sous le Vent.' "These are untamed lands and it is by divine decree that I must bring the Light of his Majesty to this unexplored corner of the world!" *facepalming* Lamond, "Wait did you think they just dropped us in this launch, the three of us, with I don't know, 200 LBs of surveyor equipment and ore testing sets to just... what... figure it out?... To brave whatever fortunes await us with our rock hammers and beakers?" "Well yes? yes!" Luis' certainty flagged, and was immediately bolstered, "Certainly the local tribes must be cured of their evil ways and brought into the full splendor of..." LaMond, fully grasping the situation now, "You do realize that missionaries have been here for years, that the settlement of Kojima is right over that dune, and that this has been, not just a royal territory, but a Crown Settlement, well on a year now right?" Now he couldn't resist, "DID YOU NOT!? Do you even speak the local language! How were you going to 'convert the heathens' by yelling at them in your Granoleon accent!?" Luis' shoulders slumped as LaMond continued, "Did you think... the three of us... hoping out of a launch with that ridiculous oversized flag and your.... what is that... a fencing foil?.... were going to build civilization on a desert island?" Laughing hysterically, "That you slapping that flag into the sand with myself, Pierre, and the Pantheon of the Faith as your witnesses is how National borders are set?" "Look man, tell you what, help Pierre unpack the survey equipment and I WON'T include this scene in my report back to RNTC headquarters. In fact, start grabbing up some samples, I'm going to 'strike out on my own, foraging for food...' over the dune to Kojima... ha... idiot..." LaMond splashed out of the launch, and continued to laugh as he walked up the dune, "Ha... I claim this land! hahahahaha!" Prospecting Build in Kojima, Ile sous le Vent.