CapOnBOBS

Today Retired Admiral Girard Beauchamp and Master Shipwright Jean Benoit walked through the ship and have deemed her fit for launch. Of course, this particular ship has had the Retired Admiral's special attention since the announcement that his eldest son, Hector Beauchamp would be promoted into command of the Belle. In response to the to the sinking of the Pride of Oleon off the cost of Terraversa last month, the Empire has asked the Beauchamp Shipyard to rush through the final stages of construction on her Sistership the Belle of Breshaun. Crew, Cannon, Stores, and a brave and proven Commander in the form of Hector are all on hand and initial loading began weeks ago in the completed sections of the craft. She will be combat ready on the morrow and a full compliment to His Majesty's Navy in a matter of days. Build from the design of the Pride of Oleon, this 7CL Ship of the Line has "exactly" the same capabilities as the old Pride of Olean boasted. Fair winds and Following Seas to the good crew.

Citizens of Astrapi lined the streets today as a newly recruited company marched out with colors aloft to join the Garde de Grenadiers du 1er Régiment (1st Regt Grenadier Guards). Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Gustavo, Commanding the detachment, led the Soldiers through the streets crowded throngs. (Seen below saluting the reviewing party). The new troops presented well, marching in close ranks, good order, head's held high. Astrapi represented well, not just with their enthusiastic support, but in supplying a supply wagon to rush the troops on their way. "An Army marches on it's stomach" afterall. All the brass from the Island was present and in fine feather. The Admiral's wife even stood behind the reviewing party in the somewhat awkwardly cordoned off reviewing box. Well, everything was going along just fine as the formation came, "Through the chute" in front of the reviewing stand, set up in front of a fountain to Poseidon in hopes of his favor in a smooth voyage. As had been planned and even rehearsed, although not an actual charge in the gun, the climactic moment would be crystalized with a powder charge fired from a field piece belonging to the local garrison. Trusting to the young Sergeant, the Lieutenant in charge of the salute battery believed the straight faced line that "if there is no projectile, you have to balance the gun out with more powder." As the match struck the pan, a ball of flame shot from the cannon, taking the hats off most of the reviewing party and driving the poor Admiral's wife into a screaming panic. Ruffled feathers and bruised egos aside, the parade was lovely and the newest Company of Grenadier Guards, with their fearless leader, Lt Colonel Gustavo are enroute to Terraversa. "For the King and the Empire!"

In retirement, many settle into a peaceful routine. Without the roar of cannons in his ear and spray of the Brick Seas in his face, Admiral Girard Beauchamp seems to have grown more restless. Perhaps it is poetic that a man who has spent his life under sail and could not be forced to slow down when a cannonball took his leg high above the knee, is still humming with energy. He has spent every day for months at the construction site of his new prized possession, The Beauchamp Shipyard. The sprawling factory was an idea as ambitious as the old man himself. Two berths, each capable of holding the heaviest of warships. Though, as they say, "fortune favors the bold," and before the pomp and circumstance of the ribbon cutting was even scheduled His Majesty's Navy came calling. Two warships, with keels already laid. It is a good thing for the Admiral too. Less savory characters around Breshaun say the scuttlebutt is that the Retired Admiral's last penny was spent before the massive double crane system was even installed. Around the watering holes it is said that the old and noble house of Beauchamp was facing a "liquidity crisis" requiring a royal bailout. Such ideas are of course ludicrous and do not warrant repetition. The Admiral is no war-profiteer, he is a war-hero. A patriot who's own three sons have taken His Majesty's coin. Though, the Admiral does spend much of his free time over the shoulder of Master Shipwright Jean Benoit. A true genius, Benoit has been a royal favorite and a naval architect for nearly 30 years now. Intrigue aside, the Empire will benefit from the empowerment of such a talent. To be licensed as a large factory in Breshaun... just as soon as all the... um... paperwork... is in order. UPDATE: With another month gone by, the finishing touches have been put on the shipyard while crews still work around the clock on the capital ships for the Royal Navy. From this beginning, Beauchamp added a drydock, rope factory, logistics center, and furnaces. While to support the operation, also building a mast plantation, trade terminal, and a carpenter's school.

I love the cannons! Those are great set ups, carriages, etc.

The Gros Rouge Smith | small factory

Big Red, "Gros Rouge," was raised in Eltina and now has opened his very own small factory in his home town. Having apprenticed with a smith in Breshaun, he would regularly see folks from home having travelled clear across the island to by a new ax head or shovel for the vineyards. When his skills had finally matured, there was no question about his next move, only how to finance it. One day, a member of the noble house of Beauchamp, the Admiral's young son Edward, had come to collect a specially commissioned ax head for a tomahawk. Happy with the work, the two struck up a conversation and eventually came to Big Red's plan to build a smith of his own in Eltina. A few weeks later, Red had his chance to demonstrate his skill by presenting his work to Admiral Beauchamp himself. Recently opened, the Gros Rouge Smith has been a godsend to the townsfolk in Eltina, no longer having to wait for a transport or make the journey across the island themselves. Big Red's shop is thriving and hums at a busy pace. Part of the financial deal worked out with the Admiral was the apprenticeship of the Admiral's young nephew Jacque. Wanting nothing more than to run off and join his older cousin in the campaign on Terraversa, Jacque is finally busy enough to stay grounded day to day and is learning a skill from a young talent. The dual "spires" of the workshop make the Gros Rouge Smith stand out. An ingenious design, the windmill drives a screw to keep the bellows pumping and has a second screw to drive a drop hammer if the wind is strong enough to turn hoist the weight.

EDIT: This is not yet licensed. EDIT: This is not yet licensed. This one has been sold to @Capt Wolf Large Educational build, The Punto Sur Academy of Science, with Dean Eddington in charge... I think he'll be ok. I have licensed this one with the proceeds from the above sale.

An actual fest shirt I bought in Bavaria 2 years ago

Of course! You and the Professor are exactly right. Slight update, 1 new picture added.

Licensing as a small cultural property... although not 100% sure it will go through with two small properties, what I think I read as a promise to reimburse licensing, and only my initial 25DBs.

When the informal chamber of commerce first proposed the idea, it may have actually been a joke over a soggy fest tent table in the wee hours of the morning. Then, when the local merchants realized how well they'd done and that the growing popularity of Punto Sur would only build on that momentum, suddenly, the idea was registered on an actual list of ways to link Octoberfest and Punto Sur forever. The phrase, "Beer Shrine" and "Beer Fountain" certainly does slosh around in the mind of any hearty sailor. Too much so in fact, the number 1 problem since the Shrine was built has been drunk sailors trying to climb in and drink the brown tinted collected rainwater. The inscription reads: "The god Bacchus has upended his bottomless keg of ale on the fest grounds of Punto Sur, ensuring that all here who have thirst, shall have it quenched" Certainly the 4 godly statues imbibing does little to warn off the late night drunk that has drank his last DB away. However, across the Brick Seas, "Have you worshipped at the beer shrine" HAS in fact become synonymous with going to Octoberfest in Punto Sur. So maybe this wasn't such a crazy idea after all? It is often grudgingly admitted that the shrine truly has become the landmark and cultural center of the fest.

Licensing as a small commerce property. EDIT: So I am not sure how to change the license from Commerce to Artisan, but I am willing to do so!

Of course the highlight of both the spring and the fall festivals has always been the fest tents! Reminiscent of the cavernous but jam packed beer halls of old world cities, the tents traditionally had been temporary structures to house the massive inflow of pilgrims for Spring Fest and October Fest. Today, the fest tents remain up year round, semi-permanent structures becoming more permanent every year. Of course, "the beer flows like wine!" Once the band starts up some shanties and folk tunes, the guests stand up on their benches to sway and sing along. "Hey hey, up she rises, hey hey, up she rises, early in the morning...!" The true heroes (heroines) of the fest tents are the wenches and serving girls. Deftly navigating a forest of swaying legs of tipsy sailors precariously perched on rickety benches, the balance their cargo, sometimes 3 to 4 liters in a hand, to keep the tent well lubricated. Beer is clearly the beverage of choice, but then again, a fish has to swim, and a pirate has to drink rum. There are no enemies in the fest tent. From the far corners of the Brick Seas come mariners, soldiers, traders, sea rats but all are brethren once the kegs are tapped and the music begins. Long wooden tables and benches crammed in like fish in a barrel... Singing, spilling beers, stomping on benches, serving girls darting between guests, flowers, colorful canvas, flags, guitars... "What shall we do with a drunken sailor?" (I have to say, when I started thinking about this, I just thought it would be a cute idea. But, as a #Murican living in Southern Germany with the last two fests cancelled and no sign of any of us being able to enjoy anything like this anytime soon. This build turned into a tiny little labor of love with some serious nostalgia. Pro Tip: Cool to stand on benches, totally not cool to stand on tables.)

*deleting* instructions for "by sea" still say post here

In Breshaun this week, the Beauchamp family held a formal ceremony to name and launch a new merchantman, the sloop "Draco." Though the dragon bow piece is an old heathen naval tradition to scare away "evil spirits" the Admiral's family displays their piety with the Trident of Poseidon fixed on either side of the beast. Rigged for speed, built of timbers raised within the Empire, and with a design that reflects the expertise of Oleon craftsmanship, the sloop is a fitting addition to this noble family's assets. The old Admiral was in attendance, along with his daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Son Edward was remembered in the Admiral's comments, fighting for the honor of the Empire and the Beauchamp family in Terraversa. Unarmed, the ship relies on speed and maneuverability to safely shuttle goods across the Brick Seas. A large cargo hold, maxes the shipping potential of the Beauchamp's latest investment. Francois Gallieni, long time member of the Beauchamp household, having served alongside the Admiral under the fire of enemy guns in many a battle, has been named the good ship's Captain.

Tightening the noose around King's Port

Edward Beauchamp and his marauders have become ghosts, haunting the approaches to King's Port. Everywhere at once, nowhere to be found. Terraversan patrols are ever growing in size and shrinking in range. Villagers see the inability of the Terraversan Government to deal with a menace so close to King's Port as a sign of dangerous ineptness. Fierce ambushes from all points of the compass eat into the morale of Terraversans, Rewards have been offered, but patrols can barely find a footprint. No signs remain that Beauchamp and his men were even there, aside from the burnt supply wagons, spiked guns, and bloody bodies. "Fear is our greatest weapons," Beau tells his grenadiers, so green and young just weeks ago, now lean and tough. "They will think we are phantoms, hiding behind every tree, cocking a musket with every snap of a twig. They will say, 'we are safe here' only to realize that nowhere is safe. We will turn these woods into walls and iron bars, King's Port will become their prison!" Beau and his men wade into the slime and mud of one of dozens of nameless tributaries to the King's River. Through the bugs, snakes, rocks, cold of the water, leeches, vines, and angry monkeys, the line of troops maintain discipline, not a word is spoken for hours... Not a word, until the latest trap is sprung and another Terraversan supply convoy fails to arrive in King's Port.

It is much easier to fight them when they didn't realize they were in a fight until it was over. A few less to face in King's Port and some great intel on the defensive works from our chatty guests.

"I've found that the best way to figure out what the enemy is doing is just to ask him..." Edward Beauchamp said as he slung his pack and started off to the West from Nola Mar, "Besides, I need to break in the new guys, introduce them to the elephant. Ambushes are simple enough... make an 'L,' wait, then kill everything inside." Beau and his grenadiers tramped off into the interior, springing ambushes on patrols and columns of reinforcements heading to beef up the garrison at King's Port. Captured enemy soldiers questions and then escorted back to Nola Mar. Cutting down a few trees and laying them across the path always focuses their attention. Even if it puts them on guard, by the time they see the logs around the corner, it is too late. (thanks for the help team)

Do my terraversa mocs require points applied, like if I show 10 soldiers do I need them "recruited"? And when does this turn end?

Edward Beauchamp. Son of Retired Admiral Jean Beauchamp, yes... "The" Admiral Beauchamp. The old Sea Wolf took Edward to sea at age 10 to learn the family business. At 17, determined to make his own way, Ed asked for his father's support in joining the Army. As a young Officer, Edward made a name for himself as a fearless warrior. The reputation coming at the cost of an eye to a pirate cutlass. When not seeking glory, he and Madeline raise the twins and keep up the Sea Wolf's estate. Many believe the mustache and cape are a bit much, but his exploits on the battlefield leave few willing to tell him as much to his cutlass lashed face.