Third Place Winner in the SJ Business Challenge.
Stellar Glassblowers, Inc. is a traveling ship run by a master
glassblower and several apprentices. The company is run by Minibus
Skyrealm, a gray elf from Ginsel in Greyspace. Minibus is a master
glassblower and is well known at all the ports he stops in at. He
makes common pieces (goblets, bowls, etc.), ornamental pieces
(miniatures, figurines, etc.), unusual pieces (glass swords and other
weapons, statues, etc.), and special orders. He is so good, in fact,
that he's been hired at times to stain glass viewports in other
spelljamming ships and building windows and even to make items for
enchanting. He is scrupulously honest with those he does business with
and his quality is superb, which allows him to charge higher prices
than any competition an area may have (since he mainly sticks to SJ
ports such as asteroids and other limited settlements competition is
rare).
Business has been so good that he's even paid off the loans he
originally took out to purchase his ship and helm. Minibus had several
initial lenders and several decided to keep some of their funds with
him, becoming investors that now own a piece of his business. All told
they own about 40% of it but they only get 1/2 of the percentage of
profits they actually own, thus only 20% of Minibus's profits (after
expenses) go to his partners. This is because he's the one that does
all the traveling and takes all the risks and is not an uncommon
business arrangement in spelljamming society.
Minibus's Workshop is a damselfly that has been topped out (minimum
crew of 3, MC C) and has a medium ballista as its main weapon. A flat
platform on the tail allows a light catapult to be mounted (one is)
without any loss of cargo space. The light catapult has a 360 degree
firing arc while the ballista can fire forward or to either side.
Three of the ballista bolts have continual light spells cast on them so
that if fired into an enemy ship's hull they will illuminate it,
marking it for easy tracking. Despite these armaments the vessel is
not meant as a warship and will try to flee at the first indication of
hostilities. It is powered by a minor helm. The cargo area is mainly
taken up by the workshop (including supplies of fine and even colored
sand for conversion into glass). Additionally there is a small room
that contains the helm, charts, and planetary locator. Another small
room is a shrine to the Seldarine and there are separate quarters for
minibus from the rest of the crew. A cooking area exists and meals are
eaten wherever feasible. The rest of the ship is cargo space. Minibus
always has at least 2 other spellcasters that serve as his helmsmen,
several apprentices (he currently has 3), and a hadozee crew. Though
apprentices come and go along with helmsmen the 5 hadozee that make up
the crew (enough to man the wings and both weapons while the helmsman
man the helm, i.e. a full crew) have been with Minibus for years. He
likes their blunt, straightforward way of talking even if it offends
others (in his eyes if you can't take the truth you've got a serious
problem already) and they get along great (add +2 to morale and +1 to
discipline due to long association and good relationship).
Minibus Skyrealm, gray elf male F5/W5 (merchant kit from PO:S&P): hp
27; AL CG; S 16; I 17; W 12; D 13; Cn 11; Ch 11; Cm 12 (10 to gray and
high elves); proficiencies: spelljamming, spacemanship, appraising
(gains +2 due to kit, gains additional +2 with glass due to
familiarity), artistic proficiency (glassblowing, 4 slots for +3), sail
manipulation, cooking, musical instrument (flute), space heraldry,
balance, wildspace navigation, phlogiston navigation, read/write
common, read/write elvish, signaling, longsword (ghost tiger school
bladesinging, 4 slots), longbow, dagger; special abilities: +1
reaction adjustment in urban areas (and with other merchant vessels);
spells: 3L1, 2L2, 1L3; spellbook: affect normal fires, armor, shield,
sleep, magic missile, burning hands, mending, identify, comprehend
languages, feather fall, jump, wizard mark, cantrip, unseen servant,
Tenser's floating disc, copy, conjure spell component, wall of fog,
read magic, detect magic, mirror image, magic mouth, levitate, web,
Melf's acid arrow, flaming sphere, locate portal, wizard lock,
continual light, enhance rating, dispel magic, hold person, slow,
tongues; longsword+2, longbow, quiver of 24 flight arrows, leather
apron (doesn't interfere with spellcasting, AC 9 for front), elven
chainmail, silver dagger, wooden flute, glass flute
Minibus was born to a merchant family on Ginsel. A younger son, he
decided to join the IEN to gain training and knowledge. He proved
adept at magic, with a quick mind and his father's years of instruction
in bladesinging gained him a place in the warrior academies. He served
with distinction during his career as an elven sailor and one of his
childhood hobbies slowly became more to him. As he traveled he sold
some of the glass trinkets he enjoyed making and so it was only natural
for him to decide to make glassblowing a career once his term of
service with the IEN was over.
Minibus and friendly and sociable, well liked by most everyone he
meets. He gets along well with people, regardless of race and his
complete honesty personally and in business have helped his business
grow. He worships Corellon Larethian as god of magic and Hanali
Celanil as goddess of beauty (he desires to make all his items works of
art). Minibus still has several other hobbies he follows, most notably
collecting coins from different ports, playing the flute, and cooking.
He informs the IEN and any other (allied) authorities of anything he
encounters or hears of that he thinks they should know about as his
livelihood (and life) depends on the safety of the spaceways. Minibus
would like to purchase a ring of fire resistance to help him with his
work.
Teakat, male human C5 of Ptah (astrologer kit from CSHB): hp 25; AL
N(G); S 17; I 12; W 15; D 14; Cn 8; Ch 8; Cm 15; proficiencies:
planetology, wildspace navigation, spacemanship, spelljamming, artistic
proficiency (glassblowing, still at -1 as he's learning it), read/write
common, religion, spelljamming carpenter, hammer, footman's mace, club;
special abilities: intelligence check to identify sphere; spells:
5L1, 4L2, 1L3; leather apron (AC 9 from front), warhammer, footman's
mace, glass holy symbol of Ptah, iron holy symbol of Ptah, large chest
(contains a traveling shrine he sets up to pray at and give services
with), 23 gp, 14 pp, chainmail, large shield
Teakat is of partially oriental (Shou) descent. He was born on a
farming asteroid and grew up revering Ptah as both the god of space and
the god of crafts. He saw Ptah's hands in everything, from crafting
the various races, to crafting the spheres and planets, to crafting the
others gods themselves. He knows he is not a very inspirational
speaker. He tends to talk about the multi-verse and very thoughtful
and easily sidetracked. As such he does very little evangelical work
but instead tries his best to serve his lord. He decided that he could
not only learn a second craft and earn some money but also serve his
lord by aiding a craftsman when he decided to work for Minibus. He has
almost completed his training in glassblowing and has not yet decided
whether or not to move on once it's done (he'll probably wait until
Tiberal finishes his cleric training at the least, however). His best
friend and stoutest rival currently is Hippan, the priest of Aeridrie
Faenya and other helmsman. The two discuss philosophy and religion
continually. He isn't worried that Hippan as had much more success
than he at converting the crew as he knows he's not cut out for it.
He's just not an inspirational speaker. He donates most of his money
to his church whenever he gets the chance.
Hippan, male half-elf SP4 of Aerdrie Faenya (uses SP write-up from DD
but can be adjusted to MM write-up as desired, evangelist kit from
CSHB): hp 22; AL CG; S 14; I 9; W 17; D 16; Cn 14; Ch 16; Cm 15 (14 to
half-elves); proficiencies: artistic ability (glassblowing, still
learning so at -3), read/write Espruar, religion (elvish, gains +1
bonus), read/write common, read/write (elvish-if read/write elvish and
read/write Espruar are the same in the campaign he instead has
wildspace navigation), spacemanship, spelljamming, balance, animal lore
(applies only to avians), weather sense, musical instrument (clarinet),
animal training (eagle), bowyer/fletcher, longbow, quarterstaff;
special abilities: +2 on reactions with avian and semi-avian
creatures, use air elemental wizard spells in place of priest spells,
use feather fall or Murdock's feathery flyer once/day, use ride the
wind or whispering wind once/day, enthrall with voice; spells: 5L1,
4L2; leather apron (AC 9 from front), leather armor, elven longbow,
quiver of 24 flight arrows, quarterstaff shod with iron, glass holy
symbol of Aerdrie Faenya, 33 gp
Hippan was born on the Rock of Bral to a harlot that got pregnant from
one of her customers, an elven sailor. She had hopes that Hippan would
make something of himself, possibly becoming a skilled craftsman, but
instead the young boy spent much of his time hanging around the elven
embassy and any elven ships that came into port. A young evangelist of
Aerdrie Faenya took a liking to the boy and converted him (not that
Hippan really had any religion at all before that). After his
conversion Hippan was apprenticed to an elven priest at the embassy
thanks to the intervention of the evangelist. His mother was not
pleased that he'd found religion nor that he'd chosen an elven goddess
to serve but by the time she learned of it, it was too late. Hippan
was fast on his way to becoming an evangelist in Aerdrie Faenya's
service. Hippan has been traveling the stars, spreading Aerdrie's word
to elves, half-elves, aarakocra, and hadozee wherever he goes ever
since. He joined up with Minibus as a good way to travel for a while
and it gave him the opportunity to learn a trade at the same time. He
is allowed to use Minibus's shrine to the Seldarine and has slowly
converted the hadozee crew to Aerdrie's worship. Minibus respects the
eager young priest but has been careful to ensure his prostheletyzing
doesn't hurt business (when in port Hippan can live on the ship but he
must do his preaching away from anything associated with the business)
or cause dissension on the ship (in other words he can't harangue
anyone if they say their not interested). Hippan and Teakat enjoy
philosophical religious debates and help pass the time at the helm by
engaging in them. Teakat has the heretical idea that Ptah actually
created the individual gods and pantheons when he created the universe
but the rivalry between the two is friendly. He spends most of his
money on props and other things he needs to make a better
demonstration.
Tiberal, half-elf male F1 (uses merchant kit from PO:S&P): hp 9; AL
NG; S 14; I 11; W 17; D 16; Cn 15; Ch 15; Cm 14; proficiencies:
read/write common, artistic ability (glassblowing, at -2 as he's
learning), appraising (at +2 for kit), spacemanship, religion (at -2 as
he's still learning), club, dagger, throwing dagger, boarding pike;
special abilities: +1 reaction adjustment in urban areas (and with
other merchant vessels); club, dagger, leather apron (AC 9 from front),
studded leather armor, small shield, 47 gp, 15 pp
Tiberal doesn't know who his parents were but assumes he had a
beginning similar to Hippan's only that he was then thrown out on the
street. He was raised by a kindly couple, his adopted mother was a
baker and his father a dockhand. As both his adopted parents were
human he doesn't speak elvish. He always longed to be more, to see
more, and so he decided to learn a trade and become a spelljamming,
traveling craftsman. He signed up with Minibus after seeing how well
the elf does and hasn't regretted his decision. He saves every copper
for the down payment on his own ship and helm. He worships Ptah as god
of both crafts and space due to Teakat's influence. He has rebuffed
Hippan's attempts to convert him to Aerdrie Faenya and Minibus has made
sure the evangelist doesn't try again. Nevertheless, he thinks anyone
who'd worship a flighty goddess of the air is a little out of their
gourd themselves. Teakat wants him to become a cleric of Ptah due to
his great wisdom and he is on his way there (though he doesn't know it
and is still thinking about it, he doesn't realize Teakat is teaching
him more than just simply the religion proficiency). He attends all
Teakat's ceremonies and is slowly gaining the religion proficiency from
him (I addition to the rest). Tiberal does have one secret, he's a
member of the POTs. Both his adopted parents were and so it was only
natural for him to follow in their footsteps. Like most POTs he's not
very active but just as Minibus does for the IEN, he reports anything
of interest he finds out to the local POTs cell.
Chib, stout halfing male F0: hp 6; AL N; S 10; I 8; W 11; D 16; Cn
14; Ch 8; Cm 12; proficiencies: spacemanship, artistic ability
(glassblowing, -3 as he's still learning), boarding pike, knife;
leather apron (AC 9 from front), 9 gp, 17 sp
Chib grew up on a halfling farming asteroid and always wanted to be
more than just a "dirt-tender". He also wanted to see more but he
definitely wasn't the adventurous sort. Thus encountering Minibus was
an opportunity he couldn't pass up and he immediately approached the
elf about an apprenticeship. Minibus agreed and now Chib is sailing
the stars and learning a valuable trade. He has given up the worship
of his settlement's patron, Sheela Peryroyl as he wants to be more than
a farmer. Teakat has converted him to Ptah as the god of crafts and
patron of craftsman. He secretly wants to be more than a farmer to
show up all the other children who made fun of him because he had
trouble in school (he can still only read about 30% of halfling and 10%
of common) and was slow to figure things out.
Eerimus Sidepedaler, forest gnome male F2 (uses merchant kit from
PO:S&P): hp 22; AL NG; S 15; I 13; W 15; D 12; Cn 16; Ch 15; Cm 13 (14
to gnomes); proficiencies: artistic ability (glassblowing),
spacemanship, balance, appraising (+2 for kit, additional +1 when
dealing with glass due to familiarity), read/write gnomish, read/write
common, shortsword, boarding pike, club, dagger; special abilities: +1
reaction adjustment in urban areas (and with other merchant vessels);
leather apron (AC 9 from front), studded leather armor, shortsword,
dagger, 37 pp, 12 gp, 13 sp
Eerimus is Minibus's longest lasting apprentice. He is, in fact, no
longer an apprentice in the true sense of the word. He is the only
apprentice Minibus has ever had that he's allowed to stay for long
after he's completed his training. Most apprentices are told once they
complete their training they have only a few ports in which to find
their own way or they will simply be left behind at one. Minibus keeps
Eerimus around because he wants to ensure he always has help and
because the gnome is reliable and skilled. Eerimus helps train the
apprentices and the two helmsman and is happy with his life. For now
he has no plans to move on. He worships Flandal Steelskin.
Crew, hadozee males (3) and females (2) F2 (marine kit from CSHB):
proficiencies: spacemanship, balance, longsword (specialization), hand
axe, footman's mace; ballista, ballista loader (3); catapult, catapult
loader (2); spelljamming shipwright (1); zero-G combat (2); grappling
hook use (2); longsword, hand axe, footman's mace, buckler, 4-24 gp,
5-30 sp
The hadozee crew are a small band of marines that Minibus knew of from
his time in the IEN. When he purchased his ship he hired them to be
the crew and they've performed well. The hadozee get along well with
Minibus and have worked with him for several years (since he started
his business, in fact). They are completely reliable and dedicated to
him and work hard to keep the ship in top condition. The hadozee have
adopted the worship of Aerdrie Faenya as her realm of influence seems
to cover both themselves (as they are able to glide) and their
occupation (Aerdrie Faenya is heavily followed in spelljamming culture
due to her power over flight).
