The Star of Byzantium

Campaign Introduction

Premise
The Dutch Republic
Your Character

Premise

All player characters need to have a reason to be on an armed merchant brig, the Night Star, just off the coast of Gibraltar. They may be crew, officers, passengers, stowaways, even prisoners from an earlier encounter with pirates. It would be helpful if at least some of them already knew one another and were even friends, but it is not absolutely necessary. Although they may not begin as part of the ship's crew, they need to have skills that will make them useful enough to keep around when trouble begins.

The vessel is Dutch, although characters may be mercenaries from other nations (e.g., British, German, French huguenot, etc.), and is a hired escort for merchant fleuts of the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, or VOC).

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The Dutch Republic

The Dutch Republic is currently the only nation (in Europe or the New World, anyway) that is not ruled by a monarchy. It is a trading powerhouse, with outposts as far east as Nippon (Japan), as far south as Capetown, and as far west as the Caribbean. Its navy is, along with the British and French navies, one of the three most powerful ones in the world. Its merchant fleet has now surpassed that of its main rival, Portugal. Amsterdam also boasts the first stock exchange in the world.

Two more unique features of the Dutch: advancement is generally based on merit, rather than on birth rank; and various faiths are tolerated alongside the offical state religion, moderate Calvinism. The Dutch Republic comprises seven provinces (Holland, Overijssel, Zeeland, Gelderland, Groningen, Utrecht, and Frisia) that have their own legislative bodies, the Provincial Estates, and are coordinated by a central legislative body, the State General.

The powerful VOC is entitled to hiring its own private armed forces to protect its commercial interest. It has a virtual monopoly on trade in the Far East, particularly with Japan, Java, and Sumatra.

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Your Character

If you are unfamiliar with creating a role-playing character, I suggest you spend some time thinking about your character's personality and history. If you selected a particularly unusual species or one that is not widespread (e.g., most Marsupials and Prosimians), you should have a suitable story explaining how and why your Furry left New Zealand or Madagascar to sail the high seas.

Remember that a good player character (PC for short) needs to be more than just a cool or quirky idea; it needs to be someone you will be interested to play week after week, someone you are proud of. Feel free to ask me, or one of the more experienced players, for any help you need, whether it be background material or tips on handling the rules.

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