STARTING OUT WITH SKYRIMER 

Skyrimer has just arrived at Base N'Ferra in the Dark Sphere.
Effectively, it's a town of 2500 floating in the middle of nothing.
Surrounded by gates used by N'Ferra, it's also N'Ferra's interface with
other crystal spheres. 

Well, if there's any action around, he'll go for it. But if not, then
Skyrimer will try to get on the next transport going anywhere within
N'Ferra. 

There's lots of things going on. There are merchants, soldiers,
scholars, people from other crystal spheres, and the occasional person
from other dimensions. Where do you go, and what do you do to find out
what's happening? 

(You do not currently have the funds to get passage on a vessel that's
leaving.) 

Get some work so that I can move on out... 

I suppose Skyrimer could work as a lounge lizard <g>, or get any work
available... 

Skyrimmer sets out his hat and starts telling stories. After two hours
he's earned enough for room and board for the day. (The pages now
contain a price and wage list starting at:
http://www.meanspc.com/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/nf_campn.htm#Job ) 

During this time you've noticed a number of people traveling back and
forth. Your attention is caught by a human who is flying huge timbers
off the station. (No ship, _he's_ doing the flying), and a strange ship
at the dock that seems to be entirely made of metal. You are also
surprised by the lack of military people. You thought that Base N'Ferra
was one of the major Confederacy military bases, but you spot a grand
total of 3 uniforms and 1 military vessels (and it was doing a flyby). 

After the two hours, you are approached by a Nye who claims to work for
the Reader's Guild, which is the local messenger service and newspaper.
He wants you to come to the guild office so that they can get news of
recent events to print in the next edition of the paper. They offer more
than you're likely to earn on the street. Before you pick up and leave,
a Rachak floats over to you and asks for you to come by The Brown
Feather Inn. They want to discuss your working at the Inn. 

He'll talk to the Nye, but he'll move on ASAP. 

He'll spend about an hour actively searching for military people, just
for fun, but otherwise, just talk to the Nye (work for him if it
involves less then a day) and then move on. 

The Nye talks to you about recent events back in N'Ferra proper. For the
eight hours, he pays you $50. Is there anything you try to find out
while the two of you are talking? 

Just one, point blank: "Um, well, I noticed that the military people
aren't around much. Isn't there supposed to be a military presence
here?" 

"The military station is the other side of the base. I don't know what's
going on with them. All military leaves were canceled two days ago. We
have another reporter trying to find out what's going on." 

Once you're done at the Reader's Guild, you spend some time wandering
about the Base. You notice several bars, a number of forges, and a
temple. 

Wandering to the edge of the base (close to the temple), you look over.
There you see the largest number of spelljamming vessels you've ever
seen at a time. By the flags and armaments, they are military vessels.
By their movements, they're performing some heavy-duty practice
maneuvers. 

Your best guess is that most of the military is on the other side of the
base, although you don't know why their forces would be so active right
now. 

The base is 30' thick, and you could climb down (and up again once you
pass the gravity line). You could try to find a way through the base, or
talk to people to find out what's happening. Of course, you can always
try to do something else. 

(In terms of your personal day, it's early evening. In terms of the
base's 'day' it seems to be heading into 'night.') 

If the Nye didn't mention it, Skyrimer makes a mental note to talk to
the Reader's Guild again in order to tell the Nye about this (preferably
in writing), but he'll try to get on the next ship headed for the Inner
Orbits (i.e., anything but the constellations is fine by him right now;
the first ship to arrive there is the ship he's patronizing.) ("I don't
trust a military buildup this big. A Military Skyship is a pretty
potent weapon all by its lonesome; so why does it need championship
unless it's expecting company. And company for a Battleship is no
company for me." Skyrimer mutters, and packs his things to move on.) 

There are currently three ships headed into N'Ferra past the
constellations that are willing to take on new people. 

A Nye exploration ship is headed in to K'k'k. It's apparently been in
alien crystal spheres, and is delivering a cargo back home. Passage will
be free, as you offer the opportunity to pick up on the local news, and
a way to pass free time. 

The second vessel is a small tramp freighter manned by humans. It's
commissioned to deliver a cargo to Echuk in Orbit 5. They're willing to
take you along for $5 and your help operating the vessel when needed. 

Skyrimmer will take this one. Inner Sphere, HO! 

The last vessel is from an alien crystal sphere and looks something like
a squid. It's manned by a variety of races along the human pattern
(humans, half-elves, an elf, and a couple kender) plus a minotaur and
three Giff. They are willing to pay well for a guide who knows N'Ferra
sphere. They have only the most basic ideas about the local languages
and economy. 

Skyrimmer will suggest they follow the tramp he is on; "unless you're
military, your ship'll be safer away from the coming storm." 

They thank you for the advice, but since they can travel faster than the
freighter, they decide to wait a little bit longer before heading into
the sphere. Maybe they'll see you at Echuk. 

The freighter is named the "Tall Grass." It has a crew of 5. Four humans
(one female) and a Nurha (male). They've contracted to pick up a cargo
in The Gate and take it to Echuck. They're currently carrying some
miscellaneous cargo to speculate with, and some mail. 

Anything you want to do before arriving at The Gate?