Admin, OOC, and Launch Discussion

1) I say let's erase their debts and hire as retainers those who wish to stay and work for pay. Those who want to leave may do so.
2) Let's just hang 'em and be done with it.
3) Depends if we've enough from #1 to crew her. But I'd like to keep her.
4) Sell it all, I guess. That's Kray's jam.

This brings up a thought Bryn could probably toss out there for consideration. He knows the most about Heshbaan law and culture. I'm just throwing this out there as a conduit, since no one would necessarily know this until I publish it.

It is against the law of the land to engage in piracy and raiding on the Hodel River or off the coast of the Heshbaan lands of the Sar and his Nasi. This sort of lawlessness is definitely unwanted because it is bad for travel, business, and trade - and perhaps especially offensive if it was directed by a foreign captain.

You guys could bring these clowns to the local Richter, accuse them of raiding and piracy, be willing to testify or bring witnesses, and let the local judgment give a verdict. Yes it does take their exact fate out of your hands, but it is supportive of the local community leadership and authority. Also avoids any trouble you might risk if you try to do a secret execution, because if done publicly that would be beyond the law also, beyond the power that foreigners should take on in this community, according to local law and custom. (Not to say it couldn't be done).

CB brings up the counterpoint worth talking about. Slavery is a part of every community, with quite a bit of variety on the details of why, when, and how to take and manage slaves. But slavery is not completely unusual anywhere. In Heshba particular, it is quite common.

Both the Barbaric Code of Honor and the Civilized Code of Honor are neutral on slavery. They read that the practitioner will...
"Have no in-principle objection to slavery, being willing to keep or free slaves as suits his purposes."
I know we have already learned something of Ivor's aversion to slavery in most cases. He seems to be a bit different than most, likely because of his own experience as a slave I think, which would make sense for him to take on a counter-culture or minority view.

The masters, religious leaders, and authorities of Heshba are known for writing and recording in their own peculiar way, though their writing is not pervasively consumed abroad. The debtor slaves were actually documented, so they were definitely like property, more like a capture of extra supplies or resources. They too could be handed off as barter very easily. Or kept as Maeriks suggests, as owned workers.

The men captured in war could be forced into slavery by practice, with no documentation. Branding and forced body marking are also a well-known and traditional practice to show visible sign of enslavement. To go a step further in legitimacy though, one could go to the local authorities to formalize the enslavement and get documentation. Not completely necessary, less so if you are strong enough to enforce and maintain the enslavement. No one will likely ask for proof, and there are few to none who are crusading around trying to free slaves.

Still, slaves have their downside in the expense and management of them. You have to feed them to keep them alive and healthy enough to work. Also the effort involved to either instill fear or build cooperative acceptance. There is always at least a chance for escape or even revolt.

Some cultures are definitely known as better slaves than others. Danneins are certainly well-known as the worst slaves in the world. They will usually try to get themselves killed first. And if they are enslaved, they are known to escape and usually become murderous as they do, often suicidal in their quest for freedom and revenge. Ivor definitely lived up to that stereotype. He killed throughout his time as a gladiator, waiting for just the right chance to kill his owner and likely a dozen guards and servants during his bloody escape. Years later he hunts down his original captors. One down and at least one to go.

Heshbaans, on the other side of the scale, are actually thought of as more docile slaves as a rule.

Same thing with different cultures taking or owning slaves as well. Yuoric descent cultures, in Nadril and the Markkelands, do not have expansive slave trades. There are some slaves, but not really that many. Taking slaves in war capture is not really practiced that often at all. Execution or imprisonment is usually used instead.

Danneins definitely do not try to make slaves of other Danneins. If they dominate over others, they usually kill them or let them go in the knowledge of their defeat.

Gaeirmundi cultures use slavery regularly, as do the Ingvaelors. Slavery is pervasive in the east (Sarcera, Murmar, Jbail, Otessa) and south (Heshba, Bishtaan, Seker, Korsi, Arkkad). The local Alijanians of the Alornic Sea region seem to object to the idea of slavery, though they do not have much power to make a difference about it. Slavery is practiced to moderate degrees in the more civilized Alornic Sea cultures of Kortella, Pylos, and Esosan. Kortella and Pylos of course are both known for their famous arenas, gladiator pits, and specialized fighting slaves.

On this part of the narrative, I will leave it up to you guys if we should edit or you want to talk about it more. I think it was fine the way it was, it would also be fine to change. As you can probably tell, I'm not looking to dwell on the exact details of these more mundane parts of the travel, but also don't want to blow through good debate or consensus. And if nothing else, this is a way to discuss some of the cultural parts of the setting "off camera".