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 Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 4:31 am
The area in between cities and towns and other places of interest. There are farms, hamlets&villages and estates in the country side of Italy.
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:59 pm
Location: Western Coast of Italy
The false Greek flags taken down, Ayzebel's ship drifted south with the wind towards Neapolis, the Punic Princess pacing back and forth along the port side of the ship, her gaze shifting occasionally to the shore.
"Mother will not be pleased by what I've done..." She muttered to herself as she paused and looked out at the coast of Italy. "But Rome is dangerous enough as it is. With ships they could threaten Aleria or our ports on Sardin."
She sighed and looked toward her cargo hold. "How I wish I had some Iberian Steel to sell to the Sammites. That would crimp those Latin Mongrels. But even if I did have some, I'd need to sail completely around Italy to find a waterway into Sammite lands."
She sighed again and leaned against the rail. "We need to back the Sammites and keep Rome small. Otherwise we'll never hear the end of those Imperialistic swine."
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:24 pm
Location: Western Coast of Italy
Cutting across the waves like a fine Celtic blade, the Medusa hurtled along the strong winds as her captain and owner manned the rudder, guiding her course.
"Ha Ha!" Hanno declared as his ship knifed the wine dark sea, the Italian coast before him and a hold of Silphium below decks.
"We're making good time, lads! But the wind looks like it will change on us before long! Man the Oars!"
His stout yeomen slid into the benches with practiced ease. Already Hanno's thoughts were on Italian beauties and wine, so close were they to their destination.
Then, a curious sight manifested upon the horizon: another ship.
Hanno's lip turned into a cautious frown as he stared out with the keen eyes of a demigod. It took a few moments to recognize the shape of the ship, the make of her sails and the patterns on her bow, details only a man with Phoenician blood in his veins would recognize.
"Well by the Underworld!" He smiled, "It IS a small world! Hoist the home flag, lads! I'm bringing her about!"
With a tug on the rudder, the Medusa veered away from the Italian coast and made for to intercept the vessel of a certain Punic Princess.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:40 pm
Location: Western Coast of Italy
"My Lady!" One of the sailors shouted to Ayzebel. "Armed Merchant Ship coming up fast to starboard!"
"Athenians?" She asked, worried that real pirates might have moved in on them.
"No! its one of ours!"
Ayzebel looked over the right side of her ship to see another vessel maneuvering to intercept and meet them, the white banner of Carthage flying from atop her sails. A large man with long hair seemed to be manning the rudder, and the markings on the ship's bow proved her mounting suspicions correct.
"Reduce speed and move to meet them." Ayzebel directed her crew. "This is a fortunate meeting that can not be passed up!"
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:54 pm
Location: Western Coast of Italy
The Medusa pulled alongside Ayzerbal's ship and a boarding plank extended. Hanno, the Lion of Carthage strolled acrossed it and bowed before the princess, his smile brilliant.
"Princess! It is a delight to cross your path again! You're looking as comely as ever!"
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:02 pm
Location: Western Coast of Italy
When the Medusa drew even with her own ship, Ayzerbal gave a warm smile to the demigod as he came aboard.
"And I see your travels have kept you handsome as well, Hanno. What brings you so far from Carthage?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:32 am
Location: Western Coast of Italy
"Adventure, excitement, and profit of course!" Hanno declared. He turned and gestured back to the Medusa. "On Motya, I encountered an Egyptian merchant who had purchased a cargo of Silphium. However, an oil lamp on his ship tipped over and the vessel caught alight before the cargo could be loaded. With his ship in ruins and with nowhere to go with his cargo the man was looking at hard times."
Grinning he then gestured to the shore of Italy. "Well right then and there I struck an agreement with him: I would purchase the silphium off his hands at a fair trade, for I had come into town with bundles of fine rugs and pillows from Carthage. So I recieved the Silphium, which will make me a fortune up north, and he was able to obtain a profit selling rugs and pillows from home to our people on Sicily!"
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:15 pm
Location: Western Coast of Italy
"That is quite the tale." Ayzebel remarked. "Alas, my own is less interesting by far. I have been haunting the Tyrrhenian Sea for a month or so, watching the goings on of these annoying Romans. They had the gall to think they could put a fleet out to sea unopposed! As if the Greeks, Nubians, Persians and Egyptians weren't already infesting our waters. And to top it all off they had the nerve to take a port where I had cargo waiting!"
She looked back in the direction of Antium. "I set their bloody fleet aflame and sank the whole lot of it. Serves them right."
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:10 pm
Location: Western Coast of Italy
Hanno rubbed his chin, eyebrow arched as he took in the information.
"So. The Romans are making a stir, eh? You should have put more thought into your actions, Princess. If they recognized you, Rome would certainly see what you did as an act of war."
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:59 pm
"I disguised my ship as a Greek Vessel." She said, the temperature in her tone dropping ten degrees. "The Romans are too stupid to see through the disguise. And yes, the Romans are currently at war with the Samnites."
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:47 pm
"Really?" Hanno remarked, now really interested. If he played his cards right, he might get a shot at these Romans. After all, the Samnites were reknown mercenaries. They might not object to hiring some of their own to secure their borders.
"So, my dear Princess," He said, his heroic grin returning, "Are you interested in a little commodity trading while we're here?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:58 pm
"Of course!" She declared. She snapped her fingers and one of her men brought her a scroll and the two of them a pair of pillows to sit upon. Once seated and as the Princess examined the scroll, another man offered the two of them a glass of wine.
"According to my stores I have a variety of things." The Princess said. "Athenian bronze, a few bales of Egyptian cotton, Numidian figs, and that wine you're sampling is also part of the cargo, this particular vintage coming from Kar-Dahast. Finally, if you're interested, those two rowers over there are Persian Slaves I acquired."
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:07 pm
Hanno sat down and sipped at the wine, noting its qualities.
"Well good wine is appreciated everywhere." He mused as he considered his options.
"How much of that Bronze do you have?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:12 pm
"Fifteen Bars" She answered.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:20 pm
"I'll take the whole lot of it." Hanno said. "As well as two Amphorae of this wine. In exchange, I will trade you five bushels of Silphium."
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