J1 Half Moon Isle District of Argentum

Written by Adsmalley

by Aaron Smalley

Half Moon Isle is home to the Balandith Shipyards, and is just one of the many enterprises owned by Turin Balandith. It is the largest of the three shipyards in the Channel Cities Cites and in fact is the largest in the entire world. Thus, helping to explain Turin’s extensive fleet of ships (when there isn’t work building ships for others, he has his employees build more ships to add to his own fleet).
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There are extensive woodworking facilities on the island, as well as a small smithy, however most of the metal that goes into the ships built here is purchased from other smithies, while only specialty items are made here. Likewise sails, rope, and other components are purchased from other suppliers around the Channel Cities area, thus furthering the extent of Turin’s business dealings. Some say that there are very few businesses in the Channel Cities that are not touched or affected by his enterprises in one way or another.
Most of the workers are ferried out to the island daily, with most of them being residents of either Archendurn or Martelain, but a few traveling from Gorled and South Shore. The workers at the shipyard number in the hundreds (~300-400) most of the time.
His ships are nearly all custom built, however some of the smaller vessels are stock models that are built in larger numbers (mostly fishing vessels to supply the large fleet of fishermen that operate out of “Outer-Town (the area of South Shore outside the cities walls and along the southern coast of the Channel Area). They also build a large number of medium to large merchant ships (this being the bulk of the activity at the shipyard). This is due to the moderate loss of ships to the various pirate groups that operate out on the high seas as well as the storms and the rare sea creature that sometimes claim ships and their crews. They also occasionally build naval vessels for some of the local governments (primarily Gorled).
There is one design in particular that is often sought after by those who are willing to pay the higher price for them. These ships do not have as much cargo capacity due to their trim lines and sleek look, as some of the more common models and designs. However, these ships are quicker and more maneuverable, with some captains claiming to be able to outrun even the best of the pirate vessels. One of these sleeker ships was recently taken by the Glandbeln Pirates due to their large fleet and cunning tactics, which are some of the most feared of the pirate out on the seas. Thus, there is some concern among merchants that the Glandbeln clan may be able to start seeing some success against these faster ships now that they have one in their own possession.
There are rumors among sailors and others that Turin is offering a very rich bounty on the capture or destruction of this ship, as well as the capture of Old Man Glandbeln or any of his sons.

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