When she retired from adventuring, the famous swashbuckler Tarilia Moune purchased two asteroids and a set them up for farming. At the time, most Bralian foodstuffs were imported from one of the several worlds in the sphere (such as Spiral). Tarilia's move nearly destroyed several powerful merchant houses, as soon as her asteroids had begun producing a decent amount foodstuffs she was able to drastically undercut their prices on basic foodstuffs, like grains.
Since that time several other houses have followed her example, and those houses still importing from the groundling worlds have learned to either lower their prices or concentrate on more exotic foodstuffs which the asteroids cannot produce (meats, citrus fruits, ect). Bral's population has also grown significently (12,000 or so at last count), not to mention the large number of vessels provisioning there vessels for long voyages. The importation of food remains a very lucrative trade for all involved on Bral. Finagle, the asteroid described below, is fairly typical of farming asteroids. (The other asteroid owned House Moune, Torik's Luck, is virtually identical to Finagle.)
Finagle is one of the two asteroids originally purchased by Lady Moune, she gave the asteroid its name because of the skilled bargaining of its previous owner, a scarred, ancient dwarven prospector who had finally accepted the asteroid held no gems or precious metals. The asteroid itself was perfect for Lady moune's purposes, it was vaguely lozenge shaped, and relatively flat. A sizeable percentage of the asteroid's surface area was available for farming. Its gravity was standard, and its atmosphere fresh, virtually untouched. It was in the same orbit as Bral, trailing about 6 days behind (at spelljamming speeds) in a small asteroid cluster—the Grainfields.
Lady Moune immediatly began import shipload after shipload of topsoil which she dumped on the asteroid in slow aerial passes. A hired mage carved two large depressions into the plateaus on each side of the asteroid, chunks of ice dropped into these, where it melted to form small lakes. A slight spin was imparted to the asteroid, so that for 12 hours each day would face the sun, and for the other 12 hours that side would be in shadow (to mimic the light cycle of the worlds the plants were drawn from).
With the basics thus fulfilled the planning of the community began. Irrigation ditches were dug, draining water from the lakes and distributing it among the fields. A small keep was built for defence, and several towers were built along the edges. Barns, warehouses, and homes were built as well, and a small tavern. The fields were laid out according to the plan still used today. Recently a small theater has been built, for festivals and visiting bards to perform in.
Life on Finagle is similar to the life of a typical groundling farming village. Folk work the fields, live, and die. House Moune owns the asteroid, and most of Finagles inhabitents are employees, but that doesn't affect life much on an everyday basis. There are a few differences from what would be the norm in a groundling village. Fires are watched very carefully, and rarely used except to fix meals (the asteroid's normal temperature is a comfortable 75 degrees). Only scrapp wood and coal is used to fuel such fires. The asteroid's air envelope is huge, and the population of 200 or so could live at least a year before it became fouled. This is usually not a danger, as the fields easily produce enough oxygen to replenish the air used by the population daily. Everyone is trained for defence, especially in the use of the tower's light catapults and light ballistae. Most refuse is not pitched or jettisoned, but instead placed into large compost piles for later use fertilizing the fields. Very little gets wasted on a farming asteroid.
The asteroids sides are named for their most obvious feature, Treeside houses the orchards, as well as the docks and most of the living quarters and warehouses. Herdside has the paddocks, and is very thoroughly planted.
Map of Finagle
Key
Citadel- This small, square keep is flanked by two ballista towers. It houses the asteroid's administrative staff, and acts as the barracks for the small group of mercenaries maintained on the asteroid. The Chief administrator of the Astroid is Carlson Bell (human male), a large, rotund man with a flair for keeping track of the everyday details of life. Formerly an alekeep on Bral, carlson signed on with House Moune after a drunk nearly killed him during a senseless bral in the tavern he was working at. Deciding he'd had enough of bullies and thugs, he was pleasently surprised he a had a knack for buisiness. Three years ago he had risen high enough within the house that Lady moune appointed him to head up the Finagle operation (one of the top three positions in the House after Lady Moune herself). He is backed by Tars Scavverslayer (human male), a wizard-level member of the Honored Mages' Guild of Bral. Tars is charged with maintaining magical contact with the home office on Bral, as well as providing other magical services for the asteroid as needed. He is a tall, thin, cultured individual, sarcastic but good intentioned. Tars has a friendly rivalry with Sergeant-Major Tomja Steelhead, the leader of 42nd Provisional Platoon of the Giff Royal Marines. Sgt-Maj Tomja's platoon is 20 giff strong, and represents the only organized military force on finagle. They spend their days patrolling, doing maintainence on the artillery, and training the other workers for militia duty in case the asteroid is attacked. The top of the citadel holds the platoon's most prized possession, a bombard.
Treeside Plateau- Unlike the plateau herdside, this plateau is reserved for large events and administrative buildings. There are no fields here.
Lake Treeside
Theater- This theater is often used visiting bards and theater groups.
Docks- Set at the gravity plane, these docks can accomadate four tradesmen at once. Warehouses and a tavern (The Finagle Arms) surround them. Every week, at least one House Moune Tradesman docks. Tramp freighters, Aperusa and traveling specialty shops occasionally pull in as well (25% chance on any given day of a non-House Moune ship being present). Both the Royal Bralian Navy and Imperial Elven Navy check in as well (House Moune is known to sell a large quatity of supplies to the IEN). The Bralian ships typically check in every three or four days, the elves are more infrequent. While owned entirely by House Moune Finagle is technically a Bralian territory. An assault on the asteroid is thus an act of war against the Rock. Lady Moune ensures this is readily apparent having Bralian standards flown from several highly visible spots.
Landing Field and Hanger- Six wreckboats are stored in the hanger here when not in use. Each carries a medium ballista, but is helmless. Create Minor Helm spells (cast from memory or a scroll) are used to power the craft when they are needed. Crewed by a mageling or priest and 3 warriors these vessels act as tugs or cargo barges for vessels too large to land at the docks, patrol the asteroid belt, and act as a ready defence force in case of assult (2 crews are always on "ready" status in the hanger in case of need).
Grain Fields- Wheat, maize, potatoes, and oats are all grown in these fields, following a strict crop rotation system. Each field grows each in turn, as well as one 3 month cycle where the field is left fallow and the livestock are allowed to graze on it.
Vegetable Fields- These fields are located near the lake on herdside because they need a lot of water. Various vegatable crops (tomatoes, peppers, peas, ect) are grown here.
Paddocks- House Moune maintains a small hern of goats for meat and milk, Moune Cheese is a rich, white cheese very similar to our Baby Swiss. Additionally, the oxen used to plow the fields are kept here, and the occasional exotic mount is stored here for later resale (horses, camels, ect).
Lake Herdside
The Orchards- Apple and pear trees
Temple to Demeter- House Moune pays to maintain this temple, staffed by 5 priests of Demeter. While the priests realize this is just good buisiness sense on House Moune's part, Lady Moune has also sponsored a small temple to Demeter in the Middle Quarter of the Rock. her finacial support (as well as the support of several other Houses) has enabled Demeter to build a sizeable body of worshippers in this sphere. Many of the asteroid's inhabitents attend the weekly temple services.
Ballista Towers- Somewhat poorly named, there are 21 of these 30' round, stone towers doting the asteroid. Each is 20' in diameter, and houses a light balista, and a light catapult in a protected turret on the roof. These turrets allow 360 degree fire (inclduing straight up) and require a 2 man crew in addition to the std weapon crews. Heavy crossbows, spears, and shields stock each towers armory, and the light catapults have a variety of special shot, including greek fire and various types of mage shot. Typically, there are always 4 people capable of manning each tower within 1-3 rounds of it. Some of the towers are manned on a regular, rotating basis so that at least 3 towers on each side are manned at any one time. Lady Moune felt that the range, rate of fire, and low crew requirements of the light catapults would more then make up for their lower damage.
