The Pen

Olympia: The Age of Gods PBEM (Oct 4 2000)

### 2.2.3: The Pen

Some time in the gap of history that followed the Time of Flames, solitary ships began appearing in human ports bearing stocky gnomes who called themselves "Pen". Treated cautiously or with fear at first, the Pen soon became accepted and welcomed throughout the known lands. For the most part the Pen were merchants and traders. They were honest to a fault, and strictly neutral in Human affairs. As contact between Pen and Man grew, the Pen began to offer other services -- such as labourers and mercenaries -- but always remained honest and neutral.

Amongst Men, the Pen are sometimes called "Sea Gnomes".

The Pen live on a small, rocky island they call Penhome. Few in number, they are divided into five families. Like all gnomes, they covet riches, and the five families compete to see who can hoard the most treasure. Once a year the tally is taken and the patriarch of the richest family is crowned High King of Pen. The High King of Pen receives a magical artifact called the Pen Crown.

The Pen are limited to five players. Nobles in the Pen may not learn any religion or magic skills (e.g., [2000] Church of Eres, [2100] Church of Anteus, [2200] Church of Dol, [2300] Church of Timeid, [2400] Church of Ham, [2500] Church of Kireus, [2600] Church of Halon, [2700] Church of Domingo, [2800] Magic, [2900] Scrying, [3000] Gatecraft, [3100] Artifact Construction, [3200] Necromancy, or [3300] Advanced Sorcery).

A Pen player must always pay the NP cost when converting a noble from another faction. Likewise, when another faction converts a Pen noble, they must always repay the NP cost.

Note that because of their limitations (no use of magic or religion) and difficult starting position (a small, isolated island), it is impossible for the Pen to compete on equal terms with the other nations. Players choosing to play the Pen should accept that any major role they play in world politics must be through diplomacy and cleverness, not by might or power. In reality, the Pen are "apart" from the competition between the other nations, and concentrate on competing amongst each other to be the greatest merchant.