The Skipper

[Tidings]

Homins I bring you a brief biography of The Skipper and the text of last night's speech:

The Skipper

Skipper is standing for technology as the future hope of the Tryker race and for that fact all Homins. In his younger days, the Skipper traveled extensively throughout all of Atys, seeking out the knowledgeable sages and studied under many of them. His quest has always been science and how it can be utilized to better the life of Homins.

His somewhat radical concepts of government can be attributed to late night discussions with other students in the Matian Psykopia dust tea houses he frequented. It was here that he met his life long friend and supporter O’Biggan Brassen, the current Mayor of Windermeer.

Never a fighter, always a thinker, the Skipper would rather follow diplomatic solutions to problems, not use the might of the sword. He has been quoted as once saying. “It is better to drink with your enemies and make them your friends, otherwise you end up making even more enemies of their kinsmen when they die. Rrevenge is a terrible thing and to be avoided at all costs”.

These attitudes have led some, who use their fighting skills and not their minds, to label the Skipper as weak and unfit for public office. When asked about this the Skipper responded with a small smile, “Life is one compromise after another, if fighting and death were always the first resort, I fear that you and I would not be here to have this conversation my friend”.

As for the Skippers family background it has been said by the Skipper that his great grandfather was the leader of the, at the time just before the great swarming, much esteemed “Council of Pirates”, if nothing else, this in the Skippers mind makes him fit for leadership.


The Skipper's Speech

My good friends and fellow Trykers, come have a drink on me and let me tell you of my plans for the future of the Lakelands.

My platform is one of Technology, I wish to use the capital raised by the Tryker race to further R&D into sailing ships and with the help of My friend Tappy O’Ryl begin research into steam power and harnessing the force of waterfalls to provide energy for the many projects I wish to implement, such as the automatic Armor Crafting loom, a flushing sanitary waste removal system that would go into all Homins apartments.

Just the other day I was discussing, over breakfast with my good friend, O'Biggan Brassen, the mayor of Windermeer, ways of increasing the power output of her windmills and also ways of reversing the actions of the windmills to provide motive force for moving ships across the Lakeland’s.

I also want to develop “Lifeboats” to protect Homins upon the Lakes, so the unfortunate occurrence of my last experiment, The Ora’s sinking and the stranding of myself and my passengers, will not be repeated.

But of more concern for me is the Dark project with the experimentation and genetic modification of Goo that is a threat to our health and to our ecology. It is an untested technology with enormous implications for our environment, largely held in the hands of rogue tribes. I will implement the precautionary principles for new technologies and continue to campaign for a complete ban on goo experimentation and research.

Until a ban is made into law though, I believe that with the recent proliferation in Goo weaponry, as was so sadly demonstrated by the assassination of my good friend, Still Wyler that a “Goo Gap” is forming between the races and an unnamed group of radical agents bent on spreading Darkness upon the face of Atys. I therefore will build a secret Anti-Goo research center far away from any habitation, for the peaceful production of Anti-Goo shields and Early Goo Warning Systems to be placed near our borders, to stop Goo from being brought into the Lakelands.

And now for a little bit about my background. I come from an old family well established prior to the Great Swarming. Though just exactly what my ancestors did in the past, has some Homins wondering about the legitimacy of some of my claims.

There is no doubt that my great grandfather was the leader of the, at the time, much esteemed “Council of Pirates”, my father always said that the CoP was formed to enforce the Lakeland’s taxation system, whereby, non-Tryker races were free to sail the Lakeland’s and barter their goods at the cities, towns and outposts, as long as they paid a tax to the government and carried papers to prove it.

The CoP was tasked to raid ships and confirm the presence of their proper “Paperwork”, if a ship was found to be without these documents, then the CoP’s were free to take any goods carried upon those ships and sink them.

Unfortunately, at the time the other races disagreed amongst themselves and refused to pay any taxes. Thus up to the time of the Great Swarming, it seems that the CoP’s Had a free hand and attacked any ship not flying the Tryker flag.

If I am elected and can improve on my designs for ships of the Lakelands, I propose to reinstate the CoP’s and would like to suggest the brave Blackwater Pirates for the first members of the reformed CoP’s.

One last small point but one that I'm very in favor of. If elected I propose to move the halls of government to the local bars around the Lakelands. What better place for us all to discuss the laws and their effects on ourselves as a race and a perfect place for every Tryker to take part in the debates concerning those laws and their consequences.

Thank you all for your time and kind words, CHEERS to you all.

Please remember to cast your vote for the best Tryker….. ME!