Ship name: Justice Unconquered
Port: Mayene
Cargo: dry foodstuffs, cloth, some shields and gauntlets
Defenses: minimal, mostly an honor guard
Opinion: In terms of useful resources and poor defenses, this be probably an above-average target. However, I think the only reason they do be making landfall here rather than in Tear is because they stubbornly want to show the realms that they be an independent state and do no only have to do business with Tear; I'd feel a little bad if we raided them and started an international incident. (Okay, a second reason do be because the First's new paramour is a little skittish around gateways.) Anyway, attack if we have to, but only under a clearly neutral flag. (Can we have our own flag? Maybe a burning sword. Something cool.)
Ship name: Patria
Port: Ebou Dar
Cargo: leopard banners, red belts, potions, herbs, old-fashioned weaponry
Defenses: unclear, there are a lot of armed people, I think they're just ceremonial though
Opinion: The Altaran nationalist movement is adorable. Let us be real, it basically do be the Ebou Dar nationalist movement, House Mitsobar did no be able to control anything beyond their own city even before the Seanchan came. Anyway, this is worthless and we do no want to make the Seanchan mad for no reason. Pass.
Ship name: Tai'Duadhe
Port: no idea
Cargo: veils, smithy tools, algode
Defenses: a bunch of Aiel who would probably kill you as soon as look as you
Opinion: As if the Aiel were no already terrifying enough, they be trying to launch trade routes too just so they can get over their fear of water? Avoid, at all costs.
Ship name: Dancing Moon
Port: Cantorin
Cargo: porcelain, kaf, gems
Defenses: lots of Sea Folk. However, they do no seem to have any channelers, and they seem fairly occupied with a power struggle. Currently bickering over what voting system to use to appoint their next leader.
Opinion: In normal times I would have said we know better than to try to tangle with Atha'an Miere on their own ship. However, these do no be normal times. I think many of the Sea Folk are interested in taking advantage of their territory in Andor and using gateways to trade; the ones who do remain with their ships and act like nothing has changed seem to be a more conservative, less influential faction. If we work quickly, we might be able to score here. Also, I really want some kaf.
Ship name: Los Deveniye
Port: Noren M'Shar
Cargo: Sen T'jore cats, circus animals, spicy fruits
Defenses: Seanchan, both da'covale and mercenaries
Opinion: I would really love to strike a blow against the Seanchan. Both because their empire seems quite repressive even by pirate standards, and also because they probably do have some kaf. However, I can no tell whether this ship is loyal to the Empress, or whether they represent one of the distant cousins who want to reclaim the throne (do she even have any of those left)? In the first case, I would no mind letting some of those Sen T'jore beasts loose to cause havoc (no to plunder, they wouldn't fit on our ship anyway) and seeing what we can make away with. In the latter, we might be able to ally with them-maybe we can create a diversion while they do launch a coup? Worth keeping an eye on.
Ship name: Sacred Breeze
Port: New Ruicoa, or Jabin Yiltz, or maybe Elshik Va'Doram
Cargo: silk, ivory, gold
Defenses: not sure
Opinion: It's Shara; burn me if I do know. I'm guessing a lot of their armed warriors were killed at Tarmon Gai'don, so maybe it do be a relatively safe target? Or maybe we'll all be set on fire as soon as we get aboard ship. I feel like the chance of scoring some Sharan silk is worth it, though. Especially if gateways are going to make it more accessible soon, we want to take advantage of our expertise while it still be unique.
Ship Name: Splendid Fang
Port: Bandar Eban
Cargo: books, prototype metal contraptions
Defenses: few
Opinion: The Terhana scholars do be exchanging some of their manuscripts with the new Royal Academies in Andor and Cairhien. That be nice for them, I guess, but useless for us. Pass.
Ship name: Mighty Festival
Port: Tanchico
Cargo: small sculptures, herbal kits, a lot of large crates labeled "food"
Defenses: a decent number of Westlands folk
Opinion: This do feel like a very inefficient way to ship food. Maybe a hidden Illuminator house trying to avoid Seanchan patrols? I suspect if we tried to attack we'd find them more threatening than they appear. May also be worth trying to ally/trade semi-legally with.
Ship name: Gray Skull
Port: most recently, Tear
Cargo: plunder, booty, windfall
Defenses: lots of fellow pirates
Opinion: They may be Tairen, but pirates do be pirates. Leave them alone and respect the code of honor among thieves. Fourth Age or no Fourth Age, some things do no change.
