To quote an old adage variant, "Stupid is as stupid does." Which is to stay, stupid people do stupid things. Or in this case, pirates. Instead of swimming to land and finding safety after a horrible shipwreck, they decide to have an impromptu breath holding contest - in shark infested waters - with monsters. You want to root for the pirates, but at the same time you cheer on the hungry sharks.
I have many fond memories of being a Child Geek and playing Dungeons & Dragons with my friends. Our role-playing games were little more than kicking down doors, killing all that moved, and looting everything to buy bigger and better gear. We loved it. But that was when I was a kid and had all the time in the world. As an adult, I am constantly scrambling to make time, find time, or be on time. But I still miss my days of exploring dungeons and beating up the bad guys. That's why I'm so pleased to have found the Pocket Adventures Card System and a pocket to put it in.
Time travel comes at a cost. While moving back and forth, an energy known as "vesper" seeps through the Timeline, corroding it. It travels with the Antiquitects as they go about ensuring Time remains balanced, but it's through their actions that Time is now unraveling. In hopes of saving Time itself, the powers that be have given the go ahead for the Antiquitects to build the Forbidden Machines; powerful inventions that could destroy the balance and erase everything.
Dragons were once feared, but they are now domesticated and adored. Some households even have dragons for pets. You and others breed, train, and race dragons. It's the ultimate sport that brings man and dragon together to form a single team. You must trust your dragon completely as your dragon trusts you. This is a race where speed matters, but speed alone won't win you the cup. You must think fast, think smart, and work with your dragon or you'll be left far behind.
With the advent of time travel, the powers that be quickly established a government department with one single purpose: maintain the status quo. Using the Ancient Machine, as the time traveling device has come to be known, you will venture to the past to ensure previously established technologies remain firmly establish. But time is a funny thing and history books can be re-written with ease. You have an opportunity to be the first to invent everything, if you are savvy enough to do it under the radar.
It might be cold, dark, and dangerous in the mines, but that's where the wealth is. Gemstones the size of your HEAD can be found below ground. It's easy enough to find them, but the trick is tapping them out of the stone. The mine is unstable and the rock is very fragile. If you want to "strike it rich", you need to strike softly. Hit too hard, and you'll be covered in worthless rock.