Chapter 4
by 
crunchyspag
Where do you go to find your fortune?
You have a few options
- The safest choice would be the Caribbean isles. These islands have been settled for a while, and Spanish control is firmly established, though there is still room for capable men to leave their mark. There are rumors of small gold deposits on the islands. Less glamorously, ranching and farming have been profitable as well, especially on the encomiendas run by Indian labor. The only real danger comes from various pirates (who mostly raid merchant ships) and Carib Indians, a raider people who habitually harass the Taino peoples under Spanish dominion. Horrifyingly, they are known to practice ritual cannibalism. They stand no match against a competent Spanish **** however, so a few good, well-equipped men would be all you really need if you were ever attacked. The rewards here are smaller, but so are the risks.
- Mexico is a more dangerous choice. A veteran named Cortes is apparently looking for men for his expedition to explore the territory and make contact with the peoples there in the search for gold. Rumors of the riches of Mexico are the stuff of fantasy, but beneath the fantasy much may still be true. The peoples of Mexico are many and diverse, and the land itself undoubtedly contains dangerous unknowns so it would be a decision carrying no small risk. Regardless, riches are to be won through such risk.