Show Notes
The Worth Of The Anchor
Part 1: "Journey On"
The Ladies have asked Ursula Du Mer to look after the Society while they’re away. But a quiet week is soon disrupted by an untimely arrival who brings troubles of her own.
Author’s Notes
It’s a slow start, I admit. But remember that this is one story in 5 chapters, not 5 completely new episodes. I want you to snuggle in, get to know the new characters, and get an idea of the setting before I really start raising the heat.
In the first version of this idea, the All-Rounder was going to be watching over the place. Don’t worry. He’ll show up in the future, and you’ll love him. And we were going to be cutting back and forth through the season of the off-screen adventures he was having.
Then I realized it would distract from the main stories of each episode. But the idea kept bouncing around my brain. When the idea of starting a membership came up, I wanted to give you exclusive episodes, but I knew that in the middle of producing a full season, I couldn’t also do another full season with the full cast at the same time! So I needed a smaller story, different characters, and one location. This fit the bill.
Oh, and the title’s from one of my favorite songs from the musical Ragtime. It’s early in the show, about voyages (both physical and emotional) and helps introduce the audience to new characters. I’m hoping to draft in their wake.
What is The Swashbuckling Ladies Debate Society?
Welcome to the seaside city of Massalia, nestled in the south of France. It’s the dawn of the 20th century, but things aren’t looking bright. A group calling themselves The Six engineered a sinister cultural revolution and united Europe under one banner, all beholden to the Emperor. Saffron and Zinnia are a married lesbian couple doing their best to defend the people and fight evil wherever they find it, battling with swords, words, or whatever they can use. Opposed by villains like Lord Buxton Blue, Piker Pendulum, and The Red Rapscallion, the Ladies help where they can and seek to bring down this corrupt regime. The flame of hope is still burning bright in the Swashbuckling Ladies Debate Society.