Whatever Floats Your Boat: The Transatlantic Voyage of Mansa Muhammad ibn Qu, 1312
Non Traditional Crisis Committee
In the early 14th century, Mansa Musa, the legendary ruler of the Mali Empire, spoke of a mysterious voyage undertaken by his predecessor, Mansa Muhammad ibn Qu. According to the legend, Muhammad launched an expedition of hundreds of ships across the ocean, the world, and into the unknown. By all accounts, the mariners never returned home, forever cementing legend into history, until now.
In this unconventional crisis committee, delegates will step aboard this fateful fleet and ascend into the role of a key figure within Mansa Muhammad’s ambitious vision-inspired expedition. Medieval mariners, or delegates, are charged with maintaining order within the fleet while also navigating the unknown and fulfilling the ambitions of an unpredictable Mansa Muhammad, who’s determined to brave the edge of the world and beyond. Mariners should expect challenges of the highest calibre, creatures and concepts foreign to their home in the Mali Empire. Delegates may get lost at sea and have to forge for the fleet, balancing unclear mission goals and personal power. Delegates are encouraged to embody the characters as they embark on their long odyssey, collecting potentially useful tourist trinkets along the way. In addition, delegates must decide how far they will go, what sacrifices they will make, and whom they will keep their allegiance to.
Amidst the chaos, the mariners will discover that this voyage is more than a journey across water but rather a passage into myth and mystery. What lies beyond the horizon may reshape not only their fate but the very course of history. Will they swim, sail, or sink to Davy Jones’ Locker?
