Buenaventura, 1810 — A Campaign Setting for Espionage and Intrigue
In 1810, the port city of Buenaventura stands at the edge of empire and revolution. Situated along the humid Pacific coast of New Granada, it is a vital artery for Spanish colonial trade—gold, quinine, cacao, and contraband flow through its docks in equal measure. As the Spanish Crown falters under Napoleonic occupation, its grip on the colonies weakens. Across South America, juntas declare autonomy, criollo intellectuals circulate forbidden pamphlets, and soldiers question whether their loyalty lies with the empire or with their homeland.
Buenaventura becomes a battleground of influence, not just of armies. The Spanish authorities—represented by the hard-nosed Governor Martín de Alzate—struggle to maintain order with dwindling resources. His officials are divided: some cling to Madrid, others quietly seek opportunity in the chaos. Royalist officers have begun recruiting spies among merchants, priests, and even dockworkers, hoping to root out revolutionary cells before they ignite the port.
Meanwhile, the Patriots—a patchwork of criollo reformers, mestizo smugglers, and disillusioned officers—operate from shadowy taverns, river villages, and jungle hideouts. They receive whispered promises of support from British agents, who slip ashore from ships prowling just beyond the horizon. Britain sees the weakening Iberian empires as fertile ground for influence, trade dominance, and covert operations against France.
The maroon communities deep in the rainforest hold their own councils, forging alliances only when their autonomy is respected. Their scouts control the hidden river paths coveted by both sides. Indigenous groups along the interior routes play a subtle diplomatic game, leveraging knowledge of terrain and supply networks in exchange for political concessions.
Buenaventura is a city of spies, false flags, coded letters, secret landings, and shifting loyalties. In this turbulence, a single operative or group of their actions—your actions—can tilt the entire balance of New Granada’s future.
