Pirates... (Closed for female characters)

[Ramster]

I knew he'd go down well! As for the crew, it seems very unlikely that too many of them are ex-whalers, or at least they aren't the same ex-whalers he turned pirate with ten years ago. The turnover of crew on such a  ship would be huge. But maybe there are one or two old salts still with him from when he turned rogue, who'd likely be his most trusted officers, and he might well have recruited some ex-whalers later simply because he knows they're good at killing and used to extreme hardship and long voyages.

Also, since whaling ships tended to wear out quickly due to the weather conditions and length of the voyages they made, he'll probably have traded in his whaler for something newer and nippier.

I'm thinking some of his crew would consist of sailors from European nations captured or signed on, and maybe some escaped or rescued slaves, East Indian tribesman, possibly even a Pacific islander or two, a mixed, lively bunch.

For your inspiration, here are some ideas for characters we'll need, in no particular order of urgency:

Captives. Interesting and alluring prisoners taken along for the ride for the pirates' nefarious purposes.

Able sailors, to climb the rigging, hoist the sails, man the cannon, board other ships, and mutiny.

Some specialists. No ship could set sail without a ship's surgeon, cook, quartermaster (for keeping stock of and doling out the provisions), blacksmith, a carpenter or two, sail makers, a navigator or sailing master, that kind of thing.

Pet monkeys and parrots are always welcome!

[Haibane]

You sound like a joint GM with Dashenka! I'm assuming that's the case! :)

If I were to play a society lady (governors daughter) she'd begin aboard another ship so wondering how soon said pirate vessel and her vessel would (un)fortunately (depending on your perspective) meet.

[Ramster]

Hehe, I'm mainly tossing ideas out there for the kind of characters which would make for a fun and more and less realistic pirate crew. I'm also interested in setting up at least a vague outline of some sort of plot to keep the thing cruising along once we've smashed the champagne across her bow and knocked her down the slipway. As this is Dashy's game, I'd hate to impose too much though, but being a bit of an Age of Sail enthusiast I'll be coming up with all sort of ideas. Pirates were known for being remarkably democratic in some ways. ;)

Here's one for how we end up with the first bunch of captives:

The Courtesan has just taken on board a number of new sailors in its home port, the semi-mythical pirate haven of Libertatia on the east coast of Madagascar. After putting them through their paces, Griffiths decides to try them out on travel-weary ships that have just rounded the Cape, headed for India, Ceylon and the East Indies.

A day or two out of port, they spot a storm-battered British navy sloop or brig, carrying the governor's daughter and the latest mail and dispatches to Madras, just off Mauritius. They tail her under a British flag of commerce, then, once comfortably out of sight of land, they rake her stern and board swiftly and mercilessly. Much of her crew is killed by the barrage and the pirates, some are captured and forced to join the pirates, and at least one high society lady is abducted for their entertainment. After assigning a prize crew to the captured warship, the Courtesan and its prize sail to Portuguese East Africa or Zanzibar to sell her to local slavers, then head back into the ocean to prowl the sea lanes.

Given the pace of sailing ships, we'll have to skip forwards a few days or more from time to time in order to get anywhere. That also gives us an opportunity to establish character development and changing relationships between people in summaries of what's happened off scene, while avoiding too much of the humdrum routine that mainly characterised sailing voyages back then. I think we'd all rather be boarding, pillaging, carousing and fighting rather than swabbing the decks, taking logs, and standing on night watch for weeks!

Please, everyone, speak up and chip in if you get any good ideas.

[Haibane]

Locating the game in an island archipelago would save on time skips. Either Caribbean or Phillipines/Dutch East Indies. That way you could sneak out of port in the dead of night and be out of sight of civilisation and in a shipping lane in 2 days time, do the dirty deed and be back to sell your prizes another 2 days later.

Pirates tended to avoid warships for obvious reasons so perhaps the victim might more realistically be a merchantman or Indiaman?

[Ramster]

A 10 to 14 gun brigantine could easily take on a 4 gun sloop, probably with greater ease than a much larger Indiaman, which used to carry up to 30 guns, weigh around 1200 tons and often a complement of 100 marines. Of course, an Indiaman would be a far more valuable prize and a bigger challenge, so it only seems like fun. By comparison, your average pirate brigantine would carry about 100 crew and

As a location, I think the Mozambique channel is perfect, especially if we want to avoid the Caribbean. All shipping from Asia to Europe passed close by Madagascar, the Seychelles and Comoros islands, which were all pirate havens at some point. The pirates could sail out of Madagascar or the Seychelles, capture the ship and sell it to slavers, traders or other pirates 2 days later, without running into any pesky authorities. If any come to hunt them down, they can easily hide in the many tropical and hidden inlets of the barely inhabited islands.

The main trouble I have with the Malay archipelago, the East Indies or the Philippines as a base is that the pickings weren't as good as the main route around the Cape, at least until the early to mid 19th century, and governor's daughters on their way to India few and far between. Also, these areas were dominated by Malay and other Asian pirates,  who had formidable fleets and didn't take kindly to the likes of Sean Bean impinging on their turf.  Batavia and the Dutch colonies were even under the official protection of Malay pirates for almost a century, at the cost of enormous amounts of protection money.

[Haibane]

AFAIK sloops were around 18 guns, brigs up to about 26. No point in having a warship with only 4 guns...

There's also serious political repercusions for attacking a warship. Governments tend to send out bigger ships to solve the problem. Warship crews also know how to fight, while civilian crews don't. Merchant ships tend to be easier targets all round, not just for the aspect of firepower.

[Ramster]

All right then, a merchant ship it is. It's important to bear in mind the poor communications of the era though. If a ship disappeared on its way to India, it would be a good three months after its scheduled arrival before anyone noticed something was wrong, and even then it would generally be assumed that the ship was lost at sea, probably while rounding the treacherous Cape of Good Hope. Sending an anti-pirate task force to such a remote area would typically take another few months. Attacking larger warships on their way to the east would be a bad idea, but there were a lot of places to hide from them.

With sloops of the time typically fitted with ten guns or so in navy service, mainly designed for policing other sloops and less well armed ships, and brigs generally fitted with 15 to 20 guns, these provide tempting targets for more challenging battles later, when sailing alone. While slightly undergunned compared to a brig (15 guns seems to have been a reasonable average), a brigantine could sail much closer to the wind and wipe out much of the crew with a series of broadsides. This was how many pirates captured larger ships for use as their flagships. Blackbeard managed to capture the frigate he named Queen Anne's Revenge with two lightly armed sloops and the element of surprise!

[Dashenka]

Okay so the setting I think is the Indian Ocean. Eastern Africa, Madagascar, and the East India trading routes, with maybe some detours to Singapore.

Whatever ship we sail on and it's name I leave entirely in the capable hands of our captain.

So far we have a Captain (Ramster), First mate (LimitlessNikkie), a Boatswains Mate (Hart) and a Damsel in distress (Haibane).

With me that would make five players, which is roughly what I was aiming for.

I'm thinking of a character to play which would be a deckhand pirate for murdering, boarding, hoisting sails and all that, but who would also be an able cook. Would that work?

Seeing how all the characters on the ship so far are from England, I'm thinking of making my pirate from Scotland or Ireland, just for the hell of it :D

If any of you knows anybody else interested you can contact them, or if any of the other interested players who haven't filed in a character, please do so asap.

[Ramster]

Call Blond Bert English again and he'll have you keelhauled, you scurvy swab! :P

But seriously, other nationalities are more than welcome. A deckhand as a cook? That works for me, but she won't get much swabbing the decks or mainsail hoisting done. Cooking for 100 people working in three or four shifts isn't a picnic! Also, there'll be quite a few recurring NPCs I think, to act as certain crewmen who keep popping up but who would otherwise be infuriating to play.

[Kairi]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/apprenticeanimalshaman/pirates2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sodahead.com/entertainment/are-you-sick-of-pirates-of-the-caribbean/question-1445711/%3Fpage%3D5&usg=__a9i5BrXJFv04FJ0RHLQmtuCtrzU=&h=600&w=600&sz=58&hl=en&start=12&zoom=1&tbnid=2_TTbzt2k2KhjM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=143&ei=UxYlTsqhH8XSiAKT3c39CQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfemale%2Bpirates%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS323%26biw%3D1016%26bih%3D536%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=747&vpy=198&dur=2043&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=119&ty=142&page=2&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:12

Name: Tally
Nick name: Eyes.

Tally grew up poor, her father worked in the ship yards offering his ship repair services to anyone who would pay. He was a drunk and often never went home. Tallys mother died at about age 7 and he put her to work teaching her to repair ships and such. She enjoyed the work and the company of anyone that wasn't him.

At the age of 13 her father foolishly entered a gamble with a pirate and drunk off his ass he lost the weeks worth of pay. In a despirate attempt he offered Tally to the pirate in an all or nothing game. The pirate laughed at the man attempting to refuse but as her father wouldn't have they played and Tally never saw home again. She became the crews parsonal ship repairman, her skills well tuned and toughened. She was taught how to navigate how to kill and fight for her captain and above all loyalty.

As the years passed she learned about the different continents and travel. She soon found out that her eyes were her best asset, they were exotic and were often used in ruses to trick rival ships and to lure the militia into traps. She was also able so spot detail such as weaknesses on ships and such merely by looking at the vessel, so they began to call her eyes.
at the age of 19 her captain and her crew had been killed she had been spared merely as a joke, she swore vengance on the man who mocked her and then sought out a new captain.

[Dashenka]

Kairi, could you please stick to the character sheet I posted before? Or add the additional info to your character.

[Kairi]

Uh I did, but ok.
name tally,
nick name eyes,
age 19
current location looking for a captain
back ground bastard drunken father who lost a bet and gave tally to a pirate.
special skills good eye for weakness

[Dashenka]

Kairi, could you put ALL the information required in the character sheet? Not in two seperate posts and please do remember you capitals, dots and enters :)

[Dashenka]

Name: Ailsa MacCrory
Age: 26
Role on the ship: Crew, Cook
Background: Once born a fisherman's daughter on the Scottish coast, Ailsa lost her mother at young age and had to cook and work for her father. When he died at sea, Ailsa singlehandly returned the fishingboat to the harbour, an impressive feature for a 20 year old woman alone. From there on things went bad. No income and no house, she ended up on the streets and eventually boarded a ship of the East India Trading company. Her ship was being taken by pirates and in a strike of mercy the captain decided to spare her after he had tasted some of the food she had prepared on the English ship. Now she works as a cook on the ship but is very capable with a sword and tough as nails when she has to be.

Appearance and interesting feats.

I know, but cliche's this good cannot be ignored...

Anything else you would you like us to know. Arr...

[EvilBeast]

Name: Ramón de Torregas
Age: 20
Role on the ship: Crew, with lofty aspirations of becoming Captain.

Background: Ramón is the son of a pirate. At least, that is what his mother would tell him. Old Mathias de Torregas and his mother had dwelt in a pirate town, far to the south. He had sent her north to a trading port when she became pregnant, a better life for their child. So she told Ramón. As Ramón grew older, he realized the truth. His mother was nothing but a common whore, and sent off likely to avoid scandal, trouble, or both for his father.

Appearance:. Ramón is a dark complected, broad-shouldered man. Long, black hair tumbles in waves down his back, though he usually keeps it neatly tied with a leather cord. A black mustache and goatee adorn his olive-hued face. His eyes are a dark, stormy brown. He usually wears a red cloth around his head. His ears sport multiple piercings and are adorned with cheap earrings.

Ramón typically wears the attire of a sailor: loose trousers, and an open front, white shirt worn under a leather jerkin. His footwear of choice is black leather boots. A rapier hangs in a scabbard at his side.

Personality: A freebooter by nature, Ramón is loathe to be held by law either on land or at sea. Ramón, always a great lover of women, prides himself on his looks and manners, though many see this as simple arrogance. His dashing appearance and suave mannerisms have led many hearts astray. Those who have just met him might call him charming, mysterious, exotic. Those that have known him more than a night (indeed, sometimes less) refer to him closer to his nature: an uncouth scallywag and common pirate.

If there is one thing Ramón loves more than women and drink, it is the sea. He vows to one day captain his own vessel, and sail to the ends of the Earth, in uncharted waters.

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Still some work to be done on the background, if you are needing it.

[Haibane]

I'm beginning to think the damsel in distress might not fit into this, it all seems to be about the ship and its crew and their adventures and I can see a lot of time passing with characters being developed before my governors daughter enters the game. Perhaps a crew member would be a better idea.

[Dashenka]

Well not ANY Damsel in distress... Haibane in distress.. that's a significant difference  >:)

What would you want to be if you play that? Captured or volunteer?

You're free to play anything you want but I think a bit of a slave to work around and entertain the people would fit in.

[Haibane]

Yeah, the ships bicycle would be fun, to be had by anyone at any time for no reason, and probably kept naked. Would just help cook and sew and mend most of the time she wasn't on her back. Could have once been a governors daughter and is too hot to sell on... also still very posh and upper class but secretly loves the endless sex and spankings.

Can you see that character development is my weak point? Huh, all I seem to enjoy writing these days is porn, the quality of my work has nose-dived significantly since I joined Elliquiy!

[kckolbe]

~chuckles at Haibane~  Perhaps a ship's Jenny?  Being the only/first woman available for freshly rich pirates is a fast way to become rich oneself.  Hell, such a person would be an unofficial officer.

[Dashenka]

I don't mind your porn Hai! It's one of those things one can never have enough of :D

[Ophelia Jaxon]

Name: Glory Fitz

Age: 23

Sexuality: Bisexual

Personality: She's kind and patient...mothering almost, tries to be cheerful in any situation

Role: Cook

Skills: Cooking, first aid.

Flaws: Not very good at Fighting

Equipment: A little serrated dagger, jewel encrusted, keeps hidden(given to her on her wedding night from her husband). One small pistol she has strapped to her thigh, just in case.

Bio: Glory was from a good standing family, she might have one day made the title of 'Lady', but...it was not to be. Influenza plagued the town she was born in, when she was ten it was her duty to look after the house, her mother had been the first to die, followed by her brother and father. Grace herself fell ill, but was one of the lucky ones.

So, she did what any young girl would do with no family, got a job at a bar cleaning tables. That's where she met her beau. The son of a pirate to become a pirate. They were attracted to each other, he would bring her gifts each time he visited the port she was in. When she was sixteen they got married and he took her with him, not wanting to leave her behind. He was a fabulous thief and quick with a sword or gun so was a great asset to the ship. Glory took up the cooking and cleaning, at age twenty she became pregnant and the baby date was near so she was to stay on land.

There was a storm the ship was capsized, only a few survivors and he wasn't one of them. Being very intuitive, Glory knew that her husband was gone and hoped he was with her family in the heavens. Glory is looking for a job on a ship, maybe there's a chance that her husband did survive. In her heart she doesn't believe it, but even if the sea were to claim her...who was there to care?

Her husband taught her how to use a gun, though she would only resort to that if absolutely necessary.

On's: Just about everything ;)

[Amelita]

So... I am having muse crisis and she seems to be dropping interest for my older games and craving new ones... That being said, I have wanted a pirate game since I joined E, and well, you lot are so fantastic... how can I not submit this?

Name: Annmarie Jackson, Blackbird
Age: 27
Role on the ship: Captive
Background: Annmarie was born on a ship, raised on a ship and has every intent of staying on a ship for the rest of her days. She's the only daughter... well, only claimed daughter... of a wealthy and feared pirate captain named Silvereye Jackson and has earned her position on board her father's ship by nothing less than hard work, sacrifice and determination not to be broken.

She was by no means allowed to wander around the ship as a child and her virtue was certainly not to be taken for granted when she grew a pair of breasts. She fought off a few, was unable to fight off another few and then killed the rest. Well, except the ones she enjoyed ::) Her boots were soon colored by the pools of blood she spilled on her way to earning the crew's respect, and at the young age of fifteen, she was no longer fair pray. Oh you might wonder if her father really let all this happen to her without intervening, but if you think that cold bastard had any intention of wrapping her in cotton and sunshine you're gravely mistaken. I didn't get to where I am by being pretty, he'd spit at her the few times she complained over the treatment she had to endure and that became her motto.

Oh, she knows she can use her looks to get things she'd otherwise never see the shadow of, but she has no delusions about what really gets you where you want to go.

Why she's there:
Silvereye Jackson and the Captain of the ship played cards, dice or whatever and in a foolish rush of confidence, her father raised the stakes to offering his daughter to the other man should he lose. Which he naturally did. Since he didn't exactly have any intention of actually letting the bastard get away with his daughter, he offered gold instead. The captain knew however, that Silvereye had a very enticing stash of treasures in a secret location. This was what the rumors said, in any case, and who was to deny it? He figured having Jackson's daughter would be a nice little card on hand. Expecting some fiery little thing, also figured she'd be fun for the crew to play with.

or:
The ships met, there was sparring, lives were lost and a hostage was taken  to ensure the ship wouldn't be sunk. (They might know of her as Silvereye's daughter and figure the guy wouldn't kill her.) They also knew she could prove useful in finding her father's stash of treasures, and who wouldn't want to beat one of the known pirates at his own game? Maybe the two captains have a history, maybe they have a connection through something. Ideas perfectly acceptable, just suggest it ;)

Appearance and interesting feats. She's 170cm and curvy, but strong and lithe which shows in her movement. She's without question a sensual looking woman due to her mother's blood (a harem girl, one of Silvereye's conquests), but the full lips, dark lashes and subtly tanned skin don't really match up to her dark, almost black eyes. The reason for her nickname. She does have a number of tattoos all over her body, most of them on hands and arms but she has a small inc of a snake shaped as a sickle on her cheekbone to remind others that death doesn't play fair, nor does she. Scars, plenty of'em. None look particularly special, just your random signs of a rough life on board a pirate ship...

Anything else you would you like us to know. mmm not that I can think of, no. Except, I do realize you guys are over the player number and there will be absolutely no hard feelings should you not choose to include her/me in the game <3

[kckolbe]

Nice character Amelia.  As for her joining, perhaps she was the one who lost the card game, thinking that if she lost she'd be signed on as proper crew instead of captive.  As for my character, still waiting on a couple of things to be answered and will do some coordination with Ramster.

[olive]

I want to play!

I'll get a character sheet up later today if you folks will have me. It's a great idea and I have really been wanting to play Pirates with someone. *laughs*

I have a character already from other dead game (2 posts in dead). She's trying to escape an arranged marriage and she seeks passage on a pirate ship to run away from home. (Maybe that could work here too.) Basically she cannot find a legimate ship to take her (her father is well known in the shipping industry)  so she makes a deal w/the pirate captain to work for her passage but he ends up selling her to a wealthy trademan instead once he's done with her. *smiles*

If you think that would work, I can have her ready in a jiffy. If not, well then I can go another route.

[Haibane]

Just wondering at the number of female characters here. I think we need more males. Pirate ships were rarely mostly female crewed!