In the world of pirating, there are many famous captains. Some notorious for their curelty. Others legendary for their conquests. The question is, which will you be?
[[Set Sail]]Grubby shuffles, hunched over, to lead you out the door. The morning sun hits your eyes as they adjust to the light. The salt air fills your nostrils as the birds caw overhead.
There are a number of rickety wood shacks of varying size. Several pirates stumble about in the streets, obviously recovering from the night before. You can see what is obviously a tavern to the right. To your left lies the port and a few large ships are moored up among the smaller ones.
Grubby says,
(text-colour:blue)["That there be the tavern. Yer one stop shop for booze, food, and wenches. I do not much be recommendin' food. Or the wenches fer that matter. And truth be told the booze is a might watered down."]
He gestures left,
(text-colour:blue)["And that there be the port of Tortuga. That be where ye can find quartermasters looking for good lads to join the crew. If it were me, I'd get me whereabouts at the tavern before I'd go a lootin' and a murderin'. But that be up to you, ye scallywag."]
[[Explore the port <Notorious>]]
[[Explore the tavern <Legendary>]]Grubby leads you down the overgrown path and you emerge at a surprisingly immense port.
There are several piers that jut out into the water with large ships docked at them.
Further out in the cove are a number of even larger ships, anchored out in the blue water.
On land, there are several wooden shacks of varying size. Perhaps for storage or trading. Maybe both.
On each of the piers are men of different statures, all with registry books in hand.
Grubby points to the men,
(text-colour:blue)["Those be the quartermasters I be tellin' ye about. Should ye be wanting to adventure, thats where ye go. I should warn ye, they may not always be the most honest of individuals if ye catch me drift. Don't let them be pullin' the wool over yer eyes me hardy."]
You start to get a closer look when someone catches your eye. One of the shopkeepers looks strikingly like the cook on your old ship. But you thought there had been no survivors. You must investigate, but you shouldn't make it too obvious.
[[Talk to the Shopkeeper]]Grubby leads you into the musty tavern. There is a complete lack of windows, they all seem to have been broken from the inside then boarded up. Around the room flickering candles provide just enough light to see through the smoke.
There are three long tables with benches. A few drunken sailors sit at each one, each minding his business.
At the back are two men playing a game of dice to pass the time.
On the left wall stretches a bar with a rather masculine looking woman behind the bar. Should there be a tavern brawl, she looks like she'll come out on top. There is a decent five-o'clock shadow on her chin.
(text-colour:blue)["Well if it isn't the most beautiful woman in the world, and the love of me life!"] Grubby exclaims, "William I'd like ye to meet the woman for who your life be owed to, me pirate wife, Annabell."
Annabell does a bastardized version of a curtsey with all the confidence of a queen,
(text-colour:magenta)["I'm pleased to make your aquintance, William. Grubby over here suggested we should relieve you of your valuables and leave you in the sand. He's always such a grouch, but I'm glad I could convince him to save you, good sir."]
You notice Annabell speaks with a much cleaner accent, as if she was the governor's wife herself.
Just then you hear a familiar voice from behind you shout your name, (text-colour:yellow)["Oi! William!"]
[[Turn to face the voice]](text-colour:blue)["Grubby Small-Foot at yer service. And that smell be me wife! Ha ha yo ho! No but really she be in need of a bath rather expidiciously yo ho." He replies. "And this be me humble abode on the famed island of Tortuga! Sanctuary to pirates like ye and me alike! But what exactly be ye doing here? Ye looked far to beat up to be a wakin' up from a drunken stooper-like"]
You remember back, the fog slowly disipating from your memory.
(text-colour:green)["I remember my ship had been attacked. My captain gave the order to abandon ship just before a cannonball hit and everything went black. Next thing I know, I'm clinging to a chest floating in the open ocean then I wake up here."]
Grubby says,
(text-colour:blue)["Damn, that be a be a cryin' shame, losing yer cap'n like that. But there be good news! Me pirate wife tracked down ye chest! There be all sorts of goodies in there. Sword and scabbard and pistol and hat and-"]
You cut him off,
(text-colour:green)["Thank you, I'll take a look."]
You dig through the chest, it appears to have been someone's personal belongings. Finder's keepers. They're not going to need them anymore. You don the clothing. A flowy white shirt, normal trousers. Buckaneer boots to protect your feet, and a simple tri-corn hat covers your head. You buckle up the sword scabbard with the rusty cutlass, and stuff the pistol in the belt. Now you look like a real pirate.
Grubby gestures to the door,
(text-colour:blue)["Now that ye look the part, let me show ye around. I be a good host and all."]
[[Explore the island]]You creep up to the shop, it is just a small rickety shack thats leaning a little bit. On the front hangs a sign with a fish and a chicken drumstick crossed. The shopkeeper, who you swear you know, is a short and round man with a large bushy mustache and a horseshoe of grandpa hair. He quickely notices you.
(text-colour:orange)["By George! Why I do not believe it! Old Sport is it really you!?"] he shouts. He has a booming deep voice that he projects quite a lot. Paired with his thick aristocratic accent, he commands presence in a somewhat amusing way.
You toss secrecy aside and rush up to the counter, struggling to formulate a thought,
(text-colour:green)["Cook! What are you- how did you- what the hell are you doing alive!?" ]you exclaim.
The Cook looks at you and Gruby,
(text-colour:orange)["Well my dear boy, all in due time! But first you seem to have forgotten your manners
dear boy! Won't you introduce your good friend here, Old Sport?"]
Grubby takes the hint before you can say anything,
(text-colour:blue)["I be the pirate known as Grubby, I found yer friend here washed up on that there beach yar harr. Me pirate wife nursed the lad back to health and now I be helping him get his bearing on this here island, ya fancy? I be taking it, you two are of an aquantance?"] he says, visibly upset at how loud The Cook is.
The Cook shows an expression of understanding, blind to his volume,
(text-colour:orange)["Ah yes well I do have the upmost gratitude for that, old sport! Truth be told, I was fully under the impression I had been cast alone in my survival from our dreary circumstances! I am truly delighted to have been blessed with the appearance of a familiar face! Shall we retire the day and head to the local watering hole for a cup of their finest ale!? We must catch up Old Sport!"]
[[Head to the tavern for a drink]]The voice belongs to a face you remember well. One of your old shipmates, Dodney Rangerfield. But how in god's name could he have survived? You could've sworn you were the only survivor...
(text-colour:yellow)["Well I tell ya, it's real good to see ya kid. I tell ya my life's so bad I was starting to think I might be the only survivor!"] Rodney exclaims,(text-colour:yellow)[ "Ay bartender! Pour up a round for my friend here! And pour up a bath for yourself, no offense. Look here Will, we got a problem on your hands. That there sun is starting to set and you're still sober."]
You look out the cracked door, and notice the sky has been painted a beautiful shade of orange. The tavern has started to fill up with tired sailors after a hard days work. Rodney looks at you and Grubby,
(text-colour:yellow)["Well what'll it be fellas?"]
[[Enjoy a drink or nine]]
The smoke from the shot dissipates, your head pounding and your ears ringing. You realize you remain in one piece.
You look around, countless men lay dead on the ground, but it appears most of you crew survived, some even making their way to their feet after the explosion.
The Admiral lays lifeless on the damp cave floor. This body not moving an inch. No twiches, no spurts of blood. Complely still.
For all his faults, The Admiral was an honorable man. He was doing what he thought was right, and in the end you respect him for it. Maybe in a different life you might have even been friends with him. In this life, however, the two of you ended up on different sides of history.
Some would have you believe, throughout history, the good guy always wins. That is not the case. And today is no different. The good guy lays dead on the floor without even a casket to bury him in. While the bad guys live to fight another day...
[[Next]]The Admiral's body give's one last twich on the ground before laying still. The blood from his throat pooled around him. You've won, but at what cost?
You sit there, on the cold, damp ground of the cave. Back leaned up against the wall. Your blood warm on your cold skin. You look down, a large hole from the pistol shot is leaking blood out of your chest at a rapid rate.
Grubby runs up to you, the rest of the crew behind him.
(text-colour:grey)["Cap'n! Come on ye dogs, help the Cap'n to his feet!"]
(text-colour:(hsl:120,0.8039,0.5,0.5))["No, no Grubby,"] you cough through the blood,(text-colour:(hsl:120,0.8039,0.5,0.5))[ "I'm fine here. You go, you are the captain now."]
You turn slightly, with visible pain, to look at your crew, their mood is somber. They all know what comes next and they will all miss you deeply.
(text-colour:(hsl:120,0.8039,0.5,0.5))["Cheer up lads,"] you say with a groan, (text-colour:(hsl:120,0.8039,0.5,0.5))["this adventure is over, and the next one awaits."]
The light begins to fade, then memories start to flash before your eyes. Of your childhood. Of your old Captain. Of the beach Grubby found you on. And of right now. The light comes back, growing brighter and brighter.
[[Go Towards the Light]]
You lay on the floor of the cave, cold, wet, and bleeding. Footsteps drawing nearer. The cacophony of the battle slowly dissipating as each crewmember realizes what has happened and lays down their weapons.
The footsteps belong to the Admiral. He stands over you now, looking down at you. Not in disgust, not in disappointment, but in mutual understanding.
(text-colour:red)["I am sorry, young William. Not that these events have occured in the manner at which they did, but that they occured at all. Lord knows, in another life, I would be laying there, where you are, and you would be standing here, where I am. But chance has brought us here. And for that I am sorry."]
You can tell The Admiral truly means what he says. And you know he's right. Today the good prevailed over the bad, and in another life the roles would be reversed. You do not feel saddened by this, but you do feel a sense of dread tugging at you as the world grows darker.
[[Go Towards the Darkness]]
The silent air is broken, finally, by Grubby,
(text-colour:blue)["Let's go, Cap'n. While the tides be in our favor. Ther ain't much left for us here."]
(text-colour:green)["Bring him with,"] you say,(text-colour:green)[ "a man of his stature deserves to be laid to rest beneath the waves."]
A few of your crew lift The Admiral's lifeless body and carry it with them as you all make your way back to the ship.
(text-colour:grey)["She's a litte worse for ware, but she'll get us to port, Cap'n!"] one of your crew remarks.
[[Head to port]]As the wind fills the sails, the waves crash under the hull, the ship heading back to port, all the crew is gathered on the deck.
Some have looks of understanding, some of boredom, some of disgust. You don't care. You wrap The Admiral's body in a hammock, dropping cannonballs in for weight. Grubby reads from the Book of Common Prayer. And The Admiral's body is tipped overboard, burying beneath the waves.
The crew deprts, but you stay. Getting one last look at the man who caused you so much pain and grief. Realizing now none of that matters. As you watch his body completely disappear in the blue water, you feel at peace.
The sun sinks low and casts a deep orange hue across the sky. The sound of sailors hoisting rope and the sound of waves crashing agsint the hull are the only sounds to fill the sky. This is the end, you think, of this chapter. Now to begin on the next.From your crew emerges a figure. A grizzled old sailor with a patch and a peg leg. You realize none of your crew can see him, only you.
From him wafts a slight smell of salty sea air. The smell of coconuts hanging from trees in the nearby jungle. The scent of a fresh bottle of rum shared between friends.
(text-colour:cyan)["Come with me lad, your voyage is over."] the sailor says, his voice coming from all around you. He speaks in a fatherly tone. Like you have been waiting all your life for this one moment.
You hear only the sound of the waves. You feel only warmth. You feel a comfort in his presence. Like all the pain has completely subsided. You are lifted to your feet, and take his hand. You are at peace. All is right. This is the end.From the darkness, a figure appears. A grizzled old sailor with a patch and a peg leg. You realize no one around you can see him, only you.
From his, a stench fills the air. The smell of burnt gun power and spilled blood. The scent of recently slain corpses slowly beginning to rot emits from the darkness. The feeling of dread washes over you.
(text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.75))+(bg:(gradient: 359, 0,#ffffff,0,#e61919,1,#ffffff))["William Onslow! Yer comin' with me boy!"] The sailors voice booms. Echoing from all around you. As if his voice comes from nowhere yet everywhere at once.
(text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.75))+(bg:(gradient: 359, 0,#ffffff,0,#e61919,1,#ffffff))["It's time to pay William! You have failed! Yer soul belongs to me lad!"] he laughs and evil laugh as you are dragged towrds him.
You are filled with anxiety and adrenaline. You feel only cold. You hear only the screams of dying men. Screams none of the sailors around you seem to notice. The darkness starts to engulf you, there is nothing you can do.
[[Open Your Eyes]]You open your eyes and you see your crew. Grubby and the rest, lined up at the gallows.
The Admiral looks at them with a duty in his eyes. He does not take pleasure from this, but it must be done.
Grubby is in the next group into the nooses, the other five crewmates with him begin sobbing and praying. Grubby looks for his wife, who is not in the crowd. Grubby looks around frantically before accepting his fate, closing his eyes, and exhaling.
Just then the lever is pulled, the floors fall out, and all six crew are hanged. Grubby is the only one lucky enough to die upon impact, the rope breaking his neck. The rest are fated to strangle to death before being cut down and tossed in the wagon with the rest. Just for six more men to take their places.
You look down at this with tears in your eyes and anger in your soul.
The old sailor looks down at you, and in the same booming, echoing voice he exclaims, (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.75))+(bg:(gradient: 359, 0,#ffffff,0,#e61919,1,#ffffff))["William Onslow, this is yer doing! Look at what you have caused boy! The earthly world must have balance, and you have caused only strife! Time to pay boy!"]
You feel a rush, as if falling backwards, the darkness surrounding you once more. Only this time you hear nothing. Not waves, not screams, just an eerie nothingness. Dread washes over you once more as you realize this is your penance for the life you lived. You are to exist as nothing, in a sea of nothing. And there is no fate worse than that.(set: $reputation to 50)(if: $reputation > 65)[(goto: "Good Ending")](else-if: $reputation < 20)[(goto: "Bad Ending")](else:)[(goto: "Intended Ending")]You sit there chatting with your pals, tankards of beer appearing just as the old ones run empty.
You're reminiscing about the old times, telling sailor stories, and cracking jokes.
Just as you're busting out laughing, you look behind Grubby and see yet another familiar face
Can it be? There's no way there was another survivor from the battle!
[[Get the man's attention]](text-colour:green)["Ay Cook!"] You shout, the man at the next bench turns around to face you. He is a short and round man with a large bushy mustache and a horseshoe of grandpa hair.
(text-colour:orange)["By George! Why I do not believe it! Old Sport is it really you!?"] he shouts. He has a booming deep voice that he projects quite a lot. Paired with his thick aristocratic accent, he commands presence in a somewhat amusing way.
You look at him in utter disbelief,
(text-colour:green)["Cook! What are you- how did you- what the hell are you doing alive!?"] you exclaim.
The Cook looks at Grubby,
(text-colour:orange)["Well my dear boy, all in due time! But first you seem to have forgotten your manners
dear boy! Won't you introduce your good friend here, Old Sport?"]
Grubby takes the hint before you can say anything,
(text-colour:blue)["I be the pirate known as Grubby, I found yer friend here washed up on that there beach yar harr. Me pirate wife nursed the lad back to health and now I be helping him get his bearing on this here island, ya fancy? I be taking it, you two are of an aquantance?"] he says, visibly upset at how loud The Cook is.
The Cook shows an expression of understanding, blind to his volume,
(text-colour:orange)["Ah yes well I do have the upmost gratitude for that, old sport! Truth be told, I was fully under the impression I had been cast alone in my survival from our dreary circumstances! I am truly delighted to have been blessed with the appearance of not one, but two familiar faces! By George what a delight!"]
Three of mugs of beer hit the table with a wink from Annabell to Grubby.
[[Enjoy the night]]You realize the world is starting to spin and it's getting hard to stand on your own.
Everyone else decides to head home.
You decide the bench looks like a good place to sleep for the night.
[[Sleep here]](set: $reputation to $reputation + 3)
You head to the tavern with Grubby
[[Continue->Enter the Tavern]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 3)
You follow Grubby to the port
[[Head to the Port]] Honk shooooooo
ZzZzZzZz
Hoooonk shoooooo
[[Wake up]]You awaken to Grubby, The Cook, and Dodney standing over you.
Dodney is shaking you violently,
(text-colour:yellow)["Ay kid! We gotta get ya outta here."]
(text-colour:green)["What? What's going on? What happened?"] You reply with crusty eyes and a pounding head.
The Cook takes over,
(text-colour:orange)["All will be explained in due time, my boy. At this very moment, you need not be here. There is a man who is very keen on meeting you old sport. And it is the opinion of this gentleman, that would not be very good for your health!"]
Just then the doors to the tavern burst open, two incredibly large men enter armed with blunder busses. They look as though they are in constant contention for a single brain cell shared between the two. They both are bald and have incredibly pronounced brows. Somehow both of their jaws have a large under bite. As if human evolution completely left them behind.
The dumb one speaks,
(text-colour:navy)["We be lookin' for a..."] he scratches his head, his partner, the stupid one, finishes for him,
(text-colour:navy)["Onslow. Will-I-Am Onslow. The Ad-mi-ral want you to meet 'im."]
(text-colour:green)["Who the hell is the admiral?"] you ask,
Grubby replies,
(text-colour:blue)["He be a man you don't want to be trifling with. We were trying to get ye out of here but now it be wise to go meet the man."]
[[Meet with the Admiral]]
You follow the pair of fools to the port with your friends in-tow. There, on the dock, stands The Admiral. He is adorned in an impressive but modest wardrobe of crimson with gold lining. He is not a large man, but not a small one either. Nothing about his face is incredibly striking. All-in-all he is a very ordinary looking man, yet he has a very powerful aura about him.
He begins to speak, not having to shout yet carrying his voice across a great distance,
(text-colour:red)["William. I finally meet the man I've heard so much about. Let me start with this, I'm sorry about the loss of your captain. I know the man basically raised you. I did what I had to do. It was him or me. And I admit, it's really impressive for you to have survived. All three of you."]
You stay silent, you have no desire to converse with the man who took everything from you.
The Admiral continues,
(text-colour:red)["But know this, should we cross paths again I //will// kill you. Not that I have any ill will towards you, William. But for the simple fact that you would like nothing more than to strike me down where I stand. And that I just cannot have. Now if you have nothing to add, you may leave."]
You size up The Admiral, weighing your options. You come to the realization there are too many men with him. You decide to take off, with your comrades following behind once again.
[[Leave]]You walk up the gang plank with purpose. Your crew is gathered on the deck. They all look at you with a sense of trust in their eyes. They know their lives are in your hands. And they wouldn't have it any other way.
You project your voice across the crowd of sailors,
(text-colour:green)["I feel it is my duty to be up front with you all!"] You say,(text-colour:green)[ "This voyage is not one of wealth! It is not one of gold or rum or women! This is a voyage of vengeance! We are hunting down the man that took everything from me! We are going to kill The Admiral! I will not judge any man that does not wish to join me on this voyage!"]
You look to the crowd, scanning each sailor. Not a single one moved.
A man shouts from the crowd,
(text-colour:grey)["We'll follow you to hell and back, Captain Onslow!"]
And the rest of the men cheer, some barking like dogs and pumping their fists.
Grubby steps through the pack,
(text-colour:blue)["But Will, me boy, we will be lootin' and stealin' won't we? On the way of course... Captain."]
The rest of the pirates settle down and slowly, one by one, they begin to agree. It would appear the general consensus would be pirates want to do pirate things.
You scratch your head to think for a minute.
[[Head straight for The Admiral <Legendary>]]
[[Pillage the coast and any merchant ships you find along the way <Notorious>]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 10)
(text-colour:green)["Men listen up! We are pirates! And pirates have to engage in piracy! Any ship unlucky enough to cross our path will soon be relieved of it's cargo!"] You say to uproarious cheers from the men.
[[Continue->Set off to pillage and plunder]]You fade into conciousness. An old, crusty pirate stands over you.
(text-colour:blue)["Arrrrrg, it's about time ye son of a biscuit eater. Ye been out for a whale's hour. Me pirate wife found ye face down on the beach over yonder. Talked me into keeping ye alive or what have ye."]
You look around, you're in a dingy wooden shack. Bits of rope hang from the rafters, empty bottles of rum litter the table and counters. You lay in the only worn out bed in the room.
You can hear the sound of waves crashing, seagulls cawing, and people talking outside the thin walls. A foul smell of something stale hits your nostrils.
The old pirate looks at you,
(text-colour:blue)["So what be yer name there, sailor?"]
(text-colour:green)["Onslow, William Onslow. Where the hell am I exactly? And who are you? And what is that smell?"]
[[Talk to Grubby]]
You stand at the helm, sailors all around pulling rigging, moving crates, cleaning weapons. Grubby stands on the deck barking orders at the crew. A merchant ship sailing under the British flag sails ahead. Losing ground.
(text-colour:green)["Hoist the flag." ]You tell Grubby, who immediately relays your orders to the crew.
The men are nearly finished prepping the vessel for a fight. So it begins.
[[Fire at the merchant ship <Notorious>]]
[[Fire Warning shots over the merchant ship <Legendary>]](set: $reputation to $reputation + 10)
You give the order and 2 cannonballs from the bow chasers fly out over the water, landing fifty yards to the right of the merchant ship with large splashes.
A few minutes later the union jack atop the ship comes down and you see a white flag be hoisted up the mast.
[[Tie up alongside the merchant ship]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 10)
You give the order and two cannonballs from the bow chasers screech across the water, slamming into the rear of the ship.
The bow chasers fire over and over and over again, absolutely peppering the merchant vessel. Before long they pull up what sails they have left and allow you to board them.
[[Board the merchants]]Having tied up alongside the merchant ship, your crew has rounded up all the merchant sailors, who surrendered without hesitation. Their captain at the front of the group. He addresses you directly in a thick Scottish accent.
(text-colour:grey)["We do not want any issues. We are carrying sugar and timber on our way to Europe. Take what you must, just do not kill my men."]
You respond,
(text-colour:green)["You can keep the timber. But we will be taking advantage of that sugar, mate. As for your crew..."]
[[Kill the crew <Notorious>]]
[[Spare the crew <Legendary>]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 10)
You pull out a pistol from your belt, aim it, and blow a golf ball sized hole through the captain's chest.
(text-colour:green)["As for you crew, I hope they made their peace with their god."]
Your men draw swords and savagely kill each and every merchant. Some jump ship and get away, some are shot in the water. The rest are shot, stabbed, and slashed until the deck is covered in a layer of blood.
You and your crew dig through the bodies for valuables. In the hold you find crates of sugar. Your crew transports the crates into the hold of your own ship.
With a number of men's blood on your hands and clothing, you leave the merchant ship to drift as you continue on your journey of vengeance.
[[Continue the voyage]] (set: $reputation to $reputation + 10)
(text-colour:green)["As for your crew, you and your men have done nothing wrong but been in the wrong place at the wrong time. We'll relieve you of your sugar and dabloons then you all will go about your way. No sense in spilling blood for no reason ay?"] You tell the merchant captain, a heavy air of relief washes over his crew as your turn your back to walk back to your ship.
Your crew gets the crates of sugar loaded in the hold and you set sail once more.
[[Continue the voyage]]
It is nighttime now, you sit in your cabin listening to the ocean pass under the ship. Then, all of the sudden, there is shouting out on the deck.
You walk out to see Grubby holding a sailor by the scruff of his collar, obviously upset with him.
(text-colour:green)["Grubby what the hell is going on?"] you ask.
He responds,
(text-colour:blue)["Cap'n this man here be three sheets to the wind while on watch. Look at him! The lad can barely stand! What ye be wanting me to do with him, Will?"]
You think for a moment before making your decision.
[[Punish him <Notorious>]]
[[Let him off easy <Legendary>]](set: $reputation to $reputation + 5)
(text-colour:green)["Mr. Grubby throw that drunken fool in a cell to sleep it off. Come morning assign him to deck duty. He can work his hangover off cleaning my deck for the next week. Ensure he knows this: if this happens again he will find himself marooned on an island with nothing but a pistol and one shot."] you tell Grubby.
Grubby nods his understanding before escorting the sailor, rather roughly, below deck.
A good captain must be strict, but he must also know sailors make mistakes. React too harshly and you can find yourself mutinied.
You return to your cabin to try and get some sleep.
[[Continue hunting The Admiral]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 5)
(text-colour:green)["Grubby,"] you say,(text-colour:green)[ "tie his hands to the railing and give him twenty lashings. I will not have drunken idiots on my crew, especially while on watch. Make sure the rest of the crew hears it."]
With a worried look Grubby complies,
"Aye Cap'n."
You hear the whip hit the man each time. And each time you hear his cries. A good captain can never tolerate any insubordination, but was this too far?
There are spatters of blood around the railing where the man was whipped. He lays in his hammock in pain.
[[Continue hunting The Admiral]] As the sun rises, you hear a knock on your cabin door.
(text-colour:grey)["Cap'n! You'd better get out here! We've spotted The Admiral's ship Cap'n!"]
You exit your cabin still putting your boots on,
(text-colour:green)["Whats the distance and direction?"] you ask, a confidence in your voice. This is it, we've got him.
You look through the spyglass and before the sailor can answer you see it. Off the port side, way off in the distance. Anchored in the cove of an island was The Admiral's ship. You would recognize the red and gold livery anywhere. You see a large cave entrance on the far side of the cove with three row boats on the sand infront of it.
(text-colour:green)["But what is he up to?"] You ask, half to yourself and half to the sailor.(text-colour:green)[ "There's only one way to find out"]
You walk up the stairs to the helm where Grubby is standing.
(text-colour:green)["Grubby, anchor the ship on the left side of the island. I don't want them to see us coming."]
(text-colour:blue)["Aye Cap'n."] Grubby says with a nod before turning to bark orders at the crew.
[[Drop anchor]]With the ship safely anchored under a large cliff, you and fifty of your men drop row boats and row to the shore, leaving seventy on board to watch the ship.
You and your men enter the jungle. As you walk you come upon a small cave entrance, much smaller than the large opening in the cove. You figure this is a small island, this must connect to the same cave. You decide to lead your men underground.
As you creep through the cave, using dimly lit torches as your only light source, you start to hear voices and movement. And the noises grow louder with every step.
Eventually you even start to see light flickering off the walls. You and your men put your torches out.
Pretty soon you come to a bend in the cave, you peer around the corner and there he stands. The Admiral. Roughly thirty sailors are constantly moving around him as he directs traffic. Stacks and stacks of crates line the cave walls. The ceiling of the cave must be eighty feet high. This must be where they store all their stolen goods.
Grubby creeps up to where you are and whispers to you,
(text-colour:blue)["Arrr cap'n, what be yer orders. Ye be wanting the crew to surround them and give the scurvy dogs a chance? Or should we rush in an slaughter them like the dogs they arrrrre?"]
[[Charge The Admiral's crew <Notorious>]]
[[Sneak your men around the cave and surround the enemy <Legendary>]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 5)
You whisper back to Grubby,
(text-colour:green)["We're not gonna give these bastards the chance to escape."]
A large grin spreads across Grubby's face, as well as the men in the vacinity who could hear it.
With a puff ofyour chest you shout the order,
(text-colour:green)["Charge!"]
As you give it, all fifty sailors let out a war cry and charge the unsuspecting pirates, weapons drawn. It is a somewhat confined space, but ther element of surprise played a huge role as a massive brawl ensues.
You immediately turn your attention to The Admiral, who is already aiming a pistol in your direction. Just as he fires, a sailor is shoved into him, throwing his shot off. You both draw your swords and advance towards eachother.
[[Let's dance]]
(set: $reputation to $reputation + 5)
You whisper back to Grubby,
(text-colour:green)["Grubby, have the men creep through the shadows and encircle them. We'll give them the option to surrender."]
Grubby does as he is told and before long your fifty man crew is waiting in the shadows to launch their attack, completely surrounding the enemy.
You give a whistle and all at once your crew jumps out into the light, completely taking the enemy by surprise. They draw weapons, and despite being completely outnumbered, they decide to fight back and an all out brawl ensues.
You immediately turn your attention to The Admiral, who is already aiming a pistol in your direction. Just as he fires, a sailor is shoved into him, throwing his shot off. You both draw your swords and advance towards eachother.
[[Let's dance]]You are good with a sword in your hand, but so is The Admiral. You each trade blows, blocking, dodging, and parrying. There is absolute chaos happening around the two of you, but none of that matters.
You hear the screams of men, the clash of swords, and the occasional gunshot. Your focus remains on the man in front of you. He took everything from you, and it is time for revenge.
You attack, he parries. He attacks, you counter, he dodges. The two of you are equally skilled. The cacophony around you is slowly turning more and more one sided as your crew's numbers begin to overwhelm The Admiral's men.
The Admiral does not seem to care. He is completely locked in to his fight with you. He knows either he kills you or you will kill him.
You go in for an overhead attack and he parries, shoving you backward. As you stumble back, you notice a grenade land between the two you, fuze lit. You try to dive in the opposite direction as it explodes, sending shrapnel around the area and filling the cave with smoke.
[[Continue->Ending]]A few weeks pass without seeing The Admiral again. Then a few months go by.
It has now been a year since your little chat with The Admiral. And every night you spend, whether on the island or on ship, you grow more and more respect for him. But you still sit up at night dreaming up schemes to kill the man.
While you've been plotting at night, you've also been busy during the day. You've grown to make a hell of a name for yourself in Tortuga. You've been helping on crews that are down a man. You've been assisting your neighbors on the island, helping with home repairs or odd jobs here and there.
That majority of Tortuga inhabitants have grown quite a liking to you. Some have even taken to following orders you give. And that feels good. It feels natural.
After long you find yourself on a crew sailing towards the open ocean to plunder merchant ships passing by.
When all of the sudden you come under cannon fire. A larger frigate flying the colors of the British Royal Navy sails directly at your ship off the port side. You watch as ten feet away from you a cannonball strikes the captain of your ship. Relieving him of his torso.
The crew starts to panic, not knowing what to do.
[[Abandon ship <Notorious>]]
[[Take charge <Legendary>]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 5)
You see the confused sailors running around like chickens with their heads cut off. These men are used to fighting barely armed traders and smugglers, not the might of the Royal Navy.
You make a business decision and command the crew,
(text-colour:green)["ABANDON SHIP!"] You yell as loud as you possibly can.
Sailors start diving over the side of the ship in a panic,
(text-colour:green)["In the boats you idiots!"] You yell at them, (text-colour:green)["They're not there for decoration!"]
Teams of men begin hauling the various row boats over the railing of the ship, jumping in them as they hit the water.
There are now a number of boats in the water, with less than a hundred of the 150 man crew in them, then rest are swimming or dead.
You are in the largest of these row boats, with another fifty men packed into it with you. And they are all now looking to you for direction.
You look to the sinking ship behind you, no survival there. You look to the shore, blocked by the Naval vessel. There is only one logical option.
[[Board the ship]](set: $reputation to $reputation + 5)
You shout at the rest of the crew on board,
(text-colour:green)["Ay listen up! What do you all think you're doing! This isn't the first battle you've been in and it won't be the last!"] With that the crew starts calming down, as much as is possible under fire. You continue instinctively,
(text-colour:green)["Man fuck it. Beat to quarters and run out the guns! Helm hard to port!"]
The crew instantly springs into action. The deck hands gain control of the masts and rigging, assisting the ship in turning. The gunners man their cannons, loading powder and ramming shot into the bore. The ship is ready for combat with you at the head.
[[Battle Stations!]]The two ships exchange cannon shots from their front facing bow chaser guns before you give the command:
(text-colour:green)["Hard to stern! Ready port side guns!"]
Your commands are repeated along the ship as the vessel lurches left and the whole ship steers to the right.
You wait a second before shouting once more at the crew,
(text-colour:green)["Fire broadside!"]
With all twelve guns aimed at the British vessel, the air along the ship erupts as all the cannons are fired simultaneously.
All twelve cannonballs find their target and slam into the British frigate. Water begins pouring into the enemy ship.
You give the order and the guns begin firing at will, peppering the enemy with cannonballs while only recieving a couple retaliatory shots.
The British ship peels hard to starboard in an attempt to escape, moving in the opposite direction as you.
[[Turn the ship 180 and chase the enemy <Notorious>]]
[[Let the enemy escape <Legendary>]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 5)
(text-colour:green)["We're not gonna let those bastards get away!"] You bellow at the crew. You give the orders and before you know it the ship has done a full 180, giving chase to the British.
Their ship is heavily damaged, making them easy prey to chase down. It doesn't take long before you're upon them once again.
[[Fire on them again <Notorious>]]
[[Board them <Legendary>]](set: $reputation to $reputation + 10)
You decide to take what win you can and allow the British to get away.
Probably for the best, the ship was larger and faster than yours.
The crew of your ship continue to look to you for direction.
You address them,
(text-colour:green)["Ay! That was well fought by all of you. But I am no captain, I'm just here for a day's wage."]
Some sailor at the back only heard one word. Captain. He shouts,
(text-colour:grey)["Three cheers for captain... uh... Captain Onslow!"]
All together they shout,
(text-colour:grey)["Hip hip! Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!"]
The crew cheers for a bit then slowly go back to the tasks at hand. You're not sure what to do so you sail back to port for repairs.
[[Back to port]]Once docked, your new-found crew begins resupplying, repairing, and recruiting. You immeditately look for your friends.
[[Look for them in the tavern]]
[[Where else would they be, c'mon->Look for them in the tavern]]You enter the tavern and, of course, there's Grubby, The Cook, and Dodney sitting at a table playing dice and talking to wenches.
(text-colour:green)["So uh,"] you say with confusion,(text-colour:green)[ "I think I'm a captain now..."]
(text-colour:grey)["A what??"] They all say in unison.
You regale the group with the story of your epic battle and of how you saved the day. And how the crew gave you your new title.
Grubby is the first to speak,
(text-colour:blue)["Well lad, let me be the first to say congratulations! It be a while since ol' Grubby danced on his sea legs and I would be bloody honored if ye be considering me for yer crew, Cap'n Onslow."]
Dodney scoffs,
(text-colour:yellow)["Ay, Grubby, no offense, see? But you're older than the age of sail!"] He says with a laugh,
(text-colour:yellow)["One sea storm and it'd be a case of 'help! I've fallen and I can't get up!' it'd be a tragedy at sea, see?"]
The group laughs heartily with Grubby eyeing down Dodney who responds in turn,
(text-colour:yellow)["Ay buddy! I'm just jokin'! Settle down will ya!"]
You calm everyone down and turn to Grubby,
(text-colour:green)["Of course Grubby, I would love to have you as my first mate. I don't know anyone who would be more experienced. In fact I'd be honored to have all three of you serve under my command."]
A cheer goes up in the group and Dodney shows his appreciation,
(text-colour:yellow)["Ay Annabell! Get my friends here some drinks. Matter of fact, set them up with the whole schmeer! Young Will here is a captain!"]
[[Drink!]]You enjoy the festivities of the night celebrating with your friends, when Grubby pulls you aside,
(text-colour:blue)["Oi, boyo, I've got an idea."]
(text-colour:green)["What is it Grubby?"] You respond
(text-colour:blue)["Well the way I be seeing it, ye have been stuck here thinking about The Admiral ever since that blasted day a year ago."] Says Grubby
You shrug your shoulders,
(text-colour:green)["I mean I guess, what of it?"]
Grubby grabs your shoulder,
(text-colour:blue)["Lad don't you see? Ye have a crew to be going after the scurvy dog! Arrr by the sounds of it those lads will follow you to Davy Jone's locker and back, boy. I be in the mindset of believing this be yer chance to end this once and for all yo ho."]
You look at Grubby sharply,
(text-colour:green)["I hadn't even considered that, man. But how can I expect them to risk their lives for my personal vendetta?"]
Grubby replies quickly,
(text-colour:blue)["Arrr ye saved their lives boy! Sounds like to me, they be owing you one."]
You stare at your friend seriously before you both bust out into laughter. You hadn't thought about it that way. But maybe he's right. Can't hurt to try.
[[Begin the voyage]]
(set: $reputation to $reputation + 10)
You look back to your crew to address them,
(text-colour:green)["In order to preserve the supplies we have and lessen the chances of us losing crew we will be sailing directly towards The Admiral's hideout!"]
There is a general groan throughout the crew, obviously they are not too happy about this. They did not decide to be pirates to hunt down personal vendettas for other men.
At least the residents of the coast will be happy to hear there will be one less ship raiding their livelihoods.
Grubby waddles up to you and leans in to speak,
(text-colour:blue)["Arrrr it be a good thing these salt dogs be willing to die for ye, Will. If it were any other man at the helm ye would be marooned for an order such as that one therrrrrre."] He says quietly, so as to not give the crew any ideas.
(text-colour:green)["In any sense,"] you say to Grubby, before turning to the crew, (text-colour:green)["To your stations! We have a bastard to find!"]
[[Sail away]]
The three of you walk on over to the tavern for a drink.
You step inside the doors and notice there is a complete lack of windows, they all seem to have been broken from the inside then boarded up. Around the room flickering candles provide just enough light to see through the smoke.
There are three long tables with benches. A few drunken sailors sit at each one, each minding his business.
At the back are two men playing a game of dice to pass the time.
On the left wall stretches a bar with a rather masculine looking woman behind the bar. Should there be a tavern brawl, she looks like she'll come out on top. There is a decent five-o'clock shadow on her chin.
(text-colour:blue)["Well if it isn't the most beautiful woman in the world, and the love of me life!"] Grubby exclaims, (text-colour:blue)["William I'd like ye to meet the woman for who your life be owed to, me pirate wife, Annabell."]
Annabell does a bastardized version of a curtsey with all the confidence of a queen,
(text-colour:magenta)["I'm pleased to make your aquintance, William. Grubby over here suggested we should relieve you of your valuables and leave you in the sand. He's always such a grouch, but I'm glad I could convince him to save you, good sir."]
You notice Annabell speaks with a much cleaner accent, as if she was the governor's wife herself.
Just then you hear a familiar voice from behind you shout your name, (text-colour:yellow)["Oi! William!"]
[[Face the man]]The voice belongs to a face you remember well. One of your old shipmates, Dodney Rangerfield. But how in god's name could he have survived? You could've sworn you were the only survivor...
(text-colour:yellow)["Well I tell ya, it's real good to see ya kid. I tell ya my life's so bad I was starting to think I might be the only survivor!"] Dodney exclaims,(text-colour:yellow)[ "Ay bartender! Pour up a round for my friend here! And pour up a bath for yourself, no offense. Look here Will, we got a problem on your hands. That there sun is starting to set and you're still sober."]
You look out the cracked door, and notice the sky has been painted a beautiful shade of orange. The tavern has started to fill up with tired sailors after a hard days work. Rodney looks at you, The Cook, and Grubby,
(text-colour:yellow)["Well what'll it be fellas?"]
[[Enjoy a drink or ten]]You little gang enjoys eachother's company for a number of hours, downing mugs of beer as fast as Annabell can pour them.
[[Enjoy the night]]You look to your flotilla of row boats and yell out the order,
(text-colour:green)["All boat to the ship! We're gonna seize the vessel dammit! I want to see every man on the deck of that ship!"]
An expression of confused fear spreads through the crew, until some brave sailor shouts above the rest,
(text-colour:grey)["Ye heard him! Make them royal dogs pay arrr!"]
The group of boats sails directly towards the british ship, whose cannons cannot fire low enough to hit. Musket balls whizz past the pirates heads as they row as hard as they can to the ship.
Your boat is the first to make it and throw ropes with hook over the railing of the ship.
[[Climb aboard]]You are the first man over the railing, sword in hand. A wave of pirates follow close behind, crashing into the British sailors.
The ensuing melee is brutal. In any case it should have been a slaughter, but the British seem to have been low on men and heading back to port for a resupply. Caught at the worst time.
More pirates pour over the deck, beelining it for the nearest terrified Englishman.
You lock eyes with the captain of the royal vessel. He does not seem happy.
[[Round 1! Fight!]]The two of you clash swords, all that sparring with your old captain is starting to pay off it seems. You slowly but surely overpower the man, knocking his sword from his grasp. He stands with his arms open, accepting defeat.
The rest of the British sailors notice this, throwing down their weapons and joining their captain.
[[Kill the captain <Notorious>]]
[[Spare the captain <Legendary>]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 10)
You lift your sword, and in one swipe you cut the royal captain's throat. He falls to his knees clutching his throat, dying on the spot before he even hits the ground.
Your men follow suit, killing half of the British crew, the rest jumping ship before they are slaughtered.
With blood lining the deck, a pirate from the crowd shouts out,
(text-colour:grey)["Captain Onslow!"]
A cheer swells in the crew,
(text-colour:grey)["Cap-tain! Ons-low! Cap-tain! Ons-low!"] they chant, barking and hollaring.
You quell the chaos with laughter,
(text-colour:green)["Job's not done yet, this vessel is a little worse for ware, get her back to port for repairs!"]
The men jump to, setting sail back to Tortuga.
[[Back to port]](set: $reputation to $reputation + 10)
You look to the men, then back to the captain,
(text-colour:green)["Take what remains of your crew, take a long boat, and don't let me catch you in my waters again."]
The captain gulps, turns to his defeated crew, and shoves his way through them to the ropes. Him and his crew, file over the side, hop in the row boat, and row south to Haiti.
This may come to bite you in the ass later, but that's an issue for the sequal.
[[The ship is ours!]](text-colour:green)["The ship is ours!"] you exclaim to your crew, to uproarous cheers from the men.
A cheer swells in the crew,
(text-colour:grey)["Cap-tain! Ons-low! Cap-tain! Ons-low!"] they chant, barking and hollaring.
You quell the chaos with laughter,
(text-colour:green)["Job's not done yet, this vessel is a little worse for ware, get her back to port for repairs!"]
The men jump to, setting sail back to Tortuga.
[[Back to port]]TORTUGA
Arrrrgg choose yer own adventurrrre!
[[Start]](set: $reputation to $reputation - 10)
Your ship sails off the left side of the enemy, who just watches you from the deck. Unable to do anything.
You give the order,
(text-colour:green)["Fire starboard side guns!"]
All twelve guns explode to life, sending their cannon balls screaming across the blue water.
You hear the impacts of the shells on the enemy ship, mixed with the screams of men. The cannons continue firing and you watch the British ship slowly sink under the waves leaving her crew floating in the water.
If you can survive it, so can they.
You give the orders and the crew jumps to work, bringing the ship back to port
[[Back to port]] (set: $reputation to $reputation + 5)
Your ship sails up alongside the enemy on their left side.
your men set grappling hooks, securing the ships together.
The British sailors stand on the deck with somber faces, their captain at the front.
(text-colour:green)["Fear not, gentlemen,"] you say to him,(text-colour:green)[ "we're not here to kill you. But we will be needing any and all valuables on board."]
The British captain looks at you, and with his surprisingly thick cockney accent he says, (text-colour:grey)["Roight-O you filthy buccaneers, take what ya want an' get on with it."]
(text-colour:green)["Well you heard the man, lads!"] You say to your crew,(text-colour:green)[ "Get on with it!"] You say to cheers from your men.
[[Take their stuff]]After a while, the British ship haas been stripped clean. Any and all food, weapons, and valuables have been requisitioned for use by the pirates.
You have barrels full of rum, fruit, and salted beef. Chests full of coins used to pay the royal sailors. Stacks and stacks of muskets, pistols, and swords.
You decide to head back to port to cash in your loot and repair the vessel
[[Back to port]] You pace the quarter deck, just restless enough to need to keep moving.
Your crew goes about their tasks. Adjusting line, fixing sails, cleaning cannons and other weapons. You smell The Cook fixing the next meal under your feet as the smoke wafts up through the floor boards. More pan fried salted pork.
The crew sings a shanty around you as you deliberate
(text-colour:grey)['//And we'll roll the ol chariot along. We'll roll the ol chariot along. We'll roll the ol chariot along. And we'll all hang on behind//']
You turn to continue your pacing and come face to face with Dodney,
(text-colour:yellow)["Ay Will! Whaddya say to a good old fashion rum ration, eh? Piece of of advice I tell ya, a tipsy pirate is a happy pirate, no offense."]
You respond,
(text-colour:green)["Do you really think getting these guys drunk is a good idea?"]
Dodney shrugs,
(text-colour:yellow)["Not drunk, kid. Just a light buzz. I'm just sayin, could make this whole idea run a lot smoother!"]
You consider his advice
[[Give the crew a rum ration]]
[[Don't let them drink]]You decide to give the crew a cup of rum each.
But with the barrel now open, who's to say no one will sneak a few drinks here and there?
You decide not to think on it too hard. You just stand by the rail, watching the waves roll on by.
[[Continue the voyage]] You decide it is too risky to let the crew into the rum stash. Open up that barrel and you're just inviting these degenerates to over indulge.
The crew continues their work, albiet somewhat reluctantly. You just hope you can satisfy their small minds with some riches at The Admiral's hideout.
Regardless, you doubt there is any risk of being mutinied. But the thought does corss your mind once in a while.
[[Continue hunting The Admiral]] The merchant crew, or what's left of them, is standing in a small ground by the main mast. They are bloodied and bruised from the bombardment.
(text-colour:green)["Where's the captain!"] You shout at them.
One of them speaks up,
(text-colour:grey)["'Ere and there!"]
You look at him, puzzled,
(text-colour:green)["What the hell does that mean?"]
He continues, pointing around as he speaks,
(text-colour:grey)["Some of 'im is 'ere, some of 'im is over there! Blown to bits by a shell."]
You sigh in frustration,
(text-colour:green)["Alright, well whoever is in charge. We won't kill you. Well... anymore of you."]
A merchant chirps,
(text-colour:grey)["Well that's a relief."]
You continue,
(text-colour:green)["But we'll be taking what we can of your cargo."]
You and your men walk down into the merchant ship'd hold to find it partially flooded. And the crates of sugar they were transporting, completely ruined by the water.
Frustrated you walk back to your ship, not saying a word to the smart ass merchants. You're now down a number of cannonballs and power charges with nothing to show for it.
[[Continue the voyage]]
Reputation: (print: $reputation)