Admiral8Q
Troublesome Corsair
<i>I wrote this years ago for a `role-playing` game. It's based on my character "Magellan" (Yes, named after the explorer) All the names, places events are fictional. It could be modified for a more piratey theme. In fact I think I may modify it based on the PotC world. Also it contains magic, but that could easilly be replaced with technology, (Pistols, cannons, etc) For now I'll post the original story, and modify it later when I have time.
Enjoy!</i>
The Sailing of the Ships
"All ship's company aboard! All ship's company aboard!" The Montaguese `master-at` -arms, black cape whipping in the night wind, was striding along Seaharrow's stone quay ringing his sailing bell vigorously. The low hush of voices increased in tempo. `Last-minute` farewells were being interspersed with lingering kisses for the departing sailors, many of whom would never see their homes again. People wept. Hearts beat faster. Sailors with duffel bags and gifts from loved ones hurried up the rude gangplanks.
Overhead, the stars gleamed brilliantly beyond the `mast-tops` of `Captain-General` Avan's great fleet of `twenty-two` ships. It was March of the year 596, and the equinoctial gales carried a nip in the air. But the sailing of the ships, already delayed several times, was now a certainty. There was a brisk impatience among the captains.
In one shadowy group beside a `candle-lantern`, several men and women clustered around a youth of less than nineteen years. He wore a green tunic over his slim figure; he had dark brown hair and gleaming black eyes. Particularly noticeable was his long red cape. Memory of the cape settling around him gave the brief impression of wings being folded back, even after one turned away from him. His name was Magellan, and he was destined to become a great adventurer and world explorer. This was his first `deep-water` voyage.
"Hey there, young feller! All ship's company aboard." A heavy hand shoved his shoulder.
The young man, armed with a longsword and a `spell-book`, hurried up the gangway to his ship. Then slowly, under the quiet skies, could be heard the cracking of the blocks as the sails strained the masts and, through the dark, the talking of the crew hauling away the lines. Gradually, the masts of the `twenty-two` vessels glided gently out into the open sea.
Far to the West they were destined to go. There the fleet would split up into smaller groups and head off with their trade goods destined for areas on different parts of the continent. Magellan's ship was headed for a small area called Darkenwald.
Manning the fleet of `twenty-two` ships were fifteen hundred crew. Magellan was only a supernumerary; a youth without even the rating of able sailor. He was just one of the extras who pitched in to pull on the lines, scrub the deck, or to fight on shore or on shipboard as a common soldier. But he was expected, too, to give up his life for his country in a time of need.
Here, at last, was his `dreamed-of` opportunity. Great adventures lay before him. He breathes the damp sea air in long, brisk, delighted pulls. In its wet tang he found the lusty food for his soul that he hungered for. The rise and fall of the ship, and the whine of the gale through the rigging were happy stimulants to his whole being.
Since leaving his quiet little town of Sahugeon, where he was born, he had been fortunate in having entrance to the royal palace of his king and queen, for his family possessed a `coat-of`-arms and was of noble blood. In the palace he studied mathematics and Celestial magic diligently. When he wasn't studying, he spent his time along the harbor, where he learned everything he could from the interesting people he met. He practiced often with his sword and his spellcasting so that he would have experience which would make him valuable for foreign expeditions, should an opportunity arise to join one. He knew spell learning was necessary, but most of all he wished to be ale to participate in actual adventures.
Magellan was not content to stay quietly at home and obtain his excitement secondhand from the mouths of other adventurers. Everywhere people were setting foot where no other humans had been, and looking upon strange lands and incredible new races for the first time. Although he loved the sleepy hills around his home at Sahugeon in Montugal, and cherished his family deeply, his innermost burning flame was for adventure.
He even dreamed of possessing a ship of his own one day, and becoming an explorer himself.
There was one person who believed in Magellan. This was his friend, Roland, who was accompanying him on this voyage to the west. Together, they would pace the deck at night. While Roland, who was a born romanticist, extolled the beauties of the heavens or the picturesque pattern of some constellation, the scholar, Magellan, would instruct his friend on the changing angle of one of the stars and its effect on summoning its power.
<b><i>To be continued...</i></b>
Enjoy!</i>
The Sailing of the Ships
"All ship's company aboard! All ship's company aboard!" The Montaguese `master-at` -arms, black cape whipping in the night wind, was striding along Seaharrow's stone quay ringing his sailing bell vigorously. The low hush of voices increased in tempo. `Last-minute` farewells were being interspersed with lingering kisses for the departing sailors, many of whom would never see their homes again. People wept. Hearts beat faster. Sailors with duffel bags and gifts from loved ones hurried up the rude gangplanks.
Overhead, the stars gleamed brilliantly beyond the `mast-tops` of `Captain-General` Avan's great fleet of `twenty-two` ships. It was March of the year 596, and the equinoctial gales carried a nip in the air. But the sailing of the ships, already delayed several times, was now a certainty. There was a brisk impatience among the captains.
In one shadowy group beside a `candle-lantern`, several men and women clustered around a youth of less than nineteen years. He wore a green tunic over his slim figure; he had dark brown hair and gleaming black eyes. Particularly noticeable was his long red cape. Memory of the cape settling around him gave the brief impression of wings being folded back, even after one turned away from him. His name was Magellan, and he was destined to become a great adventurer and world explorer. This was his first `deep-water` voyage.
"Hey there, young feller! All ship's company aboard." A heavy hand shoved his shoulder.
The young man, armed with a longsword and a `spell-book`, hurried up the gangway to his ship. Then slowly, under the quiet skies, could be heard the cracking of the blocks as the sails strained the masts and, through the dark, the talking of the crew hauling away the lines. Gradually, the masts of the `twenty-two` vessels glided gently out into the open sea.
Far to the West they were destined to go. There the fleet would split up into smaller groups and head off with their trade goods destined for areas on different parts of the continent. Magellan's ship was headed for a small area called Darkenwald.
Manning the fleet of `twenty-two` ships were fifteen hundred crew. Magellan was only a supernumerary; a youth without even the rating of able sailor. He was just one of the extras who pitched in to pull on the lines, scrub the deck, or to fight on shore or on shipboard as a common soldier. But he was expected, too, to give up his life for his country in a time of need.
Here, at last, was his `dreamed-of` opportunity. Great adventures lay before him. He breathes the damp sea air in long, brisk, delighted pulls. In its wet tang he found the lusty food for his soul that he hungered for. The rise and fall of the ship, and the whine of the gale through the rigging were happy stimulants to his whole being.
Since leaving his quiet little town of Sahugeon, where he was born, he had been fortunate in having entrance to the royal palace of his king and queen, for his family possessed a `coat-of`-arms and was of noble blood. In the palace he studied mathematics and Celestial magic diligently. When he wasn't studying, he spent his time along the harbor, where he learned everything he could from the interesting people he met. He practiced often with his sword and his spellcasting so that he would have experience which would make him valuable for foreign expeditions, should an opportunity arise to join one. He knew spell learning was necessary, but most of all he wished to be ale to participate in actual adventures.
Magellan was not content to stay quietly at home and obtain his excitement secondhand from the mouths of other adventurers. Everywhere people were setting foot where no other humans had been, and looking upon strange lands and incredible new races for the first time. Although he loved the sleepy hills around his home at Sahugeon in Montugal, and cherished his family deeply, his innermost burning flame was for adventure.
He even dreamed of possessing a ship of his own one day, and becoming an explorer himself.
There was one person who believed in Magellan. This was his friend, Roland, who was accompanying him on this voyage to the west. Together, they would pace the deck at night. While Roland, who was a born romanticist, extolled the beauties of the heavens or the picturesque pattern of some constellation, the scholar, Magellan, would instruct his friend on the changing angle of one of the stars and its effect on summoning its power.
<b><i>To be continued...</i></b>