The Alphaville Herald

YAAR! The Pirates of Sanchon – You’ll Pay Double For That

by Alphaville Herald on 02/11/07 at 8:41 am

by Tiny Newt

[for those joining us mid-story the previous episode is here]

“YOU’LL PAY DOUBLE FOR THAT!” Sin Trenton’s Slovakian accent was thick with threat. The Navigator was beside himself with fury.

“Save yourself for the melee. She’s the a wily one.” Tiny cautioned.

As is the custom with the pirates of Sanchon, the sea battles culminate in on-shore hand-to-hand combat. The weapons, fitted with Fleet Admiral Chase Speculass’ fighting system, register saber and musket hits on bodies.

One dies by degrees here, thought Robin Sprocket. Robin, wearing the pith helmet and tan digging outfit of a paleontologist, adjusted her blue-tinted glasses and listened carefully as team captains chose sides. The crew from the Endeavour along with Mango Birdbrain and GJ Hennessey, repaired downfield to the Vagabond Sailing Club facilities. Admiral Willis, Commander Beverly Salming, the other lady pirates, Deevah Torok and Malibu DuPont, and the men, Cambell Cochran and Lt. Kris Krivez, occupied the ground in front of the dilapidated Ben-Bow Inn.

“Robin, Sin, set yourselves to ‘always run’,” Captain Newt ordered. He drew his flintlock with his left hand and took a few practice swings with the saber in his right.

“Don’t forget to kick.” You can score also by kicking,” He reminded them. Dueling is tricky. The avatars are steered with the arrow buttons as mouse clicks activate the saber swings. The flintlocks may only be aimed and fired in ‘mouse look’ mode.

Sin Trenton was spoiling to attack Commander Beverly, but was only armed with a Blunderbuss which put him at a decided disadvantage. However, so be it, if that was his weapon of choice.

Even at this distance, Robin noted a strange weapon in Beverly Salming’s hands.

“It looks like a big blue bottle, What in blue blazes?” she quipped.

“Steer clear of her ‘till we find out what she is using. Remember how deadly she was the last time? She always has a trick or two up her knickers, you can be certain.” Tiny said.

Willis had set the start time at 2:45, which ticked down quickly. Suddenly, everyone was racing pell-mell toward the others. Running and aiming in “mouse look’ is all but impossible so Tiny stopped to take aim at one of the onrushing sailors.

Now the clang of tempered steel rang in the air, accompanied by loud reports of musket fire. The whizzing of hot lead past one’s ears is all but ignored in the heat of battle. The first two shots Tiny fired went high but the third found it mark to score a hit. Soon the screen was filled with announcements regarding the names and conditions of the wounded. Total chaos ensued; bodies crashed into one another . The constant clanging of steel blades rang out in the afternoon air. Soon one body after an other fell to the ground dead.

The damage report announcements included the words “poisoned”. As we regrouped, Robin warned Sin.

“Watch out for Salming she’s using poison!”

“POISON?” We looked back at the field strewn with bodies. Then looked at each other. Now the press of pirates against our small crew had reached critical mass. This was no longer an amusement, they were playing for keeps.

“ENDEAVOURS…BREAK OFF AND RETURN TO THE SHIP… NOW!” Captain Newt ordered. As everyone lifted off, flying in straight lines towards the Endeavour, he continued to issue orders.

“ALL HANDS, PREPARE TO GET UNDERWAY”

“MR. VOSS, HAUL THE ANCHOR AND STOW IT.”

“MS. SPROCKET, READY THE CANNONS AND BREAK OUT THE SMALL ARMS.”

“MR. CASSINI, SET THE JIBS, TOPS AND MAINS.”

“MR. ANACONDA, GET OUR WATERCRAFT ONBOARD AND SECURED.”

“MR. TRENTON, MAN THE HELM, STEER WEST BY SOU’WEST.”

“MR. VOSS, SEND A MESSAGE TO MR. NAGY THAT WE ARE UNDERWAY AND TO REJOIN THE SHIP IMMEDIATELY.”

The instantaneous response from the crew, acknowledging their new orders was spoken as one:

“AYE AYE SIR” they roared, as they bent fanaticly to their tasks. Once aboard the rattle of anchor chain, the groaning of the anchor windlass and the cries and shouts of the crew are thrilling to anyone familiar with the sea. Even Baldi and Crewella added their eagles’ cries to the excitement.

“CAPTAIN, COME QUICKLY,” Sin shouted down the open hatch.

Newt reached the deck in record time. Sin handed over his telescope and pointed towards the two monster MEN-OF-WAR pirate vessels. He saw men in the rigging shaking out the canvas, the anchor chains ran home into bilges. Several smaller brigantines were making sail as well.

“MR. VOSS, DRAG EVERY AVAILABLE SAILBAG ON DECK.”

Looking aft, we saw a puff of white smoke along Nox Chamerberlin’s weather rail. A second later we heard it’s report. Their swivel-gun was out of range and the round fell well short. Mud kicked up from the shallow bottom and had formed a swirling circle of brown on the turquoise surface where the Endeavour had sat anchored only moments before. The shot kicked up a geyser dead center. Robin had found the time to wriggle out of her pith helmet outfit into her black tight fighting leathers and was now armed and exceedingly dangerous. She was singing to herself and occasionally saying to any crew near at hand.

“I told you so, didn’t I tell you so …Once a pirate always a pirate.” she reiterated as she handed out the fully primed pistols.

ENDEAVOUR now hull down, her broad chested bow driving the sea to a white whip cream froth. The deeper ocean swells increased, The turquoise sea turned color to a deep rich blue. Every pirate vessels raced the other to be the first out of the bay. Endeavour spanked the flanks of the following seas sending white water spraying off her bows. More spume lifted and carried aft. Commander Newt looked Sin Trenton square in the eyes. Trenton’s face was wet with spray, the smile extended from ear to ear.

“Steady as she goes Mr. Trenton.” Tiny checked the pirate’s progress in the spyglass. “They are coming with a blasted armada “ he marveled,

…and they are gaining!”

“Mr. Voss, Mr. Cassini. Unship the anchor hawse and send it aloft. Secure it at the mizzen cross-trees and make it fast to the stern quarter. We will tension it with the windlass.”

“Aye Cap’n, from mizzen cross-trees to the stern.” In the vast open ocean vistas of Second Life the wind increased to a howl and the sea state correspondingly increased alarmingly. Well astern, the fast brigantines, heavily armed for in-shore fighting nonetheless had little in the way of creature comforts or shelter. When the larger comers broke across their bows

the vessels would stagger- crushed under the wave’s weight and the crew unable to avoid them were drenched, keeping their precious powder supplies dry was a distinct challenge. A mighty cheer went up as two brigantines broke off and came about, reduced sails and returned to base. “ I make it four brigs and two frigates” said Cassini. The bad news was there were still two hours until darkness … the good news, the lack of a moon offered an escape. Now, if only their ship swims until sun set.

“Mr. Voss, lighten ship, you can, start with four of our heaviest guns. But leave the ”mighty Bess”( the long eighteen) and secure her aft here beside me. Load it with ball and chain and double charge it with our driest powder.

Voss, shocked at the order of heaving their valuable cannon overboard replied. “ Aye Sir;… lighten ship, four over the side…rig the Eighteen aft with double dry powder and ball and chain.” He hurried away forward.

“Mr. Cassini , Rig studding sails-main and mizzen, and strike the foremast courses” Cassini repeated the orders and he too raced forward intent upon finding line in which to rig the new sails.

Robin, highly placed at the main top shouted to the deck below.

“Gaining on us fast Sir, Nox will be in range any minute now”

As if to punctuate her observation a shot splashed 50 yards aft and skipped three times outboard the starboard rail.

“Jeezus! exclaimed Annaconda.

The precious cannons went overboard with geyser like splashes soaking the decks fore and aft. Now, some eight tons lighter, the Endeavour fairly leapt forward like a startled colt. With the rigging of the studding sails the speed increased yet another knot. The foremast’s lower sails had been furled decreasing the pressure on the bow allowing the fore-foot to lift and ride the backs of the larger waves.

“Robin, throw the ‘chip’ if you would be so kind.”

Minutes later came her report as the knotted line zipped through her gloved hands.

“Fifteen Knots -half fathom… Sir” came her breathless reply.

Three miles astern of the ENDEAVOUR in hottest pursuit sailed the pirate armada led by the 38 Gun 800 ton frigate JHET. Her captain, the nefarious Nox Chamerberlin; quick to anger, braggadochios and brutally vicious in hand -to -hand combat had been heard to bluster “ I only need one blade!”… (in each pocket), nonetheless commanded a taughtly run operation. JHET’S gun crews were famous for firing 3 rounds in under five minutes. This “Impossible” time had remained a fleet record,. The jealous Admiral Willis to this day maintained “This is some sort of a trick and I will get to the bottom of this folly.” There had been vicious rumors of massive floggings (…but, just until attitudes improved.)

SCOURGE sailed alongside the JHET knot for knot, The pirate frigate SCOURGE weighing 650 tons with 22 heavy cannon together with her bow and stern chasers presented a formidable adversary. Temporarily commanded by the peg-legged Pirate Graves. The SCOURGE was presently undermanned having marooned half their crew ashore in their haste to give chase. Graves also known affectionately as “Digger” by his friends and enemies. ( but mostly his enemies) told outrageous lies on how he came to lose his leg. Most days found him wearing no shirt…or coat even in the cruelest of conditions. He ruled his quarterdeck with an iron fist – let no man question his authority. “ However; confided second mate Deevah Torok “…if it be a lad in trouble Digger would give you the shirt off’n ‘is back he would. Thets why he never wears ‘em, gave ‘em all away, he did.” Har har hoot!”

Directly behind the frigate SCOURGE was the Brigantine SEA DOG conned by Cmdr. Mango Birdbrain. His ship was having a heavy go of it. The Sea Dogs were drenched to the skin, cold and very hungry and they saw the inevitable, the larger frigates were merely playing with the Endeavour… It would only be a matter of time to see which one would gobble her up. The brig was flying every scrape of sail she possessed just to keep station with the larger ships. No one aboard the SEA DOG gave a rat’s ass in hell about the map anyways.

Pirate Graves stood his foredeck. He hoisted his saber cursing over the din of the bow-chaser and madly slashed away at some imagined Tiny Newt swirling in his brain. He barely missed decapitating Lt “Spike” McCollister Kayvon.

“Whoa!! yelled Spike as he ducked and weaved. “Careful thar Cap’n !…I be needing this ‘’ere ‘ead.” Kayvon was also half nude, he fought the Long 12 single-handed every thirty minutes by the glass. “Gained mor’n 20 fathoms we have … by the look of ‘er” he mused- gauging the distance.

The focs’l’ deck became obscured by thick gun smoke. The crew would instantly squat after each successive blast to avoid the wild swings of the Captain’s razor sharp blade. One could not see their hand in front of their face for minutes on end until the trades swept the deck clean again.

“HO .…RELOAD MATES!, RELOAD!” screamed Digger. As the stinking sulphur curtain lifted- the Endeavour suddenly appeared very much nearer at hand. Graves immediately brought the Scourge’s bow guns to bare.

“FIRE! He roared so hard he drooled down his black beard, making him so furious he brought down his blade for emphasis. Instead he sliced down on the rail accidentally severing the stays’ls halyard at the deadeye.

The massive triangular sail fluttered to deck in a hissing crush of canvas.

A hungry bow wave sucked the billowing jib beneath the prow of the ship. Now unstoppable SCOURGE drove right over it tearing away the

bow spr’it, which in it’s turn forced the now unstayed foremast to snap like a twig . The very twig that supported the Fore topmast, the topsail, the top-gallant and ultimately the jib and flying jib; all crashed into the sea directly into the path of the SCOURGE . The remnants of the sail wound itself around the rudder slewing the entire ship to port and stopping her dead in the water.

Only the JHET and SEA DOG remained to carry the fight to the Endeavour. Darkness was closing fast. The JHET was forced to alter course to starb’d to avoid the tangled SCOURGE wreckage losing precious minutes and increasing the gap to a thousand yards.

From the main top-gallant Carl Voss called below.

“ONLY ONE SHIP VISABLE.”

“WHAT SHIP SAY YOU?” he halloed back.

“ THE JHET, SIR” came back the disembodied acknowledgment.

“Very well, the odds are improving wouldn’t you say ? Mr.Trenton.

Captain Tiny Newt turned to his crew with a smile on his face for the first time since this 200 mile chase had began.

“I expect we will see some cloud cover by dark. As soon as we lose the daylight, come up a point and a half. Hold her as tight to the wind as she will allow. That fat sow JHET can’t match our ability to out point them. I ‘ll take the “dog watch” Mr. Trenton. Please set the schedule.

“Aye aye Captain,” he returned.

“And Mr. Trenton,. Send Clasico to me as soon as he reaches the deck.

“You wished to see me Sir?”

“Clasico, salvage those damaged spars, then empty four of the remaining water casks.” This was doubly troubling since the ship had no time for water provisioning with her sudden departure from Sanchon. “ “Have Mr. Anaconda assist you in fashioning a sturdy raft with a mast as tall as our stern light. Build it in the lee of the focs’l with little or no fanfare so as to hide your actions from our pursuers. Locate a spare lantern to hang at the top that mast. Make ready by eight bells. I want you to ride it astern and when you see us extinguish our light you uncover yours- then tie the tow-line around your waist and cut loose the raft -we will pull you straight back to the ship… no worries mate.” Clasico’s smile disappeared like a rain cloud over the sun. First Mate Clasico Cassini was a gregarious young Italian who, always managed a brilliant smile. Where other’s worried- he was confident, when all others groused -he sang songs. The only source of terror for him was that he swam not a stoke. So it was with much trepidation he approached the task set for him now.

The light faded rapidly at these latitudes. It would be dark soon. The armada was now perceptibly closer firing a range shot at every turn of the half-hour glass. The crew ate their dinner cold and standing as dusk ushered in the navigational stars. As if on cue Sin Trenton appeared on deck with his sextant and chronometer. The rolling ship frustrated his sightings and he apologized later for the wide triangle drawn on the chart that represented our position. He went below shaking his head, mumbling to himself “ Could be off by fifty miles or more”

As predicted the clouds began to obscure the stars. Looking up, Robin

exclaimed in voice that carried aft to the helm. “Going to be darker than the inside of a cow” The Captain hearing her loud comment, said in sot.to- vo.ce “Pass the word…silent running” When the muffled bell stuck eight (.. .. .. .. ..) the whispered command was given. “Over the side… Handsomely now! .. be quiet as the dead!” Even with the warnings there was quite a lot of bumping and thumping to be heard. Clasico went over the rail with the covered lantern on a halyard. His eyes were as large as saucers but to his credit he gave no evidence of fear. The raft now pummeled along in the hissing wake. The crew watched Clasico , hugging the pitching mast for dear life lunged astern waving weakly but bravely. He disappeared from sight almost immediately. When the line played out to fifty fathoms Tiny ordered the stern light extinguished. Long seconds later the cover came off the lantern.. The light was much diminished and rocked quite violently. Everyone hoped it wasn’t too noticeable to the pirates. The trailing line now suddenly free of the heavy raft was hauled back to the ship with alackrity. Clasico was helped aboard sputtering and spewing seawater. “Excellent work Cassini… are you feeling alright?”

Classic could form not a single word but sat dripping and gasping for breath nodding his head.

Far behind, long tongues of flame flashed in the darkness. The thumping increased to double the intensity. Still the tiny light danced in the darkness. On the third salvo the feeble light winked out for good.

The ENDEAVOUR ran so perfectly before the wind she made almost no sound other than a few creaking ropes and the occasional hissing splash of a bow wave.

An hour passed with no reports from the enemy. “Steady as she goes” whispered Tiny to helmsperson Robin. He confided in her …“NOX will expect me to veer away to port or starb’d but we are hauling as… ahem, finding impressive speed on this course.” He had left the conclusion unspoken but even in the pitch black she could see his smile. Then the Captain uttered welcomed words to a hard fought crew “Double the grog rations to all hands Mr. Trenton.

” Double sir?” questioned Sin.

“Make it so” said Tiny. “The ENDEAVOUR swims to fight another day!”