BlondyMcHuggles

Scourge of the Seas

The seas just off the coast of Jamaica sat fairly still for the first time in several days; the waves brushed along the coastline like an artist painting a picture, and the powerful sun illuminated the water and the islands for hundreds of miles around.

Jamaica had become somewhat of a playfield for pirates lately, and the captain of the ship 'the Devil's Anvil', one Nolan Francis Kirkwood, fully intended to take advantage of the ever-increasing British trade in the region. The Devil's Anvil was a somewhat modest brig with a less-than-modest name; she bore 18 guns and simple, plain white sails. Her figurehead, bearing a naked man carrying a trident and shield, along with a Corinthian helmet, was easily one of the better-designed pieces of the ship.

In many ways, Kirkwood, or 'Old Ironwood' to his crew, was like his ship; rugged but sturdy, and he carried himself with a bearing more befitting an ancient king than a pirate. All of his crew looked to him for guidance and even purpose.

The crew stood at their posts, many wearing bored and disinterested expressions. After days of waiting for the weather to calm down, they were ready to hunt for merchant ships which so far, had failed to show themselves.

Captain Kirkwood stood beside his helmsman, keeping a watchful eye over the deck of his ship. His eyes were currently following a small girl in her late teens. She was carrying a small barrel of gunpowder to a pair of cannons, when she suddenly tripped over. The barrel flew out of her grip and landed on the deck with a thud, breaking its top off and spilling its valuable contents all over the wooden boards.

A rancid odour quickly began to fill the air, and Old Ironwood grimaced at both the smell and the waste of propellant. He walked down the stairs from the helm and towards the girl, who wore an expression of total dread. Kirkwood walked with his head held high and his left hand on the hilt of his sabre, and his long jacket fluttered in the breeze.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked with a noticable edge in his voice. His eyes, full of fury, stared directly into the girl's own; she immediately averted her gaze to the deck.
She hardly ever spoke on the best of days, but with a man like Kirkwood one wrong sentence from bursting a vein standing right in front of her, she felt like she didn't have a choice. "I-I tri-"

She was silenced immediately by a vicious backhand, which already left a stinging red mark on her face. "Did I say you could open your whore mouth, Chambers?" his face was red too, though the cause was much different. "Clean that up." he spat, before turning on his heel and heading back for the helm. The other pirates on the Devil's Anvil paid the interaction no mind, and continued working at their posts like nothing had happened.

Chambers preferred to avoid contact with everyone else on the ship, but of course it wasn't ever that simple. Some pirates would simply rant at her if they didn't ignore her completely, and other pirates used her for... well, different things. She sighed quietly and did what she was told, trying to avoid nursing her bright red cheek or give up due to the eggy smell of gunpowder still in the air.

Scourge of the Seas

My Hider

NAME: Francisco Bagua, Known simply as "Mullato" by Spanish authorities, Otherwise called "Juracán" or "Huracán" (Taíno, Spanish respectively)
SEX: Male
DATE OF BIRTH: 11 September 1687
PLACE OF BIRTH; A village just south of Arecibo, Puerto Rico
BACKSTORY: The island of Borikén attracted many suitors with imperial dreams. Though the Spaniard Cristóbal Colón arrived earliest among the Europeans to lay claim, this did not stop other powers from trying for the island. This tension led to a number of conflicts. It was during one such conflict that a particular African taken as a slave by the Spanish found himself freed from his shackles. Meanwhile, a young officer by the name Miguel Avecedo was praying as British forces surrounded him. His prayers were answered by the African who took up arms and dealt a decisive blow against the attackers. A number of slaves acted accordingly, but Miguel Avecedo had known of the African already and felt shamed by his prior actions. This African alone regained his freedom -- a fact that shaped his life from then on.

Francisco was born a little way south of Arecibo. His father farmed coffee, while his mother worked at a church in town. His mother, a Catholic with both Taíno and Spanish blood, taught him letters and the state of the world. His father told him stories of Africa and taught him to farm, hunt, and craft. Despite their best intentions, Francisco felt as if a keg of powder lay within his chest. He felt hatred. The island was plagued by slavers dealing in Black flesh to work fields. Spanish soldiers thought themselves heroes each time they deflected other European ships, then promptly took their 'rewards' from those in town. Each disgusting act filled the keg with more powder. One night Francisco accompanied his mother and younger sister into town to deliver coffee beans and purchase supplies. The trip was not long but tired them regardless. Spanish soldiers greeted them upon their arrival, looked over their cargo, and approached his mother. They whispered at first and he could see the discomfort on her face. She turned away, but one of the soldiers caught her chin in his hand and pulled her close. They did not notice Francisco reach into their wagon, they did not hear the flintlock's mechanism click back prepared to fire, and he felt no compulsion to warn them. His powder keg was filled. He fired and the soldier reaching to grope his mother flung back with a red spray bursting from his chest. Suddenly the attention of the soldiers directed to the young man who, defiantly, gripped the rifle as if ready to club. The soldiers overpowered Francisco in short order and their fallen had already returned to his feet, chest speckled with spots of blood from the birdshot. He'd successfully pulled the attention from his mother.

Firing upon a Spanish soldier was a turning point. Francisco sat in a cell beneath Arecibo for days until receiving visitors. His family came in first with warm embraces and kisses, learned of his condition, then said their goodbyes. His father delayed to give him a piece of advice, "A man may be bent. Broken in every way. And that same man can still stand up when the moment's right." In the night a soldier, navy by the look of his coat, arrived with a torch in hand. Francisco vaguely remembered him as a Spaniard from his father's past. Capitán Miguel Avecedo explained to Francisco the weight of his actions and his fortune that the soldier was only lightly wounded in a manner reminiscent of his father. They spoke for at least an hour, during which Francisco managed to inspire a laugh and learn a lesson or two. The next morning three naval soldiers arrived and escorted Francisco out of the cell in shackles. Though just after dawn, the sun overwhelmed his eyes, he could still hear his family calling out. His mother, father, and sister walked along the group expressing their love and faith in him. He did not understand until he'd arrived aboard a naval ship preparing to depart.

A decade has passed since Francisco set foot upon La Cadena Negra. In that time he's thought of the experience as both curse and blessing. His role has been, officially, that of a slave in service to Capitán Avecedo. The reality of his service has been closer to that of a helper assisting wherever needed with tasks big and demeaningly small. In the beginning, the captain sought to break him, tasking the youth to follow the repairmen's orders and clean in any moment between. He continued onto learning to rig and, from time-to-time, going ashore for supplies to maintain ship and crew. A year in and the purpose of the ship shifted from securely moving cargo to that of a guardian for vessels ill-equipped against the growing scourge of piracy. Francisco learned combat with a blade and, despite the first mate's caution against any kind of slave touching firearms, he received standard training with rifles as well. La Cadena Negra successfully defended three dozen voyages in as many months. When not guarding ships or finding rest at a port, Avecedo sought pirates still, though the men could not complain after the claiming the bounties. Such was Francisco's life until recently when Avecedo accepted a different kind of job.

They were to sail for Africa.

APPEARANCE: Francisco is average in height in build with the exception of notably broad shoulders. Since boarding La Cadena Negra he allowed his hair to grow long, wearing it now in thick black braids that hang to the middle of his back. His skin is darker than any Spaniard, but lighter than his father or most others he has known from Africa. It's clear he is not Spanish, yet likely unclear what exactly his origins might be. Adorning his arms and back are various tattoos depicting symbols from his heritage. Most notably among these tattoos are the and sun and moon on his wrists. Though he is generally treated far better than any slave, when it comes to wardrobe, what he was given was purely essential. Francisco wears a roughspun tunic, heavily patched pantaloons that end just below the knee, and a pair of cracking leather boots and a tattered sailor's coat taken from a dead pirate.

MOTIVATION: Francisco dreams of stumbling upon a world lost to him. Living exclusively on Borikén, he has only heard rumours of lands untouched by invaders.

SKILLS/STRENGTHS: Francisco is capable. His father took care to ensure he knew how to provide for himself, while his mother believed knowledge the greatest key to a good life. From their teachings he is a capable hunter and farmer, he can craft basic tools, and he knows letters. In short, Francisco has the foundation to survive in civil society or the wilds.

His ancestry can open doors. Growing up in a village near Arecibo taught Francisco the importance of community and culture. Unlike those in San Juan exposed chiefly to Spanish influence, he was able to grow up with many African and Taíno stories instead. Capitáno Avecedo has noted and exploited this part of Francisco, knowing full well how said roots run in parts of the Carribean.

Francisco is no soldier, don't let that deceive you. He remembers well his father's story of the Spanish slave ship that took him as a boy. The lesson, aside from understanding the horrible acts the Spanish might do for greed, was to be prepared. His father taught him to grapple. Later in life, Avecedo's crew expanded the lesson to include the Spanish ways of swordsmanship and how to use a rifle.

WEAKNESSES:
Trust me, they see colour. His father was stolen from his land, put in chains, and taken across the sea. His mother's people were largely either eradicated or enslaved. Francisco was raised with a keen awareness that his value as human-being, in the eyes of many, is questionable and this prejudice can have an effect on everyday life.

Retribution is best served cold. Francisco and his family have suffered greatly due to human-trafficking and imperialism. As a result, he is easily tempted to lash out at those who benefit from pursuits without consideration for his own well-being (similar to his response to his mother being harassed).

Without a name or land. Francisco lacks a recognizable name, land, or any reputation aside what he's gained aboard the La Cadena Negra. Leaving the ship means leaving behind most everything he's earned in his adult life.

ROLE ON SHIP: Slave Hand
NAME OF SHIP: La Cadena Negra
NAME OF CAPTAIN: Capitáno Miguel Avecedo
SHIP DESCRIPTION/SPECS: The ship is a fifth-rate two-decker armed with 40 guns suitable scouting and speed. (Chances are this will not be the ship we see Francisco on for long.)

@Lo Pellegrino

Judging by how well-written that backstory was, it'd be a crime not to let you in! Accepted! Feel free to post in the characters tab when you're ready. ^^

Scourge of the Seas

@BlondyMcHuggles
He did, experience from killing rogue sailors (Pirates)
I might have to change the history so that the ages are specific
Or is it accepted?
Either it will appear changed if it's accepted in the character tab

@SantosGabriel77

This RP is supposed to be completely historical; I mean, small additions can be made, but I'd rather everything be as historically accurate as possible. Since @Beany McBean knows a lot more of this than I do, I'll defer to his judgement on this.

Scourge of the Seas

Application

NAME: Adolfus Tiberius Erikkson

SEX: Male

DATE OF BIRTH: 30/3/1677

PLACE OF BIRTH: Unknown port town, Brandenburg

BACKSTORY: Born Adolfus Spiner, he was raised in a port town in Brandenburg. With a promising life ahead, he excelled in his studies until one night. His Mother worked at a tavern, and when she was walking home, she was killed in a mugging. Adolfus’ Father was understandably distraught, and after living basically only on alcohol for 3 months, he passed away as well. After this, Ady changed his surname, and joined a military engineering university for 4 years. In his time, he developed a reliance on alcohol, and a penchant for lying to get the alcohol; and he met 3 life-long friends. Vilipur the Finn, Harald the Swede, and an englishman named Edward. Together, they quickly blasted through anything the university put in front of them. After graduating, Edward signed on to the navy, and Adolfus joined him. Now he’s in the caribbean, working to make the world a more blown-up place.

APPEARANCE: 6’3” and grizzled pre00.deviantart.net/a637/th/pre/f/20…

MOTIVATION: You don't need to know. Yet.

SKILLS/STRENGTHS: Skilled engineer, blacksmith, and carpenter, Gunpowder junky, gun tinkerer, sharpshooter,

WEAKNESSES: craptastic in a sword fight, massive alcoholic when depressed, machiavellian, obsessive about order, stamina is garbage

OTHER: He enjoys brewing as a hobby, and aspires to own a brewery in Nassau. He collects brewing recipes as well.

NAME OF CAPTAIN: Cpt. Blackett

ROLE ON SHIP: Carpenter, Blacksmith, general handyman. Takes care of the weapons and such.

NAME OF SHIP: Bucephalus

SHIP DESCRIPTION/SPECS: You know already.

@Maki the Finn

Accepted!

Scourge of the Seas

"Red" Raphe Alan Leveret

NAME: "Red" Raphe Alan Leveret

SEX: Male

DATE OF BIRTH: 10/30/1684

PLACE OF BIRTH; Stroud, Gloucestershire, England

BACKSTORY: The son of a middle class low-ranking naval officer, Raphe Leverett had as good a childhood as can be expected. There was a charity school nearby, which he did well enough in, but he commonly got into fights with the other boys behind the schoolhouse. When he was 14, he became the cabin boy on a Royal Navy ship, where he learned the ins and outs of sailing and ship hierarchy. A couple years later he jumped ship in Italy, after witnessing many impressive feats of swordplay and shooting; an advertising campaign by a martial school. Raphe got a job at the school as a janitor, but was almost fired when his boss caught him mimicking the students with his broom. Luckily, the master of the school saw him too, and noticed the boy's natural talent.

After several years of training, he traveled to Spain to participate in a competition. There, he met the wife of a participant that he didn't end up fighting and they both fell in love. The absconded to the south of Spain, and there they lived for a long time before the angry husband found them. After looking for a job, Raphe came home to the husband stabbing his former wife through her pregnant abdomen. After a long and painful duel, he killed the husband. He believes that had he been a better swordsman, he would have been able to save his wife. He turned to piracy to find adventure, money, and practice the generally frowned upon hobby of becoming a more efficient killing machine.

APPEARANCE: 5'8"; well muscled, but still flexible; medium-length auburn hair kept in a ponytail, sideburns and stubble; wears navy blue breeches and a dark red leather frock coat, with a navy and red striped sash; he wears two braces of pistols and an early ringed rapier, with a stout throwing axe tucked into his belt; his arms are covered in countless small red X tattoos. I'll get a picture later.

MOTIVATION: Wants adventure, cash, and to be a better fighter

SKILLS/STRENGTHS: Expert swordsman and sharpshooter; good secret keeper; moves extremely quietly; speaks spanish and some italian

WEAKNESSES: Teamwork, especially in a fight; recklessly impulsive; obsessed with becoming stronger/better fighter, to his own detriment; violent drunk

ROLE ON SHIP: Master Gunner

NAME OF SHIP: The Zodiac's Warning

NAME OF CAPTAIN: Theodore de la Cruz

SHIP DESCRIPTION/SPECS: The Zodiac's Warning is a 13 gun brig, carrying 10 broadside 12-pounders on the main deck, 2 long 8-pound bow chasers, and 1 long 9-pound stern chaser, as well as 4 swivel guns, mounted 2 at the fore and 2 at the aft. At any given moment, it carries a crew complement of around 100, including the officers and their mates. The mainsail and Jolly Roger are decorated with paintings of the Chinese Zodiac, and the leafed figurehead depicts a snarling hound.

@surebeens

Okay, now your're accepted!

Scourge of the Seas

Application

NAME: John Lysander Blackett (aka 'Black Jack')

SEX: Male

DATE OF BIRTH: 28th January 1683


PLACE OF BIRTH: Newcastle, England

BACKSTORY: John Lysander Blackett was born in 1683, the second son of a minor English noble family. His family’s fortune was dwindling, and they were forced to sell their ancestral castle while John was a young child, moving to their second home in London. There, the young boy was educated by a series of private tutors in a wide variety of subjects. He was a gifted student, but had always had a singular interest in ships, being able to watch both merchant and navy vessels on the Thames from his bedroom window. At age 20, he left home to enlist in the Royal Navy as an officer, and was awarded a role as a lieutenant on the HMS Southsea Castle, a 5th rate frigate bound for the Caribbean. John, along with most of the crew, grew to resent their cruel and incompetent captain, and after a year of patrolling the seas under his harsh rule began to plot a mutiny against him. Electing the young lieutenant as their leader, as demonstrably one of the most intelligent and well-suited among them to the job, the mutineers struck as the Southsea Castle under its cowardly captain fled from a Spanish galleon. Bursting into the captain’s cabin, John personally slew his enemy and assumed command, bringing the ship around and outmaneuvering the Spanish vessel to heavily damage it. In the ensuing fight, a splinter of wood ripped through his left eye, but he continued to give orders until the battle was won.

Since then, Captain Blackett has prowled the waters of the Caribbean, ambushing and looting Spanish and British ships alike, as well as anyone else who dares to cross his path. He is a firm captain, with an insistence on regular training and strict – but never unfair – discipline uncommon among pirates. His ship, the Bucephalus, is one of the most agile pirate vessels in the region, with a fairly impressive armament and a well-trained crew – although it must rely on clever tactics rather than sheer firepower to tackle the larger navy vessels that patrol the seas with increasing regularity.


APPEARANCE: i.imgur.com/OKZSz1n.jpg


MOTIVATION: To win a fortune worthy of rebuilding his family’s estates and prestige.

SKILLS/STRENGTHS: Highly educated and well read. Good navigator. A penchant for devious strategy. Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, proficient in Dutch. Skilled swordsman.

WEAKNESSES: Poor skill at unarmed combat, average marksmanship. Missing an eye. Seen by crew as haughty and arrogant, and some dislike his discipline and training regimens, although their mood is improved by consistently good pay.

NAME OF CAPTAIN (if applicable): N/A

ROLE ON SHIP: Captain

NAME OF SHIP: The Bucephalus

SHIP DESCRIPTION/SPECS: The Bucephalus is a 32 gun frigate, formerly a 5th rate warship of the Royal Navy. It carries 24 broadside 12-pound guns, 4 long 9-pound bow chasers, and 4 long 9-pound stern chasers, along with 6 swivel guns on deck for close action. It has a crew complement of 145. Under Captain Blackett, the ship is decorated with crimson sails, a Jolly Roger depicting a horse with the lower half of a fish (hippocampus) piercing a heart with a trident, and a bronze figurehead depicting the same creature as on the flag, minus the trident and heart.

@Beany McBean

Accepted! You can post your app in the Character tab when you're ready! ^^

Scourge of the Seas

Application

NAME: "Red" Raphe Alan Leveret

SEX: Male

DATE OF BIRTH: 10/30/1684

PLACE OF BIRTH; Stroud, Gloucestershire, England

BACKSTORY: The son of a middle class low-ranking naval officer, Raphe Leverett had as good a childhood as can be expected. There was a charity school nearby, which he did well enough in, but he commonly got into fights with the other boys behind the schoolhouse. When he was 14, he became the cabin boy on a Royal Navy ship, where he learned the ins and outs of sailing and ship hierarchy. A couple years later he jumped ship in Italy, after witnessing many impressive feats of swordplay and shooting; an advertising campaign by a martial school. Raphe got a job at the school as a janitor, but was almost fired when his boss caught him mimicking the students with his broom. Luckily, the master of the school saw him too, and noticed the boy's natural talent.

After several years of training, he traveled to Spain to participate in a competition. There, he met the wife of a participant that he didn't end up fighting and they both fell in love. The absconded to the south of Spain, and there they lived for a long time before the angry husband found them. After looking for a job, Raphe came home to the husband stabbing his former wife through her pregnant abdomen. After a long and painful duel, he killed the husband. He believes that had he been a better swordsman, he would have been able to save his wife. He turned to piracy to find adventure, money, and practice the generally frowned upon hobby of becoming a more efficient killing machine.

APPEARANCE: 5'8"; well muscled, but still flexible; medium-length auburn hair kept in a ponytail, sideburns and stubble; wears navy blue breeches and a dark red leather frock coat, with a navy and red striped sash; he wears two braces of pistols and an early ringed rapier, with a stout throwing axe tucked into his belt; his arms are covered in countless small red X tattoos. I'll get a picture later.

MOTIVATION: Wants adventure, cash, and to be a better fighter

SKILLS/STRENGTHS: Expert swordsman and sharpshooter; good secret keeper; moves extremely quietly; speaks spanish and some italian

WEAKNESSES: Teamwork, especially in a fight; recklessly impulsive; obsessed with becoming stronger/better fighter, to his own detriment; violent drunk

ROLE ON SHIP: Master Gunner

NAME OF SHIP: The Zodiac's Warning

NAME OF CAPTAIN: Theodore de la Cruz

SHIP DESCRIPTION/SPECS: I don't know yet. Robert's description was crap.

@surebeens

I can't accept the application without a ship description; as soon as Rob posts his application, I'll accept yours.

Scourge of the Seas

Application

APPLICATION:

NAME: Cato Valentinovna

SEX: Female

DATE OF BIRTH: November 7th, 1690

PLACE OF BIRTH: Moscow, Russia

BACKSTORY: Cato Valentinovna was born into the proud nobility of the Russian Tsardom, growing up in the distinguished court of Peter the First. Her father was a rich merchant that sold luxurious fabrics and clothing to the aristocracy. Her mother was a French noblewoman and avid artist. Her childhood was as comfortable for her family as it was insufferable for her sensibilities. She was raised to be a gentle and polite lady of the court, but she longed to take part in more boyish fields of study like science and history. Both her parents heavily reprimanded her for this behaviour, as they did not want to damage their reputation with the other more traditional Russian nobles.

Inspired by the sweeping modernization reforms enacted by her own monarch, Peter I, Cato resisted her mother’s desperate attempts to civilize her. She stole books on medicine and surgery, which she studied profusely. After a year of maintaining her fascination with the medical profession, she declared that she would become a doctor to the Tsars of Russia. Her parents, who had already planned to marry her off to another Russian family in order to better their position in the nobility, completely forbade her to pursue her new ambitions. In response, she stole as much money and product from her father’s storehouse and fled from her home. She paid her way through Europe, learning what she could from willing medical institutions and moving on. She spent a year in Paris, becoming a novelty in the court of Louis XIV. She treated the aristocracy of the Sun King until she realized that she was more of a novelty than a doctor to the decadent French peerage.

After leaving Paris, she decided to travel to the Americas, where she believed that she could be taken more seriously as a medical doctor. As she neared the Caribbean, a fierce gale struck, driving her ship off course and tearing its sails badly. Drifting a few miles out of Nassau, the ship was easy pickings for the first pirate to inevitably happen upon it: 'Black Jack' Blackett of the Bucephalus. Boarding the battered vessel, the pirates swiftly overcame any resistance, and began the process of transferring cargo and captives across to their own ship. Without warning, however, a third ship began to fire upon the Bucephalus. A pirate hunter sloop-of-war, its deck packed with veteran privateers. Blackett's crew rushed to man their own guns, but amidst the chaos the pirates' quartermaster was hit by dozens of splinters from a nearby cannon impact. The wounds would certainly have killed him, had a certain Cato not stepped forward from amidst the captives and offered to treat the wounded man. With the captain's permission, she proceeded to meticulously remove every trace of shrapnel from the quartermaster, disinfecting and stitching his wounds quickly and cleanly, even as the two ships continued to exchange cannonfire. Recognising the value of having such a skilled surgeon on board, Captain Blackett immediately offered her a choice: take a position on his crew, or be enslaved, ransomed, or killed like the rest of the captives. After some decidedly brief consideration, she accepted his offer.

APPEARANCE: i.imgur.com/YzCUqqb.png

MOTIVATION: Cato wants to be recognized as a proper medical professional in some great court of Europe, although that ambition has somewhat fallen to the wayside since her first taste of the adventure of piracy. At the moment, she has decided to see the world before settling anywhere.

SKILLS/STRENGTHS: Cato is a skilled surgeon and regular doctor, with knowledge on much of the world and many fields of medicine. She has been known to make sparkling conversation with both crew-members and captives, and she can play the violin nicely.

WEAKNESSES: She is well versed in swordplay on paper, but in actuality she has quite a bit of trouble holding her own. Instead of joining the fight, she can usually be found below-deck either taking shelter or treating the wounded.

NAME OF CAPTAIN: John Lysander Blackett

ROLE ON SHIP: Ship’s Doctor

NAME OF SHIP: The Bucephalus

SHIP DESCRIPTION/SPECS: The Bucephalus is a 32 gun frigate, formerly a 5th rate warship of the Royal Navy. It carries 24 broadside 12-pound guns, 4 long 9-pound bow chasers, and 4 long 9-pound stern chasers, along with 6 swivel guns on deck for close action. It has a crew complement of 145. Under Captain Blackett, the ship is decorated with crimson sails, a Jolly Roger depicting a horse with the lower half of a fish (hippocampus) piercing a heart with a trident, and a bronze figurehead depicting the same creature as on the flag, minus the trident and heart.

@Luftwaffles

Accepted! You may now post in the Char tab. ^^

Scourge of the Seas

By the year 1715, the so-called 'Golden Age of Piracy' was in full-swing; vicious men prowled the seas in search of fame and fortune just as the mighty European powers did. Many pirates had already made names for themselves, and a handful had entire fleets to call their own. Others marauded in simple sloops or battered brigs, nothing more than petty bandits. The life of nautical adventure and piracy attracted men and women from all walks of life, noble and common.

Unfortunately, not everyone found riches; many merely found warm, watery graves without making their mark on the world. Those that find success would have bounties put on their heads, and find themselves going from hunter to hunted. Truly, the life of a pirate was one of profit through danger.

Plot & Rules
This RP is, in essence, a collection of much smaller RPs that may occasionally come together. These 'smaller RPs' take place on your ship, giving you players more of an opportunity to create your own little plots. At this time, there is no large overarching plot in play, so reave and pillage to your heart's content!
Your characters may be captains, crewmen or whatever strikes your fancy. If you would like, you don't have to be a pirate either; being a member of a European navy, privateer or a pirate hunter is also a valid option!
The date for the start of this RP is 1 June 1715.

Now, the dreaded rules.

1. Do not, under any circumstances, do anything that seriously affects another player's character without their consent; shooting at a character without telling the player is fine, but actually shooting them is not, for example.
2. If your character has a ship completely their own with no other players, you have the freedom of posting whenever your feel like it; those players that share ships or plots will have to be at least somewhat active.
3. This isn't a rule, just a recommendation. Please avoid starting your character off with an entire fleet of ships to call their own; there will probably be little progression for them, and unless they're written extremely well, it will likely become stale.
4. It is possible to join the crew another player's ship if you get their permission to do so.
5. This RP is purely historical, meaning that there will be no magic, krakens, etc. That said, tales of such things are completely okay.
6. You can have as many characters as you wish, but one, maybe two is recommended.
7. If you find anything wrong, do not hesitate to tell the GM or any co-GMs that may be appointed.

Application Sheet

[b]NAME:[/b]
[b]SEX:[/b]
[b]DATE OF BIRTH:[/b]
[b]PLACE OF BIRTH;[/b]
[b]BACKSTORY:[/b]
[b]APPEARANCE:[/b]
[b]MOTIVATION:[/b] (this is optional)
[b]SKILLS/STRENGTHS:[/b]
[b]WEAKNESSES:[/b]
[b]ROLE ON SHIP:[/b]
[b]NAME OF SHIP:[/b]
[b]NAME OF CAPTAIN:[/b] (if not your character)
[b]SHIP DESCRIPTION/SPECS:[/b]

My Character Sheet, for reference

NAME: Lydia Chambers
SEX: Female
DATE OF BIRTH: 13/04/1698 (17 years)
PLACE OF BIRTH; Maldon, Essex, England
BACKSTORY:Lydia was born is a slightly upper-class family in Essex, England. However, her family had made enemies in recent years and they felt that it was no longer safe for them all if they continued as they were. Lydia's mother and father made the decision to move to the New World when she was nine years old.

Unfortunately for her and her family, the ship they were travelling on was spotted by the pirate captain Nolan Francis Kirkwood, who captained 'The Devil's Anvil'. He and his crew boarded the ship, leaving havoc in their wake; the men were killed, the women raped and the children (Lydia and her siblings) were taken prisoner.

Lydia has remained with the crew of 'the Devil's Anvil' ever since, disrespected and mostly ignored by the crew. Mostly...
APPEARANCE:i.imgur.com/xsgDGJG.jpg , 5'3"
MOTIVATION: Prefer not to say.
SKILLS/STRENGTHS: A fantastic climber and a fairly decent shot with a pistol. Because of her constant climbing on ropes and ladders, she has pretty powerful arms and legs. She's also fairly good at general tasks like cleaning and cooking.
WEAKNESSES: Is not good in close-quarters combat, and gets rather agitated when spending prolonged periods on land.
ROLE ON SHIP: Rigging monkey and also does general chores
NAME OF SHIP: 'The Devil's Anvil'
NAME OF CAPTAIN: Nolan Francis "Old Ironwood" Kirkwood
SHIP DESCRIPTION/SPECS: Brig, 31.4m long, has 18 4.6-inch guns. The sails are white, and the figurehead is of a naked man carrying a trident and shield, wearing a Corinthian helmet. The ship's 'jolly roger' has a horned skull, with a rose and a sword crossed together underneath. The Rose's stem has been cut by the sword.

Map of the Caribbean for who owns what.

Wanted: Squad of killers to dispose of Chosen One

Name: Zofija Halsey
Sex: Female
Race: Human
Age: 29
Appearance: Here
Religion: None
Backstory: Born in Zelamoyod to cruel and abusive parents, Zofija's childhood was far from ideal; she was cut off from the outside world, unable to make friends and to learn about many things, including morality. After years upon years of suffering, her parents sold her to agents of the Dark Lord on her 15th birthday.
The Dark Lord recognised her magical abilities soon after she came into his service; she was trained intensely for years, though the Lord was much more supportive in her learning. For the first time in her life, she was well-cared for, and finally had somebody to look up to. Once she had fully understood her own powers, she was a completely willing servant of the Lord.
Motivation: To serve the Dark Lord as best she can.
Magic: The ability to warp reality using psychic powers.
Skills/Strengths: She excels in using psychology to get what she wants; the use of violence isn't a first resort, though she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. In addition, she can warp reality, such as making things appear out of nothing, or making people think that illusuions are reality.
Weaknesses: Because of her undying loyalty to the Dark Lord, she is willing to do whatever he tells her to, even if her orders go against her own best interests. She's also not very trusting or trustworthy; the Lord comes first - everyone else is secondary to her.
Gear: Some nice clothes, a small knife and a pistol
Other: None