@moonblack It been two weeks since ship Throny Rose lost last capitan in the battle against British ship. New capitan of this ship become Rosmary Thorn, young daughter of the prostitute who stand before chalange of leading pirate crew. To put it polite, she wasn't most popular candidate for position, but after last battle there was no one left on the ship, who would have leadership skills, so Rosmary take this role by twist of fate. Now, after making necesery repair and recruit new members, Thorny Rose is again on the open sea. Rosmary stand behind her new helmsman mr Greg He hold rudder on the ship, despite being half-blind, mr Greg lead ship with steady hand and confidence as old and expirence sailor. Wind blow in sails, making ship moving realy fast, what wasn't suprising by their almost empty storage, with supplies for week. "One ship on the larboard!" Rosmary hear scream from the top crow's nest, her new crew member Lisy There was indeed one ship, far away from Throny Rose, but for now it was imposible to tell to whom belongs flag on the top, or if it was merchant or war ship. Too bad their telescope was broken when last capitan get multishoot in the torso and they didn't managed to fix it yet. .... @Impregmaniac Making new bombs and cannon folder never was a easy task for Isaiah Toome, but in the workshop on Tortuga he had enought time and peace, to let him focus on the work. No mater what you do, always make sure to do your job as best as you could. That was words of Isaiah's mother, before she was sold of to another owner. Isaiah move black powder to small bag and put small rope inside. "Hey black guy!" Sudenly he hear voice behind him. "Capitan Roger Hadbrok call us all on the ship. He want to sail away before midday, so hurry up boy!" First oficer Oliva Swam order him like someone servant, even if he wasn't slave for long time. Before Isaiah had chance to respond, she run away to inform rest the crew. They must be drinking rum in the local taverns, playing cards and dice or using service of the ports girls. No matter what they do, they didn't invite Isaiah to join them, since he is only one black guy in the crew. But, he still have hour before coming to ship, so maybe ex-slave could use some time in the town? ... @Tjf Port Royal was one ot he biggest city in this part of the world. Big defencive walls, many cannons on top of them and masive gates make it easy to defend and hard to conquer place, with tousands of citisen. In such big crowd of people, nations and languages one lonely indian woman could in the same time become attraction or disapear in shadows. Casiguaya didn't have much problem with passing gates of port, using opurtunity when one of the farmer argue with watchmen about prise for his wares. In her revaling clothes, not much better than some rags on private parts she take some lewd gaze, but Indians wasn't such uncommon to make of her show. As she walk barefoot on the streets around many shop and workshops, she hear music, laught and dance from the local tavern, where whores and dancers offer their service and where notice board hang few offerts to join the crew of royal navy and private merchants too.
“Get us closer so that we can see what sort of ship it is! Do not raise our flag – no reason to warn them ahead of time.” Rosemary ordered. Finally they had encountered another ship, now they needed to learn more about it. Hopefully it was an easy target, preferably a merchant ship...
"Yes ma'am," Isaiah grumbled, to no one in particular. Wiping his hands clean, he decides to go and get a drink at the nearest, cheapest tavern. Maybe he'll hear some local gossip while he's there.
Casiguaya's eyes dart around her surroundings, anyone paying attention to her clearly realising that the Taino has never been in a city before, let alone one of this magnitude. She feels a little sensory overload at the strange sights, smells and noises, stopping to watch some dancing girls, then a magician performing on a rickety stage. She doesn't mind the lustful stares directed her way - father had hired some nuns to try and teach her propriety, but she'd always leaned towards her people's traditional embrace of sexuality, so she flashes some smiles to the more attractive men and women she catches eyeing her up. Spotting the tavern and the offers, she heads inside.
"Roger that capitan!" Greg said and move rudder in direction of unknown ship. As they sail closer, Rosemary could see this ship more detailed. It was spain's galeon, which looks well armed, under banner of some noble house, but it look like ship wasn't in best condition as there was some marks after cannons shoot. They noticed Thorny Rose and give them signal to name yourself.
Isaiah walked by muddled streets betheen old and ugly buildings, taking few calls from the local like black man or african but he get with problem to tavern. Inside, there was group of fishmen which listen old men tale about sea witch and mermaids. In other corner some sailors and locals drinks and playing dice, on top of piele of money, there was paper which look like map for winner of the game. Innkeeper looks at Isaiah as he walked closer to him and said. "Hmm... Half golden coin for rum." He said price in unfriendly tone.
Inside tavern Casiguaya had to push hersellf through crowd, as it was some kind of party. On top of the bar group of musicians playing music, guest dancing and drinking alcohol as waitress move betheen tables to bring orders. Casiguaya saw some British navy member in their uniforms sitting on the table and writing something on the papers, as line of the sailors slowly moving in direction of officers. Casiguaya suddenly feels hand on her ass, definitely not accidentally. Fat guy didn't remove his hand and lick his mouth with mouthstache.
Casiguaya gives the man a seductive smile, luring him into a false sense of security, before raising her axe and pressing it against his neck. "I did not say you can touch." She says in semi-broken English. "Ask first."
Isaiah just grunts at him, before buying a mug of rum for himself, and a couple of rounds for the gamblers. Getting them a little drunk should make it easier for him to join their game for a few throws, before making a bet for the map. "I bet 10 gold coins for the map."
“Hmm, a Spanish galleon belonging to some nobles, it seems. Likely better armed than us, but not as fast. If we can surprise them...” Rosemary commented as she looked at the ship in the distance. Quickly she came up with a plan. “Alright, boys, get ready. We'll pretend to be friendly merchants and get as close as we can, then we attack. Aim to take out as many of their cannons as possible so that we can negate their firepower advantage. Hopefully their crew is already exhausted from whatever happened to them earlier.” She told her crew. “For now tell them we are The Red Rose, an independent merchant vessel, and ask them to identify themselves in turn. Let's see if we can learn more about who we're dealing with.”
Roll100 for intimidation:87 Fatman rise his hands, scared of axe blade on his throat. "Sorry miss! It won't happen again!" He said realy fast as he steped back and disappear in the crowd. No one take intrested in what happen, such things was quite common in taverns.. As Casiguaya move forward, she seen that line to british officer, wasn't only one for people who want to join navy. There was line to olg men in the used cloak, with smoking pipe in mouth definetly not kind to meet in the dark alley. . There was also crowd under stage, on top of playing on the lute young woman.
Roll for dice 100: 76 It look like Isaiah has today luck today, dice roll in his favor and soon map change owner It been hard to say for Isaiah if map was real or not, since he never learn how to read. He would need help of his capitan Roger or his first officer Olivia, they been only ones in th crew which know how to read.
Roll for deception 100: 93 Rosemary had fool luck, since crew of the galleon didn't consider them as treat or simply they been to tired after what ever happen to them. Old Greg send flag message to galleon, that they are merchants and want to know who they are. Spanish galleon respon with handsome men on the top of the crow nest. "Hello!!! We are Saint Cross and we need some material help! We will paid for suplies!" Roll for deception 100: 34 Rosemary seen nothing suspicious and it look like this ship has no much cannons to fight back against them.
So for this game, a high number is good for the d100 roll? Also, for book-keeping, how much gold does Isaiah have after the gambling? Tucking the map away safely, Isaiah will thank the gamblers for the game, and leave the tavern (assuming he's paid for everything already). If he has time, he will go find his usual port girl to spend a little of his gambled winnings on her services before heading back to the ship.
"I did not say you can't touch, only that you must ask." The Taino says in confusion as the man runs off, before shrugging and sheathing the ax. Since the British are at war with the Maroon ex-slaves who took her in, Casiguaya is less than willing to join the Royal Navy. She heads to the line leading to the old man, listening to the lute player, enthralled by the new style of music.
Hmm... I don't see anything suspicious, yet something feels off... maybe I am just being paranoid. In any case they seem to have fallen for our ruse, so we'll stick to the plan and attack when in position. Rosemary instructed Greg to ask them for details about what they need, then gave her crew a sign to be ready to attack soon. Hopefully they really don't have many cannons...
