Post by Sabess on Jan 20, 2014 9:29:34 GMT -5
Unit, Stelpher and I have agreed upon making a proper, traditional pirate thread. This means out on the water, in the early to mid 1700s, with muskets and swords and the like. We will of course attack settlements and the like. We are the Black Skull Pirates, commanding currently two ships (Although we can make room for one more). Here are the current roles:
Traditionally, "commodore" is the title for any officer assigned to command more than one ship at a time, even temporarily, much as "captain" is the traditional title for the commanding officer of a single ship even if the officer's official title in the service is a lower rank. As an official rank, a commodore typically commands a flotilla or squadron of ships as part of a larger task force or naval fleet commanded by an admiral.
It has often been said that pirates were one of the first true democracies, in that they elected their captains, and often other officers as well. It must be stated that though there are several examples of pirates being voted into and out of power this was not always the case by any means.
Whether he commanded by election or imposition the pirate captain was the supreme commander aboard his ship. The men sailed where he told them to, fought when and whom he told them to and on the whole were ruled by him. For the elected captain his position was a precarious one, his men would obey him as long as he kept making sensible orders and brought them success, if he failed they would vote him out of office and elect another in his place. For the captain who ruled by force the position was equally precarious, if he failed to lead them successfully he faced mutiny and murder.
The duties of the lieutenant were more or less to act as the captain's deputy. He commanded in the captain's absence, often took command of prizes, and during battle should have positioned himself in the forecastle while the captain was on the quarter- or poop-deck.
The boatswain (or bosun) was one of the most important men aboard any sailing vessel. He was responsible for "...all the ropes in general belonging to the ship: with all her cables, anchors, and sails; her flags, colours and pendants...". He was also responsible for making sure every man was correctly on watch and at his station. During battle it was a small group of the best seamen under the command of the boatswain and his mates (if he had any) who saw to the sailing of the ship while most of the crew worked the cannons. On many ships the boatswain was also responsible for discipline. In some ships the boatswain also took on the duties of master gunner.
A sailor was one of the lowest ranking man on board. He usually did whatever there was to do. some of these mates were cooks, look outs or manned canons.
I. Every Man Shall obey civil Command; the Commodore shall have one full Share and a half of all Prizes; the Captain, Lieutenant and Boatswain shall have one Share and quarter.
II. If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the Company, he shall be marooned with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot.
III. If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marooned or shot.
IV. If any time we shall meet another Marooner that Man shall sign his Articles without the Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
V. That Man shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company shall think fit.
VI. If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death.
VII. He that shall be found Guilty of Cowardice in the time of engagements, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
VIII. He that is found Guilty of Gaming, or Defrauding one another to the value of a Royal of Plate, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
IX. He that sees a Sail first, shall have the best Pistol or Small Arm aboard of her.
X. He that shall be guilty of Drunkenness in time of Engagement shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority of the Company shall think fit.
XI. No snapping of Guns in the Hold.
XII. That every man shall keep his watch night and day; and at the hour of eight in the evening every one shall retire from gaming and drinking, in order to attend his respective station.
Commodore
Traditionally, "commodore" is the title for any officer assigned to command more than one ship at a time, even temporarily, much as "captain" is the traditional title for the commanding officer of a single ship even if the officer's official title in the service is a lower rank. As an official rank, a commodore typically commands a flotilla or squadron of ships as part of a larger task force or naval fleet commanded by an admiral.
Captain
It has often been said that pirates were one of the first true democracies, in that they elected their captains, and often other officers as well. It must be stated that though there are several examples of pirates being voted into and out of power this was not always the case by any means.
Whether he commanded by election or imposition the pirate captain was the supreme commander aboard his ship. The men sailed where he told them to, fought when and whom he told them to and on the whole were ruled by him. For the elected captain his position was a precarious one, his men would obey him as long as he kept making sensible orders and brought them success, if he failed they would vote him out of office and elect another in his place. For the captain who ruled by force the position was equally precarious, if he failed to lead them successfully he faced mutiny and murder.
Lieutenant
The duties of the lieutenant were more or less to act as the captain's deputy. He commanded in the captain's absence, often took command of prizes, and during battle should have positioned himself in the forecastle while the captain was on the quarter- or poop-deck.
Boatswain
The boatswain (or bosun) was one of the most important men aboard any sailing vessel. He was responsible for "...all the ropes in general belonging to the ship: with all her cables, anchors, and sails; her flags, colours and pendants...". He was also responsible for making sure every man was correctly on watch and at his station. During battle it was a small group of the best seamen under the command of the boatswain and his mates (if he had any) who saw to the sailing of the ship while most of the crew worked the cannons. On many ships the boatswain was also responsible for discipline. In some ships the boatswain also took on the duties of master gunner.
Sailor
A sailor was one of the lowest ranking man on board. He usually did whatever there was to do. some of these mates were cooks, look outs or manned canons.
Crew:
Commodore Gordon Bloodsmear
Captain Benjin Al-Sallad
Lieutenant Stelpher (name coming soon)
Various NPCs
Various NPCs
The Pirate Code
II. If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the Company, he shall be marooned with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot.
III. If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marooned or shot.
IV. If any time we shall meet another Marooner that Man shall sign his Articles without the Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
V. That Man shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company shall think fit.
VI. If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death.
VII. He that shall be found Guilty of Cowardice in the time of engagements, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
VIII. He that is found Guilty of Gaming, or Defrauding one another to the value of a Royal of Plate, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
IX. He that sees a Sail first, shall have the best Pistol or Small Arm aboard of her.
X. He that shall be guilty of Drunkenness in time of Engagement shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority of the Company shall think fit.
XI. No snapping of Guns in the Hold.
XII. That every man shall keep his watch night and day; and at the hour of eight in the evening every one shall retire from gaming and drinking, in order to attend his respective station.
Ships
The Black Skull, The Commodore's ship.
The Sand Tiger, Captain Benjin's ship.
The Black Skull, The Commodore's ship.
The Sand Tiger, Captain Benjin's ship.
The Black Skull
Character Sheets:
Name:(The name of your character, real or otherwise)
Gender: (Male, Female)
Age: (How old your character is)
Race: (Caucasian, Asian, etc)
Appearance: (The general appearance of your character, be it a picture or a description)
Attire: (What your character wears, be it armour or ragged clothing.)
Personality: (Your character's personality)
Equipment: (Weapons, ammo, food, anything)
Rank: (What rank you want to be. Only room for one more Captain.)
Backstory: (Your character's backstory, what they did before becoming a part of the Black Skull. Can be as long or as short as you want.)
Name:(The name of your character, real or otherwise)
Gender: (Male, Female)
Age: (How old your character is)
Race: (Caucasian, Asian, etc)
Appearance: (The general appearance of your character, be it a picture or a description)
Attire: (What your character wears, be it armour or ragged clothing.)
Personality: (Your character's personality)
Equipment: (Weapons, ammo, food, anything)
Rank: (What rank you want to be. Only room for one more Captain.)
Backstory: (Your character's backstory, what they did before becoming a part of the Black Skull. Can be as long or as short as you want.)
