The Red Horse-closed for DarkEmpress

[BRIGHTWELL]

Andrew leans back against the roughly hewed log and granite stone wall. The tavern is noisy tonight. Dutch fishermen and sailor spew out their stories of adventures on the high seas. While large breasted serving girl bring steins of mead and beer to tables. The smell of grog and rum fills the room, adding to the gray plums of pipe smoke that hangs over the crowd like a threating storm.

Next to him is a fellow captain and good friend Alexi Rostov of the pirate ship Eyes of Azov. Alexi snore softly. His breath heavy with Jamaican rum. Alexi is a little out of place here. A Dutch tavern in the new world is not where one would go to find a Russian pirate. And most would admit that Neiw Amsterdam is a bit off the beaten trail for Caribbean pirates to begin with.

But low and behold here they are thanks to their local benefactor Franko Hogers. Mr. Hogers is the main stockholder in the Franko Generals Services Corporation. Which is made up of Franko's General Store and the Red Dragon on the Water and Franko's Wagon and Transport Company. And half owner of East River Papers.

Andrew is here to meet a lady. He doesn't know her in either meanings of the word. He just received a rather cryptic message Meet me at the Dragon signed by a woman's hand or so Andrew hopes.

 

[DarkEmpress]

Skylar Brigitte Florrentein’s deep blue eyes were marred with fear. She had to get out of this godforsaken place, right now, her life depended on it. The King has died after a long and agonising battle with influenza, but no-one in the city knew it yet. She was with him, and the moment her father’s eyes closed for the last time, she knew her life was at stake…her brother would make sure of it.

Just the day before, her cousin, Franko, had mentioned that there was a ship lying in waiting in the harbour that was set to sail in the morning. He spoke very highly of its Captain and out of absolute desperation, she had scribbled a note to arrange a meeting. She did not want him to know who she was as her cousin’s allegiance was not certain.

She spotted him in the corner, her eyes darting nervously around the boisterous and loud crowd. She had never been in a place like this before. The women were lewd and the men were lecherous. Thankfully they were all too engrossed in their own endeavours to notice a shadowy figure wrapped in a black cloak silently move about, in fact, she was certain it was a common sight in this place.

Skylar walked up to the table and placed a large money purse, heavy with coin, on the table. “Captain Sinclare, I presume?” she asked. “I need to secure safe passage for myself aboard your vessel; With no record of it,” she added pointedly, trying desperately to sound assertive and in control. To the outside world she would have seemed nonchalant, almost bossy, but her heart was racing.

The shadows of Skylar’s cloak hid the light complexion of her skin, her deep blue eyes and the raven hair that were normally quite unruly. This man, she didn’t know from a bar of soap, was literally her only hope…

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

As the bag hits the table it wakes Alexi from his slumber. "A goodly sum, I would guess 128 piece of eight. Though it is not all Spanish. I heard some English and Dutch coins." He pause and looks at the large money purse. "And you are departing on the morning tide!"

Andrew looks at the bag on the table and nods his head. "Alexi for a Russian you have a great sense of the truth, but little head for the art of making a deal." Andrew smiles. My friend down south tell me the San Telmo will be making sail in three months." He pause and looks around. In three weeks it will arrive in Havana for resupply. It will take two months to get it ready for the crossing." He looks at the woman in the black cloak.

"I will take your, gift!" He pauses. We are a fast ship. A French built frigate called the Red Horse. We sail with the morning tide!" Andrew glances toward the bartender then the woman. We are tied up on the west dock. Look for the French ship with the large Dutch Flag. My crew will be loading food stuffs up to the last minute. Remember the ship is the Red Horse!"

 

[DarkEmpress]

Skylar spent a long and sleepless night, pacing a tiny room that she rented under a false name on the outskirts of the city. She wondered how long it would take before they found her father and sounded the bell to alert the city of his passing. She spent hours pondering the wonderful memories she had of her father, fearing her brother’s wrath and agonising over a very uncertain future that lay ahead of her.

By the time the night sky turned into dawn, she was ready and waiting on the outskirts of the West dock. Captain Sinclair’s crew had been loading the ship for close to two hours and were nearly finished with the seemingly endless bulk of crates, bags and goods. Her cousin may have spoken very highly of the Captain, but to Skylar, they looked suspiciously like cleverly disguised pirates.

For a fleeting moment, she checked her own sanity: A woman, stepping aboard a vessel that would be afloat at sea for months. Notwithstanding the fact that most seafaring men regarded a woman as a bad omen aboard a ship, Skylar was also a stowaway, for the time being, until they were in open waters… or at least, she hoped that would be the scenario.

But what other choice did she have? If she fled on horseback, her brother would track her down in a heartbeat. At least at sea, it would be infinitely harder to find her, in addition to having no certainty as to which ship she had boarded. She had bought herself a great deal of time by disappearing from the castle when she did and hopefully it would take Greggory much longer to puzzle over her escape route.

The crew had just lifted the last crate aboard and the foot traffic around the gangplank died down considerably as they all readied themselves for the long haul. She wasn’t sure to what extent she had to hide her identity and opted to dress in a very plain outfit that would have been appropriate for a chambermaid and she hastily made her way aboard The Red Horse. The hat she wore was heavily veiled to hide her features, which was not an uncommon practice for women who were in mourning. Her hair was tightly reigned in to hide any hint of its colour or length.

It was an impressive ship, one of the most magnificent vessels that were anchored in the harbour. Skylar asked for a few directions from astonished crew members who directed her to the Captain’s cabin. She wasn’t quite sure where to go, but that seemed like a plausible solution. The moment she closed the door behind her, loud bells rang out over the city and Skylar could actually hear a gasp that the crowd took in unison as people started muttering: “The King is dead.”

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

The Red Horse and NPC Crew

OCC:
Name: Andrew Sinclare Brightwell

Age in this story:26

Hieght: 6'2"
Weight: 175

Bio: Born in Bristol England. Son of a sailmaker. Mother is Scottish. Lived in Scotland for 6 years 6-12. Moved to learn ship building from a family friend. Several years of ship building. At 20 joins the Kings Men as a scout. Wounded while defending a bridge. After four years is released from the army. Took to the sea. At 25 he finds himself in Port Royal. There he takes to pirating. In less then a year he has his own ship.

The story of the Red Horse:

The was ship fresh from repair here in Neiw Amsterdam. Her hull had been scraped and tarred. Her smooth copper plates in the bow ensured both strengthening and worm protection. Andrew had captured her in the harbor of Léogâne on the French side of Hispaniola.

The Terron had been on station in Léogâne to protect the fleet of the French East Indies Co. She had been built in French Ship yards of Brest. And christened the Saint Andr'e. The Andr'e had sailed through the English Channel several times meeting and capturing several English Ships.

After a short cruise in the Med she was sold to the French East Indies Co. And there renamed the Terron . She had been crewed out of Marseille and sailed to Martinique. During the cruise most of the crew had gotten sick and were not able to preform their duties a quarter of the crew had died. Of the 168 men that left Marseille only 42 were able bodied men.

After six months of repairs the Terron had been assigned port protection and convoy duty. The Terron had been on station for 18 months seeing only three escorts in that time.

During a moonless night in March of the previous year Andrew and 40 men had made there way through the port city in groups of four and five meeting on the dock where the Terron was tied up. Only a single guard at a the beginning of the dock stood in their way. With the guard out of the way they slipped on board taking the ship. The ropes were taken up and the Terron slipped out of the harbor.
Three days later a meeting was held on what to name the ship. She is fast and narrow to the beam and a little long for her size-just under 100 feet. A middle weight at 510 tons. With 24 guns she had the fire power to take out almost any merchant ship on the water. Several names had been put forth, the Unicorn, the Queen Anne, Sea Horse. When the name Sea Horse had been put forth. Andrew took on a smile.

The NPC crew:

Tobas von Klisroenberg -
Tobas is the largest white man in the crew. While not the tallest nor the strongest. He was a wrestler in his former Brenen home. As a butcher he had made a living during the day. By night he was in beer halls wrestling for a few marks. One night he snapped the neck of a drunken patron. The law came and took him away. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to a prison ship heading for an African colony. His ship was taken by pirates and he was set free. Several years later He was in New Amsterdam and met Andrew. Andrew was looking for crew for a raid against the Spanish in the Triadad area.
Tobas took his work seriosly. THe Captain's word was law. In his mind not to obay the captain could cost you our life. [Side note-Tobas is a RANDY BOY(Gay)]

Rogers- Roger is without a doubt the stronger man of the crew and the tallest, . Roger lead a one man war on slave traders in Africa. He is a Moa Moa tribe man. After six months of a running battle against slave traders he himself was captured and put on a slave ship. The ship he was on was attacked by pirates that set the slaves free. One day in Port Royal he met a man named Mr. Watson.

Leeds-Navigator-(not Officer-new to crew)

Bradley Finch-cook-(story TBA)

Fisk- first shift look out( when at see)

Witt-second shift look out (when at Sea)

Scott 'Scotty' McMasters- crew member from Glasgow, Scotland (Ardgour)

Mr. Watson-First Mate-First officer

Mr. Thomas-Second officer (not yet in story-Nassua)

Mr. Silvers-Third officer( not yet in story-Nassua)

Mr. Andrews-Purser-Fourth Officer

Mr. Gorlin Khan-barber-surgeon(ships doctor)

Gun Captains,

Thomas Sullivan-Starboard side gun Captains (Not officer)-senior crew

Steven Sullivan- Port Side gun Captain (Not officer)-senior crew

ICC:

Mr. Andrews and Fisk,

Mr. Andrews watches as the woman boards the ship. "Here comes our passenger!"
The woman clad on a plain outfit and a hat she wore was heavily veiled. "I'm to see the Captain." She says.

"I'm the officer of the watch. My name is Mr. Andrews. The Captain's cabin is under the quarter deck. " Mr. Andrews points to the door. "That door leads to where you wish to go." He pauses and looks for porters. And sees none.
The woman nods and walks toward the door.

"I have seen her some where before." Mr. Andrews walks toward the gangway. He looks down the dock. Fisk joins him. " What's troubling you Mr. Andrews?"

" Mr. Watson told me to be alert for a passenger. And to put her baggage in the cabin next to the Captain. It looks like we have a passenger with no luggage. "

Then the town bell rang. The crowd on the dock started muttering “The King is dead.”

Fisk looks at Mr. Andrews " I say Mr. Andrews we best get under way before they close the harbor. "

Mr. Andrews spots the Captain hurrying toward the ship. As Andrew reaches the gang way. "There is mischief in the works. WE need to leave now! Is every one aboard?"

"Aye Captain, all the crew and one passenger!" Mr. Andrews report.

"Is she in her cabin?" Andrew asks. As he watches Fisk pull in the gangway.

"No Captain, she asked for your cabin. Fisk replies.

"My cabin?" He turns and sees Mr. Watson approaching.

"Ah Good, Mr. Watson get us underway and out of the harbor with all haste. We will have our prayer at sea."

"That will not please the crew, Captain." Andrew looks down the dock. "At this time our souls are not in danger but our lives are. The pryer will have to wait!"

"Yes Captain!" Mr Watson hurries off.

 

[DarkEmpress]

Skylar stood alone in the Captain’s cabin, listening apprehensively to every sound. Voices filled the silence and then there was a flurry of activities as she heard footsteps on the deck and everywhere.

The Captain’s cabin was surprisingly lush in its decorations and fittings. A desk stood to one side with chairs all around and a map sprawled across the gleaming wooden surface. A chest of drawers adorned one wall with a rather impressive four poster bed to one side. The floor was covered in a deep, red carpet that Skylar had no doubt came from an exotic destination. Captain Sinclare certainly had good taste.

Her observations were however fleeting. For the most part she kept her eyes trained on the door, expecting her brother to come barging through at any second to seize her. They were twins and though they were born on the same day, Skylar was technically older than her brother by a few minutes, which made her the rightful heir to the throne.

While Skylar was a soft and gentle person, her brother was the complete opposite. She sometimes wondered how they could be related with such vastly different personalities. In Greggory’s mind, Skylar was the only thing standing between him and the throne and he had said to her, on more than one occasion, that the only reason she was still alive, was because of their father.

Skylar feared for the Kingdom and its people. Under Greggory’s rule there would be great hardships for the Kingdom to endure. She vowed to return one day to liberate them and to claim her rightful place, but for now she was in no position to rally any support or to expect that her brother would be anything less than the conniving, slithering snake he has proven himself to be, over and over again.

The ship was moving… and Skylar had to steady herself, getting used to the gentle and constant sway on the water. For the time being the Red Horse and its crew were the only ones standing between her and certain doom. She hoped vehemently that they made it out of the harbour before it closed…

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

The Captain,Mr. Watson,Leeds

"Get us under way, Mr. Watson if you will please!" Andrew states flatly and more firmly. With a smile on his face he nods slightly. "Ey, Captain! Then turns and looks at Andrew. " South, Captain ?" He asks all ready knowing the answer.

"South Mr. Watson, we ta be picking up the rest of the crew in Nassau." He pauses " Ah Mr. Watson what of our lady passenger?"

Mr. Watson stops himself. " A pleasant bird that one, very pleasant ta look at, for sure. " Andrew nods as he moves away. "I'm going to check on our bird now. My cabin you say. Interesting!"

Mr. Watson quickly moves to the quarter deck. "All right you Brimey wharf rats the Captain says we are ta get under way. Get in the rigg'n and drop the sheets. W'll be leavin' post haste!"

"What coarse do I set, Mr. Watson?" Asks Leeds, the navigator. " Out of the damn harbor! South then South by Sou-East"

"AY, My Watson South then South By South East!" He parrots.

Andrew listens as Mr. Watson gets the ship under way." "Mr. Watson for now keep the colors as they are. When we get in open water change to a friendly flag. "

Andrew smiles at him as he stands looking up at the quarter deck. Mr. Watson nods. "Ey Captain a friendly flag when we get ta clear water."

Andrew opens the door to the companion way. His cabin is the largest and at the end of the row. Confidently he makes his way to his cabin. He meets Tobas standing by the door.

"Is all in order?" Andrew asks. "I been guard'n the door my Captain. No one came near. She's been quite safe. I been watch'n since she came aboard."
" Fine Tobas, I'll take it from here." The large German yields the door to Andrew

Andrew opens the door to his cabin and walks in. The creature in plain clothes of a washwoman " A woman with a bag of Eight should be dressed in the finest!" Andrew closes the door.

"In the trunk, tha one with the Crest of the red falcon. There be tha finest garments. Silks and dresses that will fit you fine. Why not change, I'll just be wacht'n to see what looks best on yeah. It's a bit of trip and no time like the present ta be mak'n yeah feel at home. Here on the Red Horse."