yo ho let's be pirates

[sclavus]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Charles Vane
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: Stop being bad sailors
WHEN: eh
WHERE: idk kirkwall
NOTES: if you want some of that sweet sweet new character bonus AC

[ waves crashing against hulls and piers is the first sound that makes it to through the crystal, then seagulls, and distantly, men shouting and the bustling of the docks. Charles Vane's voice is a low, gravely thing, sounding exactly like you'd expect a pirate sailor to sound. ]

It's become clear to me that this port city, much as it may have its share of sailors experienced in ferrying merchants to and fro, has very little in the way of true men and women trained for naval war. [ a pause, and a slow exhale, almost weary. ]

Something the Inquisition will desperately need if they intend to reach every corner of this world that Corypheus has tainted.

[ and as fast as the mean to reach it. the venatori are like weeds, sprouting up everywhere they're given space and air. some months ago, Vane might not have cared, but then they took his home, and now he means to burn them out of existence. he hopes this Inquisition intends to do more than just what they're comfortable with to attain that goal. ]

I'm Charles Vane, a captain of Nascere, and I've arrived with a crew of men who've known harsh battle and victory on the seas for an age. If you have it in yourself to attempt to do the same, meet us on the docks, near the galleon flying no nation's flag.

We will see you made battle ready.

Comments

[sorcerised]

[ Oh sure, this doesn't sound suspicious at all. ]

What do you mean by battle ready? Is this about fighting or sailing, and if it's about sailing, then. Where are you sailing to? You can't hunt Corypheus down with one ship, you know.

[sclavus]

[ look he's just trying to help you guys suck less, okay? ]

Both. Fight and sailing are both needed for war at sea. And it's my understanding that the Inquisition means to assemble a fleet. The ships they can acquire, but they lack proper crews.

[sorcerised]

[ Okay, at least that sounds halfway respectable. He probably won't immediately be kicked out of the Inquisition for investigating it... ]

Well, I've sailed before, but not as part of a crew. I'd be quite eager to learn, I'm a good traveller. And I have storm-related magic, a bit like Adalia. Mine is less advanced, but it's a work in progress, and I'm happy to contribute.

[sclavus]

[ if he were recruiting for a pirate army, he wouldn't be doing it on the network, and hardly from the Inquisition. Too many law abiders. This is purely in the interest of making Corypheus dead. So investigate all you like, booboo. ]

As I told her, the skill is invaluable for a fleet, but the both of you will need to learn how a ship this size works first. Too much wind at the wrong angle can snap a mast or tear a sail. Have you ever sailed on a galleon?

[ which takes at least 30 men to sail as a skeleton crew, so he doubts it ]

[sorcerised]

[ Aro sounds thoughtful. ]

Yes, but only as a passenger. Or as a menial worker, not as a real sailor. I'm a fast learner, though, and my sea legs are in tact. I'm willing to put in the graft if you're willing to teach, and I'll keep my magic to myself unless we need it.

[ No stray lightning bolts on a wooden ship, okay, he promises. ]

[sclavus]

I'm less worried about your magic than the handicap it might give you. Running a ship is strenuous work, but not difficult to learn. The best way to gain a good understanding of it is to do it the hard way first.

[ so when he says no magic for now, he doesn't mean it in distaste for magic itself, just in the want to make sure everything it learned the correct way first.

But also, yeah, don't set their ship on fire, please. ]

[sorcerised]

Isn't that the best way to learn anything? I'd like to do it.

[ He's unafraid of hard work. He's also a good lot tougher than he looks, so don't worry about it, Captain. ]

How many do you need for your galleon?

NOTE were pretending he told Gwen 30 instead of 60 shhhh

[sclavus]

Good.

[ that is absolutely what he wants to hear from someone he might be sailing with. There's absolutely no room for laziness on a ship like this. ]

We sailed here on a skeleton crew of about thirty, but ideally, a ship this size would want fifty or sixty.

[sorcerised]

So you're training enough to double your workforce.

[ Half a crew of inexperienced newcomers sounds like a hell of a challenge, honestly. He's up for it. ]

What happens when we're ready?

[sclavus]

We're training enough to sail more than one ship. Most aren't the size of a galleon.

[ there's smaller frigates, sloops, schooners. if they had a man-of-war, that would be something, but the galleon's likely to be their flag ship for the time being. ]

And we'll need far more than another mere thirty to man a full fleet.

[sorcerised]

Then I suppose you'll want to begin as soon as possible, Captain.

When and where should I report?

[sclavus]

Tomorrow, an hour past dawn.

The Walrus is anchored at the Gallows docks. Look for the big ship flying only Inquisition banners. [ not Antiva, Rivain or Free Marches. Just Inquisition. ]

[sorcerised]

[ A pause. ]

We're really calling it the Walrus?

[ That's not the heroically titled pirate ship of his dreams, Vane. ]

[sclavus]

[ Vane snorts a short laugh, because yeah, it's pretty stupid sounding. ]

She's been called the Walrus for years and years since she first left port. Tragic a name as it is, it's not up for discussion.

[sorcerised]

All right.

[ He sounds amused. ]

Then that's where I'll see you. Is there anything else I need to know?

[sclavus]

Wear something you can climb in, that you don't mind getting wet.

[sorcerised]

You vastly overestimate my wardrobe, Captain. I won't be late.