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Post by kiraofmindelan on May 3, 2007 23:01:16 GMT -5
Captain Raven Vamir stood in the crows nest of her faithful ship, the Eclipse, scanning the horizon. The pirate flag was lifted and the crew was working heartily. There was naught a ship in sight and she sighed. The crew had been sailing for many a day and only 1 ship had come to it's death by chancing to sail close to Raven's sloop. The crew was restless and she was close to making her mind up about docking. Then on the horizon there seemed to be a dot. As the Eclipse came closer the dot grew and Raven began to wonder, "Why would such an island be out here? I've come this way many a time and never seen it?" She racked the possibilities in her mind but none came to hand. "Ye gods," she though. "How often do islands just pop out of nowhere?"
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Post by Aislin of Port Legann on May 9, 2007 20:23:23 GMT -5
Aislin was at the helm of the Lioness Rampant when she heard the lookout’s shout. It seemed that a ship had been spotted. Allowing one of the crewmen to take control of the ship, she pounded across the deck to the bow. Without a second’s hesitation she left over the railing and balanced on the bowsprit. The spray and wind buffeted her and tugged at her clothes and hair, but she paid it no mind. Hooking her elbow through the tack for balance, she pulled a worn brass spyglass from where it was thrust through the back of her belt.
Raising the eyepiece, the captain couldn’t help but smirk a bit as she sighted through the tube. Thrusting the glass back through her belt, she leapt lightly back onto the deck. “Let out some more sail,” she ordered as she made her way back up to the helm. “Run up the flag, and arm yourselves, lads. We’ve pirates to hunt.”
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Post by kiraofmindelan on May 9, 2007 21:57:59 GMT -5
Raven spotted a ship in the distance. She didn't bother to say anything to the crew, they were running up the flag and arming themselves well along with letting out some mor esail to pick up speed. She pulled out her own gun and cutlass and readied herself for a battle then called out to the crew. "Ay mates, prepare yourself, we've got a navy ship here that dares to attack us." She smirked.
Running over to the sail she climbed up with agility of a monkey and held on with one hand while gazing out to the sea. The ship was a navy ship, no doubt about that. They probably thought they had pirates to hunt. They'd sure get a surprise. The ship meanwhile, came closer and closer.
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Post by Aislin of Port Legann on May 10, 2007 6:06:56 GMT -5
Aislin reached the helm and reclaimed control of the ship. True, there were more experienced sailors aboard, but the Lioness was her ship, and she felt that she had a connection with her. Ships were always referred to as females, so who could better understand one than a woman captain?
One of the crewmen offered the woman a cutlass and a brace of pistols, which she thrust through her belt. Looking across the deck, she watched as the men transformed her merchant vessel into a war ship. Cannons were loaded and primed, pistols were cleaned and made ready for use, and cutlasses hung from the hips of all on board.
After watching the pirate ship for a moment, Aislin adjusted her own ship's course. She wanted to cross in front of the other ship at an angle, which would allow her to fire all her starboard canons, while her enemy would only be able to use those in the bow of the ship.
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Post by Tobias Scylding on May 12, 2007 9:53:58 GMT -5
When he heard Raven's yell, Tobias stuck his head out from the cabin on the quarter deck, where he had been going over the maps and instruments. Shading his eyes from the sun he squinted up at his Captin who was in the rigging. He flashed her a predators grin and pounded the door frame with his fist in triumph.
It had been too long without a battle and a naval ship would be a tasty piece. He made it down to the main deck in several quick strides and checked the other ship's position with his spyglass. "Crafty buggers!" he muttered as he took stock of the naval ship's course.
He leaned down the hatch and yelled orders to the gunnary master to ready the guns and bow chasers. He heard the orders echoed along the deck and a flurry of activity as each man took his positions down below. They may be outgunned by the larger ship but they had a few tasty little surprises for knocking the wind from their sails.
Tobias climbed up to where Raven was looking out. "It's the Lioness Rampant Cap'n."
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Post by kiraofmindelan on May 12, 2007 15:26:20 GMT -5
"Never heard of the ship 'afore," she muttered, mostly to herself then turned over to her First Mate. "Got a quick thinking and smart captain on that ship, they have," she said to Tobias. "They're turning so's that they'll be able to fire all their starboard cannons while we can only use the ones in the bow of our ship." She smiled to herself. Smart they may be but if they thought to out wit her, they were in knee deep waters. Hahaha, she thought to herself, what a joke. Then she quickly shouted orders to turn the Eclipse. "And you," she said nodding to Scylding, "Do whatever needs to be done." She gave him a wink then turned back to the ship.
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Post by Aislin of Port Legann on May 12, 2007 16:15:29 GMT -5
Aislin watched as the other ship grew larger as the two vessels came closer. She could tell that the Lioness was the larger of the two, so probably had the advantage when it came to firepower, but the smaller pirate ship was probably more manueverable.
The captain called one of the crewmen over. "Have a few of the guns loaded with chain-shot," she remarked in an off-hand, almost bored tone. The man saluted and hurried to pass on her order. Manuverable the other ship might be, but it wouldn't save the vessel if she took out a mast or two.
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Post by Tobias Scylding on May 12, 2007 17:36:44 GMT -5
((OOC: fyi cannons are called guns on a ship, never cannons and generally a sloop only has one mast unless it's a sloop of war which I dunno if the Eclipse is))
Tobias clambered back down to the main deck. Glancing quickly back up at the captain still dangling in the rigging. It was not where he would be as a captain of a ship going in to battle but so be it.
He checked the other ship again, now close enough to make out the faces of the sailors with his spyglass. He clocked the person giving orders at the helm. Another woman captain, "Well this will make things even more chaotic." he muttered.
He muttered a prayer to mithros as was his tradition and then psyched himself up for the battle.
"You heard the captain!" He roared, "turn her around and lets put this naval dog on her arse. This isn't a lioness, it's a mangy cat, rip out her claws!"
He was greeted with shouts and bloody thirsty cries from the men.
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Post by Aislin of Port Legann on May 14, 2007 17:37:52 GMT -5
Aislin continued to watch the pirate vessel, which had yet to change course in response to her manuever. It was possible that they had not noticed, but she found that hard to believe.
The crew of the Lioness was quiet as they prepared for battle. The gunners awaited the order to fire, some sailors adjusted the sails and tack, others looked to their weapons, but there was tension in the air, as though each man was inwardly bracing himself for the battle.
The young captain glanced over her crew, knowing that they were afraid. It was a healthy fear, though, one that would keep them alert, but would not keep them from their duty. Glancing down at her white knuckles, she registered the same fear in herself, but like her men, she shoved it back as the pirate ship grew ever closer.
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Post by kiraofmindelan on May 28, 2007 18:28:49 GMT -5
It was time. The two ships had fooled around enough, with the preliminaries, now it was time to get down to business. Carefully judging the distance between the two ships Raven knew she would have to act soon. It was better to make the first move, possibly scare the other ship. This was learned from months of battling at sea, years even. The other ship might back down a little, normally backed down a little if you went first. It was an old trick but one she would use at any chance possible. She jumped down from the riggings, nimbly, as she knew it wouldn't be a good idea to stay up there during a battle. Then she walked over to the center of the deck as the Eclipse turned towards the other ship.
"Fire the guns" she yelled, but she needn't have said anything. As soon as they saw her coming down they shot. 3 shots, one after another sped towards the Lioness with determination. As she spotted Tobias, doing exactly the right thing at the right time Raven grinned and thought, "What would I do without him?. Then she grinned again at the crew, though for a different reason. She was excited. It had been a long time since excitement like this, since the heat of a battle. A battle, that had just begun.
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Post by Aislin of Port Legann on May 30, 2007 16:31:34 GMT -5
Aislin heard the guns fire and the shots whistle through the air. Two fell short, splashing into the ocean off the starboard side and throwing up spray, but one shattered the bow railing. Splinters flew through the air, causing the nearby men to flinch. Fortunately no one was impaled, although a few members of the crew recieved a few scratches from the airborn bits of wood.
The captain glanced over her crew, then turned her eyes back to the pirate vessel. "Hold," she shouted, but even when her voice was raised she sounded bored. Anticipation was thick in the air as the crew seemed to turn to stone, completely still as they awaited their next order. After a moment, it came. "Starboard guns fire!"
With a chorus of explosions, cannon balls whistled through the air. Chainshot made the air thrum as the two heavy balls spread, stretching the chain taut between them and spinning dangerously.
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Post by Queen Amedessa of Conté on Jun 9, 2007 23:48:03 GMT -5
(*innocently kicks this thread* So who's taking who as prize? Or will it be a draw? I want to knowww...)
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Post by Tobias Scylding on Jun 16, 2007 15:04:59 GMT -5
Tobias watched the chain shot whizz through the air and and smash in to the rigging, taking out the foresail and smashing one of the wooden spars. The foresail hung in tatters from the rigging.
The Eclipse began to draw alongside The Lioness. Another volley of shot thundered from the sloop's cannons making the wood beneath Tobias' bare feet shudder violently. He checked that they made their mark and could see the faces of the naval sailors clearly now without the aid of his spyglass. He was glad to see the fear shining in some of their eyes and rightly so. Some looked to be fresh out of the academy and that was also a good thing. If he was lucky, he'd add some prizes to his collection by the end of this...if the captain kept her head.
That predators smile again, he leaped up on to the rail and shouted to the sailors on the opposing ship. "Ready yourself for a dance pretty boys and girls, we're coming to play!" Leaping back down he screamed more orders. "Ready the grapling lines and boarding planks...I want our pretty girl alongside that navy crate. We're going visiting!"
Another roar of cheers. The tall pirate drew his sword and saluted the young female naval captain with it, a gesture not of repsect but one that said 'I'm coming for you!' If this went well he could have his own ship and a pretty one at that. If Raven did things right.
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Post by Aislin of Port Legann on Jun 17, 2007 10:39:39 GMT -5
Aislin stayed upright by holding onto the wheel as The Lioness lurched and rocked under the barrage. A few off the crewmen gave shouts of pain as splinters hurled through the air, impaling and tearing flesh. Despite the first drops of blood of the battle staining her deck, the schooner's guns sounded off defiantly in reply to the assault.
The young captain glanced at The Eclipse when she heard a shout go up. Meeting the gaze of the pirate watching her, she saw him salute, and a small smirk curved her lips. Holding his gaze for moment, she gave him a decidedly disinterested look, then returned her attention to her crew.
"Stow the guns, men," Aislin drawled. "We're about to have some unwelcome guests. Give them steel and lead and no mercy or quarter."
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