[Mission 1] Capture Lissa - At sea

[kremmen]

[OOC everything especially takes time when you have been ill and suffering a bit, you only notice the first page. D'Oh]

[kremmen]

Elijah nods

"Yes, yes, that is certain for sure, but now, now, if half a watch stood to the rear of the Spartan, that would have the same effect.

"Later, later, in time of peace, we can stow for sure"

[Neil Gow]

" Perrivale! Stop your jack-jawing and get to work! Mr Solvechick, whilst I appreciate your concern a more timely intervention would have sufficed. Stand by with your lads in case these lubbers have the cheek to fire upon a Navy ship of war!"

(Discipline: 2 cards each to Perry and Solvechick. I doubt the Surgeon will need my aid in this endeavour!)

" Steady as she goes Mr Ypsilantis, steady as she goes. We're going to split them in half. Mr Perrivale, starboard battery to target the turning vessel, port battery to target the other. Your best man to be ready for a shot across both their bows, on the signal."

Positioning: I have Arkwright at Seamanship 3 + 1 for tactical genius +1 for his sea compass +1 for 'Unknown to the Spartan'* = 6 cards. For both tests, this is then augmented by the Spartan's Handling of 2 +1 for Coppered Bottom, for a +3 bonus, totalling a basic positioning hand of 9 cards. Against the turning ship, which would I believe have a relative Speed of 0, we gain +5 to that for the difference in our Speed (Speed 4 for a Fifth Rate ship, +1 for Well Drilled Topmen) for 14 cards positioning. I don't know the Speed of the other ship to calculate, but good luck to it if it can beat Speed 5. The Spartan really should be called the Millennium Falcon....

Intent: Close both ships to Range 1 and put shots across their bows, signalling them to heave to and surrender so that we can adjudicate this mess on the high seas. I'm pretty confident from the description we have been given that we can beat them in a straight up fight if it comes to that...<famous last words>




* Arkwright is definitely trying to stamp his mark on this incident and show how damned good he can be, so I will use this event to define this trait, one way or the other.

[Peanut]

Bill worked his way up the rigging to his position wth ease. Casting his eyes over the ropes and sails he made sure everything was as it should be - last thing he wanted was to be caught out when responding to orders.

[I assume we're heading for a Challenge. Seamanship 4 cards +1 for Topman]

[Ovid]

Chambers rushed to prepare a table for any necessary surgery and ensured his tools were clean and ordered. He knew he was fairly useless at this stage of battle, but if blood flowed, the men would be grateful for his help.

[Elrick]

[I'm going to be away for the next few days and am unlikely to be able to get internet access. We'll pick this up next weekend.]

[Halfbat]

Perrivale glumly returns to his post, looking about for an unfortunate onto whom he can spend his bitterness. The gun crews are all at their post, waiting, the guns loaded and ready to be run out the moment the command is given. He snarls out a warning in an attempt at exerting command. "Any foul-ups and the seaman responsible will be made to pay, understand?" He glares at the gun crews, easing the sword in his sheath whilst a thought from his classical education comes to mind... leverage....

[If the bullying counts, then it's 2 cards from intimidate, otherwise 1 if command and (1) if gunnery. If called on to make the warning shot, he'll run through some geometry in his head to work out the best angle of fire (+1 card).]

[kremmen]

Elijah keeps his face blank as he marks the Captain's orders as he turns back to his damage party.

He does not let his eyes betray his private thoughts

"One day it will be time for Mr Perrivale to have that thread through his upper lip, and I hope to be one with the needle"

Belowdecks the party check axes, hammers, nails and gear, and Solvechik murmurs encouraging words, seeking to occupy their minds as the waiting carries on.

[Elrick]

Perrivale glumly returns to his post, looking about for an unfortunate onto whom he can spend his bitterness. The gun crews are all at their post, waiting, the guns loaded and ready to be run out the moment the command is given. He snarls out a warning in an attempt at exerting command. "Any foul-ups and the seaman responsible will be made to pay, understand?" He glares at the gun crews, easing the sword in his sheath whilst a thought from his classical education comes to mind...

The gun crews bend their heads, knowing they have already done as much as the need to be ready, biting their tongues as the young Midshipman glares and postures.

[Elrick]

Positiong test:

Card of fate: Jack of Hearts

HMS Spartan: Ace, King, Queen, 10, 8 & 7 of hearts (6 ordinary successes); Ace, Jack and 6 of Diamonds (1 Critical success); 5 of Spades; King, 7, 3 and 2 of Clubs

Southern Turk: (Seamanship 3, Handling 5, Speed 0) 5 of Diamonds, Ace & 4 of Hearts (2 ordinary successes);

Northern Turk: (Seamanship 3, Handling 5, Speed 4): Ace, King & 6 of Spades; 8, 6 & 5 of Clubs, 4 of Diamonds. (No successes).

The men swarm up top and shake the reef out of the sails as HMS Spartan turns towards the distant ships. The salt spray bursts over the bow of the ship and the hiss of the water in the scuppers almost drowns out the sounds of the crew as Spartan punches into the heavy swell. She surges ahead, leaving her wallowing consorts in her wake.

Spartan draws level with the nearer of the Turkish ships. It's gun ports are open and the heavy swell sometimes washes into them, water pouring out again. The main deck is crowded with men, but on the higher after deck the captain stands apart, a fat bearded man with a turban and swords tucked into the broad sash which doubles as a belt. He looks across at the Spartan, and then over his shoulder at the distant sails of the Caledonia and Swanage, then he looks back and smiles a broad smile, the weak sunlight glinting on gold in his mouth. As the cannon booms the warning shot, he is already striding forward, shouting down onto the lower deck. One by one, in no obvious order, the guns roll in and the gun ports close until only two remain open. The captain glares over the side and shouts more orders. Faces appear at the remaining gun ports as men lean out into the surging sea, knocking at the shutters until they finally shake loose and close with a snap. The captain grins again and the gap between the two ships begins to open as the Turk turns away toward the distant shore, almost invisible in the drizzle.

Ahead, the other Turk wallows in the rough sea, apparently having problems with her rigging.

[Peanut]

Bill breathed a sigh of relief. Any fight avoided was fine by him. Swinging around he focused on the other ship. Peering through the spray he tried to discern her condition. If she was badly damaged and had lost a lot of crew then there might be a need for boarding her. Under those circumstances he was more than happy to show willing and join in. After all, there might be a few bits and pieces laying around that'll need putting into safe keeping...

[kremmen]

Elijah gave his orders to his hands, then hung his coat from his peg. He opened the locker and took out his favoured boarding axe and knife, and noted where the Armourer was

He did a turn below desks to note any effects of the action so far, before speaking a quick prayer, before heading o the deck to see how things stood

[Elrick]

As HMS Spartan approached the northern Turkish ship, a spar and some rigging broke away from the Turk and splashed into the rolling sea. Figures scrambled in the Turk's rigging, re-trimming the remaining sails to give her headway. She stopped wallowing in the rolling sea and began moving sluggishly northward again.

By contrast with the other Turk, the crew of this one were plainly going about their business, cleaning up their ship. A few manned swivel guns, but pointedly didn't aim them at the Spartan. Apart from the helmsman, struggling with the wheel, there were only six figures on the after deck:

One, plainly the captain by his turban and beard, was staring down towards his main deck while a young boy, or perhaps a dwarf, stood close to him training an ornately decorated telescope on the Spartan and, no doubt, keeping his captain informed.

Near the stern rail stood two young women, cloaked against the weather, but their long hair streaming in the breeze. Close by them stand two tall, bald black men in plain white robes with naked scimitars tucked into their belts. They stare, not at the women (although close enough to see any movement that they may make), or at the Spartan, but out towards the other Turk, now hull-down and heading east towards the distant coastline.

Both HMS Spartan and the Turk rise and fall in the rolling sea as they slowly draw closer together.

Now what?

[kremmen]

Elihah looks up to the officers, ready to react to their orders

[Neil Gow]

[double post]