Playing Pirates
Chapter 4: Articles
By: Chamzi
Raven had spent the rest of the night sleeping in her hammock with the rest of the loud men. Although sleep didn't come easy. She was distracted by all that had happened and the fact she had slept earlier. It also didn't help that she was used to her own quiet cabin with an actual bed. But Raven wasn't one to complain. She rather liked the way the hammock was rocked side to side by the waves hitting the hull of the ship.
Feeling eyes on her, Raven turned her head to the side. Kory was watching her and when Raven met her eyes she smiled slightly. They had become fast friends earlier in the bilge. Raven figured it was the fact that they now shared a secret. Secrets in a weird way, drew people closer together and yet at the same time could push people apart.
Raven sighed lightly in discomfort, the souls of her boots were damp and making it hard to think on anything else. But as one would learn while living aboard a pirate's ship; Don't leave out anything of value, before you know it, it'll be gone.
Raven felt the slight itch to strike up a conversation between herself and Kory but decided against it as they weren't in the privacy of the bilge anymore. Trying to relax, she let herself fall deeper into the cotton hammock and closed her eyes in hopes of sleep. Clearing her mind of all thoughts, Raven soon found herself drifting into a light sleep.
Hands… little hands pawed at Raven's face ever so lightly the next morning and Raven stirred from her sleep in confusion. The monkey that had been on Garfield's shoulder the other day was now sitting on Raven's chest exploring her as if she were new territory. Raven slid up into a more suitable position so as to study the small animal as it studied her. Grabbing at the light clothe of her sleeves and picking at the fabric. Raven groaned slightly in annoyance.
"His name's Silky…" She heard a familiar voice say looking over her shoulder only to find Garfield, arms folded across his bare chest watching his monkey as he pushed his small hands into Raven's pocket looking for anything of value. A miniature pirate, Raven thought. It pulled out 3 pieces of eight before climbing over to were Garfield stood and placing the coins into Garfield's pockets. Raven watched slightly amused and yet slightly annoyed. Digging into his pocket Garfield pulled the coins back out before handing them back to her, "Sorry… he does that sometimes…"
Raven took the coins and placed them back in her pocket. Obviously the monkey had been with them sometime. No normal monkey would pick up on a routine of stealing so quickly.
"Richard seams to have taken a fancy to you…" Garfield said in a way that told Raven there was more to his statement than he voiced. "You like him?" He asked smirking.
"He's a good captain, at least from what I've seen so far," Raven said avoiding the confession she knew Garfield wanted to hear.
"You don't know the half of it. Dicky's the best Cap'n the world will ever see. He's a man of his time!"
Raven was slightly intrigued and sat up, "What makes you say that?"
"He's going to go down in the books! Mark my words. Never has the world seen a pirate like him. You see, Dicky's a different breed of pirate, he is. In a world such as this the only pirates you come across are them greedy beggars. The kind that would slit yer throat for a few doubloons. But this Richard, he's something. Not a greedy man, nor a harsh man. Ya see Richard, he aint in it for the prize. He hasn't been corrupted by the gold and treasures of the world. He has but one goal in his life. Richard, he's hunting, and when he finds who he's looking for that 'ill be the end of it for him. He's not here to reek havoc on the crown or on the bloody, greedy aristocrats. He's shown skill, intelligence, whit and bravery all in the name of revenge!" Garfield spoke with excitement, the way a kid would talk of their hero.
"And who might he be seeking revenge on?" Raven asked intrigued.
"If he wants you to know that story he'll tell you himself." Garfield said with a sly smile. He was a natural at building the suspense.
"You're a natural born story teller," Raven said as she stood up and grabbed her cutlass and pistol and once again placed them securely in her belt.
"And I'm a skilled bosun (1)," Garfield said with an air to his voice as he pretended to clean his nails.
"And slightly cocky I'd say," Raven said in a fashion that told him he wasn't impressing her anymore. He simply smiled.
"Wally, prepared a meal earlier. If yer hungry I suggest you go down to the kitchen and ask for some eggs."
"Eggs? do you keep chickens aboard then?" Raven asked adjusting the silky blue sleeves of her shirt.
"Aye, Richard believes a well fed crew is strong crew…and Wally, let me tell you! He can cook! He's prepared us meals from all around the globe! Every one just as good as the last!", Garfield was definitely an energetic young man but Raven couldn't help wondering if he was simply exaggerating or if it was simply amazing. Raven smiled at the thought of a good meal. "If you hurry now he may give you an extra bit o' grog too."
Raven nodded and thanked Garfield before making sure she had everything and that her black silk scarf was still tied around her head. Raven began her way towards the aft of the ship and up a deck towards the kitchen on the quarter deck. The dark halls were lit with small oil burning lanterns every few meters along the wooden beams creating a warm glow. She walked into the small room. It wasn't small to say it was crowded but more or less cozy. She walked passed the long wooden table toward the man near the back working on the small wood burning stove.
"You're Wally I take it?" She asked.
He looked up from his pan and gave a sly grin. There was grease smeared across his cheek from the cooking and his hair was matted with sweat from the humid conditions of working in the kitchen. "Aye, and you be the new one, Rachel. I hear you nearly bested our Boy Wonder." He set down his spatula before crossing his arms.
"Boy Wonder? That's an interesting term of endearment… I may have to remember that. Garfield tells me you're a wonderful cook."
"Let us not beat around the bush. I take it you're hungry. Here!" He pulled a white clay plate from a cupboard and took the spatula, flipping eggs and what looked to be potatoes mixed with an assortment of other green vegetables and spices.
"You men must be rather well off to have vegetables aboard." Raven said as she took the plate graciously.
" We captured a ship about a week ago coming down from Florida Keys that had plenty of greens on board. Which bodes well for us to ward off any scurvy! And even better! No weevil cakes(2)! " He smiled as he handed her a fork and went back to his stove.
Raven went back to the large wooden table and sat down along the bench. Taking in the smell of the food before eating it and enjoying the taste. Garfield wasn't exaggerating. Wally really did know how to prepare a meal. The spices were just right to add to the flavour.
The large man Victor came through the doorway and made his way back towards Wally. He was handed a plate that was nearly overflowing with food before he sat at the table across from Raven. It was silent, eerily silent. Raven couldn't help but notice a large black leather glove on his right hand which extended up towards his elbows. There was no matching glove for the left and Raven figured he must use the glove for doing red shots(3). He was a big man, his muscles were large and toned and evidence of years of hard work. His arms and chest were covered in black tribal tattoos that extended towards his back before stopping above his breeches. Raven couldn't help but notice the large flintlock pistol he had stuffed into the sash around his waist. It was beautiful. There were small intricate carvings along the handle laced with gold that gave it a spark of personality and life.
She watched him for a minute as he watched her back with his one right eye, his left being covered by a dark eye patch. There was something almost unsettling about his gaze. A contest had started between them, a game of chicken. The first to look away would be the one who would lose. And Raven already felt herself losing. His gaze was intense and almost frightening. At last she looked back down towards her plate as she finished her meal and downed her grog. Victor smiled to himself. He loved making people uneasy. It was almost to easy.
Raven handed her plate back to Wally before thanking him for the meal and heading back up towards the main deck of the ship. The best part about being on a pirate ship was the number of able bodied men. On most ships there would only be enough men to man the ship. But aboard a pirate ship there where so many extra men that most of the day was spent gambling, drinking and singing. Raven closed her eyes just slightly as the bright sun met her eyes. She walked across the main deck towards the bowsprit(4) and leaned against the railing. Soon after she felt a light hand rest on her shoulder. It was Kory.
"You slept rather late," She stated as she to leaned against the railing.
Raven smiled just slightly, "I have to know, do you wish you were back on land?"
Kory smiled and softly stated, "Not a chance in hell…" There was something about this girl. An obvious need for adventure and freedom came to mind. The life of an aristocrat was a boorish one and had a much slower pace to it that just didn't suit her. You could see it in her eyes. An absolute love for the sea. Raven almost wondered if she had murdered the Governor of Rio de le Hacha simply to escape to the sea.
While lost in her thoughts Raven barely heard Kory muffle something in confusion. "What was that?" Raven asked turning back to her.
"What do you suppose that is?" Kory pointed out to the waters in front of the ship. There was something in the water. Raven's eyebrows knitted together and matched Kory's.
"I haven't a god damn clue…"
A black shiny lump breached the surface of the water. It seemed to be moving like a wheel spinning in the water before it disappeared and resurfaced a few meters away.
Raven turned towards the quarter deck where she spotted Richard. She caught his gaze for a moment and used it to motion him over. "What's your expert opinion Cap'n?" Raven asked teasingly as she pointed to the strange object. Richard's eyebrows too knitted together.
"What the fu-," Richard was cut short when Garfield felt the need to be included in whatever it was they were doing and made his opinion know.
" I don't damn well believe my eyes! It's a sea serpent!" Garfield's exclamation had gathered the attention of the crew on the main deck of the ship and the men made their way towards the forecastle(5) to see just what it was he was talking about.
"A sea serpent?" Kory asked in awe. She didn't turn her head away from the object in the water.
"A sea serpent!" Garfield repeated, " They've been said to be merely a myth! Never did I think I'd see one! Almost as rare as those bastard mermaids!"
Raven looked at him, giving him a strange look. He grinned. He knew he had caught the attention of an audience and began telling stories and sharing his knowledge of mythical creatures while the young crew crowded around him to listen to his tales . It was intriguing. Even if it weren't true it was still a great form of entertainment. He talked of beautiful alluring and deceiving mermaids and how they would seduce sailors to mate with them and if they refused they would eat their flesh. He talked of sea serpents, and how they could be as thick as their very own main mast. He talked of the great behemoth of a monster the Kraken. Talking of it's immense size, so big it could be mistaken for an island and could swallow a ship whole!
Raven could see why the crew of The Robin had such a high moral. They were treated with respect and dignity, they were all rich beyond their wildest fantasies, well fed and entertained. What more could you possibly want? The freedom to walk about the ship among people of different nationalities and race and not be criticized or crucified. While their countries maybe divided and at war, the world on a pirate ship was never divided. Although arguments would often break out between pirates but it never had to do with a persons background. The freedom of a pirate ship. The only true democracy of the time. Even the captain was voted in. Never would one person make all the decisions. That's what Raven loved most about being a pirate. The freedom to be heard and take what was rightfully hers!
The whole day the weather stayed perfect and Raven felt relaxed and at peace with those on the pirate ship.
"It's a beautiful day isn't it?" Richard asked coming up behind Raven.
"The best," Raven said as she leaned comfortably on the rail on the forecastle. Never had Raven felt so relaxed. Even if she knew Richard from somewhere somehow it just didn't bother her anymore. If she had done something really horrible to him, he most likely would have remembered her as well.
He smiled, "You seem rather happy today."
"Well, the sooner we get to Nassau the sooner we can head back and get my ship. And the weather has been good."
"What kind of ship do you have?" Richard asked out of curiosity.
"A frigate(6)," Raven said smiling slightly in a daydream. She loved her ship. Just the way she said it showed how much she cared about it. Like it was her own child. He smiled.
"Mines a-," He was cut short by Raven.
"A flag galleon(7), I know… well, a modified flag galleon." Raven said looking at the masts. "You compensated for the weight of your gold by getting rid of cannons… what ever would possess you to do that? You could have a good 40 cannons on this ship. Yet you have 16."
Richard smiled, "You don't need brawn if you have brains." Raven just shook her head. She was never one to part with her guns. She loved the sound of the chain shot(8) snapping masts and rigging. It was the sound of victory.
Raven still looking at the masts smiled, "You even have supplementary gaffs(9)… I must say Richard," She turned to him with a smirk, "I'm rather impressed…"
Richard chuckled lightly, "Well you shouldn't be impressed with me. Victor, this ship is his baby."
"He's your shipwright(10) then?" Raven asked curiously.
Richard nodded, "And a mighty fine one at that… He's ingenious really. See, most flag galleons are made for combat, The Robin is made for hauling cargo. Victor changed the gun deck into the orlop(11) and the original orlop into a cargo hold and now we have two cargo holds. He even modified the very shape of the ship. He made it narrower and changed the mizzen mast from lateen rigged(12) into a for and aft rigged sail(13) ,made it faster and more manoeuvrable than a normal flag galleon."
"If that's all it takes to make a flag galleon faster and more manoeuvrable why wouldn't the navies already have done it? There must have been some kind of draw back." Raven asked.
"You're right, the lateen rigged sails are best for a more broad ship as they capture less wind than for and aft rigged sails so it wont snap the mizzen mast trying to push a heavy ship. But the narrow ship can only hold about ninety men where a normal flag galleon could carry-"
"two hundred and seventy-five, I know… That really is ingenious…"
"And you have to admit, it's a rather sexy looking ship," Richard grinned. Raven smiled and shook her head.
"It is…"
Richard sighed. It was getting late. The sun was starting to set and the sun cast a warm glow on their faces, "Suppose it's time we have you sign those articles."
Raven gave a nod and let him lead her aft into the dining area. About ten of the other men were already drinking and eating their suppers like dogs who had been starved of meat, Grabbing food off each others plates like they were attempting to catch a fast frog before it jumped away. Among them were the familiar faces or Kory, Garfield, Victor, and Roy. Raven couldn't help bet smile lightly as she watched Victor steal handfuls of food from Garfield's plate as he engaged in conversation with Kory. There where a few others whom Raven hadn't met yet. The rest of the thirty men were either on watch duty, sleeping or gambling down in the orlop. Raven took a seat on the bench as Richard handed her a mug of grog and sat down beside her while displaying the ships articles in front of her.
"I'm sure you know how this works. If there are any articles you feel you can't or wont abide by we'll set you down on land next time we make port. And if not-" Richard handed her a quill, "then sign away."
Raven took the quill and quickly read over the articles. They were much the same as most ships.
ARTICLE I. Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized, and shall use them at pleasure unless a scarcity may make it necessary for the common good that a retrenchment may be voted.
ARTICLE II. Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on board of prizes, because over and above their proper share, they are allowed a shift of clothes. But if they defraud the company to the value of even one dollar in plate, jewels or money, they shall be marooned. If any man rob another he shall have his nose and ears slit, and be put ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships.
ARTICLE III. The lights and candles should be put out at eight at night, and if any of the crew desire to drink after that hour they shall sit upon the open deck without lights.
ARTICLE V. Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols at all times clean and ready for action.
ARTICLE VI. He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time of battle shall be punished by death or marooning.
ARTICLE VII. None shall strike another on board the ship, but every man's quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol in this manner. At the word of command from the quartermaster, each man being previously placed back to back, shall turn and fire immediately. If any man do not, the quartermaster shall knock the piece out of his hand. If both miss their aim they shall take to their cutlasses, and he that draweth first blood shall be declared the victor.
ARTICLE VIII. No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till each has a share of £l,000. Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have 800 pieces of eight from the common stock and for lesser hurts proportionately.
ARTICLE IX. The captain and the quartermaster shall each receive two shares of a prize, the master gunner and boatswain, one and one half shares, all other officers one and one quarter, and private gentlemen of fortune one share each.
Raven smiled, "Women are aloud on board then?" Raven's eyes knitted slightly. She had figured that they only aloud her on board for the time being and that Kory was hiding her sex for fear of being marooned. But it seems that Kory simply doesn't want to be recognized and turned in for the price on her head.
"Well why not? Women are people too." Richard smiled sweetly. Raven was definitely starting to like this man. Not only was he smart, brave and handsome, but he was a kind and understanding man. She smiled and shook her head in amusement before jotting 'Rachel Roth' along the list of names at the bottom. There was no turning back now. She was a member of The Robin.
"Cheers!" Raven said knocking her mug against Richards.
"Una vida corta, y un alegre uno!" Richard downed his grog and Raven smiled.
"A short life and a merry one…" Raven downed her grog, "Here's to that."
Muahaha! Another chapter down and a bunch more to go! The articles I used were the same ones used by Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) but I changed a few things. Black Bart didn't allow gambling on his ship but I wanted them to be able to. What's piracy without gambling. And also Black Bart believed in Now boys or women aboard the ship. Also the quote "A short life and a merry one." was also a quote of Bartholomew Roberts. Wholly uck-fay! I just got bit by some nasty ass little cross between a preying mantas and a mosquito. That hurt… I hope it wasn't poisonous… Well, if you never hear from me again it means that that little bugger was poisonous…and that I'm dead.… Anyway, shall we get on with the lingo?
(1)Boson- or Boatswain, the man in charge of the rigging and other such tasks aboard a vessel.
(2)Weevil cake- Yuck… They're biscuits that are usually infested with weevils…
(3)Red shots- It's when you heat a normal round shot iron cannon ball until it's red and put it into the cannon. It was used to light an enemies ship on fire. Although a lot of the time it would set off the powder in the gun prematurely and blow off the gunners limbs.
(4)Bowsprit- It's the mast like thingy jutting out from the front of the ship.
(5)Forecastle- the deck at the very front of the ship.
(6)Frigate- A warship.
(7)Fag galleon- Another warship but sexy.
(8)Chain shot- two round shots chained together. Used for damaging sails, rigging and masts.
(9)Gaffs- square rigged sails are rigged on Yards but some square rigged ships will have gaffs to rig up Try sails during storms so the large square sails wont catch to much wind and snap the mast.
(10)Shipwright- The man who builds and repairs the ship.
(11)Orlop- a deck on the ship usually one above the bilge. Used for storage of sails and rigging. And I'm not sure but I think it may also be the crews quarters but I never really did check up on that… :D
(12)Lateen rigged- it's a small triangle shaped sail used for manageability.
(13)For and Aft rigged- also for manoeuvrability, but it's bigger, and not quite as triangular.
Square rigged- the sails are all somewhat square and set horizontally across the masts and perpendicular with the deck.
Reviews are nice. :D