March 26, 2006

Gunther's First Prize


The Vestenmannavnjar longboat the Grijze Orkaan was nestled in a cove when the hunting party returned. The sun was starting to peak the horizon and would quickly burning away the morning fog so they needed to work fast. Siggeir reported that they killed 5 deers and trapped 8 rabbits, and with their current stores they would be able to feed the nearly 60 Vestenmannavnjar raiders for a month. Gunther watched as his men skinned, salted and loaded the meat below decks. The skins were also saved which they would they would be later used to trade with in the winter months. "Thank you Siggeir," Gunther said, "Plan on going out tonight, unless we take a prize today. You and your men go rest and eat."

"Thank you Captain." Siggeir replied before finding a calm place to rest as did the 5 other men that were part of the hunting party.

Leif, went and woke the rest of the men. With the sun coming out they all needed to be alert. If a passing Vendel privateer were to spot them they would at risk of getting taken. If that happened they would all hanged. They have been sailing closer and closer to Kirk the past few days in hopes of catching a merchant vessel sailing the Kirk/Montaigne shipping lanes. The closer they sailed to Kirk the greater the chance of encountering one of the Vendel privateers. It also increased their chances of finding a Vendel ship leaving or heading to the Capital city of Kirk.

Gunther had not been captain for very long. But he had been on many raids in his youth and knew the tactics well. Use the land and fog for cover, hit them at an angle to avoid their guns and as you sail up rain arrows onto the decks and if possible use flaming arrows to light their sails on fire. Generally create chaos before you even set foot on their decks. For weeks Gunther had drill this men in these tactics just as he was drilled many years ago. The weeks of training were over now. His crew was still green, but they were eager for a prize.

* * *

Gunther scanned the horizon with his spyglass. All he saw was the water meeting the sky. Yesterday Gunther let three ships past. All of them looked over-gunned, overmanned or sat high in the water and not worth taking. He lowered the glass looked up into the sky and saw the sun was about over head. The Cove was no longer providing any cover. He could either row back deeper into the cove which would block his sight of any passing ships until it was too lot or he could move out and get a better look. He ordered his men to row out of the cove. Excitement started to build but that came to halt when about a hundred yards out Gunther ordered his men to stop. Gunther raised the glass to his eye once again. Scanned the horizon and waited. The crew whispered as the longboat gently bobbed in the still water.

"SAIL HOY Captain." came a voice from atop the single mast longboat. The voice was that of Bjornson, he was the youngest member of the Grijze Orkaan but has the keenest eyesight of all the crew.

"Were?" Gunther asked.

"Two points off the starboard bow captain."

Gunther raised the glass again and pointed it two points off the bow as Bjornson said. On Gunther’s second pass of the area he saw a topgallant sail poking out. He watched the ship as it came into view. Some of the crew began to whisper amongst themselves as a tiny speck appear on the horizon. Questions of would this be the one or would it also be too big to take were exchanged. Gunther looked to his men and smiled.

“This is it men, this is the ship we’ve been waiting for.”

The crew began to shout in excitement.

“SILENCE” Gunther ordered. “Do you want them to hear us before we are in position to take them? Set sail and man the roms.”

The shouts quickly died, but the excitement could still be observed as the men set to work.

Gunther looked up to the boy as said "Good work, Niclas."

"Thank You Captain." Bjornson said.

Gunther always used Bjornson real name, Niclas Bronkhorstson. Bjornson, which means Son of a Bear, was given the nickname by the crew because they say he is built like a bear. He is taller and stronger then most his age and has the fierce nature of a bear. Bjornson was recruited at the last Althing after Gunther saw the boy nearly take on a man twice his size and age in a fight. Although Bjornson was beaten in the fight, Gunther liked the boys spirit. It reminded himself of when he was young. Bjornson mother had died in childbirth and his father and brothers were killed when a Vendel landowner came to kick them off their land. His father and brothers tried to fight them off and sent him and sister to his uncles house for reinforcement. When they returned his brothers and father were dead and a group of Eisen mercenaries were posted to prevent any retaliation. He lived with his uncle until he was twelve, at which point he ran away to attend the Althing.

Gunther continued to watch the ship. It was too early to tell the nationality of the ship. It was a merchant ship, that he knew. She sat low in the water which means she's heavy laden or was taking on water. Gunther figured the first because if she was taking on water would be headed for nearest land. She also appears to be having trouble navigating the currents and winds. Which means she is undermanned or has an unskilled crew. She has no escort and unless she has hidden gun ports, was probably under-gunned.

“Jacque,” Gunther called out, “Stir up this wind.”

Jacque Paix looked out of place aboard the longboat. He was the only one who was not Vesten. He is Montaigne and his dark hair and eyes makes him stand out amongst the blonde hair and blue-eyed Vesten. Jacque is not weak by any means but in comparison to the burly battle harden raiders, he is thin and petite. There was something else that makes Jacque stand out from the other crew. He possesses a gift, one that grants him great respect among the Vesten people. Jacque knows the stories of the Runes and can channel the energy from those stories. He is a rune mage or Skjæren. Traditionally only the Vesten and a few of the Vendel have understand the stories of old well enough to be able to channel their power.

Jacque’s eyes roll back into his skull as he mummers the story of Nød. He traced the outline of a symbol with his staff onto the deck of the longboat. The symbol looks like a † and a Y placed on top of one another. As he finished his chanting, the breeze begin to pick up. Quickly it turns into a strong wind, stirring the leaves of the nearby trees and blows thought the long blonde hair of the Vesten raiders. The sail snaps tight as the canvas catches the newly inspired wind. Gunther orders his men to row and the Grijze Orkaan starts to glide out towards the ship.

The oncoming ship looked to be Montaigne build, a three masted merchant class ship. Gunther figured she has a crew of about 60 men at most. She looked to be an easy target and a good one for their first time out. The ship was still having difficulty sailing. She was not trying to evade them and was not trying to engage them either. Gunther lifted his glass once again. She had just spotted them, but it was too late. Gunther was about to put the glass down when he saw something else on the horizon. Another set of sails appeared.

“Captain,” Jacque says as he turns towards Gunther, “It appears someone else is messing with the wind, someone more powerful then I am.”

Gunther nodded in acknowledgment, but said nothing. He continued to look at the horizon as he reviewed his options. The new ship provided a problem but he was not about to abandon his prize just yet. Gunther figured if we sail up, engage the ship, board them, and if they surrendered fairly quickly we could make off with good portion of their cargo before the other ship was in range. A risky move for a green crew, but Gunther figured they could pull it off. “Weigh colors!” Gunther called out. A sailor grabbed the flag of the Grijze Orkaan, a red flag with a black square in the center and grey Villskap rune, and hosted it up the mast. The Villskap rune looks something like a lightning bolt and was the rune for Fury. That was exactly what Gunther intended to do, unleash fury upon those that traded with the Vendel. “Bjornolf prepare archers! Starboard roms, give me three hard strokes. Larboard roms, three reverse strokes.” Gunther bellowed out as the longboat started to turn slightly to the left as the men rowed. This moved the longboat out of a more favorable wind position but put them in a better position for the archers. “All Roms five hard strokes.”

“Archers ready Captain.” Bjornolf shouts.

“Fire when in range.” Gunther replies.

Arrows rained down onto the decks of the merchant vessel. She answered back with musket fire. But the advantage to arrows was the quicker rate of fire. After the third volley of arrows, smoke spewed from one of the swivel gun as a loud BOOOOM followed. The shot smashed into the deck of the longboat, sending slivers of wood flying into the air.

“Direct fire to musketeers and topsman.” Bjornolf ordered.

“Leif,” Gunther shouts.

“AYE.” replied Leif.

“Prepare grapples and boarding weapons.” Gunther shouted. “Roms, row till we’re in position to board her. Grapples away when ready.”

Moments later a dozen grappling hooks were thrown and hooked into the deck rails of the ships. The order to repel boards could be over heard from the ship. Gunther glanced one last time to the ship on the horizon. It was moving faster then he had anticipated, but it was too late to change plans now. There was also something odd about it. She had a dark cloud followed her. Gunther pulled out the glass and took a peek. A shiver ran up his spine when he saw that he cloud was a flock of birds. Ravens to be exact. They were still too far off to be seen but he knew the Morrigan’s ship the Grey Fate. What is she doing here? Gunther thought as two more sets of sails appeared on the horizon. Gunther expected them to be the sails if the Uncharted Destiny and the sloop that accompanies the Destiny. The seas are getting a little too crowded, Gunther thought, before putting down the glass and pulled out an axe and led the climb up the ropes unto their prey’s decks.

A sailor aboard the merchant ship was trying to cut the rope that Gunther climbed. Gunther steadied himself against the hull of the ship, hefted the axe he carried and threw it. The axe tumbled through the air and smashed into the sailor’s skull. He fall backwards, another sailor move to replace him when Gunther shouted a war cry and hefted another axe. The axe flew though the air, near-ally missing the man as he halted his advancement to the rail. Gunther was not trying to hit the man. He was keeping him at bay so he could over the rail. Had the man continued towards the rail he would have been hit. This pause gave Gunther the time he need to charged up the rope, swing over the rail, and pull out a couple of axes and whirl into combat. Within seconds more Vesten raiders where over the rail and fighting the sailors of the Montaigne ship. The fighting was fierce and bloody, the crew of the merchant vessel managed to put up a good fight but as quickly as the fighting began it was over as the swarming Vesten raiders overwhelm them. The Montaigne Captain ordered his men to lay down arms. Upon seeing this, Gunther orders his men too stop fighting as well. Even Ulfson, his bearserker, stop fighting. Gunther sighed in relief at this. He must not of built up to his frenzy, Gunther thought. A Vesten cheer rang out in unison as the colors of the merchant ship descended the mast. Gunther’s men had waited a long time for this moment. Gunther thought his men had performed well for their first test and would only get better with more raids. The initial boarding action took longer then he would have liked, but they had performed better then he had expected in the fight.

Just as they had finished securing the ship, the Morrigan’s lugger sailed up with a flock of ravens flying about her masts. Gunther had forgotten how fast that ship could go. Gunther was also sure Della was manipulating the winds in her favor as well. The crew looked to Gunther for orders.

“Secure these men. Get their doctor to see to the wounded. Send for Janson if they have no doctor. I'll deal with the new ship.” Gunther ordered. “Also find out what she caring.” With that Gunther proudly walked up to the rail of the Montaigne ship to greet the approaching lugger.

March 07, 2006

Cat and Maus (3/3 Game recap)

We finished up in Buche and sailed to Charouse. Charouse is the Capital of Montaigne and with the Captain wanted for piracy, she needs to careful so that she does not get seen. She also needed to get in touch with Raith, without getting spotted by DuSoir. I volunteered to go in and try to find Raith, even though I don't know that he looks like. As I was talking with the captain, she said she would go in but can't because people know her here and she might get spotted. So I asked, “What if you didn’t look like yourself?”

She looked puzzled at first, and asked, “What, like a disguise?”

I answered “Yes.”

“Well I tried that once before, but it didn’t work. I’m not good at pretending to be a Montaigne peasant.” She answered.

“So then we won’t make you look a Montaigne peasant.” I responded. “What can you pretend to be?” The captain decided on Eisen merchant, I would act as her translator. We would enter the city in hopes that we run into Raith. Maus accompanied us as well.

I went to my footlocker, grabbed some items then found a quite, empty area of the ship. Then I reached into the shadow and pulled out the black bag. I retrieved the disguise kit from the bag and placed the bag back into the shadow. I looked at the disguise kit for a moment, thought to myself, “I hope I know what I’m doing.” Then I returned to the captain’s quarters. After an hour or so of applying makeup, some hair dyes and a change of clothes, we had Izzie looking completely different. I had even surprised myself; I tried to hide that fact, because Izzie needed to be confident in my work, so she could act as a Eisen merchant. I believe I hide my surprise well because Izzie didn’t question a thing and entered the streets of Charouse without fear of getting spotted. I then returned the kit to the black bag, making sure no one saw me pulling the bag from the shadows. I then return to main deck, meant up if Izzie and Maus and enter the streets of Charouse. Jacqueline also entered the city and meant with some of her contacts.

We went to many pubs and taverns that Raith would visit, but we didn’t see him. We then went to the capital offices were Raith would be. I stayed outside the main entrance and waited to see if Raith came out. The captain and Maus went to the Rose & Cross chapter house. As I waited outside DuSoir exited the Capital building and headed down the street. I was tempted to follow him but stayed and waited for Captain Izzie to return. A few minutes later the captain and Maus returned. I told Captain Izzie of DuSoir, she too was tempted to follow after him but decided it was better to return to the ship. She gave a message to the R&C that would get delivered to Raith. Shortly after returning to the ship Jacqueline returned with news that she might be able to get a message to Raith through the Musketeers.

March 02, 2006

Dreams (2/17 Game Recap)


The cargo was shipped and off loaded in Carleon. New cargo was added and we set sail for Montaigne.

During the voyage to Montaigne I had some more strange dreams. I went and talked to the Captain about putting me on an extra shift. I figured the extra work would help me sleep better. She denied me my request but in a way also granted it. Since we are traveling back to Montaigne, were Captain Izzie is wanted for piracy, we had to disguise the Sea Fox. So new paint and change of appearances was done while we were out at sea.

This meant there would be extra work for everyone. She also told me to speak to Ewan, the ships doctor, about some drugs to help me with my sleeping. I took them the first two nights, they didn't really help. They only made feel light headed and dizzy in the morning. I didn't have the dreams but I didn't sleep well either. The dreams follow a similar theme. Someone or something was chasing me and no matter what I do I can't escape. Back when I lived with Jean in Buche, I had similar dreams. These were different. The dreams in Buche, I was chased in the dark. I never knew where I was or where I was running too, I knew I had to keep running. Then something would grab me by the throat and I would start to choke. I would usually wake up grasping for breath. In my resent dreams I'm in a city, it seems very familiar to me, but I don't recognize it. Also it appears to be during the day, but no sun or sky was visible and the shadows on the ground look odd. They dance and waver sort of like the shadows during a solar eclipse. Also the city quite, and empty, like everyone just disappeared. And the voice, It was a low whisper I could barely hear it, but I think it said, "the darkness hide you no longer." The extra work helped me sleep, the dreams seemed to have gone away, for now, I'm sure they will be back.

We first sailed to Vraise dropped off the books on heretical text, and then sailed to Buche. After arriving in Buche, we started off loading the ale that we were shipping for George Skard. When a man dressed in tattered clothes came running down the docks. He was scared and was shouting in théan, "Help Me, Help Me." A man was running after him and then another group of men were running after them. We hailed the scared man to come aboard and quickly got him below decks. Later we learned his name is Charles. The other man appeared to be a friend of Charles and said he would try to steer the others away from our ship. Ewan looked over the man and noticed some scars that looked like the scars Izzie had from when she was imprisoned. The other group stopped and asked about the 2 men running this way. Nick told them they ran that way and pointed down the pier, and the group continued on. Later when Charles's friend came back, Nick, Diego, Izzie and Jacqueline questioned him. During this, Maus was talking to Charles. After Izzie and Jacqueline were done talking to the other guy, he helped his friend off the ship. I was granted shore leave, so I visited my friend Jean and returned the next morning. Nen was also in Buche, and came aboard to much enthusiasm from the crew. We then prepared to set sail.

Our story thus far

The crew of the Sea Fox and Uncharted Destiny were in Charouse when a revolt started. We happened to get caught on the side of the rebels and helped them fight the Montaigne Army that was trying to restore order. During the fighting DuSoir shows up and Izzie order her crew to fall back to the ship. During her retreat she came across Reise, one of the Vesten living runes. She talked to him a bit and when she told him she had to go. He said, “go” and she continued her retreat. Her and her crew made it safely out of the city, but when they stop, they discovered that they were many miles away from Charouse. Reise is the Rune of Journey, he had helped their escape by allowing them to travel much farther then they normally could. During the night a group a traveling nobles pass our camp. The nobles were fleeing Montaigne to Eisen. Izzie decides to escort the nobles.

Nick was back on the Sea Fox. He saw that the fighting was not going very good, so he decided to leave Charouse, as does the Uncharted Destiny. The Sea Fox heads back to Avalon. Izzie manages to get the Nobles safely to Eisen. Izzie takes her crew and some of the nobles to Carleon, the capital of Avalon. When Izzie gets to Avalon she finds out that the Sea Fox was in port a few days ago but has left to go back to Charouse. Izzie with the help of Alex, borrows a ship from Berek. They sailed to Charouse in hopes that they would find Nick and the Sea Fox. Before sailing out she leaves word with the harbormaster that if Nick returns to stay in port. When they get to Charouse they find that order has been restored. A new government has been put into place. It is a government by the people, a parliament of sorts consisting of 8 members. Each member is in charge of a particular duty. DuSoir is one of the members of parliament. He is in charge of the ports. When Izzie's sails into Montaigne’s ports, she has to lay low. Raith, under the alias of Citizen Spector has been put in charge of the Military. Izzie learns that Nick was here but again they missed him. He left for Avalon, so Izzie sailed back to Carleon. On the way back she saw that she was being followed. It was Vendel first-rate ship of the line. Izzie ran into this ship before, it belongs to Boli Kollson. Izzie tried to our run it. She wasn't able to out run it, but was able to keep it from closing in. She was able to make it back to Carleon, and when the shore of Avalon was in sight, Boli's boat gave up chase.

When Izzie arrived back in Carleon, she learned Nick was in town. She meant up him and learned that he had to all but scuttle the Sea Fox. Nick had hidden the Sea Fox a few miles out of town. Izzie then retrieved the Sea Fox, had her towed to Carleon and dry docked so repairs and modifications could be made. She then took a trip to Vestenmannavnjar, so Gunther could get a longboat commissioned. Izzie and Gunther had a plan to work together as pirates. Gunther would use Izzie's ship for Cover as she engages the enemy, then Gunther sails or rows his Longboat up and boards the enemy vessel to take as there prize. During their say in Vestenmannavnjar, Gunther's Jarl asks him and Izzie if they would escort someone to upcoming Althing. They both agree, the man is Vendel Brewer by t he the name of George Skard. While the longboat was being made, Izzie goes missing one night. She was kidnapped. The few remaining crew of Sea Fox search for her. After many months of following leads it is discovered that she was in Castille, held up in fort located in a remote mountain pass. An effort was put forth to rescue her but before any attempts are made Raith shows up. He has word that Villanova, one of the Princes of Vodacce has been assassinated. Raith also has news of secret organization of 13 men that work together for own goals. We believe that Boli is one of the 13. Villanova was one. But now with his death, there are now 12. With Raith's help we freed Izzie from the prison.

We returned to Avalon, and picked up the reborn Sea Fox. After some investigation into the council of 13, Alex’s was asked to stay in Carleon for official business with Elaine's Knights. The rest of the Sea Fox sail to back to Vesten to pick up Gunther's ship. Gunther did some recruiting and then sailed to Kirk to pick up Skard.

George is a Vendel, but is trying to get his Vesten brothers to see that not all Vendel have turned on the old ways. On his way to the Althing, he wanted to tour the Vesten country. He stopped at many Vesten towns on most of the islands. He meant other brewers, showed them some of his techniques and learned some of there. He threw large parties, gave away his ale and mead. He had hoped that this mend the gap that had developed between the two people. During one of his in land stops Sven and his men ambushed us. After a very brief fight, Sven retreated. Sven was one of the men responsible for Izzie's kidnapping. Then on our final trek to the Althing an ambush was set up to stop Skard from reaching the Althing. A mercenary group from Freiburg was hired to guard the pass we traveled with the instructions to stop us from reaching the Althing. After a brief fight, we retreated and took an alternate route to the Althing.

After the Althing we sail Skard back to Kirk and then Sail to Carleon. At some point Izzie had a change of heart about going pirate. But since Gunther already has his longboat and a raiding crew he could not continue in following Izzie in her new legit enterprises. So Gunther sailed from Carleon back to Vestenmannavnjar to hunt Vendel Merchant's ships.

March 01, 2006

Villains

DuSoir - Little is know about him other then we believe he is a Lords Hand to Prince Villanova of Vodacce. we also believe that cold iron weapons can only hurt him, which means he could have Sidhe blood.

Giovanni Villanova (Dead)- One of the five Princes of Vodacce. Killed by Raith.

Vincenzo Caligari - One of the five Princes of Vodacce. He is a collector of Syrneth artifacts and is using the artifacts to increase his power. During an earlier adventure his island was sunk when a syrneth ship was sailed out from under it.

Boli Kollson - Vendel Lærdom mage and member of the Council of 13. Boli is after a stick that Jacque Paix has. Jacque Paix is the weather mage aboard Gunther's Grizje Orkaan. The stick is said to be a link to the past and a stopping block for Boli to achieve Lærdom Mastery.

Syrneth - Strange race of creature that once walked Théah.

Maab - Queen of the Sea. Maab kidnapped Derwyddon, adviser to Queen Elaine. This is probably the business that is keeping Alex busy.

Reis - Captain of the Crimson Roger. Was killed on a syrneth island, but rumors have surfaced that he is still alive.

Black Freighter - Ghost Ship

NPC's


Crew of the Sea Fox

Nick Backstay - Quartermaster of the Sea fox.

Diego Loyola - First helm and boyfriend to Izzie.

Grace Fox - Sister to Izzie. She lives up to her name, she is very graceful.

Gregoire Etienne - Marine Commander.

Ewan - Ships surgeon.

Nen -

Jack Chelsey - Master of the Tops, very seldom seen out of the tops. Has an uncanny ability to predict the weather.

René Soren - Topsman, keeps to himself. Was imprisoned with Izzie. Blood experiments when done to him during his imprisonment.

Crew of the Uncharted Destiny

Raith - Captain of the Uncharted Destiny. Currently is in Charouse as Montaigne's Defense Minister under the alias of Citizen Spector.

Reinhard -

McBride - Acting Captain of the Uncharted Destiny when Raith is not around.

Della - Skjæren, Weather Mage, aboard the Uncharted Destiny.

Crew of the Grizje Orkaan

Leif - Was hired as a helmsman for the Sea Fox, moved over to the Grizje Orkaan.

Jacque Paix - Montaigne Lærdom mage. Usually only Vesten and some Vendel can learn the secrets of the Runes by Jacque acquired a stick that once belonged to a now dead by powerful Skjæren. The skjæren started teaching Jacque to stories of the old ways and opened the power of the Runes to him.

Other Notable NPC's

Sir Jeremiah Berek - Knight of Elaine and Avalon Privateer.

Valentina Villanova - Wife to Giovanni and powerful fate witch.

Juliette - Valet to Valentina.

PC's


Captain Izzie - Avalon noble lady that was kidnapped by pirates and later rescued by Captain Raith of the Uncharted Destiny. Izzie, now captain of the Sea Fox, was once pirate now turned smuggler/honest merchant sailor.

Jacqueline du Valmy - Montaigne Musketeer and Red Watch Commander of the Sea Fox

Maus - Eisen street urchin from Freiburg. About 15 years old and has a large collection of teeth from many strange monsters.

David Rousseau - Crewman Izzie hired in Buche a little over a year ago. He is quite man, hard worker with a shadowy past.

Alex - One of Elaine's Knights (Elaine is Queen of Avalon) He is currently away on official business for Elaine.

Gretal - Eisen Swordsman and Member of the Rose and Cross. She is currently away on official Rose and Cross business.

Gunther - Vesten raider and Skald. Once was one of the Sea Fox's Helmsman and navigator. He has returned to his raiding ways after he acquired the Grijze Orkaan. This was also about the time Captain Izzie decided to go legit.