Realistic Pirate CYOA

You do my best to show no sign that you recognize Michael.

"I think there has been a misunderstanding, captain. We have done no piracy."

The marine steps into view, recognizing you and your 'slave.'

"On, the contrary, it seems you aided pirates on an attack on a British Man-Of-War," he lies. "Killing two marines, and enslaving one captain. As well, I have it on good word that you sold a ship that didn't belong to you."

A bloodied Dutchman steps into view. Behind him, in a long chain line, are the lepers. He hands some documents to Michael, and stands aside him.

"They came in the night, booting us off the boat. They came with cargo, flags of every nation, and above all guns and sword. We were thrown into the sea, not a dingy to guide us, and they sailed off, saying 'Daniel has given us a truly great ship.' "

Captain Towns seems mortified.

"So, boy. Will you cooperate?"

Another pair of shackles is in Michael's hands. The Dutchman is leading Captain Towns into the leper-line. You are wearing a long sleeved shirt, no weapons save for a skeletal hand on your belt...

"I have killed no marines - always been a queen's man, I have. As for the ship, I had little choice in the matter," I say, motioning to the broken teeth and black eye. "I've been strong-armed just as much as this poor crew; only received enough gold to keep this man out of unkind hands. I've done my best to act rightly ever since I was appointed bosun. Surely a man in your honored position would not condemn an old friend and elderly captain on mere hearsay? In any case, we live and die for England." I kneel.

"So it is," Michael curtly replies.

Snap.

Welcome to the wonderful world of 17th century law!

Marines approach from the warehouse; they must have been waiting in ambush all along. It's a good thing you didn't resist.

The points of bayonets guide you onto a small Royal Navy Schooner - they must not be taking their chances with slow Man-Of-Wars.

You are held in a customized brig, with.. oars? Oh my. It seems you will be joining the lepers this time.

Captain Towns, aside you has more than a few words to say now.

It seems the only thing to unbreak a broken freed slave is enslavement.

"How could you just accept! You're all the girl they were saying before. We'll be lucky if we don't die of hunger before we get to the Thames - and if we do, your cursed name will be among my lips as the noose ends my life."

Wow. Harsh words.

The ship seems unweigh, as the slavemaster begins the whipping. The lepers among you seem complacent, Towns situationally so, though vocally abusive.

Outside, a giant explosion rocks the boat. But the slavemaster is indifferent.

Row slave! ROW!

You take hold of the oar, noticing your shackles are slightly loose...

You check your shackles, and sure enough, only one hand is caught.

You hear all kind of sounds outside the vessel; not only is it underweigh, but some kind of battle is going on. Suddenly, the hatch to the gundeck opens, and down drops a well-armed 'Anna of New York', shooting the Marine-On-Duty with a pistol, dropping it and taking out two daggers.

Captain Towns grabs a slavemaster and begins to strangle him with his chains.

The lepers keep rowing, scared to resist.

A slavemaster approaches you with a cutlass, pulling back to swing...

"Anna!" You shout to her, attempting to get her attention, "A little assistance, my dear."

You duck under the cutlass, letting it hit your chain, summarily releasing you from the oar line.

"Kind of busy, ma cherie!" she says, firing a hidden pistol from her wrist, slicing two pursuing marines across the throat before throwing both daggers into their skulls.

Her flurry of swordplay is accurate yet graceful. You watch intently.. [+1 Assassin]

As the slavemaster gives you a haircut! You dodge barely, punching his elbow and wrapping the chains around his sword - disarming him! [+2 Fists, +5 Chains]

You hold his neck in the chains, but he escapes, and kicks you in the stomach, letting you double over. You manage to toss him into the oar line, hopefully buying you sometime.

The chained lepers converge on him, biting, punching, literally tearing him apart. The scene is horrendously gory.

The oar room has been secured. On the way down, you noticed the hatch leads to the gun deck, which also holds the crew quarters. Above, the topside holds the top cannons and captain's cabin.

"This is the end of Gildas' orders, ma cherie. I am now under your command!"

Towns is still chained to the wall, as are the lepers. Dead enemies lay on the floor. The oars have stopped, and boat slows.

Where to, mon capitan?

I say to Anna, "Remind me to thank the old milk-drinker when I have the chance. For now, we sail to new ports! Havana!"

Anna nods and salutes. Captain Towns protests.

"Am I to be left here with the lepers?!"

"Rowers! Row hard, for it will be your last time behind the oars! At our next port of call, you will all be free to do as you please!"

Towns looks angrily at you, as he shooes away the lepers and takes an entire oar all his own. His strength doubles the speed of the ship, on that side. The shooed lepers go on the other side, trying to match him. The ship evens out.

You approach Towns next. "I want answers, 'Captain' Towns. What was your quarrel with the native girl? What do you plan to do now? And why is a man who I ransomed for the price of a ship so damn ungrateful?"

"None of your business, master. Leave me to my work.. "

He is as obstinate as he is strong. He refuses to move.

Finally, you approach Anna. "I'm surprised Gildas let a gem like you go. If you don't have anything else to do, how about sticking with me for a while? It pays having a girl like you around."

She salutes. "To anywhere, ma cherie! I am your loyal pirate!"

You walk with Anna up the gundeck.

A bloodbath!

Sailors lie eviscerated.

Blood stains the floor.

Cannons idle silently.

Druids clean their daggers.

Gildas is there. Out a gunport, you can see the "Taffy Princess" floating nearby, decked out in green sails, overloaded with cannon.

"Dia dhaoibh, deartháir. Nice to see you again. We have a problem."

He cleans a long, silver sword with a sailor's cap.

"You didn't think you could get out of port without a good bye, did you?" Gildas adds.

He sheathes his elegant sword and grabs your wrist - a man's handshake!

"Not without accounting for those 50 Sovereigns you owe me!" (+1 Merchant)

"Deartháir, let us call it even for your rescue. Those shackles suit you! But as I said, we have a problem."

You, Anna and Gildas sit on crates.

"The crew was child's play, but the lion's share of marines have barricaded the captain's cabin, under commands of the captain. Got any ideas?" Gildas looks to you.

You tell Gildas a few of your ideas. To some, he nods. To others, he shakes. And still others, he looks at you in a strange way.

"Let's just blow up the ship and be done with it."

Gildas makes some hand gestures to his men, and they go fetch a large gunpowder barrel. They pop it open.

"Me and Anna will wait on the rechristened Druidēs Escape."

You look over to the ship, Taffy Princess having been replaced by a plaque reading 'δρυΐδης'.

Gildas and Anna head for the small boat, being rowed back by his men, who then rows alongside the boat, awaiting your retreat.

You start the trail at the gunpowder room - a very dry room in the schooner. Suddenly, you remember to hit the chains in the oar room, so your friends can escape as well. You barely notice Towns give you a glare as he heads for the topside...

The gundeck is littered with gunpowder, but the main part of it runs a line from the cargo bay to the gunpowder room. All you'll need to do now is drop the torch from topdeck onto a nice pile of powder - which will light the fuse to the room. Trying to drop the torch in this room will blow YOU up.

You're amazed at the beauty you've concocted. (+2 Demolitions)

However, your fireworks are cut short.

"Ready men... FIRE!"

An array of bullets knocks the druids on their feet.

You look up too late, seeing muskets aimed through the hole you intended to drop your torch.

The marines are attacking! They are assembling on the topdeck. You can hear them firing a salvo of top cannons on the Druidēs Escape. The other ship holds its fire, lest you blow up.

You only have four of Gildas' men left alive. They are armed with mid-sized daggers - for throwing and fighting.

A man hands you a torch and hops out a gunport. Make that three.

"CHARGE!"

Five marines head down the stairs, bayonets fixed!

The men take out daggers. What are your orders?

The closest thing being the chain. It's worked out so far, so let's see how far I can go with it.