William Brand

I'll take anything but a diabolical sandwich.

And Red Cat Jenny joins the ranks, bringing with her the insomniac club and pirate toast.

The more the merrier...or bloodier. They're hoping to have forces within the fort to repel all attackers, so the inclusion of our group would greatly add to John's Pirate Brethren and other pirate groups planning to attend. It's not being touted as a true 'historical re-enactment, and like PIP it should contain many facets of pyracy, but I think the atmosphere of isolation on the island at night will make for a very cool setting. Now this isn't to say that we couldn't attend all three and even join those pirates on the Santa Maria for a fourth event each year, but at best I could only make a few of them myself, and PIP comes first.

No, no, sorry about the delay. We were just waiting for the last of the orders. The shirts are being ordered and printed within the next week and should be shipped early August at the latest.

You would be most welcome to join us there. If the festival proves to be as good as planned, it could be the next big draw and I find the idea of being isolated on an island of few if no modern amenities most appealing. I may also have a fort addiction.

I'm leaning a bit towards the Captain Kidd event. Allow me to explain why...

Now that the Mercury crew has become well established at PIP and the Fort Taylor Pirate Festival, I would like to propose that we take the crew to another event or two next year. I've already been approached by some members of the crew about representing the Mercury at their local events and I think there are enough of us on the East Coast now that we might consider one of three festivals as an addition. 1-Captain Kidd Pirate Festival at Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island. 2-Lockhouse - Havre de Grace, Maryland 3-Pyrate Invasion in Beaufort, North Carolina These are not listed in any particular order of importance, for all of them have appeal and you all should know that we have been officially invited to all three. Lockhouse and Beaufort are both well established and highly recommended, while the Captain Kidd event is brand new but very promising. Lockhouse is held twice a year, but the event in July is probably the only event we could muster, as the other is held too close to PIP. Beaufort is in August this year, so we'll assume it will be next year as well, or close to it. The Captain Kidd event has yet to be determined. Thoughts?

Welcome aboard.

Once again, and with feeling. My PM box is not full. I never let it fill it up. It's at 14% of capacity. The messaging system has a glitch and Stynky has been fixing, is fixing and will eventually fix the problem.

"Peters sums it up this way: "Ask any 6-year-old when they leave a museum or an event what they remember. It's not the labeling. It's not the lectures. It's what the guy in the costume and gun was talking about." Amen. We went to a pioneer living history museum a few weeks back. The guy in the barber shop offered to give me an actual shave, so I sat in the chair and we talked about 'current events'. Now when I say current I mean that the guy and I talked about events current to the living history of the town way back when. I think the guy was pleasantly surprised that I could keep up my side of the conversation, and my ability to interject points on 'current events'. When all is said and done, I'll remember that guy and the cobbler. Cut right out of history.

I was lucky from the word go. Tracy couldn't be happier to find just one more thing in common with me.

I thought I would just check and see if any of our fellow pirates were involved in the 259 car pile up on the Autobahn. The wreck was spread out over 20 miles. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/5871271/Autobahn-crash-involves-259-cars.html

Welcome aboard, mate.

Updated and corrected for recent changes. Please see the first post for a complete list of those who are planning to attend.

William found Tudor at his elbow. It was her smell that gave her away, and he was glad of the company. "A good meal, well prepared and presented." "Thank you, Captain...but Miss Tribbiani put the table aright." Tudor admitted. "She has more court in her than I." William nodded, passing the glass to Mister Warren, who was watching the Navarra more than the Lucy. "Please pass my compliments along." "Aye, sah." Jim was shaking his head. "A little panic among the Spanish." "We'll make use of that if the time comes." William returned. "Flushing quail." Tudor said, almost too quiet to hear it.

Granted and glad to have you aboard.

I was planning to drive down to PIP from NY with a friend. We are not members of a recognized crew and I am wondering how we might (and IF we might) be able to secure a small campsite. We can't really afford to stay at a hotel for the duration, so we where sort of depending on "roughing it". Any information would be appreciated. 'Cutter & Co. You don't have to worry about your 'spot', because you're already listed on the first page of the Roll Call. Anyone already on the list of tentative attendees in the encampments is covered. We're still hovering about the 100 attendees mark, so you and yours are fine.

The Watch Dog had fallen off the wind just enough that she was almost abaft the Navarra. The merchantmen's stern lights were stretched upon the foam of her wake, giving the 'Dog a trail of light to follow. Jack Roberts was forward amidships sending orders up the rigging and Mister Youngblood was walking the line of great guns. Jim came back up to the quarterdeck and William only just recognized him in the darkness. They stood as co-conspirators, close and in a congress of whispers. "McGinty can make no more of her, but her size. The Watch Dog alone might take such a ship." Jim confided. William did not agree nor disagree with this. "Still no colors?" "None that can be seen." William nodded, and framed the ship in the glass again. She was a hazy blur of canvas, up-lit by a few lanterns and William could mark no great detail. "How is the watch?" "Curious. Quiet." "Good. And those at rest?" "Awake." William shook his head. News traveled to fast aboard ship.

William stood a long time on the quarterdeck without sending down any orders. Officers of the frigate stood about near and far waiting for a call or cry to come down, but William simply stood, his glass raised. He could not see the unknown ship well, so he focused his attention on the Lucy. "Sah..." Jack prompted at his elbow. William did not answer. "Shall I call the Larboard marines, sah?" Mister Hutchins asked the Sergeant-at-arms. Luc Otkupschikov shook his head very slowly from side to side. "Steeeady...Mister Hutchins." William said slowly, without taking his eye from the glass. "Captain Lasseter has the matter in hand." A long silence passed with no one asking or offering so much as a word. It was probably only minutes, but with only William and Jim passing the glass back and forth between themselves in silence, it seemed much longer. "He's falling off a bit..." Jim observed aloud. "Mister Roberts." William said, still nodding in agreement with the Ship's Master. "Sah!" "Have the men stand ready." "Aye, Sah!" "Not so ready as that, Mister Roberts." William said calmly. "Just pass the word carefully to be alert." Jack relaxed his posture a little and smiled. "Aye, sah." He put on an air of reserve and went from the quarterdeck as casually as a man in a park. "Thank you, Mister Roberts." William received the glass again from Mister Warren and watched the Lucy fall off of her course almost imperceptibly at this distance. "It's a fine night, Mister Warren." "It is that." "Let's save the candles and the oil." Jim smiled. "Aye, Cap'n." Mister Warren sent word for the lamps and lanterns to be doused. Every one.

August 6, 1704 - The Watch Dog The Ward Room aboard the 'Dog was much as it had been, apart from a steady rise in volume as everyone imbibed in drink and conversation. William remained sober, both in spirit and abstinence, as did their new found doctor. Briar was alive with conversation, but like William, Maeve was content to watch,listen and bury herself in deep thought. William had wandered so far from the room in journeys of introspection that he did not here the cry from above, not that anyone else did over the din of voices. In fact, it was not the call which came down from the maintop that stirred William from his thoughts, but rather the gathering quiet of the room, for everyone was turning their eyes and ears upward. John McGinty could just be heard, echoing a sighting that had already stirred the Lucy in full. "Sail ho!" Then they were all moving out the passageway or up the stairs. Every conversation and thought forgotten.

Mary Diamond sold me those very same shoes and they were excellent for the event.

I did a brief, historical write-up on the Mercury years back as a possible template for her past. It involved the finding of the Mercury under another name after she had been swept ashore in a storm or battle by a previous crew. It also explained her alteration from a Bermuda Sloop to a Brig-Sloop. I don't recall the dates specifically, but as Captain Jim proposed the careening crew on December 13 of 2006, we could say that the crew found the sloop on December 13, 1716. As the name Mercury was accepted as the sloop's name on January 29, 2007, we could say that was the day she was reborn as a completed Brig-Sloop in 1717. This time frame would have given the crew a month and a half to make the repairs and alter the rigging of the damaged ship. It would have also given them sufficient time for to cannibalize their own ship for timber, line, canvas, ship's stores and great guns. This also gives us a narrative timeline to place our characters soundly between 1716 and 1720, plus any history of those pirates who knew each other before. So tentative timeline...December 13, 1716 to January 29, 1717 (all dates below coinciding with their respective dates in Pub discussions, i.e. 1716 for 2006, and 1717 for 2007) December 13, 1716 - The Whole Company discovers the damaged remains of a Bermuda Sloop and decides to abandon their own well worn craft in favor of the newer vessel, due to her lighter, quality construction and favorable line. They anchor offshore, using their ship as a defense for the careening of the newer sloop. December 14, 1716 - Work begins on what will become the Mercury. She is properly beached and careened. Line and tackle are set for the removal of her damaged rigging. Men are sent inland to make a survey of materials, to discover fresh water and food, and to assess any possible threats to the Whole Company. December 14-29 1716 - A loose tarp and canvas encampment springs up along the treeline over time as more and more goods and tools are brought ashore. Clothes are swapped, mended and traded among fellow pirates. December 30, 1716 - Having discovered the presence of pirates ashore, the locals begin a tentative and limited trade with the Whole Company (This date specifically coincides with the discussion on the Pub about having women in the crew at PIP). January 9, 1717 - Patrick Hand, pirate son of a printer, suggests that a new name be chosen for the found ship, offering Speedwell as the first of many names to be considered. January 10, 1717 - The longboat is named the Gullah by Harry Smid. January 19, 1717 - The crew first considers changing the ship's rigging from one mast to two. This is debated by the Whole Company over the course of many days and they eventually decide upon a brig-sloop rigging. January 28, 1717 - Dorian Lasseter suggests that the name of the new ship should be Mercury. This name quickly eclipses the popular choices of Morning Star and Solstice. January 29, 1717 - Mercury is accepted by the majority as the new name of the Brig-Sloop and she is launched upon her career of infamy and fortune. From that point on in 2007 we began discussing various details of the Mercury encampment under the thread entitled 'The Mercury, 1720 Careening Camp'. If you haven't read it in awhile, I highly recommend re-reading it now. http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=9815&st=0

I say 'Aye' instead of yes in conversation from time to time. It usually invites a snicker.

We should probably discuss who came aboard when and why at some point, if we ever have to play that out in any way. I always imagined that William Brand came aboard some time in 1716 or 1717, after serving on several different ships between the Watch Dog and the present (or 1720).