William Brand

"Aye, the sea wa..." William began, but a wave over-crested him. He came up with more water in him than anytime thus far and the weight of his clothing was so heavy now that he was obliged to roll over on his back to keep the surface. A wave parted him and the Patricia a second time as he tried to gain the proffered hand. William used a third wave to his advantage, which brought him against the Patricia sideways. It was a hard hit, and Preston was obliged to step back a bit as William used the momentum of the contact to roll into the cutter. It proved an effective maneuver, if not a graceful one, for William spilled into the boat clumsily. Preston helped him the rest of the way in and William came to rest in a clutter of limbs, cutlass and the dregs of his dignity. Simon Larke and Gavin Montgomery were at the head of Patricia now, trapped in the dangerous position between the small cutter and the large one. The Patricia was not helping them any by thudding repeatedly against the hull and it was impossible to tell who was rescuing whom as their mettle was tested between hammer and anvil. Up above, men of the ship were pulling hard upon the lines to bring Patricia parallel to the Lucy. Ben Quigley was serving as a sort of anchoring point off the beam, giving over the slack to the pullers while Tucker moved about the smallboat with the confidence of a man secured. His efforts were benefitted by Adam above, who proved to be as good at tying knots as he'd been reported to be. Preston, certain that William was safe for the moment, caught a line on the fly, which Nigel had thrown deftly across the void, and he lashed it to the tiller, calling for another line as he did so. William gained his feet as quickly as he could, if badly. Water rushed from his clothes, adding to the half swamped boat and his coat was so heavy that he almost went over a second time. He was obliged to turn on one heel in a move that probably looked graceful from any other vantage point but his own, and being overbalanced a bit, he allowed himself to fall a little forward as he tried to gain the bow. Here, he threw his shoulder into Lucy's side to prevent Gavin's head from being dashed as the Patricia swung a little on her keel. Simon had just grabbed one of the lines and pulled Gavin free of the Patricia as it swung alongside. Simon released him at once and Gavin remained, clutching the smallboat in relative safety now, while Simon was hauled forward and up by the Lucy's men.

William sank far enough in the first few moments that he passed under the Patricia. This was not accomplished as much by the current below as it was by the boat being carried over him by the current above. He was unaware of this, being preoccupied with the sea first, and being almost upside down in it. Also, he had not had sufficient time to carry a full breath with him before being submerged, so he was made aware of his mortality soon enough, and being fully clothed, he was all too aware of having more weight on his person than was wished. Strangely enough though, William was not panicked. He had never been one to panic in open water, owing to a natural ability to tread the medium since a very young age. In fact, he was a poor swimmer, even poorer than most, but like a dog, he could keep his head above water for long periods of time. Still, stranger than not panicking was his mood of the moment, for being a creature of experience as he was, he sometimes delighted in the most inopportune luxuries by enjoying the unusual circumstances in which he found himself, and this moment was no exception. Thrust as he was into peril, he still managed a second or two to wonder at the calm aspect of the sea beneath, while a cacophony of noise murmured down from overhead. He also had time to consider his own vanity, and even in the face of so much danger, he choose the unwise course of keeping his coat and cutlass despite the volume of water the cloth had collected and the weight of the steel on his hip. He did not want to lose either, and being ever so stubborn about such things, he decided to maintain them. As he righted himself under water, he was minutely aware of losing a pistol, for the weight of it, though small by comparison to the rest of him, was significant enough that he felt it drop away and he pitied the loss. He instinctively slapped at the place where it had been on his belt far too late to have caught it back again. He felt a line drag over his face then and he grabbed at it. It slipped from his fingers even as he coiled his hand upon the cable, but this was enough. The short contact proved to be an adequate tug, so that he gained a little buoyancy and began kicking upwards.

Quick and EZ Amputation saved my life!

August 4, 1704 William went over and down into the cutter, Patricia. There he found his place among the Master-at-Arms, the Steward, the Larboard Marines and a handful of rowers. Miss Tribbiani was conspicuously absent, so Cobus sat in her place, chosen for his good standing and his multiplicity of tongues. They began what should have been a short, uneventful voyage from one ship to another. The rain and wind were up, which caused no small amount of chop, and even in the darkness, one could see that many inbound waves were white-capped. Still, the rowers bent into their oars and the small boat went smoothly enough to her destination. Once there, William called out to the Lucy, out of formality more than need, for Nigel Brisbane was already at the rail. They exchanged the short pleasantries allowed them in the gale and men stood at the ready to receive them. It was in that last moment on approach that the routine of the moment gave over to sudden chaos, and what might have proved comical in better weather, carried little or no humor in the night storm. William stood at the bow of the Patricia, along with Jochem Roggenbroet. Jochem was forward, accepting an offered line of the Lucy. William was stepping forward also, as nimbly as one might, hoping to gain the ladder of the Lucy, when someone struck him from behind. It was not an attack, per se, but it served as dangerous as one, for William stumbled just enough to upset Jochem, who turned about so quickly in surprise, that he shoved William quite clear of the safety of the Patricia. One moment William was upright and progressing to the security of the Lucy, and the next he was in the brink, fully clothed and fully prepared to sink from history. William had just enough time as he passed out of one element and into another to think, "Where am I off to?", though his actual thought was far more abstract than this, for in that sudden moment he experienced the clarity of thought and the disproportionate sense of time which one only enjoys in a split second fired by pure adrenaline. Once in the sea, he was joined there by Gavin Montgomery and Simon Larke. The second had fallen over board with him, owing to the stumble which had first upset William's progress, while the third had followed with the purpose of rescuing either of the first two. Tudor kept her place by virtue of being seated, and Eric remained aboard through an effort of vaulting over Montgomery as he fell. The Patricia herself was tipped so suddenly, that anyone left aboard was put in as much danger as the surprised swimmers, for she dipped and filled at the starboard stern quite suddenly, and this was not at all fortuitous, she being heavy with rain already. The air filled with voices at once, and if the wind and strong rain had made yelling a requirement before, it was now a necessity made more grave by circumstance. Between two and three bells of First Watch Larboard Watch on Duty

Doctor Marcus Raphael Mission III

Welcome aboard, Ducky.

Raphael Mission. That will take some getting used to. Why not Marc or Marcus...?

August 4, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Mister Dash returned and reported that the duty given him had been completed as ordered, though Lazarus had not first been at the galley when he arrived there. William thanked him, and being reminded of it himself, he informed Tudor of the removal of ship's stores. She nodded and made a note to mark the losses against her ledgers, but William was already ordering her to other things. "Fetch up sufficient clothing to join those men and me ashore for the purpose of seeking out our lost men and the vagabond, Den Oven." "Aye, Sah." she replied. "And weapons also." William added. Tudor went smartly to this duty. William then conversed but a moment with Mister Roberts who had remained with Mister Badger despite the change of watches. Then, giving the deck over to Jim Warren, he went below. Larboard Watches on Duty

What...no picture?

August 4, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog "Aye, in time, and with a handful of men from the 'Dog! How is it with you and yours?" "Well, Cap'n! Have ye our men, left stranded?" "Aye! I shall return them to you presently!" This shouting continued back and forth several times, as news was cast rail to rail. Then William, reaching subjects better handled in private, felt it prudent to say no more, but informed Preston that he would arrive before the next bell of the watch. Preston acknowledged this and William went about the business of ordering out the cutter and called for those men of the Lucy to join Eric and the marines amidships.

You serve cholocate bourbon pecan and everyone else wants something else. Chocolate. Bourbon. Pecan.

Life before hobbies, Kim. It' a carnidal rule...now have some pie.

Welcome aboard, Seamus. If you have to be landlocked, Shasta Valley is the place to do it. Pretty country there.

I hate them... ...in a good way.

I'm updating my list, which I should have done several times in the past two years. This list is in no particular order and I'm probably forgetting a few people... Patrick Hand Captain Jim Patricia Cascabel Braze Willie Wobble Harry Silkie Captain Sterling Edward O'Keefe Haunting Lily Mary Diamond Amanjiria Brig M.A.d'Dogge Tiger Bill Iron Jon Paula Hurricane Diosa (Goddess in the Bodice) Mission Mark Longshanks Captain Callahan Fayma Callahan Sarah Sterling Joshua Merriweather Bilgemonkey Nigel Stynky Tudor Greg Hudson Capt. Rusty "Wild" Rice Old Man of the Sea Lawrence ScarlettRai Abbington M. Normal Mae Bootleg Master Studley (Sully) Shiela Spike Pierce Iron Nigel Deadeye Rick Barnacle Beau Tom Crudbeard Barbara Gareth Elizabeth

This is tonight's special. The name is not as important as...well...FORK!

Jack was in the midst of calling a marine or two when Eric corrected him, explaining his need of them ashore. Jack nodded in kind and gave over the Starboard Marines, who went with the Master-at-Arms below for ball and powder. Jack had a chance then to wonder if any powder would do them good as he looked into the deluge aloft. His eyes fell upon Robert Elmer, cringing in the lines, still and grimacing. "Mister Elmer! Th's ship has lookouts enough! Be t' your work!" "Aye, Sah!" Robert returned, and he went up quickly enough, despite the injury which had halted him in his duties. Half way up the shrouds he had slipped a rope and turned his ankle so hard as to think it broken. It was not torn nor greatly damaged, but the immediate pain was intense enough to give him pause. There were other injuries of course, most too minor to mention or report, as is the way of things in foul weather, but the Watch Dog was healed a bit in her course and placed near enough to the Lucy for William to call out, though Preston hailed him first. "Ahoy the 'Dog!" "Ahoy the Lucy!" William returned. Eight Bells of the Second Dog Watch First Watch Begins Larboard Watches on Duty

"Mister Warren." "Sah." Jim returned, already at his elbow in anticipation of his next orders. "Some men aloft if you please and mind you send not too many scarecrows!" Jim Warren nodded and turned on his heal, passing these words on down to Mister Roberts, who was already in conversation with Mister Franklin. "Understood, Sah!" Robert returned to the Master, and begging Eric's Pardon he scanned the Starboard Watch for those healthy enough to fight rigging in a good wind. "Hand and Loerwairt at the Main! Mister Smit...!" He sounded out a dozen names, and barked as good as any Bosun, calling men about the deck as if all were familiar to him. William watched him go and went forward, squinting into a sudden gust of spray off the weatherdecks. "Mister Dash, lay aft!" The lad came running, and would have gone down, not once, but twice, if not for the steady hands of Kampaert and then Lefevre. He was too short for the oilskins someone had lent him against the weather, but he was up the larboard steps in time. "Mister Dash, take yourself to the galley and say to Mister Gage that the Captain needs a days weight in rum and biscuits for some six men. Tell him not to question the absence of the Steward in the taking of it. I shall make her aware of the loss against the stores." Mister Dash paused a moment too long, perhaps to hear more or to sort the order in his mind, too nervous not to. "Be about it Mister Dash." "Aye, sah!"

"Very good, Mister Franklin. You may have your marines from Mister Roberts. Turn out the others at eight bells and have them ready to go ashore with me and mine." "Aye, sah." "Muskets and pistols..." William added.

A good tent is worth every penny. Mines still looks almost new despite heavy rains, dirt, abuse and a heavenly visitation (ask Jim).

You are more than welcome to join us in the Mercury encampment, and when I say 'us', I mean those in attendence.

So many new people and crews. Excellent. I would like to be updating the roll daily, so sound off!

Would that one or all of us were rich.

That's like no hammock I've seen.

I could do with a tall tankard of water, freshly fetched and a loaf of fresh baked bread and honey. Add to this a pomegranate and a chair near an open window and I'll be content to do nothing for several hours.