William Brand

No, the crow is for me. Guests are served pecan...

Aye...They certainly do look like little loch ness monsters. Still, it was meant to be more symbolic.

Tonight's special is crow pie...

Treated like a chump.

Do you mean something like this...?

Nice.

These are just some of the delicacies I have witnessed over the years at Baconfest. Bacon Pie made with heavy cream Bacon stuffed mushrooms with garlic 16 bean soup with Bacon Bacon stuffed jalapenos with cream cheese Bacon quiche Bacon filled croissants Chinese rice with Bacon Bacon stuffing with dark olives And yes...chocolate dipped bacon. I kid you not. We expected it to be either very good or very bad. It was rather boring. Bacon and chocolate sort of cancel one another out.

Quoting myself for Iron Bess. And Jacky, if you would like to a Baconfest west, contact me.

In stuffed mushrooms.

Me too. I haven't even had it yet.

This is Baconfest 15, so I should probably fall over dead very soon. Baconfest was begun in Smithfield, Utah by the original members of the Wetlanders. The first year had some 10 people in attendance. This year we are branching out. Silkie is organizing a Baconfest East, to be held on the same night, and my friend Jonas, who is also a founding member, is starting Baconfest North to be held in Alaska. We expect about 100 people in attendance between the three events. And now...I'm hungry.

Aye. And we'll have a fiddler.

"I am Roldán Zubizarreta Rey Guerrero De la Cruz." he said, choosing to reintroduce himself with a formality that came across was more frank and less boast. "Lieutenant to his most Catholic Majesty under the command of Capitán Eustaquio Alano Avendano of the merchant ship Navarra...and your humble servant." Tudor nodded with a careful politeness and sipped her wine. "We are recently come from Spain and we are newcomers to the politics of these shores." he explained, moving from answer to question with a direct and practiced ease. "Are you fast friends of the French?" Tudor watched him speak and wondered that the man should not demonstrate more pause in his looks, for the Lieutenant had showed little surprise to be welcomed aboard the frigate by a woman. Any discomfort he might be feeling now did not show in his face. Rather, he treated her as well as he might have treated any man in the same position and Tudor enjoyed the moment. Other men had come and gone during her time on the quarterdeck, but only the Lieutenant had demonstrated true recognition of office over gender. She also noted his special attention to English both in use of words and accent. His speech was free of all the common aspects of one who has taken on a second language, for while she could her the Spanish undertones in his speech, his English was clear and precise. He used it as easily as he might use the rapier he carried and she did not doubt that he could. "We have been shown some favor." she said, keeping her answer brief. The Lieutenant smiled appreciatively, and she noted how he noted her guarded answers. "My Captain would dine with your Captain." he said, sipping from his own glass. "Would he?" she returned, raising an eyebrow again. "Yes." "As I stated, the Captain is not aboard at present." "Nevertheless, if you would be so kind as to extend my master's invitation." "I will." Tudor agreed. "This invitation extends to you, of course, and any officers of your Captain's choosing, Miss Smith." he added, smiling.

Virtually speaking, any night will do for me, so I'll consent to the popular vote.

And your suggestion just happens to coincide with your birthday.

Now to choose a time and calendar date for the party. Suggestions...?

Maeve.

We don't often think of them...and even I didn't until this thread...but you could buy professional juggling torches and modify them. They make torches specifically for burning. They are small, lightweight, and ready to go. Someone with more money than me should research them and make a pirate version for testing in the field. Just not a dry field.

I will make sure that you have handouts for the event you are attending, and thank you for the offer to assist.

In a word...divine.

July 31, 1704 - The Chirurgeon's House William, Dorian, Claude, Eric, Briar and Maeve ate with all of the polite attention and courtesy of recently acquainted strangers. Maeve and Dorian spoke with relative ease, as did the others who had met her before, but true conversation was careful. This did not make the meal awkward, for the small talk flowed easily enough and the fare was excellent. Those foods prepared by Maeve combined with the delicacies fetched by Claude had made for an excellent table that morning and the compliments passed back and forth across the table along with the food. By three bells they were satiated and by four bells there was a need for wider waistcoats and stays. Eric could not contain an appreciative groan and more than a few of them laughed unconscientious of the protocols or familiarity of the day. This was followed by the first lengthy pause in the conversation, but William chose to fill it. "Angels of mercy." William said quietly, but emphatically. This caused the two women to smile and look away from him and William was pleased to see the compliment find its mark. He looked at the men of the table and punctuated his next course of action with the long sigh of a man who has business that can no longer wait, no matter the company. "Gentlemen. Ladies. Mister Marchande must fetch me again to prison." Dorian used this same cue to excuse himself, for there were many needs aboard the Heron that he must see to, and both Captains could not remain away for so long with business to be done. The whole company stood and exchanged compliments, gratitude and comfortable farewells. William and Dorian both thanked the ladies for their hospitality and their attentions to Mister Pew. They also insisted that a generous amount of coin be left to pay for any required goods necessary to Mister Pew's recovery. Of course the amount they left in the ladies care was exaggerated past needs, but they insisted nonetheless. "If I may, sirs." Eric Franklin began as they left the table, but William finished Eric's thoughts for him. "I insist that you stay and bring us word of Mister Pew's recovery, Mister Franklin." William ordered, and so only Eric remained. Outside the modest shop, William and Dorian clapped hands and wished each other the best in their endeavors for the day, with William and claude off to recruit prisoners for the crews and Dorian bound for the docks and the small fleet. They went their way, each to his duties. Already the day was clear and promised to be hot again, despite the cool of the morning. Between four and five bells of the Forenoon Watch ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

Aboard the Navarra "Es una mujer..." "Sí." "Pero...una mujer, sir...?" The man did not offer any answer to this repeated and meaningless observation. He had already noted for himself that a woman commanded the quarterdeck of the unusual frigate. He had also noted another aloft on the same ship, armed with glass and musket. The smaller cutter in the frigate's company seemed to be under the command of a man for the present, but the larger fluyt laying at anchor with the other two ships, was in the midst of repairs under the ministrations of yet another woman. He shook his head, passing the glass to his perplexed inferior. He replaced his hat and was in the act of turning once more to the great cabin of the merchant ship, when a man of considerable girth for his diminutive height came rushing up to him. "Teniente!" cried the stout man. "Sir!", the younger man returned, snapping off a sharp salute and a quick conference passed between the two men as a boat was lowered away to starboard. This act of departure did not go unnoticed aboard the Watch Dog, as the boat had been lowered in just such a fashion for the intention of catching their attention. The captain of the merchant ship ordered it out thus and sent the lieutenant down into it that he might cross to the frigate bearing gifts. Miss Tribbiani announced the all too obvious approach, as it was her duty to do so, though Tudor could not have missed such an arrival, having watched the stranger for the better part of an hour. Still, she sent up her thanks and called hands to the Larboard rails, going to the rail of the quarterdeck herself. The small boat which bore across the open space between that fleet and their's was as fine a boat as Tudor had ever seen. It was comprised of many fine woods, and even if it had it not been, the gold gilding of the small craft would have been enough to make it a valuable boat alone. It was fitted with a higher prow than was necessary for such a small boat, but it served to give the man at the bow of it better purchase, for he stood at the front of the boat and seemed not to notice the rocking of it. The man who stood there was young, but not a youth. Tudor could see that he was taller than herself, but not of a great height. He was dark enough in countenance and the color of his hair that his appearance belied some mediterranean decent and the cut of his clothing was decidedly Spanish in origin. He wore no firearm to speak of, but he carried a long delicate blade which was uncommonly long for sea service. Something about his bearing spoke of high courts, or at the least, high associations. At first he looked all business and there was no pleasure to speak of on his face, but when he opened his mouth to speak, he was at once the smiling face of diplomacy. "Are you English?" he asked, but before Tudor could answer he continued, "I heard your woman there..." he said gesturing upwards to Treasure "...across the water." "We are of many islands." Tudor returned, and her tone was pleasant enough, though what passed for a smile on her face would not have inspired many painters. She was guarded and careful and the man was forced to start again. "I come here at the behest of my master, Capitán Eustaquio Alano Avendano. He bids me give you this..." the young man said, offering a hefty bottle of some Spanish vintage. "We are come from Navarra on a ship of that same name." This caused an appreciative reaction from a few crew members, for Navarra was known. Well known in fact, for the region produced some of the finest vineyards to be had in the Old World, and as a consequence, some of the finest wine. It was a region of rich history and rich exports. "Permission to come aboard, good lady?" the man said, pressing on. Tudor granted him audience. And so it was that Lieutenant De la Cruz of the Navarra came to the Watch Dog at four bells of the forenoon watch on July 31, 1704. He carried with him wine, friendship and the unforeseen promise of death to come. July 31, 1704 Four bells of the Forenoon Watch

You are confusing looks. My 'cutlass' look is better known as the 'I will kick your ass' look. The look that you are thinking of is the 'dim the lights and put on a little Barry White' look.

Harry is reformatting the registration form to include the volunteer form, so that we only have to fill out one form. These will be available online very soon.

I spoke with Harry Smid today and I have a few new updates. First, to answer Mary Diamond's question regarding advertising. Harry did not receive as much county money as he had hoped to this year, but they will be doing a poster campaign around the island as they have done in year's past. Part of the event will be sponsored by Geico insurance, so expect to see the gecko at least once. As attendees, we are all encouraged to spread the word by word of mouth. Next...the boat... Harry contacted T.J. McDermot, a local boat builder, and he has donated a white, 12' skiff. This is a wooden craft which can except lines for a mast and tiller. The boat requires a few modifications, but it is in good shape and can hold about 6 people. However, the boat does not have any oars, so we'll need to discuss donations for the purpose of outfitting the skiff. This is a permanent gift to the fort and we will be allowed to use it year to year for night raids and other enactments. We will work out a shared schedule and boat teams at a later time. And finally, volunteer registration... Everyone participating in the activities of the fort must fill out a volunteer registration. This allows the Fort to insure that you are covered by insurance during your stay. This is offered to protect the park and us as individuals. It will be a part of the regular registration form and it will serve to recognize those first aid volunteers and safety volunteers as well. There are some more tentative announcements, but to avoid speculation...and pirates loooove to speculate...I shall save them until I know more.