William Brand

Sadeema. Oh yes.

I've loved some of your previous creations, so pardon me while I give you the harder critique. I showed the site to a few people and we came up with the following comments. Shrink some of the images down or drop the resolution. I have a high speed connection and it still loaded quite slowly for me. Also, the large images required me to scroll up and down more than I would like. The whole page isn't readily available at a glance. That said, you have some excellent ideas. The map is an especially good idea. More of a period looking google maps. Very nice.

Welcome back, Mate. Regale us with tales of your adventures while absent from the pub.

Wonderful. That reminds me of my first Talk Like a Pirate Day. We all dressed up and went to the video store to rent Roman Polanzki's Pirates. Three of us went in and everyone was yelling "ARRRR!" at us an saying "Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!" It was great. Then we went to the grocery store and got the same reaction. We ran into almost two dozen groups coming from or going to a Talk Like a Pirate Party.

Seconded. We keep a box of ginger snaps for when we're feeling ill.

And did you get any pirate loot? I love a good birthday. It is especially nice when one can pull off a suprise party for someone who needs it very badly.

Thank you, Jenny. And a very happy birthday to Jacky Tar.

But of course. You may have anything within my power as a proprietor.

Which begs the question, 'Are we all able seamen of the Mercury?'

And your usual table by the hearth?

You can't have the deed to the Tsunami. But you can have a drink.

Complete with the bald spot I was born with, my bad teeth and three dozen scars from working with carelessly with tools? Flatterer. You already have a room in the Kate. What are you after now?

Hurricane brings up a point that has been brought up on this thread, and it is a good question. Would careening pirates fly a flag ashore? To be quite frank, I am making a design solely as part of the background and personification of the sloop and the crew. I actually never intended it to be for a flag at the camp per se, nor did I intend us not to have one. I just started throwing out designs as a natural evolution of creating a crew. If we choose not to have an actual flag, I do still plan to make the design as part of our history as a crew. It might only appear in the Mercury's draughts or in literature we give out to the public. We can decide now or later if we want one to fly over the encampment. I'm sure the discussion might go wither way on the matter, as discussions often do. And thank you kindly for the compliments.

Take pictures. In fact take all of them. If you have a digital camera, fill the card. please.

It really is too bad that the Royalist couldn't shoot back. Ahhh, the good old days.

Now that has possiblities...gives a terrifying look. Could carry a cutlass in the other hand...cutlass slashing at hourglass. That's quite a bit of work. That might take me a few days.

They left the company of the marines under Lieutenant Bedeau and returned to small boat waiting at the docks. The evening had been a productive one. Mister Pew and Miss McDonough had passed several shops selling mixed wares, including a tailor and a dressmaker. They discussed their finds as they clambered into the boat, asking the Captain's leave to have the whole of the morrow for the purpose of seeking out cloth, materials and all other goods as touching the marines new uniforms. William gave his permission with the proviso that Mister Pew hand pick some additional marines prior to departing the ship. "Aye, Cap'n. I'll have th' names presently." "Thank you, Mister Pew." "Also, see the next shore party armed with a few marines. We'll gather our numbers to the 'Dog to discuss shore leave once the prisoners are removed." They returned to the Watch Dog.

I also have a nice Rasher and Cheese Boxty. Imported Irish Bacon with Irish Cheddar cheese and topped with white wine butter sauce.

Today's Special is boxty... Chicken and Sage Boxty Tender chicken sautéed in white wine with peppers, mushrooms and fresh sage, melted cheddar cheese, topped with white wine butter sauce.

William did not turn to Marchande as he translated, but did the Lieutenant the courtesy of facing him the entire time. Even when Marchande explained the Lieutenant's intentions, William spoke directly to him. "There is a considerable number of wounded prisoners aboard ship, Lieutenant Bedeau. If none have passed on since I left the Maastricht, then there will be some 250 prisoners to transport, with some 28 wounded who cannot be brought ashore at this time. I will consult with my physicians and begin the ferrying of prisoners immediately. I thank you, Monsieur, for you promptness in this matter."

"Lieutenant Bedeau." William returned, offering the gesture again, and having lost only a few of Bedeau's words in the translation he continued. "Je suis, Capitaine Brand. Capitaine du chien de garde." William called for Claude Marchande without taking his eyes off of the Lieutenant. Claude stepped forward to William's side. "Monsieur Marchande, please ask Lieutenant Bedeau if he is here to take custody of the Dutch and English prisoners in my possession." "Oui, Capitaine."

"Je suis." William said, pausing a moment. Some many weeks back, the ship's carpenter had crafted a cane for him. It was long, made of hard wood and capped neatly with the skull of a dog. The carpenter had crafted it with an eye for the dramatic, recognizing how the Captain often turned such items into affectations. William had brought it ashore, not because he needed it for support, but because he had in fact made it into more than a walking stick. Besides the blade that Mister Hawks had secreted within it, it lent William an air of nobility which he sometimes played as a weapon. William stepped forward and let the hard tap of the cane emphasize the deliberate, slow and practiced walk he employed as he closed the distance to Lieutenant Bedeau. William's face was calm and curious. "Est-ce que à qui je parle?" William asked, uncertain his grasp of French would carry as well as the cane did.

I like the hourglass on Silkie's version, with all of the sand in the bottom of the glass. It implys that time has already run out. VERSION 14

The shore party from the Watch Dog approached the docks. They're gait was a casual one, though both William and Preston had noted the waiting ranks of uniformed men. William could not tell what his Master-at-Arms was thinking, but he noted that Preston's posture changed ever so slightly. William chanced to wonder if the Dockmaster had sent for the armed troops for the purpose of assisting them with the prisoners. Being a cautious man, William also had a chance to wonder if the Dockmaster had not sent for them for an altogether different reason. William was about to say something to the small band under his charge when Mister Pew beat him to it. "Steady lads..." Preston whispered, his voice losing none of its casualness. "...staaay sharp." They closed the distance between themselves and the soldiers, and there could be no mistaking the attention the armed men gave to them as they closed.

Okay, first things first. There appears to be a date, no date debate going on here, so let us take a vote. Date or No Date. Based on decisions so far... Harbormaster - Date Captain Jim - Date Captain Jim-Sib - Date Silkie - No Date Ol Man of the Sea - No Date Dorian Lasseter - No Date Callenish Gunner - No Date We are getting a fairly even split. Now we could do two flags. Roberts had two, and as far as I know, one of his flags did have lettering.