William Brand

It is not my intention to be misleading. The festival does have events outside of the fort.

Exactly. Harry wants PIP to develop into a true historical event. In his own words, he does not want a "fairy festival". He wants to see period costume, but the general public is invited to attend, so there will be a mix of modern and ancient.

I spelled "ANNOUNCEMENTS" wrong. Drat. I just got off the phone with Harry at Fort Zachary Taylor and I have good news and good news. Camping in the Fort: The good news is that anyone travelling to the fort may set up camp on Wednesday, November 29th, the day before the festival begins. We are allowed to stay within the fort walls through Monday. This gives us five nights in the fort. I highly recommend that we try and arrive on Wednesday to coordinate our encampments and activities within the fort. The fort is willing to give us a lot of elbow room. They want this to develop into a true historical gathering. Safety Officers: Those encampment members that have volunteered to be safety officers (i.e., Cascabel, Hawkyns, Callenish Gunner, etc.) are encouraged to coordinate with Harry Smid at Fort Zachary Taylor either before or after you arrive at the festival. Harry will be handling the powder magazine for the fort, but he is more than welcome to have additional safety officers at each stage of the event. People wishing to bring their own powder may do so, but Harry should be made aware of this. Vendors: Anyone wishing to be a vendor at the festival should also contact Harry Smid at the Fort for information. You should be warned that Harry wants this even to be more historical and he will not be allowing any "Fairy Stuff" as he puts it. Redcoats: Anyone wishing to bring uniforms to the event will be allowed to play soldiers during some or all of the reenactments. Shipping Goods: More good news... Anyone who wishes to ship goods to the fort, may send them ahead of time to be stored until you arrive. If you are nervous about traveling with weapons or valuables, you may ship them to the fort by UPS for storage. More to come as decisions are made at the fort.

"Thank you, Doctor." William excused himself by way of the surgery. He found not three, but four people there, for Bill Flint had joined the throng, and having guessed at the Surgeon's needs, he was packing her instruments for the short voyage across the reefs to the shore party. William gave him the same nod he had given Nathan earlier. Mooney was awake and looked confused by his surroundings and the happenings of the moment. William asked after his health and his reply was apologetic. William reassured the man that all was well, a lie of capital proportions. Then the Captain went to the departed lady's cot and slipped his hands under her remains. She was light, for her height, and he supposed the days at sea and shore had waisted what had once been a far healthier frame. Even so, he felt the weight in his shoulder, for the too much recent rain had seeped deeply into the all too recent injury. Despite this, he managed the body without much difficulty, carrying it from the surgery by way of the passageway. Bill Flint opened the door for him as he went out, and William paused in the hall between the surgery and the galley. Now that he had the body, he wasn't sure where to take it. If he brought it forward, it would not greatly improve the mood on deck. He could not take it below, for fear the rats, which most surely came aboard at La Margarita, would have their way with it. Instead, he turned to the Ward Room, and Bill Flint rushed forward past the Captain to mind the door for him. Once here, William placed the body on the bench built into the framework along the stern windows. He lifted her exposed arm back under the blanket and did his best to make the body appear comfortable, a ridiculous, but very human act. Mister Flint was already retreating to his other duties when William called him back. William stood with his back to the ward room door, but his voice was clear and concise. "Mister Flint, please have dry clothes and blankets prepared for the shore party and join Miss Fitzgerald in the boat when it goes over." "Aye, aye." Mister Flint went out again, leaving the Captain and his recently saved and recently lost guest alone in the ward room.

A fine lady of a ship. http://www.tallshiprose.org/

The more the merrier. Can I add you to the Quartermaster's List as a definite? Oh...and as always I recommend this company for tents. http://www.redhawk-trading.com/

July 19, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Eight bells of the Afternoon Watch 'Just a hat...' William thought, lowering his spyglass. The wind that had buffeted them all day had begun to slow in the heat of the afternoon. It played off and the sails began to relax. "Just as well." He said aloud, looking up into the rigging, then back to the decks again. The mood about the ship had become a quiet, expectant one. It was a tense idleness that William didn't like, so he ordered the men aloft to reef sail in order to keep their minds off of treasure and losses. They completed the work at eight bells of the morning Watch and half the number were sent to their hammocks. William gave over the deck to Mister Badger and went down from the quarterdeck to the passageway. He walked with purpose to the surgery, opening the door to find a scene of mourning. Murin was in the corner furthest from the mortal coil which had once been the lady, Ana. William walked over to the body, which lay as it had in her last hours of live, peaceful and quiet. He looked at the face for a long time, saying nothing. Then he drew a blanket over her. He turned to Nathan, who looked uncertain whether to speak, salute or remain comforting the grieving woman. William gave him a 'carry on' nod and Nathan returned it. Then, William slipped out of the room striding the few short paces down the hall to the Doctor's quarters. He knocked once out of habit, but went in before she had given him permission or audience. She looked a little dangerous, but he closed the door and removed his hat before she could protest or address him. She made as if to speak, but he held up a hand. "Your affection for Mister Lasseter has not gone unnoticed by me, Doctor." She made as if to speak again and he raised a hand. She looked perturbed for some reasons that were obvious and some only guessed at. One lock had come loose from her usual, well kept hair and the strand hung down over one eye, and he had just enough time to think, 'Damn, It is no wonder he requites her feelings'. "I do not care about your private interactions, except when they interfere in the immediate actions aboard this ship." This time she did cut in, carefully, like a surgeon. "I did not interfere," she said with a tone underpinned with a careful anger. It was not a sharp retort and she said it without raising her voice. It was said with a clarity of pure resolve. Still, he was forced to raise his hand a third time. "Doctor. I have not come to reprimand." He paused then, trying to remain as calm and careful as she was. There were too many emotions at once, choking the air of the room, which was not an overly large space for such strong feelings. "There has been no body discovered in the surf. Mister Lasseter's chances of finding refuge in the hollows under Los Hermanos are remote. If he was trapped or cut off in his escape, he may yet be alive. If he has not found some limited refuge, than he is gone. I find no pleasure in describing these bleak possibilities in such absolute terms, but these are the facts. I understand your wish to go ashore. No one understands it more than I. I appreciate what it took for you to walk away just now in the face of my refusal, and while this was not a test of your character, the action shows that you are and always will be best suited to your calling on this ship." William said this last part with an abbreviated bow and saw that the compliment, as strangely placed as it was, took her off her guard. "Now, if you please, the wind has died off and you should prepare clothing and kit for your trip ashore. There may be injuries that require your attention."

If you can, buy a tent and join us in the fort. We would be ever so glad to have you there. a pair of simple slops, a simple shirt and a sash is all that separates you from joining in the fun. I went around barefoot most of the time I was there last year. The best part about camping is being a spectator from the inside and outside. You could come and go from camp and enjoy both the festival and the camp.

Thank you, Black John. I think this pic would also make a good painting.

I cropped this from the original. I may have to do a painting of this.

Aye, historyfanatic. It would make a fine painting at that.

That is me waving to the ship offshore, and thank you. Please ignore my slops. They were too long.

I need a pirate project. I need someone to hire me to do something amazing. Is there a festival or pirate group out there in need of a poster? Anyone? Here is a very random smathering of my work...

Myself and Mad Dog Mike.

An another...it is so blue.

Pirates in Paradise 2005...

CapnWilliam asked me to do a flag for him sometime back. When it came time for me to do it, I asked CapnWilliam what he would like and he asked for a full skull with a jaw and two crossed cannons. I used cannons from draughts of several early 1700's frigates as a model and I rendered the skull from a photo. So the idea was his and the finished work is mine. Sometimes the flags are mine from start to finish, but generally when I do a flag for someone, it is based on their suggestions. Sometimes they ask me to modify them, by adding or taking away elements.

Like many events around the country, I will be attending in spirit. Or I'll get drunk and sit up in a tree all night eating oreos.

The Watch Dog pitched between two opposing elements. The training of every person aboard came into play as they tried to bring the Watch Dog closer to shore, but it was a vain effort. They had no sooner managed some control when the leadlines demonstrated they were shallowing far too quickly. The anchor disappeared again below the waves and the Watch Dog was brought hard about. The sails filled at once and the anchor cable went taught. William went to the rail with his spyglass just as the cutter crew went down into the surf. He noted the anxious Samson crew waiting to swing out their small craft, but William knew that is was foolish to send out so few in a boat that would be tested to its limits. It was better to let the cutter crew tackle a sea that few could manage better than the Coxswain. He shook his head at the men along the rail and they acknowledged his silent, countermanded orders with disappointed faces. "A fortune...but at what cost?" he said aloud, but no one heard it over the surf and wind.

Thank you, but the idea for Americanized one goes to Long Tom.

Not a bad looking piece, I admit.

July 19, 1704 - Los Hermanos' Northernmost Isle Seven Bells of the Afternoon Watch Ajayi watched the men all break into a sprint. At first he was perplexed, for their pace until now had been slow and steady, indicating a need for caution or exploration. Once he realized they were laughing and chiding one another as they sprinted, he entered the contest at once. He overcame Mister Pew in short order, laughing as he passed. He passed Cutthroat as if he were standing still, for indeed he was, having no wish to run down the shoreline while carrying arms. Harold was no contest, though the man ribbed him a little to try and block him as he passed. Owen proved to be the only one fast enough to escape the great Yoruban, but his speed was not enough. Just as Owen was making declarations of victory on the last stretch of sand, Ajayi threw a gathered remnant of spar right between Owens legs. He tangled immediately and went sprawling in a skid of limbs. Owen came up from the sand on his hands and knees spitting great mouthfuls of sand mixed with profanity. Harold was forced to stop, not because he was out of breath, but because he was limited to either laughing or running. He couldn't do both. Mister Pew slowed to a walk and laughing himself, he looked back along the beach to see that Cutthroat and Tudor were walking together. Ajayi came back from the boat with a grin as broad as day. Owen threw a rock at him and missed by a wide mile, which only made Harold laugh even harder. The dark man brought Owen to his feet with one hand and began dusting off the sand with the other, despite Owen's cursing and protests. Far away and out of earshot, the seventh bell of the Afternoon Watch peeled.

Aye...what does it remind me of?

After many internet and email issues, Capn William's flag is finally complete. The bravado of crossed cannons... I think it would make a nice avatar...

This was a list I found a long while back which I believe I gleaned from "Demon of the Waters". A book about life and mutiny aboard a whaling ship. This was the decription of an average sailor's belongings. Pine chest: Boots Pants Shirts Drawers Needles Thread Sheath Knife Buttons Dipper Dish Two Bars of Yellow Soap Jacket Two blankets Bible