William Brand

Ciaran, you ole sea dog. Long time no read. Welcome back. In honor of your return we shall serve Newfoundland recipes. Cod cakes... Smoked fillets divan... Seafood pie royale... Peppered Halibut Steaks...

William nodded, not too surprised by these new understandings that passed between them. And he was quiet for a time as he tried to recall some half forgotten scripture. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Then William sipped his glass and watched a falling star disappear behind the villa before adding. "Mister Lasseter is my own Gaelic twin from another mother. When I am away from the Watch Dog, he accomplishes my every will. Of course...he does it with a brogue superior to mine. We are most fortunate, Capitaine Fournier. Kings and queens would envy you and I our company."

I have belonged to the rpg.net for years. http://forum.rpg.net I regularly visit the Geneseo Area Gaming Group's site since I attend their game convention almost every year. http://gagg.geneseo.edu I used to attend the Pirates Ahoy site more often before I found the pub. http://forum.piratesahoy.net

greasy food and a hammock.

"A fitting setting for the discussion of dying trades." William said while looking about the small garden cemetery. "And yes, I do understand that times are changing. I appreciate the warning, my good friend, but I am nothing if not a man attuned to...the weather." "And if the weather should become nothing but storms, mon ami?" "Then I shall take in sail and ride the storms where I may." Fournier looked at him for a long time and when he seemed about to speak again, William raised a hand. "I know what you would say, but the future has ever been on my mind. My own mortality has been presented to me many times since I ascended the quarterdeck. I assure you, I will not endanger myself or my crew needlessly. They are quickly becoming one of the finest crews that I have ever served with and I will not choose a path too reckless or unknown. I sail by charts that are proven and by stars that are constant. The rest is tides and air." Fournier could not help the thought that crossed his mind at the mention of charts. He raised his glass and quoted that oft recorded cartographer favorite, "Here be monsters..." William smiled and raised his glass. "And I, good sir, am one of them."

Seductive and good for you.

Apple crisp with ice cream and caramel...

Anything in particular?

"Ladies. Gentlemen. If you'll excuse me, I believe that Capitaine Fournier and I should discuss those matters on his mind. Please enjoy the remainder of the night, and feel free to except the Don's invitation to remain through the night." William stood up from his chair and gestured for Fournier to lead the way to the gardens.

Remarkably good work so far.

The hell you say . . The Hell I do. You know you want one.

Its really just a sketched idea. Aye, but the three skull flag is a very nice look. Do we have a flag idea for the group? I could take a crack at it. Sorry, this was me. I thought I was logged in.

We actually have steak and kidney pie made with guinness.

We've had Bellydancing on at least two occasions and drunken dancing on every other occasion. Some people wouldn't call the latter dancing.

"If you like, Mister Lasseter." William said, but then changed his tack. "No, Mister Lasseter, I should think that what news they might have gleaned could wait." And then he changed his mind a third time. "I think perhaps...I might go back to the ship before long. Yes. A dance or two and then I shall return to the Watch Dog." His expression seemed to express the idea that he would change his mind a fourth time, but Lamaire seemed roused by this new news of the Monsignor's absence. "Has another crew member been abducted?" he asked, trying not to sound glib or chiding as he did so.

First Watch (8:00 PM - 12:00 AM) - Ashore in the private quarters of Don Vasquez There was much for them to talk about, and there was much to learn, but William chose the opportunity to speak to this handful of the Watch Dog's officers on the subject of his disappearance. He asked Fournier and Lamaire to remain. William requested privacy of all others present and the servants left them to themselves, careful to leave food and refreshment behind. "These past few weeks have been pocked with events both terrible and fortuitous. We have crossed the paths of many nations. We have suffered and prospered. But my abduction is not understood by all of those present." William paused to gather his thoughts. There were many details that might be discussed, but he chose those which were least convoluted. "When we set out under the standard of the newly repaired and newly named Watch Dog, we took on crew members from various backgrounds. And as is the custom, spoken or unspoken, we asked no man or woman his or her business beyond the skills we required of them for sailing and maintaining the Watch Dog. While this allows some to renew their lives, leaving behind their sorted and unsavory pasts, it sometimes endangers the rest. The chance of it is a matter of course, and each of us has seen it in our day." William eyes passed over several of his officers. He knew that some of them would understand this more than others. He made no particular point to draw attention to any of them by regarding them overlong or by looking at them during any particular point. Rather, he spoke to them as one does when speaking to individuals of like experiences and similar circumstances. "Let us then focus on the matter of Van Buren and Muller. These two sailors came aboard the ship under a false pretext. Their course might have seemed separate to some of you, but I will now confirm to you all that theirs was a conspiracy of lovers." He stopped his narrative for a time to explain to Lamaire and Fournier the discovery of Van Buren's identity as a woman and the murders she committed when she killed two of the Danzig Trader's officers. Lamaire's expression changed many times during the narrative and he professed his appreciation and surprise during the tale many times. Fournier nodded, understanding the Muller connection almost at once. William continued. "As surprised as we were to discover Van Buren's treachery, I was quite unprepared to fully understand it until Muller entered into the ward room and revealed his co-conspiracy with Van Buren. They were more than friends. More than shipmates. Even more than lovers. They had contracted together to bring about my kidnapping, my trial and my eventual death." No one in the room seemed too surprised. After the discovery of Van Buren, it was not beyond anyone's imagination that their might have been another traitor in their midst. However, this did not keep them from being rapt listeners. They sat quietly, attentively listening and nodding to themselves as the narrative unfolded. The only one to leave her seat was Miss Smith, who refreshed her glass from a bottle on the table and then went gracefully about filling anyone who required more of the Don's wine. All the while, William continued his explanation of the events, beginning with Muller's pronouncements and ending with his rescue under Fournier's command. "On the night of my disappearance, Augustus Muller requested an audience of me. He had proved a most able man in work and in duty and I then had no reason to suspect him. He had showed no more remorse for Van Buren than any other person aboard, save the surprise that was evident with the entire crew. His face was ever a mask of innocence, though I learned later that this was primarily due to an utter lack of depth in the man. He achieved his disguise by the complete lack of imagination under it. Still, we met privately and I offered him drink, which he then offered to pour. I drank and was in the act of removing charts from the table there when Muller brandished a pistol. He was at once venomous in his spite and accusations, and at first I let him speak his mind uninterrupted, it being my desire to learn everything that he would spill in his anger. He at once confirmed his allegiance to the late Van Buren and swore to see me hanged for her death and the death of her father. It was at this time that I learned that they were both contracted to deliver me into the hands of waiting enemies in London and Amsterdam. These enemies are surviving relatives of men who died or disappeared under me charge. Nevermind that many of these deaths and disappearances were the choice or fault of their owner's decisions. Van Buren and Muller were resolute. And whatever resolution might have waned was girded up in the face of the great rewards waiting to be paid by my waiting enemies abroad." He stopped here to thank Miss Smith as she passed and filled his glass. He smiled to himself then at some unspoken thought before continuing. "Muller spoke at length and he seemed determined to repeat himself often, as he was caught up in a flight of angry words. I thought he might shoot me there and then, despite the waiting gold promised to him, and I was about to relieve myself of Muller's ramblings when I realized too late his attack was planned beyond my estimation of the man. The tray he had brought from the larder for me and the food thereon were laced with some devilish alchemy that overcame me. I then realized to late that his repetition of curses was a simple design to keep my attention until the poisons he had laid in my drink overcame me. I suppose I went over with no greater noise than a man might who has stumbled in his progress." William shrugged then. He did this with no embarrassment. The situation was past and he felt that if it were repeated a thousand times over he would have not seen the treachery before him for what it was until it was too late. So he continued. "I was taken ashore, by what means I cannot say, though I was soaked and almost drowned in my stupor. Once ashore, I was delivered into many waiting hands and stowed under heavy sacks of grain in the bottom of a cart. I was taken overland in this fashion. I remember little afterward, drifting in an out of awareness like a tide. Eventually, I awoke aboard a ship bound for destinations unknown, but guessed at. They beat me soundly many times. Muller participated in this often with fists, boot heels and profane declarations. I was unconscious many times and soon lost all track of days and hours. I remained in the filth of the bilge, adding to it with my filth and blood over many days." Miss Smith's face was at once angry and disgusted. In that moment she looked as though she might do murder without regret. Mister Lasseter seemed to make up his mind about a similar act. His face was beyond smiles of any kind. Tempest sipped her glass and looked as dangerous as she ever did, her face the quiet storm that reflected her name. Lamaire's sword hand seemed restless. Perhaps he thought of past duels or perhaps he thought of the morning. Fournier wore the chess master's face that had raised him up to his position of power. Mister St. Anthony wore an all too understanding expression. He understood treacheries. Mister Badger was quiet. He nodded now and then as the pieces of the puzzle were explained. Armand, as Tempest, wore the well worn mask of an individual separated by many years and leagues of such similar matters. "Then..." William continued. "...my friend Fournier came upon my captors by fate or good fortune. Certainly prompted by fortune. He and his men rescued me from imprisonment and the noose...but not before they buried me under a wreckage of debris and shrapnel first." he added with a smile. Fournier and Lamiare nodded. "We were guided by ambitions other then rescue then, Capitaine Hollande." Lamiare said with a smile. "Aye. And I have no complaint regarding the means of my deliverance." William raised a glass and they raised their glasses in mutual salute. "To my avenging angels. May fate be as kind to them as it was to me in guiding them." All glasses and voices went up in answer to the toast.

My makeup wasn't smeared, I wasn't disheveled, I behaved politely, and I never finished off a bottle, so how could I be alcoholic? - Betty Ford

One mimosa coming right up...

But of course. There is an orange tree or two hard by.

Blueberries... ...and crepes.

"Of concerns I have many, and should have them all the days of my life I should think." William said smiling. "But I thank you, Don Vasquez. The favor to you and your family that you have often thanked me for already, pales in comparison to this reward. The additional safe haven for me and my crew will serve us well in the coming years, and for that I thank you." Don Vasquez brushed this aside with another of his understated remarks on the modesty of the land and its holdings. Mister Lasseter now joined Lamaire in a disguised smile, and William thought the others might be as well, but he did not look at them to confirm this. "I do have a few questions as a matter of course. First, will you make available any charts that you might have on La Blanquilla? I should like to confirm every aspect of the islands contour. Especially her reefs, coves and barriers. While the island appears on many of my charts, the information contained on them is scant where La Blanquilla and its neighboring islands are concerned. The island appears as little more than a triangle on many of my charts. It would be an additional and great favor to me if you would equip me with such understanding. I feel that all other questions might be settled by the simple act of exploring my new home once I am familiar with those that involve my ship and her anchorage." "But of course, Capitaine Hollande. I will see that you receive this necessary information before you depart La Margarita." A servant passed among them refreshing those glasses almost sipped dry of their contents. Mister Lasseter, ever the Quartermaster, asked if he might be allowed a few questions of the Don. "Proceed." The Don said with an agreeable wave of his hand. And proceed he did. William enjoyed the specific and detailed inquiries that he made. Some of these questions he had thought to ask, but was glad of those that he had not thought of until now. Mister Lasseter discussed at length the question of fresh water, timber, building materials, defensible positions and all other resources important to a place both remote and central to the happenings of the Caribbean. The Don satisfied them with an excellent return to each question, and he seemed to enjoy the opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge on each subject. When the Quartermaster was finished they had learned much of La Blanquilla. The island was some sixty or seventy square miles in size and enjoyed a relatively consistent height of nearly 50 feet above the sea. It was little more than a great plateau of limestone on the ocean covered in a variety of scrub and low plant growth. It was somewhat disappointing to learn of the great absence of many trees. William had hoped, as did Mister Lasseter, that their would be many groves of lumber for use ashore and aboard the Watch Dog. Still, the limestone itself might be of great use in the construction of housing and fortifications. The second disappointment was not surprising, but it was significantly more important. The island contained only one source of fresh water, but this water was unfit for the use of men. The Don reassured them throughout the discussion, especially on this point, that provisions could be had from other islands, and whatever La Blanquilla might lack, it made up for in beauty and abundance in many other ways. "One may fish with great reward around the island. And the variety of fish!" he said with a smile. "One might never eat the same fish twice in season." William nodded, his mind wandering onto the issue of water, though this was not a great concern to him. Having lived in the Mediterranean and the deserts of the Near East, he understood the employment of cisterns and water caches. They would have no great trouble in a given season procuring the water necessary for long voyages. "The island has cactus which is often brewed into a strong drink." The Don continued. "While it is not wine, it satisfies the courser palette of some sailors." Lamaire and Mister Lasseter were both smiling again. "Present company excluded of course." The Don added. "Of course." William returned, sipping the Castilian's most excellent wine.

Frozen Mudslides!

Today's special desssss....mmm...I'm drooling.

Oh no. The high tide gets into the holds anyway. I don't mind the seawater too much.