Pew

Very cool. I don't have a blog or web addy to virtually find me at so I'm virtually lost . . . B)

That would be neat to do here as well. A monthly theme so we send our books to ourselves. I like it.

Old Monk Rum and Ginger Ale

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Any worth recommending?

Just finished some Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale. Dying to get a sixer of Anchor Steam's Winter brew.

I tried it as well. Was not a big fan as it lacked the depth I was used to, but a definite must try to make 'the list'.

Anyone else?

"Th' Dog 's gonna havta find 's in this gale Cap'n," Preston struggled to yell at Dorian, "She's gonna need all th' help she can get."

Dorian nodded and sent to boys about to light and hang the lanterns about the Lucy. Each were to be doubled and tripled near the bow and stern. Captain Lasseter had strict orders to bind them soundly well above the waterline where a rogue wave could not easy squelch the light and deliver the lanterns themselves to the bottom. The boys took an unused oilskin and fashioned a makeshift tarp against the wind and rain where they could light them safely. Strobes of light now began to illuminate the Lucy so that Captain Brand and the crew could hasten their approach and make accurate bearing upon the Lucy.

Anyone else?

nothing yet, but then I expect mine to take longer to deliver, seeing as I am outside of the US

The customs declaration form was postmarked August 26th, so it should be any day now.

The mutiny suddenly interrupted, all hands bent to the rail now awaiting a new prize to be taken.

Anyone else?

The cannon onboard had been loaded but not lit prior to the mutiny; someone had now had that opportunity.

Preston knew that the first cannon fired was a signal of trouble, but the reply followed by a second report meant more than that. They were in need of dire assistance. Whitingford peered out the stern windows staring into the darkness trying to see any sort of light to flicker across the foamy sea. He thought he saw a vessel on the approach but couldn't tell if it was the Navarra or the Watch Dog.

He paced across the small room. The former ship's master coughed a bit of blood and could taste the iron once again. It was hard to decide if he was feeling better or worse. Preston quickly apprised his own situation; forearm raw, coughing blood, and a bit worse for wear. He returned astern and sat as best he could at the stern windows and placed his head in his hands. The Lucy pitched and scended wildly and more than once did Preston have to grab the bench to keep from being tossed. Liam knocked quickly and entered. He set a small pile of clothing on the table.

"Liam," Preston asked, "fetch me a set o' oilskins an' 's many lanterns 's you can muster."

"Sah, th' Cap'n said . . . ," Liam tried to protest.

"Cap'n's a bit busy eh? He'll need 's many hands 's he c'n muster topside. Now 'urry along lad," Preston urged. He climbed to the table and dressed quickly. The former officer grabbed a bottle from the cabinet and took a long pull. He coughed roughly again and breathed deeply.

It was going to be a long night.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Navigation Log of the Lucy:

Direction: E, ship on the wind, making stern-way with her nose into the wind

Speed: 6 knots and slowing, into the wind, mounting sea, 4m high with foaming crests

Wind: Near gale conditions, from the ESE

Sent today . . .

To all artists from this round:

I must write to explain my extreme displeasure with the goings on from this round.

The purpose of the PTC (Pirate Trading Card) exchange is to have a simple fun exchange of mini-art. This is not intended to be a 'one-upmanship' of skill or a long drawn out affair. The deadlines are posted for a reason. I did extend the deadline several times because of the small number of participants who did complete all ten cards. A smaller number would not merit the effort to go forth with the round overall.

As for the cards themselves: Just draw/paste/paint something on a 3" by 5" card and mail it out. Repeatedly, I asked to include a SASE or to include a few pieces-of-eight to cover the return mailing cost. Several of you still did not. While I can afford a few reales for each of the mailings (and if you use media mail, it is even cheaper), it is simply easier to just stick the cards in the SASE's and voila!; they are returned to you. Now it becomes a time intensive process of having to buy correct sized envelopes, have them weighed and stamped at the P.O. and then mailed out.

The purpose of using flat 3" by 5" cards is so that they do fit in a simple envelope. Anything larger and the mailing costs increase. While three dimensional art is very cool, it is not appropriate for this genre of PTC's. I know this was not explained in the beginning, and I apologize for not making that clear. It is supposed to be a quick easy turnaround of mini-art.

When you commit to a project here on the Pub, it is generally assumed that you will follow through with that commitment. Each person in this round created a piece of mini-art (and some were customized for each participant), with the expectation that they would receive in return that same amount that they have created. Each artist will now receive their unused works in return. When folks don't follow through with their end of the 'deal', then each artist has wasted their time and materials for nothing. If you commit to a project, especially when it involves time/money/effort, please commit to the end. Others are counting on you.

I understand life gets in the way and this round occurred in the swing of faire/fest/gathering season. If you feel that you cannot follow through, THEN DON'T COMMIT. That's fine. I'm sure we will have more of these PTC rounds in the future. Yes, shit happens in the midst of life. A simple, "I'm not going to be able to commit to this round," will suffice. Don't wait until days or weeks after the deadline to then say, "Can't do it." At this point, cards have been mailed out and we are waiting on 'you' to complete the round.

Thank you to all of those artists who did participate in this round. You all did a tremendous job and the cards turned out excellent! Thank you again and I hope to see more of your work in the future.

To all: I apologize for the terseness of this message. As adults, I hope we can move forward from this round and look forward to a fall/winter round as we are stuck inside our proverbial cabins.

Oh, one more thing . . . . they are going in the mail as soon as I receive a return address from one of the participants. Please post up when you receive your batch. Tx.

-P.E.W.

Wow, those are very cool Jon!!! I wonder if there is anyway to get my hands on a set . . .

Mine is Pyle's rendering of Blind Pew from Treasure Island.

A fine chianti . . . With a side of fava beans. . . . .

I do b'leive we're neighbors, separated by the Corsica River. . .

Out of the original 10:

1 Pew

2 Michael

3 Gunpowder Gertie

4 Cap'n Mac

5 Ransom

6 Captain McCool

7 Adam Cyphers

8 Patrick Hand

9 Nigel

10 Karadimos

I've received:

1 Pew

2 Ransom

3 Cap'n Mac

4 Karadimos

5 Patrick Hand

If you will NOT be sending any artwork PM me and let me know. Oherwise the cards will be sent out Thursday (due to some stragglers begging for reprieves.) I will be out of town Thursday-> Monday.

If they are in my mailbox when I return, they will be returned to you.

Please include a SASE.

With that, several of the men threw down their swords.

The Frenchman, seeing the confused expression on the faces of the men on deck, sneered in accented English, "You appear surprised to see us, mes pouvre enfants, but you will surrender your ship none-the-less."

The men looked at each other, now knowing they had to act together to rid the vessel of the Frenchman.

Cards will be mailed out to those artists I have received cards from by August 2nd.

We are a month behind the proposed date of delivery.

"SAH," called Geoffrey clutching his small wool cap , "Mister Pew is . . ."

Dorian held his hand up against the increasing wind and nodded, now becoming somewhat annoyed. He walked the deck quickly rechecking everything that had been doubly secured. Returning to the quarterdeck, Nigel reported the storm was increasing in severity, but that he and Logan were well suited to ride it out. Dorian patted him on the back, sighed, then made his way to the ward room. He gave one last glancing look about the deck and nodded an approval to himself.

Preston did not look up when Captain Lasseter entered the cabin. He was seated at the table thumbing through the list of those men that had perished aboard the encounter with the snow.

"How's th arm?" Dorain asked matter-of-factly.

Preston rubbed the crimson stained bandage on his forearm, but said nothing.

Dorian removed his oilskins and hung them against the larboard bulkhead. He ran his hands through his wet hair and pulled it back tightly. The Captain could see Preston looking through the log book. "Aye, a few men lost." He stood over Preston now, reading the list over his shoulder. Preston's gaze narrowed a bit at the names of Brenton Coles and Nicholas Trodd. "Most lost 'n th' gunn crews, some in the boarding," Dorian said. He talked of the crew lost and those whom may not make it through their injuries. Dorian moved to the small table, pulled a glass and then turned back to Preston as he held up a second glass. The former ship's master nodded. The captain pulled the cork from a non-descript bottle and poured the amber liquid into the two glasses.

He returned to the table and sat the glass in front of Preston. He raised it slightly, pronounced "to your health," and took a slight sip.

Preston mirrored the Captain, took a sip then held the glass in his lap. The sea was raging outside and the men were doing their best to keep their liquids in their cups.

"What 'appened?" asked Preston bluntly. He coughed sharply then rasped, "I've heard much talk."

"You tell me," Dorian replied just as blunt.

The former ship's master took another sip then grimaced as the rum burned on it's way down. "I dinnot know Dorian," he gruffed.

Dorian sat across from Preston, crossed his legs and lightly placed the small glass on his lap. He looked Preston in the eye and told him of what he, Dorian, knew.

The story began when the snow had called for quarter; Preston was seen leaving the deck angrily. Dorian did remember relating the sound of a pistol shot or two below deck. Robert Jameson had reported later on what he thought was the ship's master, with a dagger in each hand, covered in blood and that he had nearly shot him upon investigation. Johan Stadtmeyer also thought that shadow was Preston when he saw a man appear in the dark, but wasn't sure. Someone had called to them that there were none surviving. When they checked the narrow passage they found Preston along with Nicholas Trodd and Brenton Coles lying lifeless.

Preston had stared at Dorian incredulously throughout the story. "If'n I was t' b' dead, then who called to them that there were no survivors?"

He took another drink from his glass. A fog began to burn off in Preston's head. While he did not remember killing anyone below deck, he did remember going below. The snow had surrendered and he had gone below to find any remaining officers with Brenton Coles and Nicholas Trodd. He thought quietly as Dorian stared at him. Preston went back through those minutes. He, Coles and Trodd had gone below to search for anyone remaining alive aboard the King's Fury. Brenton's pistol suddenly fired in the darkness and brought up a flash. He then remembered being hit from the side. Nicholas and Brenton could not have died during the engagement.

Someone else had been below.

Dorian made his way below deck checking with his own eye and hands the stores. While the deluge continued outside, he was pleasantly surprised that things remained as dry as they were tucked away in the hold of the Lucy. Several of the crew had found him working about and apprised him of updates on the ship and weather from the officers above. The Captain also received message that Preston had been looking for him. Dorian nodded a slight thanks each time he was told and continued about his self-appointed duty. He had heard the weather outside steadily growing while the ship plunged into each successive wave. Dorian wanted to gage the weather himself and needed to sit with Mister Whitingford. He returned to his makeshift cabin to retrieve his oilskins and then went above.

Updates?