Histories, Backstories & Bios

[Jas. Hook]

Not directly but he alludes to it in this timeline as being quick in hand and in action.

Perhaps it was a Spanish Don hurled the epithet at him as he sped away. "Sail off senor, you dammed grayhound... we will catch you... if it takes the rest of my days!"

Jas. Hook

[Dread Pyrate Greyhound]

yeah pretty much, greyhound for his speed, as a seadog with the actual hound being an English Hunting dog.

[Dread Pyrate Greyhound]

Recently reworked his timeline, and added a LOT more stuff

1643- Born 'Gabriel James Drummond' to a Scottish Nobleman

1660- Causes Scandel at the Royale Court of Charles II by bedding most of the young ladies at Court and concieving a son with the King's illigitamate daughter Charlotte. Is disowned by his father after this and he fights a duel with one of the King's illigitimate sons over Charlotte's honor. Dispossessed and Sold into Slavery on Jamaica

1662- Escapes, attempts to return to Scotland and Family, but is captured by, and joins French Buccaneers in Windward Passage, three months later is made Captain, earns reputation for speed in battle

Spring 1663-Sets out to Capture a 'Ship of Force' but is instead taken by the Spanish and Tourtured by the Inquisition at Havana. Escapes Havana and slaughters Spanish garrison, earns nickname 'El Senor Rojo' The Red Gentleman

Summer 1663- builds a small fleet, he returns and sacks, and burns Havana to the ground

Fall 1663- Becomes known in Tortuga and is introduced to the Governor's Daughter. Fights duel with the pirate L'Ollonais, earns reputation for speed in hand to hand combat, as precaution to curses, aquires protection talisman

Fall 1663-1664 sails out of Tortuga along Antilles plundering ships of all nations. uses Tortuga as main Port of Call, romances the Governor's daughter every time they put into port.

Winter 1664-Sails to attack South America, Storm blows them off course, and seeking 'Any Port in a Storm' land in Cartegena, they are mistaken for a 'Galleon Due in From Seville' Greyhound manages to load all the treasure bound for the king of Spain and sail off before they realize he is a buccaneer. Though he is chases by 3 Spanish Galleons...which he sinks, afterward, loses eye in duel with spanish Capitano

Spring 1664-Returns to Tortuga and Buys Plantation, takes 4 masted french galleon which he makes his new flagship also aquires a mystical ability to 'See That Which is Hidden From Mortal Eyes' from a voodoo priestess

Spring 1664- concieves a daughter with the Governor's Daughter.

Summer 1664-Cofounds Devil's Brood, plunders Spanish Treasure Fleet, lands and colonizes 'Islos de los Leons Del Mar'

summer 1664-Sails out of Port Royale, developes rivalry with Henry Morgan

Early 1665- reunites with Brother Henry, who is a Commodore in the English Navy, and fights a duel with him on thier family's plantation on Jamaica, takes an enamel ring bearing their family crest, that origonally belonged to Greyhound. Meets Admiral Blakely.

Spring 1665 - plunders along the Spanish mainland, takes an english ship carrying a number of books belonging to a scholer. takes them to keep himself busy during long ocean voyages. They include books on Mythology including Camolot, Ancient Egypt and Atlantis, and greyhound developes an obsession with Anceint Egypt and Atlantis.

1666 - plunders caribbean using Tortuga and Port Royale as havens

Spring 1666- Plunders ships in Leeward Islands, Alternatively sailing under French and English flags, claiming French ships as English Prizes and English ships as French prizes using the Letters of Marque he holds from both Nations

Summer 1666- Chases richly laden English Galleon carying a King's Treasure accross Atlantic to England. the ship is sunk off the coast in a storm. Puts into London seeking a port to repair heavy damage to the 'Sea Reaper' taken during the storm. steals brother's invitation to a Masquerade hosted by the King to remeet with Charlotte, he attends as 'The Red Death' they conceive a daughter, and Greyhound is caught, but his stories and his boldness entertain the King, so he restores his status in the Drummond Family, and gives him a royal commission and a plot of land in a new English aquisition in the Caribean.

Fall 1666- Greyhound Courts the King's daughter, Charlotte, and discovers he has a 5 year old son until he finds out that is was Admiral Blakely's Brother who arranged for Greyhound's disgrace, and sale into bondage, He challanges the nobleman, and mercilessly kills him. Charlotte turns away from Greyhound, and he sets sail during the Great fire of London. He realizes, his true calling is the Sea.

1667- Reluctantly sails with Morgan against Maraciabo, when Morgan and mates become trapped, Greyhound runs the Blockade in his flagship.

1668-Joins Morgan after French boucanier abandon him, and Sails with Morgan against Portobello.

1668- leads flotilla of buccaneers after a richly laden 7 ship Spanish fleet sailing through Bahamas back to Spain. They capture four ships, but the remaining three, flagship included, escape into the Atlantic. Greyhound and one other buccaneer who sails on with him give chase to Gibralter, where the successfully Capture all three including the Flagship.

Fall 1668 - Fall 1669- Greyhound sails the Mederitanean Plundering Moorish ships and Spanish galleons, and French Merchants. Fights two battles against the Barbary Corsairs, until they become allies of the Dey of Algiers, by saving the life of his son in Alexandria, Greyhound fulfills his curiousity of ancient Egyt and aquires several relics and trinkets

1670 Greyhound Returns to Port Royale via the Tradewinds, Plundering as he goes.

1671-Fights alongside Morgan at Panama, commanding several Devil's Brood Captains on the voyage.

1672- 1677 Sails as Pirate out of Tortuga and hideout in Florida Keys when buccaneers become hunted men Fights three sea Battle with Brother Henry, and two with Admiral Blakely.

1674- Fights two Sea Battles with Brother Henry.

1675- Battles Admiral Blakely's Flagship off Hispaniola.

Spring 1676- Fights pair of Lt Gov. Morgan's Pirate Hunters

Spring 1676- Plunders a ship that Governor De Ogeron's daughter and their daughter Anne is on, and takes her on board.

1677-Sails for Madagascar, fallowed by Brother Henry. Fights him in a Storm, off The Cape of Good Hope and Sinks his ship with all hands. Weeps for his brother, even though he had to kill him.

1677-1681 Active in Madagascar waters

1678- Plunders richly Laden East Indiamen

Summer 1678 Builds Devil's Brood Stronghold at Madagascar

Winter 1679- Through Deception Plunders all but 6 of a 20 ship Moorish fleet belonging to Grand Moghul of India,

Spring 1680- Defeats pair of East India Co frigates

Spring 1681 Boards an English war galleon commanded by his son Vincent, who has since become a Captain in the Royal navy. he takes his son captive, Vincent jions his father in command of his own galleon.

1682- Returns to Caribbean and fights off attack by 4 English Galleons, led by Admiral Blakely. He single handedly Sinks every one of them Blakely dies when his flagship exlodes.

1683- Sails with de Graff and de Grammont against Vera Cruz

Spring 1684- Fights sea battle with 2 Spanish galleons off Hispaniola, gives daughter Anne command of one of them as a 20th birthday present.

1685- returns to Madagascar

1685-1688 Active around Madagascar

1686- Leads Devil's Brood fleet to Plunder in Bay of Bengal and then sails Fleet further East after taking maps showing Trade Routes of East Indiamen. Sails through strait of malacca, and is attacked by hostile natives. Conducts a counterraid against them and burns three villages.

Winter 1686- Spring 1687 Leads Devil's Brood Fleet to plunder the South China Seas and raids Five European Trading posts. Fights two battles with a Chinese Pirate Warlord's forces. The Devil's Brood Pyrates are Victorious.

Summer 1687- Fleet Returns to Indian Ocean and Madagascar Stronghold.

Fall 1687- Spring 1688 resumes sailing solo. Makes several plundering voyages into Arabian Sea and Red Sea from Madagascar Stronghold.

Summer 1688-Sails Back to Caribbean

1689- Takes part in the sacking of Cartegena. Afterwards, Vincent leaves his father and Returns to England. Retires to his Tortuga Plantation and builds smuggling ring, with his daughter as a senior officer.

1691-Becomes friends with Captain Kidd, then an English Privateer in the Caribbean, after meeting him in New York on a Business trip. Attends Kidd's Wedding.

1692. Buys a Mansion in New York and expands his Smuggling Ring To encompass West Indies and American Colonies.

Spring 1694- returns to Royale Court of William III and is named 'Lord Drummond' in exchange for Bringing order to Scottish Jaccobite Supporters of James II in Scotland, and hunting down the members of his family, loyal to James the Pretender. Kills two more of his five brothers, and arrests his father. Allows his three sisters, and last Brother remain woth him in his Castle. Lives in both his Family's Castle in Scotland, and Estate in London.

Summer 1694- Becomes a Minister in the Royale Navy, and uses his power and influence to Cover up his Continuing endeavers as Crimeboss of a Smuggling Ring and Admiral of the Devil's Brood Pyrates. Also Secretly deters Naval Maneuvers against The Devil's Brood.

Summer 1696- Suggests King William pass "An Act for the more effectuall Suppressions of Piracy" as means to allow some of his Comrades in the Devil's Brood to retire and purchase lands and Titles. It won't be passes for another two years.

1697- After becoming disgusted with the same curruption in William's court as was in Charles II's Court Returns to his New World Estates. Continues to run his Smuggling Ring and Plantations on Tortuga, Jamaica, and Hispaniola.

1698- Sails for Madagascar a Final time, and anchors at St Mary's Isle to deal with some Devil's Brood Business, He meets Captain Kidd, and warns him he has been branded a Pirate, and offers him a chance to Sign the Brood's Articles. Kidd Refuses. After this, Greyhound Returns to his Tortuga Plantation.

1705 Senses his Death and single handedly sails his ship to the island where he hid all the treasures he took in the caribbean. moors his ship in a cave on his treasure island, returns to his cabin and dies of old age sitting on the Throne behind his desk

[Mission]

I am merging this with Histories, Backstories & Bios so all of these are together.

There was a similar sort of thread called Pyracy Pub-towne but that one went hopelessly awry - although it was in a fun, chatty sort of way. Then there was a thread called Tell us about yer crew which is kind of related to this topic.

[Elena]

Since you are interested in pirates only, I give you my pirates' bios:

Andrea COSTA

Name: Andrea Costa

Aliases: Ange au Sabre / Sword Angel (and crewmates call him Angel)

Age: 21 (born on 30-th of November 1697)

Gender: Male

Rank: Pirate, Master’s Mate

Current Location: aboard the “Caribbean Siren”

Character PB: Alain Delon

General appearance:

He is of medium height, strong but not excessively muscular, graceful, with fine traits, of a strange beauty, inherited from his mother. His eyes are an unusual shade of green, like the warm seas, the only thing he has in common with his sister. His hair is dark, slightly waved. His complexion, initially rather fair, like his sister’s, got tanned by sun so many years at sea.

Clothing:

Usually sailor’s clothes, loose fitting cotton trousers and a white or blue shirt, with a scarf around the neck. When in ports with a spying mission, he may wear more elegant clothes, adapted to fit to the environment.

Personality:

He is ambitious and perfectionist, but not as competitive as his sister, because he hadn’t needed to – he was the eldest and the one educated from early childhood to be the future captain of “Colomba”, while she was the younger one, always wanted to be as good as him… or even better!

Loyal and reliable, he would never break a promise by his own will. He has an original moral code, but the good teachings of his family didn't get lost when he became a corsair, then a pirate – they got just a little bit adapted to the new reality of his life. Andrea is usually good-tempered and calm, even if not always as patient as needed, but he flares in certain circumstances.

He fights bravely, but he doesn’t really enjoy being a pirate. He does what he has to do in order to be close to the one he loves… and to obtain the money needed to fulfill his dreams.

He treats all women respectfully, as he was taught in family. Although his beauty attracted women of al kinds in the ports where he has roamed, he is not a womanizer or a seducer. He is honestly being himself, not trying to impress women and not really aware of his charm, but his tender and romantic nature make him even more irresistible. When he wasn’t in love, he couldn’t resist to the pretty women’s advances – could really any unattached man? While in love, he has eyes only for his beloved…

Strengths:

Sailing and foreign languages seem to be family talents. He is a very skilled sailor, having been a master’s mate on "Marie Gallante", before it was lost at sea, since he was 18. Besides Greek and Venetian, spoken, read and written, he speaks well (reads and writes) French too, understanding Provensal, Spanish and English rather well, but these latter languages he speaks with difficulty. He plays mandolin (not virtuoso but acceptably) and sings. Moderation is one of his strengths. He drinks a glass or two, plays a game of cards or two, but nobody has seen him drunk or gambling his savings. (Well, if he really got drunk a few times in his life… it was an experience to take into account and never repeat.)

Weaknesses:

If a Genovese or other enemy takes on him for being Venetian, he can’t abstain fighting back, irrespective how many they are, how bad the fight may end or if there are any other consequences.

He’d also do anything for his beloved, and if he learns that his sister is alive, he would do anything for her too.

Birth place: Born at sea, somewhere in the Adriatic Sea, between Venice and Ragusa - now Dubrovnik - on the little merchant ship “Colomba”, bearing the flag of Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia

Family:

Father – Sterio Costa, born in a village in Greece (which is part of Ottoman Empire), deceased at sea

Mother – Maria Pasqualigo (married Costa), born in Kefalonia (a Greek island under Venetian domination), deceased at sea

Uncle – Ianni Costa, deceased at sea

Sister – Marina Costa, one year and a half younger, lost at sea

History:

His family, together with his father’s sworn brother, Diamandi, and his wife and child, owned the little merchant ship “Colomba”, carrying goods from the Greek islands and mainland to Venice and Mediterranean ports. There was no other crew aboard, so the three men and two women had to cover everything to be done and to teach the children. The children had an unusual education, as their life was basically at sea and the ports were to be visited only. So they are bilingual in Greek and Venetian, they have learned almost everything their parents know - and this includes not only changing sails, washing up and steering the ship, but also reading maps, establishing the good road, the ship’s speed, etc. As the family chose life on sea in order to flee the Turkish power in their region, and they were often smuggling guns and ammunition for the rebels who are fighting Turks, the children grew with stories about the cruelty of invaders and fighting for liberty.

When the ship sunk in a storm in the Mediterranean, he was fished by a ship bound to Marseille, which did not really need his services, so the captain left him in Marseille, with a few coins for the work he had done aboard in the meanwhile. Andrea spoke no French at all and he was alone in a big port, looking for work. He soon discovered that nearly half of the people were speaking, however, with different degrees of proficiency, one of the Italian dialects, that a Venetian could understand more or less – Piemontese or Genovese. But when asking for work in his mother tongue, it was as predictable to receive an answer in Genovese: “We don’t have anything for a dirty Venetian pig!”, given the multisecular rivalry between the two maritime republics. And his reaction was as logical… only that he was outnumbered and beaten to nearly death.

His good luck was that a beautiful young woman was passing by in her carriage and took pity of the suffering boy left in a corner, bathed in blood. She took him and nursed his wounds, her first impulse being of Christian pity. Well, she had plenty of sins to be forgiven, and if saving a life could count… Mireille was a demi-mondaine, which meant a little more than a high class prostitute: she had a house, nice things and a carriage – and a protector paying for all these. When Andrea woke up, after four days of fighting death, and saw her near the bed, he thought he was with the angels in heaven. And if it was normal for him to fall in love with the one who had saved him, nobody expected Mireille to take a fancy in the nearly sixteen years old boy, when she was 20 and she could have any man in Marseille she wanted.

At the beginning, she thought him shy like most boys his age, but a little later she realised that it was more than shyness, all the beauty of an innocent soul, and she was the most appropriate woman to awake in him love and passion. ...Indeed, their passion could have set in fire the whole city, but it couldn’t last, it was bad for her business. Two or three weeks Mireille did not open the door of her house. Her protector was worried and he might have been dangerous for both of them if he learned about Andrea, so the beautiful young boy had to go, following his own destiny, which, clearly for both of them, was one of the sea. Therefore, she introduced Andrea to captain Allegre, the well known corsaire, who had armed a brigantine and was chasing the eternal enemies of France, the British…

On “Marie Gallante” Andrea further perfected his sailing skills, while learning to fight well with any weapon, but the sword was his first choice, which gave him the nickname Ange au Sabre. He learnt French and Provensal well, and for his business understanding English and Spanish had proved also useful.

Since two years ago the British allied with the French against the Spanish, the privateers’ enemies changed… Accordingly, “Marie Gallante” arrived in the Caribbean, to hunt for the Spanish gold. One fateful day, the ship got into a storm immediately after having met a Spanish man-of-war… so the tempest completed what the Spanish cannons had started.

He was washed out on the shore of Tortuga, where a pirate lass helped him. He fell in love with her, and this was his only reason for joining the crew of the “Caribbean Siren”, otherwise he wouldn’t have ever become a pirate. But once aboard, he made some friends too, and he had accepted that this was what his destiny wanted for him. This helped too when he lost her...

Weapon Skills:

He is good at fighting with any weapon, but he prefers the side sword - and French fencing school is one of the best - which made the corsairs on "Marie Gallante" give him the nickname of Ange au Sabre. His family's training with Greek flying knives was further applied on throwing daggers, he is extremely good with them as well. Pistol is good... and the corsairs use also a sort of whip as a useful weapon...

Theme song: “La chute de l’Ange” – Dark Sanctuary

Sol GALVEZ

Name: Rodrigo Solano Valera

Aliases: Solano (Sol) Galvez- the name he says since he chose the sea life. Nickname – Sol Picador – Piercing Sun

Age: 27 (born on 12-th of December 1691)

Gender: Male

Rank: Pirate Captain

Current Location: aboard the “Caribbean Siren”

Character PB: Eduardo Palomo

General appearance:

He is of medium height, athletic, with graceful moves and fine traits. His hair is dark, slightly waved, long up to the shoulders, rarely tied. His eyes are dark brown, and the skin complexion, tanned by so many years at sea, is of a copperish shade. He wears a silver earring, having a sun charm on it. He has various scars from battles.

Clothing:

On the ship he wears canvas trousers and a cheap breezy shirt, usually half unbuttoned, occasionally paired up with a vest. If work is hard and the heat horrible, he might be shirtless as well. A neckerchief and a wide belt, and boots hiding a navaja. His shirts and trousers are often off-white, as it is customary in his native Veracruz area, but sometimes he has others in any colour he can get. He usually has two changes of working clothes and some nicer ones, for when in ports with a spying mission.

Personality:

Sol is optimistic, spontaneous, intrepid, jovial and makes light of things most of the time, especially in odd situations where one would expect prudence, but he is a man of hot temper and extremes. When not smiling kindly or ironically, he is boiling with anger. His heated temper keeps him from doing any emotion halfway and this leads sometimes to fierce arguments and fights.

He strives to win against any obstacles life may get in his way and succeed – especially to prove to himself and anybody else that the illegitimate son of a nobleman can get through his own forces what his legitimate siblings obtained through their birth - and this includes acquiring knowledge and wealth equally. He is daring and determined, liking less taken paths in all fields, A mystery is only intriguing for him, and he secretly dreams of discovering something to leave his name to – be it an island or any other place. He is loyal to friends and ideals, not willing to sacrifice his life in vain, but standing up for his beliefs, and would die for them if the case might be.

He treats all women with respect. He likes their attention, but he is currently too occupied finding glory and wealth to worry about settling down, and he considers himself immune to love since the death of his fiancée, nine years ago.

Likes:

+ the sea – it has made his life not only bearable, but nice and free.

+ victory - there is nothing quite like winning, especially if since birth some people told you there is no chance for you to win

+sunrise – it always reminds him that each day is a new beginning, a new opportunity of success.

+ learning new things. He is open minded and has a good memory.

+ partying – this involves liquor, dance, women… or tavern brawls if somebody offends him

+ strong women –it is nice to feel chivalrous and protecting sometimes... but it is even nicer to know that the woman by your side is not needy and frail, but reliable, a wild flower, not a greenhouse one

+ attention and being admired for his skills – especially when men or women are around him, asking him to play their favourite songs.

Dislikes:

- cowards and traitors, because they put stupidly one’s life in danger

- losing – be it a battle or a game of cards

– being cheated

- nobility with the associated vanity and prejudice. If there is in this world a “blue blood” not making case of his/ her origins and treating everybody well, at the same level, than no grudges

- law enforcement, obviously, because they hunt pirates… and all kind of rebels

- strong ones oppressing the weaker

- long range fights and getting shot – because there is no honour in killing from a safe distance, and getting a bullet in one’s flesh is painful indeed.

Strengths:

+ good sailor, also skilled at drawing maps and navigation

+ he can read and write with nice penmanship. He writes correctly in Spanish and with mistakes in English, but he had the ambition to learn to read and write in English when he sought the position of a master's mate on "Merciless", as he couldn't obtain and keep it otherwise.

+ he has a quick wit and a thirst for knowledge

+ playing guitar (the four-stringed requinto jarocho from his area, also called guitarra de son sometimes) and singing get him popular in any tavern or brothel, but it is also useful in the free time aboard, to avoid boredom not only for him, but for his mates.

Weaknesses:

- women – be they seducingly beautiful ones to be wooed or ladies in distress (of any age or social status) who need help he could provide

- not really wanting to kill people if there is any solution to avoid it. He can do it if really needed, but will try every way around it before doing so

- overpowering ambition and desire to win

- a strange sense of honour

- letting his hot temper and emotions get the best of him sometimes, which gets him into trouble

- recklessness

- not holding well his liquor, and sometimes he knows when to stop drinking, other times he doesn’t

Birth place: Veracruz, Viceroyalty of New Spain

Family:

Father – Rodrigo Manuel de Sandoval y Galvez, viscount

Mother – Marisol Valera de Goyri, servant (deceased)

Stepfather – Juan Diego Goyri, peon

Twin brother – Jose Manuel Valera (Josema), foreman on Sandoval’s encomienda

Younger sister – Juana Maria Goyri de Perez, two years younger, married to a baker, living in Veracruz

Younger brothers – Diego and Juan Antonio (Juanto) Goyri (twins), five years younger, craftsmen, Juanto living in Veracruz, Diego on the encomienda

The viscount’s legitimate offspring don’t count here, as they have never seen him as more than a rebellious and ungrateful servant who ran away

History:

The illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a sixteen years old servant, Rodrigo has been raised in his father’s house in Veracruz, as well as his twin brother Josema. As they were looking exactly like their father, and they were the first sons he knew about, he liked them enough to give them a good education for their birth status – they attended a few years of school with a priest, together with other boys from Veracruz, even if their colleagues were petty merchants’ children. Being teased as illegitimate by the other children, the Valera twins learnt quickly to fight and to defend themselves… and while hating their natural father for the shame they were bearing, to try to take advantage of anything he could offer. And they were both clever, quick to learn, studious and eager to win… in a world where the name and social position counted more than anything else. But their personalities were different, Rodrigo being the rebellious, hot-tempered one, while Josema was calmer, slier and more calculated.

Marisol married one of the peones who was sent to the city house to help in the yard and in the garden. One couldn’t be sure if Juana Maria was really his daughter or the master’s, as she was born seven months and a half later… but she bore the husband’s name and looked more like Marisol, so at least she couldn’t be labeled as the viscount’s daughter, as Rodrigo and Josema were known, having inherited more from their father’s Navarro face traits, and only the skin colour from their mother’s mestizo family.

Surprisingly, Juan Diego Goyri was a rather good stepfather, even if he was a little strict. Later, when he had his own children – also twins – it was shown that he actually made no difference among all his wife’s children. When he was drunk, he treated them equally bad; otherwise, equally well or with indifference, it depended on his moods… and when one of them was up to a mischief, Juan Diego took care not to punish an innocent. All the boys had learnt from him how to play the local guitar.

School, where they excelled, to everybody’s pride, hadn’t lasted much, however, and at twelve their stepfather wanted them to learn a trade, even if the priest had wanted at least one of them to follow a clerical path. But none of the twins had such a vocation, despite their thirst for learning and the nice penmanship which had attracted several times the priest’s praises and the classmates’ envy. Juan Diego Goyri asked them whose apprentices they would like to be, and while Josema answered he wanted to be a little merchant’s, Rodrigo said the blacksmith’s. The Veracruz blacksmith taught him not only how to make blades, but also how to use them. However, when he died an untimely death and another one took his shop, the nearly 16 years old Rodrigo did not find this job bearable anymore under a mean master. He took an opportunity to ask his natural father if he could be of better use to him with his knowledge… and so both Rodrigo and Josema were sent to the encomienda and given into the foreman’s care to find them suitable jobs. The foreman liked more Josema, and kept him around, as his own trusted man, while Rodrigo was given various tasks.

He fell in love with a girl who was helping in the kitchen, Benita, but immediately after he won her grandfather's blessing to get engaged, he found her struggling in the arms of the local constable, who was known in all the region as having the eye for young peasant girls. He fought the rapist and killed him with his navaja. After realising his deed, he had no other choice than to run away… and where else could he not be found by the guards, than on a ship? He went to Río Banderas, a little bay southern from Veracruz, where he knew that small ships used to anchor, and looked for one who was ready to leave. It proved to be “Volante”, a smugglers’ ship which made good deals with the British colonies up in the North… so while he learnt the ropes to become a sailor, he felt useful to the future business to learn English as well.

His drawing skills were put to good use with drawing maps, and he was fascinated by navigation. The quartermaster also liked him because of his nice writing and quick calculations, so Rodrigo – or actually Solano, how he gave the name when embarking - found himself helping with the logs too.

Three years later, the ship was attacked by the British Navy South from Charleston, caught with unexplainable merchandise… and at 21, he got acquainted with the British jail. The cells were common… and so he befriended a clever and bold Jamaican pirate, Frank Norman, who was by his side... And when the pirate had a plan to evade, he took Sol with him – a little from friendship, half from fear not being betrayed and a little because he needed the help of somebody who could fight by his side…

This is how Sol found himself aboard the pirate ship “Merciless”, together with his friend from jail… and when most of the crew jumped ship, following a violent encounter with the “Caribbean Siren”, he was among them. The perspectives of both gaining good gold and getting revenge on the British Navy for the year of jail and on the snobby noblemen as well motivated him strongly. Soon his navigation skills got appreciated and he found himself the master’s mate.

Battles at sea are always requesting their toll, therefore Sol found himself chosen as first mate when the position became available, then, a few months ago, when the captain got lost in a storm, he was elected captain of the “Caribbean Siren”. He likes life at sea more than piracy itself... but if this kind of life is an opportunity to win what was denied to him by his birth... why not?

Weapon Skills:

He is very good with any blades. The nickname “Sol Picador” (Piercing Sun) comes both from his high ability with blades and his name Solano. He is rather a traditionalist in his own way, prefering his navaja to a dagger, and the smugglers on “Volante” taught him to fight with it baratero style, like in Andalucia. His machete – which is similar to the cutlass – is always handy and put to good use, but his much prized Toledo sword, obtained from a dead Spanish officer three years ago, is more often kept in the trunk. It has been used only for the ship boarding combats.

Theme song: Tierra Santa - La cancion del pirata

[Dread Pyrate Greyhound]

was the editing feature removed? Because for some reason I can't find it, and I'd like to remove/edit my two posts.

[Dread Pyrate Greyhound]

ok, forget the timelines, they are rather unreliable, as they change fairly frequently to make room for voyages or fill in holes... but I can add this profile from my Deviant Art account. also, greyhound now has a complex and considers himself French lol Henceforth, call me Capitaine Levrier.

Birth Name:
Gabriel James Drummond

Aliases:
Jacques le Rouge (as highwayman in France), El Senor Rojo, The Red Gentleman, El Dorado

Titles:
Lord Drummond, Sir Drummond, Count of Sherwood (by marriage), Marquis de Caribes (honerary title by Louis XIV), Marquis de la Fierté (of the Seven Deadly Sins of the Devil's Brood) Commander of the Roving Fleet, Dread Pyrate of the North

Age:
same as my age at the time of portrayal

Weapons of Choice:
any number of sword types (uses rapiers for duels, and shorter swords at sea) fancy dueling pistols, blunderbuss, throwing daggers (prefers all weapons to be fancy, with silver/ gold inlays and decorations)

Ships commanded:
'La Phenix' (brig 18 guns) 'Newe Moone' (War Galleon, 40 guns) 'Sea Reaper' (third rate ship of the line/War Galleon 74 guns)

epoch of activity:
1662-1689

Likes:
Rumcake, his comrades, telling tales of his exploits, being seen as a legend, fancy frillery, big flashy things, his flagship the Sea Reaper, his enemies trembling when at his mercy, pride, the company of pretty women, gallantries, a great ballad

Dislikes:
being disrespected, people who steal from him, Henry Morgan, the Spanish, the Spanish Inquisition, those who assault women, butality and torture, his enemies, dishonorable men, slavery

Pastimes on land:
relaxing on his plantations, wenching, drinking, hosting balls, attending balls, romancing women, practicing his swordsmanship, singing ballads, hunting (he may be a Boucanier, but he does it like a lord in Europe with horses and dogs), dancing

Pastimes at Sea:
drawing, charcoaling, polishing his weapons, practicing shooting and swordplay, poetry, writing ballads, various sailor's arts, singing fo'c'sle shanties,

Personality:
Levrier is like a bomb with a short fuse... harmless if you don't set him off. Even then, as he was raised a gentleman in England and France before Joining the Boucaniers, the things which set him off, are cruelty, slavery, and assault on women. he will kill one of his own men if he is found to have done this... or beat them senseless, take Moses' law as per the code, and then kill the offender in a duel. yet no-one blames him for defending the women. he abhors cruelty, but at times he himself, will be just as cruel, and firmly believes in 'A Hand for a Hand' in some ways, his personality is an oxy moron, there are things which contradict one another.

An example would be his treatment of Spaniards. the Spaniards are cruel, which Levrier abhors, and doesn't indulge in unlike many of his comrades, but if taking a Spanish ship of war, he will slaughter every man. Personally. Though if women or children are found aboard as passengers or powder monkeys he will ALWAYS spare them, and even protect them, either ransoming, or delivering them to the nearest port. When he takes revenge, he shows no mercy, believing revenge should be ironic, almost poetic in form, but "When in doubt, the plank or me cutlass will do fine!"

He stands by his men, and friends, and would never betray them, even in the cutthroat world of pirates. He is what he a calls a 'Chevalier of the Black Flag' a black knight who keeps to honor, but indulges in almost every practice of the boucaniers. He expects his men to do likewise, at the threat of his wrath. even those who defy him in battle he spares, he leaves merchants be, after he takes what he wants. But for warships who attack him, there is no mercy. the way he sees it, "you wanted a fight, but now thou art too scared to finish it."

to women, he is always courteous with the manners of the chevalier that he learned in France. he would treat any woman equally well, if she was a princess, or a common whore he was about to do business with. to the lovers he's had, he has had many open relationships, much like the courts of Europe, he may have had a few wives throughout his career, but he had just as many mistresses, and as a result, illegitimate children. most of his wives were of different faiths, with Levrier never marrying Christian as was his own religion, thereby justifying in the eyes of other Christian woman he was still a bachelor

(EX: he married a Hindu woman in India, and native woman on Madagascar in their culture's ceramonies, and told other Christian women he wasn't married, though in reality, this was only in the eyes of the church, and he treated both these women like his wives. He was only married twice in the Christian faith, once to a French noblewoman, another time to his mistress in London, Charlotte Stuart, the King's daughter. neither marriage worked out.)

History:

Levrier was born the son of a Scottish Lord loyal to the Stuart Dynasty. after Charles I was executed, the Drummonds like many other nobles fled to France. there, Levrier became a sort of 'Playboy in Exile' and to support himself, became a highwayman nicknamed Jacques Rouge, nicknamed for wearing a red doublet and being suspected of being an Englishman. unfortunately, his father who still had enough ties in England to have money, sought a title for his son, as his title was defunct. So he made arrangements for Levrier to marry a French Marquesa. at the restoration, levrier returned to England in 1660, just barely 17 years old, he spent his days yacht racing until he took the King's half sister Charlotte as a mistress, and spurred a rival noble family, to have him abducted and sold into slavery on Jamaica.

After 2 long years, he escaped and attempted to return to his family, but failed, the ship he was on being taken by French boucaniers, he was given a choice, join or die. Levrier chose to join. Within a few months he was made captain, and sought a bigger better ship. after he failed to take a Spanish galleon, he earned the nickname 'El Senor Rojo' after escaping the castle at Havana where he had been imprisoned covered in blood. his mates jokingly called him 'The Red Gentleman' due to a mistranslation, and the name stuck. He returned and sacked and burned Havana to the Ground. a few years later, in 1664, he captured a much bigger ship... a French third rate ship of the line mounting 74 broadside guns, in addition to chase guns, swivels, six morters and a long tom. The ship had been built to suit a French nobleman's vanity, and would be a worthy ship for the boucanier who was Pride personified. He rechristianed it 'Sea Reaper' The grim reaper of the ocean and refit her as such.

[Jib]

entertaining! thanks to everyone for sharing background tales!

[Red John]

. . . somedays I'm lucky to remember my own name let alone where I . . . and it's probably better that way . . . just saying, mates . . .

[Mission]

. . . somedays I'm lucky to remember my own name let alone where I . . . and it's probably better that way . . . just saying, mates . . .

See and I thought your backstory would include being a genius-level mastermind serial killer who came from California and got bored with that so he decided to became a pirate.

[Bright]

Story of Bright's colors

The History and Traditions of Skull Art

Within the Military of the USA, our warriors have incorporated SKULL ART into a brand of brash, self - assured art work that is typical of the American spirit of the Frontier and High seas adventure which dates back to American colonial times.

Soldiers and Marines, Submariners and Sailors, Aviators and Pilots have created and continue to create and paint insignias often without official authorization, but part of a unit's esprit - de - corps.

Nowhere is skull art more prevalent than in the U.S. Special operations community and skull arts originals and lasting legacy to it, which this document will chiefly address. It is representative of the Esprit de Corps... Skull's brandished via patch or paper send a message right away, "death to our enemies and we fear not death," all in one tidy little package without any verbalization. It was understood universally - whether the fight is in on the High Seas of Early Colonial America; deep within Japanese occupied China or in the present day middle east.

Ironically it was the pre colonial American Privateers who first modified their privateer Ensigns from 13 stars and stripes (representing the 13 early 1700's American Colonies) to fly a Skull and Cross Bones Art for the Americas. A Privateer is a sailor with a "letter of marquee" from a government, which "allows" the sailor to plunder any ship of a given enemy nation. Technically a privateer was a self employed soldier of fortune paid only by what he plundered from an enemy and thus, supposed to be above being tried for piracy. Most often, privateers were a higher class of Sailor with either naval or maritime service under his belt and came from good families. Privateers include Buccaneers (originally a term for those privateers who fought against the Spanish, later a general term for pirates of the Atlantic, specifically the Caribbean. The Buccaneers were first hunters of pigs and cattle on the island of Hispaniola - and French Corsairs a term used for Christian and Muslim privateers in the Mediterranean between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Christian Corsairs were known as the Maltese corsairs and they took their orders from the Knights of St. John to attack the Turks and counter Barbary corsairs from North African states often "hired" by Muslim nations to attack Christian Corsair ships.

Early First evidence of Skull art Used by US forces commences as far back as 1692 with Colonial American Privateer Thomas Tew who was a licensed Privateers man from Rhode Island. His flag did not have a skull or even a bone, just an arm wielding a cutlass or scimitar. Tew like many privateers simply retained their old (Jolly Roger) symbols, although black became the favored color.

Sir Thomas Tew seemed to think it more polite to suggest violence in his flag rather than death, and took the image of the sword rather than skull or bones. The message however was no less clear regarding the fate of any who opposed his advance. The images on a pirate flag were designed to indicate a certain message. The skull was a sign of death, but a skeleton, often with horns, indicated a tormented death. A dart or spear was used to indicate a violent death in contrast to the bleeding heart denoting a slow and painful death. The hourglass gave a threat that time was running out or that capture was inevitable. A raised fist or hand clutching a dagger or cutlass was to indicate a general willingness to kill. This was the image Tew chose. In the event that a ship was particularly evasive, or a pirate was particularly brutal, a red flag was raised to indicate that no quarter would be given (no lives would be spared) once the ship was captured. Tew's Ensign though not with Skull art was as recognizable on the High Seas as any earlier or later Pirates "Jolly Roger."

Though most people knew that Tew was a pirate, little is known about him prior to 1692 when he arrived in Bermuda and purchased a share in the sloop "Amenity". From there, he got the additional owners of the sloop interested in taking on a privateering commission from Bermuda Governor Isaac Richier. Together with the Royal African Company, they were to attack the French factory at Goori, in Gambia. Tew and his crew instead chose to sail off to the Red Sea where they attacked an Indian ship which they found to be very profitable. Tew settled in Rhode Island, but eventually was lured back to piracy. For when the outlets for legitimate privateering dried up at the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714, many privateers turned to piracy. He took command of a pirate ship and sailed off to the Red Sea. He was killed in June of 1695 while attacking a large ship belonging to the Great Mogul of India.

My black flag is that of U.S. Special operations community that rules the night not seen or heard as my flag or tattoo of my flag on my right shoulder is rarely seen as many special operations are not seen nor heard of. The Skull is "death to our enemies and we fear not death," all in one tidy little package without any verbalization. It is understood universally.

The crossed cutlasses behind the skull are the weapon of an operator that is silent and used as close quarters weapon know to be the choice of skilled operators, or ayes means privateers, as a tattoo you are marked for life and those colors never run and a form of permanent identification as well as a comment to a cause. Now, all my trade is ball and blade and blood forever more and the sting of salt and spray, the ocean’s howl and squall I’m a wretched soul, I'm a privateer, drowning out at sea I’m killing and I’m drinking my blue heart to black

[Bright]

Edward Bright AKA Old Sea Dog

Sailor of the Seven Seas (Oceanus Arcticus), (Oceanus Antarcticus), (Mare Septentrio Atlanticum), (Oceanus Meridies Atlanticum), (Mare Indicum), (Mare Septentrio Pacificum), and (Mare Meridies Pacificum).

Age: age and treachery will overcome youth and skill

Job: Jack of all trades Master of the Silent Dispatch

Land Owner: Plot with me name on it some were

Privateer Papers: neither confirm nor deny

Weapons: most dangerous weapons are them that you don't see,

Master with : pike, cutless, pistols, dirk, dagger, knives & swivel gun

Named after his great grandfather who sailed with Sir Francis Drake.

According to legend Edward was born at midnight on the festival of Samuin and is said to possess unworldly gifts.

He was sent to the colonies from Greenock Scotland, were he was to become a brewer and work the farms and breweries for his wealthy benefactor, who had sent him due to his killing of nine cattle rustlers at the age of fifteen, to prevent reprisals and a clan war. The new world brought him no reprieve from troubles as attacks by the Spanish and the English burning his benefactors crops, farms and pubs forced Edward to sea for his living working closely with the Brethren of the Carolina Coast, he is known to have served under Captain Long Tom on the Cornstyle Revenge, on board the Jolly Rover during two sieges of Georgetown with Captain Richard Kopcho,The Gamecock under Captain Abraham Whipple and with Captain Gypsy Jack master of the dreaded night attacks on board the Nomad across the Caribbean. It was on the Nomand that they tell of his right hand being cut off in a battle and upon their return to Carolina he grew another wile in some backwater Traven tended by Rose O’Malley.

He has seen action in many ports on the east coast and rumored to have dispatched over thirty men in service of the both the English and Spanish crowns with his bare hands not counting those who faced his steel in failing to carry out his gentle request to comply or die . Yea would not know by his soft spoken and easygoing manner that he has such a black heart toward those he feels have wrong him, and dispatches death in a blink of eye. He is seen as a kind man and lover by so many of the serving wenches in many a port or Traven. He knows his way around a ship as well as he does with the ladies. Some say it’s because he bees a good top man that knows how to work all the lines when it’s comes to calculated collisions. He has been seen most recently in the company of the Charles Town Few and rumored to be their Quarter master for his quick way of settling disputes among the crew.

Unfortunately documentation is lacking and we will probably never discover the truth with any certainty. The answer, if there is one, is lost in the mists of time, as is sadly the case for so many pirates and privateers that were successful in hiding that there were indeed on account or their true identity from history and those that they sailed with as well.

[Dread Pyrate Greyhound]

nice! I'm loving all these epic backgrounds! more people should post on this thread!

[Gunpowder Gertie]

Ahoy- here be Gertie's background.

Born in Ireland, as a child Gertie longed t' go t' sea, but knew it would be difficult because she was a girl. Eventually she married a young landsman. They opened a small tavern. The tavern did well, and Gertie and her husband were happy for a while. Then he was impressed into service by the Royal Navy. Using the old trick of dropping a shilling into his drink, he was dragged away. Gertie struggled on, kept the tavern going. Her young man eventually returned- a deserter. In order to make some money he joined a band of smugglers... and was caught in his first raid. He was hanged. Gertie was captured also, and branded with a P for associating with pirates.

She sold the Tavern and swore revenge on the Royal Navy. She purchased an ancient leaky sloop, renamed it the Retribution...and she and her motley crew sail the seas, preying on whatever ships she can, and making life difficult not only for the Royal Navy, but for the Governor and his soldiers as well.

[LadyBarbossa]

Oooo... Right wicked there, Gertie. :)

And a right good story there, too, Bright.

~Lady B

[Mission]

was the editing feature removed? Because for some reason I can't find it, and I'd like to remove/edit my two posts.

AFAIK, the edit function still works. However, I will be happy to delete the posts for you if you like. Tell me the post number(s) you want removed so that I only take out the ones you don't want. (This number is in the upper right hand corner of the post - looks like #xx - for example, this is post #117.)

[Dread Pyrate Greyhound]

was the editing feature removed? Because for some reason I can't find it, and I'd like to remove/edit my two posts.

AFAIK, the edit function still works. However, I will be happy to delete the posts for you if you like. Tell me the post number(s) you want removed so that I only take out the ones you don't want. (This number is in the upper right hand corner of the post - looks like #xx - for example, this is post #117.)

Thanks.... But I would be more interesting in the editing.... Then I posted asking about where the button went.... and i just found it two seconds later and realized fro some reason it's only letting me edit this post? what's up with that?

Edited June 1, 2013 by Dread Pyrate Greyhound

[Mission]

It looks to me like the edit function doesn't work on older posts for regular users. (I'm not sure what the age of the post cutoff is, but I tried it with one of my regular IDs and I found I couldn't edit something I wrote years ago.) There's got to be a setting for that somewhere in the controls - something they must have added during one of the upgrades. I doubt Stynky Tudor set it that way on purpose, but I don't know. If you really want to pursue that one, you'll have to contact him since he sets the policy of the board.