TheIratePirate

Seas of Blood

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Oh, oh. I see! That's good to know, thanks. So midshipmen, if I'm getting this right, would usually be boys/men of a higher social class than, say, an ordinary seaman?

@AlysCole

The Royal Navy never was -quite- as aristocratic as the army, in which one might simply buy a commission if one had money. Navy officers needed specific training for which a specific inclination and talent was particularly prized, no matter how blue your blood was, tho it might incur you preferential treatment, not guarantee you a command. You did need to pass the examination for lieutenant before a board of captains to become an officer, and that could not be bought. Captains also had the freedom to take on whomever they pleased on as midshipmen. There was a clear incentive to taking on those who had letters (incurring favor with those up the chain of command to make Post, for example), but a less fortunate Captain, say one that might have a few debts might take one as a personal favor, or might take his own child, or the child of a career seaman as form of recognition and thanks for his service.

Seas of Blood

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It does help, thank you. I absolutely like the idea of more counterfeiting. Let's say she does manage to forge a letter of service stating she has more experience in the sea than she actually does (hence her gaining the position of midshipman). Having been the daughter of a seaman, she's done her research, but not enough. The large holes in her sailing knowledge might've been apparent when they actually set sail and so, during their course of travel, she's revealed to be less than an able midshipman.

When she lets slip that she'd forged the documents she came in with... what do you think a suitable punishment would've been, with the Navy? A demotion? A flogging? That would've revealed her as what she is straight out, which I could go along with.

@AlysCole

Oh! Midshipmen actually are taking lessons in navigation and mathematics from the sailing master and bookkeeper/purser. Sometimes the Captain himself oversees lessons to pass time on long voyages. The point of these lessons is to prepare the midshipmen for their examination for Lieutenant when they reach 18 years and 6 years at sea, guaranteeing a steady supply of competent officers. So as a midshipman you'd not only be allowed mistakes, you're not even expected to have experience. If you want a good example of a midshipman's life, look for a Mini Series called "Hornblower". Very good presentation of sailors and officers' life shipboard and a great source for learning the jargon. There is also a very young midshipman in the movie "Master and Commander". Both fantastic :)

Seas of Blood

I'm intrigued by this! Once the initial mutiny business is out of the way would we be sticking together as a group or would our characters be free to pursue their own agendas? It sounds like once the first chapter is over the RP will take on a more sandbox sort of nature.

@Dogematix

It -IS- shaping into something interesting! Yar! he! har! I'm thinking the crew would likely stick together, whether aboard of ashore, because every man or woman (I'm not forgetting you, ladies!), of any capacity, is very important to the working of the ship. Can't do it short handed. Those who remain on land will likely be those who are limited in their posting time/availability or those who wish to be anchored ashore. There will be plenty to do on land for anyone who wants it however. A town isn't built in a single day, nor can it be done without the resources brought in by the ship either way... mind you, there isn't a pirate alive who doesn't have an agenda all his own! ;)

Seas of Blood

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Ah, I missed that little tidbit. I like the idea of her masquerading as a fifteen to sixteen-year old boy to serve in the Navy, perhaps in the foolish hopes of finding adventure and all that bull. She'd have been a Junior Seaman in the Navy before the mutiny, maybe?

She'll probably try to keep up the charade, afterwards. I'll see about fleshing out the character. That is, if she's a go!

@AlysCole

Oh she's totally a go, not a moment's hesitation.

If it helps, in the Royal Navy there are two or three positions a 15-16 year old might hold. Indeed the base seaman is one of them, but there also the powder monkeys (generally even younger), the steward/cabin boy, and there are midshipmen, which are a little more interesting if you'd care to do a little forgery with that "letter of service", but would actually get you trained in the finer arts of sailing a ship. Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll do great!

Seas of Blood

This sounds like it could be fun. Consider me interested! As for a character... how's an uneducated, hotheaded rigger/sailor sound like?

I was thinking she'd be the daughter in a line of lowly sailors, who decides to take to the seas after a huge argument broke out between herself and her mother. When she'd heard of the ship sailing out into new lands, she had managed to weasel her way on and sign on as a rigger. Her... charismatic personality might have had something to do with it.

@AlysCole

If she's thinking of singing up with the navy (the ship is Navy until the mutiny), her charismatic personality probably won't be the saving grace she needs. She'd need to pass-off as a man, at least until the officers are dealt with. As a passenger however, she could have indeed run off to make a life for herself in the colonies. After that point, I doubt the pirates would be able to refuse her anything. Like... ever. ;)

I'd be interested as well.

I have a rough outline for a character. A Dutchman who was formerly a sporting competition shooter back in Holland. I was thinking of having him as just a passenger on board but could also enroll him as a simple sailor if it is more convenient for the plot. The Dutchman's reason for coming aboard is he's on the run and wanted for murder back in Holland, but managed to bribe his way out of the country with his competition winnings and made his way to England and plans to start a new life in the Caribbean.

As far as the setting goes I'm open to just about anything but certainly support a more historically accurate type of RP. If I can comment on the format of the RP I'm much more of a character based RPer rather than scaling things up to a nation RP but I really like the idea of settling an island with characters taking on roles to help the island prosper.

Of course before I get ahead of myself I'll await any sort of green light from the GM.

@Dismas

And green light you have. Could use more sailors. As much hardships as a career in the navy might provide with, the Service provided for a salary and three meals a day if nothing else, and they are not likely to ask too many questions. After all, a volunteer was better than prison dregs or the press no matter what!

Seas of Blood

@TheIratePirate A historical roleplay, eh? I've always wanted to sink my teeth into one, and You can't go wrong with pirates.
So, character... hm... what to do... what to do. Oh, I have an idea, how about a powder monkey whose ironically has a loose cannon personality? Played around with an angsty/troubled teen archetype once, and right when I got a feel for him, the roleplay ended. Say, I give it another try?

@beyond visions

Does sound good! If you literally want to handle powder, he could be the gunner's mate.

Seas of Blood

things are definitely shaping up!


Quartermaster: @POOHEAD189
Sailing Master: TBD
Boatswain: TBD
Master Gunner: @JDolan
Surgeon: @aviendha
Cook: @Andreyich
Sailor:

Passenger / Information broker: @Lady of Lore

@Dragonbud: I did a stupid and did not notice your interest in surgeon too. Would you be interested in Sailing Master or Boatswain? Or perhaps... erm... a chaplain worried about our eternal souls, a master carpenter for repairs, even an able seaman would be useful!

Seas of Blood

Definitely interested, probably as surgeon, but other roles work too.

@Andreyich

Aviendha nabbed Surgeon already, but you're most welcome to Sailing master, Quartermaster, Boatswain, Sailor (there are specialties like a topman for example), ship's cook too! Most welcome tho!

Seas of Blood

Soon! I just need time to write a good character and introduction post to set the lore and tone in place, but since I have a new contract beginning on monday, it may take a little. Definitely in the coming week tho!

Seas of Blood

Hi, I'm new to the site, but a veteran with RP- I would love to take on the role of Sailing Master, or Surgeon. For the former, an astronomer who has settled for the seas though longs for the skies, for the latter, a disgraced female physician denied access to proper medical training past a certain point. Would either be acceptable?

@aviendha

Hello @Aviendha!

We could use as many and varied characters as possible of course! Can you play both?
Kidding! I think the surgeon one is the better one as it makes all the sense to me, but only because a sailing master is a profession in it's own right. Usually a sailing master is career sailor who's eventually been made a master's mate and made his way to the rating himself over years. Somehow I doubt that an astronomer would have wanted the years swabbing decks it involves. Unless he was swept up by a press gang while celebrating in a tavern as an astronomy student, which is quite possible. That path would traditionally be male tho. Or s/he might be a passenger. A scientist with an interest in astronomy and natural philosophy on his/her way to study the natural wonders of the americas and look at the stars from another angle and would thus be able to handle charts, taking on the position -after- the mutiny?