Name: Yusuf ibn Al-Muhalamulim.
Age: 53.
Gender: Male.
Appearance:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/g2dKgU1.jpg[/img]
Personality: Yusuf is a calm and sensible man who is willing to think out situations before acting. He is quite civilized and much prefers diplomacy to the brutal actions of a pirate, however he does not deny their necessity in certain situations.
History: Yusuf was born to a rather wealthy Ottoman family. The family itself was a long line of slave traders that traded with all kinds, from wealthy farmers to sultans. Yusuf grew up among slaves, learning how to lead them and look after them. At first he quite liked the job of ordering slaves around but eventually it became boring, it appeared he much preferred an adventurous lifestyle. During the years of his early adulthood he took up a position on an Ottoman Navy vessel as it's quartermaster. In most other Empires he would have likely ended up as a simple deckhand, but it wasn't often that you had a man who wasn't a slave coming along to work a vessel. He quickly learnt the basics of Nautical warfare and navigation. He quite enjoyed long distance patrols and journeys, it also helped him practice his hobby of mapping.

After two decades he had managed to gain control of his own Ottoman Imperial Vessel, a frigate with 26 guns. A crew of 150 comfortably crewed his vessel. It is rumored that Yusuf's family resorted to less-than savory methods in order to get Yusuf such a good position and vessel. A decade passed on this vessel, Yusuf managed to win every single nautical engagement he was in. The Imperial Navy began to realize what a wonderful captain Yusuf had become and went about organizing his promotion and a even larger vessel, however this day never came.

Yusuf was 43 when pirates assaulted his vessel during the night. The enemy was already aboard by the time to 'alarm!' was cried. Yusuf emerged from his quarters, he had been awake far into the night working on his maps. "Stop!" Yusuf shouted and to his surprise, both the boarders and his men stopped and looked at him. Yusuf looked to the richest looking of the crew at exclaimed "I wish to parlay with your Captain!". Yusuf nodded to his crew and they sheathed their weapons. Then very rich looking man emerged from the pirate ship and walked over to Yusuf, after an exchange of kind greetings they entered the Captain's quarters and the two crews waited. 

When the Captains emerged, they had smiles on their faces and were engaging in casual conversation. It became known that Yusuf had managed to forge alliance between the two and that Yusuf's ship (The Jewel) was now to sail under a pirate's flag. The majority of the crew agreed (most of them were slaves), the ones who didn't were given a rowboat and a weeks supply of food and sent off in the direction of Constantinople. Thus began Yusuf's career of piracy.

Seven years passed and Yusuf had achieved a minor degree of fame, raiding Ottoman coastal towns and a few navy vessels. On this year however, Yusuf decided his greedy ally who had gotten him into piracy was becoming too much of a burden. Yusuf organized an meeting. Upon his ally arriving, a rowboat with two slaves and a man in one of Yusuf's spare sets of clothing was sent out towards the other ship, little did the now enemy crew know that it was loaded with gunpowder. The crew of the rowboat were willing to die a Martyr's death, and so they did. A brilliant explosion lit the night and the enemy ship began to sink. The majority of the enemy crew were rescued, except for the Captain who perished in the explosion. The crew were thrown into the brig where those who showed resentment to the now dead captain were recruited into Yusuf's crew. The rest were taken to land, given supplies and sent off in the direction of the closest town. Three years passed and Yusuf's story now continues on the anniversary of the beginning of his pirate career. Would this year be his last? Only time would tell.
Skills: Yusuf is quite a brilliant nautical commander, a slow and patient man who incorporated brilliant tactics into his sailing. Yusuf is able to inspire his crew, when dealing with non-muslim foes he'll often quote the qu'ran to inspire his crew. Average skills with sword and gun, preferring to let his crew fight.
Equipment: A flintlock pistol, scimitar, spyglass, sailing and mapping equipment.
Other: No.

I'm hoping this is a Captain and crew RP, instead of everyone being on the same boat as the former is what I prepared this character sheet for.