The morning came lazily as it usually tends to do, and you feel somewhat refreshed. Still sore, but refreshed. Mary’s home is cozy and comfortable as usual, though she goes to great pains to ensure that it is. After refusing to let you stay at your home alone in case something would go wrong with your healing injuries, she forced you into her home where would remain until you are sea-worthy. The sand-worn floorboards beneath your bare feet felt oddly smooth, as the grain of the wood protruded ever so slightly from the wear as you made your way into the kitchen, trying to roll your shoulder and stretch your side. The minute cracking of skin halts your attempt promptly, a small wet mark seeping through your bandaged side.

With a sigh, you plunk yourself down into the lonely kitchen chair, smelling the sweet aroma of a late breakfast that wafts in the air around you. Mary hums diligently as she hovers above the small stove, happily filling the room with a jaunty tune as she prepares the food. You lean back and stare up at the ceiling a moment before closing your eyes and rubbing your eyes, adjusting to being awake. Upon returning your vision to the ground, you see your affects leaning against the wall near the door; your sabre, belts and pistols. Your coat hangs above on a peg set in the wall, your hat sitting atop it.

>Sit and wait for some breaky
>Begin conversation with Mary
>Retrieve thine sword, fair Captain.

>>29464773
>Sit and wait for some breaky
Enjoy the morning and morn meal.

You lean foreward in your chair, placing your elbows on the table in front of you. The worn, but sturdy piece of furniture feels good supporting your weight. You are oddly clear of mind as you sit idly at the table; just happy to be where you are, living the life you chose. You had been plagued with doubt for a long while after the initial transition from navy to pirate, but as you sit here, in your own little slice of the world… everything feels right.

“G’mornin’ James. I bet ye’ fancy a bit of breakfast eh?” Mary sings as she turns around, hot skillet being carefully transported to the table.

“Aye, thanks kindly Mary.” You respond, your stomach growling at the sight.

You and Mary converse about idle-nothings while you eat, just enjoying the company of each other as the morning saunters on towards the noon-hour. With your stomach full and your mind at ease, you come to shuffle your position in your seat, making yourself comfortable.

“My, yer lookin’ quite spry this mornin’ James. Ya feel better?” Mary inquires, gathering up the skillet and utensils for cleaning.

“I do, aye. I’m feeling much better, thanks Mary.” You respond, watching her busy herself beside the wash pan.

However, a knock is at the door, swift and rapt. Not intrusive, but a knock that sounds important none –the-less.

>Answer the door
>Let Mary get the door
>Ignore them
>Yell for them to come in

>>29465257
>Let Mary get the door
it's her house, after all
but be ready to react, who knows what it could be

File: 1389563473037.jpg-(1.8 MB, 3585x2709, Sloop.jpg)

1.8 MB JPG

The rapt continues a second time, as you look towards Mary and then the door. Mary returns your gaze with a raised eyebrow and an inquisitive face. She quickly turns to the door and opens it, revealing the face of Alesa Bonnet behind it.

“Morn to ya Mary, I’m needin’ to talk te James.” She request.

“Oh, of course.” Mary responds.

You stand up from the table and head to the door, stooping over to grab your affects from their place leaning against the wall. You walk with Bonnet as you secure your belt, shifting it around your waist until your sabre hangs in the right place. She is not talking very much, which is odd, and it worries you. She takes you down to the beach, where a large number of the Captain’s crews have merged together.

“Alright, alright, quiet down now lads and lasses. James’ here now.” She clamours above the mumbles of the crowd.

“Now what’s this then?” You speak.

Somewhere within the crowd, a voice comes above and says “Ahoy there Cap’n. We be squabblin’ o’er who be getting’ this here sloop.”

The heads of man turn towards the empty ship that is docked and anchored in the lagoon, still in the same place after it was towed in from the battle. It was a French sloop-of-war, in good shape save for some holes and a cracked hull where you had rammed her with the Abbey. No damage exists below her waterline, so she still floats as she should.

It is apparent that there are some aspiring captains within the crews of the three ships, and all want some part of the sloop. Alesa stands to the side of the crowd, arms crossed and looking on expectantly, her brother Oscar stands behind her with his hands together.

>I get the ship, as the one who cleared it of its previous owners
>Alesa’s men can divvy the ship
>Oscar’s men can divvy the ship
>No one gets the ship yet, it’s for someone else.

>>29465826
one of our guys gets the ship, and the two other ones get a good rank (vice cap.?) if they want

>>29465826
>>I get the ship, as the one who cleared it of its previous owners
we are greedy pirets after all and we did work fo it

You raise your hands up to quiet the crowd as you are prepared to make your deliberation.

“As my crew were the ones to clear the ship of its occupants, it goes to them.” You declare. You are greeted by whispered cheers and grumbles alike until a man shouts from somewhere in the mass.

“You just want it fer yerself!”

“I didn’t say the vessel was mine, friend. It belongs to me crew, they can figure out who’s bein given her helm, not I.” You respond quickly, pointing a finger in the direction of where the voice came.

As the crowd begins to disperse, your crew members hurriedly move to the tavern in a large group, clearly set on finding someone to captain the ship. Alesa sidles up to you, putting an arm around your shoulder and letting out a sigh.

“It’s hard bein’ a captain sometimes eh?” she quips, giving your shoulder a pat. “Right then. Off to the tavern eh?” She laughs, slipping past you, Oscar following soon behind her, giving a quick nod to you as he passes.

You stand on the shore, arms on your hips, as you look out to the sloop. It will need repairs before regular sailing could happen, as well as the crew problem. With no prisoners taken from the French Ships, the battle took its toll on your crew. You do not have enough to effectively man the Abbey and the French Sloop. You scratch your head in puzzlement, wondering just how you will be able to get enough crew to man the ship.

“Tortuga.” A voice behind you quips.

Your first mate stands behind you, leaning against a palm tree with his arms folded, a grin about his face.

“Aye… Tortuga.” You respond.

>Head out to Tortuga alone
>Head out to Tortuga with Alesa
>Head out to Tortuga with Oscar
>Try and get men a different way

>>29466263
>Head out to Tortuga alone
even if i'm not sure who that guy is, i don't think it's a good idea to bring him a girl or a rookie (especially if they're not interested in getting new recruits)

>>29466263
>>29466263
Head out to Tortuga alone

>>29466263
>Head out to Tortuga alone

>>29466367

what guy?

>>29466367
The guy suggesting to go to Tortuga was the first captain leaning against a tree there. Not some mysterious man inviting us somewhere.
>Head out to Tortuga with Alesa
but it is already decided by now i guess.

You walk up to Mary’s home, to which she greets you warmly.

“Mary, I’m heading off.” You say flatly.

“What? But your wounds, you are not ready!” she protests

“I must get a matter settled before it festers and causes trouble at home, dear Mary. You must trust me.” You respond.

She nods sullenly and gives you a gentle hug to avoid your wound. “As long as you come back in one piece, love.”

“I always seem to do, eh?” you reply, hoisting your coat onto your shoulders and sitting your hat atop your head. You turn to Mary one last time, standing waiting expectantly by the doorway. She looks up at you and smiles a devilish smile.

“Just as much the dashing rogue I remember.” She coos, adjusting your collar.

“More dashing by the minute, Mary.” You reply jauntily as you exit her home.

You make your way swiftly to the tavern and gather your men, making your best to avoid Alesa and Oscar. You only take a token crew, as you will need the extra space for the new recruits you are trying to find. Once aboard, you make due silently, but you know you will be missed before long. You just hope Mary can keep the peace while you are sailing east towards French Hispaniola. Once out of the lagoon of Green Turtle Key, you have several options in your route to get there.

>Sail to the east of the Bahamas, routing around Maguana Island and Henego
>Sail between the Bahamas, exiting west of the shoal and taking the Windward Passage
>Sail to the west of the Bahamas, taking the coast of Cuba eastward
>Sail through the shoal of the Bahamas, passing the Ragged Isle to the west and passing Isla Verde

>>29466720
>Sail through the shoal of the Bahamas, passing the Ragged Isle to the west and passing Isla Verde

>>29466720
i have no idea what i am choosing.
>Sail between the Bahamas, exiting west of the shoal and taking the Windward Passage

>>29466784

http://i.imgur.com/4iPYlLv.jpg

Have the map. It's in the pastebin

>>29466811
Yeah i know the map but that doesn't change anything. I still have no idea what i am choosing when i vote for these routes.

>>29466842

Find Green Turtle Key, then trace the route to Tortuga using the options given?

>>29466842
it really needs a "you are here" and a "you go there" point
nah actually, someone should draw the roads

>>29466925

One moment.

>>29467007

http://i.imgur.com/VfKkuan.jpg

You start on the left, going towards the bottom right.

>>29466919
>Find Green Turtle Key
The problem is that i cant. I looked before and failed and i failed now too. More than that even if i know the routs, i have no knowledge of those routes.
Its not that important really, its just my lack of knowledge on the subject.
If it was a road on land and i were given general knowledge like mountains and fields and such i could wight the cons and prons. In this situation i am just randomly choosing because of my lack of knowledge. I was just stating that.

>>29467042
great, thanks!
>>29466720
>Sail to the west of the Bahamas, taking the coast of Cuba eastward

>>29467042
Thats nice, at least now i know where our home is.

We have three different answers. Can any consensus be drawn? Otherwise, I will go with the first chosen option.

>>29467210
>>29466784
ill change for
>Sail through the shoal of the Bahamas, passing the Ragged Isle to the west and passing Isla Verde

“We cut through the shoals, making for the Ragged Isle and Isla Verde.” You command as the sails are unfurled and the Abbey lurches into the wind.

“Isla Verde, Captain? The Spanish Fortress?” Your quartermaster asks.

“Aye. We have no qualms with the Spanish, and it’s the fastest route to Tortuga once we gain the Windward Passage.” You respond.

The trip is estimated to take nearly three weeks, but you are prepared. The sun sits high in the sky as you clear around Greater Abaco isle and cut into the shallow waters below. The Abbey streaks above the reefs and rocks as the winds grab its sails and thrusts it forwards with great speed. The trip goes expediently as you pass the cove rocks with the ghost ship you entered previously, before the meeting of the council. You pass through the open seas between the Ragged Isle and the shoal, gazing as you see it without the veil of the storm that accompanied you last time, nor the pursuit of Captain Aisnworth to hound your tail.

The Windward Passage hurls the Abbey across the seas towards the French controlled water of Western Hispaniola. The French are the weakest faction amongst the Caribbean Empire, but they are not to be trifled with. The wars of succession have ended, but that doesn’t stop angry Frenchmen from attacking whoever they deem an enemy. As you round the week off, you make sight of Tortuga in the distance; a small independent island offs the northern coast of French Hispaniola. There is a southern and northern harbour to Tortuga, the southern one being in a small straight of French controlled water.

The French have tolerated the presence of Tortuga for they do not see the worth in converting the people who are just criminals and degenerates. Just the people you are looking for.

>Lower the Jolly Roger, remain without a flag
>Fly a flag friendly to the French
>Fly an English Flag
>Wait till night to make for the Northern Harbour of Tortuga.

>>29467584
>Lower the Jolly Roger, remain without a flag

>>29467584
>Lower the Jolly Roger, remain without a flag
no flag, no questions asked

>>29467584
>Wait till night to make for the Northern Harbour of Tortuga.
I dont suppose flying a flag will spare us the questions so it is better to just stay unseen and make our way to the harbour nobody cares about such things.

>>29467584
>Wait till night to make for the Northern Harbour of Tortuga.
Hope not to be seen.
Going to sleep now. Get us a good crew you guys.

>>29467584
>Lower the Jolly Roger, remain without a flag

Nobody attacks civvies and merchants right?

>>29467584
>>29467711 here.

>>29467730 has a point, and we just don't have nearly enough men to do anything if things turn bad.
let's just wait for the night after all

[ this is going to be a short quest unfortunately, if I forgot to mention. Tortuga will likely be where it ends for the moment. I’ll pick us up on Tuesday. I wanted to be further in, but we had a really slow start. Tuesday at 2pm we will continue]

“Lower the flag, approach from the North.” You command.

A swift nod from the first mate is all it takes for your command to be brought to the right ears, and men begin scampering up the rigging to lower the Jolly Roger.

“It’s closing in on nightfall, but the sunset still paints us. We hope for the best.” You state.

With the sun behind the Abbey, you make your way towards the northern port of the island, no lanterns or lights aboard the ship. You can see French patrols in small schooners, and larger ships anchored within the ports of Hispaniola. As you make your way toward the island, a small Schooner glides by, and you hold your breath. It slips past without making so much as a noise, and heads on its course towards the island. You are uncertain of its nature or intent, but for the time being, it seems safe. The sun begins to dip below the horizon as night quickly overwhelms the sunset, the glowing port of Tortuga casting its light across the water. You seem to anchor without trouble, and when your rowboats make it to pier, you hand your toll to the book-keeper, and enter the town. It’s bustling with laughter, drinking and gunshots. Merriment and music fill the streets as the innumerable taverns line the streets up and down the island, all manner of men and women filling their halls and the streets between. You left for the island with your first mate and three others; the rest of your men staying aboard the Abbey, docked in the harbour.

cont. 1/2

File: 1389568983063.jpg-(60 KB, 600x400, Abbey.jpg)

60 KB JPG

>>29468091

“Where do ye want us beginnin’, Cap’n?” One of your men asks.

“Start with the taverns, make it subtle.” You reply. “And don’t get the drunkest ones, alright? That’s how I ended up with you lot.” You finish, laughing.

Your men give a hearty laugh and set about on their own, the recruiting beginning. The idea of bringing all their prospects to the pier in the morning. You give your first mate one last pat on the back as he heads off too.

You stand in Tortuga, the city of vices. It will be a night to remember, as they always are.

[I'm really sorry to cut it short, but I just got a rather urgent phone call, and need to head out to the hospital. I mentioned where we would begin on Tuesday. Thank you for being fans and being so patient with me. You are the best.]