To Arms

A speckle of tiny islets, rocky and close to the coast, dot the waters near Barenhaven. Mutton Head, Fisher’s Isle, Whorsey, Greater and Lower Poondicherry. The Navy patrols the shipping lanes this close to the capital, but rumours of smuggling and piracy abound. Craggy caves and dangerous reefs offer perfidious shelter to captains bold or mad enough to brave the treacherous tides. A small enough ship will never be caught by the Navy’s ponderous ironclads. And the pirate schooner hounding you is certainly small enough. It is also wicked fast.

Neither the Demeter nor the approaching vessel is equipped with guns, but you can see their crew on deck, wielding grapnels. You will not outrun them. The Captain appears and then hurries down to the engine room. You fire your pistols, then duck low to dodge the return fire.

Your ship jerks to a sudden halt, and the schooner is too fast. The enemy vessel cannot reduce its speed in time, crashing into you. The wood of their bow splinters and combat is joined.