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 Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:14 pm
Dear Journal, It has been an interesting six months here on the ship. I have learned much about sailing and fighting. The captain also uses me for a good bit of scouting. Unfortunately we've been hit with a great deal of fog lately, so flying has been on hold until I can safely find my way back to the ship. My new home is small but I have made arrangements as comfortable as they allow. Darling Nicky sleeps on a shelf above my own bed with all my statues for the shrine. Luckily I was able to put my shrine up in a cubbard so things wouldn't fall out. William seems to think its rather interesting but I doubt I could convert him to the faith. I have met some interesting crew members, including my roommate. His name is William Welkin, though he prefers to be called Will. His curse is that of a weasel, which has granted him two more arms and a lovely tail. He and I are on the same page when it comes to questions about each other, if I don't ask, neither will he. We both keep our secrets to ourselves. More intersting is the craftsman on the ship. He is blind, the curse of a bat apparently. But his work is excellent. The other rigging rat on the ship is Wiktoria, another bat curse. She is blessed with wings and ears of the bat, so I suspect she is an excellent night fighter. Good thing as my sight isn't so great at night. The others on board are Jasper, an iguana man who works on the deck; Valentine, a crocodile man who is an excellent gunner but that maw on his stomach worries me; and Amie, a lovely cat woman who is also a deckhand. Amie seems rather intersted in conversation but I keep myself in check, least I reveal something about my past. Only the captain knows the truth behind my curse, and I'd rather like to keep it that way. Thinking about it now I wonder how Ramla is doing without me? I hope to make a decent amount of gold out here, to which I can give back to my community and to the gods. Until next time, may Mami Wata watch over me..... Manakel Masozi
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:50 am
Dear Journal, What a battle. The ship came out of no where, as we apparently did and the captain ordered the attack. I took into the air and crushed a few of the scallywags but I had to keep back a few times due to pistol fire. William seemed to enjoy himself as well as the captain himself. During my fly throughs I made off with some of their rope. Now we can give the rigging a better chance of withstanding the next long sail. I hope the captain obtains more rope in the next port. We need some fresh stores of it. Captain also gave order to eat whatever body was left, less we eat it later when the cook serves it up. Perhaps some should be disgusted by this but I can live with it. After all, I've eaten birds and would that not also be canibalism? Until my next moment in time.... Manakel Masozi
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:47 pm
Dear Journal,
Not long after our battle with the other pirate ship, we ran into a nice fat merchant ship. I actually decided to get a bit physical with this battle and fought decently well. We easily defeated it but it sank in the process. Pity, we could have used some supplies from it to get back to port. William is all proud of a cut near his eye, not proud of how he got it but proud that he got one. I am lucky thus far as to not have been given but a few bruises.
The captain had us move as fast as possible with the promise of promtions. I'd like to think that I would make Look Out one day, as I am the best suited for the job. I dream sometimes, of perhaps being a great Navigator. Maps are made as if you are looking down upon the world. And when I fly, I am looking the same way, so it makes more sense to me. But, William is coming now, and Darling demands her dinner. Until my next chapter in life.....
Manakel Masozi
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:07 am
Mana retired to the cabin he and William had shared for the past 6 months. It was more home to him that even his old room back in Haiti with Ramla. He laid down on his bed and got out a book to read while he waited for William to return. Darling Nicky looked down from her perch above his head and mewed at him. He smiled up at her and got her down for a good brushing.
He looked out the porthole and into the stars that glittered in the night and sighed. What did his future hold for him? Would William still be there? Would he still be there for that matter? He had no idea what the future would bring to him but he hoped his friends would still be at his side. For now, he waited for William to return with the promise of a meal that didn't consist of fallen enemy's flesh.
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Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 3:22 am
Will didn't keep Mana waiting long. He entered the cabin only a few minutes after his friend, one wooden bowl in each hand.
"Dinner's up, mate," he announced cheerfully, passing one of the bowls to his friend. "Still some veg in the store, so at least it ain't meat again. An' we'll be 'ome soon."
Settling into his hammock to eat, though, he felt decidedly less cheerful than he sounded. The worries from earlier still plagued him, along with thoughts of Dorothy, and the future seemed more clouded and full of dread than ever. What if the Captain somehow got to know of his (admittedly nebulous) plans at a bad time? What if he didn't want to hear about the wherefores? And even if all that went smoothly, would Mana even agree to accompany him?
Only one way to find out.
"...D'ye think we'll always be on th'Cuore, Mana?" he asked between mouthfuls, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. "Maybe not on this very ship, but...always in Teneck's crew?"
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Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:30 am
Gratefull Mana moved to sitting position in his bed and took the bowl. It was nice not have just meat every now and then. He noticed the change in mood of his roommate, usually William was all smiles and cheers after a successful battle. He had even been cheerful about that cut on his eye. His question seemed answer some of the birdman's wondering of his friend.
"I do not know William. I came to the ship because I had no other choices in life. Had there been other options, maybe I would have done something different."
He smirked at his friend, knowing him too well despite the short time they had been together.
"What is on your mind, my friend?"
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:25 am
Will sighed. "Lot o'things, Mana me old mate. One of 'em I can't do much about righ' now - " And that was Dorothy, far away and in an uncertain state. " - but another one I wanted t'talk t'ye about. Now don' take this th'wrong way an' think I'm plannin' mutiny or any o'that nonsense, but...well, I reckon I'd like me own ship some day. There's...someone I need to look for, an'...well, I can't see meself bein' a riggin' rat all me life. Call it a dee-loo-shun of gran-dyoo-ur or whatever ye like, but there t'is."
The little meow from around boot level prompted him to lift Scrap into his lap. "I don't want t'lose Weasel, though," he explained, "that's the thing. I'd need some way o'makin' this thing permanent. That way the Cap'n wouldn't need t'chase me down or anythin', and maybe I'd cut a deal with 'im fer part o'me haul. Hah - Admiral Teneck, 'e'd like that. This is where you come in, mate. Your gods and your magic men. I reckon they might be able t'help me wi'Weasel, makin'im stick, like, an' you - if I left, mate, and sailed off on me own ship...would ye want te sail with me?"
He felt a lot easier now he'd asked, so he grinned again, and added, "I reckon you're just the kind o'boy I'd need on me side."
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 2:28 pm
Mana listened patiently to everything Will said. It was best if he was just left to talk until he ran out of words. It got more of the truth out of him. As usual, he held to their friendship and never pressed issue with what Will couldn't do anything about nor who he needed to find. But he did consider his other two ideas. He finished his soup and looked ever so thoughtful for a moment.
"Well, William, I think its a brilliant idea. I think you would make a fine captain. And I would gladly join you." He grinned a bit. "Better a devil you know than one you don't. How about this deal to ease your mind. I will go in half with you to buy a ship once we get a fair haul. I don't require a high position for this, frankly I'd prefer to be a navigator. Anything to keep me in the air."
He considered the other part of Will's thoughs, making the Weasel in him a permanent entity.
"As for making Weasel a constant in your life, maybe my family could help you. I know Ramla is a Manbo of our area but you would need a few things first. You need a physical part of the animal that bit you, something that can have a charm put on it. Maybe some of its hair or even its tooth. You must also allow one of the Houngan or Manbo to look in on Weasel. They have to know what they are dealing with before they start messing with the spirits. Dangerous work you know. Also you have to think of a way to pay them. They will name the price so expect anything from performing a task to a bit of your blood for rituals. Every request is different."
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:02 pm
Nodding slowly, Will stroked Scrap's ears as he listened to Mana's explanation. "Right," he said, when the bird man had finished, "I think I understand that. I'm not afraid o' givin' whatever's necessary, so let 'em ask me an' I'll do me best. I got a tooth off the weasel, too - when th'liddle bastid bit me, I smacked 'im so 'ard one of 'is teeth came out in me arm. It was still there when I woke up on th'ship, so I kept it. Hahah. Damn glad I did now."
He stood up carefully, lowering Scrap to the floor, and rummaged through his things. "Got it 'ere somewhere...ah, tha's it. There."
As he held out his hand, it became clear that a gleaming, creamy-white tooth was nestling in his outstretched palm.
"Beauty, ain't it?" he chuckled. "An' I never thought it'd be so useful, neither. Anyway - tha's the first thing t'think of, since Cap'n'd never let us go if me curse were t'fade away the minute I left. Then we c'n look out fer a ship. ...I'm glad of yer help, Mana, more'n glad. Couldn't imagine sailin' wi'out ye."
He was grinning broadly now, feeling as though the world was back on his side. Scrap meowed and pawed at his leg, and he laughed. "What? You 'ungry again already? Good grief..."
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:19 pm
"You are a good friend, William. One of the few I've ever had in my life. When we make a trip close to Haiti I will ask if we can stop there a few days. I'm sure Ramla can help us. And it will be nice to see her again. And as my curse..His eyes hardened for a moment as the waves of memories flowed over him in a brief second.....well........is not of your nature, I don't see the captain being too upset with my leaving."
He thought of the African woman he had left behind and how she had encouraged him to go. He had been afraid, afriad of the big world he was about to enter, but she told him nothing could be gained if you never moved on. And Mana was glad he had taken her advice.
"As for the ship, I already have about 30 dubloons. A bit more and perhaps you and I can afford a brig. Some how I don't see you captain of a ship quite this large."
Nicky purred around Mana's feet before walking over to Scrap with a small mew. She rolled over on her back and pawed playfully at the other feline as her master spoke.
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 9:54 am
Watching Scrap and Nicky descend into a play-fight, Will grinned lopsidedly. The cut over his eye twisted oddly. "Nah, neither c'n I. I'd want t'know everyone by name, an' on a big ship I'd 'ave trouble. Makes it 'arder to be comrades wi'everyone, an' I don't want t'lead from high above. First among equals, tha's what a cap'n should be."
He wasn't sure about a ship that small, though. They'd be at a considerable disadvantage if they ever ran into, say, something the size of the pirate ship they'd fought not long ago.
"Where'd we get a crew?" he mused aloud. "I reckon people'd follow you, what wi'th'whole angel thing, but me? Who'd want t'sail under a cursed cap'n? I s'pose it's a good thing we'd only be able t'get a small ship, or we'd never find enough people t'run it."
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 4:13 pm
"You'd be surprised, William. During my stay in Haiti I heard of a ship captained by a dragon-kin. If they are willing to let a lizard that size be a captain, I think a weasel will be far less disconcerting. And its WHO the man is, William, not WHAT he is that makes a good captain. Prove to them you are worth your hide as a captain and they will respect you."
He thought about the next quesiton. Were would they go? Captain Teneck didn't exactly stop at many ports so his knowledge was slightly limited. But Mana was wise in the ways of understanding those who are pushed aside, neglected, and generally ignored by the main stream society. Even in a pirate's world, there are those treated worse than a builge boy.
"Well when we encountered that last pirate ship were we not near the show of Isla Olividada? I would suspect there would be a fair number there perhaps willing to sail. Not to mention we would always be accepting of those with differences that make piracy a rather hard living. I've heard of others who have it worse off than us. The mer-kin and even elves. Perhaps they would serve under you simply for the fact you understand the prejudice they have recieved all their lives."
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:28 pm
Will frowned, scooping Scrap up in one hand and cradling him in his lap. "Maybe yer right," he mused. "There's got t'be a few folks like - 'ey, watch where yer puttin' them claws, Scrap, yer liddle pudden'ead - got t'be a few as won't mind it, an' I always like t'think that any man can prove 'is worth no matter 'is looks." He grinned again: he was never down for too long. "Heh. I used to hate elves an' merfolk an' that meself, just 'cuz that's 'ow I were taught. Life looks a lot diff'rent when ye've got fur an' a tail. Don't it, liddle Scrap?"
"Mew!" Scrap offered cheerfully.
"There - and that's a feller as ought t'know!" Will laughed. "Well, I'm glad fer 'em now if they're more likely t'give us a chance. I just 'ope we can talk ole Teneck into it once we've got the money saved an' the experience under our belts. I dunno 'bout you, mate, but I don' fancy tryin' t'cap'n a ship wi' no command knowhow. I know what I'm like. We'd sink. In the harbour." He was exaggerating, of course, but the point was nonetheless sound. "It's a good dream, mate, fer when we're ready t'chase it."
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:00 pm
"I hate no one, I didn't think it was right for me to judge others on their looks." He stopped there, not saying he had always had wings and therefore could never judge another by their looks. He smiled at William, always a guy who could think of the brighter things in life. Maybe that is what drew Mana to him as the birdman was usually a rather depressing conversationalist. "That is is my friend. If not by experience, then we shall learn by example through Teneck. Despite the curse he is a good leader and I respect him. But for now, lets get some sleep. I can imagine Teneck will want us up early to check the sails again."
The birdman folded his wings carefully against his back and laid down onto his bed. His own furry friend curled up around his feet as they both drifted off into the nebulous of dreams.
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