"Thank you Monsieur, it is a pleasure doing business with you."

Jean  happily accepted the gold and the invitation and ordered Monsieur Lavigne to oversee unloading, then retired to his cabin to bathe, shave and chose a suitable outfit for the ball.

Just a note that you have 1 more action after your port action before I forget.

OOC: Jean will see about getting those long guns fitted.

The shipwright nodded, and signalled his aids to install the long guns on the Enchanteresse. "Bien sur, monsieur! Êtes-vous certain? It will be difficult to retrofit another ship with them as they will be fitted for this ship. I do know someone in Saint John that might be able to transfer the long guns to another vessel though, so not all is lost."

I will deduct 3 gold for the modification if you're still interested.

OOC: everything else alright?

"Ah... well, thank you for telling me," Captain Lefanu said. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Still I am pirate hunting so I need every advantage; fit those guns on L'Enchantresse Monsieur."

---

Jean had returned to his ship with a face like thunder after his humiliation at the ball. With most of the crew themselves enjoying festivities with the locals the Captain merely gave a clipped nod at the night watch (very surprised to see him back so early) and retreated to his cabin to sulk and eventually sleep off the brandy.

They'd weigh anchor in the morning.

You soon get word from Lavigne that the guns have been installed, and that he saw no point in staying at Petit Goave. "Do you wish to leave now, monsieur? We could use the time to get ahead of the competition while everyone is busy drinking and dancing."

Before you can answer, the officer of the watch reports that a messenger has come from the Governor's mansion. He hands Lavigne a note, who hands it over politely to you:

Letter from the Marquis des Marais
Capitaine,
Please accept my sincerest thanks for your help in making my
Mardi Gras festivities a success. My guests spoke very highly
of the vintage you brought us, and it pleases me to no end
when my guests enjoy themselves.
I was somewhat perplexed at your hasty departure, so I hope
that this finds you before you set sail. I can only imagine
that duty has come knocking for you to us leave so hastily. I
have attached a small letter to allow you safe 'diplomatic'
passage under my seal, which I hope will save you any trouble
with any military commander in the Caribbean.
As always: fair winds.
Veuillez accepter, monsieur, l'expression de mes sentiments
les meilleurs,
Claude Henri Louis Clément des Marais

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:51, Fri 04 Mar 2022.

"Très bon Monsieur Lavigne." Jean said, gazing sadly at the distant mansion from which the faint sounds of music and laughter carried through the evening air. With a sigh he turned back to the Mardi Gras celebrations and addressed his first mate. "Ready to raise sail. We make for Trinidad."

At that moment the messenger arrived with the letter. Taking it, and giving the man a polite "merci Monsieur" in return Captain Lefanu scanned the contents, nodded to himself, slipped the letter into the pocket of his coat then returned to his cabin to begin charting a course across open seas to Trinidad.

Wednesday, February 11th, year of our Lord 1671 - Ash Wednesday

The Enchanteresse sets sail, leaving the rich French aristocratic elite's music and laughter behind her as she journeyed into a dark Caribbean seas with only the stars to guide her, for indeed even the moon had almost disappeared, leaving but a sliver of silver in the night sky as thin as a rounded sail.

"Ever notice that the moon is nearly always dark le mercredi des cendres, mon capitaine?" asked Lavigne as he breathed in the cool night air. He was transfixed before the sea of stars above them as the crew of the 1st watch were replaced by the middle watch crew. Sensing his captain's mood and hoping to tease some information out of him, Lavigne continued: "I shall be giving up grog durant le carême, what about you?"

"Qui Monsieur Lavigne," Jean agreed. He didn't quite smile but he nodded. "I shall set aside my wines and brandies before Easter. It is good for the soul - and the head!"

Jean glanced up at the blanket of stars overhead, sparkling like the diamonds in La Marquise des Marais's earrings. The cool air was working it's magic, peeling away at the fumes of too much drink and the heat of embarrassment that clung to him like kelp to an anchor. He regretted not trying to laugh it off and danced with the governor's wife, for she was lovely indeed... but it was passed now, and he tried to turn his thoughts to other things.

Unfortunately 'other things' seemed to be the lovely Madam Chatelain, who danced through his mind unbidden. Between them the two beauties, one fair and French the other dark and English seemed have colonised the inside of his head, leaving very little room for intelligent thought.

Captain Lefanu shook his head, trying to clear it and lightly tapped his foot on the deck of the Enchantresse. This was the only lady he should be thinking about for the moment, keeping her in fighting trim in the hunt for the Esmeralda.

Lefanu knew well enough that if Lavigne was sacrificing his grog, that perhaps he wasn't sacrificing other spirits. As if on cue, the first mate frowned at the list of drinks that Lefanu would be abandoning, so he quickly changed the subject: "I think it's a good thing we left when we did, I think that woman's new ship could spell trouble for us indeed... for all we know she's hunting us now..."  he glanced warily back at Petite Goave's lights in the distance. It would take a look-out quite a good eye to notice a sail in this darkness.

Captain Lefanu looked at his first mate, his expression startled. "New ship? Madam Chatelain has departed the Merry Widow?"

"Ehh.. oui monsieur," Lavigne said looking rattled. "I'm told she squeezed nearly every penny she had, including the Widow in order to do it. Friend of mine at the docks said as much."

"Sacre Bleu...," Captain Lefanu shook his head in disbelief. "Well another reason to avoid her I suppose. Keep a steady lookout Monsieur Lavigne, we can't take chances."

He kept watch himself for a while yet, lest a galleon's sails appear too quick on the horizon.

OOC: I know you're heading towards Trinidad, but just wondering what your course will be for the next move:

Petit Goave --> Caribbean Sea --> Caracas or Basse Terre?

OOC: Through the Caracas zone I think - I'm not quite ready to fight a pirate frigate!

Should be a quick turn then! Excellent, we'll have you finish your move in the Caracas sea zone, which means next turn Trinidad Sea Zone - Port Action (and possibly back to sea).
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:04, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

Thursday, February 12th, year of our Lord 1671

Your mate’s fears that the Sirensong might take the opportunity to hunt you down never materialised, leaving the Enchanteresse to sail all night, and arriving in the seas near Caracas near sunrise. Lavigne gently raps at your cabin door, asking for permission to continue Eastward towards Trinidad…

Thursday, February 12th, year of our Lord 1671

L'Enchantresse is making a brisk pace through blue waters as we make for fair Trinidad. Our quarry is the Esmeralda. I admit part of my soul sympathises with the rebels who took her for I have never met a slave trader who wasn't vermin. Still the Spaniards will pay a bounty for their galleon back...

---

"Aye Monsieur Lavigne keep our course for Trinadad and have the crow's nest on lookout for a sail. That galleon is out here somewgere, I can feel it in my marrow."

Captain Lefanu had deliberately avoided all talk of war and striven to remain an independent mariner but he wondered if a Spanish port would welcome a French flagged ship for much longer. Returning the Esmeralda would perhaps keep his options open...
This message was last edited by the player at 17:07, Tue 15 Mar 2022.

“Oui monsieur,” said Lavigne, noting the Captain’s worried brow. “If it helps, Captitaine, I don’t think the slaves will put up much of a fight. The Enchanteresse is far more nimble, even if she can’t match her cannon wise. I know how hard a Galleon is to manoeuvre and those slaves don’t have the experience needed to keep her. ”

With that he orders the wheelman to stir a course due East, heading into Trinidad’s territorial waters.


OOC: will need a scouting check from you to see if you can spot her.

OOC: 17:08, Today: Jean Lefanu failed (no successes) using 2d6 with the Target Number system with a target of 5 with rolls of 4,2.  Scouting

Dang...

Investigating rumours, sometimes leads to disappointment. As the men scout ahead for any signs of a Slave Galleon acting weirdly; be it trouble sailing, or the signs of a rowdy, undisciplined crew, it soon becomes evident that the Slaver might not have been in distressed as previously rumoured.

“Mon Capitaine,” said Lavigne after the sun passes its highest point in the sky, “perhaps it would be best to land in Trinidad?”

"Qui, make for port Monsieur," Captain Lefanu says, smarting from his failure and trying to hide it. At least they might learn more this way.

Empty handed, the Enchanteresse makes landfall in Trinidad where the smell of tobacco and rum waft through the port amidst the spicy creole foods cooking during the noon hour. Lefanu had half expected to see a Spanish frigate in port, but no such warship was docked or anchored at the harbour. Perhaps it was called away north, called in to fight the pirates in the area, or to investigate the rumours that Nicholson had indeed tied his lot with the French. If war was coming, Lefanu couldn’t tell how or why it would start in Trinidad.

Several merchants were peddling their wares near the busy dockyard. “Tobacco! Get your tobacco! 1 gold piece a crate, best tobacco in the Caribbean!” Cried one such merchant, a rotund, red-faced man.

Lefanu is about to approach the merchant when a Spanish official comes running down the docks, “Praise the lord, señor! I have need of a swift vessel to bring tidings to Havana...”



OOC:

1 gp for a crate of Tobacco Or 3gp Embargoed goods for Nassau
3gp for a barrel of Rum Or 3 gp Weapons for St. Maartens
3gp for a crate of Bananas Or 3gp to bring a family of Ductch Fugitives back to St. Maartens
1 gp for a crate of Tobacco
3gp for a crate of Textiles
1 gp for a crate of Tobacco



"Drums of War"
Earn: 15gp
Requires: No Spanish Bounty & Influence Check
Location: Trinidad

Enemies of Spain are plotting an attack on
Havana. Claim this mission and inform the
governor of Havana by taking a port action
there. This completes the mission. Spain
immediately goes to war with a random nation.

Jean looked at the letter and it's bearer unhappily, suspecting the doom they brought. "Alas Monsieur I have other business in these waters abd shall not be sailining west soon."

The official seemed perplexed, then panicked. "But señor, I just drafted a report of the upmost importance. A Spanish Merchant was just raided north of here, and it witnessed the destruction of the Esparenza! The French just sank Admiral Valasco's ship!" He suddenly looked at Lefanu, realizing that he was also French, and his panic turned into something more sinister. "You are one of them! ¡This is war tú Francés cerdo!"

The official stormed off, bellicose and angry, but powerless at present.