It soon became evident that the gales would force Lefanu’s hands. He didn’t think he’d actually make it to St. Maartens and make it to port safely. Several options were open to him however. He could continue sailing towards port St. John where tea was in high demand, and where it was said the shipwrights were gods who could refit a new ship with your old ship’s upgrades. Or he could turn west towards Basse Terre, do a port call in his adoptive home town, or turn around immediate and sail into George Town where he narrowly escaped a head on collision with Kitty Chatelain’s ship as she dashed out of port like a banshee on the tide.

He could also maintain the cap to St Maartens, but that would involve making his own luck, and he knew how fickle God could be when anyone tempted him with a small ship in the middle of a storm.

OOC: you don’t quite have enough moves to St. Maartens, you’d fall short of port and risk damage to your ship. If you do, you can roll seamanship and pray for two successes. :D

After driving himself to distraction studying the charts in an effort to divine a safe route Jean surrendered to inevitable. He summoned Monsieur Van Dyke to his cabin and poured the Dutchman a glass of brandy.

"I am sorry Monsieur but the sea and sky are against us and it is a foolish sailor who rolls the dice against God. We must make for a safer port until the seas are with us again."

The Captain rolled out the chart on his cramped desk, using a bottle to anchor the edges of the parchment. "Here,  Basse Terre. I'd avoided going that route before because word is the buccaneer Captain Hornigold sails those waters but even pirates can't sail storms without risks. We'll wait out the gale well there. I know the place well, even have a home there though the Enchantresse is my true home. I think we can find a market for some of our rum." Jean smiled ruefully. "I suppose at least it will give you and your family a chance to stretch your land legs."

“I’m sure the ladies will be pleased to hit the town come morning, Captain,” said Van Dyke senior as he considered the map. “I can always get some business done while I am there too. Come to think of it, a friend of mine inquired about our banking services not long before news of Valasco’s ship sinking left us stranded in Trinidad. He must have had a chance to make arrangements by now, and I can tend to him personally.”

"Très bien," Jean said, relaxing back into his chair and looking at Joost with considerable respect. For a respectable merchant and banker the man was better than most pirates at staying cool and thinking on his feet. "You are an enterprising man Monsieur!"

Shaking his head in amusement he continued. "I doubt we'll be in port more than a day or two at most but I'll send along a man if you need a bodyguard. James MacGann, my Second Mate. He's Scottish and a grumbler to the bone but he's honest as a sailor can be and a Protestant like you Dutch. I'll chaperone your ladies myself to make sure they come to no harm."

They'd need a chaperone alright. While Madam Van Dyke was simply a pleasant and plump Calvinist wife Julianna was as excitable as any twelve year old girl could be and eighteen year old Christina, though savvier than her baby sister was a true beauty who'd attract many a wandering eye. Jean expected he'd have a full afternoon ahead of him.

“Splendid! I can have a carefree business meeting while you show the girls the local textile shops..! Christina needs a new dress if we’re to show her off to proper society. Excellent!” The older man downed his brandy, and headed towards the door. “I’ll be sure to have them ready before breakfast, monsieur.”

Jean fought off a laugh. The man spoke as if they were visiting Amsterdam rather than a French colony full of rogues and n'er do wells. Still one had to admire his spirit!

"Well said mon ami, and good luck with your business meetings."

As it happened Jean Lefanu did know some of the finer tailors in Basse Terre. Besides his out multitude of hats, pantaloons and brocaded coats he had on an occasion or two purchased a dress for a lady admirer (he also knew the perfumers for the same reason.) There was a one very fine dressmaker in the town who would be sure to outfit the Van Dyke girls.

There was also the matter of the rum to deal with, as he said to Bernard Lavigne a few moments later when he stepped out on deck to take the wheel. "In a way it is a blessing in disguise; we can get more for the rum in Basse Terre than in St. Maartens."

“Tout à fait, monsieur,” said Lavigne between orders. The man had been listening to the discussions, and knew enough to change the ship’s heading and had the crew working hard to ensure they all reached Basse Terre before the storm finally hits. The Enchanteresse eventually glides into port, finally safe from the dangers that await on the seas as the gales grew stronger, and the oceans more perilous. The trick to luck, Lefanu thought, was to not tempt it overly much. It had been rotten luck that gale, but had it not blown westerly, the pirates might still be blocking the trade in the French waters.


Available for trade:


1 crate of Sugar cane, 3gp
1 crate of Bananas, 2gp
1 crate of Bananas, 2gp
1 crate of Spices, 3gp
1 crate of Lumber, 2gp
1 crate of Lumber, 2gp

No offers from the shipwrights other than armaments.

Captain Lefanu had not expected to be back 'home' so soon but there was a certain sense he got from Basse Terre. Many of the same old faces peppering the quays and the same old buildings tumbling uphill from the harbour. Old mariners swore the sea breeze itself was different in each port; Jean's nose was not normally so acute outside of telling a good wine but perhaps, just perhaps there was something to it.

While Joost Van Dyke readied his family Jean stole ashore to quickly sell his cargo of rum and buy one of sugar cane. After this business with the Van Dyke clan and St. Maartens was done the Enchantresse would be heading west for San Juan - and Captain Kidd.

Shortly after breakfast, Mr. van Dyke waved back happily as he descended the gangplank down to the docks, and headed eastwards into the town's banking district like he knew exactly what he was up to. He had the time to disappear behind the turn of the street when a gaggle of damsels made their way up the deck in their dresses with their parasols; "Ohh! Daar ben je kapitein!" said Mrs. Van Dyke with a flutter of her fan in greeting. She turned around and fussed over her two daughters whom everyone had stopped to admire. "Genoeg gezeurd, lieverds, we hebben onze manieren om aan te denken, ja?" She adjusted her eldest daughter's shawl and her youngest's hat, and motioned them forward with a wave of her fan.

Lefanu got the very distinct impression that she knew how to snap someone's fingers with it, just as much as she was at making her intentions known with it. Just then, one of the men's stares lingered a bit too long on her eldest, and he was graced with the snap of her displeasure on his arm, before he was shooshed away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:21, Sun 24 Apr 2022.

Amused and a little disturbed by the force of that fan Jean led the trio down the gangplank of the Enchantresse. As they assembled on the quays he waved at Bernard Lavigne to signal the First Mate was in charge of the ship, then moved west along the street towards the street where the best shops clustered together like a feuding family.

The storm seemed to have mostly bypassed the town but there were still puddles everywhere in the dips between the cobbles and Juliana Van Dyke seemed to have an uncanny knack for walking straight through them. After the third such occasion Captain Lefanu began to realise this was no accident and the twelve year old was deliberately doing it to get her mother to buy her some new shoes.

Truly the ways of women were strange and cunning.

Christina on the other hand was elegance personified and mercifully she spoke French so Captain Lefanu didn't have to rely on his extremely limited Dutch or switch to Spanish (which he knew well but seemed insensitive dealing with a party of Dutch refugees fleeing Spanish authority...)

Eventually the small party arrived at a narrow but tastefully decorated building with a green painted door and a carved wooden sign bearing the legend: 'Monsieur Dreyfuss, couturier.'

"This is our first stop," Jean told the Van Dyke women, smiling at them as he reached up and  knocked on the door. "You will not find a better dressmaker west of Paris."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:02, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

Mother Van Dyke cooed at the Dreyfuss sign, and then waved her daughters into the shop with a ‘bedankt’ and a nod to you.

Pretty soon the ladies were looking at fabrics, dresses and accessories, and dear Moniseur Dreyfuss was assaulted by questions in dutch; which thankfully, he was proficient at. The couturier contended with the Mother and the daughters gracefully, even if most of the dutch was lost to you. The daughters weren’t allowed very far from their mother’s gaze, and it was a good hour before the intensity of it all started to wind down. You’ve seen Dreyfuss busy before, but never had he left out so much fabric. Hopefully the van Dykes were as generous purse-wise as they were with good looks…
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:02, Tue 26 Apr 2022.

Jean eventually found himself sitting down and dozing off. While he was a fashion horse himself waiting around while other people tried on dresses for an hour while chattering in Dutch was not the most scintillating of scenarios.

As events seemed to be reaching their conclusion he jolted awake in the small wooden chair in the corner of the room. "Thank you Monsieur Dreyfuss, excellent work," he told the dressmaker as let final negotiations proceed.

Lefanu woke up to the giggles and sidelong glances of the younger van Dyke girls as their mother paid a dishelvled-looking Mr. Dreyfuss, who seemed happy at the purse that the woman slid over in his direction. “Ahh, arme kapitein ziet er hongerig uit! Misschien moeten we een hapje gaan eten, moeder?” inquired the eldest as she gave you a look over her new fan.

Dreyfus looked up, “Il y a un excellent café et chocolaterie a deux portes, Monsieur,” he suggested. “It overlooks the beautiful bay and beach, where Mrs. Van Dyke can relax and watch over the girls as they walk up and down the beach. You might find the sea a bit high, but the clouds seem to be dispersing. It will be beautiful.”

"Vous avez l’air équisite Mademoiselle Van Dyke," Captain Lefanu gallantly informed Christina, even though he had not understood a word she had just said. Mercifully Dreyfus intervened.

"Ah an excellent suggestion. Thank you Monsieur Dreyfus. Ladies, shall you accompany me?" he opened the door to the mother and stepped out onto the street. From here it was a relatively short stroll towards the chocolate factory and if the sky was not quite summery at least the ran proper had vanished.

It was a strange experience acting as chaperone to three ladies such as these he reflected as he offered a hand to Mrs Van Dyke to negotiate a deeper puddle, especially given his usual company were gruff, semi-literate sailors. Not a bad experience really but certainly different. For a moment Jean could almost imagine he was in Europe enjoying the refined life his illegitimacy had denied him. Almost...

A few moments later and they reached the café with Jean performing the ordering from the proprietor. Juliana seemed particularly delighted, with her chocolate smiling from ear to ear and delivering an incomprehensible thank you in Dutch. Christina, clearly a young woman well aware of her beauty, nibbled at hers and Jean suddenly felt rather flush and averted his gaze towards the grey-blue waters of the sea.

Now that business was over, the Van Dyke women seemed to be more open and friendly. The mother thanked Lefanu for his help and accepted his help when he offered his hand to steady her. The seas were higher than he would have liked them; the waves still dangerous though considerably less so than the previous night as he navigated the Enchanteresse to safety. Meanwhile, the younger Van Dyke sisters seemed cheerful and carefree... not noticing the cool bite in the westerly winds.

Eventually the ladies all sat down at one of the café's tables, the eldest daughter beaming radiantly at their chaperone, which earned as click of Madam Van Dyke's tongue when she noticed. Lefanu gathered that she asked Christina to stop gawking at the captain, because the young woman's cheeks turned a shade of red in her embarrassment. Her gaze, while more subdued still managed to linger on the captain from time to time.

Not very long after, Mr. Van Dyke entered.

"Ahh! there are my girls!" he said giving a chaste peck on each of their cheeks and took he wife's hand and gallantly kissed it. If Christina had been embarrassed earlier, the mother seemed to still show some of her girlish looks and shooed away Joost's affections with a giggle of her own. "My business is all done, and we can be off whenever the tides allow it."

Jean felt his cheeks flush at Christina's attention, and was unbelievably thankful when Joost van Dyke materialised to rescue him. Even if did mean having to watch the two van Dyke parents cooing at each other!

"Excellent!" Captain Lefanu said, getting to his feet. "The seas are rough right now but you can see the worst has passed."

It only been a day but he found he was longing to get back to the sea.

"In that case, let us not waste another moment," Joost said as he bowed to his wife and offered his arm. He then turned to the girls and spoke in a soft fatherly tone: "Kom mee meiden, laten we onze kapitein niet laten wachten." The girls quickly got up and curtsied to you and then followed their parents out the door.

Sunday, February 15th, year of our Lord 1671

As the Echanteresse readies to leave port, there is a resounding cannonade coming from the South as a Spanish Man'o'war descends on Basse Terre. From the West comes le Marquis des Marais' flag ship, La Perle is on an intercept course with the Spanish vessel.

The Spanish, not expecting the French naval presence turn to engage her as port hands and deck hands gawk as the two tall ships veer to engage one another.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:15, Wed 11 May 2022.

I really have no fortune at all do I? Jean thought to himself as he watched the two warships turn on each other.

After a moment of hesitation he strode to the deck rail to address the crew, a commanding yet foppish figure in his richly embroidered long coat, a waistcoat, and cravat and of course his dashing plumed hat.

"Monsieur Lavigne trim the sails. Monsieur MacGann up in the crows nest. The rest of you lubbers forget about the show and get back to work; we're bound for St. Maartens avec toute la vitesse."

"C'mon you mangy curs! You heard the captain!! Let the warring ships vie for the advantage of sinking one another! Perfect distraction!" said Lavigne as the sailors got out of their stupor and started manning the sails.

"You seem unhappy captain," said Joost van Dyke as watched the scene unfold. "Two powerful Man'o'wars fighting like that... the war is right on our doorstep! I've ordered the ladies below..."

"A wise move Monsieur van Dyke," Jean answered. The French captain smiled ruefully. "Ah I tell you my friend I love L'Enchantresse and she is the fairest ship afloat in these seas and fast as a dolphin but sometimes I envy the power of ships like that."

With a shake of his head he turned away from the battle and back to Joost. "And as you know I was not overly happy the war broke out in the first place. But it is what it is - now let's speed you and your fair ladies to safety."

"And you will have one of them at some point, I am sure. Even Nicholson started as you did with a small reliable sloop, and I dare say a Man'o'War might not be a tough nut for him to tackle should he wish too," Joost said as he watched the warring vessels southward. "He's probably wondering if he wants to go to the trouble of getting his hand on one of those ships for himself, especially if he can't get pardoned for his acts of piracy he's been accused of. Though I have it on good authority that he committed those acts to save a lady from the clutches of one of their less reputed captains, and brought her back to her husband. So trading 2 cargo holds for 1 more cannon mount... might be worth his while, but the only way to do so is to steal one from under someone; none of the navies that I know will willingly part with one."

Soon the warring ships' sails disappear over the horizon, and then the sounds of their cannonades dies down as the Enchantresse makes its way into St. Maarten's coastal waters, and raises land to the north. Soon the van Dyke women are on deck pointing excitedly at the familiar site of their home port; waving occasionally at local trawling vessels as the ship glides nearer the port.



Available at port:

1gp for a crate of Tobacco
2gp for a crate of Cocoa
2gp for a crate of Rum
2gp for a crate of Rum
2gp for a crate of Cocoa
1gp for a crate of Tobacco
1gp for a crate of Tobacco

Also available from the Shipwrights: Hammocks +1 Crew and all sorts of weapons.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:55, Fri 13 May 2022.

Jean looked at Joost in surprise. The canny merchant sounded almost as if he admired the pirate!

As Saint Maartens hoved into view and the van Dyke clan assembled on deck Captain Lefanu smiled at the sight. true he might have liked it even more if he had and the beautiful Christina could have snuck off for a quick tumble while her mother wasn't watching but the Enchantresse was a small ship. Besides he would have felt very bad about betraying the trust of Joost van Dyke whom he had grown to like greatly.

"It seems our voyage has ended Monsieur van Dyke but it was a privilege having you and your lovely family aboard. I shall have to visit the next time I am in port."

Captain Lefanu gallantly bowed and doffed his plumed hat as the women took their leave of the ship. He was well aware that many of the sailors had been ogling the ladies but they at least had the decorum to pretend they weren't.

He was planning to sell his rum and textiles and pick up two crates of tobacco. Not the most profitable cargo but since he was planning to hunt down Monsieur Kidd and his big in the waters off Santo Domingo cargo didn't matter that much.

Jean also intended to purchase some fine hammocks for his crew and perhaps some Dutch sailors (assuming they spoke a civilised tongue like French). He had confidence in his vessel and crew but going into battle they would need an edge!

OOC:

Believe you sold the rum in Basse Terre, and got sugar.

You could sell the sugar for 3gp and 6gp for Textiles that are in demand.

Forgot that I need to draw 7 cargo in St. Marrtens, so I pulled another crate of Rum, should you want to get those for 2gp each. Let me know.

Did you need a list of armaments and what they do / cost?

St. Maartens also allows you to stash gold at a cost of 5GP per time you stash. It becomes interesting if you deposit large amounts, but otherwise you can do so for free at your home port due south of here.