Post by precious on Nov 14, 2006 0:44:33 GMT -5
Gorean Pirates
Policrates the leader of a pirate stronghold is known as the "Captain"
Kliomenes is known as his "Lieutenant"
"The fellow who threaten me," I said to Tasron, the proprietor of the tavern, "he called Kliomenes. Who is he?"
"He is Kliomenes, the pirate, lieutenant to Policrates," said Tasdron. "And the other," I asked, "he who was standing by the table, speaking to the man who saved me?" "His captain," said Tasdron, "Policrates himself."
Rogue
Pirate bands with strongholds & ships
Not unusual to have three or four hundred men and 8 - 10 ships
People of village towns are unwilling to speak on the business and location of the pirates, out of fear.
There are relationships among bands of pirates - alliances & divisions of territory
For several weeks, I had moved from one river town to the next, examining slave markets and attempting to obtain information on the whereabouts of the pirate, Kliomenes. Understandably I encountered few willing informants. Many people, I was sure knew more of this fellow then they admitted. His name, and that of his captain, Policrates, were apparently feared on the river. These river pirates were not, it must be understood, a few scattered crews of cutthroats. Various bands had their own strongholds and ships. It was not unusual that a single captain had as many as three or four hundred men and eight to ten ships. Similarly there were relationships among these bands, division of territory and alliances. They were a power on the river.
Rogue
Pirates have some form of law and justice within their own precincts
“Surely a polity, even if it be one of pirates, if it is to survive, if it is to protect itself, must establish some forms of justice and law within its own precincts?”
“One would suppose so,” I said. “Even if it is of the rack and spear.”
“I would suppose so,” I said.
Renegades
Gorean Pirates on Thassa
On Thassa, the color of pirates is green. Ships, sails, ropes and oars all painted green to provide camoflage against the green Thassa
Twice we had been scouted by pirates from Tyros, in their green ships, painted to resemble the sea, but neither of them had chosen to engage us.
Raiders
"What shall we do now, Captain," asked Clitus, of me.
"Return to Port Kar," I said. "As I recall, I have waiting for me there a galley, heavy class, for my work in Cos."
"True!" said Thurnock.
"And when he have come to Port Kar, what then?" asked Tab.
I looked at him evenly. "Then," said I, "paint my ships green."
Green, on Thassa, is the color of pirates. Green hulls, sails, oars, even ropes. In the bright sun reflecting off the water, green is a color most difficult to detect on gleaming Thassa. The green ship, in the bright sun, can be almost invisible.
"It will be done," cried Tab.
There were more cheers from the men about.
...
And thus it was that the ships to Bosk, he of Port Kar, came to be painted green.
Raiders
Treasures increased by pirating on Thassa
Captured ships taken and made part of the pirate fleet
By the end of the second month the flag of Bosk, carried by one ship or another, was known from Ianda to Torvaldsland, and from the delta of the Vosk to the throne rooms of Cos and Tyros.
My treasures were soon increased considerably, and the number of ships in my fleet, by captured prizes, was readically augmented, so much so that I could not begin to wharf them within the lakelike courtyard of my holding.
Gold won by sword at sea
Ram ships sent out to pirate
With gold won by sword at sea I purchased extensive wharfage and several warehouses on the western edge of Port Kar. Even so I found myself pressed and, to ease the difficulties of wharfage and mooring right, I sold many a round ship taken, and some of the inferior long ships. My round ships, as much as possible, I engaged in commerce, usually acting on the advice of Luma, the slave girl, my chief accountant; the ram-ships I sent against Cos and Tyros, usually in twos and threes; I myself commonly commanded a fleet of five ram-ships, and spent much time searching the seas for larger prey.
But in all this time I had not forgotten the treasure fleet which was due to sail from Tyros to Cos, bearing precious metals and jewels for her coffers, and a lovely lady, Vivina, to grace the couch of her Ubar.
I put spies in Tyros and Cos, and in many of the other ports of Thassa.
I think I knew the shipping, the cargos and the schedules of those two islands Ubarates, and several of their allies, as well or better than many of the members of their own high councils.
Raiders
Policrates the leader of a pirate stronghold is known as the "Captain"
Kliomenes is known as his "Lieutenant"
"The fellow who threaten me," I said to Tasron, the proprietor of the tavern, "he called Kliomenes. Who is he?"
"He is Kliomenes, the pirate, lieutenant to Policrates," said Tasdron. "And the other," I asked, "he who was standing by the table, speaking to the man who saved me?" "His captain," said Tasdron, "Policrates himself."
Rogue
Pirate bands with strongholds & ships
Not unusual to have three or four hundred men and 8 - 10 ships
People of village towns are unwilling to speak on the business and location of the pirates, out of fear.
There are relationships among bands of pirates - alliances & divisions of territory
For several weeks, I had moved from one river town to the next, examining slave markets and attempting to obtain information on the whereabouts of the pirate, Kliomenes. Understandably I encountered few willing informants. Many people, I was sure knew more of this fellow then they admitted. His name, and that of his captain, Policrates, were apparently feared on the river. These river pirates were not, it must be understood, a few scattered crews of cutthroats. Various bands had their own strongholds and ships. It was not unusual that a single captain had as many as three or four hundred men and eight to ten ships. Similarly there were relationships among these bands, division of territory and alliances. They were a power on the river.
Rogue
Pirates have some form of law and justice within their own precincts
“Surely a polity, even if it be one of pirates, if it is to survive, if it is to protect itself, must establish some forms of justice and law within its own precincts?”
“One would suppose so,” I said. “Even if it is of the rack and spear.”
“I would suppose so,” I said.
Renegades
Gorean Pirates on Thassa
On Thassa, the color of pirates is green. Ships, sails, ropes and oars all painted green to provide camoflage against the green Thassa
Twice we had been scouted by pirates from Tyros, in their green ships, painted to resemble the sea, but neither of them had chosen to engage us.
Raiders
"What shall we do now, Captain," asked Clitus, of me.
"Return to Port Kar," I said. "As I recall, I have waiting for me there a galley, heavy class, for my work in Cos."
"True!" said Thurnock.
"And when he have come to Port Kar, what then?" asked Tab.
I looked at him evenly. "Then," said I, "paint my ships green."
Green, on Thassa, is the color of pirates. Green hulls, sails, oars, even ropes. In the bright sun reflecting off the water, green is a color most difficult to detect on gleaming Thassa. The green ship, in the bright sun, can be almost invisible.
"It will be done," cried Tab.
There were more cheers from the men about.
...
And thus it was that the ships to Bosk, he of Port Kar, came to be painted green.
Raiders
Treasures increased by pirating on Thassa
Captured ships taken and made part of the pirate fleet
By the end of the second month the flag of Bosk, carried by one ship or another, was known from Ianda to Torvaldsland, and from the delta of the Vosk to the throne rooms of Cos and Tyros.
My treasures were soon increased considerably, and the number of ships in my fleet, by captured prizes, was readically augmented, so much so that I could not begin to wharf them within the lakelike courtyard of my holding.
Gold won by sword at sea
Ram ships sent out to pirate
With gold won by sword at sea I purchased extensive wharfage and several warehouses on the western edge of Port Kar. Even so I found myself pressed and, to ease the difficulties of wharfage and mooring right, I sold many a round ship taken, and some of the inferior long ships. My round ships, as much as possible, I engaged in commerce, usually acting on the advice of Luma, the slave girl, my chief accountant; the ram-ships I sent against Cos and Tyros, usually in twos and threes; I myself commonly commanded a fleet of five ram-ships, and spent much time searching the seas for larger prey.
But in all this time I had not forgotten the treasure fleet which was due to sail from Tyros to Cos, bearing precious metals and jewels for her coffers, and a lovely lady, Vivina, to grace the couch of her Ubar.
I put spies in Tyros and Cos, and in many of the other ports of Thassa.
I think I knew the shipping, the cargos and the schedules of those two islands Ubarates, and several of their allies, as well or better than many of the members of their own high councils.
Raiders