Scouring the Stepstones

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 02, 2016, 12:15 PM

Lucifer's fleet sailed into the Stepstones, into the very lair of the dragon. Pirates were common here and Lucifer and his men were truly in their element. However, this time his goal was different. The Prince of Dorne had tasked him with suppressing the pirates here in the Stepstones, and that was exactly what Lucifer planned to do. Yet, there was more than one way to go about it. Some pirates yearned to rejoin a more lawful life and Lucifer could offer that and gold to those who wished to give up piracy and join his fleet. Lucifer sends messengers to go through the Stepstones spreading word of this offer of a new life on the seas where their piracy could be legal and they could again join society and walk without fear of arrest and execution. While his messengers spread this message, Lucifer takes his fleet off in a search for any pirates in the area....

Traits-

+4 Sea Battles (+1 Map Room)
+3 Duels
+3 Scout

Items-
Small Guild
Map Room- +1 Sea Battles

Ships-
30 Heavy Galleys

OOC: BF has contracted me to suppress piracy in the Stepstones. I'm looking to offer pirates essentially pardons and they can join me as sellsails if they wish to essentially pirate legally, messengers have been sent to spread that message. However, my fleet is also searching for pirate ships and if they don't join me you can be sure I'll be attacking them to clear the seas.

**ficenzi** · July 02, 2016, 01:21 PM

Aurane Waters sailed on Lucifer's ship, yearning to get blood on his blade. He stood at the deck of the ship, hoping to spot a hostile vessel.

Aurane Waters:
+3 Duels
+3 Survival

**Poach** · July 04, 2016, 01:09 PM

The Stepstones was a haven for piracy: the lands had been left largely lawless since Maelys Blackfyre departed and ended his short reign of the territory, bringing back the pirates, outlaws and other unsavoury types. Petty Lords and Kings rose and fell as ambitious captains and commanders of fleets sought to establish their own domains in the ever-contested territory. It did not take long for Lucifer's own squadron to locate one of the larger settlements that had sprung up, ruled over by a self-styled "Lord Haegon the Reaver".

Crowds gathered as Lucifer's thirty ships weighed anchor off the coast of the town: pirates never sailed in armadas that large as it tended to attract the attention of the authorities, but these were clearly not ships looking for a fight.

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 04, 2016, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Poach

The Stepstones was a haven for piracy: the lands had been left largely lawless since Maelys Blackfyre departed and ended his short reign of the territory, bringing back the pirates, outlaws and other unsavoury types. Petty Lords and Kings rose and fell as ambitious captains and commanders of fleets sought to establish their own domains in the ever-contested territory. It did not take long for Lucifer's own squadron to locate one of the larger settlements that had sprung up, ruled over by a self-styled "Lord Haegon the Reaver".

Crowds gathered as Lucifer's thirty ships weighed anchor off the coast of the town: pirates never sailed in armadas that large as it tended to attract the attention of the authorities, but these were clearly not ships looking for a fight.

Lucifer, Aurane, and a number of Lucifer's retinue reach the shore. The settlement was rather large for a pirate's nest, but that only ensured there were plenty to hear him speak.

"Fetch that Lord Haegon the Reaver for me would you?" He asked one of the nearby pirates. "I am Lucifer of Tyrosh, admiral of this privateering fleet. For a long while you have been pirates forced to stand in the shadows and fight over the crumbs of others, but that time is over. I am an official privateer of a kingdom with leave to grant pardons to those who wish to join this fleet and sail under my banners. Anyone is welcome to come and captains with ships are more than welcome as well. Where is this lord of yours? What strings does he have on you men?"

**Poach** · July 04, 2016, 01:34 PM

After some commotion, a large man adorned in jewellery of a dozen different styles and colours appears from the crowd, escorted by a group of men in mixed and matched amour. The man was clearly a veteran pirate, with he and his crew sporting trophies or equipment from many cultures.

"I am Haegon," said the man with an air of assumed authority in his tone, "What's all this about? Fleets that large often mean the authorities."

He met Lucifer's gaze.

"You here to haul us off to some prison, lad?" he asked, following it up with a hearty laugh.

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 04, 2016, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Poach

After some commotion, a large man adorned in jewellery of a dozen different styles and colours appears from the crowd, escorted by a group of men in mixed and matched amour. The man was clearly a veteran pirate, with he and his crew sporting trophies or equipment from many cultures.

"I am Haegon," said the man with an air of assumed authority in his tone, "What's all this about? Fleets that large often mean the authorities."

He met Lucifer's gaze.

"You here to haul us off to some prison, lad?" he asked, following it up with a hearty laugh.

Lucifer scoffed. "Authorities isn't the word. I was a pirate just like the rest of you, but privateering pays far better and somehow it's legal. We get paid to raid. What life is better than that? Surely not some shantytown like this which you claim to rule over. Join me and we'll be taking entire convoys full of richez for ourselves or you can just kiss your little lordship goodbye. One way or another there will be fewer pirates in the Stepstones."

**Poach** · July 04, 2016, 03:48 PM

"And against whom are we... privateering?" asked Heagon in an openly condescending tone.

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 04, 2016, 04:35 PM

Lucifer gives a wicked grin.

"For now anyone here in the Stepstones is fair game. Once we've finished here we'll be given gold and other targets to plunder."

**Poach** · July 04, 2016, 05:16 PM

Haegon paused a moment, scratching his beard.

"What sort of crazed fool sails to the Stepstones and thinks offering us the opportunity to plunder ourselves is likely to be accepted?!" he bellowed, laughing heartily, calming down before continuing, "Look here, lad: you've got a nice squadron of ships there, and you're in the pay of some Lord somewhere. Call it what you want, but we're free men here, not lackeys of whatever perfumed ass you're kissing!"

The man threw up his arms in exasperation and pushed his way back through the crowd.

[OOC: Rolls didn't go well. Gave it 10/20 and you rolled a 3.]

**ficenzi** · July 04, 2016, 05:22 PM

Aurane ran after Haegon, pushing through the crowd and chasing him but eventually the crowd rebuffed him and Haegon was out of sight. Aurane found his way back to Lucifer.

'What now?', he asked.

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 04, 2016, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Poach

Haegon paused a moment, scratching his beard.

"What sort of crazed fool sails to the Stepstones and thinks offering us the opportunity to plunder ourselves is likely to be accepted?!" he bellowed, laughing heartily, calming down before continuing, "Look here, lad: you've got a nice squadron of ships there, and you're in the pay of some Lord somewhere. Call it what you want, but we're free men here, not lackeys of whatever perfumed ass you're kissing!"

The man threw up his arms in exasperation and pushed his way back through the crowd.

[OOC: Rolls didn't go well. Gave it 10/20 and you rolled a 3.]

Lucifer shrugs, "We take them by force of course". Lucifer and his men return to their ships before assaulting any and every ship in the area. The heavy galleys stop, board, or ram any ship they can get their hands on. They had been warned that resistance would be met with violence.

OOC: Since they won't quit piracy quietly we'll have to do it the hard way. Attack and capture every pirate ship in the vicinity. We need them more than they do.

**Poach** · July 06, 2016, 09:09 AM

D20*1000 points of ships. Rolled 2. 10 heavy galley and 50 dromond type ships are in the town. Send orders.

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 06, 2016, 02:59 PM

OOC: Should have the 5 grand warships because they finished being built a bit ago. Can they be added?

Fleet-
5 Grand Warships
30 Heavy Galleys

Lucifer-

+4 Sea Battles (+1 Map Room)
+3 Duels
+3 Scout

Ten heavy galleys form each flank. The five grand warships are put on the right with Lucifer as the commander. Aurane is placed in the center with orders to duel the enemy leader if possible.

If I'm allowed actual tactics, I would contest this attack is sort of a surprise. The ships of each flank will come in close to land boarding and capturing as many ships as possible. Those that can't be captured should be rammed or burned. This strategy would be a large scale cutting out maneuver with the element of surprise involved.

**Poach** · July 06, 2016, 03:46 PM

[OOC: When did they finish? This RP has been going a few days, so chronologically they'd need to be finished at the time this started.]

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 06, 2016, 04:56 PM

OOC; They didn't. So do whatever you need to I guess. Plans are the same, but those ships aren't there.

**Poach** · July 06, 2016, 05:28 PM

Battle

I need to build a naval calculator.

After a hard fought battle the pirate ships are overcome, but not without great cost. 11 of Lucifer's Heavy Galleys are sunk or damaged beyond repair, with 4 salvageable and 3 former pirate vessels in sailing condition under his control. After taking some time in the shanty town forcing the local populace to effect the repairs, Lucifer's squadron of 20 Heavy Galleys and 2 Dromonds is ready to sail again.

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 06, 2016, 06:11 PM

OOC: So this is just pointless I'm guessing? Nothing I do changes anything, no
tactics or decisions affect things, and even if I win there isn't any benefits.

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · July 07, 2016, 03:50 PM

Lucifer stays at the pirate haven as he awaits the answers of the lesser pirate lords of the Stepstones. Surely such a massive victory would convince them to swear to him and join his fleet instead if risking the wrath that would come with their refusal....

OOC; Need rolls to see if my offer to lesser pirate lords is accepted because of my victory over their largest haven.