Port 1 Intro: Havana
The last time you visited Havana, About a year ago, there was much celebration. Adriana had just inherited the title of captain after the death of her predecessor, and the crew had just come into a big pile of loot. Because Havana was a large port, and the crew had received large sums of money some turnover was expected, but nobody was prepared for Zakhar ‘Russian’ Kovshevnikov to announce his retirement.
Zakhar was 28, but known to be wise beyond his years. Although most of the crew was superstitious to some extent, Russian took the cake. He would spend most of his day locked in his cabin praying in English, Russian, and several African languages. He would often offer strange and unsolicited advice to the officers and crew, and his advice was generally heeded, for it was a well known fact that Zakhar could tell what would bring good luck, and what would bring bad.
Russian’s official title was first mate, but in reality he was more of a chaplain or witch doctor; the duty of serving as the captain's right hand had belonged to Adriana for years. It was Zakhar who first convinced the old captain that is was okay to break with tradition and allow females aboard the Scarlet Fang.
Zakhar claimed that if he set sail on even one more voyage, he would not return alive. Unwilling to argue with an old friend and mentor, the new officers set Russian up working for Gabriel Castro, a plantation owner who often purchased slaves from and fenced loot for the crew and set sail without him....
…
Today you are back in Havana, and under similar circumstances. Adriana is still captain and again a big score has just been made; silver ripped from the bowels of a rival pirate ship. The officers know that it will take a few days for the crew to return from their shore leave, and a few more to replace those who have chosen to remain on the island.
On your third day in port, while trying to bed a tavern wench, Sam is handed a note scrawled on a small piece of parchment, wrapped around one of Zakhar’s unmistakable gold earrings....
“We have Russian. 50 lbs of gold to secure his release. No funny stuff or we kill him. Wait for further instruction.”
Although you could likely afford it, you doubt you could find enough gold to pay the ransom anytime soon; besides, what true pirate would let somebody have the audacity to demand from him a ransom and live to tell the tale?
Author
Topic: Scurvy Dogs (Pirates + DitV) (Read 4688 times)