I have developed a master plan to gather pirates to me, and become ruler of the seas anyone (Not related to a country) want in?
Renard set about looking ove rhte corpses of the many dead, and began barking orders 'Harold, Jack you two organize the remaining men get the sails up, and the bodies over the side of the ship. I also want all the supplies checked over see what we got then we will be heading to port send a letter to the other group tell them thanks for the trading goods, and that when we next meet I will pay back the cost of this ship. Tell them that I am Renard, Captain of the Sea Wolves, and I will be the greatest to cover these waters. I will in due time pay them back when they can take rest in the havens across the cost that I will create for us pirates, the new rulers of the sea."
Send the letter to the other men then take the ship to port sellignt eh goods on board, and then changing the name, adn look so we don't get caught.
Your master plan has the rather serious flaw of not dealing with the short term problem of your incredibly poor bargaining position. You just told the better armed, better supported captain that you are taking the more impressive ship that just got captured
and only giving him half the haul. Granted a'Valti has a certain debt of honour to you for intervening and making his attempt a success, but I hasten to remind you
that you are both pirates. Even if you intend to hold to your word, what the heck makes you think he will?
But if you want to make this a fight, I'll run it as a fight. Best you both decide what level of mercy to extend to the loser - swift death, or stranding him on a rowboat out at sea.
I can grab some leather armor, a short sword and some gunpowder and fuse with me before we hit off?
The kingdom has only minimal stocks of gunpowder (less than a barrel, if that), all of which are under lock and key in the King's custody. It is in fact a completely
new invention and the world at large remains unaware of it. Armour and sword are fine, but you're not getting any gunpowder.
In other news, merchant adventure system's looking fairly sound. Will need rebalancing later, but I'll finalise the wording and post it.