Piracy and Privateering

samisto · Post by **samisto** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 9:50 pm

Just wondering about these aspects of Almea. Do they even exist as we on Earth would recognize them? What got me thinking about this is the overseas rivalries of Kebreni and Verduria. Do they wage some kind of undeclared war on the seas through pirates and privateers?

Thanks

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 10:51 pm

I agree, I can see piracy and privateering as a feature of Verduria, and especially of Kebri (given some of the their other agressive trade tactics, a little judicious official/unofficial privateering would not seem unlikely). Perhaps one of those little islands between Verduria and Flora once served for a time as a pirate base, as the Isle of Tortuga off Haiti did in the mid-1600s?

And don't forget about Dhekhnam! The excerpt from Mark's first novel in the Secret History of Verduria portrays a ship (apparently Dhekhnami, from the context) arriving in Verduria harbor under a false Kebreni flag.

I'd have to admit that I also like this idea because I recently saw the move Pirates of the Caribbean, and got a kick out of it. ("Ar, maties, hoist anchor! We sail for Syxesteer tonight! There's a rich ship sailing from their harbor, and we'll show those flatheads a thing or two! No double-crossing, mind, or we'll toss ye overboard to sleep in Dhavi Dzh?n's locker..."

).

p@,
Glenn

Post by **zompist** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 2:39 am

Yes and no. Of course, a certain level of piracy always seems to exist (indeed, it exists in our day). In the northern seas, it's more characteristic of less organized or more lawless regions, such as the Little Kingdoms north of Verduria, or the Western Wild, or Azgami. It's in the interest of the major powers to have peace on the high seas.

Piracy flourished on Earth, I believe, when Spain was the dominant naval power, and proxy warfare through privateering was an attractive strategy for weaker nations-- England, France, the Netherlands. Once Britain was in effective control of the seas (from the mid-1700s on), it was more in the position of Verduria: better able to profit from more-or-less free trade than from preying on its rivals' shipping. (Another factor: there hasn't yet been a discovery of precious metal on the scale of Potos?.)

There was much more of a free-for-all atmosphere a couple of centuries ago-- basically before the Verdurian Navy was very strong. At that time there were both independent freebooters, and privateers paid under the table by Kebri or other powers.

The southern seas are not so peaceful; there isn't a clearly dominant sea power, and there isn't always a clear distinction between trade and piracy.

Aidan · Post by **Aidan** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 2:53 am

Glenn Kempf wrote:"Ar, maties, hoist anchor! We sail for Syxesteer tonight! There's a rich ship sailing from their harbor, and we'll show those flatheads a thing or two! No double-crossing, mind, or we'll toss ye overboard to sleep in Dhavi Dzh?n's locker..."

Speaking of which, Friday (Sept 19th) is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Johnny Depp should get Best Actor for his Jack Sparrow, it was a beautiful thing. Unfortunately the Academy can't see past their noses even to give significant awards to LotR, much less PotC

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 7:01 am

Aidan wrote:
Glenn Kempf wrote:"Ar, maties, hoist anchor! We sail for Syxesteer tonight! There's a rich ship sailing from their harbor, and we'll show those flatheads a thing or two! No double-crossing, mind, or we'll toss ye overboard to sleep in Dhavi Dzh?n's locker..."

Speaking of which, Friday (Sept 19th) is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Yes, indeed.

I've read about these folks in Dave Barry's column.

Thanks for the info, Mark--especially the remark about the southern seas. It would be great to get a better look at that part of the continent some day...

p@,
Glenn

So Haleza Grise · Post by **So Haleza Grise** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 5:28 pm

Aidan wrote:
Glenn Kempf wrote:"Ar, maties, hoist anchor! We sail for Syxesteer tonight! There's a rich ship sailing from their harbor, and we'll show those flatheads a thing or two! No double-crossing, mind, or we'll toss ye overboard to sleep in Dhavi Dzh?n's locker..."

Speaking of which, Friday (Sept 19th) is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Arrr, I be glad that the day be gettin' so much publicity this year. 'Tis certainly provin' ta be very popular among the lubber sections of the population . . .

NakedCelt · Post by **NakedCelt** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 10:44 pm

zompist wrote:Piracy flourished on Earth, I believe, when Spain was the dominant naval power, and proxy warfare through privateering was an attractive strategy for weaker nations-- England, France, the Netherlands.

Don't forget the Vikings; they were privateer warriors and resource-gatherers for the Scandinavian kingdoms of their time.

Aidan wrote:Speaking of which, Friday (Sept 19th) is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

I take it "talk like a pirate" means "pepper your discourse with random nautical phrases and pseudo-Cornish expressions"?

Aidan · Post by **Aidan** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 11:01 pm

NakedCelt wrote:
Aidan wrote:Speaking of which, Friday (Sept 19th) is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html
I take it "talk like a pirate" means "pepper your discourse with random nautical phrases and pseudo-Cornish expressions"?

By default, yes. As far as I'm concerned, however, any kind of talk like a pirate is acceptable. Authenticity is a good thing. I'm of the opinion that authenticity and silliness are perfectly compatible.

So Halzea Grise wrote:Arrr, I be glad that the day be gettin' so much publicity this year. 'Tis certainly provin' ta be very popular among the lubber sections of the population . . .

Mm-hm. It was perfect to have Pirates come out just before the second (popularized) year, brings a lot of instant enthusiasm on board.

My local game store is making a big deal out of it, too.

Post by **zompist** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 1:41 am

NakedCelt wrote:
zompist wrote:Piracy flourished on Earth, I believe, when Spain was the dominant naval power, and proxy warfare through privateering was an attractive strategy for weaker nations-- England, France, the Netherlands.
Don't forget the Vikings; they were privateer warriors and resource-gatherers for the Scandinavian kingdoms of their time.

Quite true. A fair Almean analogue is the Jei, the Wede:i people who escaped the initial Eastern (Ezichimi) invasion. They traded with countries that could defend themselves, and more or less subjugated areas that could not. The Gurdagor, later on, were about the same.

Drydic · Post by **Drydic** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:24 am

NakedCelt wrote:
zompist wrote:Piracy flourished on Earth, I believe, when Spain was the dominant naval power, and proxy warfare through privateering was an attractive strategy for weaker nations-- England, France, the Netherlands.
Don't forget the Vikings; they were privateer warriors and resource-gatherers for the Scandinavian kingdoms of their time.

And they could KICK THE ASS OF ANY FRANKISH ARMY SENT THEIR WAY
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! It's never a good thing when the Emperor's descriptor is 'the Fat'.

NakedCelt · Post by **NakedCelt** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 9:02 pm

Drydic_guy wrote:It's never a good thing when the Emperor's descriptor is 'the Fat'.

I think Legros might have something to say about that...