Snapcase All At Sea!

[DintheDin]

Thanks, FifteensAway, speculate rampantly away. There is an element of truth in your first guess but I am sworn to secrecy about Table 4! It will covered by a cloth when the players arrive and will only be revealed as the game progresses.   

Much intriguing! Curiosity rising!  We'll stay tuned!

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Much intriguing! Curiosity rising!  We'll stay tuned!

Thanks, DintheDin.


Here we have Jean Etienne Gerard Vagabondé, a very salty old French seadog. Jean will always be found at the Rover's Return. His past history is unclear although there are many rumours. The most common theory is that he was a very successful pirate who decided to retire whilst the going was good. It would at least explain why he seems to have plenty of dubloons and no seeming need to work to obtain any more. Although Jean seems wealthy, he didn't get that way by throwing his money around and he's always the last to the bar and quite often seems to have left his money pouch in his lodgings. Jean would prefer to cadge drinks by telling his seafaring tales for the price of a good brandy and it must be a good brandy. Old in years now, Jean still feels a young man at heart. Some verbatim quotes from the old matelot himself:

“Much like my own reputation as a brave French sea dog has been gained in sweat, blood and bravery over many hard years at sea and that can never be taken away.”

“Don’t think I’ve always been this fellow with grey whiskers that you see today, propping up the bar in this old tavern.”

(Followers of Vagabond's Wargaming Blog may recognise this fellow! Refer to the Sails of Glory reports of daring naval actions!)

[DintheDin]

A very nice miniature, well-painted and well-photo staged! Cheers!

[FifteensAway]

Does old Jean have a case of the piles or some other such discomfiting malady that causes him to keep shifting his position?  First facing this way, then that and all.   

[Doug ex-em4]

Old in years now, Jean still feels a young man......

Many a lonely, salty, old sea dog finds solace in this fashion

Doug

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

A very nice miniature, well-painted and well-photo staged! Cheers!

Thank you, DintheDin.   

Does old Jean have a case of the piles

I believe so, it's just one of the penalties of being old and salty!   

Many a lonely, salty, old sea dog finds solace in this fashion

             

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

The Brothers of Santo Marcas have acquired a cannon. The brothers are normally armed with sticks and cudgels but they feel that in light of the troubled times, something more is required in the way of fire power. Consequently they have renovated an old Spanish cannon, found on the island. The Brothers call it their Mule Gun, as their mule, Muffin does all the hard work transporting the gun, powder and ball around the island, escorting the monks on their travels. Brother-Gunner Graham has been given the job of firing the cannon but in actual fact all the gunnery knowledge comes from Hercules, an escaped slave adopted by the monks. Hercules understands the science of gunnery after a short stint on a pirate ship. Brother-Gunner Graham seems to be holding his hat on, expecting a rather large blast but I don't think he has too much to worry about with that pea-shooter. It could give attacking pirates something to think about though.

[DintheDin]

One more great little story! I'm eager to see how you will stitch them all together! Cheers!

[Doug ex-em4]

Brother-Gunner Graham. Wonderful. I imagine he worked in the monastery library, did he? I hope that didn’t give him la-de-dah airs and graces.

Muffin the Mule. Oh my, you do tweak my nostalgia chain. Question. Do you like Muffin the Mule? Answer, I don’t know, I’ve never muffed the mule. 

More terrific stuff, Snapcase, to ease us through these dark times.

Doug

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

I'm eager to see how you will stitch them all together!

Thanks, DintheDin, I'm wondering that myself!

Doug, I knew you'd like 'la-di-dah' Gunner Graham. I'm sure you've also been involved in Muffin in the past?   


Followers of the blog 'The View From The Hill' from Doug em4 will no doubt be familiar with the name of Sir Gilbert Hill of VBCW fame. This post features one of Sir Gilbert's ancestors of the same name.

Sir Gilbert Hill has just arrived at Puerto de Viento Pasajero (the main port town) on the Islas de Pasaje de Vuelta. He is a friend of Sir Frobisher Fotheringay-Featherstonhaugh, the Governor. Rumours are rife as to why this tremendously wealthy dilettante and doyen of English high society would take the trouble to visit these small islands in the Caribbean, far from his vast estates in Herefordshire.

Just visible in the background is the enormous travelling chest which Sir Gilbert has brought with him. Already, various nefarious elements of the island's ne'er-do-wells are speculating as to the possible contents of said chest.

Sir Gilbert has stopped off at The Pink Pelican for a quick one to wet his upper-class whistle. Trudi and Helga (who are twins) have brought out some liquid libation to stiffen the sinews of Sir Gilbert. There is also a flagon of ale for Sir Gilbert's valet and fixer who is known simply as Wrench. Wrench is never without his seven-barrelled blunderbuss, which he refers to as "my persuader!"

Jean Vagabondé sits quietly in the background swigging his brandy, eyeing the foppish newcomer with disbelief. "Un autre rosbif" he thinks to himself, "autant d'utilisation comme une théière au chocolat!"

On the left is the exotic dancer, Redolence Sweetmeat. Redolence has been forced into the life of a dancer at the Pink Pelican at the behest of Sir Frobisher. The Sweetmeat family owe him money and Redolence has been forced to work at the Pelican to pay their debts. Her younger sister, Perfume has been taken on as the cleaner.

[Doug ex-em4]

There is, in fact, a full length portrait of the 17th Century Sir Gilbert, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, in that very outfit hanging to this day in the Hill stately home in Herefordshire. Remarkable....

Doug

[DintheDin]

Ravishing tales! 

[miltiades]

wonderful and very inspiring 

[Michi]

The Pink Pelican seems to offer countless services...

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Thank you all, Doug the next time I'm in Herefordshire I would like to pop in and see that portrait.

The Pink Pelican seems to offer countless services...

Everything you could think of Michi (and quite a lot you wouldn't even dream of!)...   

These Brothers complete the Brothers of Santo Marcas. They are the Relic Bearers and are entrusted with the most valuable and revered relics in the Brother's possession.



L to R: Brother Godot holding the Rod of Asclepius, Brother Guildenstern with the Holy Grail, Brother Karamazov holding aloft the Rose Croix and Brother Rosencrantz with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

ARTHUR:

Yes, of course! The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! 'Tis one of the sacred relics Brother Maynard carries with him. Brother Maynard! Bring up the Holy Hand Grenade!

MONKS: (chanting)

Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem

Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem

ARTHUR:

How does it, um-- how does it work?

LANCELOT:

I know not, my liege

ARTHUR:

Consult the Book of Armaments!

BROTHER MAYNARD:

Armaments, chapter two, verses nine to twenty-one

SECOND BROTHER:

And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, "O Lord, bless this Thy hand grenade that, with it, Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits in Thy mercy."

And the Lord did grin, and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals and fruit bats and large chu--

MAYNARD:

Skip a bit, Brother

SECOND BROTHER:

And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."