Meeting of Two Unlike Minds :: Dermid Gavin

The following is an account of several excepts and encounters between members of the Highland Confederacy and Captian L. Horatio Hawke of the St. George Squadron of the White.

______________________________
Captian L. Horatio Hawke K.C.M.G.
Master of the HMS Relentless
St George Squadron of the White
His Britannic Majesty’s Royal Navy

In May of 1719, there is the threat of a Jacobite invasion of Scotland with the assistance of Spanish forces. The Royal Navy sent five ships under the command of Captain Boyle of HMS Worcester to the area near Eilean Donan castle for reconnaissance. I was fortunate enough to have commanded the HMS Nemesis which was part of the squadron that helped put down that feeble attempt at rebellion. Dare if you will to bring your Jacobite cause to the Burning Sea and follow in the failed footsteps of the ‘Old Pretender’… The White Squadron will send you packing back to your Catholic Masters in Rome at best and at worst strech your neck from His Majesty’s Royal yardarm… However, I think it would be a waste of good rope.

For King & Country!

______________________________
Hamish McBane, Proprietor – General
The Highland Confederacy

Sir, I care not a whit for the pope and his ilk, but for the freedom English dogs would deny us by taking power from our country and seating it in their own. You may have bribed and cajouled the weak minded men of my country, but you sir will not dominate us. The Treaty of Union has stolen our soverienty and threatens to steal our national identity for which we will not stand. Scotland has ever stood against English villainy, since Edward the first and before. You have bought us and paid for us it would seem, but some of Scotland’s sons and daughters will not be bought and paid for! I care not a whit either for failed and weak Kings, for they fail to show the strength of our people. Though some may follow them, we seek the higher calling to freedom. We will find the freedom we seek and be like stinging nettles in your skin. The Jacobite cause is one of freedom and in the end it will succeed, for good and God will triumph over evil.

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Dermid Gavin, Proprietor – Merchant
The Highland Confederacy


Aye. Not a day’s sun will set without a vision of seeing a British ship fall. It is not a treat of union but rather one of oppression. The few that do argue something else are nothing that I call kin. The British left us to rot in New Caledonia when I was not more than a child and now I take to seas to set right against their wrongs.

Bring your fleets and your guns and your ill will and I will see them layed along side the buried depths of Port Royal!

Hail the Highland Confederacy!

______________________________
Captian L. Horatio Hawke K.C.M.G.

Pfft… the Highland Confederacy… Rebel rousing scum. Worse than any scallywag pirate. Indeed the noose would be too good for the lot of you. Your words are as hollow as your pathetic goals. The only vision you traitors will see are His Majety’s loyal servants pounding you to the black depths under the weight of full broadsides.

Strength in Unity!

______________________________
Dermid Gavin, Proprietor – Merchant

*Dermid raises his nose from his large tin stein*

Aye! Often the difference between right and wrong depends only on the side of the table you sit at. It might be harsh but I’ve seen it many times myself.

We come from many lands and many places. Our bond’s not a singular event but a willingness to escape the harshness of our homes for the right to make our own good fortune. Without friends to watch your back, these lands are unliveable. We represent merchants and privateers willing to trade goods at fair price and seek that chance here in this new world.

We fly under 5 flags today, and I’d bet this tin that that number grows. If that strikes you as unjust, then *politely tips hat* good day.

*Dermid returns his attention to his stein and proceeds onward towards the bottom of yet another leaky tin while visions of his banner float through his head.*

______________________________
Captian L. Horatio Hawke K.C.M.G.

…Any Captain who joins ranks with these rebels will find themselves branded traitors to the Crown and executed under the traditional methods of those charged with sedition.

______________________________
Dermid Gavin, Proprietor – Merchant

*laughs under his breath and thinks to himself about the comments reportedly made by Horatio Hawke*

It is not as if I shall walk around with target upon my back for you to simply strike upon. If the English believe this to be a fight fought upon level ground and open seas, then they are even more foolish and arrogant than what I know as truth.

______________________________
Captian L. Horatio Hawke K.C.M.G.

The sad truth is we put nothing past anyone who would abandon their own lands only to warm the feet and lick the boots of enemies of the Crown.

“What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge. Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be obtained from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.”

______________________________
Dermid Gavin, Proprietor – Merchant

Oh how brave and mighty those filled to the brim with ignorance can sound.

“Abandon their own lands?!?” Abandon…. ha! I was thrown upon “The Endeavor” at no more than the age of 4 as my mother and father fought for our countries hope and survival. If helping to sail to the new world for Darien is what you deem to be abandonment then you are, perhaps, even worse than I would have imagined.

So yes, my father and my family left Scotland in hopes for a better life. From all accounts, life at home was nearly unlivable and there was little support from your “crown” so there was little else but to fight for own survival. My father did what any honorable man would do. Fight for his country, not so unlike yourself Captain Hawke.

But that is not my anger for the crown, no it goes deeper and I have seen it first hand. I will never forget the look upon my mother’s face when father returned home after pleading repeatedly with your governors as we Scots were left to die here in this new land. Did the crown offer support then? Simple supplies or medicine for the sick and dying? Of course they did not! It was only after we died and failed for your benefit; when our parliament was moved to your land; when our land taken that you offered your “generosity”.

If I am undecent for choosing to stand rather than to fall in line with those who I have watched let innocents die, then all that is good will soon fail.

*With that, rather than ending with an angry outburst of energy, Dermid seems saddened and depressed by having to recount the early days of his life. Head hanging low, he simply turns and walks into the crowded streets and disappears.*

OOC:

I’m excited for the unique angle that Pirates of the Burning Sea is bringing to this community. I think there is great opportunity for very real and reasonable alliances and enemies between various guilds making the community that much stronger and closer. Certainly, if you are interested in playing a British captain, please check out the St. George Squadron of the White. We have a great relationship building between the two guilds and I look forward to continuing this type of fun RP relationship for a good long time!

On the Treaty of Union :: Dermid Gavin

Dermid Responds to Questions regarding the Treaty of Union that was passed in his homeland some 11 years or so after he left for the Caribbean aboard The Endeavor.

*Tone moves into a clearly agitated state*

It is treaty of oppression from where I sit!

I can’t believe kin would sign such a thing. They claim our failure in New Caledonia was part of the reason, but that just shows ignorance. Hell, I was there and if not for the actions of the British scum, we would have prevailed. Sit back and do nothin and then agree to give it away. Bah!

*takes a large drink of ale, leans back and drifts into his past*

I think it was probably the 9th year before I heard rumblings of agreement. I was still young at age and had just found a home in the The Albatross where Willem McDough had taken me, at least a bit, under his wing. Twas there in that tavern I heard sailors speak of the agreement. Can’t say that a single one thought it was good for Scotland. Merging of two shouldn’t mean losing your voice, you know.

Sad thing is, I think they’re right. Word is they are no better now than before and worse off if you count the lack of say. So for the time being, I don’t see me returning. I’ve got a better chance here to make it on my own and if I can take down the Brits just one step in raising meself up, then that I’ll do!

*Browses his pockets, takes a quick look, then raises his hand and orders yet another round for the table and shouts “Let’s bring one without a hole in bottom this time round!”*

Curse the Wind! :: Tale of Dermid Gavin

The Tale of Dermid Gavin who has returned from a trip to the Antilles. He left the Albatross two weeks prior just a storm began to bring rain and wind out of the East.

*Nearly two weeks to the day, Dermid staggers back onto the shore just a few miles southwest of the Albatross. Slowly, he half-stumbles his way back to the comforts that he now wishes that he had never left.

He enters the Albatross and falls into a small cot tucked behind the old bar. At first glance there is little doubt that something has gone terribly amiss upon his journey. He has lost some 20 pounds and is but a shadow of his former self. The once relatively nice attair and polished appearance has been stripped from him and now something just before death’s doorstep lies nearly motionless behind the bar.

As he has often done over his years within the Albatross, Willem McDough is quick to offer what support and care he can for the man he often calls son. Within a short few hours, the initial exhaustion of relief at reaching familiar and stable ground begins to fade, and while still appearing to be a changed person, Dermid begins to recount his tale.*

“Curse the wind!! Curse the waves!! Curse that damned storm!! I probably wasn’t more than a few good hours from here to the south before the wind and rain turned more angry than I can ever remember. At once it seemed that the anger within the deeps rose up and purposefully lashed out at my sole with all of its might. There was little that could be done, I swear.

We attempted to turn and run from the rising beast but it was useless. Downwind the waves simply poured over the stern of boat and within minutes we would have been at the depths of the sea. We tacked into the wind and on the starboard side we held our own. I swear the men fought valiantly for seemingly hours within the darkness of that brutal evening. Certainly there was some damage to the sails and to the framework but it seemed like the worst was behind us and that we would reach safety beyond.

Then came a large bolt of lightening from the sky. Suddenly the darkness faded and a large reef was shown not more than a good throw off the bow. We were heading right towards it leaving us no option but to tack again to larboard. During the tack, the sails were ripped to small shreds wrestling aimlessly within the storm. We were left to the mercy of the sea and storm. Within just a few minutes, darkness overtook the boat as the schooner “Riverside” sunk into the darkness of the angry night sea.

Not a soul…. Not a single soul… the ship… the crew… supplies and timbers…. all taken by the sea for days.

I drifted upon little more than a few boards torn from the hull. Luckily a merchant ship came upon me on the twelfth sunset and offered to carry me back to safety. I don’t think I was more than a just over the horizon but it wasn’t a trip that I could have made without help.

It all now lies in the darkness of the great sea. It is all lost.”

*With that Dermid lays back into the cot and after a few gentle pats by the old barkeep, Dermid drifts off for a nice long nap and some long overdue rest.*

Dermid Gavin :: Account of Recent Days

Dermid Gavin returns to “The Albatross” (tavern for the Highland Confederacy) after an unsuccessful week long search for strong timber. It seems that the lack of strong wood in this region will certainly be a sticking point for his craft.

*Dermid pulls up a chair and finds a small crowd gathered in The Albatross. As usual John More remains more to himself, nearly silent, as he slowly continues his work on ideas for flags and designs for the Highland Confederacy. Dermid peers over his shoulder and slowly peruses the detailed drawings.*

*Slowly lifting his tin from time to time to have a sip of whatever fills his cup this day, it is obvious that Dermid respects the good work being done for the company. Realizing that John is deep at work, he simply proceeds across the bar to the more crowded corner near the fireplace.*

I must say that I’m pleased with our company good friends. Although this land is harsh and I did just spend a full week without finding a single good tree, we have good talents among us and I have little doubt that we can be successful in this land.

*Dermid raises his tin towards the center of the table and gives a quick toast to Hamish, the founding member.*

Dermid Gavin of The Highland Confederacy

Dermid Gavin recalls the events that brought him to the Caribbean seas in this time of turmoil.

Though memories are faint, if not missing completely, the story goes that my family left for the caribbean from the port of Leith upon the Endeavour when I was not more than 4. We were members of the original 1600 or so Scots that left looking for a better life in the east than what we could find at home. We had high hopes that glory for our country and wealth for ourselves could be found in this new land.

Unfortunately, that optimism was quickly spoilt. Fever, indians, and the lack of British support left our people without hope. Not more than a year later, the original landing was abandoned and the wealthier few returned home. The rest of us scattered about in hopes of simple survival.

My family presented to Port Royal that following year and there my father, representing the ill remaining members, pleaded with the British for help and assistance. That is really my first memory. Not of that event, but of the reaction of my mother when my father returned home that evening.

A short 5 years later, my parents were lost in a fire and I have been forced to find my way on the smaller side streets beyond Port Royal since that time. I made my way aboard a merchant shipt and travelled into French held lands and there I’ve slowly pulled myself up the ladder so to say and now have a plot of land I lay claim to and have acquired a small vessel. I am a merchant and trader and one with a will to live.

~ Dermid Gavin recounts his past ~

Later, he is overheard responding to questions regarding the Treaty of Union

*Tone moves into a clearly agitated state*

It is treaty of oppression from where I sit!

I can’t believe kin would sign such a thing. They claim our failure in New Caledonia was part of the reason, but that just shows ignorance. Hell, I was there and if not for the actions of the British scum, we would have prevailed. Sit back and do nothin and then agree to give it away. Bah!

*takes a large drink of ale, leans back and drifts into his past*

I think it was probably the 9th year before I heard rumblings of agreement. I was still young at age and had just found a home in the The Albatross where Willem McDough had taken me, at least a bit, under his wing. Twas there in that tavern I heard sailors speak of the agreement. Can’t say that a single one thought it was good for Scotland. Merging of two shouldn’t mean losing your voice, you know.

Sad thing is, I think they’re right. Word is they are no better now than before and worse off if you count the lack of say. So for the time being, I don’t see me returning. I’ve got a better chance here to make it on my own and if I can take down the Brits just one step in raising meself up, then that I’ll do!

*Browses his pockets, takes a quick look, then raises his hand and orders yet another round for the table and shouts “Let’s bring one without a hole in bottom this time round!”*

OOC: Dermid Gavin is my anticipated character for Pirates of the Burning Sea. The game is still a ways off in the distance, but nothing wrong with an early start. (It’s also the name of little hobbit burglar now roaming The Shire and Bree, but the two aren’t often seen together.)