The Scourge of Infidels

Seafaring Imaginations whose vessels must dare the perilous transit of the western Mediterranean will be gratified to learn of a new source of intelligence on the nonpareil of Barbary Pirates, the dread Emir Driss Dey of Bizercca, collected from escaped galley slaves recently rescued from certain death of exposure at sea by the Monte Cristan corvette La Petillante.

Crippled and Wary

The sail, probably four leagues off, assumed a course more or less parallel to that of the limping Pharaon, wavering slightly first towards and then away from the crippled sloop. The hull and lower masts of the lateen-sailed vessel remained below the horizon for over two hours, during which time it gained steadily on the Pharaon, drawing nearly abreast of it on their common northerly course.

Just before yielding the weather gauge, the trailing ship took a broad reach onto a starboard tack, halving the distance between the ships in an hour. Coming well into spyglass view, the approaching ship was revealed to be a chebec flying Scandalusian colours and showing 6 guns on its bearing gundeck.

Captain Correteaux, taking the air with the Cardinal on the quarterdeck when the ship came fully into view, lowered his spyglass with a relaxing grip. "Hein, a fellow storm petrel who seems to have had a better of the storm? Coming to render aid? Nonetheless, we must not seem completely helpless..." Reflecting a moment, he shouted out to the boatswain's mate, "Barsanio, clear the decks, and clew up the mainsail. Helm, bring us two points to port."

To the Cardinal, Correteaux volunteered his first unsolicited aside, "We cannot outrun anything in our current state, but we can at least keep our broadsides bearing to make sure our new amis remain, hmm, respectful."

Troublingly, the chebec soon tacked sharply to the east, tracking behind the Pharaon, and out from under the view of the Pharaon's port gunports. Cardinal Maximilian solicited the use of Correteaux's spyglass. Recalling the rather extensive correspondence with which he had engaged with nearly the entire Iberian episcopate during the preparations for the papal conclave, his Eminence paused a moment upon spotting the ensign trailing from the chebec.

"Captain, is it not the case, that the Scandalusian naval ensign, like the other royal standards, was altered by his Highness Joern Carlos XI? I believe the necklace of the Order of the Holy Sudarium was removed from the royal seal after l'Affaire de la Parure Noverrese? This ship seems to be flying the old ensign."

The captain pondered a moment. "Barsanio, beat the men to quarters!"

Reich Duchy of Beerstein appoints new Ambassadors

F.M. Reich Duke Wilhelm applauds the Reichstag's decision to appoint four new Ambassadors to our allies. He has long sought their action on behalf of the Duchy of Tradgardland, the Markgraaf of Raubenstadt, and Frankszonia. These realms have sent us generals in our hour of need or have supported the University of Pabst. Elector Ulrich von Luftberg's support for Empress Maria Theresa certainly justifies our recognition and assistance. Our Ambassadors are: General Count Ulrich von Carling appointed to the Duchy of Tradgarland, General Count Rupert von Brewmister appointed to the Margraaf of Raubenstadt, General Count Wilhelm von Corona appointed to Frankszonia, and General Count Ludwig von Warsteiner appointed to the Rheinstadt der Luftberg. General Count von Warsteiner is to present Elector Ulrich von Luftberg his investiture into the Ancient and Honorable Order of the Tankard upon reporting to Court. The Duc d'Au Contraire is to inducted into the Order of Goblet upon his arrival at our Court. F.M. Reich Duke Wilhelm recognizes the contribution of these distinguished heros and wishes each new ambassador well during this phase of service to the Reich Duchy of Beerstein.

Electorate of Luftberg

As the Elector von Luftberg is currently engaged in combat with his neighbours, he has recently decided that you can simply never have too many allies. As such, the Rheinstadt der Luftberg has recently overhauled it's diplomatic relations and, following an invitation, dispatched the noted raconteur and diplomat the Duc d'Au Contraire to the court of the Reich Duchy of Beerstein. Hopefully he can drum up some sympathetic contacts there in order to further the elector's interests...

Dismasted

The lightning had struck the mainmast, which had seemed to explode from the deck plates and then fallen into the foremast. Working in the driving rain, the crew was able to hack the shrouds of both masts and jettison their shattered remains. With neither the mainsail nor storm jib flying, though, the ship was at the mercy of the storm. Tumbling over the waves and rolling chaotically, the strain on the ship became terrific, too much for the remaining mizzenmast, which let go less than an hour later.

The ship now bobbed like a cork through the storm, pitching and rolling throughout the rest of the night. Captain Correteaux, with only the single curse "Putain, la mer," spat through his sodden moustaches, sent the off-watch crew back below, but remained on the weather deck with the helmsman and lookouts through the rest of the night.

By mid-morning, the storm had eased into a steady rain as the gales died down to a steady southerly wind. Cardinal Maximilian and his attendants ventured onto deck as the rains finally ended around noon, as much to fight the nausea which persisted as to inspect the damage to the ship, which they were powerless to redress. As the sailors laboured to clear the remnants of the old shrouds and jury rig a block and tackle to raise a replacement mainmast prepared by the ship's carpenter, the clerics recovered themselves in the fresh air above decks.

As the sailors eased the new mast into postition, and prepared to winch it vertical, the stern lookout cried out, "Sail two points to port quarter!"

Prayers to Ss. Erasmus and Devota

The wine-dark sea smashed incessantly against the ship throughout the night, tossing the ship about in random pitches amidst the pitches and rolls of the ship ascending and then diving with the frothing waves whipped up by the howling gales. On deck, Capt. Correteaux and his crew struggled to keep control of the helm while maintaining the closest possible haul into the wind. With all but the mainsail furled, and it reefed three times, and a spitfire jib set, the Pharaon worked to windward, keeping its bow into the frothing waves crashing over the decks.

Belowdecks, the crew worked the pumps without cease and sought what off-watch rest they could find, clinging to their hammocks as they were tossed about by the groaning and heaving ship. Many, finding their consciences as restless as their bodies in the heavy weather, found their way back to the captains's quarters, and Cardinal Maximilian's attendants found themselves hearing confessions through the night as the storm raged.

Six bells into the middle watch, the ship entered what seemed to be the heart of the storm. The lightning and thunder was nearly incessant, and the ship rolled routinely through forty degrees. The groaning of the ship increased in volume to a steady growl, for minutes seemingly stretching into hours. Seasickness belowdecks was nearly universal, and most below could do little but cling to the bulwarks and seek to keep all items in the cabins stowed and secured.

A lightning flash acccompanied by thunderclap resounding like a cannon report through the ship was followed by another cracking, groaning and crash. The boatswain's mate of the watch opened the companionway hatch in a flood of seawater and bellowed down for all hands on deck for dismasting recovery.

Duchy of San Bruno

The Duchy of San Bruno is situated in the North of Italy where it finds itself at the centre of an ongoing struggle betwixt The Imperium and Hispania. Duc Alfonso and his subjects find themselves caught in the middle of a conflict not of their making...

The Tempest

A red dawn gave way to steadily darkening skies as the scirocco gained strength througout the day. Pushed ahead by the southerly winds, the Pharaon outran the storm for most of the day, but as the ship tacked to the northwest to attempt to run abeam of the storm, the ominous thunderheads overran first the ship and then touched the northern horizon.

Captain Correteaux, who had ordered nearly every scrap of linen aloft to attempt to keep ahead of the storm now barked orders to his crew to furl sail and clear the decks for the inevitable pounding his ship was about to receive.

Cardinal Maximilian and his attendants huddled in the captain's quarters, which Correteaux had piously surrendered to the Cardinal Prince upon his embarkation, and read Compline early that night, all pausing somberly upon the concluding prayer:

"Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

"Lord,
We beg you to visit this house and banish from it all the deadly power of the enemy.
May your holy angels dwell here to keep us in peace,
And may your blessing be upon us always.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

"May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a perfect death.

"Amen.

"Loving mother of the Redeemer, Gate of Heaven, Star of the Sea,
Assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.
To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,
Yet remained a virgin after as before.
You, who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,
Have pity on us poor sinners.
Amen."

Tradgardland

In the Duchy of Tradgardland all is peaceful. The summer sun beats down upon the Duke and his people. The good people go about their business under Heaven as usual. Soon the crops will be ready to harvest as the year turns once more...

Reich Duchy of Beerstein College of Honors posts Honorees

ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ORDER OF THE TANKARD

F.M. Reich Duke Wilhelm von Beerstein
Wilhelm II Baron von Brewswick
Gen Reich Graf James Louis von Beerstein
Sir David Linienblatt of Tippelbruder
Roi Louis XV of Gallia
Herzog Frederick von Hesse-Seeland
George August Elector of Hunnunter
Furst Bruno von Ursa of the Principality of Saxe-Bearstein
Duke Konrad of the Duchy of Mieczyslaw
Furst Guntram Blauerwolf of the Principality of Hesse-Engleberg
Margraf Johannes I of Margravite of Nord Westfalen

Duke Karl Frederick of the Markgraaf of Raubenstadt
Hurtshog Stanken Fhartz von Frankfurter
Karl Frederick X of the Duchy of Tradgardland
Grand Duke Karl of the Duchy of Hetzenberg

Elector Ulrich von Luftberg of the Rheinstadt der Luftberg

ORDER OF THE GOBLET

F.M. ReichDuke Wilhelm von Beerstein
Wilhelm II Baron von Brewswick
Gen Reich Graf James Louis von Beerstein
Sir David Linienblatt of Tippebruder
Professor Marcin Odlianicki-Poczobut of the Duchy of Mieczyslaw
Professor Heinrich Altman of the Principality of Hesse-Engleberg
Professor Ludwig von Striff of the Margravite of Nord Westfalen
Professor Iago Knappenburger of the Duchy of Hetzenberg
Ritter von Meltzer of the Markgraaf of Raubenstadt
Colonel Honking Thirst of the Markgraaf of Raubenstadt
Graf William von Zelle, Ambassador of the Elector of Hunnunter

Duc d'Au Contraire, Ambassador of the Rheinstadt der Luftberg
Archbishop Gunter von Drunk, Reich Duchy of Beerstein
Gen Graf Ludwig von Boozewick, Amb Reich Duchy of Beerstein
Gen Graf Gunter von Biergarden, Amb Reich Duchy of Beerstein
Gen Graf Heinrich von Hops, Ambassador Reich Duchy of Beerstein
Gen Graf Kurt von Barley, Ambassador Reich Duchy of Beerstein
Gen Graf Rupert von Pilsner, Ambassador Reich Duchy of Beerstein
Gen Graf Wilhelm von Ales, Ambassador Reich Duchy of Beerstein

Gen Graf Ulrich von Carling, Ambassador Reich Duchy of Beerstein

Gen Graf Rupert von Brewmister, Amb Reich Duchy of Beerstein

Gen Graf Wilhelm von Corona, Ambassador Reich Duchy of Beerstein

Gen Graf Ludwig von Warsteiner, Amb Reich Duchy of Beerstein

MILITARY ORDER OF THE GOLDEN CROWN

F.M. Reich Duke Wilhelm von Beerstein
Gen Reich Graf James Louis von Beerstein
Maj Gen Reich Graf Lothar von Blutundedonner Baron von Alesgarden
Maj Gen Reich Graf Adolph von Coors Baron von Blatzberg
Generaloffizer Reich Graf Picklemany of Frankszonia
Gen Reich Graf Mackay of the Duchy of Tradgardland
Gen Reich Graf Joffery Baron von Lista
Gen Ludwig third Baron of Brewski

Sighting Montecristo

Setting sail on the evening of August 7, the Pharaon and its ecclesiastical passengers exited the harbour of Civitavecchia with the evening exodus of the city's fishing fleet, headed out on the coastal breeze which arose as the sunset cooled the shore. As the fishing vessels spread out along the coastal waters, the Pharaon tacked northwards toward the Tuscan archipelago. By mid-morning, the rocky outline of the southernmost islands of the chain, Giannutri and Giglio, came into view.

By mid-afternoon, the sloop cruised under the looming gaze of the forbidding island of Montecristo, and the crew kept sharp watch to all quarters, since the desolate rock was the reputed rendezvous for smugglers, pirates and other cutthroats operating from Sardinea, Corseta and other places still unsubjected to definitive control by the Gallian, Genovese or Pimentese navies.

The sailors on deck paid most attention astern, though, as a persistent haze in that quarter throughout the day was regarded with misgiving. A scirocco blowing across the Mediterranean would mean a strong southerly wind to be sure, but also augured gales and the strong likelihood of storms before the wind reached the Genovese coast.

Into the Tyrrhenian

After a brief consultation with his almoner, Cardinal Maximilian instructed his valet de chambre to obtain passage on the Pharaon, clearly the best-armed of the three open-water ships departing for southern Gallia on the morrow. Commanded by Captain Hugo Correteaux, a dark, taciturn Savoirard with over 20 years plying the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean, the Pharaon and its 24 guns seemed well able to deter all but the most suicidal pirates.

Having already loaded its cargo, the Pharaon awaited only the boarding of the ecclesiastics to kedge about and make for the open waters of the Tyrrhenian.