"Fire!" The Captain shouted.
The air was suddenly filled with the acrid scent of sulfur and what sounded like thunder, as sixteen cannons discharged along the side of a weather-worn brig, sending their payloads into a much smaller schooner. The vessel took the full brunt of the attack, as sailors on the deck either collapsed onto the deck or dove into the roiling ocean beneath.
"Bring her in!" The Captain's voice rang out again.
Several grappling hooks sailed through the air, landing squarely on the deck of the schooner. In moments they tightened to the railing, bringing the battered ship beside the brig.
Chaos ensued. Sailors from the brig poured onto the deck of the schooner. Swords clashed and pistol shots rang out, but before long the remaining crew of the smaller ship had surrendered, and the brig's crew had them all lined up on their knees.
The Captain of the brig now came aboard the schooner, and its crew looked upon her for the first time. She was a tall, lean woman. Her hair looked like fire, a bright reddish orange mixture, pulled back with a black bandana, though several strands had escaped from it at random and odd angles, giving her a somewhat disheveled appearance. Her eyes shone like emeralds as they looked upon the men who had surrendered to her attack.
"I am Captain Lisette Legrande. You have had the misfortune of coming under attack by my vessel, the Queen's Gambit." She paused for a moment, gesturing to the ship behind her.
The Queen's Gambit was a sizeable brig with two square-rigged masts. On either side it had two decks, with 7 canons per deck. The ship itself was painted black and red, though the sails were a pure, clean white. Just above them however, flew the familiar black flag, adorned with skull and crossbones. Just below that flew Legrande's signature flag; a black background adorned with a red jackdaw in the upper left corner.
"You have two options. Stay with your ship, which clearly isn't long for this world, or come aboard and serve under my colors." She said sternly, unsheathing her sword. Several of the captured men grimaced.
"If ye'd serve, stand now, or forever hold your piece."
Out of the thirteen prisoners, seven men stood, as well as one woman. Lisette nodded to her crew, who gathered up the volunteers (not to mention the cargo) and helped them onto the Gambit.
"You could've been great lads. Remember that Captain Legrande gave you that chance, should you survive the unforgiving sea."
With this she leapt back over the railing, onto the deck of her own ship. Those that refused to join stood on the deck of their battered and sinking ship, looking upon the pirates with scorn.
"To the depths." Lisette said calmly as she approached the wheel.
Again the canons screamed, tearing new holes into the poor schooner. It began to sink faster and faster as the Queen's Gambit pulled away, until finally the entire thing had disappeared beneath the waves.
--
That evening, the Queen's Gambit had anchored near a small, sandy shoal connecting two small, unremarkable islands. The crew, including the new recruits, had dined together, getting to know one another, telling stories of adventure on the high seas and how a life of piracy wasn't so bad. Everyone had joined for the meal, save for the female sailor that had volunteered. This was because Lisette had invited her to her cabin for a personal dinner.
The Captain's cabin was a small, cozy space. It held a large chest on one side, with a bed opposite it, and a table in the middle with maps and instruments spread across it. At the back of the room was a large, ornate desk with a weapon rack next to it, currently holding several spare pistols and swords.
Lisette had cleared space on the desk and had several plates of food spread across it. The woman she'd invited in looked borderline malnourished, and gladly partook in the offering.
Aside from being a bit scrawny, she was an attractive woman. Though it was held back in a white bandana, she had long, flowing blonde hair. Her blue eyes seemed gentle and innocent, though they also held a kind of fire within.
"What is your name?" Lisette said plainly, watching the woman eat.
"Morgan." She said quickly between bites of roasted chicken.
"A lovely name. Tell me Morgan, how did you come to sail on that vessel? You don't see many sailors of our...variety, on ships out this way."
"My parents and I had a disagreement, and so I found myself penniless and homeless. I needed work, and they were willing to let me come aboard so long as I worked as hard as the men. I did my duty, and here I am." Morgan replied frankly. She'd finished her meal, feeling more full than she had in a long time, and leaned back comfortably in the chair opposite the desk.
"That must've been one hell of a disagreement." Lisette pointed out.
"They didn't see eye to eye with my...preferences." Morgan said rather quietly.
Lisette leaned over her desk now, folding her arms on top of it as a large grin crossed her face. "You don't say?"
"No one in my village did, really. I knew I wasn't welcome there. That's why I left the first chance I got. And if there's riches and acceptance to be found here, then I've no problem sailing with you lot."
"I'm glad to hear it, then." Lisette replied.
The Captain stood up and moved around the desk, coming to stand behind Morgan. She began massaging her shoulders, firmly working the muscles.
"Are...you also?" Morgan asked curiously, enjoying the impromptu massage.
"Indeed. And you'll find no problems with acceptance here, lass." Lisette said in a sultry voice.
