Seafarers Information Guide

Year Sixteen Hundred Two

History

Sir Edrick Brighton Auburn is only just able to carry the Auburn name of Tor Lanencrest through distant blood relations. However, he has never chosen to utilize the name to his advantage, and for as long as anyone can remember he has always simply gone by the surname Brighton. Raised on the coasts near Auburncrest that are littered with various fishing communities and maritime villages, Sir Edrick made a name for himself over the years as a merchant. Through intelligent business dealings and the assistance of familial friends willing to take a risk here and there, Sir Edrick was able to gradually form a strong cohesion among several villages. By organizing several small-time maritime businesses into a sort of free-reign corporation, he was able to strengthen the economy of the Tor Lanencrest coasts by protecting several financial interests. Only economists truly understand or are particularly interested in exactly how it all worked out for Sir Edrick, but he was granted his knighthood and estate for all he had done for the people of the coasts. The Brighton Estate on the coast near Auburncrest serves as a testament to all that a simple merchant can accomplish, even without the use of his influential name.

It is not known where Sir Edrick met Trylana, a strong willed woman of elven heritage as distant as Sir Edrick’s own Auburn blood. But in 1576 they married in a huge ceremony that all from the coasts was invited to. Trylana had always shared her husband’s interests in helping the families of the coast through the tougher times, and after the wedding she was the one most visible among the people. Sir Edrick certainly did not ignore his charges, but he was so business oriented that his manner of helping them forced him into a sort of preoccupied seclusion. Trylana served as a liaison of sorts to the people, listening to their interests, wants, and needs.

Maritime trade had grown moderately comfortable and secure on the coast due to Sir Edrick’s business minded efforts. However, there was still a sense of unease at sea. Sir Edrick could only provide so much protection with the income that he and his businesses were making. Mercenaries with boats are hard to come by. At least, trustworthy mercenaries with boats are hard to come by. Often a simple fisherman would pay a great deal for some fellow in a jolly boat to keep an eye on him offshore, only to have that fellow turn and take the fisherman’s catch and coin. And “common seafolk” were not so great a concern to the political atmosphere in Tor Lanencrest that they were able to send their official naval vessels to protect the coasts. They had to serve their duty protecting the Crown from greater threats than piracy, such as international conflicts and threats of war.

What was needed was a trustworthy, privately owned and controlled navy of sorts. Sir Edrick did not feel such a thing was practical, and he certainly was not able to take time away from his affairs to see about forming such a fleet. However, he gave Trylana his full blessing in her belief that she would be able to find a way to make it practical. Having always worked closely with her husband in his affairs at sea, and having some unexplained nautical history of her own, she felt confident that should she be able to found such an organization, she would be able to run it. What she needed was support.

It had taken a long time of listening to the people and discussing their affairs with them to come to the conclusion that trade was simply not prospering with the evident risks at sea. It would take a few years more to fashion a plan to go about implementing the goal of protecting the people. And yet more time was needed to gather the support to fund and man such an operation. And with the time needed to actually use the funds and build even a small fleet, it is easy to see why it took almost fifteen years from the plan’s conception for the TLS to be founded in 1590.

What Dame Trylana had done was appeal to the people that she had grown so close to and admired by. For them to be protected at sea, they had to contribute themselves in whatever way they could. Donations, raising their prices a little, offering materials and manpower, gathering support from friends and relatives further inland – all this served to slowly build the TLS. The majority of the original crews of the TLS was coastal mariners and fishermen that had families large enough to take care of the trades they left behind. More experienced sailors retired from navies in the past or that had other extensive nautical experience with large ships and tactics served as the first officers, many still in their position to this day. Those with knowledge trained those without, crash courses were given, and many learned quickly as they actually performed their new tasks. It became a noble and honorable organization upholding the knightly codes of Tor Lanencrest at sea, though they tend to refer to themselves as “gentlemen” rather than knights. The main appeal to Seafarers joining the TLS was that it was chiefly a coastal policing force, and they would never be too far from their families or trades for too long at a time if they should wish to check in on things at home. Among the officers, however, it was often viewed as a chance to serve the Crown at sea once again, nobly upholding the honor of justice.

During the first few years, the TLS was scoffed at by all those not directly involved. Those inland called the TLS a “pet project,” seasoned sailors laughed at the uniformed Seafarers, and other nations (particularly Tor Aquillon) often openly mocked the ideals that the TLS represent. It was a neophyte navy, and those much higher up sneered at the thought that these upstarts were trying to make a show of being much more than they really were. This was probably because of the dignity and gentlemanly manner that the officers, in particular, held themselves.

But the pirates were the first to cease their amusement of the TLS presence at sea. One by one TLS vessels would bring criminals in to surprised authorities on land. One by one the TLS would return a stolen vessel to its grateful, sometimes influential owner, often offering a reward humbly accepted for the good of strengthening the fleet. The turning point was in 1592, when Lord Jonathan Wetford officially recognized the TLS as a fleet in service, even if only privately, to the Crown. Having seen the importance of the fleet to the coastal communities that many in the populous felt the Crown often forgot about, he decided to help fund and maintain the existence of the TLS.

Over time, the pirates have come to turn at the sight of TLS colours. Perhaps not necessarily out of fear, but for the sake of saving themselves the sudden inconvenience of hassling Tor Lanencrest trade vessels. Either way, the merchants are protected. Those inland or in other nations no longer openly mock the “pet project,” but they don’t particularly acknowledge it either. The TLS or news of it rarely affects them, so many have forgotten its existence.

It is the maritime communities, admittedly mainly in Tor Lanencrest, that have developed the most respect for the TLS. The further one gets from Tor Lanencrest, the more grudging the respect is, but it is a start. The colours are recognized in foreign ports by many, and seasoned sailors, again mostly from Tor Lanencrest, have grown to see that this “upstart navy” is actually as determined to serving the Crown as they had always claimed to be. The TLS is still a relatively young organization with a ways to go to develop into a respectable force, so naval veterans still consider them to be the lower deck of the boat. However, they now view them almost affectionately as an older brother would a fiery lad with potential rather than as the pathetic greenhorns they had originally made them out to be.

Vessels

A sloop is the smallest vessel that the TLS will officially commission as a part of their fleet. It is a light boat with a single fore-and-aft rigged mainmast and rarely carries many more than 45 Seafarers. They are not well equipped for battle, never bearing more than 12 ports, but they are vital for communications among the fleet. A chain of sloops spread out over the sea can create a link from one end to the other via signal flags and Trumpeters. Sloops in the employ of the TLS bear the names of aquatic creatures, both mythical and mundane (favorites among the fleet include the Starfish, Mermaid, and Seahorse ).

The brigantine is a flexible vessel that serves the TLS fleet well for many different tasks, particularly reconnaissance and pursuit operations. Its two-mast design is built to support various rigging configurations, most commonly a square-rigged mainmast and a fore-and-aft rigged mizzen. But what the boat more than makes up for in agility, it loses some in its reputation as a fighting vessel. Its 16-20 ports and crew of around 100 Seafarers are best used in battle only as a supporting boat or against lighter craft. Windrunner, Starchaser, and Wavefarer are examples of typical names that a TLS brig might employ.

The corvette is essentially a smaller and somewhat faster version of a frigate (see below). With 26 ports and a crew of around 150-200, these ships served as the main workhorses of the TLS fleet before funds allowed for more frigates to be produced. Though now numbering fewer than their larger sister ships, they still serve as excellent escort and patrol vessels when a little more speed is needed. TLS corvettes carry the names of admirable traits, such as Alacrity, Gallant and Conscientious.

The frigate is the backbone of the TLS fleet. The sturdy ship bears three square-rigged masts and while that does not make it the most maneuverable vessel at sea, it helps make it enviously seaworthy in inclement conditions. They hold 36-38 ports and carry anywhere around 250-300 Seafarers, making it an admirable adversary in battles and boardings. They are capable of sustaining themselves at sea for weeks at a time if necessary, and are used quite often for patrol and escort operations. TLS frigates are given the names of powerful women with historical or mythical significance, such as Thyra, Boadicea, and Persephone.

Currently, there are 20 vessels permanently commissioned by the TLS, 11 of which are sloops (the Mermaid, Seahorse, Starfish, Kraken, Guppy, Siren, Stingray, Lobster Claw, Flying Fish, Kelpie, and Catfish.)

There were only six larger vessels built for the small fleet when the TLS was founded in 1590. At its head was Persephone, 36, a frigate captained by Jean Beliveau. When Captain Beliveau fell ill during a trying pursuit in the Sea of Storms in 1598, his First Lieutenant, Sebastian Wells Sr., took command of the operation. Beliveau retired his commission as a result of his failing health, and Wells now serves as Captain of Persephone.

The bulk of the fleet was its three 26-port corvettes. They were the Alacrity, under Captain Benjamin Fox, the Conscientious, under Captain Stephen Warren, and the Gallant under Captain Jarod Flannigan. Conscientious has sailed under Captain Alastair Philips since Warren took a job with the Admiralty Advisory Board in 1594. In 1593, the TLS suffered its only major naval tragedy to date, when it lost Gallant and all 180 hands presumably to storms and shoals somewhere off of Fahnsolan Isle, where wreckage and bodies were found.

Two 16-port brigantines supported the fleet from its beginning. They are Windrunner, under Captain Darrin Celeste, and Starchaser, under Captain James Barlow. In 1594 a slightly larger brig was commissioned with 20 ports. It bears the name, Wavefarer, and is currently commanded by Captain Ryan Simms.

Three more frigates were built to date, bearing 38 ports. The year 1592 saw the introduction of Boadicea, under Captain Conrad Forester, and Penthesilea, under Captain Alicia Lourde. In 1594, Thyra was commissioned under Captain Alexander Styles.

With funds granted by the Crown in 1600 for ten years of service protecting “Crown and Sea,” plans are being made to build a new class of vessel. Details are sketchy at this point, but it is hoped to be at sea by 1604. It would be a 50-port warship dubbed Trylana, possibly carrying up to 500 Seafarers!

Weapons

The chief weapon of the TLS vessels themselves are the ballistae. Designed for use aboard boats in close collaboration with engineers from Tor Morbihan, a ballista is little more than a large mounted crossbow. They can be easily modified to fire either a large grappling bolt at close range that can take hold of the wood in enemy hulls, or round stones weighing on average around 24 pounds and can be flung over 500 yards, though not very accurately at such great distances. Generally, in most TLS operations, only grapples are needed as enemy boats are usually taken as intact as possible. If a vessel needs to be slowed from a distance, however, or if it simply must be sunk, the stones serve well to batter oak planks to splinters.

With no official requirement for the armament of individual Seafarers, a variety of weaponry is seen in use when a TLS vessel must forcibly board an enemy boat. This is because the bulk of the lower-deck is manned by sailors and fishermen that have had very little training in combat. It was necessary in the beginning to give them a crash course in hand-to-hand fighting skills with whatever weapon they felt most comfortable with.

Gradually, there is a preference building among Seafarers for use of the cutlass, seen above, and a buckler, pictured left. It is a lightweight armament that leaves a fighting sailor unencumbered enough to maneuver well in combat on deck. It may one day become as standardized as officer uniforms.

It is necessary to have Seafarers aboard trained in long-range combat and given the rating of Archer. This rating is given to a Seafarer whether they actually wield a bow or fight a distant enemy with spells. The crossbow is the most common weapon among Archers, but again, it is currently up to individual preference as to what type of weapon they wield. Archers of all types serve well in the tops, and can disable enemy sailors attempting to cut TLS grapples from their ship.

Personnel

The capitalized form of the word “seafarers” serves to describe any sailor serving in the TLS. They are divided into three categories. Enlisted Seafarers constitute the “lower-deck” and represent the lifeblood of the fleet. These are the “common” sailors that have voluntarily given themselves over to at least one two year term of service for Crown and Sea.

Noncommissioned Officers are more commonly known as Warrant or Petty Officers. This group consists of Seafarers that have received a warrant from the Admiralty to be rated in a position bearing some specific responsibility over operations of a vessel. A Seafarer rated as Carpenter, for example, is chief supervisor over duties related to repairing the woodwork of his or her vessel.

Officers more directly related to the overall chain of command in a vessel are the Commissioned Officers. This is the higher echelon of the TLS fleet most closely representing the gentlemanly, knightly conduct of the Tor Lanencrest Crown at sea.

Descriptions of the ratings of Seafarers within each class follow:

Of the enlisted Seafarers, there are three main ratings based upon the particular area of expertise they were trained in. Sharing the name of the generic term for all sailors in the TLS are those with the rating of Seafarer. Used in this way, the rating describes any sailor that serves as the most all-around worker with no particular assigned task.

Archers are also all-around workers, but when it comes to combat, they are specifically trained to be long-range fighters. Though the rating implies the use of a bow, it has become a generic term inclusive of those that use spellcasting to conduct their distance assaults.

Bowman is a rating believed to have been named simply to confuse those not in the TLS that might easily mistake the tasks of Archer and Bowman. However, it is not a problem for the TLS to remember that Bowmen are responsible in combat for manning the large, crossbow-like ballistae at the vessel’s ports. The terms “Portsman” and “Ballistamen” were dismissed early on as difficult to blurt out in the heat of battle. Generally, a Captain prefers to have four Seafarers manning a ballista, at least one of which should be a Bowman.

There are several warranted ratings among the noncommissioned officers. Mentioned above, the Carpenter is in charge of a vessel’s woodwork. Anything from patching the hull to fixing the leg of an officer’s chair can fall into the domain of a Carpenter and his mates.

The Boatswain (or “Bosun” as it is pronounced) maintains a vessel’s rigging – its masts, sheets, sails and the like.

A Quartermaster is generally a Seafarer warranted to man the wheel of a vessel under the navigation orders of those above him.

The Navigator is the Seer of a TLS vessel. It is costly to find a True Seer willing to join the TLS, and even more costly to find a True Aknorian Seer, so such Navigators are rare. They use a combination of geographic knowledge and mystical insight to navigate the boat.

Assistant Navigator is a rating given to those Seafarers that have an extensive geographical and celestial knowledge, but have no Seer abilities. Often, smaller TLS vessels have only an Assistant Navigator in charge of charting the vessel’s course.

Pursers are the outfitters of a vessel. They are in charge of supplying and distributing cargo stores accordingly. Many also serve dually as Stewards – those that serve the crew its rations of biscuits and water.

When a TLS vessel faces battle, the Master Bowman organizes the crew at the ballistae as necessary.

A Seafarer rated as Master-at-Arms supervises the interior security of a vessel. They do this by posting Marine sentries (Marines are discussed below), maintaining and distributing Seafarer weapons, and patrolling the vessel to be sure there are no unnecessary lanterns dangerously lit or hatches left insecure. He also serves as a trainer in all manner of sailor-to-sailor combat.

The ship’s Surgeon has a great deal of training in mundane methods of healing a wounded Seafarer. When there is no shaman available to rate the position, the Surgeon does well to stabilize the most severe cases of injury until such time as the patient can be brought to someone with magical training. The TLS, however, is known for Surgeons so skilled that often a shaman is not necessarily needed.

A Seafarer rated as Trumpeter is usually only seen aboard the TLS sloops that make up the fleet’s communication network. They are trained in the arts of various signaling methods both visual and auditory. Aboard a larger vessel, a Midshipman is usually given the task of interpreting and giving signals.

Midshipmen are, essentially, apprentice commissioned officers. Holding only a warrant, Midshipman serve to assist lieutenants and to uphold their lower end of command with dignity. After serving as a Midshipman for at least four years, and having been at sea for at least six, the Seafarer is able to take (usually on the Captain’s recommendation) the biannual TLS Lieutenants’ Examination. If the Seafarer passes, he holds the temporary commissioned rank of Junior Lieutenant until such time as a Full Lieutenant’s position is available.

A vessel’s Master is the warrant officer with the most authority. Working closely with the Captain and lieutenants, he is in charge of knowing and maintaining the sailing qualities of “his” particular boat. A Navigator charts the course, a Quartermaster steers the rudder, and the Master barks the orders that control the sails so that they give the best possible performance in taking the ship where the Captain wills it. It is the Master that most directly motivates the crew in their most menial tasks, generally in the TLS more with bearing and personality than with physical force or intimidation.

The lowest rated commissioned officer is a Junior Lieutenant. As mentioned above, this is a Seafarer that has, as a Midshipman, passed the Lieutenants’ Exam and awaits posting as a…

Lieutenant. This officer serves as the Captain’s chief assistants in running a TLS vessel. The First Lieutenant is second to the Captain, followed by the Second, Third, and so on, depending upon the size of the vessel or its need for Lieutenants. The First Lieutenant carries out a great deal of the responsibilities in maintaining a ship, such as assigning the crew to particular tasks, setting the watches, and keeping things in orderly, tip-top shape. Other Lieutenants are given various responsibilities such as supervising ballistae or signaling crews, commanding onshore operations, or commanding captured vessels.

A TLS Captain is the law aboard his ship. He carries out Admiralty orders to the best of his ability in supporting Tor Lanencrest and all it represents. He is solely responsible for the conduct and actions of his ship and crew, and thus bears a heavy burden in his command.

A Captain that serves as the commander of a squadron of more than one vessel is rated Commodore. This is usually a temporary position assigned when a particular operation dictates that more than one boat is needed. However, it holds a high honor in that a Captain chosen to be Commodore is trusted to be responsible not only for his own ship but for others and their Captains as well.

The highest rated officer of the TLS fleet is the Admiral. Currently, the small size of the fleet only needs the representation of one overall commander of TLS operations. This position is presently held by founder Admiral Dame Trylana Brighton, who serves Tor Lanencrest well with her power in the protection of the local seas.

A section on the personnel of the TLS would not be complete without fair mention of Marines. Though enlisted by the TLS, they are not considered Seafarers, as that would imply some manner of ability in seamanship. These are the hired fighters and former mercenaries that serve as the extra muscle of the fleet. They are used as guards and servants aboard a TLS vessel, and are used extensively in land-based operations. Though generally mocked by the lower-deck for their accurate representation of a land lubber, your typical Seafarer is silently grateful when Marines are carried on board, particularly for that feeling of extra security should one’s own vessel be boarded. The term of service for a Marine is only one year, compared to a Seafarer’s two.

Operations

The seas are plagued with pirates. To the TLS, the term “pirate” is used to describe any criminal that utilizes the sea in their underground (underwater?) operations. They are not always the blatant marauders flying the Skull and Crossbones and harassing helpless merchant vessels.

To combat the pirates and protect the lower-class merchants of the coasts, the Tor Lanencrest Seafarers organization was founded. The TLS is a privately owned nautical militia of sorts. They are not an official Tor Lanencrest navy to be used in conducting political wars and the like. In fact, their only connections to the Crown (the Lord or Lady of the Tor) are funding, the devotion to nobly serve in the Crown’s name, and the authority to make arrests and otherwise uphold the laws and honor of Tor Lanencrest.

Under the direction of the Admiral, the TLS strives to protect the “common” mariners that otherwise have little or no means of protecting their trade. They do this by policing the coasts, investigating illegal matters that come to their attention, and occasionally conducting operations that may take a TLS vessel far out to sea for several weeks at a time. They generally only have the legal authority to interfere in matters against Tor Lanencrest. However, if specifically asked for assistance by outsiders, the TLS is more than willing to help if they are able.

The Admiral communicates general despatches to the Captains of the fleet via Dreams. More specific orders are carried swiftly via the fleet’s sloops. In this way, a Captain could be ordered via Dream to bring his ship to a particular point, where the sloop could meet him with official papers.

Ship-to-ship communications are carried out via trumpet signals and signaling flags. At sea, a chain of sloops just barely in visual contact of one another could carry a message from one ship far across the waters to another.

When at all possible, a TLS vessel will persuade a suspicious vessel to heave to without any use of force. If the suspected pirate refuses, the TLS will then attempt to capture said vessel and crew as intact as they can. Use of grapples fired by ballistae can bring the boats closer together with little damage, so that TLS Seafarers and Marines can board the enemy and force them to submit. The captured vessel and prisoners are then taken to shore to be handed over to proper authorities.

When a vessel has become too dangerous to Tor Lanencrest or those that serve the Crown, the TLS will only then attempt to destroy the pirate, holing its hull by firing stones from the same ballistae that fire the grapples. The use of fire is rarely employed in TLS combat, owing to the fact that the honorable Seafarers uphold that it is not a noble way to abide by the unwritten “Laws of War.” Fire at sea is too cruel a way for any sailor, even one’s worst enemy, to be defeated.

Miscellany

Admiralty

The Brighton Estates serve as the grounds for the Admiralty – the headquarters for the TLS. Admiral Dame Brighton is the overall commander of operations, but she is assisted by an Admiralty Advisory Board of seven distinguished members from both governing and nautical backgrounds. The senior member of the Board holds the title First Lord (currently held by Philip “Pip” McDowell) and serves as Admiralty Secretary – the senior administrator. The First Lord is often also a member of the Tor Lanencrest government in some fashion, thus serving as a convenient liaison between the two organizations.

Uniforms

TLS Uniforms have up until recently only been issued to commissioned officers. Though Seafarers and most warrant officers still wear an assortment of common sailor clothing, midshipmen are now being issued an officer’s jacket. The TLS provides the first uniform upon the Seafarer receiving his officer rating, but the individual must thereafter provide for himself in purchasing any necessary replacement uniform.

All officers are issued standard black boots and a white vest with gold buttons. Slacks for midshipman are black, and for commissioned officers they bear a golden strip along the sides.

An officer’s jacket is a full navy blue long-tailed coat bearing golden buttons. It has white lining and lapels that can be buttoned in either an open (above) or closed (left) position. There is no official distinction, though the former method is considered more formal than the latter, used more often in action.

The gold bands and buttons on the cuffs and collar of the uniforms denote the officer’s rating. Midshipmen wear the plainest of coats, bearing no trim or buttons save for the standard eighteen on the front. Upon reaching Junior Lieutenant, the jacket bears three small buttons on each cuff.

The three gold bands per sleeve are not received until one is posted as Full Lieutenant. Buttons on each side of the collar denote what level of Lieutenant the officer is aboard his vessel. A single button on each side denotes the lowest rated lieutenant on a vessel. Two represent the middle lieutenants. The First Lieutenant (the highest rated) bears two buttons as well, but also sports a golden epaulette on his right shoulder.

A vessel’s Captain wears three buttons on each collar and two epaulettes. If serving as a Commodore, the Captain will wear an honorary bicorn hat denoting the generally temporary position. Otherwise, hats are not standard for TLS uniforms. Though attempted at first due to their fashionable style and usefulness in keeping one’s head dry on deck, they came to be regarded as more cumbersome in heavy action than necessary.

The Admiral has no standard uniform at this point. It is expected that when the fleet grows large enough to necessitate an Admiral at sea, a uniform will be designed for the officer.

Ensigns

The standard flag for the TLS is the red cross quartering a navy blue field, known as the “Blue Ensign.” It is flown on all vessels in TLS service from the most abaft mast of a vessel (generally the mizzen).

When a Commodore is in command of a squadron, the Red Ensign (in which the colors are reversed from Blue) replaces the Blue on the vessel in which he is currently aboard. If he moves from one vessel to another in his squadron, he takes his flag with him.

When an Admiral is carried aboard a TLS vessel, the rare White Ensign (red cross on a white field) is flown from the tallest mast in addition to whatever Ensign is flying on other masts. In a single mast vessel the White Ensign, of course, replaces any others.

Marines

A brief note on the Marine system in the TLS. Though employed by the Seafarers, they are not Seafarers in their own right, and have their own ranks and uniforms (basically akin to Seafarers only red for the officers rather than blue). They are “commanded” in a way through distribution by the Admiral Advisory Board under, as always, the Admiral’s discretion. The ranks, in increasing order, are Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Major. As the TLS currently stands, the Marines do not consist of a great enough force to necessitate any higher ranks. As it is, Marine captains tend to be land-based (recruitment officers, training commanders, etc.) unless there is a need for a greater number of Marines to command aboard a vessel for any particular operation. There is only one Major (Major Evans) that currently runs office operations from the Admiralty in cooperation with the Board.