Pirate Madagascar

[Tynnin]

1832
German Confederation: German Unification Wars continue.

The Second Great Northern War: Finish forces bypass the frontlines and take a chance on flanking the whole of the Russian army – the Battle of Narva is fought, a victory for the Finish army. Russia invades Poland-Lithuania at Orsha, defeating the much small Polish army. Poland-Lithuania attack Kiev, but fail to take the city.

The Opium War: Draws to a close, Peace terms are forced on China, but finalization of the treaty is held up in bickering between the victorious factions.

Lunda: civil war continues.

United Republics: King Adams issues an edict officially ending slavery in all Republics and Baronies within the United Republics. The Indentured System remains, although King Adams does work with the Congress to overhaul the system. The Mormon Church is established in the border town of Louisville, Kentucky.

Ottoman Empire: Sultan Mahmud II, after surviving several attempts on his life, finally meets the knife end of an assassin. His son, Abdulmecid (I), although but a boy, takes up the throne (he is helped greatly by loyal viziers). There was no grace period for the new Sultan. He ordered a purging of his father’s enemies from the court. He began to enforce and implement the reforms to the monetary system, tax system, political structures, military structures, and expanded his father’s building and acquisition of ships (mostly steam) to modernize the Ottoman navy. Abdulmecid, within the first few months of his new office, was also face with rebellion in Persia as well as war with the Vijayangara Empire.



January 1832:
All of Port Mission is in celebration as the Admiral heralds the arrival of his first grandchild – Ehsan and Jewel have a daughter which they name Julia.


February 1832:
Adam Bonny is married to Basia Lemanowicz (1).


March 1832:
A French envoy arrives in Port Mission. The French diplomat, Dominic Reina, dines with the Admiral and a few select captains. Dominic reveals to Admiral Devereaux that the Opium War is all but over. China had agreed upon peace terms, but there was still some squabbling between the victors.


April – May 1832:
Little of interest, although when word of the war between the Ottoman and Vijayangara Empires reached Madagascar the Admiral sent letters – to both sides – offering the service of his pirates.


June 1832:
Several ships return from the Far East, among them Captain Tyr Henry of the Morgan. Despite stories of daring acts of piracy, and the occasional cooperative effort with others, these captains are surprised to find that the Admiral’s Foremen arrive with orders to take stock of the loot and confiscate sixty percent for the Treasury (2). Tyr offered up the 30% stake he was required by the Code and nothing more. A clash of swords followed ending in Captain Henry ordering his ship to fire on the docks. In the chaos, the Morgan made its escape.


The Morgan manages to evade capture and goes into hiding.


July 1832:
Philip “Trippleshot” is captured during a failed attempt to overtake an English trade ship near Luanda. He is later hung (3).


August 1832:
King Rija and Queen Rannavalona announce the birth of their daughter, Rafohy.


September 1832:
Samuel Bonny, former pirate, former Admiral of the Malagasy, dies. The events of his death are a bit of a mystery – although a man with scares and injuries, and approximately 50 years of age, he was reportedly in good health. Yet, he is found on the morning of September 21st dead in his bed – the body is said to have had a peaceful expression with his right arm stretched out to his side and resting on a bedside table as if he had been reaching for something. It is some time before news of this reaches Madagascar – whereupon Talitha (Samuel’s daughter), her husband Fikru, and children are the only ones to offer up even the smallest of ceremonies in his name.


October 1832:
Once again Mission Island and Port Mission are center stage to an organized drama:

During the opening session of the Council of Captains a hooded figure enters Mission House and is escorted, flanked by Kelly Foreman, to the meeting room. Once in the room the figure lifts back the hood and draws a sword – it is Tyr Henry. With the Admiral at sword point, and Kelly Foreman standing shoulder to shoulder as a wall against the Admiral’s Foremen, Tyr demands his grievances against the Admiral to be heard by the Council or else open feud would commence.

The Council agrees to hear Tyr out. Charges are claimed, most of which anyone who had spent any time in Port Mission in the last few years knew about.

Robert offers no defense – other than to say that the boy was no fit captain if he reacts to pressure in such a cowardly way.

The Council deliberates for several minutes before deciding on the matter (Jansy Abbink - with prompting from David Hitch, the priestly scribe currently assigned to the C.C. - doing most of the talking). They agree that there is sufficient history between the two men to warrant the need for satisfaction. Rather than issue a legitimate feud, they decide on a duel (4). Robert, as the challenged, was offered the right to choose weapons – pistols (5).

Before any action was taken, however, Tyr was addressed by the priest David Hitch. Hitch explained that according to the Code, in this instance, Tyr would not be allowed to assume a seat on the Council for five years, that he would not be given the admiralty, that any and all wealth and goods would revert to Devereaux’s family, and that in the event that Devereaux lives the matter will be considered closed and that any further action taken towards the Admiral after this day would be considered illegal.

With the full C.C. as witness Tyr and Robert accepted what the priest had to say and then all moved to the main yard of Mission House. Although Tyr asked for five steps, Hitch agreed with the Admiral’s request for twelve. With pistols in hand and back to back Robert and Tyr began to walk away from each other as the priest Hitch counts off steps. At twelve they turn, it is Tyr who fires first – and much to everyone’s surprise, hits Robert in the right shoulder. The Admiral stumbles back and falls. He is helped back up and allowed his shot – he is unable to lift his right arm and must now use his left hand. The Admiral takes aim and fires – the shot is just wide of Tyr.

David Hitch proclaims the matter to be at an end, reminding the two men that any further action to provoke the other could be deemed illegal with harsh consequences to fall upon the aggressor.

Tyr leaves Mission House and takes up a room at Mission Inn. The Admiral is helped inside Mission House.


November 1832:
Little of interest.

December 1832:
Despite surviving the duel with Tyr, Robert was a changed man for it. He writes about the two events in this year that had swayed his mind to thinking about more idle pursuits – the birth of his grandchild and the nearly fatal duel. He issues letters to the Council of Captains announcing new elections and stating that upon a new Seating that he would step down as admiral.



Notes:
1) Basia Lemanowicz: She was the daughter of Krzysztof Lemanowicz, a pirate turned spice trader. The family was rich and influential around Fort Dauphin. The Lemanowicz family had become a competitor for resources against the mighty Bonny family. Deciding it was better to work with them rather than against them, Oliver Bonny orchestrated the marriage between Adam and Basia.
2) Higher tribute: There is some question on why the Admiral would have taken such a provocative step. There is some consensus that the action of demanding the higher tribute was focused on Tyr Henry whom Robert Devereaux never liked. In reducing Henry’s wealth, Robert reduced the influence the young pirate would be able to generate. There is also the chance that Robert saw these ships as the last of the wealth to be brought in from the Far East (at least for the immediate future) and wanted to squeeze all he could out of this shipment.
3) Death of Trippleshot: the news was devastating to Grace Kelly, she locked herself away for three days. Although, the tragedy does eventually bring Grace and Jansy Abbink closer together. The pair never official get married, but Jansy does move into the Kelly compound at Jamestown. It isn’t discovered until well past their deaths, but it turns out that Jansy, tired of splitting Grace’s affections, bribed Trippleshot’s first mate to ensure he would not return from their next hunt.
4) Duels: Admiral Devereaux, probably more so than the last few Admirals, oversaw dozens of disputes between pirates and Malagasy. His chosen method of settlement was the duel – winner takes all – which was not something that sat well with all members of the Council of Captains. So, it is not without a little irony that the C.C. chose to settle the dispute between Henry and Devereaux with a duel.
5) Pistols: the choice of pistols by Admiral Devereaux was a calculated one. It was well known that Tyr Henry was a terrible shot – information his brother Ryan constantly teased about. So, as Robert was a fair shot, and at a distance of ten or twelve paces, the advantage was certainly Robert’s.

 

[Tynnin]

1833
German Confederation: The opposition to Whilhelm begins to crumble; as a sign of support, and confidence in which way the war was turning, several enemy and neutral principalities/kingdoms change loyalties in Whilhelm’s favor. On December the 25th he is named Emperor of the Germany Empire.

The Second Great Northern War: The war continues, with Russian forces spending most of the year on the defensive.

The Opium War: Comes to a close.

Lunda: civil war continues.

United Republics: The Mormon Church, established hardly a year ago in Louisville, KY, crumbles under internal conflict and local prejudices.

Ottoman Empire: Sultan Abdulmecid, through loyal ministers, continues efforts to put down the rebellion in Persia and the war with the Vijayangara Empire (peace overtures are sent to the Great Raja).

England: Agents continue to explore possibilities for a canal between the Med. and the Red Sea (with the Suez claimed by both the Ottoman’s and the Egyptians, tensions between the two are purposely exploited).

Spain: Isabella II is named Queen. Although but a child, she is looked on favorably by the populous as a symbol of change (for the better) for the once mighty Spanish Empire. An attempt to oust the young queen by her uncle fails.

France: King Louis XVI dies. The throne of France passes to Louis-Charles, the second son of the late King.

South America: A series of undeclared wars erupt over territorial claims. The three major powers in the region, New Granada, Brazil, and Zilverlanden (Dutch region of South America), strive to remain neutral.



January 1833:
Adrien Legendre, suffering from illness, succumbs to the chest infection and dies.

Two weeks later, Claude d’Abbans dies of a heart attack.

Although both men were technically captives, their long service to Port Mission grants them an honorable burial (1). Although the Vicar does not attend the funerals he does send an envoy – with them is brought news of a special edict being issued by the Vicar: “In honor of the Great Patrician whom we are all beholden to for his service to God and the peoples Madagascar, I hereby proclaim that those of the priestly rank will be addressed, forever after, with the title of Patrician.”


February 1833:
Admiral Devereaux welcomes the new elected and appointed delegates to the Council of Captains. Robert’s last act as admiral is to call the Council to order and cast his vote for the new admiral. A week of arguing, posturing, trading favors, and bribes would follow. Three of the captains vied for the top position with Jansy Abbink, Katherine Vimes, and Krzysztof Lemanowicz (see note #1 1832) all receiving two votes, however, in the final vote Manakara and Toamasina (both of which had been abstaining) cast their lot for Krzysztof (2).

The new Council of Captains: Admiral Krzysztof Lemanowicz; Jansy Abbink (JT); Marus Raanno (Manakara); Annatutatuvo (Morondava); Katherine Vimes (Kaominina); Peter Miora (Iharana); Thierry Rabemananjara (Toamasina).

The Council held sessions through the month of February before adjourning to their respective territories.

Robert Devereaux, and family, moves back to Fort Dauphin where, in a few years, he opens up a lending house with his daughter Jewel, son-in-law Ehsan, and nephew-in-law Adam Bonny.


March 1833:
Arriving in Jamestown on the 16th of this month was a Dutch trade ship by the name of Vrijheid. Aboard, as passengers, were Henry and Christiaan Tibbs (ages 17 and 15) – the two eldest children of Paulien Tibbs and Richard Jones (3). Grace welcomes the children, questioning them endlessly about the Capetown branch of the Kelly family (4). She so enjoys their stay that she convinces the two boys to stay longer than the Vrijheid was to layover. Letters are written to Nova Island, but neither Matthew nor Rebecca wanted to see their grandchildren.


April 1833:
Admiral Lemanowicz set about spending millions from the treasury. He commissioned work to repair and expand the Mission docks. He bought supplies, and gave orders for supplies to be pirated, so that the road system could be repaired, upgraded, and expanded. He also commissioned the Fort Dauphin yards to build two new ships (one steam, one sail).

Robert Devereaux (the younger, or Jr. if you prefer), the son of the recently retired Admiral Devereaux, signs aboard the pirate ship Thrust – a 24-gun brig, captained by Ben Barlow who enjoyed raiding the West African Trading Co.

May 1833:
Henry and Christiaan Tibbs are returned to Capetown via the Dreaded Night, a 30 gun frigate captained by Kelly loyalist Maximillian Belloc.

Admiral Lemanowicz issues an edict calling for more trade and less piracy. As an incentive to this he reduces the dock tribute to any ship bringing in trade goods (he, however, does not reduce the tribute payment owed by each territory). A further reduction was promised to those conducting trade while flying the official flag.

June1833:
Grace expands her efforts to establish better relations with the Far East – especially the largely untouched lands of Japan.

Angry letters from Council members prompts the Admiral to send Foremen to see that the territories are sending Port Mission its full cut (an action that historically has proven dangerous to admirals).

July-September 1833:
Admiral Robert Devereaux largely ignored the internal matters of Madagascar, besides judgments, which he took great pride in presiding over – and watching the duels. Admiral Lemanowicz, although keen on keeping an eye on internal matters of trade, could not be bothered with the time consuming meetings that fell before him looking for truth and justice. Instead Krzysztof accepted bribes, the higher offer gained his favor and he would issue judgment haphazardly to the defeated: sending one pirate to Nova Island over a bar brawl (5), and having a murderer pay a fine and set free.

Patrician Hitch, the priest scribe assigned to Council affairs, is kept out of most of the Admiral’s proceedings, and in fact is sent packing back to Antananarivo with a letter from the Admiral stating: “I don’t get along with this one, send another.”

To open up another source of revenue the Admiral begins making the seats on the Council of Captains subject to annual fees – allowing for any pirate or town to buy a place on the C.C. This continues to alienate the Admiral from the establishment, but ingratiates him to the population at large (6).

Fort Dauphin is the first to put up payment for a new seat (Arnold Patterson, a respected captain and member of the Fort Dauphin city council).

The building projects continue, the Admiral becomes the greatest “employer” of Laborers leaving some farmsteads and both shipyards short handed.

By the end of September three other towns had bought seats on the Council of Captains: Forecastle put up Ann Coiler, New Arradon put up Charles Bellerose, and Port Mission put up Tyr Henry.


October 1833:
The Council of Captains eagerly meets, not even the festivities of Founders Day lighten the mood. The Council members debate the validity of the Admirals recent action.

Ultimately, after gifts, bribes, and large meals, the only actions taken against the Admiral are the removal of Ann Coiler and Charles Bellerose as neither of them was ever a captain and therefore have no place on the Council.


Grace Kelly has another son by Jancy: James Kelly born October 28.


November 1833:
Vicar Lagrange sends Patrician Fletcher to officiate as the new Council scribe.

Adam and Basia Bonny have a baby girl which they name Teresa (the Admiral sends them a letter stating they should come to Port Mission as soon as Basia and baby were fit for travel).


December 1833:
Little of interest.



Notes:
1. Captives: Adrien Legendre, Claude d’Abbans, and Claude-Nicoles Ledoux (died 1806) all captured by pirates working for Anne Bonny (jr., 1746-1799) in the year 1786 and put to work educating her and her children. They were later lent out to the Port Mission school (and borrowed on occasion by other pirates, most notably Oliver Bonny who used them to help in the development of his steam ship). They lived comfortably and were honored in their deaths with a mournful burial. An inhumation was a rare ceremony on Madagascar, when it came to pirates as the traditional burial was cremation or burial at sea.

2. Voting: the Council of Captains found themselves with three candidates this time – often the choice is yes or no for a single captain. By all accounts Jansy Abbink should have been made admiral, however, instead of voting as they were told the delegates for Kaominina, and Iharana joined together and tried to drum up support for Captain Vimes. It is a slight that will not be forgotten by Grace Kelly.

3. Paulien and Richard: Paulien Tibbs and Richard Jones were Cousins. They lived and grew up on Nova Island together. Eventually a romance bloomed between them, a romance which was forbidden by Richard’s mother and father (Rebecca (Tibbs) Jones and Mathew Jones). Actions were taken to split the two youths up, but they instead ran away; settling in the Cape Town region of South Africa (see 1815).

4. Capetown Kellys: Richard and Paulien quickly established themselves among the locals. Richard first gained employment at a livery yard and Paulien eventually found work as a maid. Within two years the two had given up working in town when an opportunity came up for them to buy a farmstead. The family’s claim to local history came during the Second Boer War (1821-1827) when both Richard and Paulien helped and served. Richard was wounded several times, and Paulien had several close calls while smuggling and scouting.

5. Judgments: The Admiral handed out sentencing according to mood – and he was never above bribery, so, even if you didn’t win his favor in judgment, you could still influence his sentencing. During his time as Admiral the Proxy System – making a deal with someone, usually a laborer, to endure whatever punishment was ordered – was used more often than in the last 50 years.

6. New seats on the Council: It had long been established that seats on the Council of Captains would be opened up to villages/towns which had reached an acceptable population size and are not already in proximity to a village or town already on the Council of Captains. Initially this was done so to consolidate authority and to keep every pirate with a fortune from taking a seat on the Council and thereby diluting the authority and the percentages. Despite the authoritarian and monetary reasons for this governing structure it did have the side effect of stabilizing the ruling class.

 

[Tynnin]

1834
The Second Great Northern War: Kiev is once again at the epicenter of a battle – the largest engagement of forces during this war. The 1834 Battle of Kiev, although hailed as a victory in Russia, is considered a draw by many others as it significantly blunted Czar Constantine’s plans to push into Poland-Lithuania. A second major battle was fought at the Gulf of Riga – a defeat for Russia.

Lunda: civil war continues.

United Republics: New York is struck by a great fire – although there is little evidence, many blame secessionists from the northern logging territories. The Three Month War is fought in Florida (also known as the Second Seminole War). The Mormon Church reestablishes itself in Cincinnati.

Ottoman Empire: The wars in the east continue, while tension with Egypt grows in the west.

England: Agents continue to explore possibilities for a canal between the Med. and the Red Sea (with the Suez claimed by both the Ottoman’s and the Egyptians, tensions between the two are purposely exploited).

France: King Louis XVII, new to the throne, and wanting to usher in an era of peace for his people and his Empire, begins putting pressure on the Great Raja to end the conflict with the Ottomans.

South America: The Border Wars continue.


January 1834:
It was late in the afternoon of January 30th that Grace Kelly was disturbed by four unexpected guests: Philip Turnney (1), his daughter Madeline, Patrician Godwell, and Madeline’s new born baby (2). The father of the baby was Henry Tibbs. Grace gave her word to see the matter settled, and immediately wrote and sent a letter to Cape Town.

February – March 1834:
Little of interest: although Richard Jones (Henry’s father) does respond to Grace’s letter. Richard states that he is reluctant to allow any of this family to travel back to Madagascar, however, if child and mother wished to join them in South Africa she would be more than welcomed.

Grace actually contemplates sending pirates to kidnap Henry.

April 1834:
Admiral Lemanowicz sends Foremen to establish trade tolls at designated points along the road network. A little later, the Admiral sends Foremen to set up trade toll buildings at every port.

May 1834:
With the establishment of the Trade Toll Office, staffed and enforced by admiral loyal Foremen, in Fort Dauphin Oliver Bonny sends letters to the Admiral demanding its removal. Oliver meets with both the city council, and Captains Council Member Arnold Patterson – Arnold is dispatched to Port Mission to speak with the Admiral.

June 1834:
News is sent to Fort Dauphin that Arnold Patterson was killed in a street brawl. In his letter to the city council, the Admiral suggests that it was Jamestown agents, but also lays the blame on Tyr Henry who, “as the Captain Representative for the town he should have had the safety of Captain Patterson as his top most priority.”

To Oliver, the Admiral sent a private letter: “You may have stolen my Queen, but I am King now.”

July – September 1834:
The Council Members begin to meet in secret.

Jamestown, and much of Madagascar, is in mourning over the sudden death of Mathew Jones (3).

Tyr Henry enters into semi-retirement (taking on half of his original crew and a dozen laborers as his personal Foremen). He passes the Morgan over to his first officer Adam Flint with a standard contract (4).

Ragita Bonny (daughter of Talitha, grand-daughter of Samuel Bonny, great-grand daughter of Anne Bonny (II)) enters into service aboard the Morgan (accompanied by a personal Foreman, Hugh Tor).

October 1834:
Founders Day is celebrated.

The Captains Council meets. The plan to confront the Admiral is waylaid by bribes and promises – the agreement between the Council Members crumbles. It was an agreement that the Kellys were helping to enforce with the backing of the northern captains – and for a second time, the north had betrayed the Kellys.

November – December 1834:
Jansy returns to give the news to Grace Kelly, who is not happy that the north has again gone against her wishes.

Jamestown prepares for war.


Notes:
1) Philip Turnney: Philip was trusted with the day to day management of the Forge. He began life as a laborer, and in his youth was given the nickname “Wall”. But, despite his strength and bulk, Philip had a skill for carpentry and woodworking. This talent got him noticed and he was moved from farming and road service to working in the Forge. Within ten years he had made friends with the Kellys and was promoted to Foreman Chief of the Forge.

2) Madeline, Henry, and Baby make three: the story was that during Henry’s visit with his brother to Jamestown in April/May of 1833 he and Madeline Turnney met when the boys were being given a tour of the Forge. Right before his return home to Cape Town the two of them had relations. For reasons lost to history, Madeline felt the need to runaway when she became aware of the pregnancy (possible due to her age, which at the time of Henry and her meeting was 14 – and he was 17). An attempt to board a ship heading west failed, she then took refuges in the home of Patrician Godwell. The Patrician was eventually able to reconcile father and daughter, but the pregnancy was kept a secret until just after the birth. The Patrician was brought along to help lend credence to the story, but Grace needed little convincing. She writes: “I knew it to be true to look upon her – and, by my eyes, I knew Henry and the girl to be very friendly towards one another during his brief stay.”

3) Mathew Jones: a laborer sent to work on the construction and upkeep of Nova Island and the fort. He caught the eye of a young Rebecca Tibbs and soon she had used her influence to pull Mathew away from the labor camp. In short order the two were married. Mathew went on to captain the Kelly flag ship for a time and sat on the Council of Captains (a job he never much enjoyed). He was considered a wise, even tempered man, although unforgiving to those who had crossed him (there is no indication that he ever regretted the separation from his son Richard, or his decision to have nothing to do with his grandchildren by the same).

4) Standard Contract: Tyr and Adam entered into a standard contract for the semi-retirement of a ship captain – especially one of Tyr Henry’s rank. For the next five years Tyr would receive a monthly payment of 100 ecu, or an equivalent sum, as well as a 10% stake in any prizes won. For the next ten years Tyr would receive a yearly tribute. If, before the end of five years, Adam is killed or removed as captain, the remaining time on the contract would transfer to the next captain, but all time and sums would be cut in half. There were lengthy clauses as to what would happen if a payment was missed – starting with the drawing of blood, to broken fingers, to loss of hands and feet, to death and confiscation of the ship. As had become tradition, the drafting of the agreement and its signing was witnessed by the local Patrician.

 

[Tynnin]

1835
The Second Great Northern War: continues, although armies throw themselves at each other during the year, little ground is gained, and by winter there is a general sense of exhaustion from all sides.

Lunda: civil war continues. The leader of a small clan begins to emerge as a major power. Muteba Munying, after defeating three other rivals, and taking the central city of Lunda, hails himself the new Mwaant Yaav. His coronation is far from certain, but to help ensure his hold, he reaches out to old enemies for help. He sends envoys to Ethiopia, Zululand, and Madagascar.

Ottoman Empire: Persia is brought back under the heel. The war with the Great Raja cools as both sides seek terms. Raids are conducted into Egyptian territory.

Egypt: Help is accepted from England to better train their army (causing some tension with Ethiopia, but this is settled after representatives are invited to help and take part in the training). Raids are sent into Ottoman territory, and a full regiment is ordered into the Sinai.

South America: The Border Wars continue.



January 1835:
The Kellys move against those who had shown disrespect.

A ship is sent to kidnap Henry Tibbs. Ironically, the pirates end up breaking up a fight between Henry and his father, Richard when Henry offers to come willingly with the kidnapers.

On the 10th Peter Miora (Captain Rep. for Iharana) is found dead in his bed. His throat had been cut so deep that his head lay nearly decapitated on his pillow.

With orders to wait a day (Grace wanted the town afraid and waiting for what was to come), early on the 11th four Kelly ships dock at Iharana. A force of about 600 raids the town. Jansy Abbink leads the attack, with him he carried a long list. Although there is sporadic fighting, Jansy is able to pull dozens from their homes and execute them.

By midday, a small resistance is gathered by the surviving city council members. The street fighting intensifies, but Jansy is able to regain the upper hand and by nightfall the town is in lockdown.

The following day, Jansy orders warparties out into the homesteads, each party had the name of a person whom was to be reminded of the loyalty owed to the Kellys.

On the night of January 12th, in Kaominina, Katherine Vimes (and her contingent of Foremen), are attacked in the street outside The Cross Bones (a local tavern). The attack began with the bang of a few grenades, followed by a volley of musket shot, and then the slicing of cold steel into warm guts. Captain Vimes and all of her Foremen were killed.

Much like the attack on Iharana, a day passed before six ships moved in on Kaominina – led by the Rampart and Captain Harold Jones. Resistance was met before the ships could dock, but an hour of battle eventually won Harold the docks – and from there his forces moved swiftly into the town.

For the next few days the towns were occupied by Kelly pirates. In both cases new city councils were formed under Jansy and Harold’s guidance (which amounted to grabbing people and telling them they were now on the council).

Although the fleets are eventually sent away (under the command of Captain Franklyn Miner), both Harold and Jansy remain in dock with their ships.


The attacks on Kaominina and Iharana were not a secret, word was sent to both the Vicar and the Admiral – a pretense at civilizing the feud, and or making it “legal”. However, in truth, this was done more so to frighten the Admiral.

The tactic worked. When word of the attacks reached Port Mission there was a general sense of panic. The Admiral, knowing he had no allies to call upon, fled Port Mission during the night.

On the 28th of January Captain Miner arrived in Port Mission, and almost immediately began battling Foreman loyal to the Admiral (none of which knew yet that the Admiral had left).

On January 30th Vicar Lagrange arrives and is able to bring some order back to Port Mission. He speaks with Captain Miner and Captain Tyr (the only Council Member in town), both of which offer the Vicar the position of Vice-Admiral until a proper Council meeting could be convened.


February 1835:
Calm returns to Port Mission. Vicar/Vice-Admiral Lagrange, as well as captains Tyr and Miner, offer payment to all Lemanowicz Foremen willing to repudiate their loyalties (a processes which goes much smoother once it is learned that Lemanowicz not only abandoned the city, but left with about 20 thousand in gold (1).

Jansy, speaking for the Kellys, officially calls an end to the feud.

The Morgan, after several months of nothing, turns on Ragita, and Captain Adam Flint (2). The mutiny is stunted when an attempted rape of Rigita gets the leader killed. Rigita goes on to free her Foreman Hugh Tor, and the two manage to free Captain Flint and the crew which had remained loyal. The retaking of the ship is a success, although Tor is killed.

The Morgan puts in at Djibouti, where it takes on supplies and a new crew. A week later, near Socotra the Morgan attacks an Ottoman trade ship – taking on spies, silks, and gold. Two days later they run down a French smuggler, capturing the brigantine and its cargo of weapons.

Henry Tibbs and Madeline Turnney are reunited. They are married within a week and Henry is given a position at The Forge (under the tutelage of Philip Turnney).


March 1835:
The Council Members meet in Port Mission. Also in attendance are the new captain representatives from Iharana and Kaominina. Despite the loyal votes from Iharana and Kaominina, threats, bribes, and stories of great deeds Jansy is not given the admiralty. When the tallies were counted the vote was four to three (with Morondava abstaining) in favor of Tyr Henry.

Enraged by losing again, Jansy challenges Tyr to a duel. Vicar Lagrange himself serves as arbiter, setting the match for an hour after dawn the following day. As dawn broke on the 6th of March a gathering formed in the yard of Mission House. At the Vicar’s word, the duel began. The men were matched, but at a point the men began to grapple with one another, fists were thrown, and Jansy shoved Tyr back into the arms of Edward Threshing (Iharana captain). As Jansy advanced, Tyr was pushed aside and Anakara Ruthbitaras (Kaominina captain) thrust a knife into Jansy’s belly. Anakara was seized immediately.

Both Edward and Anakara explain that they were under threat by Jansy. He told them that at a point in the fight they were to grab Tyr and stab him in the back, no one would know because Jansy would cut down Tyr from the front. Both Edward and Anakara said they later decided that they would take their chances with the Council rather than continue to be on Jansy Abbink’s leash.

Although a loyal member of the Kelly House, Admiral Henry knew that a special trip was in order. The Admiral, Vicar Lagrange, Edward and Anakara, as well as Jansy’s body make sail for Jamestown. Grace accepts their story, and, given the events of his death, vows no retribution for Jansy’s death (neither does she accept any of the requested concessions made by Edward or Anakara in regards to the treatment of the northern regions). Grace promptly asks the delegation to leave.

Upon his return to Port Mission Admiral Tyr Henry holds his first official meeting of the Council of Captains. He recognizes the official representatives:

Franklyn Miner (Jamestown)
Kurtis Fletcher (Fort Dauphin)
Marus Raanno (Manakara)
Rabemananjara (Toamasina)
Ryan Henry (Port Mission)
Edward Threshing (Iharana)
Anakara Ruthbitaras (Kaominina)
Annatutatuvo (Morondava)



April 1835:
An envoy from Lunda arrives in Jamestown representing Muteba Munying (3). Grace agrees to a trade deal, but can’t speak for the rest of Madagascar, and offers the envoy passage to Port Mission to speak with the Admiral.

Grace changes tactics on trade with japan, having made little headway in dealing in legitimate trade, she decides to deal with outlaws and rebels (of which, she found, there were a growing number – especially in the southern regions).


May 1835:
Admiral Henry will not commit pirates to a prolonged land war. He does offer the members of the envoy the freedom to ask individually of the pirates if any wish to enlist in this endeavor. Although questions are asked, and offers are made, none of the pirates in Port Mission accept the job. The envoy leaves with only the Kelly trade deal for their troubles.

June-July 1835:
Little of interest.

August 1835:
The Lunda envoy returns, arriving in Port Mission on the 13th. They bring news of an agreement between Muteba and Dingane of Zululand. The agreement allows for a pirate force of no more than 800 to pass through Zululand. The goal would be three specific villages within Lunda lands – the pirates would be allowed to rape and plunder those lands and then leave. Admiral Henry agrees to the plan and begins to gather his pirates.

September-November 1835:
Little of interest.

December 1835:
Admiral Henry names his brother, Ryan Henry, Vice-Admiral and sets sail with a dozen ships.


Notes:

1)Krzysztof Lemanowicz: the former admiral turns up in Dutch Australia in 1838. In 1840 he opens up a shipping company with a partner by the name of Hanns Ficher (who mysteriously dies about two years later). In 1849, after the loss of three of his ships to pirates, gambling debts, and a lavish lifestyle, Krzysztof abandons his shipping company. He resettles in Perth, Australia, in 1850, but by 1852 he is penniless, and is shot by a man to whom he owed money.

2)The Morgan mutiny: despite decades of females serving on ships, and a number of great female captains, there was still an underlying taboo about a woman onboard ship – especially when there was only one of them. The Morgan had several female crew members during its time at sea, but since the refit after Captain Tyr’s semi-retirement, Ragita was the only woman pirate on ship. This fact, plus a new captain, had the crew thinking their luck had soured. Their answer to appease the gods was to rape the girl and dismember the captain – about half the crew mutinied, and although the initial surprise gave them the ship, they lost it with the death of their leader and poor planning.

3)Lunda envoy: although the pirates had been trading with Lunda for years, most of that was through a Dutch proxy. It had been years since a face-to-face meeting had been held. The amount is not noted, but the sum must have been rather large to get Grace to agree with the deal to only sell, in the short term, to Muteba (the Kellys sold, mostly through Dutch traders, to a number of African tribes and kingdoms).

 

[Tynnin]

So, in my mind I have this picture of fans cursing Alt. History each time they log on and find that I have not posted the next segment to PM. To you, my most likely fictional die-hards, I do apologies. I can't seem to keep anything close to a normal schedule any more. Thank you for being patient. As events were spotty over the next few years, I changed up the format a little. Cheers.

_________________

1836
The Second Great Northern War: The Finish opposition is crushed first at the Battle of Vyborg, and then at Helsinki (what remained of the army withdraws into the territory of the Denmark Union. The fall of Finland does bring Norway into the war.

Lunda: the civil war is brought to a close with the recognition and crowning of Muteba Munying.

Ottoman Empire: Although only a fragile truce is called with the Great Raja, military interest shifts to Egypt, where, raids are sent and money and influence is pressed upon local cities to gain their support against Cairo. The military buildup of English troops does not go unnoticed, and in response, Abdulmecid extends a hand of friendship to France.

Egypt: More Egyptian troops are sent to Sinai. Raids continue into Ottoman territory and an increasingly amount of money is used to gain the support of local leaders.

South America: King Pedro of Brazil hosts a series of Pan-South American meetings in the hopes of ending the feuding.

United Republics: The Mormon Church is move to Indianapolis – establishing the town of Smithville just down river from the new state capital (the church leaders felt the new capital, and border region, offered up more of an opportunity for acceptance and recruitment).


January – December 1836:
Admiral Henry lands at New Mission. Almost instantly there are several altercations with townsfolk and locals. Henry moves his pirate army on before the authorities can do much more than complain.

The pirates moved up the Zambezi to Tete, and from there on into Lunda, where, around the beginning of February, the first of the battles are fought. In all, three Bantu villages are destroyed – although Sadamaji is the only named village (probably due to the wealth which was carried off). The return, and travel back down the Zambezi, did not go as smoothly – with a number of injured pirates dying of their wounds, and a minor outbreak of some disease. Supplies ran low, and a few smaller villages were raided for supplies and medicines before Henry got his pirates back to Tete. Despite the difficulties (and the unauthorized attacks) of the return journey, by early March the Malagasy horde was back in New Mission where preparation were made for the journey back to Madagascar.

It was in March (a year after the death of Jansey) that Grace Kelly hosted a meeting between herself and the northern representatives. The meeting was a peace offering, although Grace would not relinquish her ties to the north, she did bring both Edward Threshing (Iharana) and Anakara Ruthbitaras (Kaominina) into the fold. Grace granted them both local authority to acted for the Kelly family – collecting protection money for the family (which was in addition to the tribute owed to the Treasury), collecting on favors, and to oversee what was probably the most lucrative of transaction, the opium trade (most of which came in through pirates operating out of Iharana and Kaominina) (1).

Just before the Founders Day celebration in October stories began turning up in Port Mission about the crowning of the new king in Lunda.

In November Christiaan Tibbs arrives in Jamestown, having run away from his family in Cape Town.


1837
The Second Great Northern War: Although it does nothing to rebuild the shattered Finish army, a join Norwegian/Danish fleet battle and retake Helsinki. A second force of Prussian and Polish-Lithuanian soldiers press towards St. Petersburg, but are halted (after several small victories) outside the city.

Lunda: Muteba Munying begins several public works projects – giving the most attention to establishing a road network (using, largely, a conscripted workforce built up of his fallen enemies). He gives little rest to his military, forging on into a possible two front war. He relocates some loyal tribes to the east, annexing coastal territory “claimed” by Ethiopia. He also reopens the war with England, vowing not to end the bloodshed until Luanda has been returned to the Lunda people.

England: The Canadian Rebellion. Renewed war with Lunda. The Suez War.

Ottoman Empire: It was inevitable that the landing of French troops, even a small contingent, in the Ottoman Empire would provoke England and Egypt. The Suez War begins.

Egypt: The Suez War.

France: Although he wanted to go down in history as a King of Peace, Louis XVII is actually named as one of the men who instigated one of the largest wars in history (despite his interest in peace, he was strongly advised not to allow England sole control over any establishment of a waterway between the Med. and the Far East).

Ethiopia: Joins the Suez War on Egypt’s behalf.

South America: King Pedro of Brazil hosts another series of Pan-South American meetings (his major selling point was that fighting only weakens the region as a whole, opening up the possibility of recolonization) – several truces are signed, and productive border discussions makes progress.

United Republics: Although occurring without direct approval of King Adams, the border with Canada is very porous, allowing arms and local militias to pass and lend aide to the rebellious Canadians.

Japan: The Heihachiro Rebellion.


January – December 1837:
A light year for piracy. The Suez War had the seas full of war ships from all of the major powers. As Madagascar didn’t have a benefactor in this fight (yet) Admiral Henry issued orders to his Malagasy pirates to not get drawn into any major assaults (stick to picking off the weak where they could be found, and limit raids to non-aligned pirates, slave runners, and colonies not under the protection of any crown).

For the Kellys, however, it was a rather busy year. Grace continued to trade with rebellious factions in southern Japan, without too much interruption (exchanging weapons and munitions – and even two small sloops – for gold, native weapons and goods, silks, and sweet potatoes). In early January Christiaan Tibbs is taken by his brother, Henry Tibbs, back to Cape Town. By March the two brothers had returned to Jamestown – this time with the reluctant permission from their parents for Christiaan to join Henry. Henry gets his brother work at the Forge. In Christiaan, Grace sees opportunity. The matriarch of the Kellys, having rescued the family name, wishes now to see its numbers grow. The Henrys have been a long time loyal allies to the Kellys, Tyr Henry is now admiral, and he has a seventeen year old niece named Emma. Grace tests the waters of her match making ability by sending the Brothers Tibbs to Port Mission with a shipment of supplies and tribute (having made arrangement ahead of time that Christiaan and Emma should meet).

The Forecastle Kellys celebrate the marriage of Aaron Kelly to a local girl by the name of Patrina – Aaron is also elected to the town council (an unofficial governing body as technically Forecastle is under the auspices of Jamestown). Jacob Kelly makes his first inroads into the running the family (2). Grace makes mention of confiding to her son during her plans to matchmake Christiaan and Emma, as well as her olive branch to the northern Reps. And here, he is sent, with several Foremen, in Grace’s name, to the wedding of Aaron and Patrina.

In December Grace makes a note in her journal about being brought word about the death of Charles Kelly (3) – She goes on only to say that the funeral was a major affair, with the First Consul even in attendance.



1838
The Second Great Northern War: The Russian army loses ground in Finland and holds at St. Petersburg, but Russian advances up the Dnieper River force the Polish army around St. Petersburg to withdraw midway through the year.

Lunda: Muteba Munying’s wars continue.

England: The Canadian Rebellion. Renewed war with Lunda. The Suez War. Also, The War of 1838 is fought against the United Republics of America (after the capture of several diplomats and a shipment of arms in the Manitoba region).

United Republics: King Adams is unable to talk his way out of war with England after several diplomats and a shipment of arms, en route to the Canadians, is captured. However, after several months of minor skirmishes with English forces, the war is brought to an end on November the 3rd when the UR navy engages an English fleet off the coast of Labrador – a resounding Republican victory.

Ottoman Empire: The Suez War.

Egypt: The Suez War.

France: The Suez War. King Louis is unable to gain the support of Spain, which announces its neutrality in regards to the Suez War.

Ethiopia: The Suez War.

Venice: Sides with England and Egypt in the Suez War.

South America: King Pedro tense peace holds while talks continue.

Japan:The Heihachiro Rebellion continues


January – December 1838:
In March Kelly spies bring word to Jamestown of the English troubles (renewed conflict with Lunda, the Suez War, and now rebellion in Canada). When Franklyn Miner (the Jamestown Rep.) brings word to the Admiral of this, Tyr decides that England was ripe for the pirate to strike. The Admiral calls upon ships and pirates, gathers supplies, and in early May sets sail (with his flag aboard his old ship, the Morgan) to reclaim the Bowen Islands (leaving his brother Ryan as Vice-Admiral).

As orders were delivered to Nova Island, via steam ship, there at the docks played out a drama 13 years in the making. Harold Jones, captain of the Rampart – the Kelly flag ship – prepares his ship to make the journey to Port Mission to join the Admiral’s flotilla. His son, Tamo, was there with him, and so too Masami, his wife. Harold notes his son asking to join the fight, and his response (which he mentions being said with pride) “If you were a year or two older, and a little stronger, I would gladly have you by my side.” Hours later, after the Rampart had departed, Masami is found dead, having preformed jigai (4).

Admiral Henry held with traditional pirate tactics and drew out the heavy English warships stationed at Fort Hendrick by raiding villages (and then allowing his pirates to be chased off by the 40-gun behemoths). After a few weeks (and the heavy frigates scattered on patrol) the Admiral sacked and held Harleem (the only other major town, besides Fort Hendrick, at this time).

A few hours before dawn on May 30th the attack began on Harleem with a land skirmish outside the town gates. This was soon followed by a barrage of broadsides and the landing of several longboats. Despite being on high alert, the town’s defenders were overwhelmed within hours. A small sloop, with pirates pretending to be residents of Harleem, is sent to Fort Hendrick for help. Late on the following day the 40-gun Dauntless and the 25-gun Endeavor arrived. The pirate fleet was caught “unaware” and acted accordingly – firing a few panicked shots and then scattering. When the Endeavor put up sails to secure the town, leaving the Dauntless to pursue, Admiral Henry gave the signal for his ships to come about. Now, instead of fighting pirate ships in one direction, the Dauntless had to deal with several ships coming in at several different angles. The Endeavor was no help to call upon, for as they were making ready to enter the town, two dozen pirate longships emerged and swarmed towards the 25-gun frigate. It was during the fight against the Dauntless that Ragita Bonny saved Admiral Tyr’s life(5). The Admiral was knocked overboard when the Morgan took a hit during the battle – Ragita shouted the order, “Run her along the hull!” as she dove into the water to save the Admiral. Within the hour, the Dauntless had been sunk, and the captain of the Endeavor had surrendered.

By the end of April the Bowen Islands were back in the hands of the pirates (which had been under English domain since 1818). At the fall of Fort Hendrick, Malagasy pirates capture the English Governor – Tobias Taylor (the same man who had sided with the English back in 1818, allowing for the takeover of the Bowen Islands). Unsure of whether or not Tobais deserved a quick and painful death, or a slow and painful death death, Admiral Henry has the “Governor” (and every family member he could find) shipped off to Nova Island (6).

Throughout the rest of the year Admiral Henry manages to capture six trade ships and three warships by pretending that the islands were still under Crown control. The last attempted capture was in mid-November when two English frigates were spotted at a distance from Fort Hendrick. When they lingered without moving on, or approaching to dock, Admiral Henry grew worried that the rues was up and sent ships to give chase. Although some long range shots were fired, the two warships escaped. A week later the Admiral issued orders for some of his pirates to return to their hunting grounds, and others, namely the steam ships, were give orders to patrol. Admiral Henry returned to Port Mission – via Fort Dauphin – with eight ships, including the Morgan (he paid for the repairs to all eight ships out of the Treasury).


Notes:
1)Grace, at Peace: for more than a decade Grace Kelly fought to regain the Kelly name. The Kelly fleet was stronger than it had ever been. Dozens of pirates and families held loyalty to her. Tribute flowed into Jamestown once more. The northern regions once again bowed to the Kelly name. Retribution had been had against those who had betrayed and besmirched the Kelly name. Once again the Kellys had one of the best spy networks – although, by far, still at this time, the Bonny spies were more prevalent. She also uncovered information about her former lover Jansey Abbink – namely his hand in the death of another of Grace’s lovers, Philip Trippleshot. Grace now looked to ensuring the family legacy, and for that she needed make peace with former enemies and babies. To that end she engaged in adding to the family through matchmaking and peace offerings.

2)Jacob Kelly: Grace’s son by Philip Trippleshot (born 1825).

3)Charles Kelly: (b.1767-d.1837) Charles was the brother of George Kelly, both of which battled for the control of the family after the death of the great Mary Kelly (1704-1791). The Kelly Wars did much to destroy the family strength, and although Charles was eventually ousted by Thomas Kelly and Brigit Pitcher (George’s widow) the damage had already been done. Charles fled to New Orleans and soon established his own shipping company. His wealth, and marriage to Vivian Matisse (a French noble family which had fled France during the civil war), quickly gained him access to high society and even friendship with the Napoleons. Although Vivian dies in 1828, she and Charles had two children James and Marie – who themselves have married well and have had children.

4)Masami: she was the captured bride of Harold Jones during raids in the Far East (1822). Although Harold lacked outward warmth, it was said he had the heart of a poet – Masami, however, rebuked all of his attempts at affection. Although attempts to kill Harold eventually stopped, and Masami (at least outwardly) accepted her imprisonment, she never learned French, English, or any of the Malagasy dialects and made no effort to conform to her captors. It was the birth of her son in 1824 which probably saved her life. Tamo was her only joy. There is even evidence that once Tamo was of an age she felt he could protect them both, she had every intention of escaping back to Japan. However, despite her love and devotion to her son, Tamo gravitated towards his father. The scene at the docks that April morning proved to her that she had nothing and was never going to see home again. Suicide was her only escape.

5)Ragita: Ragita Bonny was now the captain of the Morgan, captain Flint having retired in 1837. Although still under the contract (for another 5 years) signed at the time of Tyr Henry’s semi-retirement, in gratitude for saving his life Admiral Henry grants Ragita full ownership of the Morgan.

6)Taylors: The Taylors were a powerful family and faction in the second half of the 18th century, but around the 1790’s all of that fell apart. Although periodically causing trouble, after the capture of Sebastian Taylor (sent to Nova Island) and the founding (and later collapse) of the Timor colony, the Taylors all but vanished. Although few in number, the family remained entrenched on the Bowen Islands. Now, the remaining few (less than 20), including the family leader Tobias, are sent off to share the same fate as one of their once powerful ancestor’s.

 

[Shadow Knight]

Another great chapter. And don't worry about the updated schedule we appreciate it everytime we get one of these little gems. No matter when they come.

 

[Tynnin]

1839:
The Second Great Northern War: Czar Constantine presents peace terms (while at the same time declaring war on the Ottoman Empire).

Lunda: Warparties join in the pirate’s raids of Southern Ethiopia late in the year. A peace agreement is reached with England – the fort and port of Luanda is gained, but lands further north in the Kongo region are taken away.

England: The Canadian Rebellion continues; serious talk is had in parliament about granting the Canadians their independence. A new truce is settled on in the conflict with Lunda – Luanda is given up in exchange for lands in the Congo. The Suez War continues.

United Republics: Emboldened by the victory of the War of 1838, King Adams continues to more openly aid the Canadians – he presses King William IV of England to recognize the will of the people of Canada.

The Suez War: King Ferdinand I of Austria joins the Suez war on the side of the French/Ottoman Alliance. Russia enters the war, although, their efforts against the Ottomans are completely separate from the rest of the conflict. The Sultanate of Algiers (Sultan Abdülhamid I) – although initially maintaining its neutrality – sides with the Ottomans.

South America: King Pedro’s tense peace holds while talks continue; final negotiations begin on borders, with particular attention being paid to the shared/claimed lands between Peru, Chili, Dutch Zilverlanden, and Bolivia.

Japan: The Heihachiro Rebellion falters, with Heihachiro’s forces being finally forced from Osaka.

Ireland: Daniel O’Connell, Irelands first Prime Minister, steps down after ten years of service. He oversaw Ireland’s rocky first steps out from under English rule. He stopped the Protestant Purge, and later offered aid to those participating in the Protestant Exodus. He suppressed the May Revolt of 1832. He stirred the Irish parliament through the infighting, corruption, and sectarian hatred that plagued most of his tenure as PM. Maurice O’Connell, Daniel’s eldest son, by a large majority, becomes the next Prime Minister.


January-February 1839:
Robert Bonny (son of Robert Devereaux and Anne Bonny), retires from active piracy and returns to Fort Dauphin. He eventually works for his father at the lending house – taking up a position as a collecting agent (1).

The Kellys suffer three consecutive losses in the early part of 1839. Two ships smuggling food and weapons to contacts in Japan (primarily Oshio Heihackiro) are hunted and captured by English patrols, although the escort ship is able to make an escape (2). Two other Kelly pirates are defeated near Luanda (unintentionally aiding in a Lunda attack in the area). The third was the taking of the Sans Espoir by a non-aligned pirate faction. The incident accrued near the Venetian colonies in West Africa. The Sans Espoir was approached by a damaged ship flying pirate colors. Captain Adalard (of the Sans Espoir) hosted the wounded Captain Darius, and offered help in exchange for payment. As the two negotiated, Darius’ crew attacked, taking Adalard and crew by surprise and capturing the Sans Espoir. Captain Darius later ransomed most of the crew back to the Kellys – Grace bought back nearly all of the crew of the Sans Espoir, except for Captain Adalard, First Lieutenant Flack, and Deck Boss Kim.

March 1839:
A French envoy arrives in Port Mission seeking an audience with the Admiral. Admiral Tyr is commissioned by the French crown to engage both Ethiopian and Egyptian ships and coastal towns in piracy. Tyr readily accepts.

The orders for the priority hunt are posted and sent out with messenger ships. Tyr himself brings the news to Fort Dauphin (en route to Nova Island) – where he is advised by the elderly Oliver Bonny, as well as Kurtis Fletcher (Governor/C.C. Rep.), to reconsider the contract, or at the very least to send a message to King Abeto Azequ making him aware of the deal with France (with the option to buy out the contract).

Admiral Tyr moves on to Jamestown where he brings word of the priority hunt. A meeting with Grace Kelly gains him advice similar to what he was given by Oliver Bonny. Grace informs Tyr that business is business, but even cutthroats have friends and that Madagascar has known Ethiopia almost as long as it has known France. She convinces Tyr to issue a fair warning to Abeto to watch his back.

The Admiral doesn’t draft the letter to Abeto until after his arrival on Nova Island around the 30th of March.


April 1839:
Admiral Henry sits in judgment over the Taylors. Patrician Keely spoke in argument for the Taylors (making him very unpopular on the island) (3). Arguing for the pirates was a special guest, Abigail Bonny (4).

Probably due more to the Admiral’s own opinion rather than Abigail’s argument, but the Taylors were found guilty. Patrician Keely managed to gain the freedom for most of the family, however, Tobias Taylor, his wife Anna, and children Thomas, Nathan, and Victoria, were all sentenced to death.

Just hours before the hangings were to take place, in a private meeting, Patrician Keely is able to appeal for the release of Anna and the children. Although, initially, Tyr was going to make them all watch the hanging of Tobias, this too was stayed at the last moment by Patrician Keely’s insistence. After the hanging Tobias’ body was weighted with stones and pushed over the fort wall into the ocean.

The rest of the Taylors are given transport back to Madagascar (arriving in Jamestown on the 23rd), where they are told to make their own arrangements and to go where they like. It is Abigail who pays for their passage to Fort Dauphin, where, she tells them, that she will send word ahead to her family that the Taylors are to be taken to whatever port they request.

Abigail, for her part, is consumed with guilt for the rest of her life – with her words having sent a man to his death. Upon her return to Antananarivo she never sets foot outside its walls again.


May 1839:
The steamship, Adelante – captained by Ralph Guerra – engages a 30-gun English war ship near Marsh Island. Although taking several hits, the Adelante is able to drive off the English frigate (5).

Captains Renard, Faucon, and Philip (Sea Miss – 20-gun brig, Adventure – 25-gun brig, and Red Raid – 10-gun sloop respectively) successfully raid the port of Djibouti. A few weeks later, they mistakenly raid Aden of the Ottoman Empire, thinking it was Assab.

Grace spares no expense for the wedding of Christiaan Tibbs and Emma Henry (even holding the event in Port Mission – although the couple will settle in Jamestown).


June 1839:
The trio of Renard, Faucon, and Philip sink two Ethiopian sloops just off the Arabian coast.

The Taylor family, numbering less than 20, breaks up. From Fort Dauphin, some travel west to ports in Orleans and the UR, most choose France, however, Anna, Thomas, Nathan, and Victoria return to the Bowen Islands.

July-August 1839:
Ryan Henry is named Vice-Admiral once again.

Admiral Henry and a small crew spend a few weeks in southern Ethiopia coordinating with locals who were unhappy by being ruled from Gondar. On August 18th Admiral Henry leads the attack on Kismayo – taking the port. His ships and pirates, as well as help from the locals, go on to raid and destabilize Southern Ethiopia.

September 1839:
Renard, Faucon, and Philip finally make it to Assab on the 12th of September, although the attack was less successful than their previous hunts (amounting mostly to them bombarding the port, before being driven off). A little more than a week later they successfully capture an Egyptian treasure ship (6). The trio head home after this hunt, although Philip does not make it back to Port Mission. He dies of an infection halfway home – off all things, from a splinter.

October 1839:
Despite the heightened conflict with England, and the contracted raids on Ethiopia and Egypt, there were many in Port Mission to celebrate what Admiral Henry was calling one of the best years for the Malagasy ever. The Admiral allows it to be known that he plans on hosting a Grand Games next year and that everyone who wishes to participate had better prepare.

November 1839:
Admiral Fey of the English navy arrives in Cape Town with his flotilla of ten ships.

December 1839:
Marsh Islands is attacked by Fey’s armada. The tower crew is killed (7) and the tower is destroyed. The Adelante, on patrol in the region, spies and engages the attack, but withdraws soon after the first shots are fired.


Notes:
1)Bonny Family: With the retirement of Robert Bonny, Ragita remains the last member of the Bonny family engaged in piracy. She remains captain of the Morgan until her death. Robert enjoys his retirement and working for his father as a money collector – eventually taking over the business.

2)Edward O’Neal: he was a Kelly captain (the Westward) who was escorting the Kelly trade ships when he cut and run at the sight of the two English warships. The fight was even and could have easily been won by the Pirates (the trade ship came about and tried to make a stand). O’Neal was locked up by his crew, and, upon reaching Jamestown, was put on trial for cowardice. Although technically it was the decision of the city council, many know that it was the node from Grace Kelly which sent O’Neal to his death.

3)Patrician Keely: he was new to his post on Nova Island – picking up the nickname “Sneezy” not long after his landing (he seems to have had a perpetual cold). It was perhaps unfortunate for his career and following on Nova Island that one of his first official acts was to defend a hated figure – the Taylors. His goal, however, was not to defend Tobias, who he said should pay for his crimes, but to insure that the children would not be punished for the father’s crimes.

4)Abigail Bonny: Abigail was a withdrawn person – although seen frequently in the company of the Vicar. Her studies included any number of subjects, but like other acolytes, she was primarily focused on the study of the Code, the Codex, and the documented decisions passed down by captains. Admiral Tyr felt she was the perfect choice to speak for the Malagasy in regards to the Taylor history of treachery. The trail would prove too much for her faculties. She was so distressed by sending a man to be hung (regardless of the fact that Admiral Tyr was judge and had most likely already made up his mind before the trial) that she never left Antananarivo and in fact would rarely leave her home – and only then in the company of the Vicar.

5)Marsh Tower, May: assisting in the battle between the Adelante and the English frigate was the Marsh Tower crew. Rockets, normally used for signaling, were turned on the English warship during that May battle.

6)Egypt: it turns out that the friendship between Ethiopia and Egypt was not as strong as their joint effort against the Ottomans might suggest. Egypt was in fact paying to keep Ethiopia in the war.

7)Marsh Tower, December: it was perhaps joining the battle in May which made the tower a target of Fey’s armada. The tower was manned, and has been manned, by Laborers working to gain their freedom (initially it was a one man operation, but over the years the number was slowly increased to the current crew of five). A year shift on the watchtower granted the laborer a place on any pirate ship, or transportation to any port. Although the labor crew launched a number of rockets they were no match for Admiral Fey. All five men were killed and the tower torched. It is uncertain if they ever saw the Adelante approach and then retreat.

 

[Tynnin]

1840
The Second Great Northern War: treaty negotiations stall. A Polish-Lithuanian army attacks Saint Petersburg.

Russia: The Finish Uprising. Czar Constantine, leading an army to put down the Finish uprising (fighting nearly a two front battle between the Polish and Finish armies), contracts an illness and dies. He is succeeded by his son, Constantine II (Constantine II laments that his father, a brilliant and spiritual man, was never able to rule as he should have).

Lunda/Ethiopia/Zululand: the three sides continue to raid one another, the borderlands became a hostile and fearful place.

England: The Canadian War for Independence is won. King William IV dies. Queen Victoria takes the throne – she will usher in a new era for England (focusing on trade, cultural reinvigoration, and moral/social rebirth). The Suez War continues.

Canada (republic of): George Mackenzie is named the first Prime Minister.

United Republics: King Adams issues proclamations restructuring the court system – specifically the Supreme Court. “As King, I am the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution. It is Congresses job to govern. But it is the Supreme Court we must put our faith in to decide, ultimately, what is legal, just, and right. No one is above the law.” The new proclamations place the Supreme Court on equal footing with King and Congress. King Adams creates a pool of “eligible men of legal excellence” from which Supreme Court judges would be pulled (each taking on a 10 year term – the current judges to be phased out). The Mormon War begins – an attempt to establish their own Barony at Indianapolis sparks conflict with local farmers and merchants, which later in the year opens up into the Mormon War.

The Suez War: Continues. Two major victories occur for the Ottoman-French forces. The first at Damietta, despite a superior Venetian fleet, the French-Ottoman ships were able to inflict heavy losses and land a significant army at Damietta (latter supported by an Ottoman army). At Suez, an Ottoman force of 6000 is able to win over the Egyptian garrison of about 2000 (there are many historians who believe it was the resources spent on attacking the pirates which led to this major defeat for the Egyptians).

South America: King Pedro’s peace holds as the final deals and treaties are signed.


Ireland: although not directly involved in the Suez war, Irish spies, and home pirates continue to aid French efforts during the war.


January 1840:
On January 10th, Ralph Guerra, captain of the Adalante is put on trial by his crew in Fort Dauphin. He was charged with cowardice (having given the order to retreat from a hunt, which allowed Marsh Tower to be destroyed) (1).

Guerra was judged by three members of the city council, Adam Bonny (sent by Oliver), and two members of the crew from the Adalante. After hearing the testimony from the crew, and the opinion of Patrician Almada (speaking for Guerra), the panel handed down Guerra’s punishment. He would be stripped of his captaincy and be made a laborer for the length of time it takes to rebuild Marsh Tower.

Carrying out the sentence would actually be stayed. Admiral Henry arrived soon after the sentence had been given (arriving with four ships in response to the news of the Marsh Island battle). The case was fresh, and the talk of the town, and in no time the Admiral had gotten wind of the trial. Tyr disagreed with the city council, stating that “We need more level headed captains in the fleet.” He bought out the sentence on Guerra (2), and the city council answered this by black listing Guerra (he would find no work on any ship out of Fort Dauphin). So, Tyr made Guerra a member of his personal Foremen.

Guerra departs with the Admiral on the 17th (with a flotilla of 6 ships).

February 1840:
Patrician Keeley, life having been made unbearable for him on Nova Island, is reassigned to Fort Dauphin (after the Taylor trial). He grows increasingly disturbed by how the laborers are being treated (3).

March 1840:
The Fey Flotilla makes an attempt on Nova Island but is repulsed by the island ships (led by the Rampart) and the fort cannons.

Henry and Madeline have their second child, Peter.

April 1840:
Oliver Bonny dies – in his will he leaves everything to Adam and names him head of the family. There is instant tension between Adam, Robert, and Fikru (4).


May 1840:
Admiral Tyr returns to Port Mission, having granted Ragita Bonny the title of Commodore – now commanding ten ships with the purpose of finding and defending against Fey.

Edward Threshing, Captain of the Pike and the Iharana representative to the Council of Captains, is killed when his ship (and the Huntress – the ship he was hunting with) is attacked by a contingent of five of Fey’s Flotilla (which Threshing was hunting for). The Huntress is able to make an escape, but the Pike is captured.

June 1840:
An envoy from King Abeto of Ethiopia arrives in Port Mission. Iyasu Chukala led this mission, and Tyr mentions liking him instantly for his honesty, forthrightness, and his complete lack of skills as an ambassador.

Over the course of a few weeks a deal is made and a friendship is forged. Admiral Henry agrees to call off the general order to attack Ethiopian ships and territory; in return Ethiopia buys out the contract against them (5). Little, it would seem, was said about Egypt – and in fact Tyr learns that the partnership between Ethiopia and Egypt was largely dependent on payments made to Ethiopia.

Iyasu Chukala is invited to remain in Port Mission. He sends his ship, and most of his retinue, back to Gondar with a letter requesting permission to establish a permanent Ethiopian voice among the pirates (Admiral Henry sends Annatutatuvo, member of the Elder Council of Morondava, and the Sakalava representative on the Council of Captains, and the only member of the C.C. who routinely remains in Port Mission besides the admiral, with the returning Ethiopian ship to further strengthen relations).

August 1840:
There was a larger than usual collection of pirates in Port Mission during this time – many crews flush with coins after successful hunts against English, Egyptian, and Ethiopian holdings. Admiral Henry, always ready to celebrate after a successful hunt, proclaims that a Grand Games was to be held. Word is sent out and preparations are begun (6).

Over the years there have been a few attempts to establish a fire brigade in Port Mission and other towns across Madagascar – most have met with disaster or simply stopped functioning. In August of this year, another fire brigade is founded, this time by former laborer Patrick Keefe (7).


September 1840:
Patrick Keefe sends his own people to Fort Dauphin, Jamestown, Morondava, and Toamasina to establish other fire brigades:

In Fort Dauphin, Frank Tamerlane buys several laborers from the camp (in theory buying them from the city council, but in actuality, the camp was mainly overseen by the Bonnys). After buying an abandoned farm house to act as his home, he establishes Keefe’s Fire Brigade. A few weeks later the Brigade is tested at their first fire, but loses the building when other “fire teams” also show up at the scene. What follows are two weeks of attacks, assignations, and confiscations of equipment. Frank is even brought before the city council to answer for the feud that, by all accounts, bloomed out of nothing. Tamerlane explained it as “just business”. The council accepted this feud as a territorial dispute. No charges were presented; however, the city council demanded that the feud be ended. The order to end the feud had little impact on Frank’s fire squad as he had already muscled out most of the other competition.

In Jamestown, Lawrence Keg hired several pirates and bought a small hut from which to conduct business. The sign for Keefe’s Fire Brigade was up less than a day before Foremen from the Kellys showed up. Combating fire was already being seen to by the Kellys in Jamestown. Threats were made, and Keg was on a ship back to Port Mission before dark.

In Morondava, which had no established fire squad – informal or formal – Robert Helm was welcomed and given help by the Elder Council to establish Keefe’s Fire Brigade.

In Toamasina there was no issue for Elizabeth Port in setting up a Keefe’s Fire Brigade near the docks. She even had the blessings of King Rija - but also a prediction. Rija told Elizabeth that her fire brigade would not last long in Toamasina (8).

October 1840:
On the tenth of October Admiral Henry welcomed his Council of Captains (there for the yearly meeting). Among the ruling council members was the new representative from Iharana, Katherine McGinnis.

Before the first meetings were held, Admiral Henry opened the Grand Games:

There were several events of note during the Lacrosse and Boardside games.

The first was the death of a youth from Sambava during the second round of Boardside against the crew of the Great Drake (a head injury).

Another death, this time a farmer from Forecastle, happened during the final round of Broadside. There was an accusation of cheating, followed by swords (the killer, a fisherman from Iharana, was later brought before Admiral Henry and sentenced to life as a laborer). The incident, however, didn’t change the outcome of the game – the Iharana team, made up of two fishermen crews, was named the winner.

There were injuries during the lacrosse games too – several broken bones and noses – but the event of note was the brutal game between Fort Dauphin and the labor team out of the Fort Dauphin workcamp. Adam Bonny was captain of the Fort Dauphin team (his cousins Mary and Jack – children of Talitha and Fikru – were also on the team) and had to be helped off the field when he was clubbed from behind. The game was described as a battle (9). The Fort Dauphin team was ultimately named the winners.

Possibly the worst event happened during a nearly equally bloody match between Fort Dauphin and Port Mission in the lacrosse finales. Fort Dauphin was again named the winner – riots followed. The grand games were postponed for two days while Foremen, and commissioned crews, were sent into the streets to break up the warring factions (mostly between Fort Dauphin and Port Mission members).

The Race was launched on 12th of October. The Rampart was pulled off of its usual patrols because Harold Jones, although still captain, wanted to give his son Tamo a chance to command. The brother’s Tibbs (Henry and Christiaan), as well as the heir apparent to the Kelly Family, Jacob Kelly, although not captains, served on the Dragon as crew for this Race. The Tibbs weren’t the only brothers on the roster, the Henry brothers (Thomas and Frederick – sons of Ryan Henry, nephews to the Admiral) also had a ship of their own (10). The last name of major note was Ragita Bonny, captain of the Morgan – pulling herself, and several of the other ships under her command as Commodore, off of patrol for the games.

The Morgan took a commanding lead and is the first to the mock cannons south of Manakara. She was followed by The Maelstrom (a 25-gun frigate), the Victory (20-gun brig), and then by a small pack which included the Red Moon (the Henrys), and the Dragon (the Tibbs and Kellys). At this time the Rampart was fighting for open sea among the larger congestion of ships in the rear.

It is hard to say at what point Captain Ragita became aware of the cannon fire and smoke ahead of her. But we do know the Morgan was the first to engage Admiral Fey’s flotilla of seventeen ships as he attacked Fort Dauphin. The docks were being heavily targeted, and long ships were already making landings. The Morgan sailed in, cutting down several longboats, and blocked the port, keeping up a near constant barrage of cannon and rocket fire against the flotilla. The Maelstrom and the Victory soon arrived and engaged Fey’s ships at close range, sending boarding parties over. Within ten minutes, the small pack, which included the Red Moon and the Dragon, arrived. Within thirty minutes the rest of the pirate racers had entered the battle – including three of the five steam ships (which were in port instead of on duty; the crews were engaged in the Fort Dauphin celebrations, while commodore Ragita was away).

When the smoke cleared; between battle damage, rounding up prisoners, raiding captured ships, and giving chase to Admiral Fey’s stragglers, the number of racers had been reduced to less than half. In all, seven ships continued – including the Rampart, Maelstrom, Dragon, Red Moon, Revenge, King Avery, and the Tew.

The Morgan was lost during the battle, with Captain Ragita going down with her ship.

That would not be the end of the excitement during these games. The King Avery would be damaged badly enough in the mock cannon engagement north of Jamestown that it is forced to withdraw.

Smoke is seen rising from New Arradon as the racers sail by. As the Tew, at this time, was in the lead, and the Dragon was second to last, Captain Rain decided to investigate. The fire, it turns out, was the homestead of a farmer by the name of Paul de Vis. He knew of the Race, and it was his hope that the fire would draw the attention of at least a few of the ships. New Arradon was actually being raided by Egyptian sailors. They had come in on two ships, and before the town knew it, 200 Egyptian soldiers and sailors had taken the town. Before being rounded up, Paul secreted his family away and set fire to his home. At the time of the arrival of the Dragon, most of the residents of New Arradon were being kept locked up in the Painter’s Shack (the inn/tavern founded by Jolie VanNelson and Kora Black – 1811). They are watched by 10 Egyptian soldiers, while another 10 raid the town, piling valuables into two large wagons near the center of town. The rest of the war party had marched inland with a map, with orders to pillage and make their way towards Kaominina.

Captain Rain, having scouted, and spied the raiders gave orders to the Tibbs brothers and Jacob Kelly to remain aboard ship. She then led the charge into town (neither the Tibbs brothers nor Jacob stayed on board, and in fact were a help in the freeing of the townsfolk and the retaking of New Arradon). Captain Rain then gathered her crew and pressed on in search of the rest of the raiding party.

The raiding party would be found about three days later. The Egyptians had been supplied with a map by the English - the map, it turns out, was very poor. Although outnumbered, Rain employed the old pirate tactic of drawing your enemy towards you. She broke her group of about 100 pirates into the thrust and the claws (keeping Jacob Kelly close to her side). Captain Rain then ordered the trust, which withdrew in time, and then called in the claws, which swept in from the sides and rear. It wasn’t a complete victory, but the Egyptians did break and run. Captain Rain would send Henry and Christiaan back to New Arradon to gather up a second search party, while she and the rest of her crew continued the hunt. Within a week, and two more clashes, the Egyptian raiders are all captured or killed.

Meanwhile, the Race continued.

While passing Kaominina cannon fire is heard coming from the town. This time it is the Rampart which stops to investigate (11). Before the Rampart had gotten to the docks, Captain Jones spied five Egyptian ships and rolling musket fire in the streets. Jones ordered an attack, but five to one odds drove the Rampart away before it was able to inflict much damage on the invaders (12).

The Rampart arrives in Port Mission to the news that the Tew (the 20-gun brigantine, Captain Victoria Hull) was the winner (the Henrys came in third). Harold informs the Admiral about the attack on Kaominina. News of the attack on Fort Dauphin had already reached Port Mission and several ships had been sent south (including the members of the Council of Captains, who were ordered home to gather their pirates). Admiral Henry rallies the remaining ships in Port Mission, names his brother Ryan Vice-Admiral, and departs on the Rampart for Kaominina.

Before the fleet of twelve pirate ships rounds Iharanna a battle plan is settled on. Admiral Henry names Harold Jones Commodore, and gives him control of the fleet, while Admiral Henry takes ashore (south of Kaominina) a few hundred men. Commodore Jones doesn’t make it to the docks – heading for Kaominina is a second fleet of ships (four English and six Egyptian warships). Harold engages, and during the 5 hour battle, he is able to scatter the invasion fleet – but not without heavy losses (most of his fleet was made up of smaller, quicker ships, but the English/Egyptian ships were larger with more firepower). With his crews tired, his ships running low on supplies, and his numbers reduced to seven, Commodore Jones leaves behind the Red Moon (the Henrys) to keep a look out, and sails for Iharanna to resupply and gather more ships.

Meanwhile…Admiral Henry ambushes a column of Egyptian soldiers moving south towards Iharanna. Tyr broke up his force of about two hundred into warparties and attacked the column from the flanks. The sudden and fierce assault was bloody and drove the Egyptians back towards Kaominina. Hearing the sounds of cannon fire rolling in from the sea, Tyr assumed Harold had begun his attack on Kaominina and moved in. The Admiral’s attack is forced back. Admiral Henry decides to scout the area – sending men to sneak into Kaominina as well as others back to Iharana for support, and out into the surrounding area to gather warriors from local villages.

November – December 1840:
What has been described as a hornet’s nest erupted onto the southern oceans. So many pirate ships were on the water in the ending months of 1840 that trade between the Far East and the West was nearly completely choked off (13).

Several times Admiral Fey and his fleet are engaged – ultimately forcing him to retreat back to Cape Town.

The siege of Kaominina was eventually brought to an end by two men. The first was Ambassador Iyasu Chukala, who helped in negotiating the Egyptian/English surrender. The second was Colonel Abbas Ali Pasha (the Egyptian commanding officer), he rebelled against the English officers (who had been rejecting surrender in favor of waiting for reinforcements). On the 20th of November Kaominina was retaken.

As per the agreement reached by Ambassador Chukala, all of the Egyptian sailors and soldiers were released (actually, held in camps, until Ethiopian trade ships arrived to take them away). Most of the English sailors and soldiers were held and made laborers, or ransomed.

Notes:
1)Removal of a captain: removal of a captain is almost always an internal issue, either handled internally by a crew, by local leaderships, or some combination. Poor leadership, or the perception of poor leadership, can bring about a range of reparations from a simple drop in rank, to being cast off, to death. A charge of Cowardice is probably one of the more egregious things which can be thrown at a captain. Sometimes, although not always, if an issue with a captain has been handled entirely by the crew of a ship the situation is looked at more closely by an elite pirate or the local leadership – in an attempt to keep otherwise good captains from being mutinied against without good reason.

2)Henry and Guerra: Admiral Henry bribed the city council, but also placed a laborer in Captain Guerra’s place on the workforce to rebuild the Marsh Island tower (a common practice called substitution).

3)Patrician Keely: Keely now found himself in Fort Dauphin, having left Nova Island for his own safety and wellbeing. Almost right away he finds a new cause to gain him even greater disdain than defending the Taylors – upsetting the labor system. He begins questioning the lengthy periods the captured and punished are kept as laborers (often life time sentences). He begins writing about the treatment of the laborers and suggests the time for such a workforce has come to an end.

4)Bonny Family: as with the other great families, the Bonnys were involved in a number of activities. Oliver, head of the family and all things Bonny, dealt directly with the shipyard. Robert and Robert (father and son Devereaux) handled the money lending/collecting. Adam (with direction from Oliver) helped take care of the shipyard construction and orders. Fikru Degagmanna and Talitha Bonny (husband and wife) took charge of the labor camp and the “legitimate” shipping. While Regita Bonny headed the pirate activities. All was in flux now with Oliver and Regita’s deaths and Adam being named head of family.

5)Mercenary wars(4th), France: Admiral Henry never informs France about the contract being bought out and continues to collect even though another deal had been made with Ethiopia.

6)Grand Games, Labor teams: traditionally a labor team from Port Mission is put together, if they are named champions in either the Lacrosse or Broadside competitions, the whole team is granted pirate status. This year, Admiral Henry ordered that each of the 3 major labor camps should put up a team (Port Mission, Fort Dauphin, and Morondava).

7)Patrick Keefe: Keefe was born in Ireland. He and his family were sailing for the United Republics in 1820 when the ship he was on was attacked by pirates. Both his mother and sister were killed, but he and his father were taken captive. They were brought to Fort Dauphin where they were forced into the labor camp. In 1824 his father was killed in an accident at the shipyards. In 1827 Patrick, and a number of other laborers, were moved to Morondava after the labor revolt there was put down. In 1835 Patrick found himself recruited onto the Renegade (30-gun frigate) captained by Louis Yard. In 1839 Patrick was allowed to leave the Renegade. He decided to settle in Port Mission, and in 1840 founded the Keefe Fire Brigade.

8)Toamasina fire brigade: as with most things in Toamasina fire was usually handled by the King. It was expected by the people. When Elizabeth Port set up Keefe’s Fire Brigade there was no trouble, she was, however, unable to find many who were willing to join her squad. Worse, when confronted with a fire, the occupants would not pay for her service, and instead held out for the court guards to arrive and lend a hand. Eventually, Elizabeth closed shop and returned to Port Mission.

9)Iyasu Chukala: was the third son of a wealthy family. Although beloved by his mother, he was not well liked by his father or brothers. It is believed that his father got Iyasu this appointment in order that he would never see his youngest son again. Iyasu, it turns out, would fall in love with the appointment. He wrote home regularly, and in almost all of his letters, both to his superiors and his mother, there was mention of lacrosse.

10)Brother’s Henry: out of the youngest members in the race, the Henry’s probably had the most sailing experience. Through family connections they had been on and off ships for most of their lives.

11)Rampart: when the Rampart pulled out of the race to investigate Kaominina it was at the request of Tamo. Harold Jones notes in his journal that his son said very simply, “The first duty of the Rampart is to protect Kelly interests.”

12)Attack on Kaominina: the attack was planned out very well. It would have taken place in two stages. The first stage was the arrival of the first two Egyptian ships – posing as traders. When the next ship arrived the city council became suspicious, but it was too late. By the time the last two Egyptian ships arrived the town was under attack from within. The second stage would have been the landing of several hundred troops with the second wave of ships.

13)Suez War: other nations begin heavily pressuring those involved in the Suez War to come to terms. The war was being blamed for the increased pirate activity. Adding to this pressure for the war to come to a conclusion were the wild cards of the United Republics and the Empire of Orleans. The rumors were that King Adams wanted to declare war on the pirates, but despite the attacks on trade there were still many in Congress and the House of Barons who felt a kinship with Madagascar (given the help the pirates gave the UR during its early years) – besides, it was well known that First Consul Napoleon II was not interested in attacking the pirates. New Orleans wanted to declare war on France, but it would be a war Orleans would have to fight on their own because King Adams had no interest in attacking France. The Rumors continued to circulate that both parties, however, had no qualms about attacking England – and it was generally believed, at the time, that England was to blame for the onset of the Suez War.

 

[Tynnin]

1841:
Kingdom of Poland-Lithuania: King Stanislaw II dies in February. His daughter Anna (II) is crowned queen of the kingdoms of Poland-Lithuania.

The Second Great Northern War: With Saint Petersburg once again ready to fall, and the Finish Uprising gaining ground, Czar Constantine II renews peace talks. The Treaty of Moscow is signed on December 30 (Russia loses with this treaty: Finland is granted their independence, territory along the Black Sea is given up, and heavy restitutions are levied).

Russia: The Northern War had been costly to Russia, the last 20 years of constant war had been costly for Russia, but Czar Constantine II hopes to regain something in the continuing war against the Ottomans (part of the greater Suez War).

Lunda/Ethiopia/Zululand: the three sides continue to raid one another, the borderlands became a hostile and fearful place.

England: The Suez War continues.

Canada (republic of): Prime Minister George Mackenzie invites both King Adams and First Consul Bonaparte to the founding of the new capital of the Republic of Canada – Prince Rupert. Despite some tension over territorial claims, the three leaders pledged support for each other.

United Republics: The Mormon War continues (the continental army had not yet been called up – militia and barony soldiers from the Indiana Territory currently engaged the Mormon rebels).

The Suez War: The war continues to go badly for England and her allies. Ethiopia officially withdraws from the conflict – signing a separate peace with France and the Ottomans. However, French and Ottoman forces were spread thin as the Russians and Venetians had gained ground with successive victories along the Black and Aegean Seas. Sultan Hayir ibn Yunus Sinan presses Queen Victoria for a major victory or to seek terms.


January-February 1841:
After several meetings with Iyasu Chukala – and a visit from the French governor of the Comoros – Admiral Henry passes along orders to his captains that they were to only sink English ships, and to only hunt and capture ships in the southern ocean which don’t offer an acceptable bribe.

The pirate horde expanded outward from the choke point around the Southern Indian Ocean – grouping, for the most part, into several flotillas. Commodore Jones kept his group close to home, with occasional forays to raid Egypt and hunt off the Arabian Peninsula. Captain Rain, or the Dragon, leading a group of four ships moved up West Africa attacking English holdings. A group of pirates under the leadership of Mathew East, an Iharana pirate, sailed for the Far East – they fell into competition with Mary Sykes, captain of the Mahafaly (a Kelly loyalist). Although they cooperate to conduct a raid on Canton and Japanese villages, a falling out set pirate against pirate, ending both of their hunts in the Far East (1). A young captain by the name of Samuel Moore, in charge of five other captains, spent his time around Cape Town – he his eventually caught by the English and hung. Infighting breaks up the Moore flotilla, eventually three ships head west for fresh waters, while the others make their way back to Madagascar.

March 1841:
As several months had passed without any notice of Fey’s Flotilla, Admiral Henry finally issues orders to have the Marsh Island tower rebuilt. He sends a well-armed, and guarded Galleon, under the command of Rabemananjara (the Toamasina rep. to the C.C.) to Fort Dauphin with money and supplies and orders for the city council of Fort Dauphin to handle the rest.

Arriving in March was also an Ethiopian diplomatic ship. It brought with it some staff members for Iyasu Chukala and a letter granting the establishment of an embassy (2). There was also a second letter bringing the regrettable news of the death of Annatutatuvo (C.C. rep. from Morondava sent to establish an embassy in Gondar) – reportedly illness. Admiral Henry takes the news in stride and after some thought appoints Kurtis Long (at the time, captain of Admiral Henry’s Foremen) as the new ambassador to the Ethiopian royal court (3).

April 1841:
Little of interest.


May 1841:
Patrician Keely arrives in Port Mission. His initial stop is to The House of Lussan (Port Mission’s church – originally the house of Ravenau de Lussan). He spends the day in prayer, before calling on the Admiral. Keely was meeting the Admiral on behalf of Anna Taylor. She had been sending letters to Patrician Keely for the last year in regards to the treatment of non-Malagasy, especially her family, by the pirate overlords (4). Admiral Henry, however, is not moved by Keely’s words. Keely does manage to get the Admiral to agree to inspect the Bowen Islands. In a letter he wrote to the Council of Captains, Admiral Henry rationalizes his journey to the Bowen Islands:

My loyal council, the tribute of late coming from the Bowen Islands has been light. I have taken it upon myself to determine why this is. I wish to see with my own eyes without being seen as myself, so I travel under a different name and in a different man’s clothing. I take guard and council with me. I will unearth any double dealings that harken trouble for the Colony.

On May 10th, in disguise and under the name of Jon Stewart, Admiral Henry sets out on the Ranter’s Ghost. Patrician Keely journeys with him, so too do two Foremen – they, and Captain Benjamin Daniels, are the only ones to know the real identity of Jon Stewart.

The Ranter’s Ghost docks at Fort Hendrick a few days later. From the start Admiral Henry notes a high degree of spiritedness and, even by pirate standards, a lack of adherence to the Code. Tyr notes screams in the night and street brawls of the like not really seen in the Colony for at least fifty years. During the day the town moved along more or less as normal, the random beatings to Fort Hendrick citizens, and overzealous confiscation of goods from shopkeepers, notwithstanding. Bribery was abundant, such a thing was expected, but during his investigation Admiral Henry discovered citizens paying out to multiple pirates for protection and receiving nothing for their payments. Worse yet was the violently enforced curfew. After several days Tyr, Keely, and the Foremen were able to discover that in the last six months two figures had sailed to the head of the pack.

Captains David Pickering (Lord Wensleydale, 30-gun frigate) and Alina Rhodes (Grim, 40-gun frigate) were at the center of most the pirate activity on Bowen Islands. Pickering wasn’t a Malgasy, he was English and had never set foot on Madagascar – owned neither home or stake in the Colony. Rhodes hailed from Iharanna and routinely nailed troublemakers to the mast as a form of punishment (a not uncommon sentence handed down in the Iharanna region). The most disturbing discovery during Tyr’s investigation was that the two of them were actively recruiting, with a combined flotilla of 15 ships already (5).


On the 12th of May three pirates were caught breaking into Mission House. Their goal had been to find the Treasury. Not an uncommon occurrence as the Treasury made for a huge target and drew the attention of skilled and unskilled raiders alike. However, this time the thieves were murdered before any information could be extracted. They were locked up, and in the morning found dead (one was stabbed, the other two were shot). Speculation spread quickly, chief among the rumors was that it was an inside job among the Mission House staff or Foremen. Ryan Henry, Vice-Admiral while his brother was away, favored this theory and barred all staff and Foremen from Mission House – all but a select few.


Admiral Henry returns on the 21st to a state of fear in Port Mission that a revolt was imminent – and it wasn’t even the same revolt he was worried about. Tyr places Patrician Keely and his brother on the task of finding out if the break-in was just a break-in or the tip of something more. In the meantime, after a night in Mission House, Admiral Henry sneaks away.


June 1841:
Admiral Henry arrives in Jamestown and speaks with Grace Kelly. The two decide to make an example of several informants (lots of sudden accidents) (6). They formulate a plan, centering on the assignation of Pickering and Rhodes, with the timely arrival of a governor. It was Jacob Kelly who made the statement “Why stop with Pickering and Rhones?” Words that directly led to the formation of a plan that was both subtle and direct (satisfying both Grace and Tyr).

Not long after Admiral Henry was back in Port Mission did Patrician Keely and Ryan Henry announce that other than the typical bribes, side action, petty theft, and a small scale protection ring (some of which were not paying out tribute to the Admiral – action was taken later to correct this) there was none among the staff or Foremen who knew anything about the break-in. Although the mysterious deaths of the three thieves would remain a curiosity, the news of no feud or civil war calmed the city.

Gaston Philip Gateau, resident of New Arradan, avid observer and participant in both lacrosse and broadside, as well as a chemist, invents the process for vulcanizing rubber (7).

Christiaan and Emma Tibbs have a baby girl, Victoria.


July – October 1841:
Grace and Tyr’s plan begins. Over the next several months the Bowen Islands, especially Fort Hendrick, are seeded with Kelly loyalists and spies (assassins). A string of accidents and disappearances begin to plague the islands.

In October, at the meeting of the Council of Captains, Admiral Henry informs his council about the Bowen Islands (putting an end to some of the rumors which had been brewing in the last few months). Although the full plan is not given at this time, the Admiral does offer several names for consideration to be appointed to governor. Among the names presented to the Council of Captains were his nephew Thomas, Capt. Victoria Hull of the Tew, Capt. Rain of the dragon, Commodore Harold Jones of the Rampart, and Captain of the Admiral’s Foremen Ralph Guerra.

Over the staunch objections of Kurtis Fletcher (rep. Fort Dauphin), Captain Ralph Guerra is named governor (8).


November 1841:
Grace Kelly notes in her journal that on the first of November a single, small sloop departed Port Mission – a crew of ten, and one passenger (a man known as Burk) (9).

On the third Captain Guerra set sail. He was given steamship Blackbeard (a 6-gun armored brigantine) – serving as crewmen were Jacob Kelly, and Thomas and Frederick Henry. Escorting the Blackbeard were three other ships.

By the fifteenth Captain Alina Rhodes was dead and the streets of Fort Hendrick were running red.

After about four days of chaos, Captain Guerra arrived. He set his pirates to putting down the “feud” between the crews of Rhodes and Pickering. Between Guerra, and the Kelly loyalists disguised as other crews, most of the fighting in and around Fort Hendrick was brought under control. Within a week calm had been restored to the Bowen Islands and Captain Guerra was accepted as the new pirate governor (helping this was the perception that Anna Taylor welcomed Captain Guerra with open arms).

December 1841:
Once all was quiet at Fort Hendrick, Captain Guerra sat in judgment over the ringleaders of the captured crews. Most were allowed to go. Some were demoted to laborers (setting up the first labor camp on the Bowen Islands). Pickering was hung.


Notes:
Mathew East: After splitting from Mary Sykes, Captain East continued to raid Japan on his own. He is never heard from again.

Chukala: Despite the generosity of the King, Chukala never trusts the staff sent to help establish the embassy.

Kurtis Long: Prior to his appointment to be the new Malagasy ambassador to Ethiopia, Long was captain of the Admiral’s Foremen (a position given next to Ralph Guerra). As ambassador, Long had one primary job, he was to find out what really happened to Annatutatuvo, and to avenge him if necessary. As it turns out, Annatutatuvo death was as stated. He contracted an illness soon after arriving in Gondar and despite times of seeming as if he had beaten the cough, it did eventually conquer him.

Keely’s Letters: the letters presented to Admiral Henry were written by Anna Taylor detailing the hardships suffering under the collection of Malagasy pirates currently in control of the Bowen Islands. These were not the only letters handed to the Admiral. Patrician Keely also handed over an emotional plea by Abigail Bonny for the Admiral to take better control of the situation on the Bowens (her guilt, for her part in the death of Tobias Taylor, was evident).

The Bowens: self-determination was a primary function of the Colony. Do what you want…as long as it doesn’t sink the ship. There was great personal latitude granted in the Code – however, also punishment for those who go too far. Despite the excessive cheating and abuse being conducted on the Bowens, it didn’t threaten the Colony. Although it can be noted that Admiral Henry found such excessiveness, and the lack of adherence to the Code, especially in regard to the accepting of bribes and protection money (and then not fulfilling said contract), as offensive. In and of themselves they were not the reason for his intervention. Rhodes and Pickering were building their own fleet, and all indication was that they meant to use it to challenge for the leadership of the pirates. This prompted the Admiral (and the Kellys) actions.

Spies get punished: Grace purges some of the undergrowth in her network of spies, assassins, and informants. She had received no word about the buildup on the Bowen Islands. Plus she had to endure the embarrassment of having such information brought to her by, in essence, a subordinate, a loyalist, within the Kelly Family (admiral or not, the Henrys were part of the Kelly Family).

Gaston Philip Gateau: although if you were to ask a Malagasy they would tell you Gateau invented volcanized rubber. In truth, the process was in the works by several scientists/engineers around the world. It is difficult to say who among them actually developed the processes first. If you are speaking to a Malagasy about such matters, choose your words carefully.

Ralph Guerra: former captain of the Adelante a steamship, out from Fort Dauphin, hunting in the southern waters. In 1839 Captain ordered the retreat from Fey’s Flotilla when Admiral Fey attacked Marsh Tower – the Adelante was out matched and remaining would have meant death (Guerra’s crew felt differently, especially as they had beaten off a few of Fey’s shps before). The Adelante departed and the Marsh Tower was destroyed – killing the five man crew. He was brought up on charges of cowardice and put on trial by the city council of Fort Dauphin. Admiral Henry intervened and bought off the man’s sentence – incorporating Guerra into the Foremen.

Burk: little is known about this man. He was the Kelly chief assassin.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Burk?

Not the guy who OTL gave use the verb "burke" (to murder by suffocation)?

 

[Tynnin]

His son. .

 

[Tynnin]

1842

The Suez War continues: French/Ottoman forces consolidate their gains in the Sinai peninsula. French and English/Venetian fleets battle along the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Austrian forces push the Venetian army back into their own lands. Russian forces continue to defeat the Ottoman military along the Black Sea.

Egypt: Hayir ibn Yunus Sinan dies. His four children vie for control of the sultanate. It is Hayir’s second son which England favors, and with the support of Queen Victoria Muhamad ibn Hayir Yunis Sinan becomes sultan.

Lunda/Ethiopia/Zululand: the three sides continue to raid one another, the borderlands became a hostile and fearful place.

United Republics: The Mormon War draws to its end with the calling up of the continental army. With the failure to establish their own barony, Joseph Smith is able to lead his rebels and followers away from Indianapolis, losing the continental army in the wilderness.



January – February 1842:
Over the first few months of 1842 the Kellys bring in food and other supplies, including a healthy shipment of opium, to the Bowen Islands. Captain Guerra places Jacob Kelly in charge of the distribution and collection of payments of these goods.

March 1842:
There is labor revolt on the 22nd. The labor camp gates are rushed and breeched and a ship is commandeered from the Fort Hendrick harbor (Lord and Master, 10-gun Junk). The Blackbeard (Captain Guerra’s 6-gun steamship – although he was not aboard for the chase) gives chase – serving aboard ship are Thomas and Frederick Henry. It is dark by the time the Blackbeard catches the Lord and Master – a plentiful supply of rockets helps illuminate the battle. The labor ship, with about 100 passengers (men, women, and children) is soon disabled and boarded. Hand-to-hand combat follows – with the brothers Henry holding their own during the fighting. The survivors, a handful of women and children, are brought back to Fort Hendrick.

The fighting in the streets of Fort Hendrick was bloody, but short lived. Although a pocket of about a hundred managed to gain a ship, the remaining one hundred and fifty were bottlenecked at the docks. Captain Guerra simply pressed in from all sides until the survivors knelt in subjugation.

Jacob Kelly was in charge of a small warparty, rounding up smaller labor groups which had gotten separated from the main force at the docks. He discovered the laborers were being helped by local shops.

By the 24th the renegade ship is returned to dock and the fighting at the docks is subdued. Captain Guerra, in an attempt to smooth things over with the locals (many of which supported the revolt), offered a general pardon and the promise to review every laborers case.

In actuality no laborer was released from bondage, and Jacob and his gang (including the brothers Henry) made surprise visits to the locals over the next few weeks expressing the Kellys dislike at the lack of loyalty shown to the Malagasy.


April 1842:
The string of broken legs, hands, and murders on the Bowen Islands culminate in the rape and murder of Elizabeth North and the burning of the Keel (a tavern owned by Elizabeth’s father George) on the 29th. George North was being confronted by Jacob and his Foremen for not paying his tribute. However, after hearing the man’s story (wife killed during the fall of Pickering and Rhodes, daughter struck dumb by the sight of her mother’s death, stories of the tavern now being haunted keeping customers away) Jacob agreed to reduce the tribute and give the man a fortnight to pay. The situation would have ended there, if not for Thomas and Frederick Henry. By all accounts they had grown to enjoy their new found popularity and authority. They, and two others (another set of brothers, by the name of John and Joseph Plank), decided North had been left off to easy and returned to the Tavern the following night. George was attacked, his daughter raped, and in a scuffle between the brothers the Tavern was burned to the ground – George escaped but was unable to save his daughter.

George North was found the following day. He was hanging from the rafters of a nearby warehouse, dead and smelling of rum. Captain Guerra circulated the rumor that George, in a bout of depression, murdered his daughter, burned his tavern, and then committed suicide. The rumor was accepted, but the more prevalent rumor was that Jacob and his gang had murdered him.


May 1842:
The simmering unrest on the Bowen Islands gained the attention of Patrician Keely, who traveled with three others (two other patricians and an acolyte) with orders from Vicar Lagrange to establish a Lucian presence on the islands. Almost instantly Patrician Keely became aware of Jacob’s gang. Fearing that Keely would discover too much about the North Event and set off another revolt, Captain Guerra made plans. Guerra decided on a trip to the main-island for a Council of Captains meeting; Jacob was due to return to Jamestown, and it was as good as a time as any for the brothers Henry to return to Port Mission.


June 1842:
With Jacob – and mainly the brothers Henry - gone, the rate of “accidents” dropped, so too did the unrest (with Patrician Keely’s help).

Admiral Henry hosts a French envoy. Minister Louis Maret Gerard brings news of the Suez War as well as a few messages. The first was from the Parliament: the message was an agreement to extend privateering contract. The second message was from the King, requesting Admiral Henry ignore Parliament and begin easing privateer activity against the enemies of France. The Ethiopian presence did not go unnoticed by Minister Gerard. Admiral Henry enjoyed having the two diplomats to dinner and then watching them politely argue (2).


July 1842:
Robert and Robert Devereaux (overseeing Bonny money lending operations) approach Frank Tamerlane about buying out his Keefe Fire Brigade. Frank declines. Robert and Robert try next to take Frank’s workers away by going to the city council, but find Tamerlane had bested them there as well. Keefe, through Tamerlane, had bought out the debt on the workers, given them the choice to stay or leave Madagascar, and then offered the ones which stayed real jobs working for the fire brigade (according to the Code, they were now recognized as Malagasy, although not pirate status).

On the 16th, James Shaft and William Guess are reported missing. Both worked for Frank Tamerlane, and neither returned from their evening fire patrol.

On the 18th, a Bonny Foremen, known as Fist, was found dead – a fire poker had been inserted into his rectum.

About the 25th, Tamerlane and his fire brigade are attacked, and physically held back from handling a fire while a new, unnamed, fire brigade takes over the flames.

On the 28th, the home of Robert Devereaux (jr.) catches on fire – Keefe’s Fire Brigade does not respond to the blaze.

The following day a foot patrol reports a fire, calling in the rest of The Keefe Fire Brigade. While the brigade is away, the farm house Frank Tamerlane calls home, and the home base for the fire brigade, burns down.


August 1842:
The counting house of Robert and Robert Devereaux is hit with a barrage of musket fire (Robert sr. is hit, but no other injuries were reported) (3).

The camp outside of town where Frank Tamerlane and company had settled is attacked – two of the brigade are killed before they can escape.


September 1842:
Frank Tamerlane raids the Devereaux Counting house just after dawn on the 2nd. They escape to an awaiting ship and flee Fort Dauphin.


October – December 1842:
Hits on Devereaux Foremen, and attempts on Robert and Robert’s life, continue. At the time it was assumed Tamerlane was still feuding with Devereaux, it wouldn’t be discovered until 1843 that in actuality the disagreements within the Bonny family had escalated into a full internal feud.



Notes:
1) Lusian Church: Despite the long standing pirate activity, the Bowen Islands did not have a permanent Lusian presence. The English, however, had set up a church. Although there was a general peace between those on the island who were Lusians and the Church of England, with the return of the pirates clashes were developing between the Lusians and the Anglicans. Patrician Keely builds a Lusian church and is able to settle the tension between several factions.

2) Minister Gerard: Gerard returns to France. Upon informing the king about the Ethiopian embassy, King Louis immediately recognizes the potentially dangerous tactical advantage gained by the Ethiopians. The king formulates his own embassy envoy to Madagascar.

3) Counting house attack: this was not carried out by the fire brigade. The attack is believed to have been carried out by Foremen working for Fikru – an attempt to kill off his brother-in-law and blame the fire brigade.

 

[ChaosTheVoid]

I really appreciate you continuing this TL slowly and steadily, regardless of any response (or lack there of). Thank you.

 

[Lazzars]

I really appreciate you continuing this TL slowly and steadily, regardless of any response (or lack there of). Thank you.

Agreed, it's a very impressive timeline

 

[Tynnin]

Much appreciated. I wish I had the time to post updates more often to this TL. I try to look at it this way - the long span between posts builds anticipation.

Thanks for reading and thanks for putting up with the time gaps between events.

cheers.

 

[Tynnin]

1843
The Suez War continues: Strides are made towards peace. Three six day truces were called over the year, each time it seemed a negotiated peace was near. The war officially ends on October 3, 1843 with The Treaty of Athens. Although losing territory in other areas the goal of the war, control of the canal is won. A sharing agreement was part of the treaty, wherein the Ottomans would lease for 50 years the land, but the actual canal would be administered by the French, and Egypt would get preferred treatment in shipping and a reduction in tolls.

Egypt: Sultan Muhamad ibn Hayir Yunis Sinan is pressed by England to seek closer relations with Algiers (in order to pull them away from the Ottoman sphere of control). Muhamad is also encouraged to heal the relationship between Egypt and Ethiopia.

Lunda/Ethiopia/Zululand: an official territory agreement is reached (an agreement none of the parties are happy with). According to the agreement, no military forces are allowed within 20 miles of the shared border. This does not stop the three parties from employing cut throats in the region.

The Empire of Orleans: The Mormons reestablish themselves, after their humiliating defeat at the hands of the United Republics, in St. Louis. The Empire is saddened by the death of Louise Marie Therese Bathilde d’Orleans, Dowager Regent, Mother of the People, devoted wife of the late Napoleon Bonaparte First Council of the Empire of Orleans.



January 1843:
It is discovered that the counting house attack of the previous year was carried out by Foremen and pirates loyal to Fikru (it was an attempt to kill off the Roberts and assume their position in the family) (1). It is hard to say at what point this information came to light, but on the 10th of January Robert Devereaux jr. attacked Fikru and family at their home (2). Both Fikru and his son Jack are killed; both women, his wife Talitha (daughter of the infamous Samuel Bonny) and his daughter Mary, are raped (both by Robert himself).

The following day, as news of this attack spread, Adam Bonny (head of the family) condemns the action and moves to have Robert arrested.

There is a brief exchange of swords and musket fire outside of the Devereaux house before Adam withdraws – he was unable to apprehend Robert.

There are a dozen or more such brief exchanges between Foreman and pirates loyal to one Bonny or another throughout the rest of the month.


February 1843:
Frank Tamerlane, and the Keefe fire brigade, is still in the area (being supported by Patrick Keefe back in Port Mission). To remind the Bonny’s of this fact, Frank stages a daring raid on the largest of the Bonny warehouses near the shipyards.

Before the week is out, there is a fire at the shipyards. While the fire is being dealt with, Adam’s chief foremen, Michael Crane, goes missing. He is found two days later hanging from a tree (3).


March 1843:
The Roberts’ counting house is robbed, again – this time it was Frank Tamerlane and his brigade.

Adam, having amassed a larger force, marches on the Devereaux house again with the intent on having Robert jr. arrested. There is a brief standoff, however, the two cannons, and being out numbered at least two to one eventually has Robert being brought to Adam without a single shot being fired.

Adam takes his cousin to the city council, but the city council (only three of which even bothered to show up) won’t take custody and won’t hear the trial. They demand Adam handle the situation as he sees fit.

Adam returns to his home where he locks Robert up in the hopes of using him as a means to bring the feud to an end.


April 1843:
Jewel Jha (as well husband Ehsan and daughter Julia) go to Adam’s house to beg for the release of her brother Robert. A rumor quickly circulates that the Jha family had been kidnapped. Robert sr. leads an attack on Adam’s house. For six hours the home is besieged – it is Ehsan’s death, shot by one of Robert sr. Foremen, which eventually brings the battle to an end (with Robert sr. withdrawing) (4).

While the battle is taking place at Adam’s house, there is another battle being fought at the shipyards. The attack overwhelms Adam’s Foremen and they are forced to give up the yards. The turning point in the attack came when the labor camp gates were opened.

Adam calls Kurtis Fletcher to his house (he is the Council of Captains rep. to Port Mission). Adam demands that Kurtis go to Port Mission to speak with the Admiral. Kurtis is given little choice as he is whisked away under guard to a ship.


May 1843:
The city council eventually does act to help recapture the rampaging laborers. They commission Labor Catchers which move systematically through the town and surrounding area. However, by this point, Frank Tamerlane has already rallied most of them (about a hundred) to his cause.

The Admiral receives a visit (although not unexpected) from Kurtis Fletcher. Before Admiral Henry acts, he requests council from not only Patrician Kay (Port Mission priest) but also from Vicar Lagrange. It is eventually decided that Robert Devereaux jr. would be moved to Port Mission for a proper trial, but that the Admiral would not interfere with the feud as long as it stayed within the confines of Fort Dauphin.

Minister Louis Maret Gerard returns to Madagascar. He brings news that he has been commissioned to establish an embassy in order to further the long friendship and cooperation which France and the pirates have enjoyed.

Birth of Felicia, born to Christaan and Emma Tibbs.


June 1843:
A Bonny family meeting is attended on the 12 of this month. Admiral Henry is there, but mainly to keep the peace (and take custody of Robert jr.) (5). Anne Bonny (III) – respected by Adam and wife of Robert sr. – calls for calm. She does not condone what her son Robert jr. did to Talitha and Mary and says he should pay for his crime (it was not widely known, but she shows off how both women were pregnant). The stirring speech moves everyone. A very tense peace is agreed upon.

Patrician Keely ends his time on the Bowen Islands. The determined, and persuasive, priest managed to get Captain Guerra to document the laborers (name, captured by whom, country of origin, skills, and how much their debt was so they could work it off) (6). He also leaves with an established Lusian church. Although initially his intent was to sail for Port Mission, in the hopes of convincing the Admiral to enact Island wide documentation of the laborers, he instead heads to Fort Dauphin.


July 1843:
Using fire as a distraction, Frank Tamerlane raids Fort Dauphin. The attack is fast and hardly a shop, warehouse, or home along the main roads was spared. Aiding Frank’s raid was the fact that there were hardly any Foremen to be found. The fires, and the attack itself, had each of the Bonnys (as well as the city council) believing it was the other launching the attack and breaking the truce, so they stayed close to home to defend the heads of family. Frank and his pirates make an easy escape aboard their ship, the Phoenix (18-gun brig).


August 1843:
Frank Tamerlane, emboldened by his raid on Fort Dauphin, begins attacking ships coming and going from Fort Dauphin (he would sack Bonny ships outright, taking cargo, although generally leaving the crews alive, but would only demand tribute from other ships).


September 1843:
Late in the month, within a day of each other, Talitha and Mary go into labor. Talitha dies in childbirth. Mary gives birth to Jack (named after her brother).

The tense peace, strained by minor brawls and Tamerlane’s activities, is broken when the death of Talitha Bonny sparks outrage among Adam’s followers.


October 1843:
Adam Bonny is attacked, but survives, on his way to the shipyards. No longer willing to fight a battle of attrition, Adam begins arresting and ambushing Robert sr. loyalists.

Little else is discussed at the October Council of Captains meeting in Port Mission. Patrician Keely is in attendance to speak for Frank Tamerlane’s labor-pirates (it is his insistence that the Malagasy are getting what they deserve for the treatment they have enacted on the laborers). The major issue, however, was the Bonny Feud. Kurtis Fletcher, as well as Patrician Kay, advise the Admiral not to act in any way. Admiral Henry, however, decides that the death of Talitha Bonny was enough to order Robert jr. to the gallows (7).


November 1843:
News of his son’s death reaches Robert sr. He goes to Adam (for reasons only know to him). He finds, instead, Basia (Adam’s wife), who invites him in. The conversation, although civil at the start, quickly turns angry. Robert proceeds to beat her (while she tries to protect her child Teresa). Robert leaves before any alarm could be raised.

Anne (III) Bonny, a broken woman upon hearing the news of what her husband had done, gives up her husband to Adam when he arrives with a very large force. Robert is able to make his escape by falling out of a second story window (breaking a leg, but being helped away by loyal Foreman).


December 1843:
There is quiet in Fort Dauphin. The search for Robert sr. continues as well as the arrests of those loyal to him.

Frank Tamerlane’s victorious action against an elite pirate family inspires others of lesser pirate ranks to raid the major families. The first hit are the Kellys – a warehouse (storing mostly opium) in Iharana.

Marsh Tower is rebuilt and officially reopened and staffed (despite the treacherous waters and minimal space the island and tower become a safe haven for the Phoenix).


Notes:
1)Fikru discovered: the oral history tells us that it was a drunken boast which sealed Fikru’s fate.

2)Robert and Fikru: there was little love lost between these two. Years of bad blood boiled over in that attack which left Fikru and Jack dead and Talitha and Mary raped.

3) Fire and Crane: the fire at the shipyards, although blamed on Tamerlane, was in fact set by Robert and his Foremen. The death of Crane, again, blamed on Tamerlane, was carried out by those loyal to Robert.

4)Ehsan’s death: Jewel and Ehsan, much like Anne (III) were doing what they could to remain neutral and peacemakers. When they became trapped in Adam’s house they were convinced that if they could speak with Robert that the whole situation would be settled. They were however under guard, mostly for their own protection, during the battle at Adam’s house. Ehsan managed to get away from his “protector”, and made his way to a window hoping to escape. He was spotted by those outside, who assumed the figure to be Adam, and shot several times. It was Jewel’s cries of distress, overheard by Robert, which took the wind from his sails and had him withdraw his men.

5)Family meeting: the Admiral was attended by 60 foremen, the only ones with weapons during the meeting (joining the entourage were his nephews Thomas and Frederick).

6)Labor rights: despite the more clearly laid out path to freedom, the debt owed by each laborer was still subjective. The amount was determined by the pirate which captured you, an amount which was added to when the captive was sold to a labor camp. For those born into the system, debt was determined by “potential”, which was based on family debt, how hard you worked when you came of age, and what skills you mastered. Of course, until now, nothing was really written down or concrete when it came to laborers and how they were treated, used, or let go. So all things labor, for the most part, remained at the whims of the Malagasy in charge.

7)Death of Robert jr.: even by pirate standards, Robert’s actions warranted harsh treatment. The Code was clear about feuds and by all accounts Fikru was an accepted target, his family, however, were innocent. It is hard not to see the years of competition between the Kellys and the Bonnys in the decision that the Admiral made to kill Robert. The death would go a long way to keeping the Bonny Feud fueled (something both Tyr Henry and Grace Kelly probably enjoyed watching).

 

[Tynnin]

1844
Ottoman Empire: Construction of an enlarged Suez Canal begins. 7000 French soldier and engineers arrive to supplement the already several thousand strong Ottoman workforce.

The Empire of Orleans: city officials in St. Louis write to Orleans requesting advice on what to do about the Mormons. A response to which was postponed by The Great Flood of 1844. Despite the magnitude of the flooding few lost their lives and it did promote First Council Bonaparte to begin several public works projects for the building of levies. It also helped cement relations with several indigenous peoples as the First Council issued aide to the displaced tribes and help to resettle.

Finland: Gustav I, The Great, of Finland dies. The throne passes to his son Alexander I.

United Republics: Samuel Mores sends his first telegraph message. By the end of the year a line is under construction to link Orleans to Mount Vernon.

Prussia: Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig I dies unexpectedly. His son, Charles Friedrich I, The Young, ascends to the throne.

Sweden: Charles XIV dies. His son Oscar I is crowned king.


January-March 1844:
The lull in the Bonny Feud continues. Rumors abound on the location and activities of Robert Devereaux sr., but Adam, believing he is still hiding somewhere in the Fort Dauphin area concentrates his searches in the nearby region.

Frank Tamerlane, now calling himself Captain Tamerlane, continues to raid the Fort Dauphin area demanding tribute from passing ships and attacking all Bonny shipping. Despite Adam Bonny’s bounty on Tamerlane and his own hunting parties, the fire brigade turned prates evade capture.

April 1844:
Alarms are sounded in Fort Dauphin during the early hours of the 13th when news of an army coming out of the highlands reaches the city. Robert Devereaux sr. had returned at the head of a nearly 1000 strong force (6 months of recruiting and hiding in the highlands). Robert broke his forces into four parts. At the center he stationed himself with the largest contingent, the core of which was made up of most of his loyal followers. To the left was a group of about 200 famers and pirates from Iharana – whom he had lied to in order to convince them to join him (they thought they were attacking Jamestown). To the right were disgruntled Sakalava youths (a simmering cauldron of which still bubbled in and around Morondava). Mixed among the three warparties were Laborers which Robert had stolen and kept loyal with promises of money and freedom. The fourth group was a hunting pack of four ships – key loyalists among the crews to keep the captains in line.

Robert attacked with a plan. His right and left flanks moved wide, trying not to draw attention to themselves, while his center group made a lot of noise and moved quickly towards the town. Hidden, and back from the front line, were small groups of warriors interspersed between the blocks of Robert’s force – there to guard, and surprise, anyone trying to get around or between his formation. His ships were ordered to attack first, in the hopes of drawing men and attention away from the main thrust. At the first sound of cannon fire Robert pressed forward.

Adam Bonny rallied his supporters, and had been given full command of the city council Foremen in order to protect Fort Dauphin. He rushed to the outskirts of the town to face Robert, and fell into the trap. He focused on the large gathering rushing towards Fort Dauphin, he even brought up cannons – although they didn’t arrive until after the battle had begun. By the time Adam had been given news that two other groups had out flanked him it was too late. He fell back into the streets, abandoning the cannons which had finally arrived.

And then it started to rain.

The rain, at least for Robert, had been expected (1). What he hadn’t expected was for his four ships to fail to make it into the harbor. Robert wasn’t aware that every captain in Fort Dauphin was on alert thanks to Frank Tamerlane. Although Robert’s ships got off the first few shots, they were soon overwhelmed – plus the rough seas from the storm – and were in retreat.

Whatever plans Robert coming into Fort Dauphin had soon fallen apart upon entering the town. It was chaos for the next two days as his men raped and pillaged their way through the town, and Adam’s faction attempted to regain the upper hand. Robert did manage to capture the shipyards, using them as his base during the ongoing battle.

By the third day Robert’s faction had been forced to take refuge in several buildings. Robert himself held the shipyards and the adjoining warehouse. He was, however, cut off from the bulk of what remained of his army which had taken control of several buildings in the hilltop area of town (2).

The battle was a failure for both men. Robert had failed to capture and or kill Adam, and had wanted to hold the town - not be forced into a handful of buildings. Adam had failed to capture, kill, or repulse Robert’s attack and now faced the task of trying to uproot the rival faction again.

Adam, as ruthless as any pirate, but not nearly as cruel, was not a military leader – he was a man of business. What he hated the most was that the feud had disrupted the flow of money and the routine of the town. He considered starving out Robert’s men, but they had taken hostages and Adam could not bring himself to act harshly while that remained a fact (3).

On the 18th Adam met with the city council. They proved to be as ineffectual as usual. Although they offered a few ideas, the fact was that the men on the city council had been maneuvered into their positions for the sheer fact that they were 1) loyal to the Bonny family, 2) could be easily bribed, and 3) were too ignorant to be of any real threat. Based on the advice of the city council and that of his closest friends Adam felt he had three courses of action: attack (the predominant piece of advice), wait them out, call for help. He was not a military mind, and was aware of this fact. At least privately he doubted his ability to lead a successful attack against a defensible enemy. He didn’t like the option of waiting them out because he knew the hostages would eventually be used as leverage. Calling for help from any of the other families would only further weaken the Bonnys position in the Colony.

In the end, Adam decided on a fourth option. He sent Kurtis Fletcher (FD rep on CC) back to Port Mission. After all, Adam couldn’t help it, or stop it, if the Admiral opted to step in and settle the matter himself.


May 1844:
Even before the arrival of Council of Captains Member Fletcher news on the events in Fort Dauphin was constantly flowing into Mission House (both via spies and pirate tales). Admiral Henry reviewed the situation with his usual calm before the storm attitude. He was perfectly content to allow the Bonnys to destroy themselves, but on the other hand all tribute out of Fort Dauphin had stopped. In fact, nearly all activity, legal and pirate, had stopped. And this wasn’t the only issue with revenue. The hits on the other families were continuing. The Admiral had received a letter from Grace Kelly not long before the arrival of Fletcher about the reduction in the opium distribution due to the raids (also warning Tyr that the bodies would begin to pile up as Grace had decided to let loose Burk). Also, according to the dock log book, twelve pirate ships in the last month had docked and departed without paying tribute (4). The Admiral knew that he was not immune to these disruptions either; a good friend and money lender on his payroll had been attacked and robbed earlier in the year. He feared this internal trouble would bring more worries. He was well aware that, despite the good terms, both the French and Ethiopian ambassadors reported like spies to their respective nations (and then there were the less noticeable spies from all factions and several nations and kingdoms which he knew were active around the Colony).

All of this trouble rippled out from the Bonny feud. It was time to put the house in order. Admiral Henry set sail with two ships with a heading for Fort Dauphin. He arrived on the 12th in a cove near the town and made his way, under darkness, to the home of Adam Bonny. Adam was surprised by how few Foremen and pirates the admiral had brought with him. But Tyr insisted that if he was correct, he would only need two men to end this feud. Adam and Tyr spoke throughout the night and by morning a plan was ready.

Adam had been ignoring Robert, as the faction leader was bottled up in the shipyards, and was focused on the larger force hold up, and more or less in control of, the south end of town. Admiral Henry reversed that policy. He stopped all food going into the southend and built barricades to seal off that side of town. He then focused on Robert and the shipyards. Robert was angry at being ignored, and irritated that the Admiral had arrived, but was more than willing to talk. Admiral Henry agreed to come to Robert at the yards, as long as small escort of Foremen were allowed to accompany him. Robert and the Admiral spoke for a few hours and then the Admiral left.

That night Tyr informed Adam that Robert’s terms were simple. Adam was to sign over all Bonny holdings, swear his men to Robert, and then Adam was to retire to his house, never to set foot on another boat, own a business, or leave Fort Dauphin again. There was no way Adam was going to agree to those terms and everyone was aware of this. Ultimately it didn’t matter because the Admiral had already put his plan into motion.

The secret weapons in all of this were the brothers Henry. Admiral Henry had brought his nephews with him on this journey. Since the events on the Bowen Islands the two had continued to study war and combat, even the martial arts. Thomas and Frederick were skilled assassins at this point, although this would be the first test of their new skills. They were among the Foremen escort during the Admiral’s talk with Robert and were able to get a very good look at the layout and Robert’s numbers. Now, as the night hours crept by, they moved on their target. There were two explosions and the sound of panic before the shipyard gates were opened. Admiral Henry then led fifty men into the confusion, while another group of fifty moved on the warehouse next door. By daybreak the fighting was over.

Before noon the Admiral dumped Robert’s body on the streets outside the southern holdout (the only mark on him was the slash to his throat). Tyr announced that Robert was dead and that the smoke they could see came from the shipyards, “A parcel of property much more coveted than the shacks you hold up in.” He informed what remained of Robert’s faction that if they didn’t disband that he would set fire to the quarter and be done with them – hostages and all. He gave them an hour. The surrender was issued in less than half that.


June 1844:
Admiral Henry remained in Fort Dauphin throughout June while he helped Adam hunt down the last of Robert’s faction (although most had sworn over loyalty to Adam – or had chosen to leave Fort Dauphin – after the Admiral’s ultimatum).


July 1844:
Soon after Admiral Henry’s return to Port Mission he is pleased to hear news that Emma (his niece) and Christiaan had had another child – born on July 1st and named Henry. Both he and his brother Ryan celebrate, eventually rallying all of Port Mission into their revelry. The following day they depart for Jamestown to see the new addition to the family.

During their travels, the Admiral’s ship is challenged by the steamship Phoenix, which withdraws before combat could really begin. That night the Admiral writes letter to Patrick Keefe demanding he speak to his pirates and that the two of them meet upon his return to Port Mission.


August 1844:
Admiral Henry returns to Port Mission. His first action is to make good on speaking with Keefe. The two do not become friends (5). Keefe, bolstered in confidence by the success of some of his fire brigades, Captain Tamerlane, expanding into protection (notably for laborers), and several encouraging letters from Patrician Keely, did not see why the Admiral was so angry. For the Admiral’s part, his anger was focused on the action of the Phoenix. The Admiral shouted about how Captain Tamerlane was not allowed to demand tribute from passing ships. The Admiral also wanted Fort Dauphin to return to business as usual, which could not be done with the Phoenix prowling the waters. Tyr informed Keefe that with Robert Devereaux dead his feud with the Bonnys was over. Any further action taken against the Bonnys, at least in the waters around the Colony, would be against the Code. Eventually Keefe said that revenge had been satisfied and that he would send word to Captain Tamerlane to return to Port Mission (which he does, but not before reestablishing a Keefe Fire Brigade in Fort Dauphin).


September 1844:
Ryan Henry returns to Port Mission.

Also arriving in Port Mission is Patrician Keely (after requesting, in letters to Vicar Legrange, to be assigned to the capital). He tries to meet with the Admiral but is repeatedly postponed.


October 1844:
The Council of Captains was held as usual. Admiral Henry had much to say on the hit and run attacks against the various family ventures. He made it known to his “Governors” that examples needed to be made – the bloodier the better. “The world is there to be raided and raped; these actions cannot be turned inward on our fellow Malagasy. Teach them respect.”


November-December 1844:
Little of interest.



Notes:
1)Battle rain: Robert had spent days traveling between elders and wisemen trying to get a read on the weather. Robert knew Adam would use cannons, and that Adam could also draw upon more men and weapons, so he wanted to attack during a storm in the hopes that this would help even the playing field.

2)Robert’s Faction: As well as the south side of town, and the shipyards, Robert’s faction also controlled two houses towards the northern outskirts – which were meant to keep Adam going for help and to lock down trade to and fro the town. The houses were only held for about 12 hours before being abandoned by the pirates garrisoned there.

3)Hostages: Among those taken by Robert’s faction in the south side were three patricians, as well as several children – the hope was that these hostages would not only keep Adam at bay, but also maintain control over the residents held up in the Hilltop area of Fort Dauphin.

4)Tribute: Tribute was a well watched aspect of pirate society. Ships docking would be expected to declare their goods and wealth, which would be verified by Foremen (usually the Admiral’s Foremen). Trade ships paid a 5% docking fee for the length of their stay. Passing ships also paid a 5% fee, but for each day they were docked. If your ship was in need of repairs you had to buy the supplies (if you didn’t already have them on hand) and were charged a 4% docking fee per day. Malagasy ships passing by paid a 3% docking fee per day. Resident ships didn’t pay a docking fee, but were subject to 10% of their haul in tribute upon returning to Port Mission. Bribery would often reduce docking and tribute fees, but even then it was expected that you (as a Foremen) would give a cut to the admiral (or whoever your patron happen to be).

5)Tyr vs Keefe: Tyr Henry did not like Patrick Keefe. The Admiral wrote that he found the fire leader turned faction leader arrogant, pompous, and he disliked Keefe’s colorful flare in his dressings. Rumor was that Keefe disliked the Admiral just as much although Patrick only seems to have mentioned the Admiral once in writing. To which he noted, “He shouts a lot.”

 

[Tynnin]

1845
German-Prussian War: King Frederick Whilhelm I of Germany, sensing weakness in the new, young King Charles Friedrich I of Prussian, launches a surprise attack into Prussian land annexing “German” territory. Whilhelm I sends threats of all-out war to the young king of Prussia if he does anything to stop Germany from taking territory that should be rightfully theirs. It does take Friedrich I two months, but finally in May he does order troops into combat with German forces.

Orleans: Despite the First Consul’s best and official efforts to incorporate the native population into his empire, settlers were not so inclined. At the founding of Flueveville along the Mississippi, in what had just recently been land granted to displaced tribes by the recent flooding, a violent clash erupted between natives and settlers. It begins a long string of wars known as the Frontier Wars. Also this year, far to the south in Orleans territory is the Yucatan which erupts in revolt during this year.

Ireland: Blight is found and spreads quickly through the land’s chief crop, potatoes.

Zilverenland-Brazil War: Despite the hard worked for peace in South America Dutch controlled Zilverenland and Brazil declare war on each other after Dutch spies are caught in Brazil.

Ottoman Empire: the Suez Canal construction continues.

England: Exploration into Australia’s interior begins.

United Republics: There is talk in the Congress about annexing Nova Scotia and New Foundland – the last English outposts in the New World (not counting a few islands in the Caribbean). Tension was on the rise between UR and England over the increase in English warships in the North Atlantic. Of course, this was mainly due to the spike in pirate activity in the last few years - a fear and sting that both UR and Orleans have felt. There were concerns that the scattered pirates were making attempts to found their own colonies. King Adams, who had seldom been seen in the last few years, on annexation spoke to Congress: “We must listen to the will of the people before we begin telling them what they want.”




January 1845:
Robert Devon, Captain of the Dagger (15-gun brigantine) arrives in Port Mission (1). Captain Devon begins repairs and upgrades to the Dagger. While his crew revels, Robert goes about recruiting.

Augustus Kelly (Grace Kelly’s son by Jansy Abbink (1805-1835)) begins, as has become tradition, to serve aboard the Rampart.

Patrician Keely, despite a great amount of success on the Bowen Islands, and some moderate success in Fort Dauphin, has no luck with Admiral Henry regarding the treatment of the laborers. Patrician Keely takes his cause to the streets, preaching from crates and steps to the people of Port Mission.


February 1845:
A French mail runner arrives in Port Mission under the protection of the French war ship Genereux – which stayed a respectful distance from the shore. A letter from the King was placed in the hands of Minister Gerard (his first official act as an ambassador to the pirates), which prompted an immediate meeting with Admiral Henry. The topic of the meeting was Robert Devon. Captain Devon was wanted by The United Republics, Empire of Orleans, and the English crown. A special envoy had been sent to France by King Adams (2) requesting King Louis-Charles XVII help. Spies and rumor swirled around about the successful pirate. Devon had ten ships under his command, and each of those ships were now under orders to recruit ten more, and in a year’s time that armada would converge on Bermuda, take it over, and found a pirate kingdom. Even though others have tried to found their own pirate kingdom, most failing, Devon was smart and ruthless enough to accomplish this task. Ambassador Gerard was under orders to seek permission to detain or kill Robert Devon (3). Admiral Tyr’s initial reaction was to laugh, but when he saw that Gerard was serious he considered his words. Although the Code was more of a list of guidelines than strict law, they were nonetheless respected, and Tyr would not violate them, especially with England involved, for something like this. However, the Colony was a dangerous place, and Devon had no loyalties here, with a sizable enough reward or a well-placed bribe, things could happen that would be out of Tyr’s hands to stop. Under no circumstance, Tyr stated, would he allow agents, even those of France, to challenge Devon on Colony soil. Either Devon would be brought down by his own faults or by a fellow pirate, or not at all. At least while he was on Madagascar.

Gerard never gets the chance to place his bribes or spread the news of the price on Devon’s head. Captain Devon was suspicious of the French warship, and despite not all of the repairs being completed, he skips out under cover of darkness (still owning money in town).

The Dagger arrives in Fort Dauphin where Devon orders the repairs finished and begins again to recruit pirates to his cause. While in Fort Dauphin Captain Devon is recognized – more specifically, the Dagger is recognized. Knowingly or unknowingly Captain Devon has been trouble to both the Bonnys and the Kellys. Several ships from both families have been attacked or lost in the Caribbean and north Atlantic. When news that Captain Devon was in Fort Dauphin reached Adam Bonny he set to work on a plan to enact some revenge. After gathering some information he sent a letter to Grace Kelly informing her of the new arrival. Adam knew his family was in no position to take the possible revenge hits for killing Devon, but he also knew that Grace was not one to pass up an opportunity like this. After sending a letter and positioning a few local pawns, Adam merely waited.


March 1845:
Edward Mahony, son of Patrick Mahony a captain of a Kelly trade ship (4), is pressed into service aboard the Redemption. Edward was thick in the head, and the arm, with interests which centered around the nearest tavern. Patrick, however, had hopes to raise the family name and sold his son to the service of Captain Kane of the Redemption.

Burke arrives in Fort Dauphin (the Kellys chief assassin). Two days later Robert Devon was dead. Burke tracked Robert to a brothel by the name of Paradise. While Robert was partaking of a young prostitute, Burke slipped into the room, and then slipped a dagger between Captain Devon’s shoulder blades.

The Following day Burke gave a letter to the city council. It was from Grace Kelly claiming the assignation, her reasons why, and, by the Code, all of Captain Devon’s possessions. While the council investigated the claims there was another meeting taking place.

Around the same time that Burke was delivering his letter the crew of the Dagger had discovered the death of their captain. There was an outcry, followed shortly by some infighting, and then a call for a new captain. Adam Bonny knew two things, either the crew was going to decimate itself, or they would elect a new captain. During Captain Devon’s recruiting Bonny made sure to seed his own men into the ranks. Through his men, Adam quickly ascertained who among the crew would be likely to take command when Devon died, and then had his men begin to support that man. Adam’s gamble paid off and the crew of the Dagger, with little violence, elected Tobias Hound (chief gunner and quartermaster) as the new captain. Not surprising it was easy to discover who had murdered their captain. Seeking revenge, Captain Hound set sail for Jamestown.

Less than two days out from Fort Dauphin, through bribes and having placed enough loyal men aboard, Adam Bonny has Captain Hound killed. The Dagger returns to Fort Dauphin where Adam surveys his new prize. It was a sturdy ship, newly repaired and upgraded, with a hold of sugar, coin, and grain.

Through letters the Kellys disputed the Bonny claim. The city council, however, sided with Adam Bonny (5). Despite angry letters, Grace ultimately decided that the matter wasn’t worth escalating to a feud, or getting the Admiral or the Council of Captains involved.


April 1845:
Nearly three weeks at sea, and two successful raids on Dutch ships, had proven to Captain Kane, and Edward Mahony, that Edward was not a sailor and had no interest in piracy. Edward had already had his rations cut in half and had been flogged twice. It was a blustery day, according to tale, when Captain Kane had tied Edward to the mast to make an example out of him – for his laziness and dereliction had become contagious. The Captain had taken the cat of nine to Edward and was about to skin him when Kane’s son, Mathew, stepped in and asked for mercy. The Captain was taken aback by the request and dropped the knife, but raked the cat across his son’s face before storming from the deck. Later that night, as Edward and Mathew tended each other’s wounds, they plotted.

Ten days after Mathew had saved Edward the Redemption was an hour out to sea, having left the safety of a cove where they had conducted some repairs, when the plot was unfurled. Captain Kane announced his course and gave orders – no action was taken. Instead Edward challenged Kane for the captaincy. Kane found few to support him, for he was a good pirate but a harsh captain, and although he had put coin in every man’s purse, the quartermaster had learned to make sure Kane’s was the largest cut. With the quartermaster, Kane’s son, and most of the crew behind him, Edward easily took command. Captain Kane was forced to walk the plank (6). As they watched Kane sink into the sea Edward ordered the rum barrels opened (something Kane kept a tight hold of). In the morning Edward ordered a course set for the Colony.


May 1845:
The Redemption was two days out from Jamestown when the ship was set upon by a storm. The sea raged and although the crew fought the wind and the rain the ship began to rip apart. Edward, with Mathew not far behind, beat down several men trying to make it to the longboat to be the first to abandon ship. In the end, all but six died of the salty kiss (7).

Claude d’Arcis joins the crew of the Rampart (8). He is well liked by the crew and takes to sailing easily. A week out the Rampart chases down a pair of Brazilian trade ships, capturing one of them. Claude’s actions during the battle earned him a seat at the captain’s table.

Ryan Henry informs his brother the Admiral that he would be withdrawing from the Council of Captains (9). Ryan writes to his daughter in Jamestown and informs her that he wishes to leave the Mission Inn to her and her husband. Soon after receiving the letter from her father Emma and Christiaan leave Jamestown to move to Port Mission.

With the departure of his brother Admiral Tyr decided it was time to reshuffle the Council of Captains and ordered a reseating. He didn’t wait a moment, and along with his decree for a reseating he sent money and loyalists to the towns he knew he could influence and intimidate in his favor (10).


June 1845:
Adam Bonny expands on his good fortune and continues to rebuild the family name. He sends several Foremen, paid specialists, and a request for laborers to Port Mission in order to repair and expand the Bonny school (he also pays off Robert Devon’s outstanding bills). He also decided that it was time Fort Dauphin had a house of education equal to that in Port Mission. Not only does he buy back the school house (11) built and initially funded by his great-great grandfather Jack Bonny (1719-1787), but he also builds a second school.


July 1845:
As the fate of the Redemption became known Grace strongly considered taking action against Patrick, but it was Jacob (her son) who was the voice of calm. By the Code the mutiny was unfounded, “but”, said Jacob, “whatever punishment was deserved had certainly already been handed down.”


August 1845:
The new representatives met for a week starting on August first in Port Mission. Admiral Tyr was probably very pleased with himself.

Jamestown (JT): Although he had nothing to do with the appointment Tyr must have been happy to see Christiaan Tibbs. The young man was eager to make a name for himself and make Grace Kelly proud. As the both of them served the Kellys Tyr most likely saw an ally in Christiaan.

Fort Hendrick (FH): Captain Ralph Guerra was an easy reappointment. He had done a good job settling things down on the Bowen Islands and was a Henry Family loyalist.

Kaominina (KA): Willow White was a retired captain turned pig farmer. She was respected in Kaominina. She also owed her seat on the city council, as well as a recent loan to help buy new stock when a mysterious illness killed half her pigs, to Tyr Henry.

Iharana (IH): Mary Dunbow was a Kelly loyalist who had done very well for herself as a captain in the recent years when Grace had reinforced the Kelly Family in the north. Mary recently retired and has been overseeing the Kelly Foremen in Iharana. Although feisty, and hot tempered, she served the Kellys and Tyr probably felt safe with her on the Council.

Toamasina (TO): King Rija was a friend to both Grace and Tyr, his reappointment from the royal court of Rabemananjara was probably seen as win.

Manakara (MA): Tillo Abuto was a young pirate and already retired. He found wealth in a golden two year stretch by taking English, French, and Vijayanagara ships in the Arabian Sea. He had shared his wealth with his home town and gained a name for himself as an enthusiastic but levelheaded leader.

Morondava (MO): The Elder Council, as in so many of the recent years, was having trouble with their youth warriors. As a show of good faith, to the Captains Council, they named a warrior by the name of Matew Ianna. He would be trouble for Tyr as the young warrior already felt that the pirates had forced his people to lose their way.

Fort Dauphin (FD): Through Adam Bonny’s influence on the FD city council Kurtis Fletcher was reappointed to the Captains Council.

Port Mission (PM): Despite trying, Tyr was unable to stop the election of Patrick Keefe. Keefe’s fire brigade, money, and the popularity of Frank Tamerlane easily sailed Patrick into his seat on the Council.

Out of a Council of nine seats, Admiral Henry felt he controlled or could count on 6 of them. He moved forward feeling very secure that he would not be challenged for the Admiralty.


September 1845:
Near the border between Ethiopia and Zululand the Rampart is spotted and attacked by an English warship. Initially the Rampart is overwhelemed, but the battle turns as a musketball finds the English captain. Claude is left in command of the Rampart while Harold Jones and most of the crew take the fight to the deck of the warship. A victory for the crew of the Rampart, but a costly one as ship and crew sustained heavy damage. Captain Jones gives orders for home, setting a course for Nova Island.


October 1845:
About three days out from Nova Island the Rampart is approached by three ships, two sloops and a brigantine. None flew any colors, which was odd (12). Captain Jones recognized the brigantine as the Dauntless, a 12 gunner, her captain was a man by the name of Smithy Jones – a small time pirate who barrowed a lot and returned little. Caution was ordered, but Harold decided to answer the hail. All was well, until the Dauntless opened up with grape and grass shot, while the sloops hurried alongside and began to board the Rampart. Within the first five minutes the Rampart was down 20 men, including Captain Harold Jones. It was Claude who came to Harold’s rescue and pulled him to safety before picking up a pistol and a cutlass. It was Claude’s battle cry which rallied the Rampart’s crew and Claude launching himself into the fray which inspired his fellow crewmen to fight for their lives. Claude, of good stock and build, and of a kind mind, fought with a devil inside him. He was already covered in blood by the time his fellow mates had caught up to him, hardly any of it his own. The crew of the Rampart pushed the enemy pirates back to the rails and then over into the sea. The Rampart’s cannons spoke with the Dauntless’, but in the end it was Captain Smithy who withdrew, leaving the sloops to their ends. As the chaos faded an account could be made of the battle. Among the bodies knelt Claude, clutching his chest, and before any could approach he listed forward and fell dead.

After the combat it is discovered that Augustus Kelly was missing – captured during the fighting and taken to the Dauntless.

In no position to pursue the Dauntless Captain Jones continued on course to Nova Island. Once docked, a special procession conducted Claude’s body to the d’Arcis home. His story was told first hand by Harold Jones, he even made the announcement that the family d’Arcis, from here on out, would be considered Kellys and want for nothing.

Captain Harold Jones takes a ship to Jamestown to deliver news he had no wish to deliver. Upon hearing the news Grace is described by Harold as a hurricane of anger. She issued a reward for Smithy Jones at once, stating that whomever claimed the prize could name theirown price – preferring him alive to dead. Every ship at the Jamestown docks made sail.

The Council of Captains meets. Admiral Henry informs the Council of Captains that given the new embassies established by France and Ethiopia, and their own agent Kurtis Long in Ethiopia, that it was time to expand the Colony’s presence to other nations. There is talk among the Council about who to send, but the Admiral gives them the three names of the agents he has already picked: Philip Key (a Kelly pirate), Patrician Grain, and Patrician Martin (13). All were approved.


November 1845:
The crew of the Dauntless was in unrest. Despite the shore leave (near Capetown) the battle against the Rampart weighed heavily on most of the men. Having succeeded in their mission to kidnap the Kelly boy, Captain Smithy Jones abandoned the other ships. And, the Captain’s treatment of the boy, plus the injuries sustained during the fight, caused a sickness to creep in – and within a few days the boy had died. And now Captain Jones had decided it would be best for the crew to make a new life for themselves in the Caribbean. Just before pulling up anchor news of the reward was making its way through the underworld in and around Capetown and eventually it caught up to the crew of the Dauntless. They so feared Grace’s reach (they were all positive that sleepless nights and sharp blades awaited their necks in Tortuga), and they were already angry with their captain, that they mutinied and turned the ship around. Upon their return to Jamestown Grace accepted the prize, but would only forgive half of them. They had the choice to fight it out, or she would choose who died. They chose to fight. To the survivors Grace divided the reward among the crew. She also took possession of the ship, dismissed all but 10 of the old crew and promoted one of those that she kept on to captain (Diego Avena).

Almost nothing is written about Captain Smithy Jones’s fate. An entry from a private merchant by the name of Amar Ba Amari does state this: “November the 23rd, neither man nor beast walks this night, and all cower behind closed shutters and door as screams echo in the dark. Her ladyship’s sorrow will be extracted pound for pound from that poor devil’s flesh.”

In the days that followed the funeral of Augustus Kelly Grace poured over her roster of ships and captains. The Kellys had a number of ships to call upon, several of them stout war ships, but only one of those was dedicated to the direct safekeeping of Kelly interest around the Colony. With the attack on the Rampart nearly successful – successful enough for her son to have been kidnapped and murdered - she decided it was time for a few new additions to the fleet. Grace Kelly sends Jacob to Morondava to see to the order of two new ships.


December 1845:
Admiral Henry (distraught over the death of Augustus) gives orders to his nephews (The Brothers Henry) to seek and destroy, and to make their actions quiet, but public (14).



Notes:
1) Robert Devon: Born in Baltimore in 1817. He was the son of a fisherman. He began his life of piracy upon the death of his father in 1842. His first crew came mostly from his father’s fishing ship. On a December evening he singled distress and caught the attention of a patrol ship (a 12 gun brigantine). With surprise on his side they took the ship with ease. Cunning and surprise attacks became his M.O., before he had been on the sea for a year Devon had gained a following of three ships. By 1844 his notoriety was such that he set upon a bold plan. He would become the next Pirate King – and taking note of Madagascar (stories of which he had heard since childhood) he set his eyes on Bermuda. He gave orders to his captains to recruit and he would sail to Madagascar for special help.

2) Special envoy from King Adams: The request for help against Robert Devon had to come from the UR. Although on peaceful terms with the pirates in recent years it was known that the Malagasy only looked to France and Ethiopia as friends. King Louis-Charles XVII had no love for Orleans or England, but did look favorably on the United Republics. It would be a hard sell with England included in the request, but through France the door was opened to Madagascar.

3) What England and Orleans wanted: If not for King Adams’s peace keeping Madagascar could have found itself in a losing war against Orleans and England (and perhaps the United Republics). It was only rumored that Robert Devon was on Madagascar, but England was willing to attack and take the pirate (and many others) by force. Orleans wanted to send several ships and forcibly taken Devon, and if it came to war so be it. It was King Adams who suggested speaking with the French.

4) Patrick Mahony: He was a pirate and a good sailor for the Kellys as the captain of the Rough Seas. However, he fought poorly, and captained with too much trust, and so found himself the victim of a mutiny. His life was spared, but his position usurped. Upon returning to Jamestown Patrick argued his case to Grace, but the mutiny was found to be in the right. Patrick was given a second chance as captain, this time of a sloop which did run cargo but mostly mail. As a boy growing up in Jamestown he had high hopes to be named an Elite alongside the Kellys. With his honor in taters the hopes of the family rested on his son Edward.

5) city council and the Bonnys: there was no way the city council of Fort Dauphin was going to go against a Bonny (although the city council had a little more legitimacy and freedom than the one in Jamestown). Firstly, the Code didn’t really apply to non-Malagasy (although it could), everyone on the city council owed something to Adam Bonny - even with the family name damaged, there was little a Bonny couldn't ask for and expect.

6) Walking the plank: throughout the history of the seas there were actually very few documented events of walking the plank. The more typical punishment was keel hauling or simply pushing a person over the rails. But in this case, Edward was certainly making a show of his rise to power.

7) Six survive: A handful did manage to survive the sinking of the Redemption. One pirate making it as far as Morondava. Three washed ashore south of Jamestown. The last two were picked up outside Jamestown hugging a barrel and each other.

8)Claude d’Arcis: Originally from France Claude and his family were emigrating to New Orleans in 1840 when their ship was captured. They were almost pressed into service but Claude managed to talk his way out of it. He was a large man, jovial and kind, his size alone could have made him a welcomed member of any family’s Foremen. Their captor, Captain Carlos Emanuel Cortez sailed out of Nova Island and that is where he dropped the d’Arcis family off. In the first year, Claude tried and failed to open a blacksmiths shop. He spent the next few years making just enough money to feed his family by selling his services as a laborer, but found it difficult competing against the stock of laborers which could be handed out for similar prices and favors. He eventually decided to join a pirate ship in the hopes that within a few years he’d have enough to support his family without any more worries.

9) Ryan Henry: Ryan never enjoyed his time on the Council of Captains. He served for the sake of his brother and knew his real purpose on the Council was a seat filler to keep someone Tyr couldn’t control from taking the seat. However, a bout of ill health finally made up his mind for him and he opted out.

10) The new Council of Captains: Admiral Henry felt it was time to reseat the Council because tribute was down. Everyone gets a cut, everyone skims, but the money filtering into Tyr’s personal pocket and that of the Treasury had become a trickle. The worst offenders were the captains from the north (his own choices for those seats). There was also a lack of communication, the “Governors” were to act as his agents in the different regions around Madagascar and Henry had found himself in the last few years being the last to know about things. It was time for fresh faces.

11) School House: Around 1782 Jack Bonny built several school houses around Madagascar – the largest being the one in Port Mission. Over the years the Bonnys have found that a good PR project was to repair and or expand the Port Mission school (having done so in 1810 and 1826). Adam Bonny followed in these footsteps, but took it a step further. So damaged was his family name from the Feud that not only did he need to repair his name in Port Mission but at home as well. The school house that Jack Bonny had built had in recent years been bought out by the city council, and they in turn charge fees to attend and have their methods to make sure you want to and do attend their school. Adam used his influence and a few bribes to buy the school back into his control. He had the school rebuilt and expanded, and dropped the attendance fees.

12) Flags: Over the last 30 years the unified flag had become more commonly used. It was still traditional to fly your family flag as well, in most cases above that of the Colony flag. Harold Jones flew both, although at the time of the attack on his ship, the Colony flag was tied to the rail due to damage to his masts. The fact that the approaching ships flew no family flag (although the Dauntless did have its own flag) or Colony flag should have been a warning, but in Jones’s defense it wasn’t unusual and he did recognize the Dauntless.

13) Foreign Agents: although Kurtis Long, after his initial task of discovering the truth behind Annatutatuvo death, has served as a diplomat (even having his own building), Tyr’s chose his other agents for different reasons. He picked two patricians for a couple of different reasons (primarily to feed him information about other nations). 1) if they weren’t going to be loyal to him they would be loyal to the Vicar – who, even if Tyr didn’t get along with, still had the best interests of the Colony at heart. 2) it was an attempt to keep up his relationship with the Vicar and at least on the surface look like a small victory for the Vicar. 3) According to his information, Orleans although largely Catholic, was not a heavily devout nation, and the Republics, although largely protestant were in fact a weave of faiths with the second largest denomination being the Unitarians. He felt in both cases that a Lussian delegation would fit in nicely. France, however, was another basket and he was certain that a patrician there would not do well – it would have to be a pirate and one loyal to him alone.

14) Burke and the Brothers Henry: The attack on the Rampart, the death of Augustus Kelly, for Grace and Admiral Henry enough was enough. The events of the last few years harkened back to the days of the Splinter Pirate Wars (1712-1735) and it was time to keep that chaos from rearing it’s ugly head once again. Without any real care for subtlety, the two of them began shaking their spy tree to discover the larger ringleaders of the bandit pirates nipping at the larger families. Burke and the Brothers Henry were then given lists and sent on their way.

 

[Hecatee]

back and still as detailled ! thank you !
I wonder, will the pirate soon go steam for their main warships ?

 

[Tynnin]

back and still as detailled ! thank you !
I wonder, will the pirate soon go steam for their main warships ?

It's fantastic that you're enjoying it so much. They will go more and more steam, and even play with large war ships, but this won't go well. In the end they'll revert to smaller and faster. Think swarming. Hopefully that's not too much of a spoiler.