Pirate Crew

Mad Martin turns out to be just that, completely insane. His moods swing dangerously, often violently, and the rum that he drinks like lemonade doesn’t help. For all that his crew loves him. He is generous and kind with them reserving his ire and wrath for the officers under his command, chiefly you.

It is a busy, well run ship even though the captain is unstable. You take a number of hefty prizes and the holds are filling with rich plunder. You, however, are being ground down by a hundred little indignities and insults a day. He is at you constantly, nagging you for tiny infractions and finding more major ones he can punish you for. Very soon into the cruise he has you half rations and puts you to work every four hours of the day so it becomes impossible for you to get more than two hours of sleep at a time.

The captain himself is a huge bear of a man with a thick black beard which he actually sets on fire before he boards a prize. His reputation as a fighter is legendary but most of that is based on the exploits of his youth. Since you got on board he has been going more and more to seed. His stomach keeps getting fatter and fatter even as you are starving, and he drinks a flagon of rum for breakfast. His eyes are still sharp and find things to criticize and punish you for constantly.

You know that you cannot keep this up for much longer. The lack of food is making you weaker every day and his constant humiliation of you is going to make you as crazy as he is before too much longer. You have to make a decision soon or this ship will be the death of you. The ship is often in swimming distance of tiny islands. You could slip over the side one night and make a run for it. It would be a plunge into the unknown but anything would be better than where you are.

Your alternative is to challenge the captain to a duel. By custom between pirates the captain can be fought for command of the ship. If you win you will be free of him and take his place as leader. If you lose it will be all over, these fights are fought only to the death.

• Do you run?
• Do you fight?