On His Most Catholic Majesty's Service

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October 1551 You are Don Dimas de Gustaldo, captain of a Spanish <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusta" target="_blank">fusta</a> or light oared warship based in Messina, Sicily. This vessel is much smaller than the so-called “light galley”, the standard Mediterranean warship of the day, with only fifteen two-man oars per side. [img[fusta-r.jpg]] Unlike their larger cousins, galiots and galleys, fustae carry no artillery and so in combat rely solely on small arms fire from their crew and their hand-to-hand weapons in a boarding action (being a Spanish vessel, the oarsmen are of course slaves and so take no part in combat). In partial compensation, yours is a swift vessel, recently careened, and so you ought to be able to outrun larger galleys, unless of course you are below complement on oarsmen or they are so well furnished that that can arrange frequent relief to allow their rowers to recuperate. At this time your royal master is at war with France, while there is a permanent state of hostility with those enemies of God, the Ottomans and their Barbary Coast vassals. Relations with the Most Serene Republic of Venice are as ever bad, but no actual state of war exists with them. The western Italian states such as Genoa and Tuscany are good allies of His Most Catholic Majesty, while the Papal States and the Knights of Malta are in a sense under his protection too. Obviously as a Spaniard, you sport a proper gentleman’s moustache that makes you look in the eyes of foreigners at once both cruel and mildly risible. But do you also have mastery of the decision-making that a warship captain needs in this turbulent era? Now is your chance to find out, for you have been ordered out on a cruise around the Morea and the Aegean. Your aim is both to win renown for yourself, and rich booty. But note you will on your return have to render an account of what booty you have gained, and hand it over to the Viceroy’s treasurer. So what you put down in your report will be an interesting question – too honest, and you and your men will have nothing to show for your exertions; too obviously dishonest however, and questions might be asked about your accounts. Command is a lonely business at times. Your subordinates will be only too happy to offer advice on the options open to you when you need to make the tough choices – but ultimately the decision will be yours and yours alone. And don’t forget, actions can have consequences! [[Start your patrol|0. Leaving Messina...]]

/* Looting, booty and prizes */ <<set $looting to 0>> <<set $booty to 0>> <<set $lootFrenchShip to 0>> <<set $lootVenetianShip to 0>> /* Crew */ <<set $crewRowers to 60>> <<set $crewFighting to 36>> /* ??? */ <<set $caught to 0>> <<set $option to 0>> /* Casualties */ <<set $casualties to 0>> <<set $CasualtiesTotal to 0>> /* Report*/ <<set $optPrizeFrench to 0>> <<set $optPrizeVenetian to 0>> <<set $PrizeTurkish to 0>> <<set $declaration to 0>> <<set $declaredBooty to 0>> <<set $DeclaredBootyFactor to 0 >> <<set $promotion to 0>> <<set $PromotionFinal to 0>> <<set $Promoted to "not promoted">> */Optional variables /* <<set $D6Two to 0>> <<set $D6One to 0>> <<set $optFlorenceCaptain to 0>> <<set $optLootGenoeseShip to 0>> <<set $lootTurkishShip to 0>> <<set $optLootFrench to 0>> <<set $optTurkishCrew to 0>> <<set $optDismissed to 0>> <<set $optPillageVentian to 0>> <<set $optSalute to 0>>

<table class="VariableDisplay"> <tr><td>Booty</td><td>= <<print $booty>></td></tr> <tr><td>Fighting Crew</td><td> = <<print $crewFighting>></td></tr> <tr><td>Rowers</td><td>= <<print $crewRowers>></td></tr> </table>

<<set $looting to random(1,6)+random(1,6)>> Leaving Messina in October, you voyage off to the east, bypassing the Venetian island of Corfu. At first you encounter no large vessels, but off the Gulf of Lepanto you overhaul several small fishing boats crewed by Christian Greek subjects of the Sultan. You loot $looting ducats and let the crew go. [[Continue your patrol|1. French ship]] <<set $booty to $booty + $looting>>

Heading south, you then stop and board a merchantman flying the French flag. It turns out to be outbound from Alexandria with a cargo of wheat, but the men swear blind they are actually subjects of His Most Catholic Majesty. This creates a dilemma – they might be telling the truth, in which case you will get in trouble if you take their ship, and moreover if you make prize of them, you will need to detach at least 5 fighting men as your prize crew. But their cargo of wheat is a very valuable. What do you do? <<link[[Seize their ship|2. Rich Genoese merchantman]]>> <<set $crewFighting to $crewFighting -5>> <<set $CasualtiesTotal to $CasualtiesTotal +5>> <<set $optPrizeFrench to 1>> <</link>> No true Spaniard would fly the French flag. Seize their ship and send it in to Messina! <<link[[Tax them|2. Rich Genoese merchantman]]>> <<set $looting to 0>> <<set $looting to random(1,6)+random(1,6)>> <<set $looting to $looting * 10>> <<set $booty to $booty + $looting>> <<set $optLootFrench to 1>> <</link>> Best to let them on their way, but let’s “tax” them several bags of ship’s biscuit [img[french-carrack-r.jpg]]

<> <<if $optLootFrench eq 1>> You "tax" $looting ducats from the French ship and then let it go. <<elseif $optPrizeFrench eq 1>> You crew the ship with 5 of your fighting crew and order them to sail home. <</if>> <> You continue on and stop and board a rich Genoese merchantman. As an ally of His Majesty, seizing their ship is out of the question, but it looks too good to just let it go. <<link[[Cash contribution|3. Modon]]>> <<set $looting to 0>> <<set $looting to $looting +500>> <<set $booty to $booty + $looting>> <<set $optLootGenoeseShip to 1>> <</link>> As true allies of Spain in the war against the infidel, they will not begrudge us if we demand a 500 ducat cash contribution “to help victual HMCM’s galleys”. [[Pass unmolested|3. Modon]] No, an ally is an ally – let them pass unmolested. [img[genoese-carrack-r.jpg]]

<> <<if $optLootGenoeseShip eq 1>> "The Genoese ship contributes 500 ducats to your victual fund. <<else>> <</if>> <> Pressing on south, you reach the Ottoman-held port of Modon in the Morea. The castle walls are shut fast against you and are clearly impregnable, but there are no warships at anchor in the bay. There are, however, several small merchant ships moored there, seemingly defenceless. Do you attack the ships? <<link[[Yes, attack|3a. Modon slaves]]>> <<set $looting to 0>> <<set $looting to random(1,6)+random(1,6)>> <<set $looting to $looting * 10>> <<set $booty to $booty + $looting>> <</link>> Yes, what a pushover. Money for old rope! <<link[[Steer clear|4. Venetian]]>> <<set $looting to 0>> <<set $promotion to $promotion +1>> <</link>> No way, it could be some sort of trap or ambush. Best steer clear of this.

Later the same day you encounter a merchant vessel that is not flying a flag. What do you do? <<link[[Attack the ship!|4a. After venetian fight]]>> <<set $casualties to random(2,6)>> <<set $crewFighting to $crewFighting -$casualties>> <<set $CasualtiesTotal to $CasualtiesTotal + $casualties>> <</link>> This is why you are on patrol. And think of the potential loot. <<link[[Row away...|5. Near Corfu]]>> <<set $optPrizeVenetian to 0>> <<set $optPillageVentian to 0>> <</link>> You are wary of such a big ship and decide to row away.

<> <<if $optPrizeVenetian eq 1>> You send the ship back to Messina as a prize, with a prize crew of 5 from your fighting crew. <<elseif $optPillageVentian eq 1>> You pillage $looting ducats from the Venetian ship and then let it go. <<else>> <</if>> <> It’s now time to head for home, as the winter is drawing on. Heading back near Corfu, early one morning you sight a fleet of no fewer than fourteen war galleys coming your way. The flags and pennons are unmistakable – the lion of St Mark. This is a squadron of Venice, noted as are all Venetian for their reliance on the most accurate naval gunnery anyone has yet perfected, and being manned by volunteer oarsmen who take up their weapons and join in the boarding action as soon as the ships come together. Attacking them is utter suicide, but they might or might not have hostile intentions towards you. Rowing as hard as you can to escape might be sensible, but if they have no especial grounds to dislike you, you might well be allowed to pass on your way – especially if you lower your flag in salute in recognition of their lordship of the Gulf of Venice. <<link[[Sail past, but don't salute|Venetian Salute No]]>> <<set $optSalute to "without lowering your flag in salute">> <</link>> Let’s just sail past them. But saluting their flag would be a diplomatic humiliation to HMCM, so we oughtn’t to do that. <<link[[Sail past, and salute|Venetian Salute]]>> <<set $optSalute to "with your flag lowered in salute">> <</link>> I think we can safely sail past them if we haven’t upset them, but not to salute their flag in these waters would be an intolerable insult to them, so we should definitely give them that courtesy. [[Row away]] Just one of them could blow us out of the water with one volley, and there are fourteen of them. Row away from them right now while we have the chance! [img[venetian-galley-r.jpg]]

Off the coast of Albania you spot another fusta, this time wearing the Sultan’s flag. It appears weakly manned and immediately turns to flee from you. Do you give chase? [[Give chase|6a. Slave rowers]] They flee from fear! Of course we must give chase; duty demands it! <<link[[It's a trap|7. Florentine ship]]>> <<set $promotion to $promotion +1>> <</link>> It could be some sort of trap; feigned flight is the oldest trick in the book. Best let them go.

<<if $optFlorenceCaptain eq 0>> You enslave the Captain. Your men think you're an ungenerous bounder with a laughably small moustache. No other effect. <<elseif $optFlorenceCaptain eq 1>> You release the Captain and you feel good about yourself, a generous and just leader of men. No other effect. <<else>> <</if>> Sailing on, you encounter and stop a Florentine ship. As an ally of His Majesty, seizing their ship is out of the question, but it looks too good to just let it go. <<link[[Demand cash|8. Turkish sailing ship]]>> <<set $looting to 500>> <<set $booty to $booty +$looting>> <<set $option to 0>> <</link>> As true allies of Spain in the war against the infidel, they will not begrudge us if we demand a cash contribution. [[Pass unmolested|8. Turkish sailing ship]] No, an ally is an ally – let them pass unmolested [img[florentine-carrack-r.jpg]]

<> <<if $option eq 0>> You demand a cash contribution and receive $looting ducats. <<else>> <</if>> <> You then spot a rich looking Turkish sailing ship and give chase. Realising they are unable to outdistance you, they run themselves ashore on a small island. You now see that they have abandoned the ship and are fleeing inland. Do you sail in and investigate closer? [[Yes, close in|8a. Closing in]] Yes, they’ve all fled so there is no danger. We need to see what is worth having in their ship. <<link[[Back to Messina]]>> <<set $optTurkishCrew to 2>> <</link>> Hmmm, this looks like another Turkish stratagem. Best give it a wide berth.

<> <<if $optPrizeFrench eq 1>> <<include [[prizeFrench]]>> <</if>> <<if $optPrizeVenetian eq 1>> <<include [[prizeVenetian]]>> <</if>> <<if $optPrizeTurkish eq 1>> <<include [[prizeTurkish]]>> <</if>> <> <<if $optPrizeVenetian eq 0 and $optPrizeFrench eq 0 and $optPrizeTurkish eq 0>> NO PRIZE SHIPS TAKEN! You took no prize ships. There is talk in the bars and courtyards of Messina that you are not the "right sort" and have not got what it takes to be one of His Most Catholic Majesty's Captains. <<else>> <</if>> [[An audience with the Military Governor|Report - Declaration]] You have delivered your written report of your patrol and are awaiting his decision. Eventually a messenger summons you to an audience with the Military Governor.

You loot $looting ducats from Modon and also capture 30 Greek Christians and 10 Turkish Muslims. Do you enslave the prisoners and use them as rowers or let them go? <<link[[Enslave all|4. Venetian]]>> <<set $crewRowers to $crewRowers +40>> <<set $declaration to $declaration +1>> <</link>> Yes, we need all the spare rowers we can get – chain them all to the benches! <<link[[Enslave muslims|4. Venetian]]>> <<set $crewRowers to $crewRowers +10>> <</link>> The Turks are enemies of Christ so let’s keep them, but we ought not to enslave fellow Christians – let the Greeks go. [[Release all|4. Venetian]] All these men will simply eat up more rations, so let them all go free.

<> <<set $score to random(1,6)>> <<set $advantage to $crewRowers -50>> <<if $advantage lte 10>> <<set $score to $score +1>> <<elseif $advantage gte 11>> <<set $score to $score +2>> <</if>> <> <<if $score lte 2>> You row as fast as you can but your lack of rowers against such mighty oppostion cannot get you away. Soon they are in range and their deadly accurate bow gunners blow you out of the water. [[You are dead]] <<elseif $score gte 3>> You row for 20 miles and eventually they give up the chase and go and try to find easier prey. Leaving the Venetian galleys astern, you row on. [[Row on...|6. Coast off Albania]] <</if>>

The Venetian munitions tear through the thin wooden walls of your ship, shredding your men with wooden splinters and fragments of iron cannonballs. You offer a prayer to your patron saint and prepare yourself for death. You hear the screams of your slave rowers still chained to their benches as the water pours into your ship. You feel a sharp tug in your gut causing you to fall to the deck. Your slippery guts flop over your shuddering body. Perhaps your final thought is: "What could I have done better?" [[End Game]]

<> /*Test to see if you catch Turkish Fusta*/ <<set $score to random(1,6)>> <<set $advantage to $crewRowers -50>> <<if $advantage lte 10>> <<set $score to $score +1>> <<elseif $advantage gte 11>> <<set $score to $score +2>> <</if>> <> <<if $score lte 2>> Your rowers are tired after a long voyage and you don't have enough to rotate them efficiently. The Turkish fusta manages to escape. [[Sail on...|7. Florentine ship]] <<elseif $score gte 3>> The enemy fusta runs itself ashore on the coast of Greece. The turkish crew flees into the interior leaving you their greek christian slave rowers chained to the benches. Do you press the slave rowers into your service or let them go? <<link[[Yes, we need more rowers|6b.Venetian captain]] <<set $crewRowers to $crewRowers +20>> <<set $optTakeGreekSlaves to 0>> <<set $declaration to $declaration +1>> <</link>> Yes, we need good stout men like that <<link[[No, they are Christians|6b.Venetian captain]] <<set $optTakeGreekSlaves to 1>> <</link>> No, they are Christians of a sort and it would be wrong to enslave them ourselves, so we should let them go free. <</if>>

Among the rowers you have found on the Turkish fusta is a former captain in the Venetian cavalry whom they have treated very badly. Does he deserve special treatment? <<link[[No|7. Florentine ship]]>> <<set $optFlorenceCaptain to 0>> <</link>> No, he’s a Venetian and so no friend of His Most Catholoc Majesty. He’s lucky to have his life. <<link[[Yes|7. Florentine ship]]>> <<set $optFlorenceCaptain to 1>> <</link>> Yes, a brave warrior for Christ should be succoured by his brethren. Let’s give him good clothes befitting his status.

Closing in, you board the ship and find she is carrying a bulk cargo of wheat, but the crew have taken all their valuables and weapons. They can be seen taking up positions on a nearby rocky hilltop, and are shouting that they are willing to negotiate, presumably for fear that you will take or burn their ship and leave them stranded. <<link[[Attack them|Back to Messina]]>> <<set $casualties to 0>> <<set $casualties to random(1,6) + random(1,6)>> <<set $crewFighting to $crewFighting - $casualties>> <<set $CasualtiesTotal to $CasualtiesTotal + $casualties>> <<set $captives to random(1,6) + random(1,6)>> <<set $crewRowers to $crewRowers + $captives>> <<set $looting to 500>> <<set $booty to $booty + $looting>> <<set $optTurkishCrew to 1>> <<set $optPrizeTurkish to 1>> <</link>> We should attack them – there are only 20 of them and we’ll win easily. That way we can take them as slaves plus both their ship and cargo and whatever valuables they’ve taken up to their hilltop. <<link[[Negotiate|Back to Messina]]>> <<set $looting to 500>> <<set $booty to $booty + $looting>> <<set $optTurkishCrew to 0>> <<set $optPrizeTurkish to 0>> <</link>> That hilltop looks a strong position and we could lose heavily taking it, even supposing no help comes from whatever local garrison the Sultan has in these parts. Best to strike a good deal while we can and get home.

<> <<if $optPrizeTurkish eq 1>> You overun their position and capture $captives who you enslave and add to your rowers. You also loot them and gain 500 ducats. Also in the fight you loose $casualties crew. You can now take their boat with its cargo of wheat. You have to crew it with the captured Turks and 5 of your own crew. The ship has been damaged and is leaking. So you decide to escort it back to Messina. <<elseif $optPrizeTurkish eq 0>> You strike a deal, they hand over their cash and valuables and you leave them otherwise unmolested. You gain 500 ducats. <</if>> <> The remainder of the journey back to Messina is uneventful. You arrive on 12 December 1551. You now need to write your report and declare how much you looted. [[Write your report|Report - Prize Ships]]

<<if $option eq 0>> The merchant man puts up an active resistance but eventually you overpower it. In the action you lose $casualties men. It transpires to be a Venetian ship. What do you do? You could use its resistance as an excuse make it prize and send it in to Messina, but this will mean detaching at least five more soldiers as prize crew and risks diplomatic consequences. You could simply pillage it of its best valuables and send it on its way, again risking complications, or simply let it go unmolested. <<else>> <</if>> <<link[[Seize their ship|5. Near Corfu]]>> <<set $crewFighting to $crewFighting -5>> <<set $optPrizeVenetian to 1>> <<set $optPillageVentian to 0>> <</link>> The web-foot lagoon boys dared to resist! They deserve to have their whole ship and cargo made prize and sent in to Messina. <<link[[Pillage|5. Near Corfu]]>> <<set $looting to 0>> <<set $looting to random(1,6)+random(1,6)>> <<set $looting to $looting * 50>> <<set $booty to $booty + $looting>> <<set $optPrizeVenetian to 0>> <<set $optPillageVentian to 1>> <</link>> Typical Venetian merchants, no doubt off to trade with the cursed Mahometans as ever. Well, let’s pillage them of all their most valuable goodies even taking the rich clothes off their backs before we send them on their way. <<link[[Let them go|5. Near Corfu]]>> <<set $optPillageVentian to 0>> <<set $optPrizeVenetian to 0>> <</link>> We’re not at war with these fellow Christians. We ought to let them go unmolested. [img[venetian-galleon-r.jpg]]

/* Booty declaration */ You have to declare how much booty you gained from your voyage. Some of this will be rightfully claimed by the Military Governor for his expenses and his natural due. A sum of 300 ducats is about the lowest believable amount of booty from a whole ship. How much booty do you declare? <<listbox "$declaredBooty" autoselect>> <<option 300>> <<option 400>> <<option 500>> <<option 600>> <<option 700>> <<option 800>> <<option 900>> <<option 1000>> <<option 1100>> <<option 1200>> <<option 1300>> <<option 1400>> <<option 1500>> <<option 1600>> <<option 1700>> <<option 1800>> <<option 1900>> <<option 2000>> <<option 2100>> <</listbox>> [[Confirm your declaration|Declare]]

You could replay the game if you so wish. You might do better. [[Click to restart|Introduction]] ******** Or you could close this window and perhaps reflect on the differences between a pirate and a loyal servant of His Most Catholic Majesty. Any comments please forward them to nickluft@gmail.com ******** (c) David Bradbury, 2020 (Writer & Game Designer) (c) Nick Luft, 2020 (Twine Coder) Written in Twine v2.3.9, using SugarCube 2.31.1 ******** [img[turkish-galley-r.jpg]] /* Looting, booty and prizes */ <<set $looting to 0>> <<set $booty to 0>> <<set $lootFrenchShip to 0>> <<set $lootVenetianShip to 0>> /* Crew */ <<set $crewRowers to 60>> <<set $crewFighting to 36>> /* ??? */ <<set $caught to 0>> <<set $option to 0>> /* Casualties */ <<set $casualties to 0>> <<set $CasualtiesTotal to 0>> /* Report*/ <<set $optPrizeFrench to 0>> <<set $optPrizeVenetian to 0>> <<set $PrizeTurkish to 0>> <<set $declaration to 0>> <<set $declaredBooty to 0>> <<set $DeclaredBootyFactor to 0 >> <<set $promotion to 0>> <<set $PromotionFinal to 0>> <<set $Promoted to "not promoted">> /* Optional variables */ <<set $D6Two to 0>> <<set $D6One to 0>> <<set $optFlorenceCaptain to 0>> <<set $optLootGenoeseShip to 0>> <<set $optLootFrench to 0>> <<set $optTurkishCrew to 0>>

<> <<set $CasualtiesTotal to 15>> <<set $CasualtiesTotal to $CasualtiesTotal /5>> <<set $D6Two to 0>> <<set $D6Two to random(1,6) + random(1,6)>> <<set $promotion to $promotion + $CasualtiesTotal>> <<set $D6Two to $D6Two - $promotion>> <> <<if $D6Two gte 9>> You are promoted to command a galley in next year’s fleet. The Military Governor publicly praises your bold and valliant efforts. <<set $Promoted to "promoted to command a galley next year">> [[Your result]] <<elseif $D6Two lte 8>> You have not been promoted. The military governor privately berates you and exorts you to do better on your next patrol. <<set $Promoted to "not promoted">> [[Your result]] <</if>>

<> <<set $DeclaredBootyFactor to $booty / $declaredBooty>> <<if $DeclaredBootyFactor gte 3>> <<set $declaration to $declaration +2>> <<elseif $DeclaredBootyFactor gte 2>> <<set $declaration to $declaration +1>> <</if>> <<set $D6Two to random(1,2) + random(1,2)>> <<set $D6Two to $D6Two -$declaration>> <> <<if $D6Two lte 1>> A thorough investigation reveals that you have a few Christians amongst your galley slaves (rowers). You are dismissed from your command for enslaving Christians. (The fact that you tried to embezzle too much of your booty is not really here nor there.) <<link[[Your result]]>> <<set $optDismissed to 1>> <</link>> <<elseif $D6Two gte 2>> Your report and declaration of your booty match well enough and you are praised for your efforts. You name is added to the long list of Captains up for promotion. [[Will you get promoted|Report - Promotion]] <</if>>

<> <<set $bootyFinal to $booty - $declaredBooty>> <<set $booty to $bootyFinal>> <> In summary Your final booty was $bootyFinal Ducats, which you have to share amongst your crew of $crewFighting men. And you earned $declaredBooty ducats for His Most Catholic Majesty, Philip II. Your fusta has $crewRowers slave rowers at the end of the trip. <> <<if $optDismissed eq 0>> And you were $Promoted. <<elseif $optDismissed eq 1>> You were dimissed from His Most Catholic Majesty's Service. <</if>> <> [[End Game]] [img[Philip_II.jpg]]

<<if $optPillageVentian eq 1>> As you approach the Venetians, $optSalute, some of the Venetian crew, wearing an odd assortment of old clothes start shouting and pointing at your ship. They want their revenge for your earlier pillaging! The Venetians change direction and line you up and then blow you out of the water with their bow guns. [[You are dead]] <<elseif $optPillageVentian eq 0>> As you approach the Venetians, $optSalute, one of their galleys breaks formation and rows quickly towards you. The crew give you a stern stare. It briefly dips its flag in acknowledgement of your salute. And then it away to join the other Venetian galleys. And you continue on, breathing a sigh of relief. [[Row on...|6. Coast off Albania]] <</if>>

<<if $optPillageVentian eq 1>> As you approach the Venetians, $optSalute, some of the Venetian crew, wearing an odd assortment of old clothes start shouting and pointing at your ship. They want their revenge for your earlier pillaging! One of the Venetian galleys changes direction and breaks formation. It lines you up and then blows you out of the water with their bow guns. [[You are dead]] <<elseif $optPillageVentian eq 0>> As you approach the Venetians, $optSalute, one of their galleys breaks formation and rows quickly towards you. They continue towards you, line you up and then blow you out of the water with their bow guns. [[You are dead]] <</if>>

FRENCH PRIZE You seized a French merchant carrying a cargo of wheat and sent it with a crew of 5 back to Messina.<<set $D6One to random(1,6)>> <> <<if $D6One eq 1>> The prize ship did not make it home. Damned pirates! <<elseif $D6One gte 2>> <<set $lootFrenchShip to random(1,6)+random(1,6)>> <<set $lootFrenchShip to $lootFrenchShip * 100>> <<set $booty to $booty + $lootFrenchShip>> <<set $crewFighting to $crewFighting +5>> You receive $lootFrenchShip Ducats as prize money and your 5 crew members rejoin your ship. <<else>> <</if>> <>

VENETIAN PRIZE You seized a Venetian merchant ship and sent it back to Messina with a crew of 5.<<set $D6One to random(1,6)>> <> <<if $D6One eq 1>> The prize ship did not make it home. Damned pirates! <<elseif $D6One gte 2>> <<set $lootVenetianShip to random(1,6)+random(1,6)>> <<set $lootVenetianShip to $lootVenetianShip * 100>> <<set $booty to $booty + $lootVenetianShip>> <<set $crewFighting to $crewFighting +5>> You receive $lootVenetianShip Ducats as prize money and your 5 crew members rejoin your ship. <<else>> <</if>> <>

TURKISH PRIZE You seized a Turkish merchant ship with a cargo of wheat and escorted it back to Messina with a crew of 5.<<set $D6One to random(1,6)>> <> <<if $D6One lte 2>> The Turkish ship was leaking from damage sustained when the crew grounded it when they tried to escape your pursuit. Despite the best efforts of your crew the ship did not make it home. And you lose $D6One crew! <<elseif $D6One gte 3>> <<set $lootTurkishShip to random(1,6)+random(1,6)>> <<set $lootTurkishShip to $lootTurkishShip * 100>> <<set $booty to $booty + $lootTurkishShip>> <<set $D6One to 5 - $D6One>> <<set $crewFighting to $crewFighting +$D6One>> You receive $lootTurkishShip Ducats as prize money and your 5 crew members rejoin your ship. <<else>> <</if>> <>