Amalia was happy to mark Diego among the present, down near the bottom of the list, yet another new addition that she was happy with. She could see Fawkes up with Blue by the Helm, ready to steer the ship, the sails were lowered, the anchors raised, and all preparations to sail were complete. She gave another shout, as a great gust of wind took the sails, pulling them slowly from port, commanding Fawkes to take the helm, and sending the rest of the crew about their duties, tying off ropes, making sure that all of the cargo was tied down, they didn't want any accidents in the first few moments of their voyage.<br/><br/>Nothing seemed to spur on a large group of men and women more than some fine music, and Diego's playing seemed to do just that. The crew seemed happy, some of them swaying while they worked, those few that recognized the tune maybe even stopped to dance for a moment, Amalia didn't seem to mind unless they stopped working altogether, in which case all it took was a swift glare from her to send them right back to their task. She gave Ruby a nod and a smile, accepting the Rum as she slowly puts away her list and her chalk into a pocket in her jacket.<span style="color: purple">"Thank'e Ruby, I'll be lettin' him know first I see him."</span>she responds.<br/><br/>Up by the Helm, Blue had her chart spread out on a small table set beside the helm, with wooden clasps designed specifically to hold her charts in place for easy reference while she directed the helmsman. She made a few last minute markings before directing Fawkes to sail them southwest. They were leaving from the southeastern corner of the English isles,  which meant that they would need to sail around through the channel that separated it from the main body of Europe before heading out into the sea. It was a distance that the Lion's Bastard traversed with the swift grace of it's namesake, the ship was custom built after all to be speedy and swift where others were more sturdy. With a strong wind at their back, the ship could sail circles around most navy vessels with relative ease.<br/><br/>As they made their way through the channel it looked like they were going to get an opportunity to do just that, emerging from the horizon like a mountain range was a vast array of ships, all flying the colors of the royal navy. It looked like one of those names that hadn't responded to Amalia had decided to make some gold by selling their departure date to some Navy admiral or another, as well as the likely route that they would take. Amalia silently cursed to herself, mentally noting the names of those who hadn't answered her call, and remembering to hunt them down when they eventually returned. But for now... there was work to be done.<br/><br/><span style="color: purple">"Get ready fer some fightin'! Get down bellow and man those cannons, we are goin' tah break through that line and get ourselves the hell out of here!"</span>She shouts, drawing the slender blade from her side and pointing it towards the line of ships, which were already turning their broad sides toward the 'Bastard, getting ready to fire. But Amalia is interrupted by the crack of slamming wood, and the thundering footsteps of the mountain that walked out among them.<br/><br/>John Redmane wasn't called a 'giant' for nothing, he towered among even the tallest men of his crew. The heavy thudding of his black leather boots sent the deck shaking beneath them as he strode across the deck to the fore. From his shoulders draped a navy admiral's coat, the badges of honor ripped from it, the markings  ripped and shredded and sewn over with the roaring lion and crossed blades of his standard sewn onto it's back. The deep blue fabric was frayed at the edges, but no man ever thought to deny the captain his trophy. Beneath the jacket was a kilt fashioned from the pelt of a lion, one that it was rumored widely that Redmane had strangled, bare handed, before crafting the garment for himself from it's remains. Everything upon his body was something won from one fight or another, rings, necklaces and pendants, the only thing covering his broad chest was a leather strap that was tied with pistols all along it's length, each one loaded and ready to fire at a moment's notice. And bellow that he was marked with even more trophies, thick scars lining his torso from neck to waist, and likely everywhere else as well. His deep set black eyes stared out with a proud determination from a stern, and powerful face. A fierce red beard ran all across his jaw, and in the back his hair was tied into a long braid, hanging down to his knees, which he claimed to only cut when he was defeated in battle.<br/><br/>It was this man that caused complete silence to fall. Every single member of the crew continued working, but said not a word. Even Amalia fell silent, her sword arm falling to her side, and she slowly lifts the rum that Ruby gave her to her lips and takes a swig, knowing that she was going to need it. The moment he reached the end of the ship, his hands found the rails and he leaned over, a vicious roar that would make even a true lion run off in fear echoed over the water. So fierce was the cry that even from as far away as they were they could see navy men fleeing, abandoning their posts, some of them even leaping over the side of the ships into the water.<br/><br/><span style="color: maroon">"Nay! The 'Bastard dunna' run like a beaten dog with it's tail between it's legs!"</span>booms Redmane, his voice echoing out over the ship, shaking the masts with the strength of his shout.<span style="color: maroon">"I be thinkin' some'a our new mates need to be see'in what it means tah be a member'a this crew! Prepare for battle! Grab yer weapons, man the cannons, and Fawkes, don't yah let them land a single scratch on my ship or I'll skin yah me'self! On this ship, we dunna' flee! We be makin' them flee before us!"</span>he lifts his head to the sky and roars, and already some of the navy ships could be seen breaking formation, fleeing before the Lion's Bastard, one small ship against ten, soon to be seven of their own, and all they could do was flee before it's wrath.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>