Discussion of Plot Aboard the Maelstrom

[Rachel Hobbes]

Alright mon Capitan....take it away, just starting this up for us.

[Barbossa]

Thanks, Rachel for the bit of prodding. [winks]

So.....

I have recently come to the conclusion that my original plot idea about Barbossa ship-jacking a Navy ship is probably far too ambitious for the number of people who will be writing on board the Maelstrom. So....Rachel and I have been talking and we've decided that Barbossa and Company will have a slight change of plans on the board here.

Because the ship-jacking is pretty much all my character has talked about for the past two years (in RL time...both on Code of the Brethren, where we started, and now here on DaBS) I don't want to just drop that idea and suddenly have him go off and do something else entirely.

So, Rachel and I got to talking and we’ve come up with a plot twist that should be a bit more manageable with the limited members on the Maelstrom:

Instead of Barbossa intercepting the other ship in the open waters as it enters the Caribbean from England, the Navy ship ends up shipwrecked on an island close to the time when the Maelstrom gets there. So, rather than a huge battle sequence out on the ocean (with it being necessary to write for a whole host of NPCs in charge of running the other ship) Barbossa and his crew would arrive, find the shipwreck and clash with the survivors as the pirates attempt to plunder the loot.

So, we have the basics for the plot change but wanted to get a discussion going with all four of us (and I suppose anyone else who wants to add their two cents ) to talk about how this will come about. We’d also like to talk about what kind of subplots can be created for our characters while we write for the overall plot.

For the cause of the shipwreck there are a couple ways we could go about it:

• It could have happened during the storm that was mentioned in the UFO thread.
• We could have a Davy Jones angle
• Some other idea?

Let’s just use this thread to do some plot brainstorming and see what we come up with. =)

[Rachel Hobbes]

The Davy Jones angle might very well become a reality because I think we'll be opening up that character for play soon. The ship that wrecked could have been done so by the Flying Dutchman and her Captain.

There is another little plot device I was thinking of. And this is for either Anamaria or Nicholas to do....or neither. (laughs)

I'm thinking since Anamaria wants to get back to Jack to follow him to make sure he delivers on his promise of treasure...not to mention not wanting to be a crew hand on the "Devil's" ship, since she is a strong independent woman...she would change the heading of the Maelstrom to try and escape.

Now there are two ways to do this.

Anamaria could act alone...

or she could weasel/pity Nicholas into doing it for her.

What most likely would then occur is a HUGE blowout with Barbossa punishing whoever messed with his boat.

So who likes pain? (grins)

Just an idea, I thought either one of you might like to have a huge dramatic thing like that happen.

[Anamaria]

I was reading a bit about the legend of Davy Jones and it says that the ship was always seen during storms..and I'm not sure if the Flying Dutchman would go after Navy ships. it seems more likely that the Navy ship would be wrecked by the storm and then the victims found and claimed by Davy Jones because he was somewhere in the area at the time?

I really like the idea that the Flying Dutchman could be involved. It could bring with it so many other possibilities for what happens after they reach the wreckage. Strange happenings *loves strange happenings and supernatural goings on *
There are lots of possibilities if the wreckage is going to be on an island:

- Davy Jones' crew still on the island claiming victimes when the Maelstrom and Pearl arrive
- Hostile natives (cannibals ; a people who have been previously raided by pirates and are out for blood revenge....)
- Extreme Hostile wildlife/creatures (maybe even supernatural beings, monsters of some sort)
- Something hidden in the jungle depths (guarded treasure...)
- An EITC base on the island


I really do like your idea Rachel, it sounds like fun...I think if she tries to get Nicholas involved it'll be more like weasling rather than pitying. And after *evil grin* she could blame it all on him Erm.. *wonders what Nicholas would think about that*
I'm not sure if she would try to change course to escape though...I've been thinking that Anamaria would want to stay aboard for spying purposes. She will most likely see the advantage in finding out what Barbossa might be planning, in order to use it to her own advantage. Jack sounded pretty convincing to her when he told her he thought Barbossa was planning something. And if he is, then it might prove quite profitable for her.


EDIT:

On and I've thought of something else. What does anyone think of the idea of there maybe being something aboard the Maelstrom that neither Barbossa nor anyone else aboard the ship know about that is contained in the bowels of the ship. Something in a crate that got brought onboard at the same time as other crates containing provisions were being loaded into the hold. This thing could be something containing mystical properties of some sort or it could be something else if anyone likes this idea and/or has any other ideas what it might be. But whatever it is, it could be something that causes havoc once it is discovered.
Just an idea to maybe toss around a bit.

[Nicholas Thatcher]

I am perfectly fine with Nicholas getting into some trouble. As well, he would always feel the need to help a lady in distress. He's a hero like that. If Anamaria needed his help and could con him into it by making it seem as if she truly needed him, then he would turn the ship around in a heartbeat. Afterward, he would think it was a dumb idea and would be afraid of the reaction of his captain, though. XD He would take the blame for it, though he would feel a bit hurt from being blamed in the first place. And after, he will contemplate himself being a bit too nice. XD

I'm not exactly sure how big of a part Nicholas will play in all of this. I like the idea with Anamaria, though. It will get him some interaction with other people that doesn't include naked women and being vehemently embarrassed (lol - Rachel). Barbossa will be very angry at him, though... I have to say, I can't wait for that conversation. It will be very dramatic for lack of a better word.

As far as the wreckage goes, I like the idea of the storm blowing the ship off course and making it crash into an island. The meeting with the cannibals, fixing up the ship to make it all purdy and stuffs, and mysterious disappearings make me very interested!

I also do like the idea of something mystical being held on the ship without us knowing about it. That would be great for Nicholas to spout some random information out that he has stored in his head. Well, he can't fight worth a darn, but at least I can say he can swing a quill and read like the dickens!

I apologize for this not being filled with information and ideas from myself. I'm going through a hectic time right now. Hehehe. ^^;

[Rachel Hobbes]

I'm glad you both like that plot idea for your characters, a good jumping off point to get both of your characters into a bit of drama. (laughs)

Now I just want to address a few things in Becca's post. With the spot of Davy Jones opening up we should probably keep to the movie's version of Davy Jones. While the research might say he only appeared during storms...we are in the midst of one right now in the plot...so it would make sense that Davy Jones would be the reason why the ship crashed and wrecked in the first place. I think that Davy Jones attacks indiscriminently. It doesn't matter who the ship harbors; navy, merchants, pirates...one is as good as the next. We saw evidence of this in the movies themselves. And this way...we don't have to deal with a whole bunch of npcs alive and fighting the pirates that stumble upon the ship.

I think that's one of the reasons why the first plot (full of npcs) wouldn't work with our limited players. That goes the same for natives on the island...not every island can be Cannibal Island.

I DO like Nicholas's idea that there is something ON the ship itself that perhaps is the reason why Davy Jones attacked it in the first place. Something of sentimental value....not like his heart.....but maybe...something...

(laughs) Anyone have any ideas?

[Nicholas Thatcher]

What about Davey Jones' locket that he had? The one that's shaped like a heart with a crab that both he and Calypso have and it plays their song.

[Anamaria]

Ah! When I'd fist mentioned about there being something mysterious on the ship, I'd meant for it to be on the Maelstrom. So the object could cause some trouble on the voyage to the wreckage (something that could be used as a plot filler)

But I also very much like that idea that an object on the wrecked navy ship could be the cause of Davy Jones attack upon it.

[Rachel Hobbes]

(chuckles) Becca I think Nicholas and I both missed your edit because we had already posted.

The locket is a fine example of what could have been on the navy ship.

What sort of object were you thinking of Becca?

[Anamaria]

I can only think maybe some sort of object that holds within it a power of some kind. Or maybe contains a curse that will not yet been awakened until someone discovers it.
The object itself could be tiny, even a fob-watch or a gem.