The Broken Sabre
The Broken Sabre is a rundown light sailing ship, pressed into service as a sloop-of-war. While she has served as a merchantman in the past, her last ‘role’ was as an armed smuggler along the Galinia coast. Eventually the vessel was identified, the owner/captain was arrested in Angasa, and the ship impounded. After a legal battle, Broken Sabre was confiscated although there was no owner of the vessel, as the offences had taken place in both Angasan and Galinian waters. However, the leaders of those two states (cousins with a shared interest) reached a compromise, equipped it with a basic crew, and dispatched it to serve as a privateer vessel for Lady Tara Briganda-Shay, the Governor of Finaroka. Broken Sabre isn’t really a military ship, more like an armed privateer – and sails under a letter of Marque, signed by the Governor of Finaroka.
Description
The ship’s captain, and his first officer, don’t have a ‘military’ feeling about them. This is Lieutenant Simpson’s first command, his previous experience was as a watch officer on a privateer vessel, working out of the Razardi Isles, and he brought a colleague (a female bard & his lover) along to act as his first officer. The crew are even less military, with a mix of Deckhands (Expert/Commoner), Sailors (Expert-2), Pirates(Warrior2) and Buccaneers (Ftr-1) aboard.
The other watch officer, a female cleric, has been assigned by Commander Yarboro to help balance the captain’s gung-ho attitude, and ensure that there is an imperial officer aboard the vessel.
The Broken Sabre is armed with four light and one heavy ballista, with a contingent of Imperial Marines to manage and shoot them. Commander Yarbro, has supplied 5x Imperial Marines (Ftr-2, Artillerists) and 5x Imperial Rowers (Commoner/Warrior) to act as labour and assault troops. The team works the ballistae and then lead the attack, supported by crew members. The marine sergeant commands the unit, although he looks to the Imperial watch officer for guidance.
The Broken Sabre is renowned for carrying out raids and bringing in small prize vessels, for disposal in the naval prize courts of Finaroka.