The Pirates of Jack Dore

Avoided  and ignored since the foundation of Bodstonia, Eggism finally raised it´s ugly head in the spring of 1728. A small family feud had been brewing for nearly a year between the Dores and the De Witts. One evening it came to blows between the two factions after a night of drinking at the Bear inn.
The next day feelings were still running high and to lay the trouble to rest, Bartholomew Montesfort called a meeting of the council, to which the heads of the Dore and DeWitt families were summoned.
Both were sworn to keep the peace or face imprisonment to which both sides agreed and left.

Unfortunately that same evening there was further arguments which again escalated into a fight in which Jack Dore stabbed William DeWitt. The wound was later found to be not serious but at the time the DeWitts left for home, swearing to come back and exact vengeance.
The Dores and several of thier companions also left for thier homes to arm themselves.
The owner of the Bear inn called the watch who quickly formed a guard around and in front of the inn.  The Dore faction took little heed of this and advanced along the high street towards the far end of town, thier intention to march onto the DeWitts farm.
The Watch called out for them to halt and disperse but still they came on. Warning shots were fired, the Dores, thinking they were under attack, opened fire on the watchmen..one member of the which was slightly injured in the  left shoulder. At this point someone rang the Oak Bell and seeing that all was up, the Dores fled.

Within minutes of the Oak Bell being run, a large group of militia, "Purple Roses" and Bodstonian fusiliers had gathered. In the panik, the Dores and thier friends stole down to the dock and took the cutter,  Daniels Pride. This act of piracy was noticed at first light and even though pursuit was given, no trace of them was found.

"Capn" Jack Dore. The titel is self given. At the age of 38, he and his motely "crew" of 46 refugees have spent the last 3 years on the run. Exactly where they are camped, how they are  providing for themselves or if they are in contact with any natives is, as of yet,  unknown, even to Adahy
What is known is that they have taken  one supply ship headed for Bodstonia and at least one Zvezdonian frigate. Both ships and crews they abandoned after plundering thier holds.

The "Purple Roses" (2)

The "infantry" section of the "Purple Roses".
They act as the control role of the unit, the flag and drummer in a rallying and signalling role, the 3 sharpshooters defending Juliet Pride´s gun team, enabling them to concentrate on  operating  "Long Tom", and Rose Tremain, as the commander of the unit.
Thier uniqueness within the Bodstonian defence forces is reflected in the colour of the flag, red, meaning they are attached not only to the regular forces but are directly associated with Company A of the 1st Regiment of Foot, the Bodstonian Fusiliers.

Rose Tremain

The "Purple Roses" (1)

The women of Bodstonia are not only the keepers of hearth and home, but they also take part in the defence of those hearths and homes.

This role is carried out, as with the menfolk, in two forms.  Either they join the militia or become regulars, in a reserve role but still they wear a uniform.
Their unit is called the purple Roses for two reasons. The Unit is commanded by Rose Tremain, a self made woman who runs the dress making and tailors guild in Bodstonia.
Due to the capture of a Zvedonian trade ship in the second Federation war of 1700 - 1705, Rose came into possesion of a large supply of purple cotton. As purple was not fashionable at the time among the Bodstonians (it still isn´t) there was no  profit to be made so she had the cloth made into uniforms for her unit.
The Purple Rose´s number 10 in all and form a small reserve artillery unit, fielding one 6pdr, nicknamed "Long Tom". Why the gun is called Long Tom remains a closely guarded secret among the ladies.
They have competed in the yearly "shoot downs" winning the event twice.
Being obstensively an artillery unit they come under direct command of Bartholomew Motesfont

 The 4 women who are the main gunners. The other 6 take a support and protection role, relaying information to the gun team as to their possible targets. 

Mistress Gunner Juliet pride

Jocelyn de Bodley

In 1685, At the age 41, the descendant of Paul de Bodley, the lord of Styrow on the foam, Jocelyn de Bodley,  set out on a voyage of discovery on board the Galley,  Sea Urchin.
According to the ships logs, they sailed for near on 6 months before finally sighting land. Great cheers arose from the crew, but these soon grew still when they neared the landmass, and realised that it´s coast was one of nothing but sheer cliffs. They sailed for 12 days to the west, and upon finding no landing place, they turned and sailed east for nigh on a full month before finally, when all hope of a landing was lost, a bay was spied.
The ships longboats were launched and raced to the foreign shore.
Upon landing, Jocelyn ran up the beach and raising his left hand, claimed the land as now being under the authority of  Styronia.  The bay, was named Entry Bay.
Realising that a voyage back to the mainland was near impossible due to lack of provisions, the decision was made to remain and reprovision.
A small camp was built upon the flat land above the beach and patrols went in search of water and foodstuffs.
For near a month the men enjoyed the peacefullness of the new land until one night a dreadfull storm raised it´s anger, breaking her ties and driving the Sea Urchin upon the rocks. Luckily she held fast..the handfull of crew still onboard battled all night and finally, as the storm subsided they managed to re-anchor her in the shallow waters near the beach. The damage was not severe but repairs were necessary to allow the return journey.
By now, autumn was approaching and realising that a return voyage in winter was of great risk, the decision was taken to remain. To suit this, a  more permanent residence was required so a small stockade and log cabins were built.

On the 9th of October 1685, a small group of sailors were out hunting when they were suddenly confronted by a large group of natives. Luckily, the man in charge, midshipman Arthur Cobb, realised the indians were not hostile and put himself between the natives and his men.
With hand gestures a conversation of sorts took place, at the close of which, both groups parted company.
The news of this encounter caused some exitement and small concern within the encampment. Sentries were posted, Marines accompanied the food patrols,  although no sight or sound of the natives was heard of for several weeks.
The next contact was at the end of autumn, when three natives, two male, one female came to the stockade, offering gifts of caught fowl and a deer.
Slowly over the next weeks more and more contact was made, the visits by the natives became regular daily occurances, some even set up a small encampment within hailing distance of the stockade.
A decision to remain was made on the grounds that it being better a winter on land as a winter at sea  and the extra time would give them more opportunity to further investigate the new lands Fauna and Fora.

Over the winter of 1685 -86, both natives and Styronians learnt some of each other language and customs. The natives were unsure how large the land was, but told of a mountanous forrested inland, a massive lake, large rivers, other tribes, some of which were hostile, plentifull wildlife but of greatest import, no knowledge of others from the mainland ever having visited.

In the spring of 1686, the Sea foam being fully reprovisioned, the crew, although of heavy heart at having to do so, made preperations to leave for home. At a ships council, it was decided, that if any wished, a maximum of 6 men could remain behind. A guarantee that they would ever be recovered was impossible to give, so only single men could be considered. Under these conditions 6 men did volunteer, thier names being recorded in the ships log as;
William (Bill) Colthurst
Jake Lambton
Larry Merton
Bartholomew (Bart) Rudhall
Isaac Saynsbury
Cyril (Cy) Woodward


On the 11th of march 1686, they finally left, a fond farewell was waved to them from the shore by the natives and thier 6 crewmates.
Near 6 months later, they docked in the port of Styrow on the Foam to a resounding welcome.
News of thier discovery was soon known by all in the land and the great council of Styronia ordered preperations for a fleet of 10 ships to be built and sent to occupy the new land.
After nearly a year, the ships were nearing completion when..in the  late spring of 1689, war broke out. This war was not Styronias want or wish, but as they were part of the northern federation they were obliged to send assistance, troops, and ships to aid thier allies. This meant all of the near completed ships meant for the expedition were quickly converted for war.
Due to the war, the damage to the ships and repairs to the land, another eypedition to the new land was not considered until 1695, nearly 10 years after Jocelyn had stepped onto the beach at Entry bay.

Jocelyn at the front, left hand held high. Behind him is Isaac Saynsbury, and to the fore, Midshipsman Arthur Cobb.


In June 1691, Jocelyn was killed in the 1st federation war, leaving his wife Maria alone with thier two young sons. As custom allowed, Maria kept her Husbands sir name as did one of her sons but the other took her fathers name...Forrester. A grandson, James Forrester was born in 1710, in Bodstonia.