Our Crew

The Crew of the Valhalla is a dangerous lot.

Led by the fierce Captain Charles W Black,
these Sea Dogs have been known to pillage and plunder
- giving no quarter and making off with the booty!

Give this lot a wide berth or ye'll be sent to Davy Jones' Locker!

Lt. Michael Morgan Black

First Mate

Michael Morgan Black grew up on the Celtic sea with his older brother, Charles. Also an English Naval Officer, he signed onto the Valhalla as her Lieutenant and second in command.

And although this man is a bit of a rogue and a scallywag, his loyalty lies with King and Country. So obviously it did not sit well with 'im when his brother began to seize English Ships.

"A political statement? I think not!"

Michael maintains his position as First Mate on the Valhalla, but questions his older brother's loyalties.

Is blood thicker than sea water? We shall see...

Mayhem Matthew

Master Gunner

Mayhem Matthew is an ex-cannoneer of the British Navy. After 15 glorious years of service, he left the Navy to pursue a career in prize fighting.

He eventually fell victim to the back street pubs and shanties of London, fighting in bare knuckle challenges for food, rum, and some spare change.

On occasion, he would sign on with a merchant ship as a black powder expert. It was on one of these trips that he ran into Captain Black and the Valhalla. His ship was seized and Matthew was presented the option to either be set adrift or sign on with the Valhalla. He adapted to the life of a pirate rather quickly as it seemed to be much more lucrative a trade.

Matthew's strong presence and keen knowledge of black powder weapons earned him the position of Master Gunner on the Valhalla.

John,
The Mad Dutchman

Quartermaster

Captain picked him up in the West Indies for his skill in flintlock and saber and his knowledge of arcane treasures. Not much is known about him, other than the fact he is utterly mad and claims to have escaped the Flying Dutchman.

Do not let his savvy and relatively mild demeanor fool you, he is obsessed with finding obscure and mythical riches he believes he can use to bribe Davey Jones to release him from his bond.
No matter the cost he or others may pay.

In one attempt to recover the Mask of Watutsu, he was shot in the eye by a poison dart. The witch, Kimchi, saved his life (but not his eye), in exchange for the mask and passage off that accursed island.

However, he is still on his quest to either recover the mask from the Witch or find another powerful talisman in which to trade for his soul!

Kimchi

Mystical Advisor

Magic afoot?
On a Pirate ship?

When the Captain agreed to take on Kimchi as a crew member, he believed her to be more enchanted with magical powers than witchcraft.
Powers that could actually be of use to him and 'is crew.

The Captain, a rather superstitious man, will gamble with 'is fears if it may benefit 'is ship.

However, he'll be keeping a close eye on this wench...

Handsome Devlin
O'Driscoll

Cape Merchant

Weened on tales of the pirate clan O'Driscoll, Devlin set off to recapture his family's past glory. Leaving home at age 12, he apprenticed on ships, learning from his crewmates as he drifted around the known world.

One day, Devlin ran afoul of a bullying quartermaster.
During an “argument”, Devlin cut his throat.

The captain, a proper gentleman who felt Irishmen killing officers was bad for morale, had him clapped in irons. Devlin escaped during a timely pirate raid. As he rowed away from his former shipmates, he earned a pirate's hospitality when he fished a wounded crewman of the Valhalla from the briny.

Devlin has mastered a number of weapons and fighting styles. He is equally dangerous with a deck of cards.
Loyal to no flag, he faithfully serves Captain Black
with an eye to his own advantage...

Ma’am Marie
Bludgeons

Madame Marie is the owner of a house of ill repute
on the fell isle of Tortuga where the crew of the Valhalla often find safe haven, and can avoid the British navy.

With no love for law and order and a fondness for piracy and mayhem, she is a great friend to Captain Black.

A strict mistress and savvy business woman, she gained a reputation for being harsh with those who do not settle their gambling debts with her in timely fashion.

Best not to cross weapons with Madame Marie!

Lord Francis Bonnet

Boatswain's Mate

Brother of the infamous pirate capt, Stede Bonnet. Frank also hailed from England by way of Virginia.

Both liberally educated men, Frank took to piracy long before his brother signed on to the sweet trade.

Frank, a man with a zest for living (and rum), was unhappy with the landlocked rigors of running his family's sugar plantation in Barbados and dreamed of a life on the open sea.

He signed on with the Valhalla during a recruitment stop in a Bridgetown pub. He said goodbye to 'is family and set out with the Valhalla in search of adventure and treasure. 'is brother Stede was not far behind as he eventually "bought" 'is very own Pirate Ship "The Revenge" and followed in Frank's footsteps.

Bloody William
Hart

Musician / Naturalist / Scrivener

William Hart was born in Paisley, Scotland. He was sent to Oxford University, where he was expelled after several duels with fellow scholars. He studied natural history, horticulture, and medicinal botany, also becoming an accomplished musician and harpsichordist.

With no prospects of becoming a "Gentleman Doctor", he became apprenticed to a ship's surgeon in HMRN. Eventually enlisting on privateer vessels, he used every voyage as an opportunity to gather specimens of unclassified flora and fauna, with which he might become a fellow of the Royal Society in London.

After spending time in Port Royal and Savannah, William encountered the Crew of the Valhalla during a shore raid. Learning that he was both a musician and literate, William was forcibly recruited. A true "Gentleman of Fortune", he is as graceful with the wenches as he is with his sword. His duties include keeping the crew musically satisfied and scurvy-free.

Cap'n Jerry

Navigator

Gerald Fredrick spent his early days learning to fish and sail along the English coast. He also learned to shrewdly barter skills for undisclosed wealth. His undisclosed wealth grew and he commissioned The Nightmare. In possession of his own ship and a letter of marqué, he turned privateer. The Crown suspects that it never received it's full share from Cap'n Jerry.

Rumor has it, there is a river the natives call Manasquan. The Nightmare is said to have been seen in those waters. 'Tis also said the sound of oars and shovels could be heard in the moonlight on a small island upriver.
But enough said about that...

After the Spanish 'relieved' him of ship and crew, Gerald reverted to bartering skills for passage on 'privateer' vessels and made the acquaintance of Captain Black. Some talk of a voyage that these two made to the Manasquan and a small island upriver.
But we all know how rumors go...

Molly Coddle

Surgeon & Cook

Molly Coddle was ship's nurse on the Devil's Raven when the ship was lost in a nor'easter off Cape Cod. She was one of the few survivors, along with Lon Johnson and Jethro (the ship's dog). Fortunately, Capt. Black and the Valhalla happened along and plucked the three from the sea.
Molly gratefully signed articles on the Valhalla.

Molly learned what she could from her father, a surgeon from Cape May. He frowned upon his daughter, a proper lady, learning such a profession. It was his heavy hand and an arranged marriage that caused her to seek adventure on the sea.

She is handy with both Bone-saw and Scalpel. Able to amputate a limb in seconds, or administer a treatment of mercury after a night in port, she's a valuable asset to the crew. She also serves as the ship's cook. Strange coincidence that 'Special Stew' is always on the menu after a bloody battle...

Lon Johnson

Boatswain

Lon Johnson was captain of the Devil's Raven when the ship was lost in a nor'easter off Cape Cod. He was one of the few survivors, along with Molly Coddle and Jethro (the ship's dog). Fortunately, Capt. Black happened along and plucked the three from the sea.
Lon gratefully signed articles on the Valhalla.

Lon is from Glasgow, Scotland (At least that's what the crew think he said. It's hard to tell...). He is equally handy with ropes and knots as with cutlass and pistol. However, his scarred face is not a result of battle, but from some nasty wenches in Ma'am Marie's house of ill repute (and Molly when she found out where he was).

The loss of The Devil's Raven has left him bitter. Lon awaits his chance to take command of a new ship and retrieve his hidden treasure.

Abigail Barclay

Pirate Wench

Abigail Barclay was born in London. She was raised in her Grandfather's kitchen, a retired sea-cook, who taught her his way with the knife. As she grew, her knife skills developed as well as her bodice. But her most prized "weapon" was her Grandfather's short sword, given her lest she meet danger unprepared.

In her twentieth year, Abby buried her Grandfather and (dressed in his clothes) signed aboard the HMS Calypso as cook. She set sail for the Caribbean seas, but was soon discovered and put ashore in a port south of Dominica. Abby made due as a tavern wench.

A month later, the Valhalla plundered the island. Abby found herself crossing blades with the most cutthroat sea-dogs in the Caribbean. Captain Black, seeing this saucy wench relishing the deadly combat, brought her on board the Valhalla.
Her duties include serving the crew liquid courage and holding her own in any fight.

Gwendolyn Gravenor

"FNP"

As the daughter of a Welsh privateer, Gwendolyn Gravenor was born on the high seas. Her upbringing aboard her father's ship taught her loyalty and the navigational arts. Her French mother taught her reading, writing, and, to the vexation of her father, a love of pretty things. ('A girl should always have pretty lace or ruffles, chéri...', her mother would say.) When she began to blossom into a comely lass, he taught her how to fight (and skewer a man) with a sword. At the age of 22, she became her father's right hand and navigator of the HMS Nightingale.

That summer, they were sailing to the port of Nassau when a storm struck, destroying the ship. Gwendolyn was the sole survivor, having lashed herself to a piece of wreckage and drifted for nearly 2 days. The crew of the Valhalla saved her from Davy Jones' tender mercies. She readily signed on after recovering, vowing to repay the blood debt.