...Oh dear. I do apologise.
I am most grateful that Rakin's ships aren't yet destroyed - I mean, y'know, always a good thing that my character remains alive, and somewhat surprising after such a time. Thank you. And sorry: I have been ridiculously busy and haven't had time to make a good enough RPG post.
I'd like to fight, absolutely. Greek fire sounds superbly sneaky, Anguirel - have ourselves a wee bit of that. Archers will also be fine, probably again with fire - the corsairs don't take prisoners. Well. Not for long. Keep trying to stab us in the back when we do, doncha know
My thoughts are this: Rakin will basically still be totally high on the destruction of the village and his newfound power with Sangalazin. He won't be able to resist the oppurtunity to have a go at the Gondorians: he's feeling on top of the world and two of the corsair fleets strongest ships are there. But he isn't entirely careless (pretty close, but not quite), so I reckon they'll attack, do as much damage as possible (probably involving playing with fire -
lots of it) - and then attempt to hightail it out of there as soon as possible.
As to how exactly that would be achieved...Broadsides, like you've said, archers being the main offensive to start. Then some foolhardy corsairs, on the other ship (not the Fame and Fortune) swing across and actually board the ship - mistake #1. Rakin is furious, but now what was supposed to be a quick triumphant skirmish before the escaped has became an earnest fight, they're missing say a dozen men between the 2 ships after the townspeople actually put up a fight, and the Fame and Fortune is suddenly in danger. The triumph of the battle is somewhat wearing off, adrenaline of battle is kicking in - and so are the Gondorians as one of them returns the favour by swinging across to the Fame and Fortune - lets have a main character, why not! Which of you 'good guys' fancies a bit of a hero moment and a good battle with Rakin?! Thus chaos and good old fashioned swashbuckling ensues.
Then my plans get altogether more sketchy-bulletpointed...
- Using slightly less than strictly fair techniques (namely, yeah, the greek fire, plus that ruddy great spike on the end of the xebec - can do damage at speed), the Fame and Fortune manages to escape.
. . . . - The other corsair ship gets taken/sunk?
. . . . - We manage to take prisoners? Could be a chance for a little cross-ship interaction? A main character?
- We high-tail it away - Fame and Fortune rather damaged. It also did not escape Rakin's notice that when he was battling away above deck, Sangalazin utterly failed to show. Ooh, tension. Juicy.
- The Gondorians have also sustained some serious damage (and a hostage situation?); they take some time to regroup, then take the trail to Umbar, where the Fame and Fortune, and all its stormy crew, are headed with as much speed as possible - although he wouldn't willingly admit it, Rakin is shaken by the sheer size of the Gondorian fleet, and the fact that the rest of the fleet failed to show. Where were the rest of the ships that Azaryan had supposedly been gathering?
. . . . - I sense a betrayal. Once again, ooh, juicy.
. . . . - Time on both ships as they make for Umbar, character interaction yadda yadda yadda.
- Gondor-corsairs showdown before we get to Umbar or after they reach Umbar?
. . . . - Corsair backup? Lets get a full scale sea-battle going...
. . . . . . . - Rakin summons as much backup as he can from Umbar, the corsair ships gather. He doesn't immediately mention his agreement with Azaryan - but some of the minor lords do. The realisation that Azaryan has died while h Rakin surfaces - and suspicion immediately falls upon Rakin. After all, who would suspect Sangalazin of killing his own cousin, the one who he needed to rule beside him?
. . . . . . . . . . . - As the corsair troops gather and take to sea, Rakin faces his own showdown back at Umbar as Sangalazin double crosses him and denies all knowledge of the plot against Azaryan and his deal with Rakin. Rather sticky situation for the dear ol' Captain.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . - ....I will somehow work out a way to get out of that one. Well, Rakin gets to sea again anyway, even if it's only an escape - and he takes Sangalazin with him (potential for hostage situation #2 because hey, why not)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Sangalazin comes clean and helps him out?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . - If hostage #1 stands, he uses that to bargain himself out?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Battles his way out
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Uses Sangalazin to get out, taking his dear half-brother hostage and getting to the Fame and Fortune for an escape route.
- Sea battle ensues! Or land battle, I guess, through the streets of Umbar. Or, hey, both... The corsairs have all their power out, but its at late notice: the Gondorians were ready. Fame and Fortune is one of the heading forces of the battle, but then...
. . . . - Slave revolt? The thought still stands...
. . . . - Sangalazin will either try to double-cross Rakin or vice versa. I seriously doubt both, if either, of them are gonna come out of this alive.
...and through this longwinded series of events (told from the corsair sides, sorry, but Gondorians will of course be fleshing out from their side and I'll not speculate from both sides...), Umbar falls.
Whew.
Feel free to add to or discount some of all of that, event just for the pure incomprehensibility. Thoughts? Again, my apologies for my absense...