The Dreadnaught

This ship has been decommissioned

The Dreadnaught Sailed as a member of the Colorado Rogues fleet from November 2012-April 2018

Ship Colors
Aquamarine, Black and Gold

Ship Drink
Salacia

Ship Toast
Here's to King Neptune,
    Ruler of the Sea.
To the Dreadnaut and Her crew,
    I drink to thee.

Fleet Awards:

Fleet Bell 2016-2017
Cookoff Bowl 2015-2016, 2016-2017

Current Roster - (15)

Ship's Head

Zatara - Captain 2011 2012 EoFP 2011
    Rogue since Jun 1986. Ship Service: Jun 2004.
Belladanna - First Mate EOFP 2017
    Rogue since 2009. Ship Service: 2016.
Lady Mayhem - Quartermaster 2014 EoFP 2014
    Rogue since ?. Ship Service: ?.

Officers

Strings - Ship's Bard EOFP 2011
    Rogue since Aug 2006. Ship Service: Aug 2006.

Senior Crew

Kamaria Winda - Chronicler - (Abroad) EOFP 2011
    Rogue since Aug 2007. Ship Service: Aug 2007.

Regular Crew

Sheerluck - Gunner
    Rogue since Aug 2006. Ship Service: Aug 2006.
Wil the Rat - Brewer
    Rogue since Aug 2004. Ship Service: Jun 2004.
PillowTop - Crew EOFP 2017
    Rogue since 2016. Ship Service: Aug 2016.
Slugger - Crew - (Abroad)
    Rogue since ?. Ship Service: ?.
Malice - Crew - (Abroad)
    Rogue since ?. Ship Service: ?.
Morwen - Crew - (Abroad)
    Rogue since ?. Ship Service: ?.
Fox - Crew - (Abroad)
    Rogue since ?. Ship Service: ?.

Dreadnaught Alumni

Former Crew
Half Moon - First Mate EoFP 2016
    Rogue since 2015. Ship Service: 2015.

Uriel McShiney First Mate EoFP 2015

Nemesis Oni
    Rogue since . Ship Service: Nov 2014 .

Kilt Puppet
Retired EoFP 2016 as Navigator of the Sun God

Amanda
    Rogue since Aug 2007. Ship Service: Aug 2007.

Hunyadi Kelatna - Sergeant at Arms EOFP 2011
    Rogue since Aug 2008. Ship Service: Aug 2008.

Lady Warbrooke - First Mate
     Ship Service: Dec 2010. Quit 2015

Ships Story

This is a sad but true story of a ship that came to an end and the beginning of a mighty battling pirate ship seeking the lost souls to bring them back home.

The Nautilus, a fine sailing ship, went through some changes. Captain Lorrance Ohm was sailing his ship when Neptune called it home. A storm blew up, the Top Watch yelled "Maelstrom!", and down the ship went. Having been through this before, the crew simply held fast and waited for the inevitable landing upon the sandy ocean floor.

As the now-familiar figure began to appear just beyond the edge of the walls of water, Captain Ohm suddenly lurched forward and through the torrent. The crew sensed, with that same vibrant presence as before, that they were to remain to behind. Not a sound could be heard through that watery veil, but the silhouettes of Neptune and Ohm could be seen emphasizing dramatic points in their conversation.

What happened in that meeting is unclear; but the crew felt no sense of punishment. It was clear, however, that their immediate pact with Neptune had come to an end.

Some say Neptune granted Captain Ohm his retirement; others say that Captain Ohm became Commodore Ohm of the Neptune's Revenge, battling Zeus for the oceans proper. It is said he is dealing out piracy and villainy on the surface dwellers of Zeus's domain.

First Mate Daphne Tart N Sweet, using her guitar strings, lashed together a raft that held the remaining crew of the Nautilus. The raft was dubbed "Dreadnought", because it was her belief that those left behind should Dread for nought; regardless of what lay ahead, she would see them through.

The Dreadnought Crew was picked up by some Scandinavian fisherman and taken to the fishing village east of what is now known as Bremen. Upon setting foot in the Harbour, the Harbourmaster took a shine to Captain Tart N Sweet, and made arrangements for her to meet with those needed to reestablish her former life of inspired music, and return to enjoying the musical mayhem she had a gift for producing. Bremen, being the musical city (with no rats, thanks to the Pied Piper Captain Tart N Sweet) went on to enjoy the merriment of the location.

Zatara then organized the crew to cast about in town to see what sea-faring options might exist. There came then upon the crew an ancient man who saw the pirates wandering around the docks and town, and had a loud guffaw at their expense. Zatara took offense, on behalf of his crew, and approached the Wizened old man.

Witnesses disagree on the nature of their conversation, but to a one of them it is said the final phrase uttered was a challange to a fight "befitting of a pirate". The old wizened man made him a promise that if Zatara could best him in an arm wrestling contest, he would give Zatara and his crew a ship, and laid a bag of gold in front of Zatara as consideration for the bet. His countering condition, however, was simply that if Zatara lost he would have to wait for an opportunity to arise, and the old man would be free to leave the area unscathed.

Zatara accepted, and the competition took place on a rum barrel in the middle of the docks. Zatara threw down his axe, and the arm wrestling contest was on.

Zatara threw everything he had into the contest and the old man's arm did not move. It was as if he was fighting the oceans itself in the middle of a squall to keep the ship running tried and true. But the old man's arm did not move. Zatara was about to have to admit defeat when the old man declared it was a draw.

Because it was a draw, he indicated, Zatara would indeed be Captaining his own ship soon enough, but it would not be the originally offered. As the old man uttered words in some foreign, almost unearthly language, the crew became aware of the formation of a mystical oath. It was as if the old man were willing Zatara to be the Captain of a ship not yet found. Being no stranger to that sense of making a pact with the Gods, the crew was rapt with attention to detail.

He spoke of spells, and spelling, of finding a Mad Queen, of having tea, of Norsemen and shiny things. He then bid Captain Zatara to honor his own name with both a Mad Queen and a Norseman. He tasked each of the remaining crew on various tasks; amongst them, Strings and Lady Mayhem to have a little fun in Bremen and woo the waves to dance and frolic.

So a week went by; the crew attended to the various tasks set to them by the old man and by Zatara. Strings was causing Mayhem to have some fun as they mused on what manner of music could entice the seas to dance. Captain Zatara and the crew were in search of this Mad Queen, all the while getting into trouble with the Lords of Bremen.

Strings struck a chord just as Mayhem found a beat that had been eluding her the entire week; an otherworldly vibrato which beckoned one's very soul to dance and frolic. She fell into a trance, continuing the rhythmic ecstasy, with increasing vibrato. And then it happened.

Bremen was set upon with a squall like no one would believe. Lady Mayhem snapped out of her trance, and she and Strings found cover under the remains of a makeshift shack on the docks. They resumed playing, for there was nothing else to do but stay out of the rain, and kept getting drawn repeatedly into that same trance-inducing frenzied rhythm.

The waves danced and frolicked underneath them as if the Pied Piper were playing an enchanting song. Captain Zatara strode forth to the dock with his spear in one hand and boarding axe in the other, and stood watch while they played -- it was evident this was not a normal rainstorm; it was as if the Gods and Goddesses were battling over property.

A ship then came into view at the edge of visibility, looking beaten as if it had been in a battle for its life, and making directly for the dock. Captain Zatara, assessing the ship's condition, wondered how it had not already sunk. Upon its flag there was the sign of the Sea Witch Ursula, and it dawned on him that she was a Mad Queen of the deep. He cast about and saw a coil of free sheet on the dock, laid his weapons on the deck, and prepared to haul in.

He helped tie the ship to the dock with this young shiny kid of a man. He introduced himself Uriel of the Shiney and Captain Zatara took an immediate liking to him. Before they were done securing the lines, Zatara had offered Uriel the position of First Mate on board whatever ship Captain Zatara should next acquire. As the evening wore on, Uriel became royally intoxicated by Lady Mayhem, and relented to accept.

The storm let up, and Captain Zatara was invited aboard the damaged vessel. Captain CC (who, upon inquiry regarding her name, suggested "just call me Inkeri, as it is easier to pronounce"), welcomed Zatara into her cabin for tea, where he was introduced to her First Mate, The Arch Dutchess Valya, and the Quartermaster, one Marquis de Nemesis.

After a short parleyance, the event was relocated to the dock, and all the crew were invited. Inkeri told a story of how the Mad Queen came to be. Captain Zatara and his crew could not believe the story at first; it seemed the remaining crew of the Mad Queen was simply...well, Mad. Zatara's disbelief showed clearly on his face, so Inkeri explained the storm that had been going on was a battle between the Gods of who got to keep the ship and the service they would support. As if on cue, there came then a knocking at the cabin door.

In walked the wizened ancient one with a beautiful lady and nine maidens of beauty. Before the gathered crews eyes, the old man took on a larger shape and became looking a bit younger. He stated , "I think it is time to have a party to bring these crews together". He brought forth a pot of ale , and Lady Mayhem and Uriel began drooling over it immediately. The nine maidens walked over to Strings and asked him to begin playing a tune, and started dancing as if they were waves. Captain Zatara then had the keen hindsight to finally ask who the gentleman was. He explained that he was Aegir, a sea giant, and god of the ocean and king of the sea creatures for the Norse. He introduced his wife the goddess R'an and his nine daughters the various waves of the oceans.

Like a smack in the head, Captain Zatara realized that this was all destined to be -- he could not defeat the sea, and all the tasks had been accomplished. Aegir then asked him under what name the ship should now sail. In deference to Captain Tart N Sweet, Zatara chose; and as a symbol of the fresh start the crew would be undertaking, he changed the spelling: Dreadnaught

When he did so, a great turbulence roiled under the ship, and a turquoise and golden light ascending from the waters below. The Mad Queen, and what was left of the original Nautilus, seemed to combine and make one whole ship, and both crews found themselves on board, in the Captain's Cabin.

The Dreadnaught was born, and it would serve the Sea God's Aegir, and with Mannan Mac Lir, for they crossed paths quite commonly. Aegir only asked that they pay homage on the flag (which they were tasked to design) to Odin, the Sea, and the Celts; but in return the ship would never be sunk, and would be able to call on the Gods and Fairy to defend the ship.

When the combined crew walked out of the cabin, what they beheld was the amalgamation of a British Frigate and a Viking War Ship. "Captain Zatara, take your Dreadnaught of a ship out and plunder until your hearts are content". Looking at Inkeri, he smiled, and stated in return: "You are a Sea Witch, are you not? How about you bring on some wind".

Inkeri was about to respond that she could not do so, when Aegir explained that all she had to do was ask.

Nemesis was over looking at the cannons, and Aegir asked him when he would be getting an axe. The question startled Nemesis, which was a feat after serving the Mad Queen, and Aegir continued: "You are too quiet, and need to find your peace. You are a deadly one, you are."

To Valya he bestowed upon her the gift of the culinary arts, and should she but have the desire, the creation of tasty food was hers to produce.

Aegir continued. "These are the presents I give to you for the combining of the crews". To Strings he gave him a lute and told him to continue to play, and his daughters will take him anywhere the crew wanted. To Lady Mayhem and Uriel he left his pot of ale for their concoctions of drink with the only rule that they always were to pour one mug of what they made to him.

"Captain Zatara," Aegir said finally, "take your ship out and have some fun."

And he promptly vanished in a puff of smoke.

Forever…Family

The sky was blue and all the leaves were green. The sun was warm, like a baked potato. I’m sure you know exactly what I mean. You could only describe it as a Shpadoinkle day. It was mid-afternoon, and the Fleet was in port. The morning had been consumed with the drudgery that was an operational oversight. In plane words, meetings. But all that drudgery was over now, and the Captain’s and crews could kick back and socialize a little. After all, there were new recruits to meet and get to know. Captain Zatara was making the rounds, talking with the new recruit’s, moving from group to group and held very generic conversations. Talking about what the group meant to each person and the reasons why. They all looked to the future, and remembered the past, reciting adventures long passed and mourning the loss of friends, long gone. Basically people were laughing and drinking and enjoying themselves.

Zatara had just stepped away from a small group when he felt a funny feeling, the air turned warm but became very still. He turned back around and looked at the crowd mingling and drinking and having a good time, but he did not hear a sound. He could see people talking but, he could not hear them. He saw the wind blowing in the trees but he didn’t feel even a slightest breeze. He returned to the small group he had just come from and tried to join the conversation again, but no one responded to him. Zatara tried to press some worthless point, yet no one even looked at him. Now he started to feel a rise from deep in his soul. He looked around and saw a hooded figure staring at him. As soon as Zatara locked his gaze to the open hood, the figure turned and darted down a narrow alley.

Zatara perused the figure, charging headfirst into the alley after it. The alley was narrow and the buildings were tall. They effectively blocked the sun from reaching the ground. Every time Zatara rounded a corner the figure rounded another one. Through the maze of the town the pursuit continued. Up one alley and down another. Zatara tried with all his might, but could not gain ground on the figure that eluded him until finally, he burst out of the alleyway and found himself at the docks. Standing there, he glanced to the left and to the right, searching for the figure that he had chased. Then he looked left and right again.

“Where's my ship!” He yelled out to the open air.

He looked where the ship had originally been docked, the space was empty. The ship was the closest to the docks and the fleet surrounded it, but now, now it simply wasn't there. How could it possibly have moved? Then… he saw his ship.

The Dreadnaught was moored at the far end of the docks now facing the open sea. The ship stood proud and straight, but the years upon it were obvious. Her once clean brass had become tarnished, her ropes frayed, her once straight planking showed signs of age.

The flag stood proud upon its pole but it didn't look right. The familiar turquoise and black bars of the background were there but all the symbols were gone.

As Captain Zatara stood there puzzling at the site, he saw motion up near the helm. Who the hell is on my ship, he thought to himself, and he took off for the gangway.

Grabbing the ropes of the handrails to steady himself as he slid around the corner and up the gangway he charged onto his ship. Quickly mounting the stairs to the helm, he ascended. As his vision cleared he could see what stood upon the poop deck, and he came to an abrupt stop. All the color drained from his face as he stood staring at was what was before him. In front of him stood four figures, they looked a little different but he recognized each one all the same.

The gods of his ship stood before him, and he realized the figure that he had been chasing, was the skeleton wrapped in a cloak. Next to the skeleton was Poseidon the God who, time after time, had changed on the ship after each of its incarnations. The raven, was now Odin with his great long beard and single eye glaring at him. The Red Dragon, that was Captain Zatara's original spirit totem, stood in the back towering over all of them.

Captain Zatara felt cold inside, even standing in the full blaze of the sun, he felt as if he could feel no warmth from it. “Fear not,” said the skeleton, “you know I am not death but the beginning of change. It is time to change again.”

Neptune said, “We don't have all day let's get on with it.” With that struck his Trident upon the deck. From the point of impact a wave surged forward and covered the ship and when the water drained away, the formally well warn ship, looked as if it had just come out of the shipyards. All new and shiny.

Odin in a low rumbling voice began to speak.

  “Lo there do I see my father’s; 
   Lo there do I see my mother’s;
   Lo there do I see my sisters and my brothers; 
   Lo there do I see the line of my family, back to the beginning. 
   Lo, they do call me, they bid me take my place among them, where the brave may live forever.“  

As the great Viking God spoke, a mist formed upon the decks, from the forecastle to the mid-deck and even around Captain Zatara on the poop deck. As the mist became thicker, forms started to materialize. At first less defined but then gaining definition. Then stepping out of the mist came members of the fleet of old; Aramis, Devin, and Dirty little Irish. It was like a who's who from the Rogue’s yearbook. Then came forth the spirits of the Captains who had commanded this mighty ship in the past; Captain Moon, Captain Ohm, and Captain Daphne. Finally figures that he knew so well, Captain Ogre, Captain MuttQ and his First Mate, Belladanna.

Captain Zatara leaned over to Belladanna and said, “I figured I would see you soon enough. What the hell were you doing out there in the dingy anyway?” Turning to her Captain, with a wry smile, she placed her hands behind her back, rose on her toes and swung her shoulders back and forth. Just like the willful sprite she is. “The mermaids were taunting me Captain, yes I may have been drunk, but those damn mermaids had to go.” She said laughing and trying to push him over. “I can’t take you anywhere” He said, shaking his head.

Zatara turned back and looked around in astonishment. Turning towards the ship’s Gods he mumbled to himself, “The ship's getting a bit crowded, ain't it?” The great Red Dragon looked down at the Captain and said, “We shall always be here to guide you, should you need it.”

As Zatara looked up at the Red Dragon he could see behind him the turquoise and black bars of the ships flag. The black bars moved as if they were an ocean, they came together and covered the turquoise turning the entire flag black. The skeleton, Neptune, and Odin began to rise into the air slowly. They formed a triangle in the air and the great Red Dragon rose to the center of that triangle. Then with one mighty rush of air they shrieked into the waving piece of cloth. The flag looked as it once did, from before Zatara started with the fleet. The great Red Dragon in the middle, but if you look closely you can see the skeleton, the nautilus shell, and the raven encircling it.

Turning back to the apparitions that had joined him on the poop deck, he found himself standing there with Captain MuttQ, Captain Ogre, and Captain Moon. Looking at them with astonishment in his eyes and perhaps a little disbelief, he heard a commotion on the docks and turned his attention to it. Looking over the far railing he saw members of his crew. “What's going on Captain, you weren't planning on leaving without us, where you?” Lady Mayhem shouted.

Zatara shouted back, “What are you doing?’

Mayhem returned with “going with you of course”

Morwen chimed in, “We follow the one we chose to lead us, We follow the one we call Captain, That is you!” Zatara yelled, “I don’t see Strings or PillowTop?”

"I, they still have business and have elected to stay. But the rest of us are coming whether you like it or not!” replayed Mayhem

Zatara’s crew always were a head strong bunch, he supposed that is why he liked them so much. As Zatara watched the crew scrambling up the gangplank he heard a familiar voice yelling up from the stern of the ship. A sound that was so harmonious and sweet it could be only one person. “Honeeeeey!”

Walking over to the stern railing of the ship he looked down, standing on the dock, he saw his love, Bellows. “Don’t forget me, I’m coming with you”. She said.

Looking down at the woman who was as beautiful now as she was when he first met her, he yelled back “Of course you are, my heart couldn’t take it if you didn’t”

She started for the gangway.

Zatara’s attention turned back Belladanna and said, “Get the crew in order and ready to depart.”

“Whatever you say Captain turkey butt” as she rolled her eyes and skipped off to see to the crew.

Zatara with a smirk on his face just shook his head as he walked to the stern of the ship. He leaned heavily on the railing. Looking out at the town, he could almost see, in his mind’s eye, the Rogues still at the meetinghouse drinking, talking and carrying on. In fact, all he saw was the stark white buildings of the town sprawled out before him.

Ogre, Mutt and Moon joined Zatara at the rail, all looking as he did, seeing in their own minds eyes the same kind of events. Even now Zatara was longing for times. As began to speak Zatara turned to face his friend.

  “I know how you feel, you try to give so much that it hurts. There is a weight in your chest that feels like it will never     end, and you think the only way to relieve it is to keep giving. It’s not. Nevertheless, the time has come that you need to let  all that go. You, like all of us here, are from the Old School Fleet, and as such belong there. They are the New School and need to find their own way to make it what they chose to. They will stumble they will fall, but in the end, they will be OK. You put a lot of things on hold as you served, now it is time to do for yourself without worrying about everyone else.” 

As Mutt picked up the conversation Zatara turned to him.

  “You know, it is not really goodbye... Those who care about you and you in turn care about, you’ll still see them. Whether  you see them at another port, or at kegging, or Table Balls, or that terrible caterwauling you call singing. You will still see them. Friendships cross barriers, they cross lines. That is why they are so strong and can’t be broken by the little things. If they do break, then they break. Let things be what they be and don’t make things into something there not. Let the wheat fall from the chaff as it will“ 

Captain Moon poked Zatara in the ribs and as he turned Moon forced a mug of Hyper Captain in to his hand. “So…” said Moon, “Your profile never did say what you did before the Rogues”. Glancing slyly left and right, Zatara leaned over and whispered in Moon’s ear. Moons eyes got real wide with surprise. He pulled back and yelled “You what?” then with a heavy laugh in his voice he said “And they call us Pirates!”

By now Bellows had joined the 4 captains on the poop deck and they turned around. Leaning on the railing gazing towards the bow of the ship, Bellows slid up next to Zatara and put her arm around his waist, he reached down and wrapped his arm around hers. Belladonna piped up. “Ready to get underway Captain”

It was then someone shouted, “Do we have the right to take the ship?”

Captain Moon shouted back

“It’s not the first time a ship has left the fleet, and it was given to him fair and square.” “Besides, we’re Pirates! Take it all, give nothing back.”

As Zatara stood there, even as a smile formed on his face as he looked to new seas to cross, a tear formed at the corner of his eye and began to run down his cheek. Captain Moon looked over and saw the look in his old friend’s eyes. Moon smartly slapped Zatara on the back practically knocking him over. Gesturing back at the town, he thundered.

“Did you see that shit?”

“Yes” Zatara replied, “Yes I did”

As the ship sailed towards the horizon, no one could have noticed on the stern, the writing on the name plate of the ship... the plate that had once read “The Rising”, that had once read “Nautilus”, that had once read “Dreadnaught”, and had until just a moment ago read “Dreadnaught”, had again changed.

To my friends, Fair Winds, Fair Waters, Fair Well.