Reginald Kretch's page

About Reginald Kretch

Background:For as long as he could remember, Reginald had an affinity for water. Being in, on, or around the water was his idea of heaven. Unfortunately, the only water where he lived was the small lake quarry, which he had explored thoroughly by the time he was 12. Family life was never exactly what you could call great either. He was the youngest of 10 children, so really saw little time or care from, well, pretty much any of his family. The only thing that he ever really thanked his family for was taking him to Portsmouth for the yearly festival.

Reggie cared little for the festivities, but the sea...oh the sea was magnificence. He watched as ships came in on the tops of the waves. Watched seals and dolphins play around the slips. He was 15 the year he made the decision, and never regretted it, mostly.

Reginald saw one of the ships make dock and start unloading the cargo. He waited till later when he saw crewmembers leaving for the shore, and what he figured was a night in the tavern. Reggie took his chance then and slipped aboard the Dragon's Breath, and hid down in the hold. He did well for a while, able to snatch food from sailors that didn't finish, or finished their grog before their food, but it was a ship, and there's only so much space on a ship. He was carving a bit into a barrel, doing his best to write and keep track of the days when a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"What we got here, eh? Looks like we gots ourselves a right big bilge rat!" The hand belonged to a mostly toothless, grizzled old sailor, who proceeded to drag him deckside. Reginald flailed his feet in futility trying to escape the grasp, but really, where would he go? The short trip ended with a quick shove and Reginald sprawled on the deck in front of the captain. "Caught me a stowaway Cap'n."

"I see that Mr Grent." The Captain, a large well groomed man stood over Reggie. "Well lad, what do you have to say for yourself? Choose your words wisely, we usually hang stowaways."

Reginald gulped, and thought for a moment. "Captain...sir. I just wanted a life on the water. I've never felt at home on land all the time. My family would have never let me go, so I took the first chance I had to get on a ship so I could be on the water. It's everything I want." Reggie added, "Sir."

The crew laughed, and the Captain held up a hand. "Everything you want? The life of a sailor isn't pleasant, lad. Don't pay attention, and a jib or mast is likely to crush you before you can move. Ropes burn you hands, storms freeze you followed by stills that bake you." The captain walked around Reginald, "Others on the water will look to steal everything you own, including those you sail with!" The crew laughed, "Yet here you are, ready to pledge your life to the sea? Hope you're willing to die for it. String him up!" The crowed roared approval and hoisted Reggie to his feet.

"I am willing to die for it! Even this short time has been worth it. I'd wear the scars of the ship with pride, but if this is all the time I get then so be it." Reginald all but spat this out.

The Captain wheeled on him, "Is that right?" He grinned to the rest of the crew, "Alright then, he lives so he can earn his 'scars'." He drew a small poniard from his belt, and got his face right next to Reginald's, "First one's on me." With that he drew the blade down from Reggie's left ear down his neck to his shoulder. Reginald fell to his knees grasping at the wound. "It won't be fatal, boy." He looked up, "Salt it, and give him a berth. He earns his keep from here on out."

The crew was amazingly more accepting after that, and indeed he saw that more than a few of them bore scars in the same place as he received his new wound. He learned what he could from them, and was an avid learner as they were teachers. For five years he learned the trade, including swordplay from the captain himself. At the end of that 5 years, Reginald took his share from the ship, and looked to join on another crew, with an eye for a ship of his own.