So I don't know if anyone knows this already or wants to know. Buuuuuuuut
Pirate Postions Explained
Using the pirate crews as my examples
Captain:
When most people think of pirates, they think of a Captain and a First Mate. The captain however isn't an automatic position, it's an elected one; with the only time they have absolute power being in combat or chasing someone. Any other time they could be overruled by a majority vote.
In terms of the Isle, this means both Harriet and Uma were put into power by those around them who have no reason to remove them from said seat. Uma because all of her crew would die for her in a heartbeat. Harriet because despite all her anger and problems, she's good at what she does. (and no one wants to put up with the amount of bs that she does)
First Mate:
First Mates typically didn't exist on pirate ships, instead being a term for navy or commercial ships as the captain's apprentice or right hand. Pirate ships had a quartermaster instead fill that position.
However, Captain James Hook started as a navel officer not a pirate, so his ships had a bit more in common with structuring with navy than other pirate ships. His children followed his lead with how they set up their respective crews. Harriet making Sammy her right hand. Harry making himself Uma's.
Quartermaster:
The quartermaster, in the absence of a first mate, is the next highest ranked position. Often being the one that pirates went to with problems, disagreements, or requests. When not in combat, they held the exact same authority as the captain. As the name suggests, they were in charge of making sure everyone's living quarters was figured out as well as managing food and water supplies.
Harriet, having known him her whole life and trusting his abilities, chose Big Murph as her quartermaster to use both him and Sammy to even out her temperament. Uma went with the most stable and friendly person on the crew, Gil, who everyone agrees was needed to be objective in terms of Harry and other issues.
Master Gunner:
The master gunner is a bit what it sounds like, they are the person in charge of cannons and overall combat if the captain is unavailable for that specific task.
Harriet chose Jade for her quick and out of the box thinking, she can quickly spot a weak point in order to disable a ship. Uma chose Ivy because one way or another, Ivy was going to be using the cannons; might as well teach her and let her be in charge of them.
Medic/Surgeons:
A pirate ship typically didn't have a trained medical practitioner at all. If they did have one, it was because they pressed them into service.
The Isle, however, doesn't have any trained medics. Everyone is just figuring it out from discarded books, stories, and practical experience. Harriet chose Mayra due to her force of will and cool head when it came to people being hurt. Uma chose Bonny because she was the daughter of the Jolly Roger's surgeon, and had a semblance of medical training in that aspect.
Boatswain:
Boatswain are junior officers who reported back directly to either the captain or quartermaster. They made sure the ship was in top shape, keeping track of any damage, making sure the deck is being swabbed, and other small but necessary tasks. They also were the one who would typically lead parties ashore to restock or find materials for repairs.
Harriet chose Diego to keep him close to her because he is very good at keeping track of multiple projects and activities all at once. Uma chose Desiree because of her attention to detail.
Cook/General Positions:
A cook was typically just a random crew member who had been put in charge, this along with other general positions would have been decided by one's talents or other skills.
Harry Badun was chosen via straws for the position of cook, he hasn't done a bad job so why remove him. Claudine was chosen due to her both working in her father's shop and consistently being the only cook in that house. Desiree fills in as cook when Claudine is incapacitated (or banned.)
Hope you might have learned something!
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The Shattered Hope
Captain: Harriet Hook
First Mate: Samuel ‘Sammy’ Smee
Quartermaster: Big Murph
Master Gunner: Jawdat ‘Jade’ of Agrabah
Medic: Marya Rasputin
Main Cook: Harry Badun
Boatswain: Diego de Vil
Assorted Members: Jace Badun, Sebastian ‘Squeaky’ Smee, Silas ‘Squirmy’ Smee
The Shattered Hope is one of two gangs that run the docks and surrounding territory. Unlike other gangs, The Shattered Hope and The Lost Revenge prefer to settle territory and other disputes between themselves, never bringing in any outside gangs.
The Shattered Hope is the one of the oldest gangs on the Isle and the one with the most active hands in intergang relations, earning it the position of Council Leader.
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"It was as if her whole future, and her whole past, too, fell away and left just herself—a small girl with untidy hair—alone in a sunny smoke-filled room. Hildy had not realized how much she had built on Lithar and the Holy Islands. She seemed to have founded on them everything which made her into Hildrida and not one of her cousins. It was not exactly her fault, but she had done the building. And it was all unreal. It had not even gone; it had just never been."
Diana Wynne Jones, "Drowned Ammet"
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