author: Nicole J. LeBoeuf

It's Saturday the 27th, and normal service resumes. Below please find your YPP blockade schedule for the weekend. As usual, it's concentrated on the Emerald and Meridian Oceans, but Cerulean does have a little noontime action going on if that's where you prefer to play. Me, I'm currently jobbing in the Prolix Purlieu 'kade on Meridian. I'd better type fast before the ship fills and we go in!

The blockade on The Lowland Hundred reminded me--I just reread Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising quintet last week, and was surprised (since I'd forgotten it) to encounter the island's namesake in the final book. The island's Yppedia page mentions that the island, originally called Cantre'r Gwaelod but renamed shortly after as an act of mercy toward non-Welsh speakers, takes its name from a Welsh legend about a drowned kingdom. In Cooper's Silver on the Tree, a journey is made through time and magic to visit that lost land and retrieve an artifact of great power.

So there's your literary content for the day, and a subject you can explore in your browser window while you're waiting for your ship to enter the fray. You're welcome!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, August 27 ***

11:55 a.m. - Prolix Purlieu, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Velt's Boiyz
Attacker: Ice Wyrm's Brood (5)

11:55 a.m. - The Lowland Hundred, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: New Providence
Attacker: Jinx (3)

3:57 p.m. - Bowditch Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Major Key Alert
Attacker: Black Flag

4:03 p.m. - Caravanserai Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Black Flag
Attacker: Major Key Alert

4:06 p.m. - Paihia Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Dead In The Water
Attacker: Origin

4:28 p.m. - Isle of Kent, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Major Key Alert
Attacker: Black Flag

6:00 p.m. - Gallows Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Origin

9:55 p.m. - Kasidim Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Going Down
Attacker: Skull Candy

*** Sunday, August 28 ***

11:20 a.m. - Manu Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Invicta
Attacker: Origin

11:21 a.m. - Cryo Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Origin

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, August 27 ***

11:52 a.m. - Jubilee Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Flag of Fun
Attacker: The All-Consuming Flame (7)

11:56 a.m. - Jorvik Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Dies Irae
Attacker: Davy Jones' Locker

*** Sunday, August 28 ***

11:30 a.m. - Cleopatra's Pearls, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Jinx (2)
Attacker: Family Ties

Your blockade report is late again, but it seems like we didn't miss much. Just the scuffle on Corona Reef on the Meridian Ocean round about noon Pirate Time--that one's gone into its fourth round as I post this. After that, Icy Sun will be attempting to oust Madam Yu Jian from Havoc Island starting... now, and that's pretty much it for blockades until next week. Slow weekend, y'all!

A big update is coming soon, though. "Greedy Brigands" have been released for testing on the Ice Ocean. The changelog has the details, and here's the official announcement in the forum. Here's the gist:

While vessels are configured for pillaging, they will have a chance of encountering a new "greedy" variety of brigands during sword fights. These brigands are identifiable by their extravagant jewelry that they collect and hoard for themselves, such as gold eyepatches and flashy necklaces.

During the sword fight, if you have a greedy brigand targeted, your puzzle board will highlight a specific color of fused blocks on your board. You can destroy these blocks for a chance of knocking treasure from their clutches. The larger the fused block you destroy, the better your chance.

If you have a subscription to Cerulean, then you've got access to the Ice Ocean to test out this brand new exciting feature! Some intrepid pirates have already been doing just that and discussing the results here.

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, August 13 ***

12:07 p.m. - Corona Reef, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Dragon Lords
Attacker: Ice Wyrm's Brood (1)

3:21 p.m. - Havoc Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: The Jade Empire (2)
Attacker: Icy Sun
Undeclared: The Warriors

I'm afraid I wasn't able to get the blockade schedule up while it was shiny and new. It's nearly 8 PM Pirate Time now, and all that's left are one blockade each on the Meridian and Cerulean Oceans, both well underway and neither, it would appear, jobbing. Sorry, y'all. (Info is below if you want it.)

I can, however, tell you about two limited-time-only trophy opportunities we are in the midst of.

First, there's the August 2016 Seal o' Piracy, which you will earn by...

Completing 4 different expeditions (Imperial Outpost, Viking Defense, Buried Treasure Atoll, Lost Shipwreck)

Past experience suggests that Brigand King expeditions, either as information received after a successful battle at sea or by following a compass, may also count toward this goal. Those of us with obsessive spreadsheets will keep careful notes.

Second, we are in the middle of the Pirate Summer Games 2016! Old hands at YPP may recall that every time the Olympics happen in real life, a corresponding team competition happens in the game. Every pirate will find themselves assigned to a team named for a monster out of Greek mythology. Each valued action which they accomplish--in the current contest, "compete against yer fellow pirates in one-on-one challenges or place first to third in Puzzle Competitions"--will earn points for their team. At the end of the competition, you get a copy of the trophy corresponding to how well your team did.

The current competition will last through August 22, so now would be a great time to log in and earn your team some points!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, August 6 ***

6:14 p.m. - Iocane Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Hellfire Club
Attacker: Origin
Attacker: Burn Them Down
Undeclared: Poverty Stricken
Undeclared: Candle

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, August 6 ***

4:05 p.m. - Cleopatra's Pearls, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Jinx (2)
Attacker: Tequila Sunrise

Hey, check it out, blockades. Mostly on the Emerald Ocean, where there's three sets of multidrop wars going on between player flags. Probably because it's been a few weeks since I last did one of these posts, more than half of the flags involved are brand new to me. The usual suspect Bite the Pillow is getting attacked on two fronts by newcomer (to me) Major Key Alert; longtime 'kader Illuminati must choose whether to defend against new flag in town (so far as I know) Poverty Stricken; and Below My Deck is being confronted with a couple Hunter-side drops by Origin (a flag which contains the single crew SPECIES, get it? Get it?)--both of them are brand new on my radar.

The reason I'm repeatedly saying "to me" is, again, I've been out of the scene for a few months. Plus I don't necessarily manage to see everything.

The only other blockades this weekend are Babylon's attack on Admiral Finius on the Cerulean Ocean, and Coming Soon coming under attack by the forces of Brynhild Skullsplitter on the Meridian Ocean.

So the schedule's a little light--might be convenient for you, though, if your focus is on finishing up your Seal o' Piracy for July 2016. This is the last weekend you've got to earn that trophy!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, July 30 ***

2:56 p.m. - Admiral Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Bite the Pillow
Attacker: Major Key Alert

2:56 p.m. - Wissahickon Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Bite the Pillow
Attacker: Major Key Alert

3:28 p.m. - Kakraphoon Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Black Veil (3)
Attacker: Major Key Alert

9:10 p.m. - Albatross Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Illuminatti
Attacker: Poverty Stricken

9:16 p.m. - Gauntlet Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Illuminatti
Attacker: Poverty Stricken

11:54 p.m. - Tumult Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Below My Deck
Attacker: Origin

11:55 p.m. - Anegada Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Below My Deck
Attacker: Origin

*** Sunday, July 31 ***

11:55 a.m. - Terra Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Coming Soon
Attacker: Ice Wyrm's Brood (7)

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Sunday, July 31 ***

11:47 a.m. - Papaya Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (6)
Attacker: Babylon

Efficiency strikes again, and not lateness at all! In fact, the Friday Fictionette for July 8 went up on time from a charging station in Denver International Airport. It's just that I'm only blogging about it today. And I only just uploaded the excerpt today. And I only just now released the Fictionette Freebie for June today--that certainly counts as late. I'll cop to that.

Anyway, the Friday Fictionette for July 8, 2016, is "Singing in the Shower," which starts out being exceedingly wasteful of water and winds up being somewhat wasteful of roommates. But isn't that a pretty picture of a dragonfly on a rock in Wonderland Creek? (For the subscribers: ebook here, in PDF and epub formats; audiobook over there in good ol' MP3.)

The Fictionette Freebie for the month of June 2016 is "Happy Birthday, Dear Bob." At 1509 words, it's the longest fictionette I've turned out in a while, so considered as cents per word it's a pretty good deal. In any case, it's a cost-free way to see if my idea of "grimly humorous quasi-horror" is compatible with your idea of "a good read." (Again, PDF and epub here, MP3 audiobook there.)

And the YPP weekend blockade schedule for the weekend of July 9-10 is right here in front of your nose, and you should scroll down (or click here) for all the details. There aren't all that many of them. If more get posted at the last minute, I'll try to give you an update.

Also, the Seal o' Piracy requirements for July 2016 is to complete 12 parlor game sessions.

And the Christmas in July Grand Frig Pilly for 2016 was super fun, though I didn't get to be in it for quite as long as I'd like. I won a prize! It was a wooden coffin. You may think that underwhelming, but remember, you can only get them in Black Boxes at a probability of 1.2%. Actually, less than that; 1.2% is your chance of getting a piece of vampiric furniture, and there are four pieces of vampiric furniture possible. Also they have twelve different positioning options, which is kind of cool. Nensieuisge put it in her back yard with the lid off. So hooray and thank you, Pegasiswolf!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, July 9 ***

11:56 a.m. - Marlowe Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Coming In Hot
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (2)

11:56 a.m. - Gallows Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Burn Them Down
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (2)

12:11 p.m. - Duat Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Black Veil (3)
Attacker: The Good Cheese Company

5:24 p.m. - Ventress Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Black Veil (2)
Attacker: Black Flag

So remember the Babylon and Netflix and Kill show from last weekend? This weekend, it's Episode Two: the Pay Cap Boogaloo. OK, well, not a pay cap per se - just an agreement between the two flags over jobber pay on Labyrinth Moors (3.5k/seg) which may or may not apply to the other contests between those two flags. Four blockades are scheduled for Saturday as we speak, and a fifth, Delta on Sunday, isn't on the schedule yet but has been announced on the forum.

On all the other oceans but Jade, we appear to have a modest amount of anti-Brigand King action--again, all of it for Saturday so far, but if that changes, I'll update this post later on this afternoon.

And because early notice is better than late, mark your calendars for XMAS IN JULY 2016 - a 24-hour Grand Frig pillage on the Emerald Ocean hosted by Pegasiswolf and the crew Dream Catchers, with a ridiculous amount of prizes along the way. Even the OMs are getting in on it, donating easter eggs and other goodies for the crew to give away. The ship sets sail on July 1, 2016 at 10 AM Game Time, and you want to be on it right from the get-go if you can swing it, because pirates who stay aboard for the whole twenty-four hours will be given a free ship and a chance to win a black octopus familiar and who knows what else, because the forum thread keeps updating with more and more prize information.

Gonna put it out there right now: I plan to be there for just as long as I can! I'm not very good at pulling all-nighters, I'll have the usual Friday Fictionette release due that day, and I have happy fun time real life plans for the afternoon of July 2... but I'll give it my best shot. If you see Nensieuisge on board, say hi!

But that's not for two weeks yet. For now, enjoy the blockades and see you around!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, June 18 ***

11:02 a.m. - Maia-Insel, Opal Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Ursa Major
Attacker: Schwarzes Netz (1)

11:56 a.m. - Ansel Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Organized Criminals
Attacker: The All-Consuming Flame (6)

11:57 a.m. - The Lowland Hundred, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Illuminatti
Attacker: Jinx (3)

11:57 a.m. - Anegada Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Illuminatti
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (4)

2:13 p.m. - Albatross Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: The Crazy Department
Attacker: Truth or Dare

6:01 p.m. - Conglin Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Chthonic Horde (5)
Attacker: Infamous

*** Sunday, June 19 ***

11:54 a.m. - Ilha da Aguia, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Skull Candy
Attacker: New Providence

11:57 a.m. - Ambush Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Going Down
Attacker: Blow Me Good

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, June 18 ***

4:55 p.m. - Labyrinth Moors, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Netflix and Kill
Attacker: Babylon

4:58 p.m. - Turtle Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

7:53 p.m. - Winter Solstice, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Netflix and Kill
Attacker: Babylon

7:54 p.m. - Namath Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Netflix and Kill
Attacker: Babylon

*** Sunday, June 19 ***

11:54 a.m. - Delta Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Netflix and Kill
Attacker: Babylon

Blah blah blah, blockade schedule now, fictionette update later, blah blah blah. You know the drill.

Most of this weekend's entertainment will be brought to you by the near-cinematic multi-island struggle between Netflix and Kill (attacking) and Babylon (defending) on the Cerulean Ocean. And by multi-island, I mean not two or three or five but in fact nine. Nine islands! Simultaneously! Who can even? I don't know and you don't either. Just get in there and get puzzling, right?

The Emerald Ocean features a multi-island face-off that's nearly impressive, mostly between Going Down and Blow Me Good with a little Truth or Dare thrown in for variety. Meanwhile there are Brigand Kings to be evicted. You know how it goes.

Keep scrolling for the full schedule. Have fun!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, June 11 ***

11:57 a.m. - Conglin Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Dragon Lords
Attacker: Chthonic Horde (6)

12:17 p.m. - Ventress Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: The Enlightened (2)
Attacker: Spankilicious

12:24 p.m. - Ilha da Aguia, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Black Veil (2)
Attacker: Skull Candy

8:30 p.m. - Ambush Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Chthonic Horde (2)
Attacker: Going Down

*** Sunday, June 12 ***

10:00 a.m. - Fintan Island, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Chapter Three
Attacker: Radioactive

10:00 a.m. - Kashgar Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: The Enlightened (2)
Attacker: Blow Me Good

10:01 a.m. - Alkaid Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Blow Me Good
Attacker: Going Down

10:02 a.m. - Arakoua Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Going Down
Attacker: Blow Me Good

10:02 a.m. - Doyle Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Truth or Dare
Attacker: Blow Me Good

10:23 a.m. - Ix Chel, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Blow Me Good
Attacker: Going Down

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, June 11 ***

11:56 a.m. - Delta Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

11:56 a.m. - Labyrinth Moors, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

11:56 a.m. - Napi Peak, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

11:57 a.m. - Turtle Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

11:57 a.m. - Papaya Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

11:57 a.m. - Namath Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

11:58 a.m. - Nu Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

11:58 a.m. - Tinga Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

11:58 a.m. - Winter Solstice, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Netflix and Kill

In the interest of keeping things discrete and easy to find by those what wants 'em, the management will not be combining the Weekend Blockade and Friday Fictionette reports today. Because, OK, that's silly. Here, then is your YPP Weekend Blockade report with all things Puzzle Pirates; the Friday Fictionette report for Week 1 of June 2016 will be arriving under separate cover (and at a later time).

So! An announcement. Quoth Demeter a couple days ago,

A clarification of our policy has been made here.

"If at any time the attacking flag is not putting up sufficient fight, as determined by the Oceanmaster on duty, we will consider that as their flag's consent to end the blockade early.

A blockade still has to run until the end of round one.

The intention of this point in policy is to prevent defenders from being required to continue to mount a defense when there is no significant attack on the board.

Is it the end of the flagsit? Jobbers mourn, flags rejoice! In any case, hopefully this won't be a factor when Tequila Sunrise take on Azarbad the Great during today's rescheduled blockade of Emperor Island on the Cerulean Ocean. It's more likely to be at play during the PvP defense of Caravanserai against Black Flag, depending on how serious the threat turns out to be.

Also, Dead in the Water, I see what you did with Loreena McKennet's adaptation of the poem "Dark Night of the Soul" and I may never forgive you. Well, at least not until Monday.

Meanwhile! New month, new Seal o' Piracy! This one's really easy, especially if you're an officer and like to take your sloop out solo. You will earn it when you...

Complete a non-Navy session of 5 different duty puzzles

Which gives rise to the eternal question, "What, pray tell, constitutes a session?" Wonder no longer. I have looked it up, found it out, and tested it multiple times. A session of a duty puzzle is an amount of time on station of sufficient duration to be rated. For practical purposes, you'll know you're done because you've showed up on the Duty Report. I've soloed several of my pirates to their trophies by simply changing station every league. It works! It tends to get you at least one battle, even if you've set the voyage type to Evade and you're a great duty navigator, but it does work.

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, June 4 ***

11:58 a.m. - Alkaid Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Chthonic Horde (2)
Attacker: Blow Me Good

1:47 p.m. - Caravanserai Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Dead In The Water
Attacker: Black Flag

2:00 p.m. - Doyle-Insel, Opal Ocean
Defender: Forcas Armadas
Attacker: Pandemic

4:28 p.m. - Ventress Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: New Providence
Attacker: The Enlightened (4)

11:00 p.m. - Ilha da Aguia, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Black Veil (3)
Attacker: Skull Candy

*** Sunday, June 5 ***

9:57 a.m. - Kashgar Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Midknight Sun
Attacker: The Enlightened (4)

10:21 a.m. - Kakraphoon Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Chthonic Horde (4)
Attacker: Blow Me Good

11:57 a.m. - Fintan Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Chapter Three
Attacker: Jinx (5)

11:57 a.m. - Ambush Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Midknight Sun
Attacker: Chthonic Horde (4)

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, June 4 ***

1:56 p.m. - Emperor Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: The All-Consuming Flame (2)
Attacker: Tequila Sunrise

Because we are all about efficiency here at the Actually Writing Blog, and not all because I put things off until stupid o'clock last night, we're going to combine the weekly Puzzle Pirates Blockade Report with the mostly weekly Friday Fictionette announcement. EFFICIENCY! Thus:

The Friday Fictionette for May 27 is "The Right Child," because it turns out I still have things to say about YA portal fantasy (see "Right Door, Wrong Time," short story, N. J. LeBoeuf). And also the literary subgenre of Tough Life Lessons About Mortality (see author's note) and possibly my ongoing dissatisfaction with the books of Katherine Paterson (see subtext).

The Weekend Blockade report is below, and I wish you all the joy of it because, once again, roller derby prohibits my participation. Not that I'm complaining. IT'S BOUT DAY! RAWR!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, May 28 ***

11:58 a.m. - Aimuari Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Black Veil (5)
Attacker: Bite the Pillow
Attacker: Illusion

11:58 a.m. - Labyrinth Moors, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Coming Soon
Attacker: The All-Consuming Flame (5)

12:02 p.m. - Alkaid Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Chthonic Horde (3)
Attacker: Blow Me Good

2:09 p.m. - Napi Peak, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Barely Dressed
Attacker: Squad Yohohologo

3:37 p.m. - Tumult Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Wasp Enterprises
Attacker: Pale Element

3:57 p.m. - Arakoua Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Jinx (3)
Attacker: Going Down

5:02 p.m. - Caravanserai Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Midknight Sun
Attacker: Dead In The Water

6:00 p.m. - Barbary Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Midknight Sun
Attacker: Dead In The Water

6:01 p.m. - Kiwara Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Black Flag
Attacker: Dead In The Water

6:04 p.m. - Basset Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Midknight Sun
Attacker: S T F U

*** Sunday, May 29 ***

11:00 a.m. - Polaris Point, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Velt's Boiyz
Attacker: The Bretheren Court

Yesterday was a long day. Woke up at 6 AM, got to the tournament venue for 7:30, skated in the bout at 9:00, watched the other four bouts, went out for dinner with some friends, and finally got back to the hotel around 9:30 PM. As anticipated nothing that wasn't roller derby got done yesterday.

Today, however, there are only three bouts scheduled for the tournament. The first is at 3:00 PM. Our bout, which I do not anticipate being called upon to skate in, is at 5:00 PM. Which means John and I have nowhere to be until 2:30.

We had the luxury of a game of Go over a leisurely breakfast within walking distance of our hotel. And now I have time, for once, to post the Puzzle Pirates blockade schedule for the weekend.

Gosh, I haven't jobbed in a blockade in... a very long time, it seems. Probably won't today either--shame, too, because on the Emerald Ocean it looks like the flag Keep the Peace have done a lot of scuttling in the past few days, resulting in about a kazillion Brigand King blockades with all the PoE-earning potential involved. Ah, well. I am going to chip away at the requirements to earn my Seal o' Piracy for May, though. Those requirements are...

Completing 20 sea battles

Which always takes longer than you think.

Anyway, without further ado, the weekend blockade schedule. Enjoy!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, May 21 ***

11:01 a.m. - Tumult-Insel, Opal Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Ursa Major
Attacker: Der Fluch (2)

11:02 a.m. - Kakraphoon Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Deep Thought
Attacker: Chthonic Horde (5)

11:58 a.m. - Aimuari Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Keep the Peace
Attacker: Black Veil (8)

11:58 a.m. - Alkaid Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Keep the Peace
Attacker: Chthonic Horde (6)

11:58 a.m. - Arakoua Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Keep the Peace
Attacker: Jinx (6)

11:58 a.m. - Ilha da Aguia, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Keep the Peace
Attacker: Black Veil (4)

11:58 a.m. - Ventress Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Sea Dogs Republic
Attacker: New Providence
Attacker: Salmon Aren't Crafty
Attacker: Blow Me Good

12:03 p.m. - Gallows Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: The Crazy Department
Attacker: Burn Them Down

12:03 p.m. - Fintan Island, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Radioactive
Attacker: Chapter Three

1:41 p.m. - Cryo Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: This Means War
Attacker: Spoon Republic

4:01 p.m. - Garden Cradle, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Chapter Three
Attacker: Corteezism

*** Sunday, May 22 ***

9:58 a.m. - Caravanserai Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Midknight Sun
Attacker: The Enlightened (6)

2:00 p.m. - Raven's Roost, Meridian Ocean
Event: 1 round, nonsinking
Hosted by: Organized Criminals