Rangers of Shadow Deep - Captain Fletcher

Bosun Aloysius St John Hancock is named after another comedy character. Tony Hancock from Hancock’s Half Hour.

The dagger at his back and a quick revisit of the Zandri Dust and red elements were the only refresh required.

Aloysius is the first to volunteer for missions on land, the first to request shore leave when they find safe harbours and the last man to leave dock and cast off when they leave.

Mainly because he can’t swim.

Most of his waking moments at sea are plagued with the anxiety of this fact, but only his captain knows of his phobia. The captain had tried to teach him in the shallows and the rivers on their years of voyages together, but sadly the fear is deeply entrenched in his psyche and the lessons descended into paniced scuffles or sobbing.

The fear has made him a blur of activity on ship. The hull is checked for leaks constantly, all elements of ship maintenance are never delayed and the men mistake his anxiety for diligence and a prime sense of duty.

The Captain is glad that this mission in land would ease Aloysius’ anxiety for likely an extended period. The Captain also was sad to have Aloysius with him, or any of his crew with him in part, because he would much rather have faced the coming dangers with strangers he cared little for. There would be sacrifices to make and he was usually less sentimental or hampered by such thoughts when orders were to be carried out. The tales of the supernatural and the pressures of command were weighing on him heavily , but the burden would be carried and the tasks completed. There was glory to be made of this misery and fame and fortune that would hopefully buy his men an early, and in some cases a timely and affluent retirement.

Onward for Alladore, onward for glory and one day… eventually… peace.