-Nate
The Original
Jolly Roger, and the First Skull and Crossbones
Although the practice of piracy has been around for millennia, the
use of the skull and crossbones as a flag is a relatively recent
development. One of the theories to explain its adoptions hearkens
back to the year 1314, when Jacques de Molay—former Grand Master of
the by then disbanded Knights Templar—was executed by the French
authorities. His order had been disbanded, and its members arrested,
seven years previously. Since then, the disgraced knight had been
subjected to relentless torture, some say because he might have known
the location of the fabled Templar treasure or other secrets of great
power. When he was finally burned at the stake, legend has it that
individuals loyal to his cause returned to the site in the dark of
knight to gather his remains. All they could find was the man's skull
and two femur bones—the very same ones that are depicted on the
Jolly Roger.
The flag itself, some say, takes its name from an ex-Templar by the
name of Roger de Flor. He began his career as a ship's boy aboard a
Mediterranean galley owned by the Templars, eventually joining the
order and rising to the rank of captain. After being accused of
thievery and thrown out of the order, however, he went to Genoa,
borrowed money with which to purchase his own galley, and turned
pirate. His mercenary band went on to serve various employers, both
in battles against the Ottomans as well as in intrigues between
various European factions. Eventually he was assassinated by the
Emperor of Constantinople in 1305. His organization, the Catalan
Company, continued to be active, and it is believed that they flew
the flag to honor both him and the former Templar Commander, de
Molay.
The
flag itself looks much like many that have come after it, except that
it has faded a bit with the passing centuries. In game terms, once
per month, when it is raised in battle, all allies who are present
gain the benefits of a bard's inspire
courage
ability (that is, a +1 bonus to saving throws against charm and fear
effects, and a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls). This is an
enhancement bonus, however, and so it can stack with other effects
that create a morale bonus.
It is also believed that there is still a wooden box, lined with
velvet, banded in iron and sealed with a stout padlock, that contains
the actual bones of Jacques de Molay—the ones gathered from the
ashes after he was executed. If this box is brought aboard a ship
along with the aforementioned flag, the bonus granted by them
together increases to +2.
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