Rose

Unsubdued pirate captain.

Captain Rosalind Abigail Oak, Countess of Holland, Commander in the Military Order of William (a.k.a. Rose)

"Have you ever fired a gun in anger, love?" The soldier said arrogantly.
"I’m not angry." Rose replied with a smile.
Something about her tone made the soldier stop.
The look he saw in her eyes, it scared him.

Introduction

Rosalind Abigail Oak, Countess of Holland, Commander in the Military Order of William, Captain of the Sunset Dawn & Red Sunrise, Pirate.

Impoverished and without a home, she joins a superyacht as a stewardess. But because of cicumstances Rose ended up joining a Pirate crew. Where she had many adventures and slowly gained experience and respect from her colleagues. To her own surprise, the same pirates later elected her as their Captain.

Through all kinds of adventures she leads her crew on, when the change arrives, they upgrade to a bigger ship, the former super yacht. And after getting involved in a war it get's sunk. Afterwards, the crew splits up and Rose goes home. Back home, Rose finds out the life of a former pirate is not so glamorous, even if you're a noble woman. She misses the sea and leaves everyone and everything again to set sail once more when the chance arrives.

Early live

Mad for books, Rose almost lived in the library. She grew up as an only child from divorced parents; she was raised by predominantly by her father. As a child, she practised gymnastics fervently. After finishing high school she attended a maritime university in the Netherlands, where she also did a specialisation in sailing tall ships.


"No parents to go to? Or other family?"
-“My mother left us for some Instagram hot boy who didn’t want her kid. My father sought the answer in a bottle, but he found a coffin instead."
"That sucks."
-"yes"
— Rosalind Abigail Oak in conversation with Peter James Jacobson

Maritime Career

Season 1

After having considerable difficulties in finding a trainnee spot as a cadet for the maritime university. It turned out even more difficult to find a job. To atleast make money to pay back the student loans Rose started her maritime career as a Stewardess on the Antelope. When the owner of that Antelope disappeared without a trace and stopped paying for the provisions and the crew's salary, the crew sold the ship to Captain Peter James Jacobson and the Pirate crew of the Narwhal in exchange for tickets home.
Rose who had nothing left at home, her father had died while she was in university, opted to stay awhile with the pirates, and joined the crew as a sailor on the Narwhal. Not in the last place because she really liked Peter.

The pirate crew like what she does, and Rose likes her new found job. Because she does it well, the crew promote her to Second Mate for the Narwhal. When the captain dies the pirate crew splits up, and half of them decide to convert the Antelope to the Pirate ship Sunset Dawn Rose becomes second mate on the Sunset Dawn. Not much later, she changes position with Jan de Jongh and becomes her Captain. A position she will hold until the sinking of the ship.

Side view Sunset Dawn (18jan23).png
Side view Sunset Dawn (18jan23) by Jacob-W

Season 2

Propitious feelings rage inside Rose as she travels back to Europe, hoping to reconnect with her mother. Unfortunately, she ends up in the hands of the police, and by sheer luck she is broken out of jail by a knight and adopted by the Order of the Bee. Where she learns a lot about her father's family's history.

A new life begins at Doorwerth Castle far from the pirate life. Here she meets Karel van Gelre for the first time, and is both annoyed and intrigued by him. Sometimes she does some clandestine jobs for the Dutch navy. (Or actually the Dutch secret service MIVD but Rose doesn't know that). Rose slowly grows restless at the castle, though. This is not a life for her. Rose and the Magistrate do not get along at all, as Rose doesn't let the Magistrate form her into the picture perfect doll the Magistrate thinks she must be.

When Rose does another small job for the navy, she accidentally meets Bobby Smith and Marshmallow in a pub called Pirate Refuge in the UK. The three of them agree that they all miss their former life and decide to rebuild their pirate ship, gather the crew and sail on the high seas once more.

Season 3

Itching to sail the seven seas, the pirates strike a deal with a former submarine building yard now owned by some illicit individuals. Rose once again becomes captain, now on the new ship; Red Sunrise. An improved copy of the Sunset Dawn. More pirating adventures await. Karel van Gelre chases after Rose and joins the crew, and the two become romantically involved. The Knights of Rhodes try to chase the Red Sunrise down. They come close on multiple occasions but never succeed.

However after a shoot-out with a vessel from their nemesis El Patético in Antarctica, the Red Sunrise is not seen again.

Personal items

Rose carries an Arsenal Force Stryk-B as her personal weapon, loaded with 15 9x19mm parrabellum JSP cartrigdes. The pistol comes into Rose her possession during the first robbery she takes part in as a Sailor on the Narwhal.

During the relaxing evenings on the beach, Peter had taught Rose how to use a sabre, and after his death she inherited his old sabre. (Read more: Sabre of Captain Rosalind Abigail Oak)

After the sinking of the Sunset Dawn, the crew, also Rose, dived on the wreck to pull out more personal effects. Rose also saved the dress and jacket the crew had made her for the Victory Ball. Including the diamonds and medals that were attached to the jacket.

On her ring finger of her left hand, Rose wears a golden seal ring, with a stylish bee inscribed into the seal. The inscription on the inside reads 'Holland'. It's the only thing Rose inherited from her father.

A sketch found on the back of a beer coaster by an unknown person. by Jacob-W

Flags associated with Capt. R.A. Oak

Black Ensign of Rosalind Abigail Oak. by Jacob-W
Red Ensign of Peter James Jacobson and later also used by Rosalind Abigail Oak. by Jacob-W

After Rose had become the captain of the Sunset Dawn, first she and the crew use the Pirate flag of Peter James Jacobson. But also the Narwhal was still using that ensign, so to differentiate between the two pirate groups, she and the crew decide to add a stylised red rose to the canton.
The Red flag is never altered, as it is used seldomly. And when it is used, it shouldn't really matter, as there should be no-one left to tell the tale.

Commander in the Military Order of William

Thanking her for her assistance in the Battle at Klein Curaçao, where the Sunset Dawn saved the Royal Netherlands Navy ship Zr.Ms. Willem Barentsz. Rose, as the captain of the ship, is awarded with the rank of Commander in the Military Order of William by the King.

From other ships, the ship itself and the other crew members also got medals, but from the pirates nobody else got, and Rose often felt guilty that her crew didn't. But on the other hand they had received a full pardon for any previous committed piracy crimes, and a Letter of marque which legalised their previous actions.

The star shaped jacket badge that was part of the insignia of the commander rank, Michael fabricated on top of on a nicely shaped wooden plaque. And on Rose her request, hung in the messroom of the Sunset Dawn. As a reward to the ship and the crew.

Countess of Holland

Coat of Arms, Count of Holland by Katchatsa via Wikimedia COmmons

Exploring Europa after the Sunset Dawn sunk ended with Rose in a Dutch police cell. And by luck the person appointed to interview her is Andrew Gibson a member of the Order of the Bee. He recognises her golden bee ring. Knew that it meant she belonged to a Dutch noble house, and he decided that he needs to find out more and to do so he breaks her out of jail.

The ring turned out to be inscribed with the word 'Holland', the family line of the House Holland that had been lost to the Order of the Bee for two centuries. But apparently the ring had been passed on. Possibly without even the wearers knowing what it actually meant. Some research by the archivists of the Order found out that it was most likely correct. And so in the eyes of the Order of the Bee, Rose is the current holder of the noble title Countess of Holland.

Notable relationships

Relationships

Rose

Lover and pupil (Important)

Towards Peter James Jacobson

4
4

Honest


Peter James Jacobson

Lover and mentor (Important)

Towards Rose

4
4

Honest


Karel van Gelre

Boyfriend (Vital)

Towards Rose

5
5

Frank


Rose

Girlfriend (Vital)

Towards Karel van Gelre

5
5

Frank


Jennifer Marie Courtney Jager

Hostess (Trivial)

Towards Rose

-5
0

Subversive


Rose

Guest (Trivial)

Towards Jennifer Marie Courtney Jager

-5
0

Subversive


Currently Boarded Vehicle
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Captain,
Countess of Holland,
Commander in the Military Order of William,
Pirate
Spouses
Peter James Jacobson (Lover and mentor)
Karel van Gelre (Boyfriend)
Siblings
Children
Gender
Female
Hair
Very long and brown.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Light with a healthy sun tan.
Quotes & Catchphrases
  • I do not regret the things that I did, nor will I ever apologize for them.
  • (on a response to someone saying to her ‘You are derailed’) Yes, I am not bound by a pre-planned track.
  • Aligned Organization
    Other Affiliations
    Known Languages
    English & Dutch

    She's a better captain then I'll ever be.

    Tattoos

    At first Rose was a bit adversed to tattoos. But when she won the fight from Stijn during the Victory Ball. Jerry confinced her to accept the five pointed red and green star, that symbolised a sailor had won a fight in a foreign port. She carried that one with pride on her inner left fore arm.

    On the right side of her rib cage Rose has a breaching Orca to show that she'd been to Antarctica with a broken oar in it's mouth that signalled they had won a battle there.

    On her lower right arm she has a row of seven swallows, Originally one swallow signals five-thousand nautical miles at sea, and two swallow's ten-thousand nautical miles. But she'd done many many more, so the flock of seven signalled all that.

    On her left thigh she had a hart stabbed with a dagger, for the friends she lost at the Mutiny on the Sunset Dawn.

    And on her back Jerry had made an elaborate artwork of an Anchor, Sextant, Globe, Turtle and a Golden Dragon.


    Rose is amazing, and the Magistrate is a bitch.

    Despite the reputation of pirates being basically alcoholics. Rose does not drink, after she had witnessed her father die of alcoholism, she never felt the need. She doesn't oppose to others drinking though.


    Miss Oak? She scares me.


    She gave me the posibility for revenge. I won't betray her.
    — Lone survivor of the Sea Hawk

















    Pirate flag Rosalind Abigail Oak banner.png
    Pirate Flag on staff by Jacob-W


    Character Portrait image: Rosalind Abigail Oak, pirate Captain by Gordon Johnson via pixabay

    Comments

    Author's Notes

    Answer to the World Anvil Summer Camp 2023 prompt: 17. A character driven by wanderlust or the desire to explore.


    Please Login in order to comment!
    Jul 10, 2023 13:46 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

    Rose is such an awesome character. :) Great overview of her story.

    Emy x
    Explore Etrea
    Jul 10, 2023 14:31 by Bart Weergang

    Thank you Emy :) :)