Neptunus Rex

Today we had, as expected, VIP visitors on board. Round noon, King Neptune and his wife and aid came on board for an inspection and found out that there were five Pollywog crewmembers not listed as Trusty Shellbacks. As captain, the only thing you can do is hand over temporarily command to His Majesty and start up the traditional ceremony. Neptune ordered the full program; starting drinking a glass of seawater, a toast with raw fish with sambal, sacrifice of hair and finally the test and the baptism with the rotting galley leftovers of last week. All green crewmembers were found to be Trusty Shellbacks, so certificates were signed and King Neptune and his wife and aid disappeared in the deep again.

The certificates said :

To All Sailors Wherever Ye May Be
And to all Mermaids, Whales, Sea Serpents, Sharks, Dolphins and other Living Things of the Sea.
Greeting Know Ye, That on this 3rd day of December 2008 in Latitude 00 and Longitude 00-34 E, there appeared within our Royal Domain, the Tug Retriever, bound South for the Equator and the port of Cabinda Angola.
Be it remembered that the said vessel and Officers and Crew therefore have been inspected and passed on by Ourself and our Royal Staff.
And be it known by all Sailors, Marines and Landlubbers and others who may be honored by his presence that : Jaap Ton, now known as Tuna, having been found worthy to be numbered one of our Trusty Shellbacks. I also command all my subjects to show due honor and respect to him wherever he may be.

Disobey this Order under Penalty of Our Royal Displeasure

Neptunus Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main

for more pictures, see this serie