James A. Rackham
"Captain"
Captain James A. Rackham
”There should be a ‘Captain’ in there somewhere...”
Full Name: “Captain” James A. Rackham
Nicknames: "The Antillian," "Alabaster Rackham," "Captain," "Jack Rackham"
Age: ”Age is just a number, love…”
Height: 5’-10”
Weight:180 Ibs
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Ginger
Skin Tone: Fair
Voice Example: Toby Stephens
Theme: Hans Zimmer - He’s a Pirate
”And then I said... HAAAH, and... then I says...'Sounds like yer compensatin' fer something.”
The legend that is 'Captain' James A. Rackham is fraught with overinflated rumors and disproportionate accounts of his exploits. The manner in which he styles himself is a gritty, weathered spacer/pirate that's seen near all the galaxy has to offer. The only thing remotely well established about the man at this point in time is that he frequents cantinas and all manner of clubs, spending whatever gold he has on drinks and pleasurable company and giving voice to whatever ear open to listening about the life he has supposedly led. His appearance is another constant that flies in the face of most legends about him. Some tales give weight to an imposing figure that could best near any man (even alluding to a daring face-off against a company of Trandoshan slavers) in solo combat. What is seen however, is an average sized man, standing roughly at five foot - ten inches and weighing in at about one hundred and eighty pounds. His hair is (when clean) a brilliant golden color, with natural reddish highlights. A running joke surrounds the man regarding what the initial 'A' means in his name, which has given birth to some of the nicknames he is also known as. To date, there is no record of what his actual middle name actually is, and good luck trying to get him to tell you.
Some things to be aware of regarding him is he is a skilled swordsman (although his usual beleaguered gait and general 'half drunken' demeanor may factor in on that, as opponents likely expect him to be an easy mark), and he is an above average shot with a blaster. Given his lifestyle as a brigand and widely regarded charlaton, he also has the skill sets required to fill (to some degree) nearly any role aboard a ship, be it a navigator, gunner, engineer, and so on, which lends further credence that he may very well be a ... Captain...
All of that being said, you probably don't want him performing any type of medical care on your person. That's a subject of another story altogether.
Background
Because so much of what we know about who he is can be regarded as unreliable, the only real way to get a measure of James Rackham is to spend enough time with him (as unpleasant as that may be.) If one were to do so, and endure through the boisterous, loud, and at times strange antics of the saucy old pirate, one can find the heart of a complex, guarded, and scarred individual. When given enough time, and once one has dug to the heart of certain topics, it is possible to see him forcefully change the subject or simply say he doesn't want to talk about something. It isn't common, but it has happened on occasion. Rum seems to be the best catalyst to have these types of conversations with him.
One of the more widely considered 'truthful' stories about Rackham (a story he hardly shares, unless the aforementioned rum is involved) is the story of how he started his life of traveling the galaxy. At a young age, he stowed away aboard what appeared to be a mundane shipping vessel in the effort of escaping his abusive father. The ship departed, soaring out into open space prior to his presence being discovered, after which he was forced to 'earn his keep' until they arrived at the next port of call. Yet, unknown to him at the time, that would never happen. A mutiny occurred aboard the ship, which resulted in the captain being vented out of an airlock and his first mate assuming command. Rather than being abandoned as was to be his fate under the previous captain, the first mate developed a fondness for 'old James’ as he came to be known. And so began the life of the infamous pirate James Rackham, where he never looked back since.
His career started slow, namely in the raiding of hyperspace lanes throughout the outer & mid rims until he finally came into the command of his own vessel known as the Baudy Dancer, a curious ramshackle freighter that bore more than a few... modifications. What became of the ship over time is a subject of divergence and debate, as it is rumored he lost it in a drunken stupor while gambling one too many times, or that it was lost in uncharted space (associated with a shipwrecking... incident.) The truth of what happened is really only known by the man himself.
Over the past five years, James has 'allegedly' turned over a new leaf. The famed pirate, who once had preyed upon reputable couriers and trading companies, and even the occasional 'honorable' smuggler, has seemingly turned to a quiet life of a humble spacer, taking on odd jobs now and then. On the surface, it seems he leads a far-cry existence to his previous ways. Of course, you know what they say; the best pirate is the one that doesn't get caught.
"I tell you something you can take righ' to the bank, lad. Never, under any ci'cumstances, trust a woman with a fake eye. Words of experience mate."
"Carve this indel... infidel... illeg... ahem... permanently on yer minds everyone, as the day you almost captured Captain James A. Rackham!"
"You see here, ser... I thor'oghly believe this to be a misunderstanding. I just wanted to take a look at there ship, as it were. I know! It's because Oi'm Antillian, isn't it? Fekking racist..."
"If oi' were as drunk as most people believe I am, but in actual fact I am not, whereas most would assume so as I always carry a bottle of summat' or other with the intent, but not necessarily true accomplishment of consuming said contents in their entirety thereof rendering myself inebriated: but only allegedly – naturally, then by the stars I would 'ardly be con'ienable enough to speak clearly. Imagine tha'..."
Strengths & Weaknesses
+Quick on the draw+: Say what you will about his whits, but regardless of how rum-addled his brain may be at any given moment - James has a distinct ability to quickly pull either his blaster or his sword from its berth, which has caught many a man by surprise.
+Smooth Criminal+: In his younger days, it’s been said that James could sell fur to a bantha farmer. Whether having to lie through his teeth to a gangster he owes money to, or having to distract a customs agent while his compatriots sneak cargo off, James is quite capable of holding a conversation.
+Well Traveled+: There are few places James hasn’t been or seen.
~Scoundrel~: It doesn’t take long being around him to realize that James has led the majority of his life on the wrong side of the law. With it comes a distinct set of experience and skills that can help navigate the underworld of the galaxy. That said, while law enforcement appears ambivalent to him now that he seemingly has chosen a different life, he is still technically wanted by a few fringe jurisdictions. And he may (or may not!) owe a few people money.
-”Why is the rum gone?!-”: James is a pirate. He likes rum. Don’t run out of rum.
-Rebel without a cause-: While it has been some years since James was last reported to be a proper captain, he refuses to be addressed otherwise. This seems to indicate he doesn’t like authority, and this can cause him to get crossways for those unable or unwilling to accommodate this eccentricity.
Special Note: No one knows what an Antillian really is. Supposedly, Rackham escaped shipwreck on a series of devoid islands, which were dubbed 'The Antillians" in the stories he tells, but none of this is substantiated fact.
Equipment and Effects
One thing of note is James does seem almost unhealthily attached to a small collection of personal effects.
- (1) DC-50 blaster pistol
- (1) nicked, slightly curved vibrosword in the style of a cutlass, with a curious depiction of what appears to be a planet with carved landmasses on the pommel.
- (1) Set of slicing and lockpicking tools
His attire is simple, and surprisingly practical. First and foremost, he’s known for wearing a loose silk shirt with the laces undone near the top, a set of black hide trousers, and worn but still serviceable boots. His jacket is long, brown, with rounded buttons along its length, and weaved with a cortosis mesh of high quality. This wouldn’t stop a lightsaber or vibrosword from penetrating from a full-on thrust, but it would allow him to survive slashes or glancing blows/shots from blasters. It’s also very hard to cut by blades unless someone were physically holding the material and trying to purposefully slice it as if it were a loaf of bread.
- An alabaster carving of seemingly unknown origin, which serves little purpose save the sentimental.
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