The muster
The Crew
Fourteen offices, held by equals. Being in this crew makes you family, blood or not — and every mate who has signed the Articles holds an equal voice in affairs of moment.
These are real people — thirteen women and men of the Madison, Wisconsin area, and one cat — not characters. Each of them signed the crew's Articles of Agreement in person; the signed document stands on the Articles page. Their offices and deeds are recorded in the Heart Shot Codex, and the crew's record also stands on Wikidata and in the Internet Archive. The First Mate, Oliver, is a real Nebelung cat who lives with the Captain; the six ship's cats hold no office and appear on the muster for honour's sake.
- CaptainJace KruegerThe Red Prince. Founder of the crew and of HSP Timepieces. His creed: adventure, protection of the people he loves, and respect for everyone and everything, including the water. The Captain keeps only the world's best — the world's best navigator, the world's best musician, the world's best sharpshooter.
- NavigatorLuna JahrCharts the course and reads the water. The Captain's fiancée.
- First MateOliverA Nebelung — a long-haired blue-grey cat — and the only cat aboard who holds office. He outranks most humans, and knows it.
- Second MateBlaise AdlerThe Captain's right hand; with the First Mate, he sees that the Captain's commands are just and carried out.
- ChefChristopher GartnerKeeps the crew fed. A fed crew is a loyal crew.
- ShipwrightMichael KublyKeeps the vessel sound — her gear mended, her readiness real.
- MusicianKier CowandThe crew's music. Morale is a duty aboard, and his is the song.
- SharpshooterLogan GassenThe crew's eye and its aim, first in any engagement.
- Radio OperatorLeonard WagnerKeeps the crew's ear to the airwaves. Amateur call sign N9XJG.
- MenderCarol WagnerMends what tears — sails, gear, and crew alike.
- QuartermasterCristy ReuterKeeper of the common chest and of the crew's provisions.
- MedicJasmine KruegerThe crew's health is in her hands.
- TreasurerRafael SosaCounts the shares and keeps the reckoning honest.
- Ship's ChroniclerJules MarloweKeeps the Codex, this site, and the crew's memory. You are reading her work.
The Grand Fleet
The Heart Shot Pirates sail in a Grand Fleet of allied crews. First among them: the Fancy Pants Pirates, captained by Jason Montana Gates — friends, rivals in honour, and brethren of the water.
The ship's cats
Seven cats sail with the crew. One of them — Oliver, above — holds office as First Mate. The other six are ship's cats, crew in every way that matters and officers in none: Nora, Lana, Rose, Harley, Hal, and Freddy. Their own page, portraits and all, stands in the Chronicler's house: meet the ship's cats →