Captain B’ate’ilch’uy

# B’ate’ilch’uy, War Chief

## B’ate’ilch’uy

B’ate’ilch’uy in his Black Tilmatl and White Ichcauhuipitli

Born some years ago in the Yucatán Peninsula, B’ate’ilch’uy is a small time Pirate raiding Military and Civilian ships along the coast of New Spain. According to Translators his name was likely changed since birth, as it is not so much a name as it is a description meaning "Avenging Eagle".

## History

Just a few decades ago was the first recorded instance of B’ate’ilch’uy was a canoe attack many miles east of Omoa, the victim being a Merchant Ship transporting silk. The few survivors were ship's boys, they claim the part rowed from shore in a canoe to the vessel, the Captain assumed they were traders and welcomed their arrival. Once the canoe of 8-12 Indians closed into 30 yards, they revealed muskets from beneath their seats and shot dead the Captain and several officers which were spectating their approach. While the crew was shocked the canoe closed in and reloaded before boarding. Killing a few more which chose to try and resist, B’ate’ilch’uy spoke in rough Spanish, about the indignities the Spanish had done, and how they will appease the gods with their bodies. This was before the ritualistic sacrifice of the entire adult crew, leaving the ship's boys to survive off the rations before another Merchant's vessel found them. Since then several other accounts have been told that are suspected to be B’ate’ilch’uy.

- The capture of a Slave Ship north of the Yucatán, the ship was released to the Slaves who were recaptured on Cozumel Island

- The ambush of a Bishop in the Jungles of Guatemala, a Priest on mission with him escaped on horseback

- The Burning of Several Small Ports with Spanish Settlers

## Current Description

B’ate’ilch’uy wears a white cotton armor which has seemingly saved him from several flintlock pistol shots, he also wears a black ritual cape. He carries a Caribbean-made Musket, a Maya Macuahuitl club with obsidian blades, and a K'iche' or obsidian ritual knife.

His ship is a Piragua, a 72 pie (20 meters) long, 14 pie (4 meters) wide, flat-bottomed, two-masted, lug-sailed, canoe. The canoe is manned by a crew of 55, mostly indigenous with a few black mates. The main mast has a square-rigged top sail while the fore and main, main sails were lateen-rigged, that plus the ability of the crew to paddle, makes the vessel speedy in all winds when in calm waters it is much faster than its ship-built peers.

B’ate’ilch’uy most commonly attacks through deception as even he seems to know that his canoe could be blown away with a single small cannon. He usually convinces ships he is a trader or attacks at night. When convincing a trader the Canoe waits till it is close before it fires upon the crew, using rapid-accurate fire to suppress any counterattack while they approach, and jam the ship's rudder in an angled position to prevent escaping. Any return fire they do attempt can be blocked by breast high bulwarks covered in bear skin. Then the crew boards and uses muskets and clubs to kill or capture the crew. If captured the crew is usually sacrificed, and the cargo plundered. Most usually his vessel is seen operating off Central American shores.