Here we have a picture of a barracade blocking a minor path that is practically impossible to get to (just to show how thorough the NeoPhoenixes were). The blured stuff underneath the wooden fence has had mines placed under it. The wires are spiky and electric. The signs say, 'Arvy Feeve kraggi' (the one on the right/first one) and 'liin czes vik', which means 'Arvyfeeveland' 'Don't pass' (lit. you don't come-passed).

The city walls are blocked. A farmer bringing in some goods is killed, because he won't turn back. In the distance are some blockades. They stretch out around the city, not just covering up the pathway. Suddenly, a group of men, a dozen strong, each wearing maroon armbands, come out of a building. They go up to everyone, brandishing knives, telling them to go home, telling them that they will tell them more later, but now they must go home. This happens for about five minutes, before another pirate (also wearing an arm band) comes out of the building, says something to each of the other pirates, and they stop. Nonetheless, they’d done their job well, and the area is soon clear of all but the foolish and curious.

Later, while I was walking down the deserted street to the shops to get some food, I was approached by a pirate of a similar discription. He told me to go home, I told him that I needed food. He could not allow it, and told me that if I didn’t go straight home, he would be forced to take me prisoner. On my way home, it became apparant that I was one of the luckier ones; most others seemed to be arrested straight away.

My house backed onto the city wall, in an area where the city had not overflown. From the first floor, I was able to see all the way to the blockade. I observed the happenings outside for a few days, and eventually decided to plan for an escape.

A week after the initial taking, the Maroon Pirates — or Phoenices as they seemed to have begun to call themselves — where much friendlier. No longer were they trying to scare us; in fact, I think they were trying to recruit us into their cause, and I saw a number of people I recognised as non-pirates with the maroon armbands, doing the jobs of the pirates.

They told me that I would be able to go around the city with limited freedom. The first thing I did was go and get some food — I’d run out, as shopping day was a week ago. I noticed that many people at the shops had an anti-Pirate feel. After I’d got the food, I went back, and planned my escape.

The process of escape was slow, it took me a week from when I left my house till when I was outside the Pirates’ lines, but eventually I made it.

The writer of this wishes to remain annonymous