Dyfed Bryson
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|---|---|
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| Vital statistics | |
| Title | Captain |
| Gender | Male |
| Status | Deceased (killed by Eme) |
| Ships | Andromache |
| Relationships | Hayes (First Mate; deceased) |
| Appearances | First: IV. Last: VI. |
| Portrayed by | Langley Kirkwood |
Dyfed Bryson was a merchant captain who operated in the Bahamas during the early eighteenth century. He captained the Andromache, Richard Guthrie's primary supply ship out of Boston.
Biography[]
Background[]
Bryson worked directly under Richard Guthrie for a time before he became captain. He commands the largest of Richard's supply ships, the Andromache, which is known for her armament of twelve-pounder cannon[1]. He has been sailing in the waters of the West Indies for ten years and never been boarded[2].
Season One[]
Captain Flint asks for Eleanor Guthrie to help him procure at least a dozen 12-pound cannons, she promises she will see to it. After the meeting, Mr. Scott warns her that they will be extremely difficult to find, but Eleanor reminds him that Captain Bryson will arrive in two days, and has armed his ship with 12-pounders since he joined the Guthrie fleet. Scott says that he will be loathe to simply give up his guns, and adds that due to the arrest warrant out for her father, Bryson is the last supply ship they can expect, and soon the warehouse will be empty[1].
In order for Flint to succeed in capturing the Urca de Lima, he needs the best cannon he can get, just like those on the Andromache, Eleanor Guthrie hopes that she can convince Bryson to give up his cannon for the cause, although her father and Mr. Scott both warn her the odds are low. Before the meeting, Scott warns her that Bryson is the last of her father's ships that they can expect, as news of Richard's arrest will spread. Scott also tells Eleanor that despite her wishes, if Bryson refuses she cannot detain him in Nassau by force, as that would be a direct move against her grandfather and the interests of the Guthrie Trading Company, the wrath of which Scott cannot protect her from. Eleanor agrees to Scott's request.
When he arrives on Nassau, he is quick to dismiss the island and its residents before heading to the meeting with Richard Gunthrie at Eleanor's request. The meeting starts out as expected, with Bryson in shock of the very idea that they want his cannon so they can give them to a pirate. Dyfed replies that Richard knows that his family in Boston would not approve of this. Richard replies that his family only cares about profit, and he is lucky to have a daughter that has figured out a way to deliver them a great deal of it. Upon hearing this, Bryson recalls how he almost docked at Richard's home port in Harbour Island, where the Scarborough is currently waiting for Richard as Bryson now realizes. Before he can walk out, Richard asks his daughter and Mr. Scott to leave so he can deal with Dyfed in private.
Bryson walks out several minutes later, and tells Eleanor that he will give her the cannon, much to her relief. She tells him that she will send O'Malley to meet him at the docks (and also to watch him). His real deal with Richard is different however, the real plan is for him to leave with his cannon. He sets out, with the assistance of Mr. Scott, who knocks out O'Malley before he can stop Bryson from leaving[3].
Dyfed then leaves, taking Mr. Scott with him as a slave, and is quickly followed by the Walrus. As they draw closer, Bryson remains calm, even instructing Hayes to make sure that the cargo is secure and well packed. As Flint sailed closer, Hayes asked why Flint wasn't firing at them, and Bryson replied it was because Flint knew he'd never be able to board them if he tried to exchange broadsides.
As the pirates draw closer, Bryson attacks them, turning port and firing the ship's cannons at the Walrus. However, the pirates have a sniper in their foremast, who kills the helmsman, Burnett, causing the ship to lose the wind and drift in the current. Bryson orders another man to replace him on the helm but he too is killed by the sniper. the current causes the Andromache to drift in the current alongside the Walrus, allowing the pirates to board. During the battle, Dyfed, Hayes, and roughly 20 others barricaded themselves in a bunker in the lower levels of the ship. The bunker overlooks the cannon, so the crew cannot just take what they came for. While holding of the pirates, he orders his men to prepare a trap in case they fail.
After killing three pirates who happened upon the bunker, Hayes tells Bryson he thinks it's time to send the pirates their terms. Bryson, Hayes and another sailor descended into the cargo hold, which is revealed to be packed with slaves. Bryson speaks with Scott, who is chained up alongside the rest of the slaves. Bryson tells him that Scott forgot his duty, and betrayed Richard for his daughter, and this is the price of that betrayal. Bryson has his man kill a slave woman, and then pulls his gun on another. A Slave then begs them not to, promising to do as Bryson asks.
The Slave is sent up to the top deck with a message for Flint. He speaks in West African Pidgin while Joshua translates for Flint. The Slave reveals that before leaving, Bryson sent a message to Captain Hume of Her Majesty's Ship the Scarborough telling him their route, and that Flint would be following them. At that moment, the Scarborough appears on the horizon, distracting the pirates. The Slave then charges at Flint with a hidden grenade, but the Slave is killed before he can kill Flint[2].
After several failed attempts to breach the bunker, and preparing a new tactic, the Walrus crew learns that that beneath the bunker is another room, full of slaves. They send in a tool to help the Slaves escape in the hopes they will assist. To cover up the noise of the breaking chains, the pirates hack at the deck on top of the bunker with axes, keeping a rhythm to give the slaves time. Bryson notices something is wrong and orders Hayes to secure the hold. However, when Hayes and his men go below, they are attacked by the freed slaves. After the slaves break free, they begin to overwhelm the crew. Scott throws a marlingspike at Bryson and the two begin grappling and Bryson pins Scott against the door. Distracted, Dyfed and his men do not see the Walrus men pressing forward, and Bryson is shot in the face, allowing Scott to unlock the door for pirates and allow them to flood in. Despite this wound, he survives and crawls toward the explosive trap to detonate it. However, Eme stabs him to death with the marlingspike before he can detonate the trap[4].
After they return to Nassau, Mr. Scott goes to the Tavern to see Eleanor. When she greets him, she says she heard from the Walrus men that he rallied the slaves against Bryson and singlehandedly turned the tide. She then asks him what they would say if they knew he was the reason they had to chase the ship in the first place[5].
Memorable Quotes[]
By Bryson[]
"You forgot your duty. You must have known there would be consequences. But we men of duty must often put our feelings aside... as you're about to witness."- Bryson to Mr. Scott in V.
About Bryson[]
"You should know Captain Bryson sailed the Velasco route for 10 years and was never boarded. Not once."- Richard Guthrie to Eleanor in V.
Image Gallery[]
Appearances[]
| I. | II. | III. | IV. |
| V. | VI. | VII. | VIII. |