Shanties

Shanties are songs that used to be sung aboard sailing ships to synchronise the joint efforts of a crew as they performed repetitive tasks. Following this function, shanties usually follow a "call and response" format, where a leader will sing a few verses and would be soon followed by the rest of the crew singing the chorus.

Shanties as storytelling device
Shanties provide the storyline of the roleplay with timely pauses and punctuation, usually marking the beginning or end of a particular arc or chapter. They are usually started by the central character of a given arc to summarise and express their feelings regarding the current situation. As an expression of sympathy and camaraderie, one or more other characters main join the shanty, enacting the "crew" and providing the response segments to the song.

Characters' views on shanties
Dan the security guard and Ed the Mechanic are notable for starting shanties for whatever reason they see fit. Mere fun is one of those. This usually happens to Dan Witts' and Jon's chagrin, as the whole pirate theme seems senseless and childish. Characters like Bessie the Bull and Mangle may take a moment to enjoy listening to one of the shanties, but are not very likely to sing along.

Common shanties sung
A few shanties make very frequent appearances during roleplay. Some of them may set the tone of the scene, while others are there just for fun.

Roll, boys, roll
This shanty's quick pace and merry tune usually indicate that the ambience is calm and relax. The characters will launch into this shanty just for fun. Changes to the original lyrics are often used, replacing the name of Sally Brown with Mangle or Bessie, them being the few characters involved in rather romantic relationships. This is due to the song commenting on the singer's desire to return to port to see the mentioned Sally Brown.

Leave her, Johnny
This one's slow and melancholic melody makes it ideal for denoting moments of sadness and grief. A character may start lowly singing this shanty as a plead for sympathy from the listeners. Joining into this song indicates the character is there to support the lead singer as he grieves. The tone is derived from the brief story told by the shanty, of a crew trying to convince their captain to abandon his sinking ship.

Fish in the Sea
The shanty has very simple "calling" verses, putting the emphasis on the chorus and inviting for participation of the "crew" along most of the song. A couple of lines briefly describe some sea creatures, which acts as a filler connecting one chorus to the next. The chorus comments on the bond between crew members as they sail on. This makes the song great for expressing feelings of camaraderie.