A Soul for A Ride

“Drowned? Ye sunbaked sallies want to know about the drowned?”

…

“So be it. Drowned to the ocean depths is not a fate to be envied. The ocean, she is greedy, she’ll swallow ship and crew whole on not but a whim. One moment the sea is calm as can be, the next, a wave is nigh upon ye, ready to drag ye down to briny depths.”

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“Some of ye boast of courage. ‘Just a wee bit of wind. Just a wave.’ Ye say. Tell me, have ye ever seen a mountain move? No. Well come out to sea during a storm and ye will see moving mountains a plenty. Coming straight at yer ship. Coming to take yer life!”

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“Thank ye lass. Yer right, there be no need for shouting. The drowned. Those unlucky souls who find themselves lost to the seas will find the ocean is not so easy to escape.”

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“Yes, even as a dead man. Nay, especially as a dead man. As I said, the ocean is greedy. She don’t let those who come under her power leave so easily. The drowned belong to the ocean. They be lost souls, doomed to wander through muck and mire along the seabed till the end of times. Or till they escape.”

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“The grip of the ocean is strong. Standing on the floor of her domain, ye will feel the full weight of her indomitable strength crushing every fiber of yer very being right down to yer soul for every second of yer miserable, unending, sleepless existence. Sound pleasant, does it? No? No, it don’t.”

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“Well, if ye are unlucky enough to find yerself a new and unholy member of the drowned, ye have two options for escape. Ye could join the parade or bargain with Dessmora.”

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“Yes, the Dessmora. The Vengeful Phantom, the Discarded Child, the Pirate Queen, Dessmora.”

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“Is that right? Ye think ye would prefer the parade. Ye want to never see the sun again, spending eternity wandering from shallows to shallows, luring innocents into the water where ye can drown them!”

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“Changed yer mind? Smart choice. Dessmora’s terms be simple. Ye help her get revenge, then yer soul goes free.”

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“Who does she want revenge on? The gods, of course! Ye have to help her strike down the gods. Simple as could be. But let me offer ye a bit of free advice. When making a deal with Dessmora, never bargain with yer soul. She might try to offer ye a very sweet deal for it, but it won’t matter nothing. If she owns yer soul, ye ain’t going nowhere, even if she manages to get her revenge. She has more plans, mind you. Plans that go beyond mere revenge against the gods. Best of luck to ye sunbaked sallies. When that time comes, best hope yer god wasn’t among those who earned the wrath of the Pirate Queen, Dessmora.”