Arc 1 Prologue - Tempest

The thunderbolts of war echoed over the raging sea. The cannon’s glaring flash split the storm-wracked night, spreading the scent of sulfur into the air. One battery emptied. Another followed. Iron shots whistled through the night and tore through a ships hull carved from ivory wood, its green sails snapping in the wind.                                                                                                                       

The elven vessel, a galleon in size, answered and along its flank an array of crystals flared to life, circled by magicked runes. A hum swelled across the crashing waves until it overpowered the howling wind and whipping rain.

Expected the bunch of ‘em to put up a bloody fight. Aye, let ‘em have it. The captain thought and inhaled.

“Aurite barrage to starboard!” he shouted, his gruff voice bellowing over the din. “Turn ‘er over, ye sons o’ bitches!”

The first mate threw his weight against the wheel. The ship groaned, its worn timber screaming as it heeled hard larboard. Seawater crashed over the rail, bathing the already drenched pirate crew even further.

The Aurite’s magicks released with a whirr, then rays of brilliant verdant lanced across the gap between the ships. They whistled like arrows then crashed through the pirate vessel. Old timber tore and shredded, wood splintered and shattered on impact.

“Patch the bloody hull, ye bilge rats or I’ll keelhaul the lot ‘o ye!” the captain barked. “I’ll not have some damn robewetters sendin’ us to the deep!”

The captain limped past on his peg leg. He was a Caith, like the rest of his crew. Feline ears pressed against his skull, a battle-scarred tail lashing behind him and whisker-like markings framing his face twisted into a snarl. And like the rest of the crew, he wore a set of earrings with red feathers hanging below, whipping around in the storm.

“Captain, the Dread Anne’s joining us!” the first mate barked back, pointing over the horizon.

The captain saw another ship emerged from the night, smaller and sleeker. It cut through the waves and flanked the elven vessel. Her cannons lit up and roared, iron smashing through the elven vessel’s hull from the other side. The elves were caged in now, pirates on either side.

The elven vessel responded right away. Their Aurite cannons lit up again and lanced another set of rays through the Dread Anne. Wood splintered and sailors screamed, while fire licked up its forward deck. Something was missing. Another ship. The captain noticed and snarled.

“Where in the blazes is the Black Nymph?!” the captain yelled, whirling around to meet his first mate’s gaze. “She ought to ’ve been here a watch ago!”

“No tellin, Cap’n!” he replied, holding fast to the steering wheel. “Knife-ears must ‘ve been sendin’ her to the bottom!”

“Aye, like as not.” The Captain limped past on his peg leg and slammed his saber against the cannons with a ringing clang.

“Rake their rigging! I want that knife-ear tub dead in the water!” he snarled.

The crew moved with practiced speed. They loaded the cannons with chain-shots and rammed them down the barrels. The gunners adjusted their aim, lifting the barrels towards the elven sails.

“FIRE!” the captain bellowed and swung his saber.

In perfect sync, the cannons opened fire, the chain-shots whirling like bolas and striking the elven sails. One mast came down with a groan of splintering wood, then another. They collapsed onto the deck, the sails furling over the railings before falling beneath the waves. The elven vessel listed hard, the crew shouting in alarm as she laid there helpless in the water.

“Easy there!” the captain barked, a vicious grin splitting his face. “Get ‘em close! Cadeyrn wants the cargo!” the captain said. 

He filled his pistol with red, glowing power; Coronite Powder, packed tight. The lock snapped into place and the rest of the crew followed suit. Red lights flared up across the deck like malevolent stars.

The crew held fast to the railings as the waves rose and tossed the ships with them. Saltwater sprayed over the deck every plunge, soaking the already drenched pirates. Both pirate ships kept flanking the elven vessel. Where the elves tried to turn, the pirates steered to keep her caged. The elves were moving back and forth in hurry on their ship. The pirates closed in, readying hooks and gangways. Then another shout split the air.

“Captain! What the bloody hell is that?!” his first mate called out.

The captain pushed a crewmate aside roughly to get a good look. On the elven vessel’s deck, they spotted a mage. Multiple magical circles layered around her and a hot-white sphere took shape before her. Little could be seen through the heavy rain. But its effects became visible. The ball was shining like a second sun, lighting up the storm as if dawn had come early. Then the mage raised her staff and swung it.

With a deafening howl, the sphere was launched forward, straight at the Dread Anne. Wood splintered, the hull broke and pirates were sent flying in every direction. With one shot, the sleeker ship had been gutted and began sinking, crew and all. Pirates scrambled for the sails, for debris, anything to hold onto as the burning vessel threatened to pull them under.

The captain could see the elven mage turning, her silhouette black against the night, but her eyes were glowing in a gleam that promised calamity where her staff pointed.

“By the Dawnmother’s tits…” the captain murmured and gritted his teeth. This one was trouble, he knew it. The Dread Anne’s corpse was proof enough. “Take ‘em down, quick! I want that bitch on the ocean floor!”

Shots rang out. Crossbows, rifles, pistols unloaded on the ship’s deck. And suddenly, another barrage of cannonfire erupted. Their iron tore apart the elven vessel’s larboard. The Aurite crystals and several elves were flung across the ocean and swallowed by the sea. No trace of the mage anymore. But the captain was furious.

“What in the bloody hells was that?!” he snarled and walked up to one of the gunners. “I gave the order to hold, ye deaf bastard! I wanted that witch dead, not the whole ship sent to the deep! Cadeyrn wants the cargo intact, not splintered to kindling! Have the cannons blown yer wits out?!”

“I’m sorry, cap’n, I only meant to-“

The gunner could say no more. The captain dragged him by the collar and threw him overboard without a second thought. He gave another short glance at the ship and narrowed his eyes.

Don’t know where the witch went. Over the side, probably No matter, the rest of ‘em will follow her to the deep. He thought and walked to the railings.

“Ready yerselves, lads! Reload yer pieces an’ prime yer steel. We’re goin’ aboard! Up an’ at em, or I’ll feed the lot o’ yours to the serpents!”

“Aye aye, Cap’n!” the crew responded.

The elven vessel slowed, her masts sinking beneath the waves; now at the mercy of the raging sea. The pirate vessel drew near, her starboard aligning with the elven vessel. The pirates flashed cruel smirks, bellowing rhythmic chants while rattling their sabers and raising their firearms. Hooks were thrown over board, steel bit into timber and the distance between vessels was inching shut.

The elves, garbed in green and yellow, glared at the pirates bearing down on them. The pirates would find their staves, bows and blades waiting. The captain grinned, ear to to ear; cornered prey putting up a fight. Crushing such resistance was the most delicious part of his job.

“Over yonder, ye scurvy dogs! Show ‘em who’s the real scourge o’ the Kattwyan Sea!”

The captain pulled a faceless mask, carved with ornate symbols and shaped like a fox’s face from his belt and pressed it to his face. The rest of the crew did the same, all of their masks in different motives. Some of animals, some in far more esoteric shape.

Alright then… Gimme yer best shot, knife-ears! The Captain thought and readied blade and pistol.

They lifted a gangway up, then slammed it over their railing. Both sides roared over the din, the gap was bridged and chaos broke out.

Steel met steel, the crack of pistol fire lit up the night and spells whirred through the air. An elf’s chest was punctured by a musket ball, killing them an in an instant. And more cold bodies would follow soon.

A blunderbuss fired, the impact knocking another elven warrior over the railings. A huge, translucent green blade pierced through the crowd and swung horizontally. Several pirates were caught. Those unlucky enough to only be thrown back to their vessel were sliced apart like a hot knife through butter.

Another elf found themselves impaled by a halberd and launched into one of their kin, knocking out both. Viridian arrows rained down and nailed another group of pirate to the floor, their throats sliced with deadly precision by an elven blade. 

Losses were rising on both sides, but the elves were not prepared to engage with experienced pirates. They were outnumbered and outmatched. And one by one, the elves fell or became incapacitated. The battle was over as quick as it started. The captain stepped over a fallen elf, his fox mask streaked with rain and blood.

“To the hold!” he bellowed. “Find that cargo, or Cadeyrn will have our heads!”

“Cap’n, what ‘bout the elves?” the first mate said, one foot on an elven woman, still alive, her viridian glare on him.

“Got somethin’ to sell right here!”

“No prisoners today!” he said and loomed over the elven woman.

“They’re pretty, I’ll give ‘em that. But we can’t have the Cov’s catchin’ wind o’ this. Save yer powder ‘n throw ‘em over board, leave ‘em to the serpents.”

Reluctantly, but not refusing orders, the first mate kicked the elven woman and sent her tumbling over the rail.

“Cap’n, you think Cadeyrn’s goin’ against the bloody Covenant?”

“We got orders, mate. Don’t want the Cov’s swarmin’ Hullbreak. Easier if they become serpent food.” He said, grimacing.

“The Cov’s ain’t the kinda people you wanna piss off.” He added, descending into the cargo hold.

A few of his men were working away at a set of reinforced gates. The captain raised his gun and shot the lock clean off.

“What in the bloody hells are ye waitin’ for?! Strip the hold an’ be quick about it! Then send this ship sinkin’!”

The pirates poured through the gate and found the hold littered with crates. There was a large one, secured with runes and reinforced with metal. The wood was carved from the same material as the ship.

The captain smirked grew unbearably wide at the sight. To the victors go the spoils, and there was one hell of a bounty to be found here.

There she goes… Smells like a fine payday, five bottle o’ shoremist and two harlots in each arm. The captain thought and whistled.

“Get it up, we’re gettin’ outta here! Returnin’ to port on the double!”

He ascended again and watched his crew fling the corpses over board. Some men were reloading their ships cannons, ready to tear the elven vessel asunder on their leave. When the captain crossed over, he saw elven bodies floating on the churning waters. Blonde hair, most of them. One elf held a staff, her hair color obscured by the dark. He stopped moment a moment in his tracks in recognition; not of who she was but what she did.

That’s the one that gutted the Dread Anne… Good riddance. The captain thought, then gave one final grunt while heading back to his ship.

Tch, Cadeyrn’s causin’ problems everywhere now. If the Cov’s come sniffin’ around, it’s his head, not mine.

The crew carried their plundered goods to their ship, securing the big crate in their own hold. The cannons roared one final time. The elven vessel groaned, her hull splitting and began her descent into the deep. Green sails, tangled and torn, were the last to vanish beneath the waves.

The captain stood at the rail, watching the elven ship burn and sink. The storm was easing now, the thunder fading. But something gnawed at him and he couldn’t figure what it was. But he shook it off. The evidence was swallowed by the ocean. And the sea kept her secrets.