Captains log - January 1, 1467

Capt. Slap of the Maidens Blade.

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The day started off like any other, Face down in the sand and a blury view of the tavern patrons that threw me out on behalf of the owner. Dusting the sand off my face has just become part of the routine anymore. As I get the last little bit off, I see my first mate next to me doing the same. At least I still have one friend in the world.

Looking up at the sky shows the sun at high noon... Damn, all the guilds will have given out the good orders by now. Sure enough one by one they had nothing. Dig up one chest here, a low lvl. skelly here... I'd end up in the same financial position if I just stayed in the tavern and kept drinking. Hank, the Gold hoarder rep did offer up a little tip that a guy on the backside of the island had rumor of an Athena's hoard. Hank is a rat, but you can trust him if it means he's going to get paid. We find the guy as described and pick up a crate full of maps and documents, it better be legit for the amount of money he was asking... but at this point we were desperate. We head to the ship and make sail. North, to Wanderers Refuge.

The trip takes a good chunk of the afternoon, but the waters were calm and the wind favorable. We had to detour once as we spied other pirates in the area. Again, this late in the day was sure to be busy. We spied 2 Galleons, and 3 sloops. Not to mention a couple of Ghost ships... there be strange magic in the Western waters.

The first few parchments pan out. We collect a nice little haul and our ship sits a little lower in the water as the treasure begins to weigh The Blade down. As the first mate transfers the last bit of treasure to the ship, I make way to the crows nest to have a look around, and that's when I see it. A galleon bearing the Reapers mark sails across the horizon. A chill ran down my spine and call it what you will but I saw a vision of The Maidens Blade in flames, and me flying through the air over the top of her. I shake the thought and tell the first mate it's time to go. Again, bearing North, we make haste.

On our heading we're going to pass right by Sanctuary outpost. I tell my First mate to take the wheel and put us close. I'll jump ship with a chest full and at least cash in on some of the stuff we have. Approaching the outpost we spy a single mast with sails raised. A lonely sloop. We decide to make with the plan anyway, I'll approach with care and stick to the shadows. With a hope and a prayer I grab a chest and jump ship for the North shore.

Setting foot on the island I don't see anyone yet. Cautiously, I take my time. Making from cover to cover as quietly as one could carrying a chest half their size. And then I see them, on a rowboat in a lagoon, and my God, it's loaded with treasure. A portly lady sifting through the riches, deciding what she should sell next. A luxury I'd not been afforded in a long time. I get in the water and make for the gang plank near the boat to get a better view. She grabs a chest and nearly tips the boat jumping off as it groaned against her weight. She trots across the gangplank overhead heading to the merchants, the planks howling with each step. There isn't much in the way of cover here so I need a diversion. I make way to their ship and plant a few firebombs and watch the flames consume her. Once the wood reaches flash-point... there is no saving her. With as many bombs I planted, it didn't take long. The heat coming of the flaming vessel is so strong it's drying my clothes out from a 100 paces. My heart begins to beat out of my chest as the adrenaline spikes. There is something thrilling about sinking a ship and sabotage, a feeling that can't quite be matched. I make across the Atoll to check on our portly treasure hunter and find them back in the rowboat, again, sitting down counting away at their riches as their burning boat lights up the night sky.

Phase 1 down, Phase 2 is a go as I line up my shot from the bushes. It won't be hard to miss her at her size... Hell it' be harder to shoot a cow at this distance than her. I take a breath. Kerkow! The ball bearing rips through her gut and she collapses dead on the boat. I pop up from the bushes with the click of the heals and vision of treasure dancing with the waves on that lil row-boat. I nearly tip the boat getting that Seacow out, between slipping on the treasure, her blood, and the waves I bet it was comical to watch... but no matter. I counted 8 chests, and a handful of skelly skulls, Dreadful things. That mystic order is beyond strange, but no matter, Gold is gold. I clunk her body with an oar as I paddle to boat to the other side of the Island.

Selling the loot takes a moderate amount of time but I manage to collect more than a fair share for none of the work. I have a drink at the tavern to calm my nerves, and summon a mermaid to head back to my ship with the spoils from my encounter. There is something eerie about using the mermaids, There is no better from of travel, but also no worse. I always come out feeling like a part of me has been left behind, like those scaly bastards are sucking the years out of me as payment for their services. Dreadful creatures... nice, but dreadful. In the blink of an eye I'm back on the Maidens Blade and right as I get my bearings a cannonball rips trough the deckwall and explodes the gunpowder barrel next to me, sending me overboard with extreme prejudice. flying through the air and a hole ripped in my gut, I hear the tone deaf sounds of cannons firing. 1...2.3...4.. in rapid succession. A Galleon, no crew could fire cannons that fast. I glance in the direction of the thundering guns and see the Reapers mark... I hit the water with the force of a whales breach and nearly loose consciousness as multiple bones in my body crack from the impact. Fading in an out I feel arms wrap around me, I lock eyes with a mermaid... then all goes black...

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Love the game. Thanks for reading my story! Stay salty out there boys... the Sea be callin!

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Edit: Words and stuff.