The Shrouded Seas

The Storm Arrives

I jumped out of the way as the middle mast of my ship, The Night Fury crashed onto the deck, most of it hanging over the side. We had been traveling through the oceans for several days now, trying to get to Dragon's Edge. That was where I could find Gervaso, the tavern keeper. He had the map I needed to finish my voyage. Unfortunately, in the last day, we'd sailed into the storm that circles these waters at all times. It is near impossible to see through, and even more so to escape it.

"We lost the Mainmast!" A crew member yelled as he grabbed a rope to pull it back into place. A few more ran to help him. I climbed the stairs to the helm, which was raised above the rest of the ship. The skies were dark grey, illuminated by lightning every few seconds. Water splashed overboard constantly, making the air moist and the deck near invisible. The compass fixed next to the wheel spun out of control, pulled by the mysterious winds of the storm. I flipped open my compass. It pointed straight as always. I looked ahead, and through the fog. Turning the wheel slightly to keep on course, I yelled out to my crew, "Keep at it, get that mast full canvas!" They pulled the ropes, lifting the fallen mast back up right. Pirates rushed to the mast to fix it in place. "Faster you whelps! Sail like your bein' paid for it! Unless you want to be claimed by the sea?!" I yelled over the roar of the waves and the crack of thunder. The sail blew open with a gust of wind and the ship lurched forwards. The bow was illuminated by sunlight, soon followed by the rest of the ship. The crew cheered as we cleared the storm. I left the helm and walked towards the bow. I looked through my spyglass tool and saw three giant mountains, all connected by bridges and ropes. On the very edge of the largest and most forwards mountain was what seemed to be a small town.

"Hard to starboard, and don't celebrate yet, we're not even within rowing distance!" I said. Wolfford took the helm and spun the wheel completely right. The Night Fury, with its singed hull and black and red sails, headed straight for Dragon's Edge.

The door flew open as I walked inside. The tavern grew quiet, the music stopped for but a second, before everyone went back to their drinking. I walked towards the man I came to meet.

"Gervaso," I said to the man who was currently three sheets to the wind. He was wearing a small hat with two points to either side. It had a hole where a feather would've been. I knew who gave him that hole, as it was me, the first time we met. His dark brown cloak covered a black shirt with a sash across it, holding many maps. A pink scar trickled down the right side of his face, distorting as he talked.

"Ah, Jackson Storm." He said, putting down his drink. "Plunder Valley, remember? Ye shot me," Maybe he wasn't as drunk as I thought.

I smiled nervously. "No, I didn't. And it be Captain. Captain Jackson Storm." I said, setting my flintlock on the table. "And I need something you have."

"Oh, and what be that?" He said, eyeing the gun nervously. 

"I need the Devil's Compass," I said, leaning towards him. He almost choked on his drink. The tavern grew quiet again, murmurs coming very faintly. "Well?" I asked. In a flash, he quickly went for the flintlock, raising it to my head.

"You know the code. You know what he will do if I give it to you." He narrowed his eyes. I slowly reached into my tunic and pulled out my other flintlock, aiming it at his chest. He pulled the trigger of his, and naught but an empty click followed.

"Gervaso, come on, I'm smarter than that," I said. He realized I must've emptied the gun and set it on the table to tempt him to go after it, allowing me to get the upper hand. "Follow me."

We left out the back door and closed it behind us.

"Why do you want the Devil's Compass?" He said, his back to me as he closed the door.

"Why else? To use it to get through the Shroud." The Shroud, the Fire Fog, the Bloody Cloud. It went by different names around the Shrouded Seas, but everyone knew what it did. Every ship that tried to sail through it turned up somewhere, naught but a few planks and nary a survivor.

"What about the Reapers?" He gestured to a poster behind him that read: 'Your Soul Isn't Safe.' The Reapers were a dictative party of the most powerful pirates on the sea. They were the ones who put up the shroud and trapped everyone here. Back before the Reapers, the world was normal. Then they came with unseen power and rose the seas. These islands came, most were never seen before. The people that survived did so because either the Reaper's chose them based on their chaotic nature, or they got lucky. I was the ladder, and was vacationing in the Caribbean when the water rose. Luckily, I loved pirate movies, and got a ship and a crew, quickly earning my reputation on the Seas. The Shroud surrounded us and trapped us here, all under the Reaper's decision. More accurately, under his control. 'He' is a cursed pirate who never shows himself, never steals gold, and never lets anyone out. The Reapers call him the Pirate Lord. Pirates have given him several names, including; Fire Jaw, Captain Flame, Lava Face, Etc. Those who have seen him have barely survived, often left burned and insane. They say his lower jaw is just a flame, extending up to his head.

No one knows where the Reapers came from, but they rose the oceans and sectioned off the world, taking control over those who were left inside the Shroud.

"Well?" Gervaso snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked back at the poster. The empty hourglass symbol, meaning your time is never guaranteed, stared back. The Reapers left the pirate's Code on every poster to remind scallywags of the rules.

The Sea calls to us all, the land is only for taverns, and the Shroud keeps us safe.

Honor other pirates parley requests.

A marooned pirate is left with a single shot in their pistol.

Only the Pirate Lord may change the code. Never cross the Pirate Lord.

Those who hang the code will become a Reaper.

All crewmates are equal.

Rum is the best drink ever.

He who falls behind is left behind.

Gold is all the most worthy treasure.

Don't pay attention to #6.

When in doubt, shoot the monkey.

The code is a list of laws, enforced by skeletons who roam the seas in cursed ships. Those who hang (disobey) the code are drained of life and purpose and become Reapers. Alive, but not existing.

I looked back towards Gervaso. "Give me the compass," I said, nodding.

"Ok." He sighed and pulled out the compass, which appeared to have just been brought out of a forge. I took it cautiously and found it not hot. I opened it, and it spun quickly, then focused on the horizon. I walked towards the cliff, watching the sea trail off in the distance.

I turned to Gervaso. "We have our heading."

"We?" Gervaso asked.

"Oh yeah. I'm going to need a bigger crew. Savvy?"