pirate | The Mystara Tribune

Ever of a different life? A better one? A social one that gets you meeting a variety of people? A unique one that puts precious goods in your care? An exciting one where adventures abound over the horizon and epic undertakings lead to unparalleled discoveries?

How about one with free food and drink at hand?

Then we have the job for you! Absalon Shiping & Trading Company is hiring the brave, fearless and most charming traders, runners and port muscles! Those interested in handling wares especially need courage, a silver tongue and a drive for profit, while those looking to be the strong hands need to know how to handle a weapon. City guards, knights, templars, former guards/knights/templars, and ‘lawful’ types need not apply. Bards welcome!

Out of Character Information
More information on the Absalon Trader alliance can be found here. Contact Redy (redy9.Shepherd) at the docks for further information & hiring.

Written by Redy (redy9.Shepherd), edited by Terry Toland. Second photo by Daewin (grant.kirax).

The first sign of trouble was the unfamiliar ship tied up at the docks without having paid the proper docking fees. Redy, the owner of Absalon Trading, started asking her crew what they knew of the unknown ship lashed to her docks. No one knew anything of the ship, it’s captain or crew but one heard rumors of strangers carousing in the village the day before, though that wasn’t confirmed.

As villagers began arrived to buy, trade or browse the sellers items on the docks Redy spied sailors heaving crates down the path heading towards the strange ship. When Redy called out asking about their business a female claimed the crates were nothing but rags and oh more rags. Hmmm? A lot of effort to drag a crate of rags. Suspicious no?

Obviously they didn’t want anyone poking around the boxes, instead they tried to push quicker through the crowd to load their ship. Still yet no captain, commander or any other in charge stepped forward. Meantime the head of the Absalon ordered one of her men to search the crates…by force if necessary.

Finally! The captain of the rogue ship arrived but things already had started to boil over. A shrill cry announced the arrival of the Kokkari to the docks. Redy’s man managed to open a crate and began to sift through the contents and tempers were flaring. Blades and swords had been drawn and arrows began to fly along with fists. The rogue captain ordered his crew to arms and to fight to the ship. Redy in turned ordered her crew to slay the bandits and a battle was now underway. Meanwhile off in the distance another ship loomed.

While the fighting was underway the Absalon ship was set afire, whether accidental or on purposeful isn’t known. I think those darn bandits did it!

The village guards and the Kokkari joined the fight in against the bandits. Shrieks, scream, grunts, groans, piercing whistles, roars and curses filled the air in a dance along with the eye-tearing smoke that wafted from the burning ship. A ship that was slowly becoming devoured by red –orange flames. Above all this was heard a call from owner of the doomed ship “To the hell! SAFE THE RUM!” as the Absalon captain battled against bandit captain. Well, we can’t let good rum go up in flames now can we? That would be such a waste.

Through the din came another call, this time from the rogue captain “Drop the Lanterns! Engulf the docks in flames!” as his orders were followed it became apparent during the brawl one of his crew had been spilling lamp oil at several locations along the docks. The ones not fighting went about lighting up the oil setting the Absalon office on fire.

Now much closer the 2nd ship closed in and slowly turned portside to face the harbour. Suddenly from it, as if cued, came a shower of flaming arrows that rained on all and setting more the docks afire. The captain of the bandit ship manage to send Redy to bathe in the ocean then he set about to tipping over barrels of rum and coal then trying to light them with his flint.

Then came a colossal explosion as the heat and flames ignited the kegs of black powder that stored on the Absalon ship. Everything and everyone whether on land or air was blown back. Other explosions soon followed intentionally and unintentionally as other combustible things such as the flames reached barrels of coal and boxes of ‘funny sticks’.

The blasts all but destroyed what was left of the ship and decimated the Absalon’s office and the docks. The thick smoke, the nauseating mixtures of smells filled the air: burning wood & coal, scorched feathers and burning flesh. Then unexpectedly the Kokkari’s floating rock home began to glow unusual bright and stay so for several moments before what looked like interlaced gleams of light shot forth from it aimed at the bandit’s ships. The ships and all hands on them were obliterated.

Meanwhile what was left of the Absalon ship had already begun to quickly sink, the bottom on the sea making its claim. Pockets of fire, bits of burning wood and charred corpses lying next to the wounded were all that was now left on what was the shipping docks.

Submitted by an Anonymous Source

Out of Character Info.