The Tiderunner sailed from the shallow coast of the Atacambi Desert, off the continent of Azon. The crew was eager to leave those desolate shores behind, and the memory of the encounter with Davy Jones and the Forgotten Mariner. Merrick discretely charted their course south east. He would take them out into the deep waters of the Cerulean Sea toward Nustar Island, and then head south toward the Tongue of the Ocean, the gateway to the Ocean of Ruona.
The gambit was risky. Lurering Jones to attack the Tiderunner almost turned the crew against him, almost got his ship sunk and soul enslaved for eternity, but it paid off. He couldn''t tell the crew any of this. If they knew his ultimate goal, they would for sure maroon him or worse. But the allure of the Light of the Sea was too much, and now he knew for sure it was real.
The Light of the Sea. It was a legend Merrick had heard of his whole life. The tale goes that the Carcharian hero Kaimana stole the Light of the Sea from an ancient island, where it had been a nexus of all three Powers connected to reality, a creation of an ancient and advanced civilization. Kaimana used it to calm storms, and defeat sea monsters of gargantuan size. Eventually, Kaimana died, and the Light of the Sea was lost. Davy Jones came into being, and began a conquest to hoard all of the relics of the sea. What better prize than the Light of the Sea? An ancient and honored relic of the Carcharia, and a powerful weapon. Jones retrieved the Light of the Sea, but a huge Malstrom rose from the depths. Those who retell the legend often claim the spirit of Kaimana created the Malstrom in order to take the Light from Jones. Ultimately, Jones lost the Light, and the spirit of Kaimana cursed him to never be able to find it again.
A rumor hundreds of years later claimed that the Ta''u Tribe of Carcharia found the Light of the Sea, and used it to stop an eldritch entity from entering Lyrea. That was supposedly 155 years ago. Merrick didn''t know if these were simply stories or not until his encounter with Davy Jones.
His ploy to steal the relic, and parlay with Jones paid off. Now he would make way for the Shark Islands, and the small island of Mao Shar to investigate the location of the Light of the Sea.
The voyage was far from comfortable. The crew repaired the damage caused by Davy Jones''s larger ship on the deck. They worked hard to keep their home floating. Supplies were starting to drain though, and they would need to take a prize or make port before reaching the Tongue of the Ocean.
Rifts were growing among the crew as well. Lines were being drawn. It was clear to Merrick that many of his pirates were siding with Roger. He still had loyal pirates though, and as long as they all followed his commands, he could handle the rebels. The helmsman was still solidly in his camp. A solid pirate named Gilbert McColl from Waveward. Mr. Gilb, as Merrick referred to him.
"Mr. Gilb, three degrees east, if you please." Merrick directed Gilbert. He held a map up to the horizon.
"Aye Cap''n!" Gilbert turned the wheel, and the ship changed direction slightly.
"Keep her steady." Merrick nodded and gave Gilbert a hearty pat on the shoulder. He returned to the Captain''s Quarters to plan the rest of the route, with a stop in Nustar Island for supplies.
Roger approached the helm. His gaze was intense. Gilbert straightened up at the wheel. The sun was hanging low on the horizon, and the waves lapped lazily at the bow of the ship.
"Gilbert, ye''ve been steerin'' this ship true since we last made port, almost a year ago now. I reckon you''ve taken note of the divide brewin'' amongst the crew." The First Mate said as he began inspecting Gilbert closely.
"Aye sir. The winds of discord be a blowin''. What of it?" Gilbert kept his eyes on the horizon, and hands steady on the wheel.
"The captain. He''s led us into the jaws of Davy Jones, and now chasin'' after fables and legends. He''s leading us to our doom. This isn''t the merry jaunt we all signed up for when we joined the Black Squids. Can you imagine what Captain Singh would say about this? We haven''t paid tribute in months." Roger explained.
"The captain''s got his reasons, he always does. What’re ye suggestin'', Roger?" Gilbert replied grimly.
"I’m suggestin’ we might need to steer this ship on a safer course, one that don’t involve chasin’ after cursed relics. Merrick’s obsession could be the end of us all. We need a cap’n who respects the lives of his crew more than the thrill of his own legends." Roger retorted, in just as grave a tone.
"And ye think ye be that cap’n, do ye? What makes ye think ye can outsmart the likes of Davy Jones or whatever curses we might face on this fool’s errand?" Gilbert asked, pointedly.
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"I ain’t claimin’ to be a hero, Gilb, but I’m sayin’ I’d not gamble with the lives of my mates over a whisper of treasure. We can turn back, make for familiar waters. Get help from the Black Squids. Live to sail another day." Roger was caught a bit off guard by the Helmsman''s resolve. He thought old Gilb would have been easier to sway.
"Turn back, ye say? And what of Davy Jones? Cap''n made a deal with the devil, and sealed all our fates. We could use it against Jones, if he wants it so bad. We retrieve it or...."
"Or it could drag us to the depths, lost and forgotten. Listen, Gilb, I need ye with us if we’re to make a stand. Ye’re respected amongst the crew. Your word carries weight." Roger interrupted.
"Respect is earned, Roger, not just by playin'' it safe. I’ll think on your words, but I’m not one to mutiny lightly. Merrick’s got a vision, and visions can be powerful things." Gilbert replied.
"Powerful, aye, or deadly. Just remember, Gilb, a ship needs its helmsman to navigate stormy seas. Don''t wait ''til the gale''s upon us to pick your course." Roger stepped away, leaving Gilb to his thoughts. The sky was dimming to twilight now, and the deckhands were lighting the lanterns. The seeds of mutiny, which had been sown the night of the encounter with Jones, were being tended. Gilb was left to ponder the course of his life, and that of the ship. The ever uncertain winds of fate blew strong onboard the Tiderunner.
Merrick awoke with a start. The ship was rocking and rolling, and the men on deck were shouting. Pistol shots rang out, and there was a low rumbling noise. Merrick jumped from his hammock and grabbed his effects. His cutlass, two pistols, and hat. He rushed out of his quarters, hastily affixing his arament to his garb.
The sight on deck was pure chaos. A great tentacle was wrapped around the Tiderunner. Pirates were dangling in the air from various other appendages. Other sailors hacked desperately at the wriggling arms.
"Blast it all, what in the name of the deep is goin'' on here?! Looks like we’ve got ourselves a bit of calamari trouble, lads! Let’s not be the main course, eh? Hack at those tentacles like your lives depend on it, because, well, they do!" Merrick shouted at his pirates.
"Captain, this beast’s got us in its grip! We need to free the ship before it drags us under!" Roger said as he cut through a writhing tentacle.
"Aye, Roger! Aim for the eyes if you can spot ''em! And keep clear of the beak; it''s not in a friendly mood!" Merrick replied, firing a pistol at a tentacle.
"This cursed thing’s tougher than barnacle-crusted iron, Captain! We ain''t makin'' a dent!" another pirate shouted. It was Ken Withershanks, from Seasway. Merrick quite liked the young lad. He was frantically hacking at the largest tentacle with a boarding ax.
"Keep at it, ye scallywags! The beast''ll tire before we do. Use the cannons if ye must! Grapeshot! Anything to loosen its grip!" Merrick shouted over the chaos of the battle. The ship creaked loudly as the tentacle seemed to pulsate with rage.
"Gilbert, get to the helm and steer us clear once we’re free! We need every hand on deck or we’re done for!" Roger roared through gritted teeth, slicing through a tentacle.
"Aye sir! I''ll have us out of here faster than a shark after chum, or a seagull before a storm!" Gilb replied, rushing for the wheel. It was spinning wildly as the leviathan squid pulled on the ship.
The gunners had readied a single cannon. They loaded a charge and some grapeshot into the barrel.
"Ready to fire Captain! Shall we blast the bloody beast?"
"Fire away! Give that monstrosity a taste of iron! Aim true and don''t waste a shot!" Merrick commanded. The cannon roared and smoke blew across the deck. The small metal balls pierced through a large tentacle, sheering it off. It splashed into the water, and the beast let out a low haunting moan. Its remaining tentacles thrashed even more, but the main tentacle that had a grip on the ship started to slip.
"It''s got me! For the love of the sea, help! screamed a pirate. His name was Ampthos Del, from Kyra''s End, Republic of Kyran.
"Hold on, lad! I''ve got ye!" Merrick shouted as he aimed and fired his pistol. The bullet blasted through the tentacle, and Ampthos dropped to the deck. "There, back to the fight with ye!"
"The beast is weakening! We might have a chance!" Roger panted, he was beat up. Blood leaked from his nose, and he was bruised all over his head. Despite that, he looked determined.
"Good! Don''t let up now lads! Finish the beast or we''re squid bait!" Merrick yelled. The rest of the crew shouted back.
"For the Tiderunner! For Freedom!"
After several more minutes, and a few more cannon shots, the great beast let go, and retreated down into the depths. The Tiderunner was battered, but it held strong.
The Bosun took account of the damage. Nothing was damaged more than it had previously been. A few more cracks in the gunwale, but otherwise, the vessel looked fine. The crew rallied around Merrick and cheered. His charismatic leadership was well received.
Merrick noticed several of the crew, including Roger, sulking at the back of the gathering. He frowned for a split second, but regained his composure immediately. He could not afford to show any negative emotion during their triumph over the monstrous beast.
That night, the Cook prepared the crew roasted squid, boiled squid, grilled squid. The tentacles that had remained on the deck made for a fine feast for the crew of the Tiderunner.