Ships Name
Walking across the bow of the ship, Cromian admired its craftsmanship. “Fine looking ship, isn’t she?” The raspy voice said behind him. Turning around, Cromian saw the six foot tall blue bearded burly captain. “It is a bit out of the ordinary to be crewed by pirates.” He said.
Bluebeard grinned, “Aye, you have a good eye. She be Kul Tiran, one of the fastest ships on the sea.” Cromian looks at the captain. “Dare I ask how you came into its possession?” The captain grinned. “If you’re asking what happened to its previous crew, it had none. Me and my lot are what you say are defectors. Former Kul Tiran Navy.” The comment caught Cromian off guard.
“Defectors?”
“Aye,” sighed the captain as he put his arms on the railing. “During the Fourth War, we were part of a joint Alliance expedition to hunt down some Horde ships off the coast of Drustvar. We were lured into a trap and then ambushed. Despite the loss of several valuable ships, we ultimately prevailed. As we rounded up the prisoners, we were given an order from high up to execute them. We were soldiers, not killers. I protested the order, but the Alliance Commander was convicted. He informed me that if we did not carry out the order, he would have us all court-martialed.”
“So, what did you end up doing?” Cromian asked, visibly invested in hearing the outcome.
The captain looked Cromian dead in the eye. “You ever have a moment when you realize what you are told is right, but actually wrong?” Cromian pondered for a moment and nodded. “I can relate.” Remembering his own fallings with the Alliance Military after the Fourth War.
“Well, that’s what happened to us. In a stroke of rage, or instinct, I simply threw the Commander overboard.” He grinned. “Proudest moment I can remember. No one spoke for a good minute, and then all hell broke loose. Next thing you know, it was my crew vs the Alliance, throwing over or killing out anyone that wore the Alliance colors. Once we had the ship, we hosted the sails and left.”
“What about the prisoners?”
“When we made it far enough, we stopped at a Goblin port and let them go. Since then, we have been roaming the seas making a living until you all showed up.”
“So you are not really pirates?”
Bluebeard let out a loud laugh. “Well, you all called us that, as do others. We just go with it, and since others were calling us Pirates, we figured to embrace it. Even our own names.” He paused. “But that brings me to why I came out to talk to you.” The captain said in a more serious tone.
“And what is it I may be able to help you with?” The Captain stared down Cromian as if he was getting a read on him. “All the things you said about purchasing my crew and ship, is that true?”
Cromian straightened out his long coat, brushing off some dirt from earlier that night. “Yes,” he said firmly. “You will receive your full payment upon reaching Port Dawn. After that, you are free to do whatever you want.”
Bluebeard pondered, “And you know how to sail a ship like this?”
Cromian winced at the question, “No, but our company has many ships, so we are not short of people who can man such a ship.”
Bluebeard nodded in understanding. “And say one would like to get more of this gold you used to purchase us with. How might they go about doing that?”
Cromian smiled as if he understood the subtext “If you would like to stay on and be part of our Company I am sure that can be arranged. If you and your men agree to accept me as your commander and owner. It’s a nice ship, but I have a few ideas myself on how to make this ship even better.”
“Aye, I think we may take you up on that proposition. I take it we will address you as Commodore?”
Cromian smiled at the title. “I think we can make that work. But if you do not mind me asking, is your name really Bluebeard?”
Bluebeard grinned, “No, it’s Smithlan. Smithlan Bradshaw at your service. Now that she has a new owner, what will you name her?”
Cromian pondered for a moment and smiled. “Light’s Vengeance,” he said confidently.
“Aye, a good name indeed.” Smithlan said with a grin.
The crew shouted as the first lights from Port Dawn were visible. As the sun rose, a new dawn was beginning.