Tale 31- The Undead Crew

 Wandering through the pine forest, the Traveler came across a strange man dressed in full black, silently sitting and smoking on a rock. Without warning, he turned to face her. “I’ve heard of you. The girl who looks for the stories.” he asked, the Traveler’s heart pounding. Who could have told him? Maybe one of the townsfolk she’d previously encountered? Or worse, someone closer to her? The man chuckled slightly, putting his pipe to his lips and taking a moment to smoke as the Traveler felt her anxieties twisting like vines. Finally, he gave a small smirk, answering her unspoken question. “A fisherman I met told me of you. How you illustrate beautifully and your exquisite calligraphy, but more than that, how mysterious you are.” he spoke, the Traveler putting a hand on her sword underneath her cloak, just in case it was necessary to defend herself. “I wonder what secrets lie under that hood…?” the man pondered, before noticing how tense she’d become and laughing to himself. “Relax, child. I won’t hurt you. I’m merely curious. I haven’t seen a soul so mysterious since the Captain.” he mused, the Traveler raising an eyebrow but deciding to trust him. “The Captain?” she challenged, the man smiling to himself. He hadn’t meant to mention the story he knew, but there was no going back. “Fine, I’ll tell you. This is the story of ‘the Undead Crew.’”

‘Long ago, when the world was ruled by pirates, there was a pirate captain notorious for his cruelty. He enslaved his crew, stealing them from their homes as opposed to enlisting them, and pillaged even the wealthiest of towns with his buccaneers. Despite his wealth, he always craved more, to the point that he even discovered ways to cheat and harness death. The man killed his entire crew, using the rule that ghosts can be transported by the will of a mortal, and chained them to his ship, allowing him to be the dominant force and holding power over their very souls. The ghosts could scream, cry and beg, but nothing they did would convince the captain to release them. From that day onward, they were cursed to forever sail the seven seas and use their unique, undead abilities to raid as many villages as the captain desired. Becoming known as Blackheart, the captain claimed dominion over the oceans, and to this day sails the seas with his enslaved crew, killing anyone in their path and forcing them to join the ghosts of the deck. Beware…your home may be next.’

The man finished the tale, moving closer to the Traveler to watch as she drew the illustrations. “Such fine lines, little to no blots…” he murmured, the Traveler sighing and showing him some of the other drawings. The man was curious, if a little antisocial, and despite knowing the Traveler wouldn’t tell him anything, became extremely interested in who she was under the hood. “Well, my curiosity has left me with more questions than answers. But I wish you luck on your quest nonetheless.” he spoke, before disappearing into the darkness of the trees as the Traveler set off once more.

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