#cs:accepted

THE CURSED SERPENT

* Alistair didn’t start out life anywhere close to piracy. His father was a carpenter, so naturally, that was what he chose to do. After losing his mother, he and his father upped sticks and left on the first boat that would take them on and put their skills to use.

* When his father was wounded in a battle with another crew who targeted their ship, Alistair took his father onto dry land to seek help. The next morning, he awoke to find they’d been abandoned by their ship, his father having been considered a liability.

* His father passed not long after, and so Alistair could only settle in and start to call the unfamiliar town home.

* A girl in town took a shine to Alistair, perhaps even verging on obsession with him, and when he was oblivious to and denying her advances, she took to drastic measures to show him how she really felt.

* Her actions scared him into leaving town, and he took up residence on a ship that needed somebody with his skill set. He was good with his hands, and he could fight. That was good enough for Captain Bradway of the Cursed Serpent to take a chance on him and get him out of the predicament he’d found himself in.

* Out of all of the crew members, the Captain was probably the one Alistair was most attached to. Not that he didn’t trust his other crewmates, but now he’d have to have even more faith in them, and that was something he was… apprehensive about.

* Because Alistair keeps to himself, he definitely isn’t all that close to most of the crew. But he knows they have his back, and he’ll have theirs, even if he doesn’t have much of a way of showing his trust and appreciation.

SECRET

* Alistair holds a huge grudge against all sorcerers. He’s somewhere in between fearing them and hating them.

* The girl who’s heart Alistair broke, unfortunately for him, was a magic user, and a strong one at that.

* She placed a spell on Alistair, preventing him from doing anything whilst she killed his lover before his very eyes.

* Because if she couldn’t have him, why should anybody else?

* As soon as he had freedom again, the spell finally beginning to wear off, he planned and hastily carried out his escape a few nights later when the sorceress was sleeping. He fled to the docks, which was where he found the Cursed Serpent, preparing to sail at sunrise, and escaped to sea with the crew of the ship.

* Alistair keeps his mouth shut about what happened, apprehensive about letting himself get close to anybody again; he’d rather them just think he’s a grumpy bastard, when in reality, it’s because everyone he’s loved in his life has met a bitter end.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

* THE CONFIDANT; this is a crew member that Alistair trusts a little more than the others. Alistair keeps a lot of things to himself, but lets slip a little more with this person. Perhaps they even come to see one another like siblings they never had.

* THE ‘FRIENDLY’ RIVAL; this crew member perhaps took Alistair’s attitude the wrong way the first time they met, and that marred their opinion of him. They don’t hate him - and they don’t sing his praises, either, but neither of them would refuse the other aid if it was needed.

* THE ADMIRER; the crew member who makes Alistair hyper-aware of the lasting mental scars left from his ordeal with the sorceress; they make him feel things. In another life, perhaps he’d speak more than a few words to them every day, but he can’t allow himself to think of them as anything other than a crewmate, lest they both get hurt; the pirates life is a brutal one, and rarely do people make it out alive.

THE CURSED SERPENT

A former sailor, for months Jaina was found ashore, in a tavern, offering a rich story or right hook to whoever needed one.

Boisterous laughter and playful jabs can often be found wherever Jaina goes, a freewheeling and carefree persona being put on for all to see.

But that hides a calculating and ruthless demeanor, Jaina constantly observing her surroundings, ever the alert wolf.

A few months ago, it was this very alertness that caused her to notice that a bar fight was about to go horribly wrong, she spotted the glint of a hidden dagger and stepped in, saving the life of a member of the Cursed Serpent, a ship she had heard of before.

After a night of drinking, Jaina found herself meeting other members of the crew and was eventually offered a spot on board, one she accepted eagerly.

She views the crew as an enjoyable lot, certainly a magnet for trouble, but every encounter that they find themselves in is just an opportunity for some chaotic fun.

She had only heard of Captain Bradway and had never met the man, something she regrets, hearing the crew speak so highly of him? He must have been a good captain.

SECRET

Jaina’s true allegiance is to the crew of the Siren’s Bay, a rival ship that helped get her onboard so that she might report any findings back to their captain.

The captain of the Siren’s Bay is a sorcerer who insures Jaina’s continued loyalty by making them their enchanted armband as well as potions to make her transformations less painful.

She maintains her secret but saying she knows how to act on a ship by claiming to be part of a merchant vessel but found the rules and regulations too constricting.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Someone who suspects that Jaina is a werewolf and either wishes to help keep her secret or exploit it for personal gain.

A sparring partner who Jaina respects and maintains a playful rivalry with.

A crewmate who Jaina saved the life of, this action is what helped her secure her spot on the crew.

ANYTHING ELSE

THE CURSED SERPENT

After devoting several decades to living amongst her merfolk colony, conflicts of interest led to her choosing a more landbound existence. She found it easy to blend in with the lively energy Westburgh, having observed and the behaviours and dynamics of humans as well as the amount of traffic which crosses through the city. However, eventually, she found herself getting restless and in desire of a profession which would sufficiently satisfy her mind and body. She developed a fascination for metalsmithing and carpentry, shadowing masters of each field in exchange for fetching them supplies. Her good looks allowed her to barter fares for goods to a significantly lower amount, which paid off the space she took up. Otherwise, she kept a low profile and wore deliberately unflattering clothes, keeping her hair tied back and her words few; altogether generating an attitude aligned with a masculine demeanour that blended in better.

Time passed and eventually she grew restless in her apprentice positions, having understood what needed to be done multiple times over. Unfortunately, when Briar’s impatience flared an unfortunate event was soon to follow. Since her departure from the sea, she was careful to neglect using her sonic abilities — it was merely coincidence that the local lead carpenter happened to one night wander past the city limits and slip into a watery grave. With an open position, Briar seamlessly filled it and kept customers pleased and impressed with the speed and precision at which she worked.

Briar heard rumours of the Cursed Serpent throughout her years in Westburgh. Their reputation and the obstacles they’d surmounted preceded them — each one singing louder to Briar’s disobedient scallywag heart. To be a part of such a group always sounded enticing, although she was less interested in the prospect of being at the sea’s mercy for a prolonged period of time. Since leaving her colony, she harbours a hatred for the sea. The idea of swimming or being underwater to hear the voices of her kind leaves a sour taste in her mouth and a white hot anger under her skin. But, once again, she began to grow restless in her city-bound existence that followed the same rhythm everyday.

Considering life aboard a ship meant commanding the waves rather than falling beneath them, she reasoned with herself that it seemed a safe enough distance to submit to her heart’s longing for piracy. Soon, the siren call of adventure, prosperity, and infamy beckoned her over the edge. After following the trails of gossip, Briar found the Cursed Serpent and boldly pledged herself as the carpenter they needed to truly succeed in the rough times ahead. It remains her highest goal to maintain truth in the statement.

Briar enjoys being of aid and service to whatever the ship demands. She has a hungry work ethic and ability to juggle projects, likely to fly under the radar for stints at a time as she works in her preferred space — below deck. In the aftermath of storms she has remained acutely aware of any issues on board, and tends to stay an active member on deck taking initiative on repairs or reinforcements when others venture to shore, restock at ports, or find a rare moment of sleep. Briar mostly likes doing her own thing, but will readily take on tasks when asked. She works at an incredibly rapid pace without sacrificing perfectionism.

Briar fits right in with the lifestyle of a pirate with her rowdy attitude and hedonistic desires, likely to stir the pot whether she intended to or not. She finds it keeps things dynamic, and enjoys witnessing others as work almost as much as she likes bothering them. Although she likes the crew for their attachment to the Cursed Serpent, she has remained emotionally distanced and wary of everyone. Only shallow bonds have been formed with fellow members, in her reluctance to divulge much about herself nor interest in being close friends with anyone. At the end of the day, she wishes to find the Jewels more than anything else. Lives lost or injured along the way is inevitable collateral damage, hence her disinterest in growing too fond of anyone lest they be lost to the larger goal. Accordingly, in the face of any tragedy, she does not dwell in gloom or disappointment. Three modes govern Briar, at any given moment — rage, sardonic humour, and impulsivity.

The Captain’s death unnerved her, making the mistake of deeming him better than other humans for the kind of ship he ran and the notoriety he was responsible for. Briar deeply respected his leadership and intelligence, never in disagreement with the calls he made. His death had Briar, for the first time, considering him weak and tactless for not avoiding the final hit that killed him. It made her feel bitter. Human mortality was a heavy burden to live with and, with more dangerous waters likely ahead, above all else it frustrated her to think the Jewels may be harder to access without his level-headed order and discretion as the crew’s compass.

SECRET

In her spare time, on the down low, Briar likes to work on developing unique weapons. With a specific interest in fire and ignition; grenades, hand cannons, and other explosive projectile matter are her predominant under-development works. Most prototypes are too dangerous and volatile to work on in an enclosed space whilst active, and although it sacrifices swift progress, she ensures her materials are kept dampened until satisfied with her design. She remains confident that her awareness of the elements on board could curve any potential malfunction issues, but also knows better than to waste materials. In the meantime, she stocks up on ideas and their necessary frameworks as she awaits the day she can assemble something and put it to real use.

Briar was exiled from her merfolk colony for repeatedly breaking the law, branded for repeated fraternisation with a sorcerer that supposedly put her colony in jeopardy. Even though she claimed she was careful, travelling a great distance each visit, the relationship was deemed reckless for both the act itself and the (literal) dangerous waters she tread in the process. As a result of the mark bestowed upon her, Briar exclusively wears long sleeved shirts —  high collared or tightly laced at all times, at the bear minimum. Even on sweltering days. She would say it’s for protection from any shrapnel or splintering that she may encounter during her work. Due to the painful treatment her colony put her through despite her efforts to explain herself, she is very wary of other merpeople until she learns where their allegiance lies. Merfolk wandering in disguise amongst humans make her paranoid that her cover of normalcy may be blown. She is only sympathetic for outsiders, whether by force or choice —  she wouldn’t hesitate to help another in true and dire need, as it’s what she would have wished happened to her in her initial castaway phase.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

ALLUDED APPRENTICE: Someone that wishes to learn more about carpentry. Briar didn’t like the idea of company at first, and was by no means interested nor in possession of the patience required to be a teacher. Initially it was purely through absorbing continuous examples of her at work from a distance that they were able to pick up a few things. Only when it became obvious how observant they were did Briar willingly begin to divulge a few techniques or skills that would enable better execution. Occasionally, she’ll make a game out of it and challenge them to making something in a limited amount of time. She’s far more critical than likely to praise anything they come up with, but she’s grown to appreciate having someone to share with and bond over her enjoyment of crafting.

CHARRED CAMARADERIE: Briar’s abrasive manner sometimes gets the better of her for its lack of discrimination. Anyone in her line of sight is fair game to rub the wrong way, even if that entails disrespecting someone ranked above her or twice her size. She doesn’t care much for rules and order, at the end of the day far more willing to be selfish if it means survival. It’s her unyielding audacity that this person can’t help but somewhat respect, yet they don’t want her to give her the wrong idea that she has any power in her beliefs. For the sake of order, no matter the weight of their personal opinion, they always make sure to shut down any instigative remarks she makes. Inwardly, she finds it both challenging and commendable that someone dares to keep her accountable and under some measure of control. At the heart of this dynamic, there is deep respect that goes both ways. However, on the surface, one wouldn’t be able to tell. It’s a lot of bickering and empty threats — a game of baiting and entrapping until one side concedes… until next time.

ALL THE FIXINGS: chock it up to plain clumsiness or one too many drunken stupors, this person is always causing bumps, scrapes, and breaks upon the ship’s materials as well as their own possessions. Briar fixes the result following each incident, no questions asked. It’s an explicitly need-to-know basis. The only thing she asks for her services is for there to be an exchange of some sort, which varies on her mood. Sometimes payment is as simple as a coin, other times a bottle of booze, or — for an undisclosed yet ongoing project — some pilfered gunpowder. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule goes both ways.

ANYTHING ELSE

THE CURSED SERPENT

Maeve’s mother guarded the secrets of how to use the Jewels of Destiny her entire life. After she died, Maeve became the sole protector of that knowledge.

Maeve’s life was quiet until the crew of the Cursed Serpent came to Westburgh. When they started asking questions about the Jewels of Destiny, she panicked. Although she lied and tried to send them on their way, they broke into her house and discovered evidence of her knowledge. When she came home and found them, they took her in order to question her.

Eventually, she decided to tell the crew what they wanted in exchange for the release of her pseudo-uncle, Charles Cassidy, and a place on the ship.

Maeve does not have one set feeling about the crew. There are people she dislikes and there are people she likes. She isn’t great at opening up to new people, so getting to know them all will be a challenge.

Maeve didn’t know Bradway, but she can feel his presence on the ship. It’s clear that the crew respected him. However, Maeve knows that Bradway wrote to her mom and wanted to know information about the Jewels. She has her suspicions about the deceased Captain, and she isn’t sure he’s the stand-up guy the crew believes he was.

SECRET

Maeve intends to help the crew learn how to use the Jewels, but she has no intention of allowing the crew to actually use the Jewels once they are reunited. She’s terrified of what a group of pirates would do with that power. If she has to kill them all to stop it, she will.

There is a “safeguard” in the form of a final, magical test that the original sorcerers added to the Jewels after they killed the rogue sorcerer. Maeve plans to withhold this information. Without knowing about the test, they can’t prepare for it. If they fail the test, then they won’t be able to use the Jewels at their full power.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

TEACHER: Maeve has never ventured far out of Westburgh, and she has absolutely never been on a ship before. This person helps teach her about the ship and the different duties. They might not be best friends, but their willingness to help her doesn’t go unappreciated.

WHY HER: This person isn’t thrilled about Maeve joining the crew. Sure, she might have told them how to use the Memory Jewel, but who’s to say she doesn’t have her own agenda? They don’t think Maeve can be trusted, and they aren’t shy about voicing their concerns.

ANYTHING ELSE

THE CURSED SERPENT

While traveling and joining different crews every season, it was about one year ago when Kalix was the navigator aboard a ship that was stormed by pirates. While fighting and trying to get a better look at the raiders, Kalix immediately recognized the captain and the insignia. He knew Magni had to be there, he just had to be, aboard the famed Cursed Serpent.

When Kalix got word that one of the Cursed Serpent’s higher ranks was stabbed, he took the opportunity and weaseled his way through the raid’s battles and tended to the wounded quartermaster as best he could, at least until the rest of the Cursed Serpent’s crew found them and got the doctor in.

Kalix — held with his hands behind his back — was quick witted, calm, and rather matter-of-fact. He’s a skilled navigator and a fine helmsman, he had no ties to his previous crew and volunteered to become a member of the Cursed Serpent’s crew. He pleaded for mercy and tried to pose no threat towards them. Kalix insisted that all he wanted was to find a purposeful adventure to latch onto, he tried to show that his loyalty would be bonded with the most exceptional captain and crew.

He spent time in the brig as Captain Bradway pondered on whether he wanted to put Kalix to use. They needed a helmsman, it’d be useful to have another navigator, but a sudden and new addition to the crew? Kalix proved that his skills weren’t for naught: he grew accustomed to the Cursed Serpent’s helm and could spot a storm days in advance and navigate around trudging waters. Since then, he’s been the helmsman and a help to the Carpenter and the Navigator.

When Captain Bradway was killed, Kalix had very little sympathy. But outwardly, he displayed a solemn reaction and pretended to support Jax Harper’s rise to the role of captain. With the rest of the crew, Kalix shares small conversations and general small talk — but he hardly talks in great lengths, even less so about himself. He’s become fond of being a listener: silently nodding, and shrugging as his main responses. He’s only loud when they’re steering through or around a storm. He portrays himself as a silent giant, as though he’s loyal to the captain and the crew, when really …  he’s only waiting for the right time to strike.

SECRET

Since joining, Kalix’s main goal has been to slowly reap a plan of revenge for the death of his father and his fianceé. After 15 long years of searching, Kalix has finally found his quarry —Magni Price. The revenge is not only for the two people he had in his life, but for the entire Mourning Star.

Because it has been so long, Kalix is practically unrecognizable. He’s grown much bigger, burlier, and he’s trained every day knowing he’d find his revenge someday. Not a living soul knows of his secret and nobody will know, especially not after Kalix seeks out to befriend Magni.

When talking about his past, Kalix disguises his time aboard the Mourning Star by saying he lived as a fisherman’s son and travelled the Baltic all his life.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

BOOK CLUB : Kalix is very fond of reading and is known to read the same book over and over until he gets a new one at the next port. Maybe the role can be filled by a bunkmate or someone who doesn’t sleep much. Kalix will read aloud the story to them and they can both talk about big things, little things, learn about the stars together, and learn more about each other — maybe, just maybe, they can even share a secret or two.

TO CUDDLE OR TO CLAW : The tension betwen Kalix and your character will either be due to human desire and “needs” or strictly due to pure annoyance and difference. I’d just love for someone to have an almost unnecessarily grudge to hold against Kalix, or some kind of mutual curiosity that never really gets fed? They’re never really alone together, but it’s very obvious that these two have something going on — but nobody can tell what it really is.

A GNAT : Something about Kalix’s surname sounds incredibly familiar, but your character isn’t really familiar with the way Norse naming works, so they could learn later that his surname is his father’s first name — a famed pirate of the Nordic seas aboard the Mourning Star. There was something your character heard about that … will they ever get a straight answer when they ask? Or will they ever put the pieces together?

ANYTHING ELSE

The only thing about Kalix is that he’s hopped through many different crews throughout the last 15 years. So, if he serves as a familiar face to anyone — that would complicate some things about how he covers up his story revolving around his interaction with Magni and the murder of his father and fianceé. But it’s not completely necessary!