Waves Breaking, Chapter Seven
A Brutal Reckoning
The Deathwish continued its journey through unknown waters.1
The days passed with little seen on the horizon. One day, an albatross landed on the yardarm and surveyed the ship with disinterest.
Harrow scared it away with a wave and a yell.
“We need supplies, captain,” Kaito said.
“We’ll find something soon,” Harrow replied. “Tell the men to push harder.”2
“Shipwreck!” The call came from the crow’s nest, pulling Harrow’s interest from the maps in his quarters. He rushed up on deck, pulling out his spyglass.
The sun was near setting on the horizon, shooting cascading reds and oranges across the sky.
Harrow spied the medium-sized ship, split in two and partially submerged. He slid the spyglass closed and pocketed it.
“The wind’s died, Cap’” Kaito said, nodding to the slack sails.
“Get the longboat,” Harrow called. “We’ll row over there to see if there’s survivors or supplies.”
He took a few crew members with him, taking and lighting lanterns as the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky growing darker by the minute.
By the time they reached the wreck, the sun was gone, replaced by the twin moons rising, throwing moonlight reflections off the sea.
They climbed onto the half of the ship still floating, the other half completely sunk.
The crew heard groans and whispers but saw nothing. No bodies and no survivors.
Harrow extinguished his lamp and, in the moonlight, saw wispy human forms on the deck. Harrow threw his hand behind him. “Hold!” He whispered, knowing the crew were ready to scream or run or both. “Hold,” he said, again.
One of the ghostly visages approached, details growing clearer, a ragged hat, captain’s vest, a haggard pale face.
“You should not be here,” Harrow said. “Why do you remain?”
“It is you who should not have come here,” the dead captain hissed. “Now you will never leave!” The captain moved closer, as did his undead crew.
“Is that what you wish?” Harrow called out to all. “To remain as you are, forever cursed? Or would you rather have it ended?”
The dead captain held a hand, stopping his crew. “And what would ye know of it?”
Harrow shrugged. “Curses can be broken. Allow me and my crew to live, to take what supplies we can from your ship, and we shall find a way to break the curse.”3
“Very well, but you must swear a vow upon your iron blade,” the captain replied.
Harrow nodded, drawing his dirk. “Upon this Iron, I swear to break the curse that holds you all here.”4
“Ye must return the treasure we stole, from a cave on Scar Isle. Do this, and we may rest. Should you fail or do else with the coins, you’ll join us we are.”
The ghosts faded from sight.
“Go below,” Harrow called out. “Find the treasure and any other supplies you can.”5
They found the hold full of supplies, as well as crates of metals, untouched. They returned to the Deathwish and Harrow relayed what had happened to Kaito in the captain’s quarters.
“Do you know this Scar Isle?” Harrow asked, rummaging through maps.
Kaito nodded, looking grim. “It’s far, a remote place. It will take days.”
Harrow sighed, scratching his head. “Every decision only leads to more complications. Set a course, Kaito. I only hope it does not take us too far out of our way.”
“We could simply...offload it. Dump it into the sea. Or better yet, sell it,” Kaito said.
“And be haunted by ghost pirates the rest of our lives? Or become ghosts ourselves?” Harrow shook his head. “You did not see them. Ghosts, out of a fairy tale. This needs to be done. Go.”
Whispers and rumors spread through the crew as the Deathwish changed course.6
Harrow chose not to address them. He told Kaito should any crew members be concerned, they could speak to him directly.
None did.
One day, sun high the sky, the water clear as glass, looking down the side of the boat, Harrow saw stone ruins below the surface.
What ancient civilization built that? How long has it laid, invisible, lost to time and seas?
The wind died down and the sails went slack for the rest of the day.
“Not again,” Harrow muttered to himself, praying the wind returned soon.7
The next morning, the call “Ship, ho!” came from the crow’s nest.
The wind had returned in the night and the Deathwish made good speed along the waves.
On deck, Harrow could see the ship on the horizon. It looked of similar size to the Deathwish. He took out his spyglass to get a better look.
He recognized it and slammed his spyglass shut. “It’s the Sea Wolf!” He called out to the crew. “And it’s coming this way!”
“Captain!” came the response. “What’s the order? Are we running?”
Kaito reached out and grabbed Harrow’s arm. “Remember what happened,” he murmured. “Don’t let your anger lead to our ruin.”
Harrow ignored him and pulled his arm away. He leaped on top of a barrel, holding onto the mast. “No!” He called out. “We will not run. Not today. Today, we fight.”
Some of the crew cheered while others looked wary.
Harrow didn’t notice, peering into the distance at the Sea Wolf. “Turn to face and ready the cannons!”
The Sea Wolf approached, its larger size dominating the horizon as each ship maneuvered to get into an advantageous position once in range of cannons.8
As the Deathwish’s crew ran about executing Kaito’s orders, Harrow kept an eye on the Sea Wolf, watching it closely and carefully.9
“Change course!” Harrow shouted, noticing an opening. “Straight at them!”10
The Sea Wolf turned abruptly, showing surprising maneuverability and showing that Harrow was leading the Deathwish into a vulnerable spot. “Change course!” He called out again, swearing under his breath. “With speed, ya bastards! With speed!”11
The Deathwish groaned under the sudden pressure as the crew tried to alter its course too quickly.
“Come on, girl,” Harrow said, gripping the rail. “Hold together, you can do this.”12
The Sea Wolf was close, now, in cannon range, and Harrow realized they’d been outmaneuvered. “Head straight at them!” Harrow called out as the ships faced each other. “Load and fire! Load and fire!” With his smaller crew, he dared not attempt a boarding action again, hoping to outmaneuver the bigger boat and destroy it.
The cannons boomed.13
The Deathwish shuddered. “Again! Get in close!” Harrow called out.
The sheer bulk of the Sea Wolf loomed above, the cannons pointed right at the Deathwish.14
The Sea Wolf’s cannons roared, cannonballs slamming into the Deathwish’s hull, battering it.
“Captain!” Kaito called out, pulling Harrow’s arm to face him. “We’re going to lose. The ship can’t take much more!”
Harrow shoved him away, staring at the Sea Wolf, knowing the enemy crew were quickly reloading and would be ready to fire upon them again. Harrow gripped the railing, knowing Grimshaw and Velez were up there, somewhere. “Load and fire!” Harrow called out. “Load and fire!”15
Cannonballs slammed into the Deathwish’s hull, smashing through the hull, battering the sides, wood crunching and exploding into bits and pieces.
Harrow gripped the deck railing. Turning, he saw crew members crawling, screaming for help, others scrambling to patch holes, help up those who’d fallen, or running for cover.
He turned back to the Sea Wolf. We can’t win. He looked down into the sea and closed his eyes.
Suddenly, he was there, in the deep, like in his dreams, his visions. No light.
I should never have become captain. I’ve doomed them all.
We’re all going to die.
Two enormous eyes opened in the black depths.
Thanks for reading! This was an extremely fun and exciting chapter. I always wanted the Sea Wolf to come back and it seemed a great time with that Miss with a Match. Things aren’t going well. I wonder what will happen next…
Let me know what you thought in the comments.
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Check out the Table of Contents for previous games I’ve played as well as other stuff I’ve written.
Undertake Expedition + Edge: 8 vs 7,2 → Strong Hit. Mark Progress (6/10). Waypoint: Seafaring detail.
Undertake Expedition + Edge: 6 vs 4,10 → Weak Hit. Mark Progress (7/10). Waypoint: Shipwreck. Face Peril: Wind recedes, and the sails fall slack.
Compel + Heart: 6 vs 10,3 → Weak Hit. They’ll agree, +1 momentum (2), but comes with a demand or complication.
Swear an Iron Vow: Name → “Break the curse of the ghost crew”. Rank → Dangerous. Roll + heart: 5 vs 1,5 → Weak Hit. Determined but have more questions than answers. +1 momentum (3). Action + Theme: Restore Bounty
Resupply + Wits: 7 vs 1,1 → Strong Hit + Match. +2 Supply (3). Because of the Match, I’ll say we find a Shipwreck Opportunity → Cargo → Metals.
Undertake Expedition: Journey to Skull Isle, Dangerous. Roll + Edge: 4 vs 2,10. Progress (2/10) but Suffer or face Peril.
Undertake Expedition + Wits: 4 vs 1,7 → Weak Hit. Progress (4/10). The Peril? The ship seen is The Sea Wolf.
Approach Phase. Scene Challenge. Objective: Be in advantageous position once in cannon range. Rank: Formidable (-/10) (outmatched). Tension Clock (-/4).
Secure an Advantage + Wits: 7 vs 7,6 → Successful. +2 momentum or +1 on next move. Take +1 on next move.
Face Danger + Iron + 1: 7 vs 10,10 → Miss + Match. Take Jinx Impact. Fail. Fill clock segment + Pay the Price. Miss with match, fill 2 segments. (2/4).
Face Danger + Edge: 5 vs 10,9 → Miss. Fail. Fill clock (3/4) and Pay the Price. Withstand Damage(-1). Roll + Integrity(4): 6 vs 3,3 → Strong Hit + Match. Hold fast, +1 Momentum (1). Clear Jinx impact, +1 Bond experience.
Face Danger + Iron: 5 vs 5,10 → Miss. Fail. Fill clock (4/4). Failed Scene Challenge, 0/10 progress. Pay the Price.
Enter the Fray. Objective: Destroy the Sea Wolf. Rank: Epic. Roll + Iron: 5 vs 5,8 → Miss. In a Bad Spot.
Clash + Iron: 6 vs 6,6 → Miss + Match. Foe dominates. Remain in bad spot. Pay the Price. Withstand Damage (-3). Roll + Integrity (1): 5 vs 1,8 → Weak Hit. Lose momentum (-1) for +1 Integrity (2). Due to the match, I’ll roll for Ship Damage: 84 → Battered Hull. Take Jinx impact
Clash + Iron: 6 vs 2,6 → Weak Hit. Mark Progress (.5/10) but dealt a counterblow or setback. Stay in bad spot. Pay the price. Withstand Damage (-2). Roll + Integrity(0): 1 vs 5,9 → Miss. Flagship becomes battered.
Amazing work as always!