"We're a band of Irish fugitives and former slaves. Your ranks hold women, your Captain being one of 'em. We are those who have been robbed of our fortune. We are those who'd our 'masters,' and 'wage-payers' would cast aside. Aye, I believe late Captain Abbey was correct. We are The Dishonored!"
-Captain Naomi McNamara
Codex Quick Reference Guide
Shroud of Eden: Consus, also known as the "Erudite God," "Prometheus," and "the Voices," was a famed Isu scientist and a creator of Pieces of Eden. The Shrouds of Eden were Pieces of Eden shaped like cloths capable of restoration and healing.
Sword of Eden: The Swords of Eden were sword-like artifacts created by the Isu. The abilities this weapon possesses includes: Granting the wielder charisma and leadership properties, translocation, echolocation, sending blasts of energy at different levels, and negating the effects of the Apple of Eden.
Staff of Eden: Designed to control minds and bodies, the Staff holds a cradle in its headpiece where an Apple of Eden can be placed, in order to enhance its mind control effects. The Staves' bottom ends were usually sharpened, and could be wielded as a spear in combat. The artifact also granted the possessor the ability to conceal their presence entirely, and the ability of levitation; though whether these were physical effects or simply manipulations of the viewers' perceptions remains unknown.
Isu: Also known as, "The First Civilization," "Those Who Came Before," and the "Precursors," the Isu were an ancient and advanced species of humanoids that were perhaps the first known to call Earth their home. Unlike most other species on Earth, the Isu possessed a triple-helix DNA structure along with six senses rather than five. They were an inhumanly intelligent, extremely long-lived and advanced species, being responsible for the creation of the Pieces of Eden, as well as the human race itself and many other species of the Homo genus.
The masts ached as the fiendish winds bellowed in the sails. It was an unforgiving time to be at sea as the Brig rolled underneath the sailors' feet, being tossed wildly on the hurricane's waves. Naomi counter-steered against a squall, her hands cramping from their steely grasp on the wheel of The Dishonored.
"Douse the gallants and the royals!" She shouted.
Adibas, the ship's Quartermaster, pulled himself up the stairs leading to the Captain's Deck. He shielded his water-flogged face from peril, and took to the Captain's side.
"Pay a visit to Navigation?" Naomi's Irish tongue flared.
"Aye! They suspect if we keep at the wind's eye, we be but a league from where Mentor Ah Tabai suggested we anchor!"
Lanterns swung on their hooks, reflecting glimpses of the many men and women attempting to secure themselves. Water splashed against the ships railing, foaming and spraying over the edge from whence it came.
A rumble from below sent the crew in a flurry as the ocean pulled away from the ship.
"Rogue wave larboard, ser!" A sailor shouted, tying knots faster than before.
Naomi struggled to keep the ship facing the oncoming giant, Her stern falling in its' rapidly approaching shadow.
"I know She's a good sailor! Now prove it, me Trumps!" Adibas hollered.
A wet sheet swept over the deck as The Dishonored's ice ram caught the bottom of the wave, piercing its heart. Naomi's arms shook, struggling to keep her feet anchored. A vigilant growl pushed through her teeth as she fought to keep the ship aligned, for allowing the rudder to move would prove grave.
A unified breath escaped the crew as it leveled at the top of the rogue wave. Still, just as quickly as She scaled the beast, She rocked forward in descent. The Dishonored broke the storm line, and glided into calmer waters.
The hurricane quieted to a drizzle, and the lightning became nothing more than booming thunder in the distance. Naomi exhaled with relief, letting a small giggle escape her. She nodded to the Helm, signaling Adibas to take over. He willingly grasped the gem-gilded wheel into his glistening, mahogany hands.
Naomi took her tied-back hair in a tight fist to wring it thoroughly, whipping the water to the deck.
"What's the status of the crew?" She yelled down to her First Mate, Christopher.
"A few injured. No sailor met their end today, thanks ta' you!" He replied, earning her an encouraging salute.
"Back to it, then, if you value your hide! We not be clear of danger yet, mates." She shook her fingers loose of the grasping position they seemed to be stuck in.
"Now we are ready to sail for the Horn," Thaddeus, the Shantyman, began to sing.
"Weigh hey, roll an' go!" The sailors answered him.
"Our boots an' our clothes, boys, are all in the pawn,"
"To be rollickin,' randy dandy-O!"
"I don't know what's shining more- the cleaned gold and gems on this ludicrous wheel or the eyes of my maddened Captain." Adibas laughed.
"Oh, hop off it, mate. You love sailing through mucked luck weather just as I…And Her wheel is not ludicrous."
"Aye, what says, 'Nothing valuable here, lads!' louder than a wheel that could buy a bandit a fleet? Not much, I say. Ludicrous."
"It's an exceptional wheel for an exceptional ship." Naomi argued.
"And was that the reasonin' behind all the other fancy trim She has?"
"I suppose the gold plating on the cannons and mortars were a tad impulsive." She sighed, "McGrath always did have a taste for the finer things."
It'd been more than five years since her Mentor died and she commandeered his ship's armory. It never got easier for any of them.
"Heave a pawl, O heave away,
Weigh hey, roll an' go!
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored,
To be rollickin, randy dandy-O!"
Tad and the crew sang the chorus amidst the background of their conversation.
"Our Templar friends'll be sour we've bested them. I can hardly accept I'll be missin' their faces when they come to." Naomi released her mane to the wind.
"Perhaps we should save the taunt 'till after we've secured the Apple, Captain."
"Aye…" She tussled her curly red locks, "But where's the humor in such'a way, Adie?"
The waves quieted as The Dishonored sailed through the deep blue, sending playful ocean sprays onto the Captain's Deck.
A thin mist kissed the sea as if the heavens themselves descended upon them. They proceeded with caution as stone pillars made themselves known in only a moment's notice.
"Soon we'll be warping her out through the locks,"
"Weigh hey, roll an' go!"
"Where the pretty young gals all come down in their flocks,"
To be rollickin' randy dandy-O!"
"Can ya' believe it's been eleven years since I saved you sorry sods?" Naomi overshadowed the crew as they worked.
"Hardly. Haven't given it much thought, in truth."
"Oh?" She lifted her chin to look at him.
"Aside from the treacherous storm that almost gutted us, this expedition has an air about it unlike any other...and-" He caught himself.
"And what?"
"Nothing."
"Spit it out, mate."
Adibas shifted, "I was going to mention that it's the first expedition in a long while that we weren't accompanied by Captain Kenway and his Jackdaw."
"Ah, quite. Funny you should mention that. He gave chase to a ship harboring pounds of Reales during his voyage to our flank. Hope he comes back with precious little to show for it." She spit in the air, "Edward fuckin' Kenway…"
"Heave a pawl, O heave away,
Weigh hey, roll an' go!"
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored,
To be rollickin, randy dandy-O!"
Adibas couldn't help but admire the Captain. He found himself captivated by her sea foam eyes, and how she freckled in the sun. He reminisced the large scar that shattered her face, extending from her left ear, across her nose, all the way under the opposite eye. She'd donned it defending Edward as they fought a common enemy not a long while ago.
"Although…I imagine that Kenway left her scarred in a different way than any battle could."
Deciding not to press his luck further, Adibas rested one hand on the hilt of his sword, focused on steering Her through the inlet waters as they grew closer to the island.
"Come breast the bars, bullies, heave her away,
Weigh hey, roll an' go!
Soon we'll be rolling her down through the Bay,
To be rollickin' randy dandy-O!'
"Heave a pawl, oh, heave away,
Way, ay, roll an' go!"
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored,
To be rollickin, Randy Dandy-O!"The men finished the chorus cheerfully.
Thaddeus stood attention below, breaking the silence from the Captain's Deck, "Permission ta' approach the Captain, ser!"
"State your business, Officer." Adibas ordered.
"Oh, enough with that daftness…" Naomi shook her head.
Tad walked up the stairs, joining them behind the wheel. He gave his Captain a squirrelly grin. Distracted, Adibas sought the source of his humor.
Naomi's drenched attire hugged the curves of her body. She wore tight, black, armored leathers. She was armed with two swords, great in length; four pistols at the ready, with holsters on her chest and hip. The tails of her Captain's coat sloshed behind her boots. All of it looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"Well, out with it, then." Naomi balanced her elbows on the railing in front of them, resting her chin on her hand.
"Kit and I got ta'talkin' last night…" Thaddeus looked at the sails, cautious of making ill with the fierce woman.
"Aye?"
"Mentor Ah Tabai warned us of the Apple, and-"
"As he always does, with these things, Tad." Naomi rolled her neck.
"Ah, well, in the manner the Mentor referred to the thing, as if some misfortune'll dawn should you attach it to the Staff like 'da Codex said. I-uh, I question your wellness, Cap'n."
"The Shantyman ain't wrong." Christopher ascended the stairs on the other side of them, "We should make landfall in Tulum before attaching the artifacts...and see this Codex of theirs that they were so reluctant fer us to witness."
…
"Blasted worried fools…"
It was, in truth, a hardship to possess the Pieces of Eden in the manner that she did. The blood-stained Shroud tied around her waist spoke to her, as it held the voice of its original Precursor creator, Consus. The Sword haunted her dreams. The Staff, on occasion, had similar side effects. She knew her body was mortal and would not sustain Divine abuse forever.
"And this still be my damned ship."
"Unless ya' be plannin' some kind of mutiny, I suggest you merry band of fellows question on another topic." Naomi straightened herself, "Aye, it's of unique circumstance. It was made clear that the Apple's contents are not to be viewed by those of us on the Line. We'll find it, take it to Tulum, and be onward. Let the old Mentors deal with it…Quite animated about all this, they are."
"You would follow so blindly?" Adibas asked.
Thaddues and Christopher exchanged glances, fearing for his safety.
"As I said, this is of no Lineman's concern." She delivered a harsh gaze to Adibas, then moved to Tad and Kit, "Nor is it yours…" Naomi returned her focus to the deck, "nor is it mine."
"Maybe it ought to be…"
She slammed her fist at Adibas's pressing, "Ya' think I don't know what's at stake here? How do ya' think it pains me, sharing blood with these...these Deities, not even fully understanin' the few things they left behind on this Earth of ours?"
The crew hands below fell silent, looking on at the conflict. With a wave of her hand, they got back to work.
Turning her daggered eyes to the ocean, she lowered her voice, "I am touched by the concern, lads. I could ask for no finer Officers. Still," She shrugged passed Thaddeus, "Have faith in your Captain…"
Naomi dismissed herself to her Quarters, doubt seeping into her own resolve as they sailed toward the uncharted island.