TERRAMORT
Far across the Western Sea, the isle of Terramort lay basking in the warm sun. The massive island was covered with dark pinetrees and rocky outcrops. Long known as a place for evil to grow and fester, the island's eastern harbor was filled with many ships that were owned by pirates, raiders, corsairs, and searats.
On the southern part of the island, Fort Bloodgard stood tall and grim, its dark walls towering over the surrounding trees and rocky crags. The fortress was fairly new, built by a massive army of slaves that the searats had captured on many seasons worth of raids.
Inside the fort's main hall, King Bloodfur was having a feast in his newborn son's honor. The infamous searat king was all but a legend among the corsair world. The large brown rat wore a red tunic and cloak. He was covered from head to toe with jewels and red jems. He gazed out to the creatures feasting before him. Fort Bloodgard was packed with pirates and searats who had never seen the fort from the inside before, and would cautiously explore the vast hall when they thought the searat king wasn't looking.
"It looks like my guests are enjoyin' the feast, eh Blue-eye." Bloodfur commented to his advisor as he fingered with his large red axe.
"Yes, I do believe they somewhat appreciate your generosity." The weasel replied. Blue-eye was a rather short creature. (Though none dared call him that to his face) He wore dark clothes and a long, green cape that dragged on the ground wherever he walked. Blue-eye also had the gift of an education, and made sure everybeast knew it by never slurring his words like other corsairs, and speaking with long words and sentences.
Blue-eye pointed to a tall stoat as he stated, "Captain Slashblade doesn't appear to be enjoying himself as much as he should be."
King Bloodfur sighed. Slashblade was an exceptionally good sword master and a popular sea captain, though he also was well known as an infamous troublemaker and rabble rouser.
The searat king gave a loud burp as he swigged down a cup of seaweed grog. "Well, Slashblade had better keep his nose where it belongs if he knows what's good fer him." He said simply.
"Do you think he knows that you killed his brother Duskvur in his absence?"
Bloodfur waved a dismissive paw. "I doubt that he'll even bring the matter up. After all, it's not like Slashblade even liked his brother that much anyway."
"He might bring up the subject if he wanted to challenge you for kingship."
Bloodfur continued eating. "I doubt he'll try anything at my firstborn son's birthday feast."
Blue-eye shot a glanced toward Slashblade before he whispered into Bloodfur's ear, "Shall I make sure he doesn't trouble your majesty?"
Bloodfur waved a paw, "Oh, don't bother. If tha' arrogant stoat thinks he kin make a fool out of me in my own castle, then he kin go jump off a cliff."
"I think he'd better go jump off a cliff then, because he's stomping his way over here now, and he doesn't look too pleased."
Bloodfur sat up stiffly as he watched the corsair captain approach.
Putting on a fake mask of friendliness, Bloodfur asked with as much diplomacy as he could muster, "Well, Slashblade, me matey. How're ye doing?"
"Bloodfur, we need to talk." Slashblade replied.
Bloodfur noticed how the stoat didn't even bother using his title when he addressed him, but kept the casual look on his face. "What do we have to talk about?" he asked, though he could guess the answer.
"You know darn well what!" Slashblade growled. Then he yelled in a loud voice, "You killed my brother Duskvur, an' I want revenge!"
Every creature in the hall suddenly stopped talking and feasting, and gazed in silence at the two arguing beasts.
"Your brother was caught stealing from the royal treasury, I did to him what I would 'ave done te any other beast." Bloodfur replied as calmly as he could.
"You didn't even give him a trial!" the weasel accused. Unsheathing his cutlass he roared for all to hear, "I challenge you, King Bloodfur, to a fight to the death."
The searats gazed toward their king, waiting to see how he would answer the corsair's challenge.
"You don't have to accept his challenge, your majesty." Blue-eye whispered into the king's ear.
"It's alright, Blue-eye." Bloodfur replied, then he suddenly grinned. "Besides, if that slimeball thinks he kin kill me, than I'd think I should enlighten 'im. He turned toward Slashblade. "Why is it that every time a young, cocky captain gets a little popularity, he decides to try an' bite more than he kin chew, eh?"
"If yer done trying to sound all wise 'n' mighty, would ye mind getting' yer slobberin' hide off yer chair an' fight!" Sharpblade spat in reply.
The assembly of vermin glanced nervously at each other. Slashblade had taken it too far. There was no turning back now for either of them.
Bloodfur gritted his teeth as he grabbed his red axe, "Very well, let's see what yer made of, pipsqueek."
The vermin crews made a large circle around the two beasts as they both got ready for their fight.
Slashblade was armed with a small shield and his cutlass. He grinned at Bloodfur who was only armed with his red axe. "I'll feed your dead carcass to the fishes when I'm done wit' yew." He declared.
Bloodfur's face remained stony silent as he calmly waited for the signal to begin.
Blue-eye walked in between the two challengers and yelled aloud. "Alright, now nobeast is allowed to interfere, this is a fight between a captain an' a king, so no funny business on both sides." Blue-eye lifted up a red rag for all to see. "When a drop this rag the fight will begin. Ready? Fight!"
The moment the rag dropped, Slashblade darted forward and swiped his cutlass at Bloodfur's head.
"Die!" he hissed.
Bloodfur dodged the blow with speed that one wouldn't expect from a rat so large. Swinging his axe he counterattacked a skillful blow at the stoat's gut. Their weapons met with a loud clang!
Blue-eye watched the fight with interest. Slashblade had obviously been practicing for this battle for a long time, because he had never seen the corsair captain fight with this much skill and ferocity before. He watched as the two weapons slashed and smashed against each other as their wielders sought for an opening in the other's defense.
Slashblade finally saw his chance as Bloodfur stumbled over a wooden stool, he thrusted his cutlass with all his might, aimed at the searat king's heart. Bloodfur barely managed to block the mighty thrust as he struggled to keep his balance.
'That was too close!' The searat thought to himself, 'Let's finish this!'
Jumping forward, Bloodfur swung his massive axe at Slashblade's shield.
Thunk!
"AAAGGGH!" Slashblade screamed. He glanced down in horror and pain as his shield and left arm were both cleaved in two by the axe. Dropping his cutlass he desperately tried to block the flow of blood with his right hand.
"Mercy, I beg ye, mercy!" The stoat whimpered as he tried to crawl away from the searat king's axe.
Bloodfur slowly walked to him, pressing his bloody axe against the fallen vermin's throat.
"I won't kill ye, Slashblade." Bloodfur suddenly declared. He lifted the axe away from Slashblade's neck.
"Oh thank ye. Thank ye, King Bloodfur." The stoat babbled thankfully. "I'll never cause ye any trouble again."
Bloodfur raised a paw to silence the thankful vermin. "I know ye won't, matey." He suddenly gave Slashblade a wide grin. "'cause I'm gonna send yew te th' slave pits."
Bloodfur watched with amusement as Slashblade's eyes grew wide with horror.
"Th-the slave pits. Are ye sure yer majesty?"
"Oh yes, I'm quite sure. "He paused to wipe the blood off his axe blade. "Unless ye would rather continue are little fight."
Slashblade wisely shook his head. Completely and utterly defeated, he limped away. Moaning pitifully as blood flowed from his wound.
"Ripface, go 'an get 'im a bandage. A dead slave is no use te me." Bloodfur commanded a small black searat.
"Yes yer majesty."
Bloodfur walked back to his seat with a slight limp. Noticing the vermin crews murmuring, he bellowed, "What are ye all starin' at?! Go back to yer feastin', enjoy yerselves. After all, it's not every day that an heir to the throne is born." Grabbing a tankard of seaweed grog, he raised it into the air. "TO PRINCE JASKVAR!"
"TO PRINCE JASKVAR!" The crowd cheered enthusiastically. "LONG LIVE THE PRINCE!"
As the mob of vermin cheered, they broke out a fresh barrel of wine and toasted the young prince.
When they settled down, a grizzled searat sprung up from his seat and started to warble a tune in a voice that sounded like a frog with a throat sore.
"My brothers an' I left our home,
To try the life of the sea,
And when we left our mother yelled,
"Now don't come back you three."
Ooooh, the life of a pirate for me!
Our captain's name was cap'n Reel,
A fine ol' villain was he,
He had big teeth as fine as steel,
But he couldn't even count to three,
Ooooh, the life of a pirate for me!
When cap'n Reel got hungry,
He'd try an' catch a whale,
But if we ever got near one,
He'd start to cry and wail,
Ooooh, the life of pirate for me!
Then one fine day we spotted a ship,
Its pennants were the color of white,
Our captain yelled "let's get 'em boys,
So we charged and gave 'em a fight.
Ooooh, the life of a pirate for me!
Some we took as slaves,
The others we fed to the fishes,
Some we gave to the searat king,
To get in his good wishes,
Ooooh, the life of a pirate for me!"
Even though the searat didn't have the best of voices, it was a popular pirate ditty so the vermin cheered, regardless of the singer's voice.
"Speaking of slaves, I wonder when Hookarm will return." Bloodfur mused aloud to Blue-eye.
"Well, most of the ships that you send out usually take around four weeks to return."
"I know that." Bloodfur snapped. "It's just that Hookarm was always the fastest one to return, an' now he's been gone fer six weeks."
"Ah, that's right. Hookarm usually is faster than this. I wonder if he sailed too close to the Rogue Crew's shores.
Bloodfur pushed his plate of half eaten food aside. "Aye, though even if he did go close to them blood-hungry otters, I wouldn't put it past 'im te sail out of there wit' flying colors. He's sure a lucky vermin, I'll give him that."
"I hear he's also pretty popular with all the other vermin crews too."
Bloodfur suddenly lowered his voice as he asked. "Just how popular I wonder. Enough to be a threat?"
Blue-eye quickly shook his head. "I seriously doubt it, your majesty. I think Captain Hookarm appreciates the fact that as long as he's loyal to you, you'll reward him handsomely."
Bloodfur reached over and grabbed a mug of wine. "Yeah, I guess he is pretty loyal." He grinned. "Unlike that fool Slashblade, eh?"
"Yes. Unlike Slashblade." Blue-eye grinned back. "Although, now you'll have to find a new captain for his ship." He added.
"Which ship was his again?"
"The Pillager. It's one of those massive ships with the three masts." Blue-eye replied.
"Ah, that's right. Well, I need you to subtly spread some rumors that the next vermin who catches my attention just might become a captain."
"The old "impress me or no promotion" tactic?" Blue-eye winked knowingly.
"Exactly." Bloodfur winked back.
They were suddenly interrupted by a large fox.
"Your majesty. There's a ship here that declares that they're from the Land of Snow an' Ice." The fox declared.
"The Land of Snow an' Ice, eh? I wonder what they would want." Bloodfur mused aloud.
"Shall we go see, your majesty?" Blue-eye asked.
"Aye, I think we shall."
