God this took forever to try and write. Sorry for the delay, I just have had a lot on my plate and I've had zero inspiration. But it's here now, please tell me what you think and see what we can do about that...Tatty-bye!

The Lords of the Sea and the Tides of Fate

Andrew stood at the head of the ship gazing out at the dark open sea before them and wondered what exactly the keep of the Pirate Lords looked like. His question was answered with faint torch light and a brilliant light house. "Once upon a time this place was known as Hook Coast, now it is known as the Den of Thieves." Warren spoke over the Guild Seal.

"So what should we be on the lookout for?" Andrew asked.

"Beyond this point my power is limited; just know that as soon as your feet hit that ground everyone there will become your enemy. It is a den of thieves and pirates, so I'd advise you change into something more…practical."

Maria and Jessica dressed in blouses and leather pants with stocky boots while Maria tied her hair under a cap Jessica let it flow fine. Andrew put on a captain's coat and a hat to blend in. Shiv chuckled silently at them as Hunter just sat quietly.

They stepped off the dock into a world completely different from their own. Here was a place more steeped in sin than Bloodstone. Whores and men consorted openly in the streets or in the back-alleys. People drank, fought, and gambled with no fear in their hearts. A few captains sat away from everyone else laughing at the others foolishness from atop the lighthouse.

They walked into a bar and Hunter went immediately to the bartender. "Hello Griggs."

"I'll be damned, Hunter Slade the King of Balverines here in our presence!" He whistled loud and everyone quieted down, "This man is a living legend! Slew 100 balverines in the Witchwood Coliseum on Knothole Glade! This man is the very reason balverines hide in the dark! So what are you doing here, are you on…official business?"

He pointed to Andrew and the others, "Got hired by Reaver to fetch him a pet balverine to keep so his crew would get in line."

The older man chuckled, "Aye that young 'uns a wild and mangy brute; a good many captains 'ere would love to see his head on a pike."

He glanced at his companions, "So I've heard…anything about these captains I need to know?"

"Stay clear of 'em…they're as dangerous as a storm and as brutal as a Kraken." The old sea dog replied.

"Thank you, but I'll take my chances." Hunter said.

They climbed the lighthouse and confronted the pirate lords. There were five men, and they were terrifying even for Andrew. Captain Caluma a Samarkandian pirate who had tattooed his face to look like his lips had been stitched together and then he wore a balverine skull as a mask. His dreadlocks and heavily tattooed body were a terrifying sight.

The next man was Captain Scar; a blind captain whose skill with a blade and gun earned him the name, "The Angel of Death".

Captain Agony who was a burly man who refused to use guns or blades, instead he decided to fight with his fists and break anyone who thought he was wrong.

Captain Putnam was a salty old sailor who was said to control legions of Hollow Men on his ship the Ghost of Snowspire.

The final man was Greybeard an older gentleman who oversaw the Lords. He was said to practice everything from shadow-worship to resurrection of the dead. He was known to even the smallest child as Skorm's Advent.

He leaned in and Andrew saw his red irises and realized why people not only feared him but steered clear of him. He was a Hero. "So I hear you lot all work for Reaver…hello again Shiv." He said to the young man.

He bowed, "Captain Greybeard…it's been too long." With that Shiv dove across the table and slammed Putnam's head into the table cracking the man's skull. Agony roared and Shiv drew his twin cutlasses and drove them through the sides of the burly man's neck and twisted ripping it apart before decapitating him. He swung at Scar who ducked, so he swung his leg up and kicked the man clean off the lighthouse to the streets below. Caluma tried to run and he just threw his sword through the man's neck. As the pirate fell to the ground bleeding profusely, Shiv walked up slowly and shot him in the back of the head. Andrew sat in awe of the brutality and speed Shiv had just shown, and Greybeard just smirked and clapped for the man.

"Bravo…it's been so long since I've seen you fight and I must say I am always impressed. You fight like the devil in a man's body…honestly if I hadn't already claimed the title you would be Skorm's Advent."

Shiv smiled; flecks of blood on his face and cloths. "You are too kind sir, sorry about the mess, but to be honest these men didn't deserve to be pirate lords…not like you or Reaver…or me even."

"Well Shiv, it's been a pleasure but you know you can't just attack this place and kill off my men without a consequence."

"You should've thought about that before you sided with Lucien." Andrew spoke up.

"Oh, so you can talk? Listen kiddy, I've been doing this since before you could stand, and even then Reaver was the King. Reaver has been King of these waters for over 300 years and I'll be damned if that doesn't change soon. No man deserves to rule over land forever. Eternity is cold, and he don't deserve the perks."

"Well it's a shame you feel that way captain…I wished to avoid killing you because of the years we sailed together before Reaver when I killed the captain and made you pirate lord…but all good things come to an end." He drew the hammer back on his pistol and fired.

The captain simply held up and finger and a strong wind held the bullet in place. Red lines coursed over his body like veins of power. "You didn't honestly think I would let you get away with this did you? I am a Hero after all…and it's time you learned what that means when one faces you." He held up his hand and a strong blast nocked them off the tower and down to the streets below. The bandits and pirates looked at the Heroes lying on the cold stone floor and the captain simply yelled out to all the pirates, "These men have slaughtered my mates. Kill em all!"

The brigands surrounded them with blades and guns bristling at the ready and Shiv simply drew his cutlasses and made a mad dash towards the lighthouse. Andrew went hot on his heels as Jessica and Maria worked together using Spellshot and Jessica's Spellblade to rain fire and lighting down on the buildings and pirates around. Hunter moved through the crowd like a balverine out for blood hacking and slashing destroying everyone in his path. That night would forever be known in Albion's history as Avo's Purge of the Den of Thieves. As fire and lightning rained from the skies destroying all in their path and the waves churned and the boats creaked. The Will in the air that night was heavy with conflict as Greybeard clashed with Andrew and Shiv. The old captain rained down his magic at them raising Hollow Men and blasting at them with lightning. But Andrew had skills of his own and he ran through the masses shooting and hacking with his axe carving a path for Shiv as the young pirate leaped over Hollow Men and boxes, charged up the stairs and arrived at the final Pirate Lord. The man weaved together Vortex and Lightning as a typhoon of energy washed over Shiv. But he fought against it with his own strength and drove his first cutlass through the man's hands before driving the second through his skull.

He stood at the top of the tower and cried out in victory as the pirates scattered and the village burned. He approached them and Maria blushed, "I think I went a little overboard…we kind of lost our ship."

Shiv chuckled and tousled her hair, "For a rich girl you can get pretty violent. Maybe there's a career as a pirate for you yet. The positions of Pirate Lords opened up, what do you say, you and me against the world?"

They all laughed and then Warren appeared. "Well I have to congratulate you on your final trial; however this is not over yet."

The Captain staggered down the stairs and drew the cutlass from his head. "I have to hand it to you; I didn't think you had it in you Shiv. But you did…however I'm not the easiest man to kill."

"Gluttony…Greybeard the Indulger."

"Oh, so you remember me Mest? It's been a while."

"You know him?" Andrew asked.

"Let's just say that Theresa, Reaver, and I aren't the only ones living forever…there are at least five others…and you're looking at one of them."

He took a bow and Warren charged at him and grabbed him by the throat. "This ends here…Theresa and Scythe send their regards…traitor…"

He drew a strange black stone from his coat and forced it down the captain's throat. The old man's eyes grew wide and he started to shake. He began aging and decaying before their very eyes and soon all that was left was a stomach, bloody and swirling with darkness before them. "Stab it and use Light." Warren said to Jessica.

She did as she was told and when the brilliance faded all that was left was ash. The axe in Andrew's hand throbbed and soon the axe burst into flames. They didn't burn Andrew and they gathered at the head of the axe. He stood in awe of his weapon and it's completion before the room fell around them and he was enveloped in darkness. "The key issssss complete…come to usssss in Rookridge…for we hold the soul of the Sparrow."

He awoke from that dream in a panic. "We have to get back, Sparrow's in grave danger!"

Warren seemed startled by this and then he winced, "Theresa says that Lucien's men have begun bombing Bloodstone…they're trying to kidnap Reaver and Sparrow."

He led them to an old spot on the edge of town and brushed away vines and snow. Beneath it was a Cullis gate. He gathered his Will and shot lightning at it. Jessica, Andrew and Maria joined in and the gate powered up. "This gate will only take us to a gate it's been linked to…which unfortunately is in Wraithmarsh…we'll have to cut through Darkwoods again." They nodded and stepped through.

The landing was disorienting and when they landed Warren immediately roused them. "Jessica, Light. Everyone else, run like hell."

Shiv seemed disoriented as to where they were going or what they were doing but he complied as they ran. The woods must have sensed their urgency, because the vines were thick and the fog was thicker. It seemed like eternity passed as they ran towards Brightwood. They emerged into the sunlight and panted. "We've got to keep moving." Andrew said.

Shiv finally spoke up, "So why am I here?"

"You are here to help them pass the final trial; to save the Hero Sparrow and to give way to a new generation of Heroes."

"Ok, but why am I here?"

Warren seemed irritated, "You are here to atone for your ancestor Matthew Rose for the complete annihilation of Oakvale. Over ten thousand souls burned and bled the night Oakvale disappeared from memory and was replaced with Wraithmarsh. Your family was soaked with sin the day he denied his lineage for his own sake!"

He stood in shock trying to develop an argument but Warren wouldn't hear it. "We're out of time here." He held open his hands and his Will lines glowed as bright as the sun, soon they were encased in his golden balverine and he collapsed before them, "This will take you to the edge of Brightwood…save Sparrow…" With this the world around them blurred as the large balverine bounded over land and through water. They reached the edge of the forest and the sun had begun to set. Large Shards floated overhead and moved towards Bower Lake.

They ran as fast as their legs would take them and with much staggering and stumbling they arrived at Bower Lake. Andrew saw the bright lights and the Shards closing in on them and he took off at full speed blocking out the cries from Jessica and his companions. He ran up the stairs and heard the first gunshot and Monty's yelp. He froze and then began trying to move. He had almost made it when the second gunshot followed and he heard Sparrow's body thud on the ground. He ran to the top in time to see Lucien vanish and his friend's blood pool out onto the stone. He moved slowly as if in a daze as the world disappeared around him. All that was left was Sparrow's body and the blood. Shadows wrapped around Sparrow and began to drag him through the stone. He reached for his friends coat and tried to pull him out. He struggled and couldn't free him. Instead he fell back as a music box fell from Sparrow's coat. "We own him now…come to usssss and free usssss…then you shall have your Sparrow…" The darkness laughed maniacally as the world appeared around Andrew. He sat there on the hill looking at his friend's blood and wondering what he should do.