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memoir on the Sea of Thieves:

Whispers of the Doomed

Prologue

Lord Graymarrow was in a sullen temper. The hulking skeleton was slouched at the head of the table in his grand banqueting hall. This hall was the center room of his enormous castle, which loomed somewhere in the unstirring, misty water of the Sea of the Doomed. Graymarrow wore a light maroon jacket with large silver coins, a flowing ragged leather cloak, a chain of large skulls around his neck, and a blue scarf tied around his head. Black pants with dark gray stripes were tucked into the tops of worn leather boots. His wild black beard was also sprinkled with the silver coins, and another was attached to the front of the eyepatch that covered his left eye. His right eye had been replaced with a sapphire gem.

On this particular occasion, the banqueting table had been turned into a map table, for an enormous chart of the Sea of Thieves had been spread across it. Surrounding the table and map were a dozen phantoms. Phantoms were transparent, ghostly-green spirits of the deceased who were normally trapped in the Sea of the Doomed. However, if there were enough memories among the living about someone who had passed on, that phantom would gain the ability to manifest itself in the real world. Unfortunately, most manifested phantoms were quite hostile, and they could use swords and firearms to inflict real injuries. Their eerie ability to teleport from place to place made them difficult to fight against.

"I don't see how you phantoms are allowed to appear in the world of the living wherever you like," grumbled Graymarrow, "while I can only appear at the Fort of the Doomed every now and again." He pounded one massive fist on the table. "It simply isn't fair! Although I do have control of the Shadows of Fate, it's not enough! The humans can combat them easily enough if they have the six Flames of Fate."

Shadows of Fate were a terrifying type of skeleton that generally remained transparent, leaving them immune to any type of incoming damage. The only way to solidify them and make them vulnerable was to shed some kind of light on them. The common Shadows of Fate could be exposed to an ordinary lantern flame or sunlight to turn solid. The others, however, each required exposure to a specifically colored Flame of Fate. The Flames of Fate came in six colors: red, white, blue, green, purple, and pink. The only way to obtain these colors was with a rare Skull of Destiny which emitted a flame that could be changed to each of the six colors.

"I need to find some way to break free of this wretched limbo!" Captain Graymarrow continued, his agitation growing. "Or maybe even find some way to extend the control of my Shadows of Fate. In any case, I have been rotting away here for too long! It is time that the Sea of Thieves knew the true meaning of fear!"

"Perhaps I can help with that," a voice cut in from the back of the crowd. The phantoms parted to make way for another of their kind. This apparition was a rather rotund pirate, only a few inches shorter than Graymarrow himself. He wore a modest leather jacket, gloves, and cape. His four-cornered hat had a wide upturned brim that shielded his glowing deep-set eyes. His medium-length beard stretched all the way from his chin to both ears, and his upper lip sported a generous mustache. He thumped along on a cane with a skull for the handle, for both of his feet were replaced with peg legs. The right leg ended in a carving like a lion's paw, and the left was modeled to closely resemble a normal human leg.

"How can you help?" Graymarrow demand. He didn't sound very convinced. "I have tried every spell and incantation I have been able to get my hands on, and nothing has worked!"

"My solution comes from some of the greatest sorcerers and witches in the world of living," the newcomer assured him. "I was imprisoned in the lair of the Crimson Crypt for centuries. Perhaps you have heard of them?"

"I thought they were nothing but performers and fortune tellers," scoffed Graymarrow.

"Mostly, yes," the phantom admitted, "but there are always a couple of very talented and powerful members in that coven. In fact, those special few were mostly the ones responsible for locking up the entities, such as myself, that they've been keeping hidden in their sanctum."

"Very well then," Graymarrow conceded. "What do you suggest?" From beneath his cloak, the phantom produced a skull. This skull, like a phantom, was ghostly-green and somewhat transparent. "A Skull of the Doomed?" Graymarrow observed. "Those are perfectly ordinary."

"Not this one," the phantom insisted. "After I was unexpectedly released from my prison in the Crimson Crypt, I returned to the Sea of the Doomed with some important knowledge. If my spells and incantations are correct, this skull can swap the soul of someone in the world of the living with someone already here." He motioned to the other phantoms, who were now leaning in to listen intently.

"You mean… a phantom would be able to possess a human body?" Graymarrow demeaned in disbelief.

The phantom nodded. "With this skull, you could infiltrate the humans, and when they least expect it, it will seem as if their own kind has turned on them."

Graymarrow gave an evil chuckle. "I do like the sound of that! Imagine it… me controlling an army of not only phantoms and Shadows of Fate, but any human I see fit!"

"The skull can only contain two phantoms for now: one for each eye socket," the newcomer warned. "But, with time, I can probably make some modifications so that it could hold more."

"Ingenious!" boomed Graymarrow, suddenly rising to his feet. "I can tell that you will play a vital role in my plans of conquest. If we can make this skull as powerful as you suggest, the humans won't stand a chance!" He cackled with terrible glee, then paused. "What is your name, good sir? I failed to ask."

"Singh, my lord," the phantom replied with a bow. "Ramsey Singh, at your service."