This is a story told to young children living in the vast city of Regalia. Whether it is true or not will forever be up for debate, but that doesn't stop the loving mothers, grandparents, or an older sibling from describing the terrifying scene of pirates attacking at the Regalian docks.
The cool wind blew through the quiet streets of Regalia in the peaceful early morning. The damp air clung to the sailors and crewmen by the docks as they labored underneath a gray and bleak sky. The sun would not be making an appearance this day it would seem. As the day progressed the weather did not change, but the crowds around the dock certainly did. At noon the docks and nearby streets were filled with people shouting their wares, sailors looking for the nearest tavern, and crew members looking for new work. All day ships of all shapes, color, sizes, and nationalities passed in and out of the harbor. Some unloaded cargo, while others took on supplies to continue on their long voyage. One small cargo ship, however, lay tied to the dock but not a crewman or servant could be seen on or around it. The only peculiar things about the boat were large barrels stacked in front of it. No one had the time to notice or care about it; if a dock official would have taken notice then events that night might have turned out differently.
Afternoon came and went, and with it went the crowds. Evening fell to twilight, and by then all righteous souls had found the warm comfort of the fire, or in a drink. A heavy fog had rolled in blanketing a large portion of Regalia in a coat of white and gray. The silhouettes of the moored boats danced in the gentles waves. All that could be heard was the lapping of the water on the side of the dock.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes vanished into hours, and yet not a soul moved on any street except for the occasional drunk couple on their way home. The boat that had been ignored all that day had a sudden flurry of life on it. Silently men appeared on the deck of the simple cargo ship and began dropping down onto the sun-beaten dock almost directly below them. The thick fog muffled any sound that might have alerted guards of their presence. A dozen figures dressed in peculiar garb stood on the dock waiting. Slowly another figure emerged on the deck of the cargo ship. Gracefully the figure leaped from the rail of the boat to land with a solid, yet muffled, thud as he landed on the ground. This figure was dressed like the other, but all the others bowed their heads as he strode past them. In a low growl, he ordered, "Git these barrels into place." Silently the others did his bidding, two figures would lift the barrel together and rest it against the walls of the homes and shops that lay parallel to the harbor, their fronts facing the dark waters of the ocean.
"The explosives are in place, captain." The captain nodded when he heard this. In another commanding growl, the captain said, "Everyone back to the docks." The figures silently crept back to the wood docks; a few of the men took shelter behind shop stands. The captain stood where he was and waved an arm at one of the figures. The figure quietly trotted up to the captain, "Everything in place, sir?" The captain answered the question with a glare. "Right" muttered the figure, as he raised his hands, took a deep breath, and began to chant quietly.
"Hey, you, stop!" The captain casually almost nonchalantly looked towards the source of the disturbance. A group of four guards had drawn their swords and were now quickly approaching the captain and his mage. The captain walked forward to meet with the guards while the other man continued his chanting. "You have no business being out here this late." Started the obvious head guard as he pointed an accusatory finger at the captain, in his other hand he held his arming sword, point facing down. The captain was about to reply, but a guard beat him to it, "Sir, I think that man is using magic!" The head guard looked past the captain's shoulder, and exclaimed, "You both are under arres-" The guard was cut short quite literally as a sword sliced through the air in a bloody arc. The head guard's head rolled across the narrow cobbled streets and landed with a plop into the murky waters. The other three guards could only stare dumbfounded at the pirate, who had attacked behind, as he grinned toothlessly with his cutlass dripping crimson. One of the guards recovered from the shock very quickly, but before he could do anything a deafening explosion ripped through the air. A second passed and then another explosion just as loud sang its song of terror. Like a line of dominoes falling the explosions rang out into the no longer still night air.
The fire mage sat down in fatigue, having ignited many of the barrels fuses. From all around the three guards leaped out the pirates, who had crept up behind the guards while they were distracted by the captain. Cutlasses flashed and the guards went down in a pool of blood. Soon screams filled the streets as confused families rushed out of their now destroyed, and burning homes. Taking full advantage of the chaos the pirates charged into the confused crowd with their cutlasses flashing in the white light of the moon. Guards arrived at the scene but were unable to do much because of the wild mob that was now breaking out. The pirates, with their captain at their head, rushed down the streets causing more chaos wherever they went. A few of the pirates broke off to raid a wealthy person's home, while others began to fight guards in the streets. The fire mage and the captain, however, remained unseen as they ran down a side street.
"We turn down here." Panted the tired fire mage. "No, no I am sure we turn left at the next street." The fire mage looked at the captain with confusion, "No, I specifically remember it was this way." Insisted the mage. The captain points his cutlass at the mage's throat. The mage gulped and said, "Actually I think you are right." After making a dozen more wrong turns, and after a short battle between a guard who was now missing the tip of his nose, the two arrived back at the now deserted docks. The crowds had turned into a furious mob and had charged down the main street with the intent of burning down the tavern for no other reason than to rebel. The captain was about to board the ship they had arrived on but stopped when he saw a large and much fancier ship. Its white birch boards shone in the light of the moon, but the four heavy cannons shone even brighter in the captain's eyes. "Change of plans," Roared the captain a laugh escaping his lips.
The captain and the mage climbed the ladder on the side of the beautifully crafted ship. By then the majority of his crew had rejoined him having caused enough chaos.
The guards had finally regrouped into a formidable battle formation consisting of twenty of so guards. They were all equipped with full chain and plate, and each held a sturdy blade and shield to accompany them in the trials ahead. As one group they surged through the mob taking down anyone who dared to wield a weapon openly on the streets. The guards, having dealt with the mob, heard that the pirates were retreating to their ships and were escaping. In haste, the guards rushed down the narrow streets and out into the open dock. They were greeted with a terrifying sight.
The pirates had commandeered the noble vessel for their own use and had loaded and primed the cannons. Quickly the pirates maneuvered the vessel to face broadside the docks. The ship was maneuvered and the cannons were ready for action, and just in time. The guards charged down the street and burst out into the open area of the docks brandishing their blades. Their gusto crashed and burned when they saw four cannons aimed right in their direction.
"Fire!" roared the captain as he swung his cutlass in a downward slash. The mage said a quick word and sliced through the air with a hand. In a quick burst of flame, all the cannons were lit. The cannons roared to life as four cannonballs almost simultaneously ripped from their depths. The balls of death hurtled through the air in a deadly arc. The few guards that had common sense dove behind what remained of the houses, while the others stood catching flies with their mouths. The first cannonball to hit embedded itself into one of the few houses still standing. The second and third slammed into the crowd of guards causing weapons and limbs to go flying. The fourth cannonball went rocketing into the water causing a small wave to splash up onto the blood-soaked dock. The captain stood with his hands crossed grinning darkly at the chaos that he had sown. "That's enough! Time to go!" the captain turned and watched as his slightly smaller crew busily rushed about trying to figure out who should go where.
After ten minutes of confusion, swearing, and smacking, mainly on the part of the captain, the noble vessel turned her bow out into the cool depths of the sea. The captain turned to look at the retreating landmass of Regalia. The fires had spread to many of the other buildings, a new mob was forming and had taken the guards' weapons, and the entire city was submerged in chaos. "Oh a pirates life for me." The captain chuckled and turned away from the scene to watch as his men piloted their new ship.
The cool wind blew through the quiet streets of Regalia in the peaceful early morning. The damp air clung to the sailors and crewmen by the docks as they labored underneath a gray and bleak sky. The sun would not be making an appearance this day it would seem. As the day progressed the weather did not change, but the crowds around the dock certainly did. At noon the docks and nearby streets were filled with people shouting their wares, sailors looking for the nearest tavern, and crew members looking for new work. All day ships of all shapes, color, sizes, and nationalities passed in and out of the harbor. Some unloaded cargo, while others took on supplies to continue on their long voyage. One small cargo ship, however, lay tied to the dock but not a crewman or servant could be seen on or around it. The only peculiar things about the boat were large barrels stacked in front of it. No one had the time to notice or care about it; if a dock official would have taken notice then events that night might have turned out differently.
Afternoon came and went, and with it went the crowds. Evening fell to twilight, and by then all righteous souls had found the warm comfort of the fire, or in a drink. A heavy fog had rolled in blanketing a large portion of Regalia in a coat of white and gray. The silhouettes of the moored boats danced in the gentles waves. All that could be heard was the lapping of the water on the side of the dock.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes vanished into hours, and yet not a soul moved on any street except for the occasional drunk couple on their way home. The boat that had been ignored all that day had a sudden flurry of life on it. Silently men appeared on the deck of the simple cargo ship and began dropping down onto the sun-beaten dock almost directly below them. The thick fog muffled any sound that might have alerted guards of their presence. A dozen figures dressed in peculiar garb stood on the dock waiting. Slowly another figure emerged on the deck of the cargo ship. Gracefully the figure leaped from the rail of the boat to land with a solid, yet muffled, thud as he landed on the ground. This figure was dressed like the other, but all the others bowed their heads as he strode past them. In a low growl, he ordered, "Git these barrels into place." Silently the others did his bidding, two figures would lift the barrel together and rest it against the walls of the homes and shops that lay parallel to the harbor, their fronts facing the dark waters of the ocean.
"The explosives are in place, captain." The captain nodded when he heard this. In another commanding growl, the captain said, "Everyone back to the docks." The figures silently crept back to the wood docks; a few of the men took shelter behind shop stands. The captain stood where he was and waved an arm at one of the figures. The figure quietly trotted up to the captain, "Everything in place, sir?" The captain answered the question with a glare. "Right" muttered the figure, as he raised his hands, took a deep breath, and began to chant quietly.
"Hey, you, stop!" The captain casually almost nonchalantly looked towards the source of the disturbance. A group of four guards had drawn their swords and were now quickly approaching the captain and his mage. The captain walked forward to meet with the guards while the other man continued his chanting. "You have no business being out here this late." Started the obvious head guard as he pointed an accusatory finger at the captain, in his other hand he held his arming sword, point facing down. The captain was about to reply, but a guard beat him to it, "Sir, I think that man is using magic!" The head guard looked past the captain's shoulder, and exclaimed, "You both are under arres-" The guard was cut short quite literally as a sword sliced through the air in a bloody arc. The head guard's head rolled across the narrow cobbled streets and landed with a plop into the murky waters. The other three guards could only stare dumbfounded at the pirate, who had attacked behind, as he grinned toothlessly with his cutlass dripping crimson. One of the guards recovered from the shock very quickly, but before he could do anything a deafening explosion ripped through the air. A second passed and then another explosion just as loud sang its song of terror. Like a line of dominoes falling the explosions rang out into the no longer still night air.
The fire mage sat down in fatigue, having ignited many of the barrels fuses. From all around the three guards leaped out the pirates, who had crept up behind the guards while they were distracted by the captain. Cutlasses flashed and the guards went down in a pool of blood. Soon screams filled the streets as confused families rushed out of their now destroyed, and burning homes. Taking full advantage of the chaos the pirates charged into the confused crowd with their cutlasses flashing in the white light of the moon. Guards arrived at the scene but were unable to do much because of the wild mob that was now breaking out. The pirates, with their captain at their head, rushed down the streets causing more chaos wherever they went. A few of the pirates broke off to raid a wealthy person's home, while others began to fight guards in the streets. The fire mage and the captain, however, remained unseen as they ran down a side street.
"We turn down here." Panted the tired fire mage. "No, no I am sure we turn left at the next street." The fire mage looked at the captain with confusion, "No, I specifically remember it was this way." Insisted the mage. The captain points his cutlass at the mage's throat. The mage gulped and said, "Actually I think you are right." After making a dozen more wrong turns, and after a short battle between a guard who was now missing the tip of his nose, the two arrived back at the now deserted docks. The crowds had turned into a furious mob and had charged down the main street with the intent of burning down the tavern for no other reason than to rebel. The captain was about to board the ship they had arrived on but stopped when he saw a large and much fancier ship. Its white birch boards shone in the light of the moon, but the four heavy cannons shone even brighter in the captain's eyes. "Change of plans," Roared the captain a laugh escaping his lips.
The captain and the mage climbed the ladder on the side of the beautifully crafted ship. By then the majority of his crew had rejoined him having caused enough chaos.
The guards had finally regrouped into a formidable battle formation consisting of twenty of so guards. They were all equipped with full chain and plate, and each held a sturdy blade and shield to accompany them in the trials ahead. As one group they surged through the mob taking down anyone who dared to wield a weapon openly on the streets. The guards, having dealt with the mob, heard that the pirates were retreating to their ships and were escaping. In haste, the guards rushed down the narrow streets and out into the open dock. They were greeted with a terrifying sight.
The pirates had commandeered the noble vessel for their own use and had loaded and primed the cannons. Quickly the pirates maneuvered the vessel to face broadside the docks. The ship was maneuvered and the cannons were ready for action, and just in time. The guards charged down the street and burst out into the open area of the docks brandishing their blades. Their gusto crashed and burned when they saw four cannons aimed right in their direction.
"Fire!" roared the captain as he swung his cutlass in a downward slash. The mage said a quick word and sliced through the air with a hand. In a quick burst of flame, all the cannons were lit. The cannons roared to life as four cannonballs almost simultaneously ripped from their depths. The balls of death hurtled through the air in a deadly arc. The few guards that had common sense dove behind what remained of the houses, while the others stood catching flies with their mouths. The first cannonball to hit embedded itself into one of the few houses still standing. The second and third slammed into the crowd of guards causing weapons and limbs to go flying. The fourth cannonball went rocketing into the water causing a small wave to splash up onto the blood-soaked dock. The captain stood with his hands crossed grinning darkly at the chaos that he had sown. "That's enough! Time to go!" the captain turned and watched as his slightly smaller crew busily rushed about trying to figure out who should go where.
After ten minutes of confusion, swearing, and smacking, mainly on the part of the captain, the noble vessel turned her bow out into the cool depths of the sea. The captain turned to look at the retreating landmass of Regalia. The fires had spread to many of the other buildings, a new mob was forming and had taken the guards' weapons, and the entire city was submerged in chaos. "Oh a pirates life for me." The captain chuckled and turned away from the scene to watch as his men piloted their new ship.
