The Island of Sartosa, Autumn 2404
Five captains and first-mates, of different crews, being the quorum required by the grand articles for the swearing of a new captain into the fleet, had gathered near the pledging ring, where Kroll awaited them.
The admiral, Leopold Volker, was present, of course, as well as Captain Anssem van Baas, and three first mates, being the dwarf Bald Kuzmoul of Captain Leadforge’s crew, the goblin Coboc Draald of Bagnam Farque’s crew and Geordt (more commonly known as Jambalo), the one-legged representative of Captain Garique.
Kroll towered over them, as would any ogre, although he was tall even among his own kind.
His blade alone was the length of a boarding pike, and his piece, held like a pistol in the other hand, was akin in size to a swivel gun, and not one of the smaller ones. He wore an iron belly plate as did so many ogres, which might be supposed a hazard for a seafarer, considering how much quicker he would sink should he ever enter the water, but then his general bulk, heavy woollen coat and huge leather boots would not prove conducive to floating anyway.
Coboc emitted a strange, guttural, squeaking sound, as if his breathing had become suddenly laboured. Most took it to mean he was afraid, what with him being a goblin. Only Bald Kuzmoul was shorter than he, and in truth, the taller men next to him were nearly as nervous, just much better at concealing the fact. All except the admiral, who had seen such terrors in his days that a brute ogre was simply another encounter along the way. So it was, he was merely studying Kroll, as if to judge him, to weigh his worth, to decide what use he might be. And well the admiral might, as Kroll was here to be admitted to the fleet, and to receive a seat at the Captains’ Council table. (Despite the fact there was no seat large enough to accommodate him, nor even quarters high enough to admit him, apart from those upon his own ship, but that was a concern for later!)
He was the only ogre among his crew, the rest being men and orcs, some of the latter weighing twice as much as the men, but not taller. There were rumours that he once had ratmen in his crew, but there seemed to be none now, which allowed those who doubted such could be the case to be more convinced it never was!
The crew were mostly armed with axes, either two-handed or boarding axes, being famously skilled in their use, either in a fight or to expertly and quickly hack their way through bulkheads. One might wonder why they were needed when their captain Kroll could surely slice (perhaps even punch?) his way through even the hardest old oak, but he could hardly be everywhere at once could he? Besides, as he himself had declared – having adopted what he believed were the ways of a gentleman captain – such manual labour would disparage the height of an ogre in him. Why stoop to the level of a rude, mechanical, seaman when he had servants to do such work? Fighting was of course a suitable pursuit for a noble captain, but carpentry was not.
Kroll’s standard bore a death’s head above an hourglass, not because he and his crew were Morrites in faith (being instead worshippers of Stromfells or Ranald, according to their current needs) but because the image was intended as a statement of intent: “If you argue with us your time will run out.”
The crew were grizzled veterans in the main, as were so many in the fleet, having served various realms, whether on fighting ships or merchant vessels, until greed, misfortune, desperation, or devilry drove them to become pirates. Some had the dead-eyed stare of men who had long since abandoned any hope or compassion for others …
… while some bore the determined expression of men driven by a powerful desire for wealth, with not a care for what mayhem they caused in its pursuit.
The orcs, however, were simply happy to eat when they wanted, fight when they could, and make cruel sport out of their enemies’ misfortunes. None, however, misbehaved in Kroll’s presence, for he was a hard taskmaster, and all knew that he would slice a crewmember in half at the drop of a hat if they displeased him, acting as judge and jury in such matters. But that was rare, for they went out of their way to keep him happy, and so it was they had had a fruitful career upon the seas so far, despite the malicious rumours of dealings with the ratmen.
Until, that is, recently, when more and more ships, even merchants, were carrying guns, and ever larger contingents of professional fighters as well as sailors. The threat of the Sartosan Fleet had caused this sudden increase in armament, making piracy by individual ships that bit harder. This is why Kroll had decided to join the fleet itself, as it was a force large enough to plunder entire cities. He desired a share in such rich prizes, and knew there were several great cities yet to be looted.
Admiral Volker, as was his right, spoke first.
“This oath you are to take, Captain Kroll, is no petty thing. You are about to stand in the pledging ring, also named the auger circle, and not just because of the giant augurs it is fashioned from, but because any lie told within it augers ill, very ill, for he who speaks it.”
Kroll grinned, revealing several teeth fashioned of gold. It was a sight somehow more disturbing than his usual scowl.
“That I need not fear, but I do expect that by holding to my oath it will auger well for me.”
“I shall do my best to ensure that,” answered the admiral. “For when my captain’s thrive, I thrive. We all thrive. You know how well our enterprises have gone? They were just the start. This is a time for pirates.”
“Then let’s waste no more time on swearing and get to sailing,” said Kroll.
The admiral nodded his agreement, then spoke to Geordt ‘Jambalo’,
“You know the words of the oath, Geordt. You shall speak them. And you, Kroll, must affirm all the clauses. Now, take your place in the ring.”
Kroll strode into the ring, stepping over a broken augur shell, then turned to look back at the gathered officers as they shuffled over to face him better.
Geordt began immediately …
“Do you swear to obey the admiral in battle?”
“Aye,” growled Kroll.
“And to be faithful to your fleet companions in all designs?”
“I will,” answered the ogre. “So they’d better be good designs.”
“And to strive to accomplish all ventures agreed to by vote of the fleet’s captains?”
“No point in starting what you don’t intend to finish. I’ll see everything through to the end.”
“Do you promise always to attend at the agreed rendezvous, responding whenever called upon?”
“If the wind and weather can be overcome, I’ll be there.”
“Will you die fighting rather than flee from an equal number of opposers, unless ordered to do so by the admiral?”
“I have never fled any opposer, and damn them who claim I might have done. But aye, if the admiral thinks there’s nothing to be gained from a fight, then I’ll follow his orders accordingly.”
“Will you swear never to desert your fleet companions, or leave them wounded in an enemy’s hands, if the admiral demands them back?”
“The dead can rot on the sea bottom, but aye, if the admiral wants a fellow rescued, then I’ll do what I can, for all the usual compensations.”
“Will you help your fleet companions if captured, imprisoned, sick or otherwise in need?”
“I will do as much as any pirate on this fleet, but I don’t profess any knowledge of physic.”
Geordt glanced at the admiral, who said,
“That’ll do. He is joining as a ship’s captain, not a ship’s surgeon.”
Geordt nodded, then continued,
“Now repeat after me: ‘And this oath, when I break in the least tittle’ …”
“And this oath, when I break in the least tittle …”
“… ‘may Manaan and Stromfell’s curse befall me’ …”
“may Manaan and Stromfell’s curse befall me …”
“… ‘and may the greatest scurvies, plagues and damnation seize me here and hereafter’.”
“And all those things, and worse if you like, for I shall never break my oath. Are we done?”
“We’re done, captain,” said the admiral. “Welcome to the fleet.” He turned to the crew and asked,
“What say you?”
In answer came a confusion of ‘Ayes’ and ‘Huzzah’s’, but not a complaint amongst them.
Admiral Volker’s fleet and army had just grown that bit stronger.
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