“What’s the watch report Mister Daig?”

“No news Sea Marshal. Sea’s clear.”

“No news of the pirates?”

“No sir. Message spell from the sloops ahead reports they’re still headed southwest towards the Brakens but we’re gaining on ‘em. If the winds right we should catch them before they enter the isles.”

Sea Marshall Hanthorpe nodded to his first mate, retaking command of his vessel and fleet. He wanted those ships and those pirates dangling from a rope.

“How close are we?”

“Sea Marshall, if the sloops are to be trusted, we’re only a few hours behind them and gaining.”

“Then let’s get this over with Mister Daig, signal the ships. On my authority, tell them to be ready to break the seals and give us a [Gale] on my order,” He commanded. Daig paused but quickly saluted to carry out his duties as any good officer would.

Sea Marshall Hanthrope could understand the hesitancy, it wasn’t a simple order after all with each ship in his fleet only carrying two bottles with a [Gale] stored inside. They were meant to save the fleet if they needed to retreat or to sail against the wind by creating a new wind if tactics called for it but they could also be used for speed. He’d be damned if they didn’t catch the Sea Wrath and its 'armada' before they entered the Brakens. Hence his order.

It all came to the fact that he knew those isles. A ship could get lost there without even trying. Great maelstroms and whirlpools that could pull down even the greatest ships. His own flagship the IRV Magnificent would struggle through those and the ironclads the admiralty and idiots in the capital kept preaching about wouldn’t stand a chance. Oh, they were perfectly suited for patrolling bays and coastal waters but on the high seas? He’d rather be at the helm of a true warship.

Because besides the maelstroms, there were underwater reefs, forests of stone that randomly rose out of the water, sirens, sea serpents... and the mist.

The mist was the biggest concern when it came to the Brakens and Hanthorpe wasn’t sure if even the pirates that called the Brakens their home knew how to navigate it. He seriously doubted it, it was an ever changing secret of the world. A true mystery of the seas, one of the few that remained. Ever shifting in ways that no man could predict, even with Skills. Any ship of the Imperial Republic's fleet that had sailed into that fog had never been seen again.

As far as Hanthorpe knew, no one even knew what was beyond. Was it a place of magic that could be escaped if one had the know how, the work of great sorcerers and wizards of time past? Or was it a natural phenomenon? Some believed it was the work of dragons while others thought it was simply toxic or acidic. Any ship dumb enough to sail into it was quickly devoid of crew and dissolved to the point it sank beneath the waves. Some even said it was where Ler resided, the god of the sea. And he didn’t let a soul leave that had laid eyes on his coral palace crawling across the ocean floor and rising above the waves in pure splendor, encompassing every depth of his domain. In that story, Ler didn’t kill the sailors but turned them into Merfolk. If that were true, some had escaped his grasp because the merfolk existed. But if legend was right, it was his doing but no one could ask them. Records showed they couldn’t speak above the waves and no one could understand them beneath. They were also quick to drown anyone daring enough to try to swim with them.

Regardless of the reason, the mist was dangerous, it was best if the 3rd fleet didn’t go anywhere near the Brakens. Better to sink the pirates at sea.

“Sea Marshall, the fleet’s ready for a [Gale] on your mark,” Mister Daig said the moment he returned.

“Then mark. [Signal the Fleet],” He said while activating his skill. His intent was displayed in a flash of light from the crow's nest of the Magnificent. Better than clockwork, a bottle containing a pure [Gale] was tossed into the waves behind each of the ships, designed to quickly dissolve in the water… sugar glass. They didn’t have to completely dissolve though, as soon as they were weakened they let out a massive flow of air, pushing the sails and the hulls themselves with the waves they created.

Sea Marshall Hanthorpe barely swayed at the acceleration but he noted that his Junior Marshall, Mister Daig nearly lost his footing. He’d have to recommend to the admiralty to ensure at least the officers were trained in such matters.

It didn’t sit well that his senior officer couldn’t handle a change of pace, what would he or the rest of them do if they had to use it in battle maneuvers against the damned elves or the dreadnoughts of the Dwarves and Gnomes… Even if neither were much of a concern in his opinion, the former relying on galleys of all things. The rowers were fast moving but barely qualified as armed, not a single cannon. Instead, they relied on antiquated weapons like magically enhanced ballista and catapults. The latter was at least with the times, filled with cannons, great cannons that threw shells the size of trees. The Imperial Republics ironclads a shadow of their firepower... but they were heavy in the water and moved across the surface sea about as well as an earth elemental. Hanthorpe had seen them at sea but the Imperial Republic had never had reason to engage them. But from what he’d seen, he couldn’t imagine it took much to drown them. A single, solid hit from enchanted shelling below the waterline and they’d be floundered.

But that was knowledge for a future war. Which one? He didn’t know. Elven galleys, Dwarven Dreadnoughts, Orcish warships, Demon Hellships… He didn’t care, the Magnificent could take any one of them. Even Foxfolk or whatever they called themselves and the bastard fleets of the various human kingdoms, republics, empires, and theocracies. They might pose a challenge, they at least knew proper naval doctrine, but even then he knew the Imperial Republic would prevail. Not every nation could assemble 15 man-o-wars, the terrors of the seas, with 30 frigates and war sloops in support and call it the 3rd fleet.

“Mister Daig, I leave you in charge of the helm. I’ll be checking on the status of the sailors below. Inform me if there are any changes,” Hanthrope said and didn’t wait for the acknowledgment he knew was coming.

He regularly checked below decks and made a point to ensure the Captains under his command did so as well. It was a good practice. He’d been forced to serve as a gun commander for a time after joining the fleet and knew the hardships. Plus he knew his crew was truly inspired by the practice, who didn’t wish to get the chance to show their best before the commander of an entire fleet. He would have killed for the chance in the past, he might have even made the rank of Sea Marshall a year or two sooner if he had the chance to impress upon a superior of such rank.

He took his time, watching as each man and woman under his command sharply stood to attention. He spoke with them, patted them on the back, and praised them for their sharp adherence to naval code. There were of course a few mishaps that needed to be addressed but he expected his subordinate officers to take care of the odd sailor or two that were lacking. He spoke with his gun crews about their valiant mission and made time to speak with the man at arms and ships [Doctor]. Even going further he ventured below the waterline and spoke with his midshipmen in charge of supply and even his bilge men. He took no notice of their lax attitude, it was good for the men responsible for pumping water out of a sinking ship to be sitting around with nothing to do after all. If luck would have it, they’d never actually do any work.

It was there that he got the call to head topside… they’d caught up with their sloops and further sails had been sighted. The engagement was at hand.

“Report Mister Daig,” Sea Marshall Hanthorpe said as he strode up the steps to the aft castle and helm.

“Eight frigates, three sloops, twelve armed trade ships, likely seized. Sloops have signaled they already engaged and sank three galleys and two longships. They’ve loosed the wind from their sails to fall in line with the fleet.”

“The xebec?”

“No sir, there ain’t no sign of the Seawrath. It’s possible that she already fled,” Daig offered and was likely right. He didn’t expect to see the enemy flagship after all. But it’d have been a nice surprise anyways.

“Good. Time till they’re in range of the capital ships?” he didn't care about galleys or longships, some were barely larger than a dingy from his perspective. But he’d still praise the captains of his scout ships for their aptitude. After the battle and return to port of course.

“Minutes sir. I’ve given the word for the forecannons to target sails and rudders.”

“Very good,” Hanthorpe would have given the same, the sign of a well trained officer. He adjusted his hat and stood near the helm while giving a moment to survey his fleet preparing to send its first salvo. Nothing was amiss as far as he saw it. As expected. As the Sea Marshall of the 3rd fleet he knew there was no one better, his superiors in the first and second, along with the admiralty, were little more than politicians playing with vessels at sea but the third fleet was the greatest force to actually see combat. It was an honor to lead it.

He smiled when the decking shook slightly with the firing of the twin breach loaded culverins sticking out of the bow of the ship on either side of the bowsprit. Their roar was almost instantly joined by others to his left and right and only a half minute later they were bellowing again.

“Sails Sighted!”

The call came from above. Hanthorpe wasn’t sure what the lookout meant. Of course, sails had been sighted. Was the fool asleep up there? Did he have to plan to check on the crew in the rigging before an engagement too? But he handed his hat off to a waiting cabin boy and leaned out over the rail just the same, activating his enchanted glass eye as he did. It was better than any spyglass he’d ever owned.

Sea Marshall Hanthorpe scanned the pirate fleet ahead, then past them to the horizon. At first, he saw nothing out of his expectations but as a galleon shifted its heading to better capture the wind, he saw it. Lanteen sails leaning heavily against the crosswind the pirates were trying to use to escape.

It was the Seawrath, the fastest ship on the high seas some said and with its arrival he noticed the enemy fleet coming about. He smiled, he hadn’t expected them to fight but it made his duty easier.

“Mister Daig, inform the fleet to form a battle line and arm port side cannons in preparations for a broadside. Grape and standard munitions below decks and top deck guns with chains shot. I want that entire fleet cut down and ready to board with emphasis on the xebec.” He said and his instructions were instantly relayed.

“Arm the port! Chain on top! Ball and shot below, prepare to broadside!” Daig yelled out while a signalman waved his flags to inform the other ships. The crew of the magnificent erupted in a wild cheer before running to take care of their tasks. Daig let them have their moment before finishing his orders, “Guncrews aiming at deck and sails! Marines at the ready! We’re taking prizes!”

A new round of cheers roared. Hanthorpe knew why. Not only was it good for the Teyryn Imperial Republic to bring such ships back to civilization but all involved would be rewarded with a portion of the sale. He knew what he wanted, he wanted the xebec. After some renovations, it would make a nice pleasure yacht for him for when the fleet stood down for refit or resupply. He was sure all he had to do was but ask and the Dual Emperors of the Republic would grant it to him.

“Helmsman, bring us to starboard on an intercept,” he ordered and crossed the deck to look from the other side. The enemy was turning before the Seawrath was even within their formation and putting the wind and their backs. It’d force him to come at them from an angle and their battle line would get the first full volley of the battle at hand but from what he could see many of the ships wouldn’t even be able to crack the hull of a man-o-war. They’d likely be targeting his sails anyways to slow them.

“They’re still not getting away,” he said to himself with a smirk. Even if they demasted a ship a piece with their first volley, the rest of his fleet would be on them and rip them to shreds. And as for the magnificent? There wasn’t much that could cut down ironwood, the material all three masts were made from. The most they could do was tear holes in his sails. He braced as his flagship started listing with the turn but it was of little trouble for him. He’d gotten his [Sea Legs] and [Steady Balance] Skills a long time ago. He could hop drunk across the deck on one leg through a storm with stumbling.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“At three and a half bells. [Fleet: Battle Speed], [Fleet: Steady Hands], [Fleet: Man the Guns], [Crew: Impeccable Aim], [Crew: Fear not], [The Waves are Mine to Rule],” He said each of the Skills as he used them. It wasn’t just idiotic bravado like some fools that fought on land, his cabin boy immediately pulled out a journal and marked the use of the skills with the time to be copied into the official record of the battle later. His Skills of course took effect too quickly for the boy to write and the ocean sprayed as the magnificent and the ships around her accelerated with a burst of speed. Besides that, his crew perked and worked like a well-oiled machine as they prepared to fire and of course, his last Skill did what he wanted. By sheer will, the Skill turned the waves ahead. They battered the enemy fleet from all sides, disrupting their rudimentary formation and throwing off the fire lines of the guns at the same time as they fired.

Hanthorpe stepped away from the rail and donned his hat. His ship might be all but unsinkable with the firepower the enemy had at their disposal but his head was not. He smiled proudly when after a moment not a single round hit his ship.

“Helmsman, hard to starboard. Bring our guns to bear. Mister Daig, take command of the guns,” his orders were immediately carried out and his immediate subordinate ran down the stairs to midship and started calling out orders.

The Magnificent turned and once the firing line was at its optimal it shook with cannon fire as 56 guns on the port battery spit out their deadly contents. A cheer again erupted at the sight because it wasn’t just the Magnificent that had fired. 10 of his man-o-war were in range, 504 of the Imperial Republic's best guns joined his own. It was an awesome sight to behold, even for him. He’d spent thirty years at sea but most of that was sailing, which he held an intense love for, but the battles were far and few in between. Getting the chance to see enemy masts go down, pirates turned to mist from grapeshot, and chunks of their vessels disappear in a cascade of deadly splinters… it was beautiful.

Hanthorpe took a moment to appreciate the moment before surveying the enemy fleet in its entirety. His eyes laid to rest on the Seawrath as it joined the rear of their formation, completely unhindered.

“Signalman!” Hanthorpe turned to the young woman that was carrying the flags despite the title of her post, “Send word to the indomitable and the Merciful. They’re to take five frigates and five sloops and break away to engage the enemy flag ship, the xebec Seawrath. [Gale] authorized. She’s to be taken as a prize and full quarter given to her crew,” He said and she started signaling.

“Full quarter sir?” She asked and Hanthorpe spun on his heel to address her but didn’t see insubordination in her look, just confusion and a bit of anger. She was still relaying his orders but didn’t understand.

“Well, it wouldn’t behoove of us to kill her crew at sea, would it. I imagine leading their [Commadore] and crew up at steps to the gallows in the capital would be appreciated far more. Wouldn’t you say?” He smiled softly at her, there was no issue with teaching the next generation after all. It didn’t matter much where they died and Hanthorpe didn’t view himself as a politician but he knew the dance and appreciated a spectacle from time to time.

The young girl returned his soft smile with a feral grin and the look of blood in her eyes, “Yes, sir. I’d imagine all of Teyryn would want to be present for that.”

He patted her on the shoulder and walked towards the helm. Making a note to look into her. She was too young to be a true veteran of the fleet, so her look gave him thought. There was hatred in there for pirates. He knew it was likely that she grew up along the sea like most of his crew and at one point or another been a victim of a pirate raid. If that were the case he might have to optimize her position within the fleet. No reason to waste that ruthlessness in a young officer on a Signalman. If that was her temperament, she’d be better suited for running a gun crew or trained as an Imperial Marine. See if she excelled at the art of naval combat.

Gun reports sounded from the enemy and the deck of the magnificent sounded again.

“Sir! Signal, from the enemy fleet!”

His eyes darted to where a spotter had pointed and read the flags. He’d expected initially that they were signally surrender but when he translated their meaning in his head his eyes went wide. He snatched up a second set of flags and started signaling a request for confirmation. He knew flag signs of course and didn’t wait for his signalman.

It had to be a trick but he doubted even pirates would go as low as that, not to mention it wouldn’t make sense. Maybe spread a rumor to keep any civilized fleet away from a certain area but it was too late for them. They were already engaged and some of their ships already dropping from their formation. There wasn’t any reason he could see for it. Even if they broke away their fleet was in shambles and they’d be able to catch them later. The enemy had to know that.

But now that he looked he could see shore boats dropping into the water, even from ships with only their sails torn. They’d lost speed but were still far from out of the fight. Some of those shore boats were already underway packed to the rails with pirates desperately paddling towards the nearest vessels still able to move at more than a drift. Some even heading towards his ships. His mouth went dry as the enemy signalman confirmed, six miles southwest and closing...

“Signalman belay that last order! Helmsman bring us about to hard starboard and get distance from the enemy, the fleet is to do the same! Toss nets and have any pirate in the water taken aboard if we can and questioned. Load the guns with penetrating shot,” He quickly spit out his orders and pushed the confused helmsman out of the way to spin the wheel to starboard.

“Which guns Sir?”

“All of them! Notify the fleet to do the same. Wide traveling formation once we’re clear of the battle… NOW!” He yelled and the crew on the command deck snapped to and started relaying orders. A minute later Junior Marshall Daig ran up the steps.

“Sir?” he awaited orders or to be caught up on the new situation. He must not have noticed the signals.

“They didn’t come about to fight. The Seawrath tried to run for it but ran into a damned leviathan and led it right back here. Last report was six miles out. Get the spotters up top notified to be watching the water. Quietly Mister Daig,” Hanthrope said and Daig sprinted off, jumping down the steps and started scrambling up the rigging to reach the crow's nest. Hanthorpe turned and spotted his signalman, the girl had lost her ferociousness and looked pale. She was well trained and there was no doubt in his mind that she didn’t see what was coming.

“Miss…”

“Agatha, Sir. Agatha Deary,” She said quietly and looked to the southwest.

“Miss Deary, alls not lost. This is the Magnificent and the 3rd fleet. If that beast even reaches us, get yourself a weapon and join the marines,” he ordered but she knew he was lying. Not that the 3rd had a chance but that he’d lied to Daig. It wasn’t just a nondescript leviathan coming at them. That designation was used to describe any sea beast the size of a capital ship of the line or bigger. It could have meant a big angry fish was coming but that wasn’t what was relayed to him. Not only was it not an ordinary leviathan, it was more than one. But it could have been worse. At least it wasn’t a sea dragon or a Kraken bearing down on them.

“Leviathan spotted to aft!”

Hanthorpe ran to the rail again to look back and saw that the signalman might not have been lying. What he saw was no leviathan. He used his eye to get a better look and saw panicked pirates jumping into the water as long, massive crustaceans climbed the hull. Reaching the deck before being fully out of the water. The pirates below deck fired their guns at point blank range and he saw one of the crustaceans-

“What in the hells are they doing! Signalman, send word to the Glorious to break away!” He yelled back but it was too late. One of the man-o-wars in his fleet had broken formation and was engaging the pirate vessel even as the giant monsters pulled it down with their sheer weight, it listing heavily to the side and starting to capsize. The Glorious gave them a full broadside and shredded both the monsters and the ship, firing at its unarmored decking. Behind him, his crew let out a cheer at the sight and a second man-o-war and two frigates pulled about and lined up their shots.

“Come about captain?” His helmsman asked. Hanthorpe shook his head, he knew better. And a few moments later every member of both fleets learned the truth. A massive swell of water rose next to the Glorious and a behemoth terror that looked vaguely like a lobster rose out of the water, its claws each the size of a sloop. It crashed down onto the side of the Glorious, the ship not having a single chance. Even a desperate broadside did nothing. The ship shattered under the weight and all but flotsam disappearing beneath the waves. More swells of water started appearing near the pirate fleet and the Awestruck with her two frigates nearly tipped themselves trying to turn… They all knew now, those first monsters to crawl on the enemy vessels were just the fucking babies. And it was more than just two, it was an entire school of the damned things.

“Signalman, message to all vessels. Full retreat at the best speed they can muster, all Skills and [Gales] authorized. Scatter to the winds and rendezvous at Hinlon on the isle of Therun,” he said quietly and as calmly as he could while watching the Awestruck go down as two massive claws grabbed it by the aft. One of the frigates rose to stand on its stern as the front of the vessel was clubbed by an equally massive claw while the final frigate was being swarmed by the young monsters, the crews being crushed and any that tried to take refuge in the sea finding themselves in the grasp and eaten alive.

He glanced to the side to see the Seawrath coming up alongside him. With his eye he could see the [Commadore] standing at her own rail, it was an elf woman, he hadn’t known that. From the side had the same look of utter disbelief as he did when two of the monsters rose up and cut his fleet in two… Hers was already on its way to the bottom. It was a shame it wasn’t a sea dragon or a Kraken, either one ate lesser leviathans as snacks but that meant they had no interest in how humans tasted. As long as they weren’t on a rampage, they’d attack a fleet and send it fleeing but wouldn’t give chase once they’d left the monster's perceived territory.

What Hanthorpe had found himself against was far worse in a way. It wasn’t personal, they weren’t trying to attack the Imperial Republic or the pirates. They didn’t hold any hatred for either party or truly wish to see the two fleets destroyed. But they destroyed them because every ship pulled down was filled with sailors. There might have been a few that could survive underwater for a short time with Skills and artifacts but they couldn’t survive the depths. So every single one that survived would have to leave what remained of their ships and swim to the surface… It was their only chance but that was the monster's intent, it made them easy to pick off and devour. It wasn’t an attack, it was a feeding frenzy. They were just trying to feed their young.

Screams came from behind him and Hanthorpe saw the Seawrath cut away sharply. He looked over to see a bulge of water rising to the point it nearly reached the deck, only 50 yards out. He didn’t even call out an order to fire or abandon ship. Half the crew was doing one or the other without his direction.

“Fifteen thousand in the man-o-wars, another fifteen thousand in the frigates, and six thousand in the war sloops…” he recounted the number of sailors under his command by vessel class and hoped some of them would make it. He couldn’t imagine all 36,000 dying. Those that survived would likely level or be offered rare or epic classes, even in an age where technology usurped the system's power to the point it gave less experience, the enemy at hand was still far beyond them and would be a nice boon for the living.

Hanthorpe marched over to the helmsman dutifully trying to turn the ship away from the bulge of water and pushed him away to take the wheel. The man hesitated only a moment before committing to a running dive off the back of the ship. A great spray of water rose into the air and the ship rocked violently. He looked up at the grayish blue carapace of the hungry sea beast as it crashed into the sails, sending men and women flying. Hanthorpe gripped as tight as he could but when it came down on the deck the ship broke in two and he was sent flying with the rest, catapulted from the aft castle. The only one, the rest had fled.

Daig sputtered and spit up water before opening his eyes. He looked down onto the wet decking below him and coughed up some more water. He wasn’t even sure how he’d gotten onto a ship. The last few minutes were pure chaos.

He’d seen the bulge and called for every crew member in the rigging below to climb, many of them did while some of them jumped into the sea. Then a true monster rose from the depths and the ironwood masts of the 3rd fleets flagship snapped. He held on the best he could but was thrown, landing on the monster's back then dunked in a sea of froth, wood, and corpses when the magnificent went down. After was nothing but death, swarms of smaller crustaceans darting about and snapping at anything and everything. From below the waves he saw his crewmen cut apart or eaten alive. A fate he’d thought would have been his own but he’d somehow survived.

He looked around and saw a few more of his crewman or at least Imperial Republic sailors laying about the deck. Some weren’t moving but others were coughing up water or laying on their sides, groaning in pain while holding a rib, arm, or leg. Then he saw knee high boots and a long coat in his vision. He looked up to see a well fitted vest and higher to the face of a woman with piercing cat like orange eyes. His eyes left them the moment he met her gaze, settling on the almost human like ears coming out of the side of her head. Almost. The tops of human ears didn’t rise into swept back points even with the top of their heads.

“Name and rank sailor.”

“Junior Marshall Daig.”

“A Junior Marshall… I’ll be drowned! You gonna cause problems? Ya do and we’ll toss ya overboard,” She asked. He looked up at her again then shifted his gaze to the rigging and sails. He knew those sails.

“Think I’ll live longer if I don’t.”

“Good man. Welcome aboard the Seawrath, Mister Daig, flagship of the Free Fleet of Elios.”

He sputtered again.

“The Free Fleet of... Elios?” he muttered the words. He looked at her and met her eyes now. Causing her to smirk back at him.

“Thought it was just a myth? Suppose in Teyryn that’s all they say about it. Huh? Or do they add a bit of flourish?”

“Ah…” He’d heard the myth. A hidden kingdom of pirates ruled by a tyrant [Corsair Admiral] somewhere deep in the Brakens. Supposedly the last bastion of piracy in the Cerelean Ocean. A remnant of the golden age of piracy. A lawless land where pirate captains ruled and the masses could do what they liked to each other as long as they didn’t cross their betters. The exact opposite of the control and order of the Teyryn Imperial Republic…

His face must have betrayed his thoughts because she answered his question before he could even voice anything. He wondered if the rumors and myths were true.

“You’ll find out soon enough, Mister Daig. We’re bound for the Dead Kraken Anchorage and the city of Freeport.”