Wings of Tava

I write this under a dim light in my cabin, my ship bouncing across the gentle waves guiding us through the Abecean under the moonlight. Now I don’t exactly know why I’ve started to write this, I just want something as a legacy rather than drunken tavern tales. Right now, I’ve lived to the ripe old age of thirty seven. You may not think so, but being a pirate and living to this age is like living ‘till you’re a hundred years old.

Chapter One - The Captain

My story began when I was a young handsome lad of twenty years old, eager for adventure; I was strolling along the docks of Sentinel. The main city district was obviously more refined with its famous markets and exotic restaurants, but something about the docks warmed to me. Maybe it was the feeling of looking out towards the Iliac Bay or maybe it was because the best tavern (at the time) in all of Tamriel was here.

While passing the tavern, I noticed a large Redguard standing in front of a magnificent vessel called Wings of Tava; the man in front, I now know as Captain Waylas Tirelli. The captain was a tall man with surprisingly neat grey hair and an almost perfectly trimmed goatee. He always wore a leather trench coat and leather boots which gave off a loud thud, signalling his appearance on deck. At that time, he was standing in front of his ship acting more like a market trader than a ship captain.

“Come one, come all! Join my crew and sail Tamriel!”

Most people gave him awkward glances and went about their business, or they stumbled past him, drunk. The captain noticed me paying attention and started speaking to me directly.
“You, boy! Come here!” The man drew a finger and, as if in a trance, I walked towards him. Torelli put a heavy hand on my shoulder and escorted me on to his ship. “I see it in your eyes, you crave adventure.” I found the way he was speaking to me a bit strange but I allowed him to continue. “Now tell me boy, do you have any experience on a ship?”

“Not really but I’ve watched the ships while in port.” Surprisingly, Torelli smiled at this and gave me a rough pat on the back, knocking the air out of me.

“Well, if everyone asked for previous experience, the beginners would never get the experience they need. I’m willing to take you under my wing. Welcome Aboard!”

I was well and truly shocked at how quickly the captain was going through.
“Really? You’re letting me join your crew just like that?” I tried to keep the doubt out of my voice but it managed to show through.
The captain smiled and let out a chuckle “Of course! I’m not going to mess around with forms and contracts!” Saying that, he started walking away but stopped in his tracks and started speaking in an icy whisper. “There is one thing you should know though, I’m not a pirate; I’m a privateer, commissioned by the Crown. You have the choice of staying or leaving, but if you breathe a word about this to the guards I will slit your throat in the night.” When he said that, I froze up on the spot. All I could hear was the heavy sound of his boots hitting the wooden deck. In a sudden change of mood, he turned around again speaking in his usual, friendly manner. “Another thing, I didn’t catch your name.”

Nervously, I responded “Raccan.”

He replied in his friendly manner, giving me a firm handshake “Good to meet you Raccan, I’m Captain Waylas Torelli. I hope to see you on deck tomorrow, seven o’clock.”

Torelli then walked away, seemingly with no recollection of the threats of death he gave out.