In 1192, the sailing ship Kima was carrying a load of precious metals and iron from Lawcrane to ports south. There had been multiple reports of pirates plundering ships along the trade route, so one of the shippers, Hargus Hurryhouse hired a well-respected fighter to take command of the ship’s defenses.

Skaltar Shadowfall was up for the task. But why hire a fighter for a ship? The pirates’ favorite tactic had been to approach quickly and board forcibly, taking the crew down and taking control of the ship. Once they had looted the ship, they set it free, only to launch a vicious barrage of flaming projectiles at their victims, setting fire to the ship and leaving it to burn.

The hope was that Skaltar would be able to prepare defenses on the ship to repel the boarders and perhaps allow the ship to arrive safely to its destination.

The ship departed and on the third day of passage, a set of sails was seen in the distance. A glance through a spyglass showed the flag of Orsholon flying, but no one recognized the vessel. Skaltar, suspicious and charged with protecting the ship and its cargo, devised a plan to safeguard against the pirates.

The other ship, off the Kima’s port side, was heading on a direct course to intercept them. Skaltar ordered te crew to go below and loosen the webbing on the cargo in the hold. Meanwhile, on deck he had the eight cannons prepared to fire.

The other ship continued its approach, and seemed to be accelerating. As if to voice the concern of the majority of the crew, one swarthy swabby asked “I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using?”

Soon the ship had come close enough to the Kima to get a good look, yet not close enough to launch an attack. Skaltar peered through the spyglass and saw what he feared – a crew that appeared to be preparing for battle!

He yelled down to the crew below to shift the loosened cargo to the starboard side. In short order, the ship began to list to starboard, raising the port side higher and higher, until it was nearly 30 degrees from horizontal. The cannons were aimed at the other ship. One last look, and Skaltar made the decision: take the fight to the enemy.

They unleased all eight cannons simultaneously. Normally, the other ship would have been too far away for an effective attack. But the increased angle of the cannons due to the ship’s list added the needed distance. Most of the cannonballs missed the target, but one well placed shot hit the base of the main mast and it began to topple. This took the crew of the other ship by surprise. They expected to get much closer before engaging.

Skaltar yelled to the captain to quickly turn to port and head directly at the other ship. The other ship, not being able to quickly change the set of their sails was nearly dead in the water while the Kima cut the distance between them. In addition, because the Kima was now heading toward the broadside of the other ship, it presented a smaller and much harder to hit target. The crew below was instructed to level the cargo and re-secure it.

As they closed in, Skaltar told the men to prepare to board and to ready grappling hooks. The captain was ready to broadside the other ship, but Skaltar told him instead to wait. The captain yelled back that they would ram the other ship! At the very last moment, Skaltar yelled to veer hard to port, and the ship quickly turned, heeling back to starboard and into the pirate ship. As they collided, Skaltar yelled to the crew to throw the hooks and set them.

As the lines grew taught and the hooks dug into the pirate vessel, the ships pulled tighter together. Skaltar jumped to the deck rail and yelled “Fus….RO DAH!” and leapt aboard the other ship. The rest of the crew followed, attackinig the pirates who were stunned to be on the receiving end of a boarding!

Swords flashed, knives slashed and the fight for the pirate ship was on. Skaltar fought savagely, taking out pirate after pirate with his blade. In the end, only the captain and three pirates were left and surrendered. Skaltar told the Kima crew to go below and retrieve all the cargo and move it to the Kima. The pirate captain spoke for his men.

“Tie me to the mast, for I will go down with this ship. You have bested me and my crew. But spare these last crew members.”

Skaltar agreed, the remaining crew was taken prisoner. They would be taken off the ship at the next port and given to authorities there. Skaltar respected this pirate, as this pirate sacrificed for his men. He gave him a choice: Die quickly, or go down with the ship. The pirate chose the latter.

Once the cargo had been offloaded, and all of the men were aboard the Kima (except the pirate captain), the lines were loosed and the Kima shoved away from the other ship. Skaltar ordered the Kima’s cannons aimed at the other ships’s waterline. Then, in one broadside, the cannonballs blew a tear through the other ship’s hull, and it began taking on water quickly. It began to list and Skaltar stood at the rail, watching. He locked eyes with the pirate captain, and saluted. The pirate captain nodded, and seconds later, was dragged beneath the surface by the sinking ship.

The Kima, a little worse for the wear, made sail for the next port. There they would make repairs and deliver the goods as chartered. To Skaltar’s surprise, Hargus Hurryhouse was already there, and had already heard of the battle. Curious as to how he could have known before they docked, Skaltar asked Hargus where he got his information. Hargus just laughed. “It’s better to have more information than less”.

The additional cargo taken from the pirate ship was substantial in value, considerably more than even what Hargus had shipped. But Hargus had no interest in it. He suggested the crew take half, and Skaltar the other half. This made Skaltar a fairly wealthy young man. He has not forgotten Hargus’ generosity, and endeavors to show the same to others.