Creative Corner

Ahoy, landlubbers, scallywags, an' seadogs alike!

Allow me t' introduce meself 'fore I introduce me topic. Me name be Cap'n Firefeather an' th' fine vessel ye'll see floatin' at th' end o' th' auction 'ouse docks with th' black sails, aye, that be me ship, th' Crowned Thresher.
In this topic ye'll find swordfightin', drinkin', tales o' th' deep, tales o' th' shallows, but most importantly fer th' lass 'r lad lookin' t' become a swashbucklin' corsair, ye'll find pirates. This isna meant t' be lore fer just me but rather meant t' cover a topic Flight Risin' barely scrapes includin' sev'ral sub-topics an' geography. Th' one thing that remains true though be that ev'rythin ye'll find below be 'bout 'r 'as some sort o' relation t' piracy in Flight Risin'.
If ye 'ave questions, feel free t' ask. If'n ye 'ave suggestions, I'll lend an 'ear' an' if it be used in th' lore, ye'll get due credit. If, 'owever, ye fancy yer a pirate an' want yerself t' be known, follow th' link from th' table o' contents below t' th' form an' once ye've filled it out, I'll take care o' th' rest. Why? Ye'll find that information on th' right post, savvy?
So! Without further ado, scroll on an' enjoy yer stay. Ye'd do well t' remember, though, that here there be pirates.

Th' traditional pirate accent in th' real world came from a mixture o' various accents. While Sornieth lacks British, Scottish, English, an' any other softskin accents, they 'ave their own. Breed-based an' location-based languages arena uncommon. Ye'll even find specific dialects if'n ye choose t' uproot yer clan o' landlubbers from th' outskirts o' a flight an' move 'em further inwards.
These unique languages an' dialects 'ave 'ad a chance to become combined throughout th' passin' years t' become, what hatchlin's an' even adults refer t' as, pirate speak. Not all pirates adopt th' accent, most that 'ave it were usually raised aboard a ship. Some incorporate specific words 'cause o' spendin' time among sailors an' foreign (diff'rent flights) dragons.
Not ev'ry word in Sornieth be exact t' those in th' softskin world. Ye might find a diff'rent range o' insults based on flights an' breeds in addition t' th' typical scurvy dog 'r bilge rat.

Aye, there be a real pirate code. If ye think I be referrin' t' that thick book Cap'n Sparrow, 'r rather, 'is father unveils, ye'd be mistaken. Th' pirate code o' conduct be diff'rent with each ship rather'n all pirates followin' th' same code. It wasna common in th' early days o' Sornieth when ships were only a wee plaything fer Wind dragons 'till they could get them t' fly an' th' sizes then were much smaller than those water an' air-bound ships these days.
When rebels an' formerly loyal dragons started to take their 'traitorous' behavior t' th' sea in order t' avoid bein' captured 'r noticed by th' gods, new ranks started t' form, an' with them, so did a need fer order.
Th' articles o' agreement vary from ship t' ship an' it isna uncommon fer dragons t' be forced t' sign under 'em. Each ship be diff'rent, some 'avin more...violent codes than others that dictate their shares, what they do on deck an' on land an' what their punishments might be fer goin' against these rules if they 're caught.

Examples from me own code
4. At high moon all lights must be put out.
9. Weapons must be kept clean after every battle and at the ready.
7. They who do not draw their weapon or fight during a battle may not partake in any plunder found.
11. Whosoever falls behind will be left behind.
5. They who gamble will not withhold nor gamble on the ship without the first mate's consent.

Imagine a ship, capable o' holdin' three t' five passengers with a single sail an' a kite held stiff at th' bow. Th' 'wood' was actu'lly large green pieces o' flexible reed an' like most o' Wind's air-balloon's th' ship was made o' one flat disc holdin' all o' th' crew aloft. It wasn't overly functional an' capsized more'n once. This was one o' th' first ships t' 'ave ever reached water. Th' ambitious Wind dragon, a spiral lass by th' name o' Ghiri (Heer-ee) Longclaw, was known fer 'er outrageous inventions. She spent many a day overlookin' th' Sea o' a Thousand Currents tryna think o' a way t' cross it without tirin' as quickly as flyin'. This was 'er answer.

Th' Ghiri-Shape Throughout the years, if'n ye canna tell, ships 'ave changed. Some still support th' disc-like shape but th' bottom be rounded like a sphere instead o' flat an' instead o' bein' made with one disc, th' ship be made o' two 'r three. That style o' ship, now called th' Ghiri-shape be th' pride'n joy o' Wind carpenters. Made strictly o' reeds, it isna uncommon fer a crew t' return from a rough voyage tellin' o' 'ow th' ship moved as though it 'ad a mind o' its own. Th' problem with th' Ghiri-shape, which be why it isna sough out as much anymore, be that each half-sphere be flexible. If th' ship sailed o'er a wave it would take on th' curve o' th' wave instead o' stayin' stiff an' straight. While th' impact isna as bad, these types o' ships needed higher rails 'er a master arcaner t' keep th' crew from goin' o'erboard. Ghiri-shaped ships 're said t' 'ave lasted longer fer this reason though, in th' early days o' these ships, they were constantly hirin' new crew in place o' those lost. Th' sayin' went fer dragons lookin' t' get their sealegs: First come, first serve fer Ghiri.

Th' Lightnin' V-Shape Many ships nowadays boast th' efficient Lightnin' style hull which be th' v-shaped pea pod-like structure ye know from th' softskin world. Both styles can support larger sizes if'n need be but th' larger th' Ghiri-ship, th' more dang'rous fer th' crew. So, longer voyages means investin' in th' Lightnin' V. Ships o' this style supported both reed material an' wood. Carpenters usually choose one material an' reed tends t' be more expensive 'cause it be more lightweight an' durable than wood.

Flags arna frequently used on ships, not even at th' peak o' th' mainmast. Nay, 'cause o' th' ship's origins, they use kites. Some kites be basic, others be complicated. Oftentimes, th' more complicated ones meant 'avin a Wind dragon aboard, particularly a master carpenter Wind dragon. Pirate ships usually 'ave their own kites though th' 'universal' design be a black'n white skeletal courier dragon skull in front o' bone wings. Th' ships that usu'lly fly flags be Flight ships.

Cap'n:
Leader o' th' crew, technically. They be more like a figurehead, only takin' charge durin' battle. Th' cap'n can be voted down's easily's they were elected. On some ships, though, th' cap'n isna voted in. Aye, they could be mutinied against but both on th' seas an' durin' battle, th' cap'n rules. Disciplinary actions be unique t' th' crew'n cap'n. Ye canna o'er do physical pain though, otherwise ye'll 'ave a mutiny. It doesna apply t' all pirate ships.

Quartermaster: They take charge o' boardin' parties, day-t'-day activities, takin' care o' rationin', etc. Also takes care o' all plundered valuables from treasure t' other items an' distributes 'em. Nearly on par with th' cap'n on authority an' where th' cap'n doesna 'ave much authority on th' ship, th' quartermaster does. Th' cap'n an' th' crew takes orders when there be no battles. Not every ship 'as one.

First Mate: Second-in-command, rules where th' cap'n doesna. When th' cap'n isna on deck, th' first mate assigns duties, deals with minor issues, an' when food be short, rations out food. If th' cap'n nay be part o' a shore party an' th' first mate be there, they be in charge. Th' cap'n assigns th' rank o' first mate.

Sailing Master:
Mostly steerin' th' ship. If ye can get a sailing master that can navigate by day an' night without requirin' direction, ye've found a good one. Sailing masters nay be required t' sail a ship, 'specially if a cap'n fancies doin' such (though such actions arna common). A good sailing master can also navigate th' seas (though maps o' Sornieth's waters be very difficult t' find). Not all sailing masters voluntarily get hired on. Some be forced inna sailing aboard pirate ships.

Master Arcaner:
Th' scallywag that coordinates an' oversees dragons castin' magic durin' sea battles. Coordination, timin', an' aimin' be bestowed upon 'em.

Boatswain:
Oversees takin' care o' riggin', sails, weighin' an' droppin' anchor, an' supply stores. Maintainin' th' ship falls on this scallywag. All ships ought t' 'ave one.

Master Carpenter:
Ye'll want a Wind dragon t' fill this position. As th' sayin' might go: If ye want yer ship repaired, get a Wind dragon. If ye want it wired'n jury-rigged, get a Lightnin' dragon. Repairs damage t' th' ship, keeps other damage in check.

Surgeon:
In short, a doctor. In length, th' dragon that could save yer life from disease, infection, an' any other possible physical problem if they 'ave th' proper tools. Want t' cover yer hides? Find a dragon skilled in th' arts o' healin' magic's well's without. 'r find yerself a surgeon and a healer.

Healer:
A surgeon doesna work with magic often, but a healer does. While they canna take care o' ev'ry injury out there, th' healer can save a dragon from infection more smartly than th' surgeon. If'n ye can afford one, get yerself a healer.

Cook:
Makes food from food. Why waste a perfectly good hand t' make food in th' galley? Oftentimes, th' scallywag that worked as a cook be a dragon who canna fight 'r better serve th' ship on deck. Normally, these'd be crippled sailors.

Arcaner:
Individual capable o' castin' magic. When a dragon canna swing a sword, they use their magic. At which point, durin' sea battles, they be directed by th' master arcaner.

Cabin Lad/Lass: While not on many pirate ships, th' young lad 'r lass (hatchlin' t' very young adult) be an errand runner fer officers an' th' cap'n which involves deliverin' messages, fetchin' food, an' any other odd assortment o' tasks. Bein' that th' wee one be forced t' shadow officers, they also must learn th' many basics o' sailin' th' ship.

If'n ye've noticed, there be nothin' in any lore on 'r 'round Sornieth that even mentions guns, gunpowder, cannons, 'r anythin' o' that sort. That bein' said, there be an alternative t' 'em. Rather'n 'avin cannons fer yer gunports (those windows on th' side o' th' hull) ye'd 'ave arcaners. Despite not 'avin guns 'r anythin' that explodes when ye add fire t' it, magic can replace it easily. Don' underestimate magic users 'cause when th' time comes, ye'll be needin' 'em t' respond t' th' master arcaner's ev'ry command.

In th' "Pirates o' th' Caribbean" Cap'n Sparrow 'as a 'P' on th' bottom o' 'is wrist, a symbol o' 'is devious past.
That doesna exist in th' softskin world. A pirate wasna branded, they were lucky if they escaped any authorities alive. Despite this, Sornieth makes used o' th' brandin'. 'cause th' penalty fer bein' a pirate varies from clan t' clan, some might brand 'em, some might kill 'em. 'cause exaltation be th' highest form o' honor t' serve yer deity, no pirate 'as ever been exalted.
A pirate might be branded on th' underside o' their wing, on their flank, th' side o' their neck, etc.. Anywhere visible t' th' public an' oftentimes, a place t' cause more pain fer th' scallywag that was caught. 'cause th' written language o' Sornieth be diff'rent than th' softskin world, I'd assume, a more identifyin' mark o' piracy might be bone wings 'r a courier's skull (th' brandin' design varies).

A dragon that be a pirate isna generally allowed t' simply stroll off th' ship ne'er t' look back upon th' pirate ways. If a pirate wanted t' renounce said title, they were killed. While th' same goes fer some landlubbin' clans with darker duties than jus' survivn' most pirate ships don' allow their hands t' quit th' job with a statement. Ye either 'ad t' escape th' ship 'r, if'n luck be on yer side, ye'd leave with only yer tongue cut out. Why would ye want a former hand revealin' secrets an' weaknesses t' landlubbers? 'course...it be a merciful cap'n that doesna run a coward through fer requestin' t' leave.
All that bein' said, Sornieth be a large world. Larger than Earth, per th' creators, actu'lly. A pirate that escapes might find they be more comfortable pillagin' on land as bandits 'r settlin' down comfortably among a soft clan.

Davy Jones doesna exist in th' Flight Risin' world. I'd imagine some dragons hope they don' meet th' Tidelord but considerin' th' physical presence o' th' Tidelord in Sornieth, that hope might not even exist.
Th' deepest part o' th' known world be th' Leviathan Trench o' th' Sea o' a Thousand Currents, a truth known t' many a dragon and an exploration fewer be likely t' embark on. Th' Abyss, th' Deepest Abyss, th' Darkest Abyss an' any combination o' th' two be a legend spoke o' on th' seas, 'specially by Water dragons. A place deeper than the trench, beyond th' edges o' th' known map, fabled t' exist in th' most open place o' water. Some say it be an underwater system o' round water-filled tunnels deep 'neath th' water in a place where not even th' brightest light can be seen. Others claim it be a jagged trench, cold, black, an' unwelcomin' leadin' t' th' greatest treasures on Sornieth no dragon's laid their deadlights on. Others still say it isna other than a hole leadin' straight down inna th' unwary claws o' some long-forgotten creature. Th' tales share only one thing in common, which be th' mysterious an' dangerous sea things that lurk deep beneath th' surface only in this place with needle-like teeth an' a thirst fer dragon blood. A dragon that doesna hope t' be sent t' th' Abyss be a common one an' those that do often meet their end at sea by vote 'r otherwise.