Adhara

Born to a band of wandering minstrels, Adhara always dreamed of the sea. When her caravan would pass through the port, she’d stare at the billowing white sails in awe, wishing to climb them, to ride the waves and feel the freedom of the sea.

Her family, however, was less enthusiastic about the youth’s dream. They tried to scare her with stories of vengeful spirits that roamed the waves, of pirates that would thirst for blood. These stories did nothing to stop Adhara, however, and she only seemed invigorated by the tales.

When she was young, her caravan was attacked, and Adhara was sold into slavery. Despite being torn from all that she knew, her spirit stayed strong, and she never stopped fighting. She was passed from owner to owner, gaining a reputation as a wild and uncontrollable child. One day, she was used to bargain for her master’s life during a particularly deadly pirate raid. As the captain dragged her away, Adhara watched the port burn. She was too distracted to care. She was on an actual ship.

After a few short days, Adhara talked her way to becoming a deckhand. She learned the best she could, quickly befriending an old deck hand named Siddion. He taught her how to tie a rope, how to repair a ship, how to sing a shanty. Within two months, Siddion decided to buy her freedom. They saved in private, and she worked hard to become a necessary part of the crew.

That is, until the storm claimed the ship.

Adhara was the only survivor. All she remembered of the crash itself was being dragged through the waves by a mysterious figure. Her spirit of the sea. Her family’s stories had been right.
She dove into study about the creature, using her newfound freedom to find old songs from her people. She collected reports from sailors and pirates alike, making many journeys out to sea to try and find the spirit. With each journey, she became more superstitious, until the mysticism of the sea consumed her being.

Some called her a demon. Others called her a witch. She called herself blessed. Every boat she stepped foot on sunk, and not once did she get injured.

Many years later, she had seen the beast of the sea herself. The Kraken that showed her the safe path through storms. She tested her trust in him over the years, and eventually found that she could trust him with her very life. Since no other pirate this side of sanity would take her onboard, due to her strange behaviors and potential curse, Adhara was left with little options.

She bought her own ship. The Scourge.

Embracing her cursed reputation, the Scourge was built to be intimidating, to move like the wind, and—most importantly—to survive any storm the Kraken could swim through.

Adhara gathered a crew, a motley bunch of outcasts and oddities. From a mute, hypersonic fae to an Amazon born, pirate raised coatl, the Scourge quickly became renowned for its… completely insane crew. They would sail straight through a hurricane to catch a mark, or escape the law.

Despite being absolutely crazy by normal dragon’s standards, Adhara and her crew are more good than evil. While a bit of treasure is never turned down, neither is a traveler in need. The Scourge is the best way to get yourself smuggled to a new location, or to vanish altogether.

Adhara is now living the stories of her youth. A Kraken at her side, and a glimmer on the horizon, she’s prepared for any adventure that could come her way. And when a young, optimistic fae boards her ship and demands to see the world…. Who is Adhara to refuse?

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Adhara stared ahead at the sea. It was smooth sailing as far as the eye could see. Nearly a disappointment, that, but oh well. She supposed the crew could use a bit of peace and calm. She ran her eyes over them, taking in the crew. Loyal to her, completely, and sure of her ability to lead them through the worst, aye. But they would enjoy a bit of calm. So should she. She leaned against the rail and closed her eyes. She could at least enjoy the scent of the sea in her nose and the feel of the sun on her back, if nothing else.
By: Kizzan

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The Scourge's theme (s): x x x