Solace

It may seem odd for an island clan to have as few ships as Clan _______ does. However, when you see Captain Solace's ship, it becomes quite clear that there's simply no point in any other boats. Other vessels crumble into obscurity under the shadow of the only good ship in Clan _______'s harbour.

The ship itself has a beautiful and evocative name, though most choose to simply call it the only good ship. It has at least one sail, oar or engine — probably more, but not too many. There's just enough power to outrun or catch any other vessel in the Isles. The trim on the hull is brightly painted in about three different colours, in a eye-catching but not tasteless pattern which makes it clear that this is the only good ship around. It is larger than any other ship in the harbour, but only by a little bit. Taking up too much space would be a problem, after all. The crew are quiet and well-trained, so focused on their work that a passenger could easily forget they were there. You could even forget you were on a ship at all, as it does not rock with with the ocean's waves, instead cutting straight through them as if they weren't there. Truly, it is the only good ship around.

Few will ever ride it though, as Captain Solace is a particularly busy dragon. She, in her own words, is a sentinel, scouring the seas of the Starfall Isles for any dangers that may eventually make their unsought ways to shore. On most nights, the oceans are silent. It's a worrying state of affairs, but one that Solace can understand. There aren't many ocean dwellers that can remain in the presence of the only good ship for long before needing to retreat and hide in shame, after all. Still, the lack of sea life is concerning.

Worse though, are the nights where things aren't quiet. When things do surface from the bottom of the ocean, creatures birthed from pooling arcane magic on the sea floor, with twisted and horrifying visages that are as unforgettable as her ship. Solace can not defeat them. Her ship, while good, is not a warship. It can put out enough cannon fire to hold back anything that may attack it and its crew, no more than that. On those nights, she has to return to base at Clan _______ and request the aid of the clan. The strength of dragons like Levant and Jahal, alongside the magic of those such as Valea or Zayin. Together, they fight back the dangers that untamed arcane magic bring to the south-western part of Sornieth. Those rare exploits would be the stuff of legend, if after a day or two of exhausted rest they felt like anything more than a half-remembered bad dream.

Strangely though, especially for someone with such a good ship, Solace prefers dry land to the high seas. She's been on guard for long enough to be considered a veteran captain, though nowhere near long enough to consider retirement, so she relishes whenever she gets to take a good break. She's one of the loudest regulars at Saburo's bar, with an apparently inexhaustible supply of tales of adventure to tell, each more unbelievable than the last. Though don't say that to her face. Solace may not carry a weapon, but she sure can throw a punch. She's the champion of quite a few bar fights, and will eagerly defend her honour against anyone who calls her a lair. Luckily for those who do anger her, she knows not to take things too far. Not even the captain's fabled right hook can stand up to Saburo if he actually gets moving.

And she does spend a lot of time in the tavern. The crew can take care of the ship, after all. A lot of time in the library too — even if she doesn't actually fit between any of the rows of shelves. Invernale, or somebody else who's feeling helpful, can brings the books to her. Solace has read what feels to her like every folk tale ever written, and yet Invernale still manages to surprise her by pulling ever more obscure ones on loan from the Archives. Perhaps all Solace is looking for is a break from a life of searching for danger. While many of Sonrieth's folktales can be quite dark, she prefers the ones with happy endings, or at least the ones that are merely strange and confusing instead of horrifying.

Yes, that is a real dragon's skull strapped to her back. Solace has told the story of where it came from hundreds of times. It's not her fault if nobody was paying enough attention to remember it.