Post by Odilia Rotheiche on Nov 4, 2024 19:01:30 GMT
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Odilia Rotheiche
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[attr="class","ae_infosect"]FEMALE || SHE/HER
[attr="class","ae_infosect"]37 YEARS OLD
[attr="class","ae_infosect"]PIRATE QUEEN
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[PTab=DEVELOPMENT]
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[PTab=APPEARANCE]
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[PTab=BEHAVIOR]
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[PTab=HERITAGE]
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[PTab=DEVELOPMENT]
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Aliases[break]
The Pirate Queen
[break]The Red Queen
[break]Current Residence[break]
The Crimson Jewel
[break]Birth Season[break]
Spring
[break]Social Standing[break]
Duchess-Heir [ Prior ]
[break] Pirate [ 19 Years ] || Pirate Queen [ 08 Years ]
[break]Loyalties[break]
Her Crew || Her Code || Her Seas
[break]
There is no captain without her crew. Odilia is one to recognize this, understanding her crew to be an essence of family at sea. She operates for what she believes to be their best interests, putting them above herself in some regard. As long as they treat her with respect, she will respond in kind (and then some). The Code is in place to be as a guideline for the betterment of all pirates - a suggestion of rules to keep things civil among the lawless. After all, their life is one of freedom - the seas are their home. Respecting it and each other are the only ways to maintain that.
Aliases[break]
The Pirate Queen
[break]The Red Queen
[break]Current Residence[break]
The Crimson Jewel
[break]Birth Season[break]
Spring
[break]Social Standing[break]
Duchess-Heir [ Prior ]
[break] Pirate [ 19 Years ] || Pirate Queen [ 08 Years ]
[break]Loyalties[break]
Her Crew || Her Code || Her Seas
[break]
There is no captain without her crew. Odilia is one to recognize this, understanding her crew to be an essence of family at sea. She operates for what she believes to be their best interests, putting them above herself in some regard. As long as they treat her with respect, she will respond in kind (and then some). The Code is in place to be as a guideline for the betterment of all pirates - a suggestion of rules to keep things civil among the lawless. After all, their life is one of freedom - the seas are their home. Respecting it and each other are the only ways to maintain that.
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[PTab=APPEARANCE]
[attr="class","ae_infocont"]
Face Claim[break]
Clara Paget
[break]Height[break]
7’10”
[break]Weight[break]
262 lbs.
[break]Description[break]
Captain Odilia Rotheiche, is known for many things - her stature, her beauty, her prowess... Each of these create the character known across the waters. Hailing from Vedenya, her lineage is perhaps the most apparent through her towering height. Standing almost to eight feet, she is a woman of muscle, however lean it may be. Her body, tanned as it may be, is littered with scarring from battle after battle - most heal and leave after some time. The only one that has remained over the years is one on her the left side of her stomach, jagged and nasty.
[break][break]
Her face has maintained well over the years, her beauty reflecting her environment. With her skin colored by the sun in an even tan, Odilia's eyes reflect the waters she sails. Vibrant blues peer over the horizon, bright in times of calm and confidence, dark in moments of turbulence. They contrast to the hair on her head - her mark as a Rotheiche and the claim to her title on the seas. A bright red that is quite difficult to miss in the sunlight, her locks fall in waves past her shoulders and resting over her breast. Hidden through them is the occasional braided strand, adorned with beads and other shiny findings.
[break][break]
From top to bottom, Captain Rotheiche dresses herself in a durable comfort. Loose blouses, dark pants, and sturdy boots fill her wardrobe, accessories galore flooding the chest in her quarters between belts, necklaces, and the likes. Perhaps the most iconic parts of her wardrobe are the coats and hats she adorns herself with. She alternates primarily between a worn brown leather and a more shapely black hat, her coats coordinated to either one of them. They each fall beneath her knees in length with large collars and bigger cuffs. She holds herself in a skeptical confidence, walking proud but constantly maintaining a state of observation for the world around her. She's always armed, be it the cutlass at her side or the dagger in her boot - she is not one to be caught unawares.
[break]The Crimson Jewel[break]
The Crimson Jewel is regarded by some as the best ship to sail the seas. With dark wood boards building its hull, it is accented by gold and adorned with bright red sails. Considered to be an omen on the waters, it is quite agile for a large boat, yet just as sturdy. Per Odilia's command, the boat is kept in top shape by the full crew. Quarters can be relatively messy as long as there is no hinderance, but the deck must be without obstruction. The last thing anyone would want is a trip overboard due to a misplaced rope. Towards the back of the boat rests the captains quarters, with a curtained window large enough to illuminate the rear with its golden glow when the lights are on at night.
Face Claim[break]
Clara Paget
[break]Height[break]
7’10”
[break]Weight[break]
262 lbs.
[break]Description[break]
Captain Odilia Rotheiche, is known for many things - her stature, her beauty, her prowess... Each of these create the character known across the waters. Hailing from Vedenya, her lineage is perhaps the most apparent through her towering height. Standing almost to eight feet, she is a woman of muscle, however lean it may be. Her body, tanned as it may be, is littered with scarring from battle after battle - most heal and leave after some time. The only one that has remained over the years is one on her the left side of her stomach, jagged and nasty.
[break][break]
Her face has maintained well over the years, her beauty reflecting her environment. With her skin colored by the sun in an even tan, Odilia's eyes reflect the waters she sails. Vibrant blues peer over the horizon, bright in times of calm and confidence, dark in moments of turbulence. They contrast to the hair on her head - her mark as a Rotheiche and the claim to her title on the seas. A bright red that is quite difficult to miss in the sunlight, her locks fall in waves past her shoulders and resting over her breast. Hidden through them is the occasional braided strand, adorned with beads and other shiny findings.
[break][break]
From top to bottom, Captain Rotheiche dresses herself in a durable comfort. Loose blouses, dark pants, and sturdy boots fill her wardrobe, accessories galore flooding the chest in her quarters between belts, necklaces, and the likes. Perhaps the most iconic parts of her wardrobe are the coats and hats she adorns herself with. She alternates primarily between a worn brown leather and a more shapely black hat, her coats coordinated to either one of them. They each fall beneath her knees in length with large collars and bigger cuffs. She holds herself in a skeptical confidence, walking proud but constantly maintaining a state of observation for the world around her. She's always armed, be it the cutlass at her side or the dagger in her boot - she is not one to be caught unawares.
[break]The Crimson Jewel[break]
The Crimson Jewel is regarded by some as the best ship to sail the seas. With dark wood boards building its hull, it is accented by gold and adorned with bright red sails. Considered to be an omen on the waters, it is quite agile for a large boat, yet just as sturdy. Per Odilia's command, the boat is kept in top shape by the full crew. Quarters can be relatively messy as long as there is no hinderance, but the deck must be without obstruction. The last thing anyone would want is a trip overboard due to a misplaced rope. Towards the back of the boat rests the captains quarters, with a curtained window large enough to illuminate the rear with its golden glow when the lights are on at night.
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[PTab=BEHAVIOR]
[attr="class","ae_infocont"]
Strengths[break]
ETHIC || POWER || EMPATHY || PROTECTOR
[break]Weaknesses[break]
BLOODLINE || EGO || CHILDREN || APATHY
[break]Motivations[break]
Captain Rotheiche strives to give her crew the best life possible on the seas. She works to keep them all comfortable as can be on a fair ship with fair rules. Yes, they're pirates, but they aren't completely heathens, after all. She works for their best interests, seeing them as a found family above all else. As long as everyone pulls their weight, she will see to it that they're all wonderfully supplied for and their freedom is maintained. Perhaps she does wish deep down for her own blood to call family - but that, in every instance of her life - has proven to be a path of loss.
[break]Personality[break]
Odilia grew up in a cold landscape. She knew the love of a parent herself, but was never taught how to respect another. Rather, she was encouraged to mistreat and look down. The smallest show of empathy recieved backlash - a mistake that would be carved into her mind forever.
[break][break]
Having been among nobility in her youth, she was taught by the finest about basic knowledge. Reading, writing, simple arithmetic, and naturally swordsmanship and trade routes. The Rotheiche lineage were scholars of the ports, and as such, she had to be properly educated. Yet, she would not go on to claim this role. Having her birthright ripped from her grasp, she was banished and began to develop a strong hatred for such unjustifications and a sour taste towards the privileged.
[break][break]
Being cast to the sea meant that she had to build her name up on her own. She began as a deckhand and built her way up to the captain and queen she is today. The path was not easy and is paved on her own cruelty and callous, something that she in truth is not the proudest of during reflection. Yet, the past is the past, and some things simply will not fade. She still holds this aura, one that is incredibly visible when she is presenting as the queen proper. As such, she does not take lightly to any jest at her name nor title - commanding respect from those in her presence. In return, she respects those who put effort into their work, knowing her own means of growth. Although it may not always show, she treats them in high regard.
[break][break]
It is to note that there are no slackers on the Crimson Jewel. And rarely does loyalty waiver. The Red Queen is a woman of discipline and honor, in some regard. She does not take lightly to the devious. Her ship runs on a fairness - pulling your weight earns you dinner. Those who underperform do not get their full cut of any reward. Those who pose a risk to her or her crew - traitors or spies - spend a week in the brig before having their fate determined. Often have they been sunken into the sea or decapitated on the deck.
[break][break]
Despite this, the woman is far from heartless. Having spent most of her life among her pirates, she has learned over the years how to loosen up. Firstly, she learned how to have fun. She enjoys to drink often during times of rest, being loud with her crewmates and belting shanties over the waves. She enjoys banter during swordplay and jokes over dinner. Despite her serious disposition as the captain, she truly believes that life would be boring without a few sparkles at least.
[break][break]
Second, and perhaps more importantly, she learned how to feel. Empathy became a powerful tool - not one to overtake her and her duties, but vital for understanding. It is not something she shows to the general public, nor is it something she likes to discuss. However, it is certainly present in the privacy of her mind, in moments of vulnerability,
and in one true weak spot. Perhaps it truly began with her romance. Perhaps it was the baby. But Odilia has grown incredibly so in this regard - albeit with one drawback. The giantess has a specific soft spot for the young. Children, she understands, have no sense of right or wrong. Simply instructions and safety. It isn't difficult to tell when someone has grown up in ill situations. She can fall into a small savior complex if they allow her, willing to take in and essentially "foster" the youths in need. Whether they stay with her crew or leave, she is unwilling to bring particular harm to a child - even if their parents were felled by her hand.
Strengths[break]
ETHIC || POWER || EMPATHY || PROTECTOR
[break]Weaknesses[break]
BLOODLINE || EGO || CHILDREN || APATHY
[break]Motivations[break]
Captain Rotheiche strives to give her crew the best life possible on the seas. She works to keep them all comfortable as can be on a fair ship with fair rules. Yes, they're pirates, but they aren't completely heathens, after all. She works for their best interests, seeing them as a found family above all else. As long as everyone pulls their weight, she will see to it that they're all wonderfully supplied for and their freedom is maintained. Perhaps she does wish deep down for her own blood to call family - but that, in every instance of her life - has proven to be a path of loss.
[break]Personality[break]
Odilia grew up in a cold landscape. She knew the love of a parent herself, but was never taught how to respect another. Rather, she was encouraged to mistreat and look down. The smallest show of empathy recieved backlash - a mistake that would be carved into her mind forever.
[break][break]
Having been among nobility in her youth, she was taught by the finest about basic knowledge. Reading, writing, simple arithmetic, and naturally swordsmanship and trade routes. The Rotheiche lineage were scholars of the ports, and as such, she had to be properly educated. Yet, she would not go on to claim this role. Having her birthright ripped from her grasp, she was banished and began to develop a strong hatred for such unjustifications and a sour taste towards the privileged.
[break][break]
Being cast to the sea meant that she had to build her name up on her own. She began as a deckhand and built her way up to the captain and queen she is today. The path was not easy and is paved on her own cruelty and callous, something that she in truth is not the proudest of during reflection. Yet, the past is the past, and some things simply will not fade. She still holds this aura, one that is incredibly visible when she is presenting as the queen proper. As such, she does not take lightly to any jest at her name nor title - commanding respect from those in her presence. In return, she respects those who put effort into their work, knowing her own means of growth. Although it may not always show, she treats them in high regard.
[break][break]
It is to note that there are no slackers on the Crimson Jewel. And rarely does loyalty waiver. The Red Queen is a woman of discipline and honor, in some regard. She does not take lightly to the devious. Her ship runs on a fairness - pulling your weight earns you dinner. Those who underperform do not get their full cut of any reward. Those who pose a risk to her or her crew - traitors or spies - spend a week in the brig before having their fate determined. Often have they been sunken into the sea or decapitated on the deck.
[break][break]
Despite this, the woman is far from heartless. Having spent most of her life among her pirates, she has learned over the years how to loosen up. Firstly, she learned how to have fun. She enjoys to drink often during times of rest, being loud with her crewmates and belting shanties over the waves. She enjoys banter during swordplay and jokes over dinner. Despite her serious disposition as the captain, she truly believes that life would be boring without a few sparkles at least.
[break][break]
Second, and perhaps more importantly, she learned how to feel. Empathy became a powerful tool - not one to overtake her and her duties, but vital for understanding. It is not something she shows to the general public, nor is it something she likes to discuss. However, it is certainly present in the privacy of her mind, in moments of vulnerability,
and in one true weak spot. Perhaps it truly began with her romance. Perhaps it was the baby. But Odilia has grown incredibly so in this regard - albeit with one drawback. The giantess has a specific soft spot for the young. Children, she understands, have no sense of right or wrong. Simply instructions and safety. It isn't difficult to tell when someone has grown up in ill situations. She can fall into a small savior complex if they allow her, willing to take in and essentially "foster" the youths in need. Whether they stay with her crew or leave, she is unwilling to bring particular harm to a child - even if their parents were felled by her hand.
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[PTab=HERITAGE]
[attr="class","ae_infocont"]
Birthplace[break]
Avilona, Vedenya
[break]Family[break]
Duke Rotheiche || Father
[break] Duchess Rotheiche || Mother
[break] Duke Faust Rotheiche || Brother || Deceased
[break]Lovers[break]
Captain Vincent Karnei || Age 25-29 || Deceased
[break]History[break]
Birthplace[break]
Avilona, Vedenya
[break]Family[break]
Duke Rotheiche || Father
[break] Duchess Rotheiche || Mother
[break] Duke Faust Rotheiche || Brother || Deceased
[break]Lovers[break]
Captain Vincent Karnei || Age 25-29 || Deceased
[break]History[break]
[attr="class","odilia_history"]
[ TW ]
[break]“You wish to hear the tale of the Red Queen?”
[break][break]
A hearty laugh sounds through the tavern over all the music and merriment. It's one of amusement, though quite dismissive.
[break][break]
“No one can say for sure about her.”
[break][break]
The man across from you wears a smile - though his teeth seem quite rotten. It certainly isn't a pretty one mixed with the leathery wrinkles that ordain his face. His words are equally unpleasant, the tone coming off as above you. Asking such a question, surely it is clear that you are a fresh face in the Refuge of Marauders.
[break][break]
You insist on the man's knowledge as the tavern doors sound, slamming against the wall from another pirate entering the place, but he shakes his head again. For one who moments prior was boasting about knowing the queen personally, he now seems quite timid to spill any stories.
[break][break]
“I'm telling you kid,” he sneers, “If you don't know anything already, I'm not sure you need to know.”
[break][break]
The tone of the conversation seems to catch the ears of the newcomer in the bar as they break from the path to the bar. Within a moment, a large hand is rested on the shoulder of the man in front of you. You raise your gaze, following the arm up to a very tall woman. Blue eyes pale in comparison to the one mark of recognition. Beneath her dusty brown hat are locks of vibrant red hair. She leans over the man, her accessories dangling over his head.
[break][break]
“Are you telling stories again, Old Man?”
[break][break]
The man's eyes go wide and his skin pales. Something new shines in them - something completely opposite to the ego he held moments ago. He stutters, caught over his own tongue. She clicks her tongue, moving her hand from his shoulder to his neck. His breath hitches.
[break][break]
“I suggest you stop. We never even shared a ship, much less were you ever one of my crew.”
[break][break]
She releases him, and he stumbles away from his former seat. The woman takes his place, bringing her gaze back to you.
[break][break]
“You look new here. Stowaway or looking for a crew?”
[break][break]
She's speaking now - to you. She nods along as you respond, waving a server over.
[break][break]
“Interesting… No, really. I try to keep tabs on the sharkbait that walks through these doors.”
[break][break]
She pauses, ordering an ale and offering you a drink as well. You oblige, and as the server walks away, she resumes your conversation.
[break][break]
“Now seeing as you were talking to that dumbass, I can only assume that you were asking about the Red Queen… So what is it you'd like to know?”
[break][break]
She opens her arms, signifying an open book. With the floor open, you ask your most pressing question.
[break][break]
“My backstory? Can't say that's a first, but I don't see that being of any use to you.”
[break][break]
Your shoulders fall, disappointment setting in. The server returned, placing your mugs on the table. Hers, you notice, is significantly larger than yours. She brings it up to her lips, chugging the liquid inside. As she finishes, She wipes her lips with her sleeve, and meets your eyes with an intensity.
[break][break]
“I will instead offer you a list of rules to remember on the seas!”
[break][break]
Confusion - but you are incredibly curious. You lean in, ready for The queen to impart her wisdom.
[break][break]
"Rule #1, Life is Unfair.”
[break]
The country of Vedenya is known for many things. Their cheer, their festivities - the “gentle giants” of the world of Aëron. Such a thing is only a stereotype, however. Among the sheep, there is always the chance of a wolf. In the city of Avilona, the Rotheiche name is one of upper nobility as scholars of the ports. More primarily, they are recognized by their physical traits - stature and hair. Every bearer of the Rotheiche name is known to be among the tallest of the giants. And every descendant of the Rotheiche bloodline is known to maintain the dye of their mother's womb.
[break][break]
3461 would be the first time in millenia where the firstborn was a runt. Small and sickly - the child was a tarnish to the Rotheiche name. He was pale and ill to fit the image of a strong Rotheiche. Although the mother loved the boy, the father despised him. After two years to follow, almost to the day, the mother bore another to the name of Rotheiche. She was a large baby, plump, with hair as bright as the rubies that lined her crib-to-be. With a suitable heir, the father gazed upon her in pride and love.
[break][break]
And she was named Odilia.
[break][break]
Odilia grew up in a nice home - a manor full of whatever she desired. Albeit, every day her home was stained by the poor decoration of a smaller, faded redhead. As one who knew no better, she took the words of her father as gospel - that such a being was a mar on their respect by just breathing their air. It was a twisted thing to hear from a child's mouth, much to the protest of the mother, the father ran the home. There his word was law.
[break][break]
The young Rotheiche would spend her days learning under the father. He taught her everything - from reading and writing to swordsmanship and trade routes. The man was a knock of talent in their lineage, and so she would be as well. Truly molded in his image, she was. Alas, not all creatures remain oblivious. The young Odilia grew and grew - and approaching her teens, she became much more aware of the other being in their home. It could speak, it could think, and it called her “sister”.
[break][break]
As she questioned, the father grew angry. For the first time in her life, he yelled at her in a manner devoid of all love. She would move to the next best option - the mother of the home. The woman who fed her but beyond that was but a ghost in the young girl's eyes. Her response was one of surprise, but hopeful to understanding. It was this day that Odilia would learn of the mistreatment of the other being, her sibling and true heir to the Rotheiche home. Although she couldn't fully understand why at the time, the feeling was one she would learn to be was guilt. The weight of her being seemed to triple in the days to follow, her spirits low and her shoulders lower.
[break][break]
The father took notice and scolded the girl. Their months to follow were cruel, but after some time, the feeling seemed to go away. She ceased any remarks to the brother, but wouldn't apologize. Rather, she would prefer to ignore the ghost of the manor. It worked for quite some time, barring herself to any emotion - until she awoke to a movement in her room and a figure standing over her. The glint of silver drew the scream from her throat and sent her spiraling into fight or flight.
[break][break]
By the time the father responded to the noise, there was a puddle. Odilia stood over the corpse of her elder brother, trembling. The blade she had wrestled moments before fell from her grasp, clattering against the wooden floor. The father's face went through a flurry of emotions - fear, relief, anger… it seemed to settle in urgency. He rushed to her side, kneeling to be eye level with the girl.
[break][break]
“You have but a few moments before your mother arrives. Leave, and never return. Go to the docks, find the sailor preparing to travel the Lucent Abyss.”
[break][break]
And so, Odilia left with nothing but a change of clothes and a pouch of gold.
[break][break]
The headline the morning to follow - “The Murder of Rotheiche Manor”. The case seemed very cut and dry.
[break][break]
Odilia's name covered the continent, but she wouldn't be aware for a long time. Everything she had ever known was ripped from her hands.
[break][break]
She had ran, buying a place on some sailor's boat within the night. Those aboard were none the wiser to the events, sailing their way to Quenyi by dawn. The Lucent Abyss was certainly a dangerous place - all to the benefit of the girl. The ship was seized, and with nothing more to lose, she was compliant to join the crew of those who claimed it.
[break]
“Don’t expect things to go how you expect them to. Just because you’ve done something, the results do not always pan out.”
[break][break]
The serious tone is one that holds as the giantess leans back in her seat, waving her mug in the air for another. After a moment, she drops it, letting it clatter empty to the floor. Such is the way of the tavern, you notice, watching other patrons do the same thing. She taps her fingers on the table, nodding to yours.
[break][break]
“You drink slow.”
[break][break]
You bring the drink to your lips and take a swig. She seems content enough knowing you’re at least putting in the effort. She chuckles a bit.
[break][break]
“Next thing to know - Rule #2, Power Craves Purity.”
[break]
Over the years, Odilia found love in the thrill and the ocean. Having lost all to her name, she had nothing better than the life to build on the water. From the time she was 18, such was the only thing she would know. She began as a deckhand, tending to the boat she joined, and over the years climbed her way through the ranks. Adapting to such a culture held no weight when she already had such cruelty cultivated from the man she once called father.
[break][break]
Adapting to such a culture held no weight when her hands were already stained with the blood of another.
[break][break]
Such speed to adapt harbored respect from her peers. Although mocked initially, proclaimed as a privileged girl, such words were quickly silenced when she sent the man overboard. The life of another never meant so little - such an outlook painted the world ever so dreary. As she climbed the ranks of her crew, Odilia grew accustomed to the patterns of this life and over time became to call the sea her home.
[break][break]
A part of this home contained an island known to every pirate. At the edge of the world, surrounded by the mists of lost waves, lies a safe haven for crooks and criminals where the motto rings that you can always trust the dishonest to lie. This island is precisely where Rotheiche first encountered the Pirate King. Strong and known to be quite the looker, a name known across the seas, Captain Vincent Karnei was a burly man named just as well for his bristled coat. He was stern and strict with his ship, and rarely held any mercy - even for his allies.
[break][break]
Their meeting was truly one to behold. Within a tavern, nearing the bar, the two met one another, tipsy off their toes. A brush of the arm, the drop of a drink, and the fist-to-cuffs to follow. Those spectating watched the brawl evolve from a burst of anger to almost a mating dance. Space had cleared for them, and the crowd hollered in support of one side or another. The Vedenyan met the paws of a bear in a wrestle - back and forth. By the end, both were bruised and bleeding. Karnei had returned to his human form, rolling himself over the tiles to the side of Rotheiche.
[break][break]
“You fight well. Care to join me?”
[break][break]
A compliment from the Captain Karnei was rare. A compliment to Rotheiche was rarer.
[break][break]
She would board his ship within the week. Many a passionate night was shared aboard the ship, budding into a relationship. Karnei and his queen-to-be were revered across the seas. Their names would be known in unison for the five years to follow. To the crew that shared their vessel, towards the end of their time together, it would be of particular notice that Rotheiche was getting rounder. Her belly began to poke out, and she had begun to sit out from the nights of mead and wine.
[break][break]
The final night was one to follow a particular harvest. They had claimed quite the regal treasure from a Sela ship. Fabrics, gold, and jewels were now stored on the ship. They had a nice selection of meats for dinner that evening. The feast was the finest they'd had in a while, their musically-gifted having plucked a lute from their rewards to play over the meal. As the crew found their drinks and merriment, the king and Rotheiche retired to their quarters.
[break][break]
And so began the final conversation.
[break][break]
“Odilia,” Vincent began, shedding his coat to hand in its place. “You fought well today - I'm surprised.”
[break][break]
The giantess was caught off guard. Odilia? When did he ever call her Odilia? First names never existed to this man. “Surprised? You must know that this would not slow me down.”
[break][break]
Rotheiche kicked her boots off, setting herself on the edge of their bed. He moved over to her, helping her into her nightclothes. Hands lingered, playing with the weights of her body before grasping at the belly.
[break][break]
“Motherhood is still ahead. You will begin to slow. Even now, you soften.”
[break][break]
She scoffed, dismissing the thought. She begun her retort, but the man grabbed her face. His brows furrowed, icy blue eyes burning into her soul.
[break][break]
“Don't you dare insist otherwise,” the words sounded almost venomous. “The boy on the ship held a sword to you, and yet you didn’t strike.”
[break][break]
Her face twisted in almost disbelief. She wanted to argue - he was a child. But the man continued.
[break][break]
“Ferras barely put his hands on that woman, and you almost took them at the wrists.”
[break][break]
Her daughter was watching just around the corner.
[break][break]
“The only thing I have to blame is this.”
[break][break]
His hands moved from her face back to her stomach, gripping now in quite the uncomfortable hold. Something fell inside of her, a weight now sitting on her chest. From the pit, an anger began to bubble. Her face grew warm. But the man now continued.
[break][break]
“I thought I'd found the perfect candidate to harbor my seed - one who would make a strong offspring. Yet you've been hiding it all this time. This squishy... weakness.”
[break][break]
What was this man going on about? She began to speak, only to be cut off as he let go and walked across the room.
[break][break]
“I cannot have a soft child. I cannot have a weak egg.”
[break][break]
Her nose wrinkled in disgust, her brows knitting together in confusion. He grabbed something from the chest in the room before walking back towards her. He held the object behind him - an action that settled off the alarms in her head.
[break][break]
“Karnei, I warn you now,” her voice trembled as he grew closer. “Don't do it.”
[break][break]
He stopped in front of her. The moment was one that would haunt her for years to come, playing over and over in her mind. It happened so fast - the dread coursing through her veins, the rage that twisted his face, the silver that broke her skin… The moments to follow were drowned out by the laughter on the deck. Their yells, their strikes, throwing one another across the room. Perhaps the waves were stronger that night, but the ship seemed to rock more than ever. Side to side, some of the crew nearly fell overboard.
[break][break]
As the waves seemed to settle, the ship slowed its rock. A silence fell over the night as the crew began to wind down. The door to the captain's quarters creaked open. Eyes slowly rose to the vision, some filling with confusion - others, fear. Rotheiche met their gaze with a fire in hers, silently challenging anyone to question her and her tattered, stained underclothes. The loose gown, once a lovely eggshell color, was now drenched in a dark liquid. Her right arm wrapped itself around her stomach, and her left sat at her side. Its hand was balled into a fist, holding tight an object that swung with her movements. After the moment of horrified silence, she stepped forward and threw it to the ground.
[break][break]
The moonlight glinted from her, revealing her new colors in the night. A pool of red gathered beneath her feet, falling from her body. The object bounced once before rolling into the center of the crowd. It stopped face-up - the head of the late Captain Karnei.
[break][break]
Rotheiche would not collapse, but she did not recall the moments to follow. The next evening she'd awaken in the ship's infirmary, sore but clean. Her wounds were stitched rather crude but well enough to heal. And yet, as she came to, there came to be an emptiness. As she ran her hand over her stomach, she found the thread that held together the initial strike.
[break][break]
The child who never was.
[break]
“Those in power do not care for stains to their name. Reputations are all that matter on these waters. If that is ever in question, you are as good as dead to your crew.”
[break][break]
Her words are spoken with a sense of disdain. Part of her seems conflicted, as if it were a reluctant belief. Perhaps this is her least favorite rule? Her expression shifts as a new mug is brought to the table. Once again, it is downed - as if a distraction from what she has recalled.
[break][break]
As she takes the last gulp, she raises the mug again. She looks at you and speaks again.
[break][break]
“Rule #3, Murder and Mercy are Equal in Value.”
[break]
A couple years would pass with stories of the “Red Queen” crossing the waters. There was no doubt that her story even made its way to land in some cases, as there came more and more recognition of her on the ships they claimed. Her crew expanded, new faces came and went when they would stop at the Refuge. It took some time, but the rumors of her pregnancy had died down as she slimmed back into her figure. Yet, with that settling came new threats.
[break][break]
As her title spread, some from the land actively sought her out. Whether to kill or befriend was never of any specific concern to Rotheiche. She simply did those wish to associate with those who based themselves in the nations. After all, the only ones who sought her for aid were those politically involved. And she, in full truth, did not give a rat's ass about the lands’ politics.
[break][break]
During one rest at harbor, there would be one that snuck their way aboard the Red Queen's ship. The days to follow were peculiar, to say the least. Food going missing, ropes out of place - Rotheiche grew irritated with the crew's inability to maintain their things. She put her quartermaster to determine the cause of it all - to discipline any who were overconsuming their rations. Within the day, there was a knock at her door.
[break][break]
“Captain,” they started through the mahogany. “We found a stowaway in the kitchen. I was inquiring as to what you wanted us to do with her.”
[break][break]
Rotheiche rose and walked out, following her crewmate below deck. There in the brig was a young girl, as poorly presented as she might have been. The girl, wrapped around some kind of pouch, seemed to move towards the back of her cell as the captain approached - yet there was not a word from the redhead. There were no gestures of ill-meaning. Rather, the queen knelt down - her towering frame doing its best to meet the level of what could have been a child in front of her. She turned to her companion and her order plainly.
[break][break]
“Bring us some bread.”
[break][break]
The quartermaster hesitated, but left and returned as requested. She dismissed them after that moment, breaking a piece and offering it to the girl behind the bars. Her reaction, to Rotheiche, was one that pulled at the strings in her chest. She ate with the girl for some time, offering her some water on the occasion.
[break][break]
“Do you have a name, girl?”
[break][break]
Perhaps the response was so quiet that Rotheiche hadn’t caught it. Or maybe there was just no response. The air, to the captain, was silent apart from the waves that crashed to either side of the ship. She hummed, accepting the pause as unwilling to answer and nodded.
[break][break]
“Well, I am Captain Odilia Rotheiche. Per customs, I will have to hold you down here for some time while I deliberate with the crew about what we should do with you. Perhaps, we throw you into the abyss. Or maybe we find a use for you. Either way, if you should need anything during your stay, please do ask.”
[break][break]
The captain rose to her feet and turned, leaving the girl with the remainder of her flask of water. For the days to follow, she would visit the girl below the deck, bringing something new each time. The day to follow was a book they had claimed from a Selanite ship. An author was aboard and had yet to publish the piece properly - it was a shame this hidden gem wouldn’t be shared to the public, but Odilia could at least offer the chapters to her captive. She read them aloud, something that almost returned her to her own youth. She would neglect the thought as soon as it arose, displeased with the memory.
[break][break]
On the third day, the crew began to mock the girl in the brig. They spoke of her on the deck, calling her such things as “mongrel”, “rat”, and “Captain’s Pet”. At the threat of Rotheiche over their final title for her, they dropped that one very quickly. The fourth and fifth days, the captain took down a chess board. The waters were calmer, and so the pieces didn’t move that much, at least. The sixth day would be a pocketwatch and a change of clothes. They’d claimed a small tradeship earlier in the day - perhaps the girl could use something other than her rags.
[break][break]
By the seventh day, the crew started to get antsy. Having one person beneath the boards simply consuming their time and resources was ill for any pirate. Despite the queen having a plethora of supplies, a pirate comes from a life of rations. To Rotheiche, it would either be now or never. And so, on the seventh day, the captain brought down a steak. It was one cooked specifically for her, making it quite large. And yet, she would not eat of it. She pushed her plate under the bars, letting the girl consume as she wished.
[break][break]
“They’ve given you a name, you know. I’m sure you’ve heard it by now,” Rotheiche began. “I cannot fault them for it either. You have not given me otherwise.”
[break][break]
She rested herself against the wall, “Though perhaps, you seek to escape that. Many take to the seas in order to flee their pasts. I do not know what ghosts haunt you - I may only speak to my own. But if that is the case, speak now. You will be welcomed.”
[break][break]
Much to a miracle in the captain’s eyes, the girl obliged. A smile found its way to the captain’s features, gentle and - for a moment - relieved.
[break][break]
“We must find a use for you. Now that you’ve agreed - and I no longer have to drop you off in the whirlpool - you must begin to pull your weight here. Don’t let my steak be eaten in vain.”
[break][break]
Odilia would open the door as they discussed. The girl seemed to have some social background, and as much as she hated to have to care - Odilia knew nothing of the lands’ political climates. And so, Brighella would be deemed the ship’s Ambassador - actively attaining anything of use when the ship should dock on one of the main continents be it supplies or information.
[break]
“Although it is easy to pose just as much power in murder and fear, mercy can go a long way. You never know what doors will open with even a dash of kindness.”
[break][break]
This memory must be something warmer. A smile meets her lips as she gazes back to the bar. The crew she had entered with now sit side by side, laughing with one another. Among them, her eyes seem to settle on a woman who easily had to be one of the best dressed among the crew.
[break][break]
She sighs, drawing your attention back to her. The pride in her features begins to fade as she returns her attention back to you.
[break][break]
“Lastly, Rule #4 - never believe the bumbling oaf in a tavern about his escapades with the queen of the seas. He is likely to lie.”
[break][break]
She chuckles at this one, reaching a hand across for a playful push to your shoulder.
[break][break]
“I hope you keep those in mind.” She clears her throat and rises. “If that is all, I will be returning to my crew. Any more questions?”
[break][break]
You ponder for a moment, none of your questions truly answered. But, you shouldn’t push the matter. You speak once more, a genuine question to the acclaimed “queen”.
[break][break]
“How do I keep everyone in check? I can’t say I do entirely. But every society has a guide. Ours is more of an honor code.”
[break][break]
The giantess seems content for that to be her last answer as she bows her head and bids you farewell. She leaves enough gold at the table to cover you a meal and one more drink if you should wish and makes way back to her crew. Turning your gaze back to the table, you sigh and pull a notebook from your satchel. Flipping to a page of names, you lower your pen to that of Odilia Rotheiche and strike a line through it. You close the book and wave the server over - may as well claim the meal the queen has intended for you.
[ TW ]
[break]“You wish to hear the tale of the Red Queen?”
[break][break]
A hearty laugh sounds through the tavern over all the music and merriment. It's one of amusement, though quite dismissive.
[break][break]
“No one can say for sure about her.”
[break][break]
The man across from you wears a smile - though his teeth seem quite rotten. It certainly isn't a pretty one mixed with the leathery wrinkles that ordain his face. His words are equally unpleasant, the tone coming off as above you. Asking such a question, surely it is clear that you are a fresh face in the Refuge of Marauders.
[break][break]
You insist on the man's knowledge as the tavern doors sound, slamming against the wall from another pirate entering the place, but he shakes his head again. For one who moments prior was boasting about knowing the queen personally, he now seems quite timid to spill any stories.
[break][break]
“I'm telling you kid,” he sneers, “If you don't know anything already, I'm not sure you need to know.”
[break][break]
The tone of the conversation seems to catch the ears of the newcomer in the bar as they break from the path to the bar. Within a moment, a large hand is rested on the shoulder of the man in front of you. You raise your gaze, following the arm up to a very tall woman. Blue eyes pale in comparison to the one mark of recognition. Beneath her dusty brown hat are locks of vibrant red hair. She leans over the man, her accessories dangling over his head.
[break][break]
“Are you telling stories again, Old Man?”
[break][break]
The man's eyes go wide and his skin pales. Something new shines in them - something completely opposite to the ego he held moments ago. He stutters, caught over his own tongue. She clicks her tongue, moving her hand from his shoulder to his neck. His breath hitches.
[break][break]
“I suggest you stop. We never even shared a ship, much less were you ever one of my crew.”
[break][break]
She releases him, and he stumbles away from his former seat. The woman takes his place, bringing her gaze back to you.
[break][break]
“You look new here. Stowaway or looking for a crew?”
[break][break]
She's speaking now - to you. She nods along as you respond, waving a server over.
[break][break]
“Interesting… No, really. I try to keep tabs on the sharkbait that walks through these doors.”
[break][break]
She pauses, ordering an ale and offering you a drink as well. You oblige, and as the server walks away, she resumes your conversation.
[break][break]
“Now seeing as you were talking to that dumbass, I can only assume that you were asking about the Red Queen… So what is it you'd like to know?”
[break][break]
She opens her arms, signifying an open book. With the floor open, you ask your most pressing question.
[break][break]
“My backstory? Can't say that's a first, but I don't see that being of any use to you.”
[break][break]
Your shoulders fall, disappointment setting in. The server returned, placing your mugs on the table. Hers, you notice, is significantly larger than yours. She brings it up to her lips, chugging the liquid inside. As she finishes, She wipes her lips with her sleeve, and meets your eyes with an intensity.
[break][break]
“I will instead offer you a list of rules to remember on the seas!”
[break][break]
Confusion - but you are incredibly curious. You lean in, ready for The queen to impart her wisdom.
[break][break]
"Rule #1, Life is Unfair.”
[break]
The country of Vedenya is known for many things. Their cheer, their festivities - the “gentle giants” of the world of Aëron. Such a thing is only a stereotype, however. Among the sheep, there is always the chance of a wolf. In the city of Avilona, the Rotheiche name is one of upper nobility as scholars of the ports. More primarily, they are recognized by their physical traits - stature and hair. Every bearer of the Rotheiche name is known to be among the tallest of the giants. And every descendant of the Rotheiche bloodline is known to maintain the dye of their mother's womb.
[break][break]
3461 would be the first time in millenia where the firstborn was a runt. Small and sickly - the child was a tarnish to the Rotheiche name. He was pale and ill to fit the image of a strong Rotheiche. Although the mother loved the boy, the father despised him. After two years to follow, almost to the day, the mother bore another to the name of Rotheiche. She was a large baby, plump, with hair as bright as the rubies that lined her crib-to-be. With a suitable heir, the father gazed upon her in pride and love.
[break][break]
And she was named Odilia.
[break][break]
Odilia grew up in a nice home - a manor full of whatever she desired. Albeit, every day her home was stained by the poor decoration of a smaller, faded redhead. As one who knew no better, she took the words of her father as gospel - that such a being was a mar on their respect by just breathing their air. It was a twisted thing to hear from a child's mouth, much to the protest of the mother, the father ran the home. There his word was law.
[break][break]
The young Rotheiche would spend her days learning under the father. He taught her everything - from reading and writing to swordsmanship and trade routes. The man was a knock of talent in their lineage, and so she would be as well. Truly molded in his image, she was. Alas, not all creatures remain oblivious. The young Odilia grew and grew - and approaching her teens, she became much more aware of the other being in their home. It could speak, it could think, and it called her “sister”.
[break][break]
As she questioned, the father grew angry. For the first time in her life, he yelled at her in a manner devoid of all love. She would move to the next best option - the mother of the home. The woman who fed her but beyond that was but a ghost in the young girl's eyes. Her response was one of surprise, but hopeful to understanding. It was this day that Odilia would learn of the mistreatment of the other being, her sibling and true heir to the Rotheiche home. Although she couldn't fully understand why at the time, the feeling was one she would learn to be was guilt. The weight of her being seemed to triple in the days to follow, her spirits low and her shoulders lower.
[break][break]
The father took notice and scolded the girl. Their months to follow were cruel, but after some time, the feeling seemed to go away. She ceased any remarks to the brother, but wouldn't apologize. Rather, she would prefer to ignore the ghost of the manor. It worked for quite some time, barring herself to any emotion - until she awoke to a movement in her room and a figure standing over her. The glint of silver drew the scream from her throat and sent her spiraling into fight or flight.
[break][break]
By the time the father responded to the noise, there was a puddle. Odilia stood over the corpse of her elder brother, trembling. The blade she had wrestled moments before fell from her grasp, clattering against the wooden floor. The father's face went through a flurry of emotions - fear, relief, anger… it seemed to settle in urgency. He rushed to her side, kneeling to be eye level with the girl.
[break][break]
“You have but a few moments before your mother arrives. Leave, and never return. Go to the docks, find the sailor preparing to travel the Lucent Abyss.”
[break][break]
And so, Odilia left with nothing but a change of clothes and a pouch of gold.
[break][break]
The headline the morning to follow - “The Murder of Rotheiche Manor”. The case seemed very cut and dry.
[break][break]
Odilia's name covered the continent, but she wouldn't be aware for a long time. Everything she had ever known was ripped from her hands.
[break][break]
She had ran, buying a place on some sailor's boat within the night. Those aboard were none the wiser to the events, sailing their way to Quenyi by dawn. The Lucent Abyss was certainly a dangerous place - all to the benefit of the girl. The ship was seized, and with nothing more to lose, she was compliant to join the crew of those who claimed it.
[break]
“Don’t expect things to go how you expect them to. Just because you’ve done something, the results do not always pan out.”
[break][break]
The serious tone is one that holds as the giantess leans back in her seat, waving her mug in the air for another. After a moment, she drops it, letting it clatter empty to the floor. Such is the way of the tavern, you notice, watching other patrons do the same thing. She taps her fingers on the table, nodding to yours.
[break][break]
“You drink slow.”
[break][break]
You bring the drink to your lips and take a swig. She seems content enough knowing you’re at least putting in the effort. She chuckles a bit.
[break][break]
“Next thing to know - Rule #2, Power Craves Purity.”
[break]
Over the years, Odilia found love in the thrill and the ocean. Having lost all to her name, she had nothing better than the life to build on the water. From the time she was 18, such was the only thing she would know. She began as a deckhand, tending to the boat she joined, and over the years climbed her way through the ranks. Adapting to such a culture held no weight when she already had such cruelty cultivated from the man she once called father.
[break][break]
Adapting to such a culture held no weight when her hands were already stained with the blood of another.
[break][break]
Such speed to adapt harbored respect from her peers. Although mocked initially, proclaimed as a privileged girl, such words were quickly silenced when she sent the man overboard. The life of another never meant so little - such an outlook painted the world ever so dreary. As she climbed the ranks of her crew, Odilia grew accustomed to the patterns of this life and over time became to call the sea her home.
[break][break]
A part of this home contained an island known to every pirate. At the edge of the world, surrounded by the mists of lost waves, lies a safe haven for crooks and criminals where the motto rings that you can always trust the dishonest to lie. This island is precisely where Rotheiche first encountered the Pirate King. Strong and known to be quite the looker, a name known across the seas, Captain Vincent Karnei was a burly man named just as well for his bristled coat. He was stern and strict with his ship, and rarely held any mercy - even for his allies.
[break][break]
Their meeting was truly one to behold. Within a tavern, nearing the bar, the two met one another, tipsy off their toes. A brush of the arm, the drop of a drink, and the fist-to-cuffs to follow. Those spectating watched the brawl evolve from a burst of anger to almost a mating dance. Space had cleared for them, and the crowd hollered in support of one side or another. The Vedenyan met the paws of a bear in a wrestle - back and forth. By the end, both were bruised and bleeding. Karnei had returned to his human form, rolling himself over the tiles to the side of Rotheiche.
[break][break]
“You fight well. Care to join me?”
[break][break]
A compliment from the Captain Karnei was rare. A compliment to Rotheiche was rarer.
[break][break]
She would board his ship within the week. Many a passionate night was shared aboard the ship, budding into a relationship. Karnei and his queen-to-be were revered across the seas. Their names would be known in unison for the five years to follow. To the crew that shared their vessel, towards the end of their time together, it would be of particular notice that Rotheiche was getting rounder. Her belly began to poke out, and she had begun to sit out from the nights of mead and wine.
[break][break]
The final night was one to follow a particular harvest. They had claimed quite the regal treasure from a Sela ship. Fabrics, gold, and jewels were now stored on the ship. They had a nice selection of meats for dinner that evening. The feast was the finest they'd had in a while, their musically-gifted having plucked a lute from their rewards to play over the meal. As the crew found their drinks and merriment, the king and Rotheiche retired to their quarters.
[break][break]
And so began the final conversation.
[break][break]
“Odilia,” Vincent began, shedding his coat to hand in its place. “You fought well today - I'm surprised.”
[break][break]
The giantess was caught off guard. Odilia? When did he ever call her Odilia? First names never existed to this man. “Surprised? You must know that this would not slow me down.”
[break][break]
Rotheiche kicked her boots off, setting herself on the edge of their bed. He moved over to her, helping her into her nightclothes. Hands lingered, playing with the weights of her body before grasping at the belly.
[break][break]
“Motherhood is still ahead. You will begin to slow. Even now, you soften.”
[break][break]
She scoffed, dismissing the thought. She begun her retort, but the man grabbed her face. His brows furrowed, icy blue eyes burning into her soul.
[break][break]
“Don't you dare insist otherwise,” the words sounded almost venomous. “The boy on the ship held a sword to you, and yet you didn’t strike.”
[break][break]
Her face twisted in almost disbelief. She wanted to argue - he was a child. But the man continued.
[break][break]
“Ferras barely put his hands on that woman, and you almost took them at the wrists.”
[break][break]
Her daughter was watching just around the corner.
[break][break]
“The only thing I have to blame is this.”
[break][break]
His hands moved from her face back to her stomach, gripping now in quite the uncomfortable hold. Something fell inside of her, a weight now sitting on her chest. From the pit, an anger began to bubble. Her face grew warm. But the man now continued.
[break][break]
“I thought I'd found the perfect candidate to harbor my seed - one who would make a strong offspring. Yet you've been hiding it all this time. This squishy... weakness.”
[break][break]
What was this man going on about? She began to speak, only to be cut off as he let go and walked across the room.
[break][break]
“I cannot have a soft child. I cannot have a weak egg.”
[break][break]
Her nose wrinkled in disgust, her brows knitting together in confusion. He grabbed something from the chest in the room before walking back towards her. He held the object behind him - an action that settled off the alarms in her head.
[break][break]
“Karnei, I warn you now,” her voice trembled as he grew closer. “Don't do it.”
[break][break]
He stopped in front of her. The moment was one that would haunt her for years to come, playing over and over in her mind. It happened so fast - the dread coursing through her veins, the rage that twisted his face, the silver that broke her skin… The moments to follow were drowned out by the laughter on the deck. Their yells, their strikes, throwing one another across the room. Perhaps the waves were stronger that night, but the ship seemed to rock more than ever. Side to side, some of the crew nearly fell overboard.
[break][break]
As the waves seemed to settle, the ship slowed its rock. A silence fell over the night as the crew began to wind down. The door to the captain's quarters creaked open. Eyes slowly rose to the vision, some filling with confusion - others, fear. Rotheiche met their gaze with a fire in hers, silently challenging anyone to question her and her tattered, stained underclothes. The loose gown, once a lovely eggshell color, was now drenched in a dark liquid. Her right arm wrapped itself around her stomach, and her left sat at her side. Its hand was balled into a fist, holding tight an object that swung with her movements. After the moment of horrified silence, she stepped forward and threw it to the ground.
[break][break]
The moonlight glinted from her, revealing her new colors in the night. A pool of red gathered beneath her feet, falling from her body. The object bounced once before rolling into the center of the crowd. It stopped face-up - the head of the late Captain Karnei.
[break][break]
Rotheiche would not collapse, but she did not recall the moments to follow. The next evening she'd awaken in the ship's infirmary, sore but clean. Her wounds were stitched rather crude but well enough to heal. And yet, as she came to, there came to be an emptiness. As she ran her hand over her stomach, she found the thread that held together the initial strike.
[break][break]
The child who never was.
[break]
“Those in power do not care for stains to their name. Reputations are all that matter on these waters. If that is ever in question, you are as good as dead to your crew.”
[break][break]
Her words are spoken with a sense of disdain. Part of her seems conflicted, as if it were a reluctant belief. Perhaps this is her least favorite rule? Her expression shifts as a new mug is brought to the table. Once again, it is downed - as if a distraction from what she has recalled.
[break][break]
As she takes the last gulp, she raises the mug again. She looks at you and speaks again.
[break][break]
“Rule #3, Murder and Mercy are Equal in Value.”
[break]
A couple years would pass with stories of the “Red Queen” crossing the waters. There was no doubt that her story even made its way to land in some cases, as there came more and more recognition of her on the ships they claimed. Her crew expanded, new faces came and went when they would stop at the Refuge. It took some time, but the rumors of her pregnancy had died down as she slimmed back into her figure. Yet, with that settling came new threats.
[break][break]
As her title spread, some from the land actively sought her out. Whether to kill or befriend was never of any specific concern to Rotheiche. She simply did those wish to associate with those who based themselves in the nations. After all, the only ones who sought her for aid were those politically involved. And she, in full truth, did not give a rat's ass about the lands’ politics.
[break][break]
During one rest at harbor, there would be one that snuck their way aboard the Red Queen's ship. The days to follow were peculiar, to say the least. Food going missing, ropes out of place - Rotheiche grew irritated with the crew's inability to maintain their things. She put her quartermaster to determine the cause of it all - to discipline any who were overconsuming their rations. Within the day, there was a knock at her door.
[break][break]
“Captain,” they started through the mahogany. “We found a stowaway in the kitchen. I was inquiring as to what you wanted us to do with her.”
[break][break]
Rotheiche rose and walked out, following her crewmate below deck. There in the brig was a young girl, as poorly presented as she might have been. The girl, wrapped around some kind of pouch, seemed to move towards the back of her cell as the captain approached - yet there was not a word from the redhead. There were no gestures of ill-meaning. Rather, the queen knelt down - her towering frame doing its best to meet the level of what could have been a child in front of her. She turned to her companion and her order plainly.
[break][break]
“Bring us some bread.”
[break][break]
The quartermaster hesitated, but left and returned as requested. She dismissed them after that moment, breaking a piece and offering it to the girl behind the bars. Her reaction, to Rotheiche, was one that pulled at the strings in her chest. She ate with the girl for some time, offering her some water on the occasion.
[break][break]
“Do you have a name, girl?”
[break][break]
Perhaps the response was so quiet that Rotheiche hadn’t caught it. Or maybe there was just no response. The air, to the captain, was silent apart from the waves that crashed to either side of the ship. She hummed, accepting the pause as unwilling to answer and nodded.
[break][break]
“Well, I am Captain Odilia Rotheiche. Per customs, I will have to hold you down here for some time while I deliberate with the crew about what we should do with you. Perhaps, we throw you into the abyss. Or maybe we find a use for you. Either way, if you should need anything during your stay, please do ask.”
[break][break]
The captain rose to her feet and turned, leaving the girl with the remainder of her flask of water. For the days to follow, she would visit the girl below the deck, bringing something new each time. The day to follow was a book they had claimed from a Selanite ship. An author was aboard and had yet to publish the piece properly - it was a shame this hidden gem wouldn’t be shared to the public, but Odilia could at least offer the chapters to her captive. She read them aloud, something that almost returned her to her own youth. She would neglect the thought as soon as it arose, displeased with the memory.
[break][break]
On the third day, the crew began to mock the girl in the brig. They spoke of her on the deck, calling her such things as “mongrel”, “rat”, and “Captain’s Pet”. At the threat of Rotheiche over their final title for her, they dropped that one very quickly. The fourth and fifth days, the captain took down a chess board. The waters were calmer, and so the pieces didn’t move that much, at least. The sixth day would be a pocketwatch and a change of clothes. They’d claimed a small tradeship earlier in the day - perhaps the girl could use something other than her rags.
[break][break]
By the seventh day, the crew started to get antsy. Having one person beneath the boards simply consuming their time and resources was ill for any pirate. Despite the queen having a plethora of supplies, a pirate comes from a life of rations. To Rotheiche, it would either be now or never. And so, on the seventh day, the captain brought down a steak. It was one cooked specifically for her, making it quite large. And yet, she would not eat of it. She pushed her plate under the bars, letting the girl consume as she wished.
[break][break]
“They’ve given you a name, you know. I’m sure you’ve heard it by now,” Rotheiche began. “I cannot fault them for it either. You have not given me otherwise.”
[break][break]
She rested herself against the wall, “Though perhaps, you seek to escape that. Many take to the seas in order to flee their pasts. I do not know what ghosts haunt you - I may only speak to my own. But if that is the case, speak now. You will be welcomed.”
[break][break]
Much to a miracle in the captain’s eyes, the girl obliged. A smile found its way to the captain’s features, gentle and - for a moment - relieved.
[break][break]
“We must find a use for you. Now that you’ve agreed - and I no longer have to drop you off in the whirlpool - you must begin to pull your weight here. Don’t let my steak be eaten in vain.”
[break][break]
Odilia would open the door as they discussed. The girl seemed to have some social background, and as much as she hated to have to care - Odilia knew nothing of the lands’ political climates. And so, Brighella would be deemed the ship’s Ambassador - actively attaining anything of use when the ship should dock on one of the main continents be it supplies or information.
[break]
“Although it is easy to pose just as much power in murder and fear, mercy can go a long way. You never know what doors will open with even a dash of kindness.”
[break][break]
This memory must be something warmer. A smile meets her lips as she gazes back to the bar. The crew she had entered with now sit side by side, laughing with one another. Among them, her eyes seem to settle on a woman who easily had to be one of the best dressed among the crew.
[break][break]
She sighs, drawing your attention back to her. The pride in her features begins to fade as she returns her attention back to you.
[break][break]
“Lastly, Rule #4 - never believe the bumbling oaf in a tavern about his escapades with the queen of the seas. He is likely to lie.”
[break][break]
She chuckles at this one, reaching a hand across for a playful push to your shoulder.
[break][break]
“I hope you keep those in mind.” She clears her throat and rises. “If that is all, I will be returning to my crew. Any more questions?”
[break][break]
You ponder for a moment, none of your questions truly answered. But, you shouldn’t push the matter. You speak once more, a genuine question to the acclaimed “queen”.
[break][break]
“How do I keep everyone in check? I can’t say I do entirely. But every society has a guide. Ours is more of an honor code.”
[break][break]
The giantess seems content for that to be her last answer as she bows her head and bids you farewell. She leaves enough gold at the table to cover you a meal and one more drink if you should wish and makes way back to her crew. Turning your gaze back to the table, you sigh and pull a notebook from your satchel. Flipping to a page of names, you lower your pen to that of Odilia Rotheiche and strike a line through it. You close the book and wave the server over - may as well claim the meal the queen has intended for you.
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Last Edit: Nov 12, 2024 17:54:07 GMT by Odilia Rotheiche
