Scarlet Maw

"I've been chased by a Republic frigate and recieved a broadside from a Myzian Man of War! I've seen two hundred Khandari galleys charging towards me, thirty thousand oars beating in unison. Yet none of that scared me half as much as the time I spotted those damned bloodsoaked sails through a winter storm!"

— 'Old Wheel' Rolf, starting one of his many tall tales.

Among the Sailors of Adar little inspires more dread than the stories of the Scarlet Maw, the vampire ship. This ship is said to sail the oceans, looking for prey to feed its vampyric crew.

Summary

Sailors speak of the Scarlet Hope, a mighty frigate comissioned by a Myzian duke who wished to explore the vast World Ocean of Adar. The duke hired the finest crew which money could buy, and set of on his venture. Yet he must have offended some god or spirit through his vanity and lust for glory. Misfortune haunted the journey. One by one, the crew died, abandoned ship, or went insane. Yet the duke pressed on. The ship traveled south, into Bahr al-Zulamat (the sea of darkness) south of Khandar, from which no human ship ever returns. Here a fierce storm engulfed the ship, and would not cease. Precisly what happened in the storm is a favoured topic of discussion among sailors. But most agree that the duke choose to sacrefice the crew to some fell demon, in order to save his himself and his precious ship. When the ship eventually emerged on the other side no truly living thing remained aboard. A vampire now commanded the vessel, and a crew of undead vampire spawn crawled across the rigging. 
Now the ship sails the ocean, hunting for prey to satiate its master and its crew. Indeed, some say that the ship itself requires blood to stay afloat. The Scarlet Hope has become the Scarlet Maw.

Date of First Recording

Ca 800 IC

Date of Setting

780 IC to the present