The Legend of Cyclops Sam

The Legend of Cyclops Sam surrounds the tale of a loyal ship captain, betrayed by the country whose colours who sailed under. In retribution, he took to raiding their ships before cutting himself and his ships off from the world.

Summary

The story goes that, mere centuries ago, Captain Samuel Pyke was a well respected captain in the navy of Gillem, a rich merchant state in Hisenor. On his ship, Leih's Blessed Squall, he hunted down a multitude of pirates and protected a great deal of merchant shipping. A celebrated figure, he would return home after often months at sea to a hero's welcome, every time.
Part of the next leg of the tale is lost to history. Some say it was down to the machinations of his opponents within the admiralty, while others say it was closer to home, that his wife, in love with another man, orchestrated the whole thing. Others still claim that Captain Pyke was bad all along, and that this was his evil deeds catching up with him. Whatever the reason, after returning home from a three month voyage, in which he had lost an eye during a valiant boarding action, Captain Pyke was promptly arrested on charges of treason. He languished in the Capitol Jail in Gillem for three months, awaiting a trial that never came. His crew, loyal to a fault, broke him out, and rushed him to the docks, where his beloved ship awaited him.
In the ten years that followed, Captain Pyke, or Cyclops Sam as he came to be known, turned pirate and cut a bloody wake along the shores of Hisenor, targeting ships flying Gillem colours. He amassed a small following, and soon had a dozen ships flying his colours. He became such a thorn in the side of Gillem, that some speculate he was one of the reasons that the Nation's economy collapsed shortly after. It took a mighty effort, but eventually a combined force of Gillem and Carrakian vessels tracked him down to his base, a cave lagoon now known as the Cyclops' Sephulcre. Expecting him to try and break out, the force created a blockade. But, soon after it formed, an explosion rocked the night sky, and the only entrance to the Sepulchre collapsed in on itself, sealing Cyclops Sam, his crews, and ships, within.
With that, Cyclops Sam was never heard from, or seen, again. But, while Gillem as a nation collapsed scant years later, and was absorbed by Carrak, the name of Cyclops Sam has echoed down the years, spoken in hushed whispers by fishermen and merchant sailors along that stretch of coastline. To this day, the sepulchre that supposedly houses his ships and remains has never been opened, although there are those who tell tales of strange lights floating in the waters nearby, and odd noises that can heard from within, if one gets too close.

Historical Basis

Anyone searching the archives of the Old Admiralty in Gillem will be able to find records of a Captain Samuel Pyke, who served in their navy nearly two hundred and fifty years ago. The records show that he served in the navy for twenty one years, earning a number of medals for gallantry and bravery, before he was arrested on charges of treason. No record for the execution of Captain Samuel Pyke exists, although he was sentenced to such. Also, records do indicate a prison break from the Capitol Jail at around the same time, although no record is made of the names of escaped inmates. Records from this point out are patchy at best. Certainly, records do exist showing that a pirate by the name of Cyclops Sam did indeed terrorise Gillem shipping for nearly a decade around this time, but eyewitness reports are so vague that it does make it difficult to say the two figures are the same man and, alas, pirates are not known for their record keeping.
An interesting note is that there is no official record of the supposed Gillem/Carrak joint naval operation to track down and capture the pirate known as Cyclops Sam. Indeed, local historians, when approached on the matter, wonder why it took nearly a decade for such an operation to be launched if the activities of Cyclops Sam were, as the legend leads us to believe, so financially impactful on Gillem.

Spread

This legend is fairly commonplace amongst the inhabitants of the Gillem area of Carrak's coastline, especially in the area near the Cyclops' Sepulchre where the name of Cyclops Sam is used as a bogeyman for children. But the name is also whispered by seafarer's up and down the west coast of the whole continent of Hisenor, where Cyclops Sam's activities had heavy impact.

Variations & Mutation

Like any tale, the one of Cyclops Sam has been retold many times, and has a number of variations that have appeared over time. Perhaps the most common variation, heard often amongst villagers and fishermen close to the Cyclops' Sepulchre, is one that describes Cyclops Sam as a literal cyclops, almost giant in size with a singular eye in the centre of his head. While this idea is fanciful in itself, there are those who take it further still, suggesting that the Cyclops could shoot some sort of heat beam from it's eye.

Cultural Reception

This legend holds most sway in the Gillem area of Carrak, where most believe it to be linked to the downfall of Gillem as an independent state. It is in the villages of the coast here that most people hold the tale close to heart, where it has become weaved into local belief and superstition, leading people to avoid certain areas of the coast.

In Literature

A number of books exist, telling the legend of Cyclops Sam, and there are a number of Carrakian sea shanties about the subject too.

In Art

Outside of personal projects, there is no artwork of note related to Cyclops Sam.

Date of First Recording

PR.2927

Date of Setting

PR.2877 - PR.2887