Black Shark Navy
"The Black Sharks aren’t just a fleet, they’re a scourge, a curse of flesh and shadow. Every sailor lost to them becomes another voice in the waves that sings to us all, stay away."The Black Shark Navy, named after the ferocious Black Surf Shark, is the dark maritime force of Veladare, a nation ruled by dark elves who hunger for power drawn from shadowy realms and forbidden magic. Swift and merciless, this fleet of obsidian-hued ships, known as Shadow Cutters, move like a wraith upon the seas, striking without warning and vanishing into mist. Each ship, enchanted with spells of stealth and shadow, carries a crew devoted to dark sorcery and a thirst for dominance. Led by the formidable Admiral Serlana Bloodfin, the Black Shark Navy has become the embodiment of nautical dread, a force driven by ambition and cloaked in an aura of mystery and terror.
Structure
The Black Shark Navy is organized into a rigid, hierarchical structure designed to maintain control, discipline, and arcane prowess. At its apex stands Admiral Serlana Bloodfin, who commands the fleet with absolute authority and is both feared and revered by her subordinates. Directly beneath her are the Bloodtooth Commanders, powerful captains entrusted with individual squadrons of Shadow Cutters, each is chosen for their mastery of dark magic and tactical cunning.
Below the Bloodtooth Commanders are the Shadowfins, elite sorcerers and necromancers embedded within each ship’s crew to enhance the vessels with shadowy illusions, summon storms, and direct arcane defenses. Standard sailors, or Shark Crashers, make up the bulk of the fleet’s manpower, trained in multiple forms of combat to assist in raids and ambushes.
At the lowest level are the Pups, newer recruits undergoing rigorous training in martial arts to prove their loyalty and ascend the ranks. This structured hierarchy ensures that the fleet operates with both military precision and an unwavering commitment to Veladare’s dark ambitions.
Culture
The culture within the Black Shark Navy is one of ruthless ambition, reverence for dark magic, and unyielding loyalty to Veladare's ideals of dominance. Life aboard their shadowy ships demands resilience and absolute obedience, as each crew member is expected to embrace the usage of shadowed arts and the navy's hit-and-run tactics with lethal precision. Sorcery, particularly necromancy and illusion, is woven into everyday routines, and sailors are trained to harness fear as a tool of control.
Rituals play a crucial role, before raids, shadow-binding ceremonies are performed to reinforce both physical and mystical bonds among the crew, as well as to summon spectral entities from the deep. Their discipline and camaraderie are steeped in a shared purpose to secure artifacts and relics of power, with a fierce pride in embodying the darker aspects of elvenkind. The Navy’s members see themselves as warriors of destiny, wielding both blade and eldritch craft to secure Veladare's vision of eternal supremacy over the seas.
Public Agenda
The public agenda of the Black Shark Navy, as presented to the citizens of Veladare and its allies, is the defense and expansion of Veladare's dominion over the seas. They claim to protect Veladare's coastal territories from foreign threats and safeguard their dark elven way of life against outside forces. Their raids and ambushes are officially justified as preemptive strikes to weaken potential enemies and secure "resources of magical significance" that could be used against Veladare.
However, beneath this surface rhetoric lies a thirst for dark artifacts, forbidden power, and dominance over the high seas, allowing the Black Sharks to remain a potent symbol of Veladare's malevolent ambitions and relentless pursuit of arcane strength.
Assets
The Black Shark Navy possesses a formidable array of assets designed to maximize its stealth, speed, and arcane lethality. Chief among these are the Shadow Cutter ships, sleek, obsidian-hued ships outfitted with eldritch enchantments that render them nearly invisible in low light and allow them to cut through rough seas with ease. These ships are empowered with necromantic and shadow magics, enabling them to sail against adverse winds and cloak themselves in illusions.
Each vessel is equipped with Soulcatch Lanterns, artifacts that capture the souls of defeated foes, fueling dark enchantments and enhancing the crew's power. The fleet also maintains Ballistae Of Decay, Necro Arrows, Shadow Smoke Bombs, Necro Orbs, and enchanted artillery and ammunition that can strike with silent lethality or unleash dark energies upon impact.
Additionally, the Navy holds Seacaller Conches, magical items that enable long-distance, secure communication between ships, and a small array of Seaborn Entities, bound, semi-spectral creatures of the deep that aid in reconnaissance and can be unleashed in battle. These assets, combined with a cache of cursed relics collected from raids, make the Black Shark Navy one of the most feared forces on the seas.
History
The Black Shark Navy’s origins trace back to just after the conquest of Tas Mora, later renamed Veladare. This was a brutal campaign where dark elven forces seized coastal strongholds and established their dominion over the land and sea. Initially, the fleet was a simple maritime defense force, but as the Nation of Veladare’s hunger for power grew, so did its navy’s dark purpose. Elven warlords, guided by shadowy seers, began to channel forbidden magic into shipbuilding and naval strategy, transforming the fleet into an offensive arm of Veladare’s ambitions.
As the navy grew in power and infamy, it attracted sorcerers and necromancers who sought to harness the ocean’s dark mysteries. Under Admiral Serlana Bloodfin's leadership, the Black Sharks launched relentless raids beyond Veladare’s borders, targeting arcane sites and artifact-laden ships to claim dark relics. Their victories spread fear, cementing their reputation as ruthless raiders and masterful tacticians.
Over centuries, the Black Shark Navy became a symbol of The Nation Of Veladare's might, instilling dread across Domen Aria's seas. Tales of ghostly sails and cursed waters follow them, a legacy forged through relentless ambition and a devotion to wielding forbidden power.
"There’s no fighting the Black Sharks, no bargaining. You’re a seal to their shark, and they’ll strike when you’re weakest, leave you bleeding, sinking, and still wondering how they found you."
Infamous Black Shark Captains
Serlana Bloodfin, captain of The Midnight Maw. As the Navy’s charismatic and ruthless commander, Bloodfin is more than a figurehead, she is the dark soul of the fleet. Known for her ability to commune with shadowy sea entities, she commands not only ships but also strange, eldritch creatures of the deep. Rumors abound that she bargained her soul, or perhaps more, to gain her dark powers. Her strategic genius and mastery of forbidden magic have ensured Veladare’s dominance on the seas, inspiring unwavering loyalty and profound fear among her ranks. Before becoming Admiral 150 years ago, Serlana commanded The Midnight Maw during the Deep Waters Campaign. Her daring raids and the ship’s ability to seemingly disappear into the mist won her renown. The Midnight Maw is remembered as the vessel that cemented Serlana’s rise to power, and it’s rumored she used forbidden magics aboard the ship to forge her connection to the shadowy sea entities that now obey her commands. Garrean Sharkgrin, captain of The Striking Fang. One of the fiercest warriors in the Black Shark Navy, Captain Garrean earned his moniker from the row of serrated teeth he filed to points, giving him a shark-like appearance. His ship, The Striking Fang, is notorious for leading the bloodiest assaults and ambushes. Garrean is fanatically loyal to Veladare’s ideals, harboring a personal vendetta against coastal kingdoms that he believes wronged the dark elves in centuries past. Known for his brutal combat style, he’s both feared and revered among his crew. He is remembered for leading the infamous Nightsplash Raid 40 years ago. Sharkgrin orchestrated the destruction of an entire coastal fleet guarding the wealthy trading city of Silvormoor. His ship, The Striking Fang, moved with unnatural speed, ramming and disabling enemy ships with reinforced enchanted plating. The raid ended with the city’s harbor burned and its treasures claimed by Veladare. Survivors speak of his haunting laughter echoing through the smoke, earning him the nickname "The Laughing Shark." Atollen Duskwater, captain of The Silent Shadow. A highly skilled assassin and Shadow Cutter captain, Duskwater is infamous for his nocturnal boarding tactics. Known for silently infiltrating enemy ships and disabling them from within, he’s said to be able to move through shadows as if they were doors. His origins are shrouded in mystery, some believe he was once part of an elite dark elven assassins’ guild, while others think he may be a former noble fallen from grace, or even a Shada' Cere. Duskwater is a figure of dread, as his presence often signals a swift and silent end for any who encounter him. His ship earned its name 80 years ago during the Hidden Reef Ambush, where Duskwater and his crew sank six merchant ships in total silence. Known for his ability to manipulate shadows, Atollen ensured that no survivors could escape, leaving only eerie wreckage as a grim reminder of his fleet’s power. The ship is remembered for its stealth, its enchanted hull absorbing sound to ensure its approach remains undetected. Saraliss Boneshard, captain of The Widow’s Wake. A dark elf necromancer remembered for binding the spirits of her victims into the ship itself. 100 years ago, during the Battle of Mirror Tides, Saraliss used her ship’s ghostly aura to confuse and terrify an opposing armada. Her ship appeared to be in multiple locations at once, allowing her fleet to outmaneuver and destroy an enemy coalition. It’s said the ship still carries the wails of those who fell to her sorcery. Kraleen Darkreef, captain of The Blackjaw. He and his ship, also called “The Biter”, became infamous 60 years ago after the Harbor of a Thousand Teeth Massacre. Using the ship’s uniquely enchanted jaws, massive serrated metal rams enchanted to move like a predator’s bite, Kraleen tore through enemy vessels with horrifying precision. The ship became a symbol of terror, its prow a twisted, mechanical shark's mouth that seemed to consume its prey. Masirra Wavekill, captain of The Ravenous Deep. 50 years ago, during the Siege of Ebon Atoll, Masirra and The Ravenous Deep unleashed bound sea creatures, rumored to be controlled through eldritch relics aboard the ship. These creatures dismantled entire fleets while Masirra’s crew mopped up survivors. Her mastery over these entities earned her the title "Mistress of Beasts," and the ship is said to still carry remnants of her deadly "pets." Saltrik Venombite, captain of The Deadspire. Known for his cruelty, Saltrik captained The Deadspire during the Culling of the Northern Isles 200 years ago. The ship’s dark spires served as a prison for captured foes, who were displayed as living warnings. Saltrik is infamous for using prisoners as bait to lure enemy ships into ambushes. His deeds are so reviled that even Veladare’s leaders distanced themselves from his excesses, though his tactical genius is still studied by the Black Shark Navy.
"The sea is not our enemy, it is our ally, our shadow, and our weapon. In the depths, we are unseen, unheard, and unyielding. Tonight, we take what is ours."
Nautical Tactics
Naval Maneuvers: The Black Sharks avoid the conventional naval tactics of large armadas in favor of overwhelming their enemies with sheer numbers and agility. Their ships are built for speed, capable of darting through treacherous waters and evading pursuit. The elves of the Black Sharks are masters of hit-and-fade attacks, striking swiftly before disappearing into the shadows, leaving only the haunting echo of their malevolent laughter. Ambushes: The Black Sharks are notorious for their tactical prowess in ambushes. Utilizing the cover of night and with their enchanted vessels, they strike unsuspecting fleets with sudden and overwhelming force. Their mastery of illusions creates confusion among enemy ranks, as multiple shadowy ships appear on the horizon, leaving foes uncertain of the true number they face. Dark Enhancements: The Black Sharks have embraced dark magic to empower their fleet. Enchantments of shadow and illusion conceal their vessels, rendering them nearly invisible on the open sea. Necromantic rituals infuse the ships with an unholy vitality, allowing them to sail swiftly even against adverse winds. The elven sorcerers among the crew wield forbidden arts, conjuring storms and shadowy illusions to confound and terrify their foes. Coastal Raids: The Black Sharks are not content with territorial waters, they venture deep into enemy territory, launching raids on coastal settlements under the cover of darkness. The elves descend upon coastal towns like silent reapers, leaving destruction in their wake before vanishing into the sea mist."You may have teeth, but we have the ocean's bite. When the Black Sharks strike, even the waves tremble."
Rumors
Ships of the Damned: It’s said that the Black Shark Navy ships are crewed not only by dark elves but by the souls of sailors they’ve slain. Bound by necromantic magic, these restless spirits are forced to serve in eternal torment, manning the oars and raising the cursed sails. Eyes in the Dark: Sailors claim that the fleet possesses magical shark shaped constructs that roam beneath the waves, able to scout out enemy vessels from afar and mark them for destruction. These spectral "scouts" are rumored to feel the heartbeat of any ship they target, ensuring there’s no escape. Blood Tide: Some say that after the Black Shark Navy’s raids, the waters themselves turn a sickly crimson, an omen that the Navy’s sorcery has tainted the sea. Anyone caught within these cursed waters supposedly hears the cries of those the Navy has slain, and many have reportedly lost their sanity after such encounters. The Curse of Bloodfin: Stories tell that Admiral Serlana Bloodfin made a pact with a shadowy sea deity to achieve her power, promising not only her own soul but the souls of all those she commands. It’s rumored that if Bloodfin ever falls, her entire fleet will be claimed by the deep, dragged into the abyss by the dark powers that sustain them. The Unseen Armada: Legends insist that the Black Sharks' true fleet is far larger than the few ships seen in raids. According to some, a hidden harbor exists on an island shrouded in eternal mist, where hundreds of ghostly Shadow Cutter ships lie in wait, ready to descend upon the Seas when the time is right. Eldritch Cargo: Some say that every Black Shark vessel carries a forbidden relic or cursed artifact, which the crew uses to perform dark rites before each raid. The relics are said to give the navy their terrifying power but curse any land or sea where they linger. The Ghost Fleet of Veladare: Fishermen and sailors speak of a "Ghost Fleet" of Shadow Cutter ships, spectral apparitions that haunt distant waters at night. Though incorporeal, these phantom ships are said to be harbingers of doom, marking the locations of future raids, or the final resting places of those unfortunate enough to encounter the real Black Shark Navy."I swear, their ships don’t sail, they hunt. Like wolves on the water, they circle and close in. One minute, you’re alone on the sea, and the next…you’re gone."
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