Captain Bloodscale
I was killed before you first rode the waves, and not even Death could hold me accountable.
Defy me and my men, and your only future lies in being paint for my sails.
Background
First Life
Very little is known about Bloodscale's life before she died, and she takes great pains to keep it that way.
All anyone knows is that, roughly three years ago, a revenant tilken started raiding merchant ships from the South Chezri Trading Company across the coast of South Chezri and the archipelago to the east.
Practise Makes Perfect
There are rumours that she was some sort of Pull mage before she died, planning her undeath even before dying.
These rumours usually purport that she still channels the sphere today, exploiting time-manipulation to subdue ships and crews that far outnumber her own, while using that same energy to recruit more crew members for herself after they have died.
Feed the Rumours
It's difficult to confirm the magical aptitude of Bloodscale and her crew, but she does completely ban the use of nullrock aboard her ship.
This could be to prevent anyone accidently blocking her magic, but it could just as easily be for the fact that nullrock is the only known way to permanently kill a revenant, severing their connection to the Pull.
Where did she come from?
There's no record of a red-scaled tilken stufying at Azhjur University in the time frame she must have been alive, and it's rare that Conduits live full lives without every being noticed (although it does happen).
If she were a mage in life, then it's unclear how she became one.
Appearance and Reputation
Close Quarters
Bloodscale is all about reputation. From the adolescent silk sails dyed with actual blood, to her infamous flag of a white tilken skull on a black background, everything appears to have been calculated to be easily recognisable and to instill fear.
Perhaps the most intimidating thing about her is her clothing and equipment; in an age where firearms are just starting to take hold, she proudly stands on deck and strides ashore in nothing but some loose-fitting fabrics, a tiny close-quarters knife, and a flintlock pistol that is never loaded and only kept for show and the occasional duel (which, of course, she always wins, even if the other person hits her first.
The only piece of armour she wears is the solid metal helmet that she reportedly even sleeps in.
Good luck
Nullrock is too brittle to be made into a bullet with any piercing power. Even if someone could afford enough nullrock to make a full blade, got past the Bloodeyes, and managed to best Bloodscale in hand-to-hand combat, they'd need to force said blade through the solid metal cap on her head.
The lack of armour isn't just for show; Bloodscale is just that confident in her undead immortality.
No Quarter
If you are unlucky enough to be boarded by Bloodscale's crew, you have two options (or three, if you believe the rumours):
Die quickly, and receive a sea burial
Die slowly, and have your blood drained across the sails
Die, then be reborn as a revenant and permanent crew member
Bird-watch
Bloodscale doesn't leave herself completely open. Her elite kliasta bodyguard team, named the Bloodeyes, occupy a larger-than-normal bird's nest on the ship, and follow her when she goes ashore.
Often, the first sign you'll notice that Bloodscale is on land is the four kliasta dressed in the same blood-red adolescent silk as the sails, watching from trees and rooftops and ready to swoop down on anyone who looks like they're getting a little to close to the tilken pirate.
Playing by her Own Rules
It's a well-known 'secret' that Bloodscale all but owns the island port city of Kolkuzhn. It's technically a well-run city with a very robust justice system.
True, it's Bloodscale's own brand of brutal (but never rash) justice, where any kind of indulgent behaviour is permitted, as long as you don't seriously infringe on anyone else's ability to do the same, but the citizens are nevertheless very law-abiding.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Great article! It does seem like quite an interesting character given how sure she is that she will never be killed. It is almost impossible though by the looks of it so I can understand :p I also like the mystery of the life before here undeath, quite strange that nobody knows anything. Being able to add the people to the ship's crew is pretty handy as well. Although for the victims it is only barely better than the other options :p
Yeah, three different deaths isn't much of a choice...