The Red Rose

She rose from the flames as the wharf caught ablaze; a ship redder than the blood of our dead. And as she sailed, she blocked the ships of the noblemen who sought to escape their judgement.

— The Tale of the Red Rose

During the late 790s and early 800s, the Kingdom of Camett was collapsing into civil war. Sporadic acts of rebellion escalated into the day of the Burned Boats - officially considered the beginning of the civil war. It also began the legacy of the Red Rose and her captain, Risa Lowill.

Summary

In 800, hundreds of civilians stormed the Trihtt Wharf - home to the highest expense merchant ships of the nobles. As the night went on, dozens of ships were burned to the ground. As ship hands rushed to take those few surviving ones out of the dock, another ship came out and began to block the exit. It fired upon any ship that attempted to escape, sinking an additional five ships.

This ship was the Red Rose.

It is not clear how Risa Lowill came to own the great ship; it is not clear who Risa Lowill really was before this night. But after this night, she would be a name remembered for centuries.

As the rebellions broke out into full swing, the Red Rose became a ship feared by nobles. The crew would travel around in the pitch of night and loot treasures from a noble house. They would take from merchant ships, sink ships from the king's army, and block incoming supplies. The most famous of the Rose's exploits in these years was within 808, 812, and 815. In 808, a noble from the Everett family spoke out heavily against Lowill. Two weeks later, his entire house was robbed clean in one night - with his family sleeping inside. The noble held a grudge against the pirate until 812. This was the only time during the rebellions where Risa was captured. the Everett noble prided himself upon the action and upon being her executioner. The day before she was to be killed, though, she somehow managed to escape. The next night, the Everett family head was found dead in his house.

None of this measures up to the heist of 815. As the rebellions were nearing their end, the majority of noble families had gone into hiding or been killed off. The royal family, however, remained in their palace guarded by the most skilled of their guards. It was thought impenetrable. But one night, Risa Lowill decided to send a message. She broke into the palace, stole the most valuable objects within. This included the family portrait, which was then found the next morning hanging outside the palace gates. Written in red was the message 'Anything can be broken' and signed with the insignia of the red rose. The next year, the palace fell.

While the Red Rose was a sign of hope during the rebellions, it changed afterwards. There were no more nobles, but the Red Rose continued to wander the seas. This time, she expanded her borders - striking down the coast into the Somam regions, and even all the way west Tveysha and Entreo. Treasures began to amount - powerful artifacts, pieces of famous work, signs of wealth and power. There was nothing out of the Rose's reach. But as they gained renown, the new nation forming where the Camett Kingdom once stood saw it as a blemish. In 835, the Red Rose crew was sent an official message from the newly formed Avlinn government: turn over your treasure and ship or be hunted down.

Risa's response was clear. The next day, the Red Rose was spotted just off the coast within the Kiutt Channel. As ships began to approach the ship, it began to sail out of reach. It continued on further and further until it reached an area filled with sharp rocks, large cliffs, and numerous shipwrecks. It was then they began to notice dozens of individuals dive off the ship as it turned and steered directly into the rocks. As ship hands scrambled to save those within the water, they watched as the Red Rose sunk. They could not approach the Rose due to the danger of the rocks, but the survivors were clear - Captain Risa had stayed on board, along with her most loyal crew members.

As for the the treasure accumulated, no one could ever figure out where it was hidden. There were rumors it was hidden somewhere along those same cliffs Risa sunk her ship - a final last taunt. Some say it was trapped, locked behind a wall one couldn't see. The most popular version tells of a cave made entirely of ice that never melted - earning the legendary treasure location the nickname of 'Ice Cave'.

Historical Basis

Risa Lowill truly did exist, as did the Red Rose. However, interest in her was considered light gossip and barely interesting at the time. Aside from a few nobles who ended up enemies, general interest in Lowill and the Rose was fleeting. Due to that fact, details accurately recorded were slim and disconnected. The true extent of the Rose's treasures and adventures is largely unknown. There were many who claimed the ship was responsible for taking their property, but it could never be certified if it truly was the Red Rose or something else entirely. In fact, the most certain detail about it all is the fate of the Rose, with dozens of first hand accounts writing about the sinking.

Spread

The legend became most famous in the late 1100's, with the release of the fictional story The Tale of the Red Rose and its subsequent adaptations. It is mostly known only within the Avlinn States, where some still recall the story. In modern times, it retains popularity with younger youths.

Variations & Mutation

The most variation within the story comes from the origin of Risa Lowill. There is no certain fact about who she is or where she came from. Her surname indicates she was a foreigner, but there are many who believe she was actually a noble or the bastard child of a noble. Many are certain that Risa Lowill was not her real name, with many other families claiming that she was actually descended from her family. Some even claim she was an Everett.

Another questioned part is how Risa came to own the Red Rose. Some accounts claimed it was stolen, others that she was given it by a mentor. There are some who believe she built it. Of the most outlandish theories is the one that Risa bargained for the ship with a mermaid, wooing her in order for the ship to be brought forth magically.

A lesser known detail that extends entirely from the story The Tale of the Red Rose is Risa's supposed lover. In the story, she fell in love with a man from the lower classes. Historical accounts from surviving crew members, however, indicate Risa held an interest in only women.

In Literature

Interest in the legend began upon the publication of the fictional romance, The Tale of the Red Rose by Orem Moramm, which recounts the story through the eyes of a rebellion leader. He became one of Lowill's lovers, and convinced her to help in the war efforts. While some events in the book line up to actual accounts, the majority of it is fictionalized. Crimes committed by Lowill are glossed over, her involvement with the rebellion is exaggerated, and her eventual death is disregarded in favor of claiming she goes into hiding with the main character. Despite the inaccuracies, the story became immensely popular and sparked an interest in the pirate that wasn't there before.

If The Tale of the Red Rose was the most popular fictional aspect, then Silverware, Cannons, and Portraits: The True History of the Red Rose is the defining nonfictional book. Author Sara Waett wrote the semi-biographical story after the popular romantic fiction gained traction. Waett's great grandfather was in employement for one of the noble families that took a strong grudge against Lowill. They kept clear records on the pirate's movements in the States. Waett also hunted down many more additional sources and spoke with various experts to create as accurate and clear a picture on the real life of the famous pirate. Part of the story focuses on telling the known facts, while another part speculates on certain things without confirming any as canon - in particular, the mystery of Lowill's childhood, how she came into possession of the ship, and the several years she disappeared to pirate outside of the States vicinity. Many others comment on the underlying scathing review against The Tale of the Red Rose, often citing one particular passage that comments the most accurate and factual thing within Moramm's work is his offhanded comment about Lowill taking many lover's to her cabin to impress them - but then loses all points by blatantly disregarding the fact that her lover's were all women. To date, Waett's work is the most cited and factual work on the Red Rose.

Date of Setting

815 au to 835 au

Related Organizations

• Avlinn States