The Albatross
Description
A swift and sturdy brig, the Albatross is a two-masted ship built for speed and endurance. Painted deep navy with streaks of silver along her hull, she sports cream-white sails marked by the silhouette of a great seabird in flight. The ship’s figurehead is a carved wooden albatross with outstretched wings, said to carry a protective enchantment against storms. She’s well-armed with a modest battery of swivel mounted Thunder Guns, but relies more on clever navigation and crew coordination than brute force.
The Albatross is often seen flitting between the Mercian Isles and the great ports of Shontari and Lindus, carrying cargo whose origin is both legal and… at times less so. She’s known for outrunning pirates and slipping through blockade lines, her crew tightly-knit and fiercely loyal.
Captain Aderyn "Stormbill" Virelle
- Race: Mercian Human
- Appearance: Weatherworn skin, raven-black hair pulled into a long braid, and piercing sea-gray eyes. Wears a battered tricorn with a blue feather and a stormcloak woven with whale-leather trim.
- Personality: Calculated and steady, Aderyn speaks rarely but commands immediate respect. She reads the sea like scripture and prefers clever strategy over brute force.
- Motivation: To build an independent network of free ports and safe havens across the western seas—where no crown holds sway and no sailor fears tyranny.
Navigator: Tirrip Swiftwake
- Race: Highlander Halfling
- Appearance: Short and lean, with a tangle of ginger curls, sea-glass goggles, and fingers perpetually ink-stained from charts.
- Personality: Frenetic and brilliant, Tirrip talks fast, laughs faster, and forgets to sleep when a mystery current or strange star grabs their attention.
- Motivation: To chart every uncharted isle and secret current between the continents, and maybe discover a few new ones along the way.
First Mate: Braga Ironwake
- Race: Roma Dwarf
- Appearance: Broad-shouldered with salt-crusted beard rings, copper-tinted goggles, and a prosthetic left hand.
- Personality: Gruff but deeply loyal, Braga runs the crew like a well-oiled machine and has zero tolerance for laziness.
- Motivation: To regain a semblance of purpose and honor after being unfairly dismissed from the Imperial Navy after a personal scandal.
Other Crew Members
- Wixley “Wix” Thornbrush (Deckhand, Highlander Halfling): Quick-footed and clever, Wix is an expert climber who treats the rigging like a playground. Known for pickpocketing dangerous or high statured individuals for "fun" and profit.
- Sola Nembari (Cook, Mercian): Former tavern chef turned sea-cook, Sola’s meals are legendary—even during storm season—and she doubles as ship's morale officer with stories and shanties.
- Pintail (Lookout, Otterkin): This sharp-eyed, nimble otterkin spots sails miles out and loves nothing more than diving from the crow’s nest into open sea for fun. Wears a spyglass necklace and keeps weather notes in a waterproof journal.
- Merrick Flint (Quartermaster, Roma Dwarf): Stern and calculating, Merrick keeps the books and the hold with equal ferocity. Nothing gets misplaced under his watch—except rum, which somehow always finds his mug.
- Snapjaw (Bosun, Tortle): Towering and scarred, Greela keeps discipline with a booming voice and a barked laugh. Despite her intimidating presence, she sings lullabies to the ship’s goats.
- Finnel (Cabin Boy, Highlander Halfling): New to the sea but eager to learn, Finnel idolizes Tirrip and dreams of becoming a full navigator. Constantly underfoot but too earnest to be annoyed at.
