Captain Rhys, better known as "Blackheart" in hushed whispers along the sky-sea’s most treacherous trade routes, is renowned for his ruthlessness and unchecked ambition, even amongst the many sky-pirate bands. He rules his infamous pirate gang, the Black Katz, with an iron fist and a cruel disregard for any law that doesn't serve his insatiable hunger for power and plunder.
Rhys’s path to infamy began amidst the unforgiving alleys of Aetheris' sprawling undercity. There he learned the harsh realities of survival at an early age, honing his skills as a thief, a brawler, and a manipulator, always searching for an advantage, a way to rise above the crushing poverty and social constraints that choked those born on the wrong side of the Empire’s gleaming walls.
He gravitated toward the docks, a chaotic symphony of human ambition and sky-sea ventures – legitimate merchants, black-market traders, desperate refugees, and a smattering of Imperial-aligned privateer gangs.
Rhys found opportunity within a fledgling privateer crew known as the "Iron Claws." He proved his ruthlessness during a bloody boarding action against a Sanctum merchant vessel carrying a shipment of yrddestones, earning the trust (and fear) of his captain and a reputation for unprovoked violence.
When the Iron Claw captain, a weathered old salt softened by years of plunder and rum, died during a raid on a heavily fortified Sanctum outpost, Rhys, without hesitation, seized control. He rallied the surviving crew, renaming them the Black Katz.
Under Rhys's command, the Black Katz became a scourge of the sky-sea - ambushing convoys, terrorizing coastal settlements, and ruthlessly pursuing any ship carrying treasures worthy of their attention, their black flag with its silver cat’s skull becoming a symbol of dread and whispers of misfortune. It didn't take long for him to cast of the Empire's yoke, turning his gang from 'legal' privateers to a true pirate band. A hefty bounty now stands for his capture or execution, and at any point in time there are at least a dozen Hunter's Guild parties attempting to track him down.
Hunter’s Guild: Bounty Notice
Subject: Captain Rhys, Alias: "Blackheart"
Leader of the Pirate Crew: The Black Katz
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Description:
Male, Cat Chimera, Early Forties
Tall and Muscular Build
Distinctive Scar Across Throat
Commands a Large, Heavily-Armed Airship - The Shadow Claw
Charges:
Multiple Counts of Piracy & Grand Theft
Assault and Battery
Murder of Imperial Officials
Disruption of Guild Trade Routes
Reward:
500,000 Imperial Crowns
25 High-Grade Yrddestones
10 Master Hunter Guild Marks
Warnings:
Rhys is considered Extremely Dangerous. He is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, adept with various weaponry, and rumored to possess several potent magical artifacts.
The Black Katz are a formidable force. Do not attempt to apprehend Rhys or his crew alone. Formation of hunting parties is highly encouraged.
Submit All Information & Evidence to:
Hunter’s Hall, Nivora
Any Authorized Hunter’s Guild Representative
No questions asked about the methods employed, as long as Rhys is no longer a blight upon these skies. However, we highly recommend avoiding unnecessary collateral damage.
May your blades be sharp, your aim true, and your engines fueled.
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