END OF AN ERA
The sun began to sink beneath the horizon turning both the sky and the tides the same glowing orange, Rook stood against the railings as his ship rode the choppy waves which began to turn on him. He could feel it in his bones, they were going to get more unruly as time went on. He had sailed from Limsa after putting all of his affairs in order; only taking what he would need to survive. What brought Rook far out into the sea was one more battle, perhaps his last battle, he was uncertain. He thought about his life and the events that had brought him to this point; his rise within the Maelstrom, the descent of Dalamud, and then gaining his chance at both vengeance and clear his name with the Black Crows. The Crows had not been showing much interest in Rook during most of his time walking Eorzea as a mercenary but knowing at any given time pirates were gunning for him had made him weary, though never enough to truly break his spirits. Though now he was given a chance to clear his name and even his debt, his betrayal and mutiny against the Crows could be washed away, if he did one last job. Though how this came to be, was fairly sudden; perhaps too sudden but Rook knew he was never the one to miss out on an opportunity when it showed itself, no matter how good it seemed. He remembered how it all started.Sitting alone at the Drowned Wench after the incident within the League's base of operation involving cultist that had been a thorn in the League's side. Rook was alone drinking something potent that even the aroma of the stench could topple over any lightweight. He was enjoying his moment of peace and silence, the festival took over the pirate's den and the rest of the city-states but he did not care much of fun times, he just wanted to savor a moment of solitude. He noticed a well dressed Roegadyn walk up to him and stop to pull the seat back and join him at his table, Rook stared intensely at him as he never recalled allowing this stranger to join him.
"You're a hard man to find Rook Silverfang," the strange spoke with rough voice, much rougher than Rook's. "Though... always figured you'd turn up here in Limsa."
"Comes with the occupation, a merc can't afford to be stationary, now what can I do you for? Need something killed? Someone owe you money... I hope it ain't me, cause that's a lovely suit ya' got, I'd hate to ruin it with my big ol' axe." Rook spoke with a grin as he raised his drink to his lips taking a large swig from it.
"Something along those lines. I have a proposition for you, as you know... the Black Crows aren't a fan of your's, you've made enemies in every dark alley from her to the Shroud and beyond. What if... I could say that there is a way where the slate can be clean. The past be the past, old troubles forgotten. You know betrayal and mutiny all cast aside. I know you are capable man, though with not only one pirate crew seeking your hide but most of them, perhaps that too can be wiped clean." The sharp dressed Roe smiled as he grab the bottle next to Rook's glass and refilled it for him. Rook took a hard look at the man with his one good eye and noticed something familiar about him.
"And how are you going to manage that? Huh?"
"Let's just say you, the Crows, and some of the other bands have a mutual enemy. Someone who has taken something important from you, a red giant of the sea."
Rook's drink slipped from his hand and fell to the table top splashing around while he froze in his place and froze took in what he had heard. Now it was rare for a Hellsguard Roegadyn to take to the sea, but Rook only knew of one that was just as much of an harden seasalt as him, though everyone called him the Red for he had no true name for himself much like Rook. He had sailed with Red numerous times and the red bastard was the one to punish Rook for his own betrayal to the Crows. Taking the life of his wife and daughter as Rook was bound and to force to watch. Rook wanted a happy life and one free from fighting and pirates, he decided to turn on the Crows to Limsa and then move to Ul'dah away from pirate. Yet it was not to be. Rook had chosen not to seek revenge, for he knew killing him would not bring back his family nor would it truly make him happy. Yes, he would feel good for the moment, but in the long run he would not find peace in vengeance, so he tried to leave his past behind him. He took up his axe and traveled east, becoming a full time mercenary. The drinking and fighting had allowed him to forget, to forget the pain, but seems the past always returns to haunt him.
"So one last job. You kill the bastard and you can walk away. Your troubles with us, over." The Roegadyn spoke calmly as he finished off the small amount that was left in the glass he had early poured into Rook's mug. Rook sat there and contemplated on what he should do.Â
"I'm in." Rook stood up and tossed a handful of coins on the table to pay for his drink as he stared at the well dressed man. The other Roegadyn grinned as he pushed his chair back and rose to his feet. The two walked out of the Drown Wench both walking out the door and rested against the railings on the walkway.
"The bastard has started his own little band, but he's been pissing off all of the wrong people. It was I, who decided to throw you this bone and allow you to walk away. And don't think too much about it, I'm a nobody other than being a man with deep pockets. You probably do not remember, but you've saved my life before. Let us say, I wish to repay you."
"Forgive me, if I do not buy your story, but if you want me to get my hands dirty just say so. I don't care what your reason is, a job is a job and if this one can erase my troubles then I got no choice in the matter. So, any leads on the bastard?"
"He has been laying low, but word is a ship is sailing in from the north will not only stop here but towards the Ferry Docks in Western Thanalan to pick up goods from Ul'dah. It will then return here to get some supplies for its voyage back north, we are certain he will attack it, for any of us would as well. You will be informed when your moment has arrived. As for now we must part." The sharp dressed Roe then walked off as the fireworks began to erupt in the night's sky. Rook thought for a moment that it all sound too good, but what the hell why not take the chance.
His thought turn towards the Maelstrom. He had risen through the ranks much like any other adventurer, pirate, or sellsword. Part of him was proud of his accomplishments, he was finally getting the recognition he deserved. Though hero was something that bugged him, for some reason it just did not sit well. He slowly began to see himself as another faceless link within the chain of the company, which prompted him into a drunken rant, causing an almost near riot within the Wench. He cursed the Admiral, cursed the company, cursed the city-state, cursed them all, cursed Eorzea, and then cursed the Twelve. He would later sit in the brig and be temporarily stripped of his rank. There in his isolation his mind turned back to his painful past. The family he had lost, the numerous times he tried to be an honest man, to the life he cherished and dreamed of, then to what he had become. A drunken has been mercenary, he had gone soft, he was weak. His time spent there was the worst hell that anyone could imagine, alone with his thoughts. He had tried to run from his past, to forget about the pain, but being alone the memories just continued to flood his mind. He thought maybe vengeance would make everything go away, to finally be at peace but he knew that it would not. Killing the bastard who took everything away, would not bring them back. They would still be gone. Though perhaps closure was the next best thing. Knowing that he did something instead of trying to hide and run from everything. This was his main driving factor in accepting the well dressed Roe's proposition, even if it unfolded into being a trap for him, he didn't give a damn. He would stop running, he would fight.
The waves began to grow violent as they continued to crash into the sides, splashing water onto the deck. The winds began to blow hard as the heavy rain began to fall. A storm was coming and Rook welcomed it. The waiting was the worst part, he had to wait till this ship to make it's delivery and pick up and then wait for it to shove off into the sea where it sailed northward. It had been a long time since Rook was out in open water, part of him was frighten but another part was thrilled. He remembered the last few times he was out at sea a giant beast had nearly sunk his ship, he wonder if Llymlaen was going to throw some surprise his way for all of his  curses and damning he had spout out at her and the gods. Rook headed below deck as the weather turned more violent, he questioned if the pirates would really attack given the suddenness of the change in the weather. Despite walking away from the Maelstrom, Rook continued to wear their colors. Wearing their issued gloves, hose, boots, and overcoat, all that was missing was their small hat; of course his silver tricorn rested upon his head. Finding a place for himself, he sank down to the floor and rested against a corner, drawing down his hat to get a few moments of shut eye. He knew if they would attack, he would be awaken by the ruckus.
Dreams of Dalamud crashing down to the ground, flinging broken off parts as they collided into whatever structure that were in their path. Destruction to all the land and then he was back on the ship. He heard screaming and shouting, he knew the time had come. Rising up from his seated position, he freed his axe and made his way above deck where he saw another ship sailing beside. He made his way to the center of the deck, he smirked as he swung the axe over his shoulder allowing it to rest behind his head as he allowed the pirates to swing across and board the ship. He peered to his left and then to his right, he noticed a few of the hired hands readying their weapons; muskets, swords, fists, axes, whatever they could get their hands on. He noticed the first pirate to swing across but a loud blast from a musket sent him down into the darker water, down into the abyss. Rook gave a booming laugh as he swung his axe around readying for more to make the jump to their ship. In no time two more pirates swung across but they fired their own guns at the hired hands, Rook charged forward and swung his massive axe down on top of new arrival, sending him to the floor a bloody mess. He beckoned the other to come at him, though he remained at range firing his musket at Rook. The bullets ripped through his coat or bounced off the edge of his axe, he charged forward and swung again, cleaving the gun arm of the pirate which fired off one more shot as it fell.
More arrived as Rook noticed those who decided to stand and fight retreat below, shouting at them calling them cowards, Rook continued to fight. Soon he found himself easily outnumbered and surrounded, he merely bared his teeth and swung wildly at them, like a wild beast. The ship violently rocked back and forth making standing still nearly impossible, this forced Rook to move continuously between his targets as he could not dig his feet into the ground and hold the line as it were. Blades swiped at him, as pirates lunged and strike at him at all side, some he could parry and dodge others he took the hit, he didn't care for flesh wounds as they would heal, he aimed to maim his foes to take them out of the fighter once and for all; yet it was the bullets and arrows that he was concerned with. He moved away from the mob that circled him and charged towards those who tried to take easy shots at him. An arrow pierced into his arm, snapping the wood he pushed forward knocking the archer into the water. He turned only to be greeted by a large axe, he raised his own but the force knocked him to the ground, he rolled to his side and pushed himself up with his good arm as his weakened one could barely hold on to the axe he carried. Rook bellowed out a warcry as he shouted for his target to show himself. As he parried another blow but sunk down to dodge the gun fire, he noticed a towering figure stand on the railing of the other ship. Rook reached for one of his throwing axes which he stored underneath the flap of his coat, he hurled the axe with his bad arm it missed completely but he got his point across, the large Hellsguard laughed as he took his time to get across.
"I've come for you, you bastard!" Rook shouted at the top of his lungs, his mouth was bloody from the skirmishes between himself and the pirates. "Face me like a man, and we can settle this Red! Don't hide behind these scrags!"
"Rook... Rook. Been a long time." The red Roegadyn wore your typically garb of a pirate, something light to allow mobility. His face was clean shaven, free of any scars or markings, his hair cut short to allow nothing to obscure his view. He gave a slight bow as a large grin overtook his face.
"Spare me any speeches will you, lets just fight." Rook interrupted him as he spat out blood towards Red.
Rook charged with his axe raised high above his head but the Hellsguard freed two muskets from his side and open fired. The bullets smashed through Rook's legs, dropping him to the ground. Surprised and doubled over in pain, Rook reached for his axe but it had slide far from his grasp.
"Fool..." Rook thought to himself as he tried to force himself to rise again, but his strength was lacking. "Charging in like a madman... idiot."
Red began to walk closer to Rook as he gloated, Rook rolled to his side away from him as he fished out another throwing axe, he rolled over to his other side and chucked it at the advancing Roegadyn, the axe nailed him in the shoulder forcing him to stumble back. Rook pushed himself up onto his feet and charged again, as he did he bent down and picked up his axe and rammed himself into Red, sending them both to the deck. Rook climbed on top of Red and began to savagely smash his fist into the face of his enemy, allowing all of his rage to find its outlet. Red managed to kick Rook off him, sending him onto his back on the deck. Reach out for his axe, he used it to prompt himself up though as he did Red charged into him, slamming him back down. Now it was Rook's face to be smashed and beaten, Rook merely laughed as his face endured the beating. As Red went to deliver anther blow, Rook raised his head and took a bite into the check of his foe. The red giant tumbled over. The ship continued to rock back and forth, though it suddenly began to shake violently as if it had collided into something. Knocking everyone to the deck, Rook forced himself back up using his axe again to prompt himself back to a vertical base. He motioned for Red to get up, though something out of the corner of his eye drew his attention, something massive crashed down onto the ship, cracking it with ease and allowing water to seep into it. Rook was frozen in his step as the ship violently shook. He heard shouts, calling out monster. Many of the pirate began to flee but he made sure that his target would not. As he rose his axe high into the air again wanting it to crash down onto his enemy, he noticed that Red had picked up one of his muskets and fired, the bullet tore through his left arm, forcing him to lower his axe. He had no more strength and with one arm he could not use his axe, taking a few steps he wobbled and teetered. Red slowly crawled back and pushed himself. Rook, knowing that his axe was no longer good for him, struggled to latch his axe back to its holster on his back but managed to as the red Roegadyn was back to his feet. Red pulled the trigger but all he could hear were clicks, Rook pushed forward with his hands wrapped around his enemy's throat, the ship rocked again as the two crashed once more to the deck. Rook tightened his grasp.
"This may not bring them back, but I shall avenge them!" Rook shouted as he continued to tighten his grasp. Though as he slowly watch the light in his adversary's eyes the sea beast smashed again into the ship, separating the two. Rook shouted and hollered but there was nothing he could do. He had no energy, he was losing blood, and as he attempted to rise again he simply could not. The ship began to take in water and there were no signs of any other bodies as they either remained below, trap mostly like, or abandon ship like the pirates. Rook's vision began to blur as his body shook, he wondered was this his end? Was it Llymlaen that was to finally get the best of Rook and end his miserable life? Rook laughed as he once again tried to force himself to stand but another jolt shook the ship as the beast continued its attack. Water began to rush over the deck, he saw Red's body drift away. He was unsure if he was dead or if his strength was taped like himself, he didn't care. The water crashed into him as he sank back to the deck allowing the water to engulf him.
"Damn it all..." Rook spat out some more blood as he lowered his hat allowing the water to consume him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There has been fleeting reports of a terrible sea beast attacking sailing vessels between Limsa Lominsa and the northern sea. One merchant ship said they saw what was left of a great wreckage, there was one report of a Sea Wolf laying on driftwood lost at sea. Though the reports were uncertain if the Roegadyn was alive or not, given the hard lives they live it is quite possible for one to survive almost any disaster.
