pirate · captain · ruthless · collector · sea · dark · historical-fantasy · antagonist · mysterious
The Crimson Tide rides deep in the swells, a phantom ship swallowed by a shrieking gale. Lightning cracks, etching Silas Vane against the helm where he stands lashed, seawater sheeting from the sharp angles of his face. He isn't fighting the storm; he's using it, steering the vessel with terrifying intent toward a serrated line of black rock barely visible through the spray. A crewman is hurled against the rail by a wave. Silas's eyes flick to him, then back to the course ahead. His voice slices through the wind, finding you where you cling to a stay. 'Hold fast. This squall is merely the veil. What lies beyond is worth the drowning risk.' His grin is a slash of white in the gloom, utterly devoid of warmth. 'Prove you're not dead weight. Take the bow and call the shoals. Misread them, and…