Year 1513
Vindra Island stood majestically on the horizon—a bustling port city that seemed loud and... noisy. The smell of salted fish, smoke, and alcohol mixed in the air. The shouts of merchants, the laughter of pirates, and the clinking of bottles created a symphony typical of the New World. The port was a place where laws were more like rumors. In every corner of the city, opportunity and danger went hand in hand like drunken partners at a dance party.
The La Fortuna ship docked at Dock 7 with a soft "clak." The ropes were thrown, the anchor dropped, and Arthur, with a captain-like swagger, stood at the bow with his hands on his hips. "The sea, you're fun, but I need land and some fried food!" he shouted.
Bastien was the first to disembark, wearing a light jacket and a wide leather belt that held his tools and weapons in place. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, while Nara carefully descended, clutching her bag of spices.
At the end of the dock, a hard-faced harbor guard stared at them. She looked like someone who'd slept on a pile of salted fish for a week. The guard squinted at the empty sails of their ship. "Ship's name? Destination? Are you... pirates?" he asked suspiciously.
Arthur, without hesitation, stepped forward. "Our ship is La Fortuna! Destination: searching for the best fried rice in the world!" The guard snorted, unimpressed. "And... pirates?"
Bastien raised his hand. "No, ma'am. We're sailors. Explorers. Food lovers," he added sarcastically.
The guard narrowed her eyes even more, as if she could smell trouble from a distance. She pointed to their blank sail. "Why's the sail blank? Afraid your pirate flag will look ugly?"
Arthur, unashamed, replied, "We're still picking a design. Between crossed spoons... or fried chicken with stars."
Nara stifled a laugh behind her spice pouch. The guard merely shook her head slowly, as if regretting her life choices for meeting them. "You better not cause any trouble," she muttered while giving them permission to dock. "If you make trouble, I'll throw you into the rotten fish tank."
Arthur proudly patted his chest. "Don't worry, ma'am! I'm more afraid of starving than being eaten by fish!"
After some administrative drama and paying the docking fee (Arthur tried to pay with a big shell, only to be outright rejected), they finally set foot in the city. Vindra was a place where everything was sold: fish, weapons, information, even "love potions" that seemed like nothing more than seawater mixed with perfume.
"Don't split up," said Bastien. "Places like this can swallow you alive." "Yeah, especially your wallet," Arthur added while protecting his pants pockets.
They walked through the colorful dock market. A vendor tried to sell a live sea snake that supposedly cured acne. Arthur almost bought it before Nara hit him on the head with a spring onion.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the port, they heard the sound of metal banging. A woman with a masculine appearance. She was tall, with short black hair styled in a buzz cut, her body sturdy and her steps firm—at a distance, many would mistake her for a man. Wearing a worn shirt covered in oil stains, she was repairing the hull of a large ship that looked as tired as a retired vessel. She held a large hammer as though it were part of her body. While chewing on burnt fish bread, she hammered nails into wooden planks as if punching debt.
"Impressive," Bastien muttered. "She looks like she could kill someone with just a glare," Arthur whispered, both in awe... and a little scared.
The woman noticed they were staring. "Need a ship or want to sign up for organ donation?" "Uh... we're sailors," Bastien quickly replied. "And we heard you're an expert at repairing ships." "Juno, Juno Dew," she said. "23 years old, former bounty hunter. Now a shipwright because hunting humans had too much drama." "Need a navigator?" she asked after hearing Bastien wanted to sail a difficult route. "I can read maps, fix ships, and make coffee." "Can you fight pirates?" Arthur asked. "I've smashed pirate heads with a paddle. So yes." "Ever had tea while fixing a ship's engine and it exploded?" Nara asked, impressed. "Done it. Often, actually."
"Welcome to the crew, Juno," Bastien finally said, extending his hand. Juno grabbed Bastien's hand with a grip so strong it almost made his joints scream. "If you die at sea, I'll take over the ship, alright?" she said with a smile. They all laughed—except for Bastien, who didn't think it was a joke.
When they returned to the ship, Juno immediately checked every inch of the La Fortuna's hull, noting leaks, replacing bolts, and so on. Her ability to repair and modify ships was the best you could get in the West Blue—at least, according to her own claims. And that was the funny part: Juno was incredibly arrogant about her ship-repairing skills. She always insisted on doing it alone, not wanting anyone else to mess with "her work." She could get really angry if anyone tried to tighten a bolt without her permission.
The sky over Vindra began to turn golden, but the scent of a new adventure had already seeped into the air.
And unbeknownst to them, from behind the window of a shabby tavern, a pair of sharp eyes watched them closely. The owner smiled crookedly, wearing a tattered long coat with a flaming axe emblem on the back—a symbol not unfamiliar to anyone who'd dealt with hell on the open seas.
The trouble wasn't over. But this crew... hadn't shown their fangs fully yet.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello everyone!
I'm looking for ideas for Freebone's Jolly Roger design.
If you have any suggestions or ideas, I would be really happy to hear them!
Thank you so much!