Raddox Murtangle
Breif History
Once upon a time, there was an old seafarer who went by the name Raddox Murtangle. He lived by himself on a raft he made from drift wood and vine. Early on he learned that the seas held powerful creatures that dictated the people trapped in Malton. These creatures passed the test of time and evolved greater than mankind. Humans have fallen in droves to these monsters, some men have even given their lives to these denizens for reasons that have remained a mystery for thousands of years. However, certain men within these walls have separated the truth out of the reams of tails and folklores. This story tells of how one of these men found out the truth, and the prices he will pay to know it.
Drinking Sea Water
I used to travel a common merchant route, waiting for opportunities to steal fresh food and liquor. I was living that way for 20 years and in that time heard many stories from the sailors about a massive beast that can destroy 50 cannon ships at one fell swoop. I did not pass these stories off as stretching of truths, in fact I tried to learn as much as I could before being spotted and chased off the ship. There were only a few times that the men caught me, imposing their law on me with beatings and lashes. There was one beating soo vicious that I would have rather been executed. It was this beating that I lost my will to live. They tossed me off their boat and sailed away. I remember drifting for hours, my body unwilling to keep my head above the water. The sea water began to enter my mouth, then my lungs. It was during this time that I saw her. A lady whose skin reflected the light from the sun, bouncing it in all directions. Her eyes looked like pearls and were complemented by her thin arching eyebrows. She gazed into my eyes as if she were judging my soul. I remember looking back at her and feeling ecstasy. She spoke without using words, her mouth never moved as she told me what she was going to do.
Her: "I am going to show you something, Raddox. It lay in the darkest reaches of the sea always watching, always waiting."
She took my hand into hers and I suddenly felt a desire to go with her. We gently soared downward. I looked at her in awe as she beamed with bright light, reflecting the olive green color of the deep sea as we went further down. I watched the particles and organisms wisp by us as we reached our destination. We came to rest on the edge of a shipwreck. I looked out and saw it. Resting on the ocean floor, its tentacles sprawling in all directions, was the Kraken. It lay motionless and undisturbed. There was no feeling of helplessness, pain or fear. The woman took my other hand spoke to me, again without speaking or moving her lips.
Her: "There is no seafarer who's life is worthless, Raddox. All life has meaning, has purpose. You know this to be true. Many men have passed over the top of this precious creature without respecting its power. Careless and spoiled, they travel on oceans they call theirs. Unknowingly to them, the Kraken grows restless. It will surface from time to time, with the speed of a whip, and the power of ten thousand armies."
I sat with my eyes trained on the Kraken, admiring its size. The glowing light created by the woman revealed a shocking sight. The hulls of dozens of ships lay scattered around the ocean floor. The Kraken had a giant mast in its clutch. The mast looked like it belonged to some sort of support ship, it had small crosses engraved in it. Among the debris were the skulls and bones of thousands of men. Some of the bodies had meat still clinging on, wile others were half buried in mud.
Her: "I can offer you a new life, Raddox. A life with purpose, meaning and responsibility. You can meet others like you, and make the seas safe for those who sail it."
me: "I accept."
A loud ringing filled my ears and the lights grew bright. I felt pain all over my body and tried to sit up.
Nurse "Be still, you will be okay."
I looked through the windows toward the deck of the ship and saw a long row of tents, in them were injured men, like myself. The deck was covered in blood and the screaming was non stop. The smell was so awful it almost made me vomit. I took a look around and stopped when I saw it. To my disbelief I saw a large mast with crosses freshly carved into its side. I looked around in shock for a couple minutes. I knew what was going to happen, and only I could stop it.
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