Lupin Maro III

[on the outside of an old, crusty envelope]







To whom this may concern…







This may concern you...









My name is Lupin Maro III, also known as "Bronzecoat Lupin", also also known as (but less likely to be referred to) "Prince Lupin Maro III" OR what I like to call myself "Prince Bronzecoat Lupin Maro III", and I am an alcoholic.

This is… strange. I've never taken a journal before. I've never even really looked back at my life before. It's quite dull, you see. That's right - you! She who holds this letter, giving immortal voice to these withering words. I stress the word "she" as no man should read this. Why? Because I've probably met you, and like the Morridane are to law… I probably don't like you.

So, here is your last chance to stop reading. So go on. Go back to your wife and your kid and your cat named whiskers (by the Gods, why would you name your cat whiskers? If I were still alive I'd hit you…)

[Blank pages]

Is he gone? Good. Now that we're alone….

Ah who am I kidding? I've lost my touch. Back in the day, when I was young, when I was spry! Back in those days, I could bed any woman I wanted and not because of any stature, but because I could do one thing that even the most powerful wizard, the brainiest scientist, and the most Godly of Gods can not do… Talk to women. And not just talk to them, but to gain their admiration! Their respect! Their unconditional love with the one condition that I not ruin their unconditional love!

Which I often did! But my point remains valid!

Yes yes, me and the ladies go way back way waaaay back to… Gods, but I would venture to say I was 16 when I had found my first, and dipped my disgusting, useless bug of virginity into the fine acid pool of intercourse. Ahh and what a night it was yes. Yes yes I remember it clearly now.

I had seen this lady around at Fathers parties before. She had beautiful olive skin. Very fair skin. Sometimes us Tordoran's get a bit "ashy" in the dry salty air. But she.. she had some magic about her. Her big beautiful amber eyes angled slightly as they pointed to the bridge of he cute, sloping nose. Her succulent, yet unobtrusive lips balanced her long face in a way that not only solved the riddle of the perfect woman, but also created a new riddle in it's place: who could be more beautiful than Marco's mother?

I do feel bad for the boy. Marco was only 14 when me and Corrine had… relations. How was I to help myself? I still hold my firm belief that if it weren't for the incestial nature of the thought, Marco would have fallen in love just as I had. I remember it quite vividly, actually.

She was speaking some nonsense about the economy with a few of my Father's banking friends. Their argument seemed dull, so I decided to make it more interesting. Father had turned his attention to Adri's compliment on his military vest, so I took the opportunity to make a move. I straightened my coat, fixed my tie, adjusted my hair, and with an arm behind my back like a good little boy, I made my approach.

The three of them were a bit taller than I, in fact Dougal seemed to be quite handsome on this particular night as Corrine could not take her eyes off the pretentious banker. I had been standing there for 20 seconds, and they still had yet to acknowledge me. I had to find an "in"…

"I mean the Thurian border all three Central Kingdoms, so the whole thing was a mistake anyways." Dougal said with his stupid grin. Corrine smiled her beautiful smile.

"The Plebeians of that region are so stubborn," she remarked, stirring her drink, "It's as if they believe themselves to be in need of any Tordoran supplies."

"Or that they're equals." He said back with a laugh.

Now.

"Imagine that," I sarcastically spoke, "Other people being as great as the great number-wizard, Dougal!" They all had their attention on me now.

"Master Lupin." Dougal recognized. I gave him a glance, and returned my gaze to my madam.

"M'lady, do you grow tired of this man?" I felt bad putting her on the spot, as she didn't look to happy about it. I could do this though. I knew I could. Hundreds of times had I talked my way out of trouble with the law, with my father, with bullies. Women are just another challenge.

"Why.. no, not at all."

"Is that so?" Dougal was looking a bit annoying, hiding his frustration behind grinding teeth, "because I for one can't stand another minute of him. Really now, Dougal, banking talk? To a lady?"

Dougal shifted his weight. "I'll have you know that it was she who initiated the conversation."

"Only to be nice, Dougal. When she introduced herself to you, you just stood there. You were quite awkward." she giggled. Good, good, "Come now, do you honestly think that her favorite topic? Perhaps if you could talk about something other than your work you would be more fun to be around my friend."

"You've got quite the mouth there, Master Lupin." he said, harshly this time, "Perhaps your Father should wash it out."

"So the two topics you bring to a lovely party such as this are 'banking' and 'child abuse'?" I turned to Corrine, "Mmm, quite the life of the gathering isn't he?" She finally let out a bit of a laugh, lowering her head to conceal her amusement. At this point, her attention was on me. Now I just had to wheel this thing home.

"Master Lupin, your petty insults do not bother me." He leaned in, "For you see I am a man. A very rich, and powerful man. And as far as I am concerned, you are just a plebeian who knows not how to respect his elders, or his superiors."

He leaned back and smirked his stupid smirk, thinking he had won. That is, until he looked at Corrine. As it turns out, his disrespectful comments about the King's son did not go over very well for the lady, and in turn had given me more legitimacy.

"How mature." I quietly said, taking Corrines hand. She didn't reject it. "M'lady, how would you feel about having a nice, fun discussion elsewhere?"

She smiled her big, beautiful smile. "That sound lovely, Master Lupin."

"Please, it's just Lupin."

We left Dougal there a washed up hack. In a matter of seconds I had shown this lady that age, stature, and looks to not determine the legitimacy of a person. We ended up in the study, where we made love for the first and only time. What a night.



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I always hated my Father's teachings. He had this preconceived notion that because I was his first born son, that I should have all the desire to lead a country as he has. He took it upon himself to teach me the way of Kings. The way I should present myself, how to maintain a strong economical flow between the government and the people, how to solve property owners issues, how to command an army, how to spread the legacy of Mero and of Tordoran across the land and blah blah blah.

I swear, it was in every session up in that study (yes, the very same) that I stared out the tower window. I could see the Rohannor River. I would watch the loggers and boaters move down the river, laughing and drinking together. The free spirited Thurians had a life that I wanted. I knew I wanted that life, a nomadic life. Not this fake, tongue in cheek excuse for an existence that my father led that he expected me to live as well. Jean, my youngest sister, didn't want this life either. It would be her lot in life to be sold to some man to establish a treaty in some foreign land. A bargaining chip. It was quite disgusting, really.

She was my only friend through those times. My only real friend. Sure, I had met many other young men around the age of 18, and of course bedded a fair amount of ladies,but the only constant in my life was her. My dear sister and friend Jean. She is only a year younger than me. I wonder where she is now…



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You know who I miss? Frederick. The Thurian servant with his fake accent and his poorly tucked outfit. If I had anything as close to a friend as Jean it was Frederick. He waited on me hand and foot, always aiming to please me. Of course it was an act you fool! Doesn't mean it wasn't nice.

Frederick used to help get Father off my back. He would calm my father down when he was throwing one of his fits, and would always… ALWAYS, be there for me. Back when I needed people. Hey, I was young once too: don't judge me, Beautiful.



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Father used Rufio as a means to make me look bad. He tried to make me guilty, or jealous or something. Rufio was only 14 when I was 18, and yet he was thrust into the same life I had been stuck in. Lucky for me, I was pushed aside at this point.

When Rufio came of age, Father decided to throw the poor boy on a stick and parade him around. Rufio Maro was to be the next King! Lupin? Lupin who? I don't know who you're talking about because the only prince I know is Prince Rufio Maro!

Idiot.

I don't blame Rufio. In fact I tried to help the boy. However the extra attention was too much to pass up for my brother, and he remained ensnared within my Fathers obsessive grip. You see, this is one of those great instances which I look back on from time to time… and just really enjoy. It was my first victory over my father.

Father let slip one time that he cared not what I did anymore, now that he had Rufio. It was a sad, sad moment. I wept. Oh yes, I wept for days on end knowing that my dominating Father would no longer be dictating my existence.

Oh wait, forget I just wrote that. What I meant to write was that instead of loathing this, I embraced it!

Taverns every night! Hanging around all day on the docks with the Thurians, going out to sea with them and fishing! Exploring the city, getting in fights! Running on rooftops! Oh the fun I had! And every detail of it ended up on my Father's doorstep. I was all in the tabloids.

Prince Gone Crazy?

King's Lack of Support Leads to Self-Destruction of Prince!

Sexy Former Prince Single!

Alright, so the last one was made up.

On one rare event when I was actually home, I heard a thunder storm roll in. A very violent thunder storm. Cows were thrown around, houses toppled, children killed and wives widowed! Then it just turned out to be my Father being angry with me.

He only struck me a few times, but the times he struck sure did sting. He really wasn't taking this well. The fact that I had absolutely no interest in his way of life drove him to what appeared to be the edge of sanity. To top it all off, I had ruined his reputation and the name Maro. I guess I didn't realize it mattered this much to him.

Or as much to him as it did my last night there.



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They say that a whisper is more likely to wake someone than a scream. There is truth in this.

I woke up, and there was a man and a dagger at my door. I fell out of bed, and scrambled to my feet as the man in black moved for me, attempting to stab me. I grabbed the arm of the man and twisted his wrist the way Father had taught me. A King's close quarters combat. I brought him to the ground, and hit him in the head as hard as I could. Funny story, I actually broke my hand with that punch.

The punch knocked the black hood loose, and the assassin was revealed.

Revealed to be King Lupin Maro II. Had it really come to this? Crazy man.

He grabbed my hair with his free hand, and thrashed my head around, then threw me at my end table. I stumbled a bit, but regained my composure, and out the window I went. My secret pathway that led to Jean's room.

On the outside of the 7th story of the palace, I shimmied across as I always did until I reached her room window. I knocked furiously until I saw movement. When she finally opened the window, I told her what had happened. She was shocked, but somehow well composed. I think we all suspected it would happen.

I was about to climb into her room when we saw the door burst open. It was daddy. As quickly as she could, Jean ripped off her locket and gave it to me. She forgot to give me the key. I could hear father screaming at her to stop me. He closed the locket in my hand and said "Find yourself!" I think. I honestly don't remember.

Then she pushed me. I fell seven stories into the hedges. I was lucky to have not been impaled by a fence or by, I dunno, missing the hedges? Apparently Jean hadn't thought it through very well.

Oh, right.

So she was left in there with him. I have no idea what happened to her. Once I regained my sense of self, and let out of the bushes and ran for the front gate, where I was met with Frederick. Before I could even consider him a threat, he opened the gate, yelling "Run, Master!".

Never got to say so, but thanks, Frederick.



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Captain Nolan Nalon. Now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time. I don't even hear it now, I'm just thinking about it. When I first met Nolan, I had been homeless for a few weeks, in hiding from my Father and his goonies. I was making a few coins here and there on the docks, cleaning boats or vomit outside the taverns.

When I had ran from my Father's insanity, I headed for the Rohannor River. I cast myself into the rapids as my fathers guards neared me. I had hoped they would assume I was dead. I drifted all the way down the river to Berck Harbor. That would be my home for a week. Or rather, the dumpster behind Irna's Bakery would be my home for a week.

I loved sweetroll night.

[Blank page]

One night while I try to sleep, I heard men and women speaking of the location of someone. I listened closer to the wall of the dumpster to easily decipher them as guards. My fathers guards. They had followed the river down to Berck, and they knew I would be in the city. Who knows how long they had been searching, but by the sound of one woman's frustrated voice - quite a while.

They moves right past the dumpster. A small bit of light from a torch shone through the cracks and holes in the old dumpster. I waited for them to round the corner before I decided relocation would be best. As I crawled from the dumpster, the blasted thing managed to make a loud enough noise for the guards to hear. I wouldn't say they sprung into action, but one of them looked back around the corner to see a disgusting former prince staring back at him.

I ran the other way, towards the Harbor. Hoped to do my "water trick" again and disappear for a few weeks. I hadn't realized my father wanted me dead so badly. Apparently the news was still spreading, and the only way to stop the great Maro name from being completely butchered, was to butcher one with the name.

I ran throughout the alleyway, luckily much more agile than the guards whose heavy armor encumbered them. Sharp turn to the left, right down a thinner alley. Jump to fire escape. Climb!

I put my climbing skills to the test, as I flew up the ladder, skipping every other step. Then there was a bang. Pardon the details but I thought I had soiled myself right there. I don't know where the bullet went, but I could hear the city spring to life. A few screams and a few cathartic yells.

When I made it to the roof, I could hear them close behind on the ladder. I ran towards the harbor. A small gap in between two buildings, no problem. What I wasn't expecting was of course what happened. As I ran to the gap, I was blindsided by someone I hadn't seen hiding behind a wooden structure on the roof. He clotheslines me, wrapped his arm around my head, and pulled me aside.

The man was large. Largest Thurian I had ever seen. Bald, with a big beard. Tattooed arms and a brutal scar across his disfigured nose. The man covered my mouth and spoke directly at me.

"If you want to stay alive, do exactly as I say, understood?" I nodded, and he took his hand off my mouth. He pointed towards the gap, "Don't jump over the gap, jump down it."

Terrified, I really didn't feel like that was the best plan. Being about two or three stories up (and having already used my first life from the 7 story fall) a fall like that could do some damage. Lethal damage. I looked back at him. He looked to be growing impatient. I could hear the guards behind me reach the top of the ladder.

"I'll be killed you idiot!" I exclaimed. No sense in being quiet now.

"No, you won't. Now JUMP!"

Looking over the edge, I took a big step off into the darkness of the alleyway below and began my plunge. I was an idiot. I didn't know this man. This man could have been a guard. He could have been a mercenary working for the guard. I was a wanted man!

So this was it. As I felt the wind swooping my hair above me, I plunged to my death…

…A whiteness enveloped me, though still diluted from the darkness. I could feel myself become wrapped up in it, and carried off to Urcaen. I wonder who would be there? Menoth? The Twins? I'd had lived a full life anyways. However, this process was noisy. I could hear so many stray souls around me, huffing and puffing as if working a rail-cart. At one point, I felt the hand of an angel touch mine. It was a bumpy ride, too! None too comfortable. I could feel myself slowly slipping into Unaen, then I could feel a hard wooden floor crack my back as I slammed hard into it. The whiteness pulled away - revealing the innards of a ship. A man an a woman leaned over me.

"You think he's alright?" The man asked.

"He made it all the was to Berck on his own. I think he can tough this out." The woman replied.

The man had a questioning look, before another guy walked in.

"Well look at that! The boy's fine." a man said out of my vision.

"How can you be so sure, Cronan?" The man said to this, Cronan.

He walked into my vision - his head only a little higher than the rest of my body. Morridane for sure.

"I guess I can't be so sure. You're right, he's dead. Throw him out!" He said with a smirk.

"Can you talk?" The woman asked.

"Yes. Yeah I'm fine. Where am I?"

"You're on Captain Nolan's ship, boy!" Cronan replied, "Welcome to the Lunar Moth!"

I sat up to find where I was. I was on a table in what appeared to be a dining quarters.

"You took a good fall back there. You got some spunk for sure!" The man said.

"I think he's got a little Morridane in him." Cronan remarked. I tried to wake myself up. I didn't want to look weak in front of these people. These pirates.

"The Lunar Moth, huh? Couldn't clean the place up for me at al, could you?"

"Not for a Prince such as yourself." It was the big man, the man who had told me to leap. He walked down the few steps that separated this area of the ship to the captains quarters (I would assume, the structure was very similar to a Tordoran ship), "Name's Captain Nolan. You can call me Nolan." He began introducing me to the crew that had gathered in the room, pointing at each as he spoke.

He pointed to the elf woman, "This is Faeth. Quickest draw in all of Immoren!" now moving onto the other man, "This is Casanova, but we just call him Nova. Sounds much cooler, don't you think?" then finally on to the last of them, "And this-"

"This, is Cronan Cronan at your service. But, you can call me Cronan." he cut off. His name was Cronan… Cronan? How silly. I stood up, and straightened myself.

"My name-"

"Is Lupin Maro III or, better yet, Prince Lupin Maro III. How do you do, your highness?" Cronan said with a bow. The others laughed. I felt a little out of place, admittedly, but I stood my ground.

"You seem to have done your homework. May I ask, how did you get to the top of the bookshelf at your stature, Morridane?" I shot back. They all stopped laughing for a moment, then all looked at Cronan. They looked as if expecting something awful to happen. His head slowly rose from his faux-bow, revealing a face that was holding back laughter. Before I knew it, the whole crew was laughing together.



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Finally a life of adventure! I had been on the Lunar Moth for about 4 months up to this point. It was unbelievable how great the life of a pirate could be. We spent days on the high seas, boarding ships, recruiting crews, gathering more ships, finding the greatest riches, stopping by the docks, drinking until sunrise, blowing our money on wenches and mead. Truly, truly some of the best days of my life!

I learned many a song from that crew.

Keelhaul that filthy lad - we will send him down to the depths be-low!
Make that bastard walk the plank - with a bottle of rum and a yo-ho-ho!

Keelhaul was a fun one. In one instance on the deck of the ship early in the morning, I was so drunk I ended up trying to walk the plank as they all looked on, laughing. Of course, not one step onto it did I lose my balance and tumbled right into the sea. Looking back on it, being as drunk as I was could have easily rendered me incapable of swimming, but when you are as drunk as I had been, nothing is too dangerous.

Despite the fun I had, the lessons I had been learning about combat and sailing, and the mead I wolfed down, I was still curious. Where did these people come from? Why did they capture me? Why did they save me? What was all of this?

I asked Nolan on a few occasions, but he always found a way off of the topic. When I asked the others, they seemed to do the same thing. However with those folks, they made it even more obvious that something wasn't right. They had the look upon them that they had the answer just as Nolan had, but they had sworn not to tell. They all had iron wills, too. No matter how drunk they got would they tell.

When I finally got it out of Nolan….



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I walked into his quarters as he closed the door behind me.

"Take a seat, Bud." he directed, motioning for the chair that sat in front of his desk. He opened up a cabinet, and pulled out a wine I had not seen before. Looked Khardic. After retrieving the wine, he moved to his big, old seat. Popping off the cork, he began.

"'Bout 4 months ago now, I saw a bounty. It was for you. The bounty office was filled that day. Do you have any idea what your bounty is? Anyways… I grabbed the flyer, and was on my way. As I left the building, I was pulled aside by a monk girl clad in brown robes. She asked what bounty I had grabbed. When I showed her, she simply nodded, and pulled out a coin purse. It had double the bounty in it."

He took a swig of the wine.

"She simply said that if I decided to instead save you, that she would give me the gold. I brought it up to the others, and they all agreed that more gold is more gold. So, Cronan came up with the plan to wrap you in a sail, and bring you back here. We told her the plan, and she obliged to wait by the docks. When we retrieved you, she gave us the gold."

Nolan was silent for a moment after he was done talking.

"Why couldn't you tell me?" I inquired.

"She asked us not to. She said it would be best to keep it a mystery for now, as it could put you in danger. Oh, I almost forgot, she gave us this."

My heart skipped a beat. It was the key to Jean's locket. The locket I still wore around my neck. I took it from Nolan without realizing it. With the locket in my hand I unlocked it. Inside bore a picture drawn by Jean. Her beautiful artistic skills shown through here. At first glance, the picture was mush, but if you held your head back and squinted your eyes, you could see herself and I. I couldn't believe it.

"That girl…" was all I could muster. I smiled.

"I take it you knew her, huh?"

"Yeah. Yeah you could say that." I laughed at her nerve, "That crazy girl!" I could only imaging how annoyed father was. All that money gone, and his bounty tarnished by the most unsuspecting of people!

Jean!



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The affairs of my fathers officials, along with the Tordoran army was starting to become a problem. After 5 years on this ship and I was still being perused. Apparently someone had spilled the beans that I was now a pirate, in hiding from my father somewhere in the Sea of a Thousand Souls. We were boarded a few times by the Navy even, in which case I had to hide under the floorboards on the bottom of the ship with literally a board of wood separating me from the Sea's cold depths.

I grew tired of this charade, and the crew was getting fed up with all the encounters as well. I could feel their frustration. They were tired of housing me, and tired of me in general. I couldn't blame them. Besides, at age 23, I was ready to go on my own. Perhaps face my father again and finish the old man off?

So the next time we were all eating, I stood up and addressed them all.

"If I could just say something to you all." They wouldn't shut up, "Hey! I'm talkin' here!" they all gave me their undivided attention.

"For the past 5 years, you have all looked out for me. You have taught me, you have helped me, and most of all you have saved me." I could see on a few's expressions that they new where I was going. "It has been unfair - the amount of help I require of all of you, and the danger I put you all through. Which is why I am resigning as a member of the crew."

Faeth leapt to her feet. "Like storm you are!" I was a little take aback.

"Faeth, it's alright. I've come to terms with being a burden. I've been a burden my whole life, the only difference is I like you people, and I don't want to be a burden if I don't have to be. Which I don't."

"Oh shut it would you?" Cronan said, going back to his food.

"We don't need to hear this selfish crap, son." Nolan said.

"Selfish? I'm- I'm doing this for all of you!"

"How weak to you think we are?" Nova asked. I had no answer.

"Son, if I didn't want you around any more it would have been made perfectly clear a long, long time ago." Nolan pointed out.

"Now sit down and eat your food!" Faeth yelled. They all sat down and continued eating. So, this is what pirates were like when they showed affection?



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There was a crash in the night. The sound of cannons and splintering wood. We were under attack.

We had all known this day would be coming. Over the next four years we had pro-actively attacked my fathers navy. We meddled with their plans, stole from their trade, and generally messed with everything they did at sea. We had known they were preparing for a large attack soon - it was all about when.

Well, it was that night.

We all jumped into action. Waking up as quickly as possible. Grabbing our weapons and anything we had for armor which for me was none. Manning the cannons. I met of with Nolan and Faeth. Neither one of us knew quite what we were up against until we got to the deck.

Seven ships.

Seven ships plus a monstrous storm. And we were getting hit bad. We also managed to notice Nova leaving on a life boat, heading towards one of the ships. Traitorous dog.

I have no need to go into the details of the battle. Our ship was getting pummeled, but never took on any water. They weren't aiming to sink us. But why? Then our mast got hit. The entire thing, falling into the Sea. We fired back with what ranged weapons and cannons we had, but we couldn't make a dent. When we were finally boarded, we took the fight to them. Using the techniques taught to me by Nolan, I managed to kill a few of the Navy men. Nolan, on the other hand, controlled the battle with his grace.

Until he got shot. I don't know if they aimed particularly for him, or if it was just a stray bullet, but it hit him right in the chest. He toppled over. I made my way to him. He couldn't breath, or talk. Blood poured from his mouth. I took his ammo, and he smiled to me. My only real father was dead.

We did our best still, to fight off the attackers. One by one I witnessed my friends be killed. I took Nolans Bronze Greatcoat - the one I always wanted, off his corpse, and retreated into the ship along with a few others. Faeth was already dead at this point. Cronan closed the door behind us.

"The battle is lost, abandon ship!" he yelled to the crew. We all ran for the stern, where there was a port from which we could bail in secrecy. As we ran with Cronan leading the pack, a well placed cannon ball crashed through the side, swiping Cronan right out of the way, and tossed a limb of his into the air. No time to stop.

When we reached the stern, myself and another woman pulled open the sealed trap door. It was just above the water. Occasionally water would splash in, as the storm had worsened. I managed to slip out into the water, and I just swam. Hopefully in the storms fury, I would not be recognized in the water. I swam. I didn't know where I was swimming, I just needed to get away from the ship. Only a few seconds after I had left the ship, it was boarded by another naval ship, no doubt to look for survivors.

The mast that had been shot off floated in the water nearby. I swam to it, and climbed on top. I think the bronze coat blended in with the wood in the storm. I laid there, trying not to fall off in the crazy waves, though this was not always possible. I just had to wait out the Navy.

After what felt like an eternity, the storm began to clear, and the ships left, one passing right by me. The storms calming gave me just enough tim to swim back to the Lunar Moth. I could see no survivors. I swam with what little energy I had left back to the boat. It took longer than you would expect to get back. Many waves seemed to keep me away forever. I thought for sure I'd drown.

And why not? What was keeping me alive? Why was I always a survivor? Why did I feel the need to consistently survive? What had I to live for?

I put it in the back of my mind and thought about Jean. I felt for her locket, but it had been lost. That's alright, I only needed memories to remember her by. She'd understand. When I got to the side of the ship, I quickly treaded water with my legs, and stabbed my sword into the side. Pulling myself up, I pulled out a knife and dug that in with my right hand. Sword by knife, I climbed to the top of the ship with only a few close calls. If I had fallen, it would have been over.

I rolled myself over the edge looking like a wet rat, slopping onto the deck. I could barely breathe, I was tired. So tired. I simply lay there for what only felt like a few minutes, but ended up being a few hours. I never slept. Just laid in a puddle of my own dignity.

With no wind or to speak of and the ship possibly sinking, what was the point?



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I washed up somewhere. The ship had amazingly not sunk. I found out to be in Port Vladovar in Khador. Apparently, it just happens to be home to the biggest Khadoric naval fleet in the world. They had seen my ship drift in, but knew it couldn't be a threat. if anything, they were just curious.

I had a meeting with the military advisor at Vladovar. I had to explain to him that this was not a threat, nor an act of war. That I was of no importance. After a few days there, I was told to leave, and go back to Ord. However my ship could not sail. I had to get it fixed, which of course required money, and lots of it. I went to a small port within Kulvorn Bay, where I worked like I had when I was young.

I'm not going to lie, the memories of my cremates never went away. I couldn't help but think about them. I watched them all die. Those who gave me a chance, who gave me purpose. I knew I had to live on in their name, if anything. I would be a fool to throw it away now.

I stand here alone on the bow of my ship - counting the hours 'til I die!
Abandoned to fate, with no chance of return - I raise up my fist to the sky!
I know that these days were the best of our lives - and nothing can take that away!
So when we are dead, we will all meet again - and fight 'til the end of our days!



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I spent a good 6 months in the Khardic Sea. I had recruited my own crew, and was doing a good job pirating there. I had a good crew, all very loyal and young. THey all had the same thirst for adventure as I always had. I enticed them to join through my cunning words. Easy, as all I had to do was appeal to myself.

Before I even knew it, I had been given the nickname "Bronzecoat Lupin". I actually forgot I had Nolan's coat. I had gained a good amount of infamy within Khador, but thanks to the war, their sights were not so much focused on the sea to the West as they were to the East.

Other pirates had taken heed to the Lunar Moth and it's crew. According to some tabloid we saw, I was ranked #7 in a list of Most Powerful Pirates in Western Immoren just above Stormhook Ghord and just below Blackhand. It felt kind of cool. At only 29 years of age, I had become a feared pirate. I guess this is when my ego exploded. It's not a bad thing! Just an observation.

The Lunar Moth had a few encounters with other pirates - the jealous ones, and the ones who wanted our beautiful ship. We never backed down, and only had a few casualties in total, at that time. Yesss we sailed all the way from Helvongen Bay down to The Wailing Sea, to the Gulf of Middlebank, to… the Sea of a Thousand Souls.

But we didn't stay there very long.

We made a good living this way. Adventure, excitement, killing, wenches, mead. All the ingredients to a fun life, full of fun people. I must say, I did grow a bit attached to this new crew.

[…]

I noticed something on the list. The number 1 most Powerful Pirate was Nova Turncoat…

Well, it turned out to be exactly who I thought it was. Casanova. So in my time since the death of all our friends, Nova had been making a name for himself as the most devious, backstabbing piece of garbage in the sea? He wanted to be the best, which is why he did what he did.

It wasn't over. I had found a brilliant flaw in his plan. He believed me to be dead. Unless he had read the tabloid, in his eyes I was killed almost a year ago. I would use this to my advantage. I would take the necessary steps, I would raise the finest crew, I would make the Lunar Moth as strong as it could be…

And I would kill Nova.



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Three months of intense training. More training in my life than I had ever done. I taught more than I ever thought I would. For the first time in my life I truly, truly wasn't having fun. I was angry. To think that that stupid piece of shit betray us… had everyone KILLED, and then have the nerve to assume we all died? No. I wouldn't stand for that. I never will.

I had to calm down. Nolan always said that the quickest way to lose something is to want it too much. Advice I needed to take. So I slowed down. I decided to research - decided to figure out where he would be. Why. When. Become a cerebral assassin instead of an adventurous pirate.

Through networks, paying spies, bribing guards and the like, I slowly gathered the pieces to what ended up being a huge puzzle. A syndicate of lies, all stemming from my Father; King Lupin Maro II. I was getting all kinds of information, but I couldn't get it all to make sense together.

Odd trade patterns, increased crime rate in certain areas, lack of reported crimes in others. It all finally came together. My father, the King of Ord had used his power to seize control of an entire crime syndicate. Nova wasn't a pirate, he was just a criminal. Part of a much larger project. Ord had remained one of the only lands to not be engulfed in one war or another - the war on pirating was all they had. Instead they had this.

Pirates, thieves, assassins - it was all part of a conspiracy created by my father. He was fueling the war. He had been stealing supplies from other nations, blockading trade routes and such, all for the purpose of fueling Ords economy - forcing the neighboring territories to trade more frequently with Ord. It also caused the other territories to spark more conflicts between each other, thus continuing the pattern of war, and bringing more money to Ord.

On top of that, he had been supplying and feeding the pirating, to keep the people of Ord or anyone else discovering his plan. They were all worried about pirating, not about conflicts outside our border -because they didn't know they we'e our conflicts. Give the pirates adequate space, equipment and freedom. Let them steal and pillage as much as they want. Ord gets what they want under a false banner.

And I was just another cog in the gears.

For the first time in my life… I was proud of my father.

A simply brilliant plan. Cold hearted, brutal, calculated. But it was about time all of that changed. Now I had the information I needed. After studying the patterns of Nova's pirating, I knew where to head. A small alcove on the outskirts of the Blue Sands of Ceryl. We would hide the Lunar Moth behind there. When they would pass to intercept the Cygnar trade caravan, we would spring into action.

And I would have his head!



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It was the big day. We set sail just before sunset. The winds were strong in our favor - bringing us good luck. We anchored behind the alcove, where we waited. My fine crew, all behind me every step of the way. I couldn't have been more proud of them. They had turned into fine, gnarly, disgusting dogs just like a true pirate. I guess I was never a TRUE pirate in that case.

Long after the sun set and a full Calder rose, we saw our target. Raise the anchor, the sails, and move port to starboard! It was time for revenge.  I never took my eyes off the target. They had yet to spot us. Good. We slowly bridged the gap between the ships. I felt a tugging on my coat. Finally I entertained the annoyance.

"What?!" I yelled.

"Captain, look!"

Gods…

Behind us sat 15- no 17 Ord ships. Practically the entire navy. Lova that son of a bitch. He outsmarted me again. This time, I wouldn't survive. I looked to my crew who were all expecting deaths embrace soon.

"Gentlemen, it has truly been a pleasure to work with you, laugh with you, live with you…" I trailed off.

"And die with you, captain!" Jonas proclaimed. The whole crew yelled a loud yell, as we saw the ships move into formation. All I could do was smile. That is, until adrenaline kicked in.

"Right! You're damn right you are going to die with me tonight! We all got here together. I gave you all the option to leave in the past, you knew the dangers of this life! Now if theres anyone who wants to run home crying, do so now!"

Nobody budged.

"Then get your asses on those cannons you dirt lickers, it's time to have the fight of our lives!"

They roared and moved into position. If I was gunna die, damnit I was taking Nova with me.

I stood up on the bow of the ship. I could see Nova doing the same. He had that smirk on his face. Yet he looked scared. I think he knew what I could do. Knew that I had escaped death so many times. I yelled out to him.

"Nova! This is the end! It ends here tonight, beneath Calders ominous glow, in an ocean who cares not for the dead! Whoever dies here tonight will not rest! Their soul, forever tortured as punishment due to his crimes! Do you hear me?!"

He was silent a moment.

"You've come along way from that weak piece of garbage I met ten years ago, Lupin! I'm proud of you!"

The ships drifted closer.

"That means a lot coming from a back stabbing piece of shit like you, Nova!"

"I suppose you want a motive then?!"

The ships drifted closer, to where we didn't have to yell, we just needed to be loud.

"A motive? No no, Nova, I don't need a motive! Don't you remember anything from Nolan's teachings?"

"I forgot everything that man said the moment I shot him in the chest! You must be an idiot to think his teachings were valid! Look at you! Look at me!"

"All I can see from here is a big nobody, Nova."

"Is that so? A nobody who tops the list of most powerful pirates? I am the most powerful man in Meredius! I am a hero to the poor!"

Was that it? He thought he was some stupid martyr or something? A complete fool was Nova.

"You don't know what your talking about, Nova."

"Don't I? Times have changed, Lupin. If you keep listening to what that old idiot said all those years ago, you'll be dead in a heartbeat."

"Honor never dies Nova, but fools do!" I fired at him with my musket pistol. Dumb move but the anger finally came out of me. Hey we can't all be spot on all the time, can we? He ducked and jumped back down onto the boat. All my men started firing, and ll of their men started firing. No hits yet, but cannonballs flew.

We narrowed the gap some more. I hid behind the lip on the edge of the ship, reloading my gun. This was the moment. We crept closer and closer to the ship. I could almost feel Nova only a few hundred feet away. I looked to the crew. A few men had done as I had, preparing to board the ship, while others continued firing. Some were unseen by me as they were manning the lower cannons. We took a hit from a cannon. Nothing the Lunar Moth couldn't take. I peeked over the edge. We were just about in position.

"On my signal!" I yelled. They nodded. Three, two, one.

Jean.

"GO!"

We got up and leapt over the lip, drawing our swords and knives as I had shown them. We dug them into the wood of their ship. Just as I had thought. The ship was poorly maintained. The blades went deep enough in to hold us. We climbed through the nearest window. The people hadn't expected us! Ha! Slaughterd the fools easy. Now we had to figure how to get to the deck.

The ship was much bigger than ours, of a foreign design. I picked the large door to my right to find the cannoneers. We crept in and managed to slit a throat or two before the others noticed. Lost one guy. I was fine. Where was Nova?

Checked another door. Captains quarters. Nobody inside, but there was a window open that led to a deck. I readied my gun, and leaned out the window. I could see him climbing up the ship on a ladder to the far left of the deck. I followed after.

When I reached the top of the deck, I was hit hard in the face. I fought back without hesitation. Fists flew. He attempted to throw me over the edge, I stopped him. My gun had fallen from my hand. We fought back and forth while the battle raged on. When new had a moment to breathe, we exchanged a few pleasantries.

"So this is how our fates were decided the moment we met each other, aye Nova?"

"My fate is in my hands, Lupin!"

We both shielded ourselves from a stray cannonball hitting near us.

"Not any more!"

We drew our swords. A duel that last far too long ensued, me trying to reach my gun. If I could just get my hands on it…

It wasn't so, however, as I was bested. My wrist was slit as I screamed in agony. Damn it hurt. I was on the ground with his sword to my face. He spoke, still tired.

"Now, Lupin, we end this!" and as he drew back his sword, I remember the promise I made. To live in the honor of my friends; of my sister. I was giving up, and that was just as much a traitorous thing to do as what Nova had done. In a flash, I saw a weakness. He had bad footing. It was as if I had a whole minute to evaluate the situation. I stomped into his knee. It knocked him right off balance.

He swung a few times, but gave me enough time to reach the pistol, to which I prepared to aim right at his ugly face. Before I could, I felt a sharp pain in my back. It was a burning, followed my muscle spasms.

Gods, I had been shot.

I tumbled off the edge to the deck below near his quarters. Son of a bitch, he was going to get away! I couldn't die there! I pulled myself to my feet, but I could feel a lot of blood being lost. I looked to the Lunar Moth. Smart fellows had move the ship on the other side of Nova's ship, putting it in-between them and the Tordoran fleet. They were smart alright.

I had two options, go up again with a shot back (literally) and die, or leave again, in hopes that I don't get blown up on my way back, or keelhauled by one of the ships.

I decided to make my own option. We had cleared out the ship before, so the ammunitions deck was empty. I stumbled towards it. Might as well go out with a bang. When I made it to the room, I knew what had to be done, it was simple really. Light her up.

In a brilliant explosion, the whole center of the ship was gone, along with me. The force behind the explosion stopped the battle in its tracks. It had flown me to the other edge of the ship. I think. I thought.

When I came to, I found myself on some driftwood, some ways aways from the battle. I had completely destroyed the ship. Ha! The dog was dead. The battle was coming to an end as a Tordoran ship boarded the Lunar Moth., no doubt killing all my brothers and sisters.

And as I lay on the driftwood I could only think about all the people I had used to get my revenge… and how I'd do it again in an instant. I felt an amount of closure, ending this chapter of my life. Ending the book of my life as I waited for deaths embrace.

Passing to my left was a Tordoran ship. And aboard it was Nova. Perfectly fine.

What?

He looked at me with his smile. A different smile.

Wait a second. THAT is Nova. Not that other guy I fought. What the hell…

"Damn, you've killed my double!" he yelled to me with a smirk. No. Damnit, no.

"You should have taught your little school kids there how to hold a sword. it was a little sad to be honest."

I tried to yell, but I had no strength. How they hell did he get so cunning? Unbelievable.

And there I lay for who knows how long. The clear skies clouded up, masking Calder's glow. It began to cry. No, I had fought him. This had to be a trick of some sort. How could he have known all I was saying? Was I so stupid? There was more to this than I knew.

But why worry about that now. The Lunar Moth was on fire, only diluted by the rain. In fact, the rain came down so hard, I could see the flames struggling. They roared and fought, dancing in the sky in an attempt to defeat their demons. All in vein, as the flames slowly burned out.

And myself with them.


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I couldn't tell you what happened to me after that. I remember none of it. I simply remember waking on a shore. Who knows how long I had lay there. I was covered in seaweed and crabs. I crawled up the beach. My back. I felt my back to find the wound. How had I not been killed? I found the bullet… lodged in the armor of the coat.

Unbelievable.

Nolan always said the place to fear the most is your back.

That crazy son of a bitch. His paranoia had just saved me. I pulled the bullet out. Wherever the bullet came from, it was far enough away that it didn't go all the way through. That shooting pain was all bruise. Perhaps broken rib. Either way, it was not my time for Urcaen yet. So be it.

I stumbled to my feet. So I may not be the perfect pirate. I may not be the most cunning man, the most decorated war hero, or the most intelligent man in the world. But you know what I am? One good looking guy. I would be damned if I was just going to lay there and die. Clearly the Gods have purpose for me.

I vow now to find this purpose. To get revenge when I have grown enough. I swear this on the lives of the fallen, on Nolan's life.

On Jean's life.

This is only the beginning of Captain Prince Bronzecoat Lupin Maro III