"You look like you could use a drink, Captain."

You turn to see Victoria, your first mate. Her purple hair is tied back in a ponytail. It always seemed to be tied a little towards the left side of her head. The thought came up to question why, but you've learned from experience not to question a woman on her hairstyle.

"Way ahead of you, V," you say raising your cup from the bar top for emphasis.

"I'll have what he's having," she addresses towards the bartender.

"Got any news on The Sanguine?" you ask.

"Yeah, boss, and it's not good. Procter is working on the repairs now. He said we might need the hull replaced."

"I sure hope not," you reply.

"We've been through worse, Cap," Victoria replies.

You take another sip from your cup. The latest job smuggling cargo for an English merchant paid well, but the damage sustained fleeing from a Spanish Galleon could very well cost the entire payout, or worse, put you in the hole. The wizard on board the Galleon hit The Sanguine with more than a few nasty spells. If Victoria didn't fire back with a perfectly aimed fire bolt, the entire ship might be at the bottom of the Caribbean.

"I sent Freddy to find us some work," you say to Victoria. "Did he come back with anything?"

"Nothing yet," she replies. "Although knowing Freddy, he probably got distracted by the nearest gambling hole."

"He always comes through in the end, despite his tendencies," you reply.

"What's next for you, Cap?" Victoria asks.

You finish the cup and slam it back down on the bar top. Sunlight pours into the poorly lit building through several open windows creating rectangular beams of yellow. You're reminded of the Caribbean heat each time a wave of warm air floods in. Your crew had certainly seen better days. The last three ships you targeted weren't carrying anything substantial. Your most recent job would have been a huge payday if not for the Galleon's attack. At least you managed to escape alive and with most of your crew. Victoria's former life as naval mage certainly came in handy there.

"Cap?"

"Sorry, V. I must have zoned out for a second. My plan is to..."

You check on Procter

"...check on Procter. I need to see the extent of the damage we sustained."

"A wise choice, Captain."

You toss a few coins onto the bar top, pick up your tricorn hat, and take your leave. The bright sunlight assaults your eyes as you enter into the open. The tavern is one of many upon a windy sloped path. Various vendors with small shops line the cobbled pavement. You pass by a group of marching soldiers and tip your hat towards their stoic, blank expressions. Tension between Nassau and the English occupation was at an all-time high. The governor's hold over the city had been steadily declining for years. Criminal activity only escalated with the diminishing control. Still, the English possessed the best firepower and wizards in their employ. Witnessing arcane power in addition to modern weaponry, you didn't think there would be much of a rebellion without outside help. Steel and gunpowder was vastly overshadowed by the power of the elements.

As you continue on the road down the hill, your mind drifts to your crew. Besides the common sailor, gunpowder monkey, and cannoneer, you have three main members to rely on. Each have their flaws, although they're the best in the business as far as you're concerned.

You procter

Sometimes you weren't quite sure of Procter's sanity. Your quartermaster had an affinity for unconventional methodology. During one less-than-friendly encounter with a French brig, Procter had saved The Sanguine by impersonating the ship's captain, taking the helm, and shouting "arrête de poser tes bras!" The cannon barrage and fiery destruction from Victoria helped as well.

You had first met the sorcerer in Tortuga. The two of you shared a prison cell. He had been arrested selling watered-down ale to a group of French soldiers. Something about him had caught your eye, an obvious intelligence beneath the guise of quirkiness and social ineptitude. When Freddy broke you out, you took Procter along with you. His willingness to take the "smart" approach, despite the majority's disposition, is one of the many reasons you named him quartermaster.

You victoria

There was no one you trusted more than Victoria, not even Freddy, when it came to getting things done. Your first mate had grown up among the nobility in London and attended the most prestigious schools. Her affinity towards arcane magic landed her a position within the Royal Navy as a naval mage, which is where you first met. You both served upon the HMS Eternity occasionally butting heads when it came to advising the captain. The two of you were considered Captain Newburry's "right and left hands" and were the primary reason the ship survived as long as it did. You did find it frustrating that Newburry sided with Victoria more, probably since it's hard to disagree with feminine beauty. Ironically, The Eternity went down under fire from the Spanish fleet, but not before you rescued Victoria's unconscious body on a piece of floating debris.

The two of you had gone your separate ways and met later in Port Maje. Uncharacteristically, Victoria had threatened her superior officers after being placed under another incompetent captain. Things escalated, a building or two burned down, and she was dishonorably charged from the Royal Navy. Her expertise when it comes to naval warfare has saved The Sanguine countless times. Lately, she has been teaching you to master the arcane, which in combination with your roguish tricks has created quite the resourceful, and deadly, captain.