Nicholas "ScurbyDerb" Sage

Nicholas Sage grew up in a less than fortunate home life. Born to alcoholic parents that were simply absent when they were not drunk, he learned to fend for himself at a very early age. He might have gone on in isolation for the rest of his life were it not for the birth of his baby sister, Anne, some years later, a child he formed an instant and powerful bond with. Rededicating himself to protecting and caring for her, he singlehandedly pulled his family into a sense of, if not prosperity, at least security that they would survive. Anne grew up adoring him, and as soon as she was able, she joined him in working to care for the family, raising their collective fortunes by degrees even as their parents wasted away.

Anne was enamored of the sea, and Nicholas noted this, conspiring to surprise his beloved sister with passage on a vessel bound for the Americas. He succeeded in purchasing the tickets after saving his coin for months, and with a delighted shriek the siblings collected their few belongings and bid their parents farewell, the latter of whom could barely be bothered to acknowledge them anymore. They turned on their heel and did not look back as they headed to the docks and boarded the *Good Fortune*, a merchant schooner that offered to refund a portion of Nicholas’ fare if he and his sister would take turns at the sail and the bilge as needed. Marvelling at their change in luck, they set to their work with gusto, learning the needed skills with impressive speed and fervor. Life of freedom aboard a ship was everything Anne had ever dreamed it would be, and Nicholas was content in his sister’s joy.

After five weeks at sea, they were beloved among the crew and accepted as full-time shipmates, to their profuse delight and gratitude. Their high spirits were soon tempered, though, when they came upon floating driftwood and flotsam from a shipwreck, recently gone down through ill means as evidenced by the smell of smoke and gunpowder still in the air. Indeed, the victor of the battle was still near, and charged upon the *Fortune* firing shots across her bow, compelling her to drop anchor and suffer to be boarded by red-coated British sailors. The *HMS Dragon*, a mighty Naval frigate of the Crown, swung alongside and swarmed the schooner with its troops, demanding that they stand down and be inspected for contraband. Pirates were in these waters, the foppish commander sneered, and everyone not flying Britain’s colors was a suspect. Without warning, the soldiers began transporting the schooner’s cargo over to their own ship, and any who protested were immediately clapped in irons and led away to the same hold.

As they were thusly arresting the *Fortune*’s captain for voicing vehement protest, cannon fire suddenly exploded along the starboard side. Another vessel had joined the fray, this one flying a telltale black flag, and aiming its ordnance at the *HMS Dragon*. The redcoats scrambled to save their own ship, but it was too late; the *Dragon* was going down. The Royal commander, believing both ships to be in league with each other, ordered his men to execute Nicholas and his compatriots piecemeal. Many went down in the first volley, but the remainder ralled in rage, and Nicholas and Anne both drew swords and advanced side by side, cutting a furious path through the British sailors standing against them.

Valiant though their fight was, they were outnumbered, and Anne took a vicious sword wound to her side that dropped her to the deck. Nicholas battered about in a mad rage, his oath binding him beyond reason to keep any and all harm from his beloved sister. Bracing for a mortal sword-thrust from one sailor he was saved at the last minute by a glass bottle exploding against that soldier’s face and disorienting him. The pirates had boarded from the far side, and were now pressing the British from the port side as the *Fortune*’s crew pressed from the starboard. Despite this, many took wounds and fell, and Anne was among them. Never did a woman fight so valiantly as she that day, and she continued on as a blessed Valkyrie even through musket shots and blade wounds. But at last her strength failed her, and she fell, this time unable to shrug it off. Nicholas watched helplessly and went into a red fury, hacking down all who came near him as he tried to cut a path to Anne’s body. Before he could be sure of it, the British soldiers were all dead or dying, and he sank to his beloved sister’s side, and held her as her last lifeblood left her.

Closing her eyes and rising, he turned to face the pirates who had come to his aid. They were impressed by his prowess, and offered to let him join their ranks and fight the British, in order to avenge his poor sister. Once again, a focus and a target saved him from losing himself to grief and despair, and he immediately accepted a position on the Vixen’s Fury, under Captain Eye.

He adopted the name “ScurbyDerb” one day after mishearing one of the crew calling for a drink. It seemed as fitting a name as any other, and he let it wash over him as he manned his post with singular drive. He often recalls his sister’s final battle, and marvels at her courage and power all anew as he hacks through the sailors of any crown, for whom he has developed an intense and fiery hatred. His focus has propelled him steadily through the ranks, and he continues to be an impressive force unto his own when raiding for the Council.

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