Eyes of The Storm

To be a pirate is a symptom of an ostracized existence. Those who resort to plundering the goods of Atlus’ eleven wealthy nations are often fighting a system of oppression, be it racially, religiously, ideologically, nationally, or sexually created. Few souls will resort to piracy without being hated for some reason by society at large. The crew of the Storm’s Bane exemplify this sad reality without fail. Yet there is hope found within the creaking boards of this cursed ship. An ancient secret potent enough to change the entire world, to tip the scales of society itself, is on the horizon. The treasure of the dead Pirate King lays sealed in an unknown tomb somewhere in the seas beyond. The Storm’s Bane has been collecting fragments of his map across the continent in a race to find this glory first so they may obtain the King’s right to rule over the pirate capital of Jerrystown.

Each crew mate seeks the treasure to change the world in their own ways. Which path will the winds take this ship and, in turn, the course of the world itself?

## Captains of the Storm's Bane

Augustus Crake

Concord

Eos

Zimbata Navalla

## The Storms Bane

This brigantine ship is about 70 feet across with four decks, three cannon windows per side, and a harpooning gun to pull enemy ships closer. It has a hearty hull that's able to carry 2000 tonnes. A 12 man crew is needed to bare minimum run the ship but it will smoothly sail with a crew of 24 to 52 sailors. The Storm's Bane sails 50 miles per day under fair weather and gets a +/-10 mile distance depending on good winds or bad storms.

#### History of the Ship

*Main articles: Tormenta, the Storm*

The Storm's Bane is an old ship that's seen much of pirate history in its time. It has shifted through the hands of several captains over the years. Whoever first made the ship is unknown but it's possible the demi-G-d Jackan Nortel, whose domain was that of ship sailing, crafted the Storm's Bane. Jackan was a cocky, selfish young godling that one day challenged the seas themselves and declared its power nothing against his own. In response the G-ddess of storms, Tormenta, alongside her Four Winds, accepted this challenge. The five Divine beings fought against Jackan with all their might but his ship stayed afloat. Tormenta's hubris clashed with Jackan's confidence and she was unwilling to admit defeat to a half mortal creature. In one final effort to destroy Jackan's ship, Tormenta struck with all her power at the Storm's Bane. However, Jackan had expected this. He trapped the G-ddess in his ship to damn her in an inescapable prison. Tormenta is bound to the ship and cannot contact her Winds, though she is able to use her omnipotence to see the oceans as if she were still able to roam them.

Sometime later the Storm's Bane was used by the crew of the Pirate King himself to hunt down Lockheart, who is the son of Jackan Nortel. The ship is linked to Lockheart because of this- intertwined and forever at odds. It's unknown if Lockheart realizes Tormenta is in his fathers old ship or not. The ship also was owned by a goblin captain for twenty three years. It is now in the possession of the party.

#### The Curse

Tormenta's imprisonment isn't simply passive. Her powers are still active and have been directed to harm those who break the three 'rules' of the Storm's Bane. These rules are as follows: Four people must co-own the ship as a representation of her four winds. The ship cannot be renamed in anyway. Cursing the ship ("Damn Her" or "Damn the fifth", for example) will invoke her wrath. Crew members have been harmed for breaking any of these rules, ranging from being tripped by a sudden gust of wind to dying from a lightening bolt. The curse can only be lifted once Tormenta is freed. The G-ddess herself states that "Freedom from this binding means I require the aid of another deity. Only the power of a divine can destroy the chains that bind me here, for they were forged by one". At the very least Tormenta and the ship have different bodies, and one being harmed doesn't physically harm the other. The ship does reflect her emotions however. This was seen when Lockheart stepped foot upon the Storm's Bane and it shook under him in rage. Zimbata Navalla, being an Aasimar of Tormenta, is spiritually linked to her and the ship, and acutely feels Tormenta's emotions whenever they are expressed by the ship.