Josiah Starkweather

Josiah Starkweather was the pirate captain responsible for the deaths at Ardent Quay on 20th of Herald's Moon in 1046. He was killed on the same date by Nimbe Webb. This event marked the beginning of The Pirate War.

Starkweather is most well-known for killing the infamous former-pirate/former-Spymaster Darius Black in the Ardent Quay attack. There is much speculation over whether he knew who he was targeting, but little to no proof of his prior knowledge.

## **Biography**

Born 13th of Lover's Moon in 1019, Josiah started life in a brothel. His human mother could identify his father easily as she had only bedded one High Elf with his countenance. She gave him the House name of his noble father as a sort of unofficial surname: Starkweather.

While he was still young, his mother contracted an illness from one of her customers and was forced to retire. She was given an option - give up her son and be provided with an allowance, or be thrown out on the street with only her child and no wealth. She chose what was best for her, and Josiah would never forgive her for it. Not even of age, he was whored out to any patron who paid well enough. He only wept when hearing of his mother's death because he had not been the one to cause it.

At age 17, in 1036, Josiah was offered a position in a minor nobleman's house where he could live in luxury - provided he continue to allow his 'master' to use his 'services'. Preferring to be abused by one rather than many, Josiah agreed. This nobleman was a member of House Rosewood, named Maxim.

Shortly after, House Rosewood was discovered for their involvement in illegal arms dealing in the black markets. They had their properties and wealth seized by the crown and members in higher positions of power were executed, their lackeys imprisoned, and only a few escaped. In the confusion of this time, Josiah was given the opportunity to take revenge on his abuser - in a moment where Maxim was very close to being caught by the Crown, Josiah did their job for them and killed his abuser.

Jacques Rosewood, Maxim's cousin, gave Josiah an apprenticeship under his protection. Jacques had known of Maxim's 'ownership' of Josiah, but until the man's death was unable to do anything about it. Josiah was trained by Jacques who knew how to use black powder guns and was classically trained in fencing. Jacques even forged nobility documentation and lineage papers to sell the idea that Josiah was true nobility and censored any rumbling that he had ever been even fleeting thought of as a whore.

Under the authority of Jacques "Minuteman" Rosewood, Starkweather was given command of a vessel: *The Fallen Star*. With it, he was tasked with choosing a location to spread fear. He chose his home-port of Ardent Quay, specifically targeting the brothel where he was born and grew up. The place had been renovated into a seaside restaurant, but he blasted it to pieces regardless.

With that target eliminated, he began focusing on other shoreline targets - and merchant ships that were turning to defend themselves. He was alerted to the presence of a mage, rapidly moving across the waves and over the bows of ships by fantastical means. Rallying his men, he threw them at the mage in the hopes they would be enough - but the mage produced blades and cut through his men with the ferocity of a cornered wildcat. He joined the fray, but none of them were enough.

Neighboring vessels who pulled alongside to board while the mage massacred the pirates witnessed who they would later nickname 'The Ratel of Ardent Quay' as Nimbe Webb cut down Josiah Starkweather.