CHARACTER: Declan OTHER NAMES: The Duelist AGE: CURRENT RESIDENCE: The Sea OCCUPATION: Pirate
Like many pirates, Declan did not set out to become one. Born to a moderately wealthy merchant family, he was destined to an education of trade routes, ledgers, and economic scholarship. To his parents chagrin, he cared not for such things. Like many privileged young men, he was enrolled in a fencing school. After all it's only proper for an aspiring merchant to be able to defend himself if he happens to accompany a trade caravan or ship to do business. He took to swordplay like a fish to water. Quickly he began to care for little else, and not satisfied with tutelage and structured sparing of the school sought out back alley fights and enrolling in duelling tournaments. He lived for the adrenaline rush of outwitting an armed opponent and placing the tip of his blade to their throat. One of his instructors described fencing as “chess at lightning speed” and Declan loved every moment of it.
His love, some would say addiction, to dueling got young declan into more trouble than he realised. A man in fine clothes with an ornate rapier was lounging in the city square, Declan rushing to a late appointment with an economy instructor shouldered his way past the man. Angered the wealthy man hurled an insult at Declan. To which he challenged the wealthy man to a duel. After a brief clash, Declan mistepped, dropping his guard. His opponent stepped in and slashed at Declan’s face. Suddenly half his vision was dark, and searing pain tore into his face. Blood covered his cheek and soaked the collar of his shirt. Almost instinctively declan channeled his anger and pain into the fight, knocked the other man’s rapier from his hand, and before he could get in a rational thought, pierced the man’s throat with a smooth thrust. His opponent fell choking on blood. “You fool!” someone in the crowd hissed, “that was the duke's son!”
As word got out of the ill fated duel in the square Declan knew that if he remained in the city, he would be hunted like a dog until the Duke had him hanged. Only stopping long enough to grab some gold, and bandage his eye the best he could, he ran to the docks, desperate for a way out. He signed with a merchant vessel, and left with the tide. In his desperation to flee he payed little mind to why a merchant ship would be short crewed just before their scheduled departure, or even took time to read the contract of his employment. Something he later berated himself about later, if learned anything from his merchant upbringing, always read a contract thoroughly…
Life aboard the ship was miserable, the owners of the vessel were cruel, and the pay was hardly enough for a man to survive once the voyage was over, forcing new crew members to stay on for the next voyage in hopes of better prospects back home. After weeks of intolerable conditions for a man used to a measure of privilege, he and the other cremates met in conspiracy. That night they stormed the officers quarters, and took the ship. Not being a seasoned sailor, declan was happy to let a more experienced seaman to take charge, upon arrival at their destination, Declan was able to use his education to sell their stolen cargo for a profit, quite pleased with the results, he decided to attach himself to a pirate crew as soon as he could, not only for the gold, but because he never felt more alive gambling with his life at the edge of a blade. He lives now for little else but the rush of his favorite game, this time with no rules to hold him back. Though it can be said he is often disappointed with some of the sailors and pirates he fights, too sloppy, too easy, he seeks experienced fighters to challenge him. Maybe the next mark will have a satisfying opponent.