For this event I'll be using my WIP The Pirate Knight... yar!
Winter in Olen's Coast is a time of wild seas, tempests, and the cold! it's a time when most of the pirate crews either head to warmer seas, or dock their ships and hole up in port, waiting for the weather to break.
During this time, the festival of Longest Night (called by many of the sailors as Lyamne's Tide) is a time of hope, a turning towards more friendly seas, and is a time of gift giving between sweethearts...
When Nonie and Jakara were a couple, some five years before our story begins, they spent one Longest Night in each other's company. They had been an item for about five months, but most of that had been spend on their separate ships, and time together had been hot, heavy, and short. The winter tempests had finally given them time to themselves, and they were making the most of it.
They shared a small room on the second floor of Piper's Cove tavern, and seldom had left in the week since they had checked in. But for the Longest Night celebration, they decided to journey out to take in the lights and the revelry of the city. Neither of them were used to holding hands as they strolled through the cold winter's night, but it gave Nonie an unexpected rush. She had never really taken the time to observe Longest Night... a human celebration, one most elves let pass by unnoticed, but with Jakara, it all seemed so beautiful. The illumination of the windows, the stalls selling hearty and warming foods, and the crowds of merrymakers strolling along all seemed like something out of a story.
When they returned to their room, Jakara stood by the window looking out into the darkened streets of Stormbreak. Nonie paced behind her for a moment, and then joined her, one arm wrapped around her waist.
"I'm not used to doing this," she said quietly as she rummaged at a pouch on her belt. Jakara turned her way and smirked.
"Bet you don't say that very often," she teased.
"Shaddup..." Nonie raised herself onto her tiptoes to plant a kiss on those smirking lips before stepping back and holding out a poorly wrapped package. "Happy Longest Night." Jakara's eyebrows rose in surprise, but when she took the package her usually stern expression was replaced by a smile. The paper tore to reveal a thick silver torque, the ends fashioned like stylized waves. She turned it over in her hands for a while, feeling the heft of it, and then slipped it onto her left arm, the cold metal hugging her bicep.
"Nonie... I..."
"It suits you." Nonie ran her fingers over the torque. She knew she should make some quip, say something witty and charming, but as she looked up into Jakara's face all her words escaped her. Jakara reached out and cupped Nonie's cheek in her hand, and then leaned in close.
"Happy Longest Night, Nonie," she whispered, and then their lips met.
In the world of The Pirate Knight, there are several different magic systems, depending on the Folk or the group invoking the magic. Here are some of the systems that show up in The Pirate Knight!
Paladins - Paladins and other holy warriors can call upon their deity in the hopes of being given magical abilities. The more magic a paladin has, the more they have pleased the god they serve. These powers can range from being able to heal wounds, boosting physical prowess for battles, or any number of effects that would align with the god's domains. For example, Nonie's deity, Lyanme, is the god of the sea and the tempest. High level paladins of his could call down gale force winds or lightening, or increase their underwater abilities with his aid.
Goblins - The Goblin Folk do not possess magic of their own. They have learned how to harness the fae realm to cast spells for them. Learning the true name of one of the seelie or unseelie fae, the goblins can force them to do magic for them... but if their control of the fae wavers, their lives could be in danger.
Spellweavers - These are students of magic. They study either in one of the great academies, or apprentice themselves to older, more powerful spellcasters. They spend years dedicating themselves to the study of their craft. Though anyone can become a Spellweaver with enough will to attend their studies, there are those who are born with natural talent in the magical ways. These are usually the ones who become the stuff of legend.
Religion plays a fairly large role in The Pirate Knight. This is a world where the gods are very real. Paladins like Nonie can invoke power from their deities... others like the pirates and sailors of Olen's Coast devote themselves to particular gods in the hopes of gaining favor. So, let's take a look at a few of the higher powers that are present in this story.
Lyanme, God of the Sea, the King of Tides. Lyanme is Nonie's deity, and he chose her to become his holy knight. He is the lord of the waves and the Eye of the Tempest. Sailors offer him gifts of small pearls or coins before sailing in the hopes of turning his anger away from their ships. He is good though chaotic, depicted as a male sea elf. He occasionally appears to his followers as a water funnel or a blue dolphin.
The Storm Dancer, Lady of Lightening, Goddess of the Storm. The Storm Dancer is Jakara's chosen deity. She is a neutral god, a god of balance, and she rarely chooses a champion, as it takes a mortal of immense prowess to draw her attention. She is depicted as a human woman with lightening in her hair. She appears to her followers in the storm, speaking through the thunder and lightening.
Din, the Lord of Hunts, the Blood Drinker. Din's followers are mostly berzerkers and wildlings, people that live on the fringes of society or out in the wild lands. Also the goblins, gnolls, and other wild Folk consider themselves his descendents. He is depicted as a human man with a boar's head, or a very large and hairy human with eyes the color of spilled blood.
I don't have a winter themed excerpt for my pirate ladies, but I do have one that deals a bit with found family, since I missed the found family prompt a few days ago! Here is the adventuring group, being a little family group.
“Nice to be back,” the berzerker admitted, dropping heavily into one of the chairs. It’s been a crazy two months since I ran into you here.”
“This is where you found each other?” Yella asked, sitting next to Jakara. Jakara nodded.
“I walked into a huge brawl,” Jakara explained. “And who was in the middle of it but Minnow, here. Clocked her one as she hit me, and then it was just like old times. She even convinced me to travel with her on this crazy adventure of hers. Hadn’t seen her in, what do you think, Nonie? Couple of years?”
“Yeah, about that.” Nonie nodded. Our ships didn’t come into port at the same time very often. But when they did, we would always get drunk and stupid while we caught up. Speaking of…” Nonie stood and glanced around the table. “Drinks on me?” With a wink, she turned away and headed over to the bar where Garet and a willowy brunette were waiting.
