(This also includes my TADC OC...so- 030 )
Chapter I - June 9th, 1765
It was early summer morning, 1765, right before sunrise. There was a brig leaving soon, out to find a lost kingdom, told in a tale, that was sunken over ten decades ago. It was big news that the first few people who could find said treasure of a place, would receive fortunes of currency and trinkets. However, of course, most people found it foolish, saying such a thing could never exist, and it’s just a bedtime story told to children with similar interests. Then came eight determined folk, all who woke up prior to sunrise, all who sought the wealthy prize.
A girl, probably around in her late twenties, woke up, right before dawn. She got up as soon as she remembered about the upcoming adventure. Moments later, she went to wash her face and hands in the basin and pitcher, then cleaned her teeth with charcoal, shortly after, going to eat simple porridge. However, she must’ve made some noise, because her roommate, right before she left to the door, called out from their room. “Pomni, what are you doing making so much noise this early?!” they cried. Pomni sighed, her grip around the front door loosening a bit. “It's…nothing important. Don’t worry about it.” Pomni replied, finally opening the door, and stepping out, meeting the early morning breeze against her face.
Meanwhile, a young and cunning, yet rather stupid, man, was already wide awake. He already had on his doublet, waistcoat, a lantern just in case, and food packed. He waited outside of his Estate, waiting for public transportation to pass by. While waiting, he’d occasionally chuckle at a person or two as a result of their misfortune. One girl who passed by even tripped, and started crying. He’d just watch and laugh. “Give a greeting to the pavement for me next time, eh?” he mocked. Right after, a hackney coach had came near, and he called it over, grinning like an idiot. Once he got in the coachman asked him with a groan, “where to now, Jax?” as if he were a regular passenger. Jax sighed a very dramatic sigh, and put a hand on his chest in a fake fein of hurt. “Well I’m offended you asked!” he started, sarcastically, “Only to the dock where the brig leaving for Peloponnese shortly, is…so I have no time for chat, just go!” the coachman grumbled something under his breath about something dealing with family wealth, but Jax ignorantly shrugs it off.
After a while of walking, Pomni arrived at the dock with the brig, her eye meeting someone in particular among three distinct people. She didn’t know this certain person of course, but it would be nice to get to know the people you’d spend the next month or so with. The person was a taller woman, with bright red coils, an eyepatch over her right eye, and a nice blue gown. She looked down at Pomni, “Well, hello there!” She greeted her. Pomni waved awkwardly, “hello..?” Pomni didn’t know how to feel, it’d be her first time on a boat, let alone a ship. But prize was prize, and she secretly needed to get out of debt for loans she borrowed a few years back. After a long awkward moment of the two just looking at each other, the other woman continued. “Must be your first time, huh? I can tell. For my first, I was just as nervous. I’m Ragatha! How about you?” Ragatha smiled, warm and welcoming, easing Pomni’s worry just by a little. “I’m Pomni, it’s nice to meet—” before she could continue, she was cut off. There was a blur of a guy running to the dock from the pavement right after he got off of a carriage. “AY-AY! WAIT FOR ME, WILL YA?!” he exclaimed as he ran up the dock. Ragatha scoffed, “Jax…” she muttered under her breath, “Nothing is leaving, yet!” was followed after the previous statement. “Oh, good.” Jax replied as he stopped right next to the two girls. “So, are you going to introduce me to whoever this is, dollface~?” Jax said shortly after, wearing the same idiotic grin. Ragatha narrowed her eyes, “call me such blasphemy again, Jax, and I swe—” Pomni cut her off, clearing her throat awkwardly. “Can we not fight…please?” She glanced at both Ragatha and Jax, “and to answer your question, I’m Pomni.”
Right before Jax could make an insensitive and uncalled for joke, everyone’s attention was turned to a pair coming up the dock. One freezes at the sight of Jax, and the other just looks back at her. Jax raises an eyebrow, “what? You have an issue?” The girl looks at him for a moment, trying to confirm something for a moment, while the other one just stares at him. “Y-yes! Yes I do! You’re the one who laughed and mocked me earlier when I fell into the footpath!” She stammered. Jax’s grin suddenly grew wider. “Oh! You’re the crybaby that tripped on a crack earlier. Yeah, yeah, I remember you!” Jax snickered. The other person narrowed their eyes, “Just ignore him, he’s not worth your time, Gangle.” They said to the girl. Gangle glances at Jax for a moment, then looks back up at the person next to her, and nods. “Aw, that’s no fun~!” Jax frowned, leaning against Ragatha’s shoulder. Pomni glanced at Gangle, a small smile forming on her face, genuine. “Gangle, you said your name was?” Pomni started softly. Gangle looked up, slightly puzzled. “I’m Pomni, nice to meet you.” She continued, lending out her hand, offering a shake. Hesitantly, Gangle accepted the shake. “Nice to meet you too…” She mumbled.
Finally, one of the other two people that had been there the whole time, spoke. “Alright, fellas! Looks like that’s everyone! …surprised that the one usual isn’t here this time-” he said, before the other person right next to him suddenly blurted out, “Look there, Caine! Kinger, the usual!” He said with a super cheery and obnoxious voice. “Good grief..” Caine muttered. There, walking slowly up the dock, was a middle aged man, Kinger. “Did I hear something about an insect collection?” He asked. Blink…Blink…”No-?” Pomni muttered under her breath. There was an awkward moment of silence. “WHAT!?” Kinger finally responded, delayed.
Everyone was finally starting to board onto the brig, and Caine was preparing an announcement as the captain. “Ladies, gents, and crew alike—boarding commences now. Mind your footing on the plank, and stow your effects proper. The brig departs come the next bell. Any delays, and the tide shan’t favor us. Welcome aboard. Got any other words, Bubble?” He greeted, then asked the guy next to him. Bubble nodded, grinned, and added, “Watch your step, or you’ll feed the sharks ‘fore sunset!” Gangle winced at hearing this, Jax chuckled, the person near Gangle rolled their eyes, and Pomni awkwardly glanced around. Ragatha walked up to her. “You good there? I promise nothing bad will happen…and nobody is getting eaten by sharks!” She said in attempts to comfort Pomni. Pomni sighed, “Yeah, I guess so.” And then from afar Bubble adds another comment, "Nobody's getting eaten by sharks yet.” Ragatha gave Bubble an unamused look for half a second, before sighing and speaking again, “Don;t mind him, Pomni. That’s just Bubble, Captain Caine’s right hand man. He’s unhinged.” Bubble just smiled as Pomni took in the information, and nodded in understatement.
Caine cleared his throat, to get attention on him once more. “Right then—let’s count heads! Shout when you hear your name, and none of that funny business” He gave a subtle side eye to Jax. Jax gave a shrug along with, “No promises!” as a response. Caine groaned, “Alright then…Ragatha?” he read from his scroll, written in ink minutes prior when asking names. Caine looked up, and Ragatha had stepped forward. “Present!” She replied, stepping back into her place. Caine continued, one by one, “Gangle…Zooble..?”, but stopped at, “Pomni?” right before she could step up and reply, someone else was spotted sprinting up the dock. “Apologies for being so late!” She exclaimed as she boarded onto the brig. Caine raised an eyebrow at the woman from her abrupt entrance. “And who must you be?” He asked. “Primrose.”
