Chapter 3 -The Despair

The crew of the Judith Prosperous was wracked with grief. Their friend and commanding officer was slain before as they watched. Audra was especially distrought watching her husband die a horrible death before her eyes. She had spent the entire two months since the accident in her quarters, barely eating. There was no joy left in the crew. For two months the Judith Prosperous had drifted along without a destination, her crew unable to bring themselves to attack any villages that they passed. When Lurg died, he seemed to take the entire crew with him. Skully called the crew into the galley to discuss their situation and to fill the post that Lurg had left behind.

"I know we all miss Lurg," began Skully, "but is this how we want to honor him? Do ya think he would want us to drift around, moaning and crying about him? He wouldn't. He would want us to keep on living. We must continue to fight on. We have passed many a village by, but we did not stop to plunder. This cannot go on. I have decided that we need to meet up with our old friends aboard the Blood Galleon. We are sailing to meet Captain Barron von Black at first light. Now, there is the matter of new positions."

Skully's speech seemed to have stirred the crew. Heads that were sunken had risen up while he spoke. Tears that were streaming down cheeks had run dry. Shaking bodies now stood perfectly still. The crew was slowly beginning to come back to life.

"Yellow Condi Hackins, you are promoted to First Mate, I trust you will preform admirably."

"Thank you Captain."

"Jolly Roger, you are the new Second Mate."

"Aye Captain."

"Hackin' Eve Bones, you are the new head cannonsmith."

"YES! IN YOUR FACE!!" she said pointing at Finale the Periwinkle. "Sorry everyone," she said when she realized her outburst.

"Audra Bellamy. You are relieved of your duties until you believe that you are ready to fulfill them once again."

Audra was silent, she just nodded her head.

"Enough of this," said Skully One-Eye. "Let's drink. To Lurg the Fist. A great first mate and a better friend."

"To Lurg," shouted the crew.

For the rest of the night, the crew drank and told their favorite stories of Lurg, and for the first time in months, there was laughter aboard the Judith Prosperous.

The next day, the ship set sail for Black Star Island in search of the Blood Galleon. After four days, the Judith Prosperous arrived at Black Star Island and fired off a volley from her cannons. A few minutes later, the Blood Galleon appeared out of the storm that forever rages around the island. The blood from the ships magic paint marking a trail where the mighty vessel had been.

"Ahoy matey!" came a shout from the Blood Galleon.

Standing on the deck near the wheel was Captain Barron von Black. Next to him was Gale Arm his navigator and Kittie, his captiness, holding their child.

"What brings ye to me island?"

"There is much I have to discuss with you Barron," said Skully, "May I come aboard?"

"Yar always welcome on the Blood Galleon m' lad. Oy, FlayBlade, throw a rope over to the Judith Prosperous and allow Skully One-Eye to cross."

Skully crossed over to the Blood Galleon and he and Barron von Black descended below deck to the captain's quarters.

"Arr, tis horrible news to learn that Lurg has perished. He was a good lad. Fine swordsman too, I reckon he could have defeated FlayBlade in a duel. Have ye sent him to rest yet?"

"Nay, the crew was pretty distraught over the whole ordeal. I was hoping that you would conduct the ceremony."

"I would be honored matey."

"Thank you Barron. Do you think it would be possible to have our ships sail together for awhile? It would be great for my ships morale."

"Aye, I have no plans now, I don't see why not. It would be good to see some of my old mates that you stole away from me too. Har har har."

A few days later, Lurg was laid to rest in traditional pirate fashion, but since there was no body to cast into the sea, Barron von Black just gave a short speech and then the two pirate crews drank and told stories of Lurg, just as they had done earlier. Several days passed as the two crews drank to their friend, it was one of the grandest funerals in pirate history. Shortly after sunrise of the third day, the two ships sailed off in search of the village of Kalmorni, for the Barron had heard that the chieftain of the village knew of an island that housed a great treasure, and great treasure was just what the pirates needed to keep their spirits high. The only problem was that Kalmorni was over a three week sail from their current location.