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Salt and Blood - Chapter 67
<< Chapter 66| Table of Contents| Chapter 68>>1.67 - Divine PortentsBe careful who you make friends with, because you never know how they’ll react if circumstances change. Sometimes, it’s the people closest to you who can hurt you the most.-Quoted from Murian Redclaw, Vice Captain of the Saltbeard PiratesYou have received a [Minor Blessing] from Sylack, God of Fish and Fishermen!Through your faith and your deeds, a member of the Pantheon has ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 66
<< Chapter 65| Table of Contents| Chapter 67>>1.66 - Hasty FarewellYou’re always at the most vulnerable right at the beginning of a journey. Physical, spiritual, or mental—it doesn’t matter. Taking the first steps is always harder than the final ones.-Excerpt from ‘Gospel of Raggath’ by Bishop Gormont, founder of the Wandering ClergyRose had never felt as relaxed as she did right now. Wearing a comfy bathrobe provided by the inn, she re...
Release Schedule
Now that the story is dropping off Rising Stars, I will be reducing the RoyalRoad release schedule to 4 chapters a week. Patreon will only drop to 6 chapters a week, meaning basically the same schedule but the number of chapters ahead will steadily increase! Which day would you prefer to have as a break (no chapter):
Salt and Blood - Chapter 65
<< Chapter 64| Table of Contents| Chapter 66>>1.65 - The Art of Going UnnoticedSometimes, hiding in plain sight is far more effective than doing your best to stay out of view. You’d be surprised how quickly the mind ignores a person dressed plainly in favour of the one skulking in the shadows.-Excerpt from ‘Stealth and Security’ by Sulan BlackshellBefore Rose realised what had happened, Trent vanished. For a moment she had no idea where he ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 64
<< Chapter 63| Table of Contents| Chapter 65>>1.64 - Bad DreamsI heard that eating cheese before you sleep gives you bad dreams. Eating cheese makes me happy, so I choose to sacrifice my sleep for joy. I’m a pirate. I face bad dreams when I’m awake, so what’s a little disturbed sleep?-Excerpt from ‘Silversea Saga’ by Norris HowellThe sandy stone of the city streets was set aflame by the sunset, mirroring the orange and violet sky. Here,...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 63
<< Chapter 62| Table of Contents| Chapter 64>>1.63 - A Minor ProblemThey say to let sleeping dogs lie, but why can’t they do the same with civil servants. Every blood hour of the night I get woken up for some irrelevant complaint. How am I supposed to fix people’s problems if I can’t get a moment of rest?-Quoted from Gregory Waxwood, Civil Governor of PallisThey made a quick stop at the inn, The Golden Cannon, to meet Nasar and drop some th...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 62
<< Chapter 61| Table of Contents| Chapter 63>>1.62 - Old Flames ReignitedHell hath no fury like a woman scorned-Excerpt from ‘The Mourning Bride’ by Bill KongThe edges of Yasmin’s eyes turned black as the tiny vessels in her sclera seemed to carry pure darkness through them. Two tendrils of black liquid emerged from her sleeves and coiled around her like snakes. Her eyes never left Trent’s, the pair engaged in a battle of wills.Despite th...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 61
<< Chapter 60| Table of Contents| Chapter 62>>1.61 - The Numbers, What do they Mean?Supposedly, there are unsolved formulas hidden away in Tidespire Keep that have driven scholars to madness. I reckon my neighbour Jim could solve a few. Plus, he’s already mad as a bat.-Excerpt from ‘A Mathematical Analysis of the Tide’ by Prince Jera of Tyropia“So, my tidestone is worth over a thousand gold!?” Rose exclaimed, counting on her fingers whi...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 60
<< Chapter 59| Table of Contents| Chapter 61>>1.60 - Clissolt QuaysThey say Clissolt has four quays and three keys. I’ve only seen two of the former and have no idea what the latter part of the saying is supposed to mean. But I was told this by a drunk old man in a dingy alleyway and everyone knows those are the blokes who offer the greatest wisdom.-Quoted from Karis Zellart, wandering merchant of ill reputeTrent winced. Rose felt a little bad ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 59
<< Chapter 58| Table of Contents| Chapter 60>>1.59 - Patience of the HunterIn a world where the oceans dominate, the occupations of the land are often forgotten. Us sailors can glean insightful wisdom from many of them. I myself spent some time with a band of hunters in Zoria, where I learnt the importance of patience when stalking one’s prey. Many called me a fool when I chased Icefinger into the Dread Fangs, but even a decade was a short time...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 58
<< Chapter 57| Table of Contents| Chapter 59>>1.58 - Calm Before the StormOne of the most intriguing mysteries of the ocean—to me, at least—is how intertwined blissful calm and raging fury are when it comes to storms. The ocean is never calmer than before the most violent storm; the eye of the storm is a sanctuary of utter stillness amidst the devastating rage of the wind and rain around it.-Excerpt from ‘Breath of the Sea’ by Hellemere F...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 57
<< Chapter 56| Table of Contents| Chapter 58>>1.57 - Trouble MagnetSome people have a storm of fate around them. Perhaps fate is the wrong word, it does an injustice to those characters to ascribe it all to the world and not their own ridiculous actions. Many fall under the weight of their own ambition, but those who emerge, emerge as legends.-Excerpt from ‘Making Myths’ by Caspar GaudillyNasar waved his arm and all of the snake fillets vanis...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 56
<< Chapter 55| Table of Contents| Chapter 57>>1.56 - Reel It InMost pirates kill their first sea monster as part of the crew. It’s rare that a rookie has the skills, patience, or strength to bring one down by themselves. Those rare few who’ve brought down titans in their first voyage go on to do great things. I took a different route. I turned the first sea monster I met into a pet. Krakens are ever so cute.-Excerpt from ‘Inkfist’s Bestia...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 55
<< Chapter 54| Table of Contents| Chapter 56>>1.55 - Blessed Fisherwoman of Fairwater BayWhispered in the darkest storms, rumoured in the halls of the Keep, and yearned for in the hearts of every sailor—divine blessings are as much a myth as the pantheon themselves. Yet, our belief keeps the fantasy alive. When do you draw the line between reality and imagination when the tide is involved?-Excerpt from ‘Philosophy of the Tide’ by Head Profe...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 54
<< Chapter 53| Table of Contents| Chapter 55>>1.54 - Big Game FishingTake care of your tools and they’ll never fail you. A poor workman blames his tools, forgetting to look at his own faults. I’ve had the same rod for half a century and she works even better than the day I bought her.-Quoted from Tullius KingfisherWater dripped onto the deck from her clothes. Rose wanted to change into a dry outfit, but there was no time. The serpent was bear...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 53
<< Chapter 52| Table of Contents| Chapter 54>>1.53 - A Burning Desire to HelpMany look down on vocational skills like fishing, cooking, and cleaning as the realm of menial labourers. Anything can be a weapon in the hands of a master, given enough time to hone their craft.-Excerpt from ‘Charting the Tide: A journeyman’s guide to skills and occupations’ by various contributorsRose started to curse her own folly. She had a nasty cramp in her r...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 52
<< Chapter 51| Table of Contents| Chapter 53>>1.52 - Converging FatesFifty kilos of sea serpent meat, thirty kilos of potatoes, twenty kilos of carrots, ten kilos of parsley, five kilos of devilscorch peppers-Recipe for Sea Serpent Stew from ‘Barry ‘Bottomless’ Bigjaw’s Pirate Cookbook’ by Barry ‘Bottomless’ BigjawRose’s tongue tingled. For a brief moment she lost sensation in her extremities as the first pulse hit her. There was ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 51
<< Chapter 50| Table of Contents| Chapter 52>>1.51 - Sea MonstersNothing makes a pirate adventure more than battling a sea monster. I still remember my first kraken. Oh, she was a beauty. We preserved one of the tentacles to decorate the ship.-Excerpt from ‘Unusual Tales from the Dark Seas’ by various contributorsWARNING!Convergence core has been harvested, breaching is imminent.Oh dear. A larger splash drowned everything out as she slammed i...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 50
<< Chapter 49| Table of Contents| Chapter 51>>1.50 - Taking FlightNever rouse a sleeping beast. If you have to, make sure your first cut is the only cut you need.-Excerpt from ‘Ten Laws of the Sea’, author unknownRose had hoped to dash past the salamanders while they recovered from the fallout of the latest explosion of steam. Unfortunately, even the best laid plans go awry.The devastating crack had opened a hole all the way to the surface of...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 49
<< Chapter 48| Table of Contents| Chapter 50>>1.49 - Bursting with AnticipationThere have been many quiet days at sea, spent lounging on the deck and staring up at the birds in the sky. Often I wondered what it would feel like to join them.-Quoted from Norris HowellCutting the salamander wouldn’t stop it from spewing another jet of flame. At that range she was certain Felix would die, or at least suffer life threatening injuries that she had no...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 48
<< Chapter 47| Table of Contents| Chapter 49>>1.48 - Heating up a NotchOne thing you’ll rapidly realise, if you set out to sea for adventure and glory, is that no matter how far-fetched your imagination, you will never be able to concoct anything quite as absurd as the ocean itself. Real life is often much stranger than our wildest fantasies.-Excerpt from ‘Unusual Tales from the Dark Seas’ by various contributorsFour more of the vicious sal...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 47
<< Chapter 46| Table of Contents| Chapter 48>>1.47 - Hungry for PowerLet me tell you a story about a frog. An unfortunate frog was tossed into a pot of boiling water. Sensing the temperature, it immediately leapt out and escaped. That same frog was then dropped into a pot of cool water, where it began to swim and frolic. That water was slowly brought to a boil; but the unfortunate frog never noticed until it was too late and he was another man’...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 46
<< Chapter 45| Table of Contents| Chapter 47>>1.46 - A Trial of TrustA fearsome foe is often better than a cowardly crewmate.-Excerpt from ‘Ten Laws of the Sea’, author unknownAs the lizard pounced at her, Felix rushed forward and swung the torch like a club. There was a meaty thud as the flaming stick smashed into the beast’s jaw and sent it tumbling into one of the rock pools with a splash.“Take that, damn vicious lizard,” cackled Fel...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 45
<< Chapter 44| Table of Contents| Chapter 46>>1.45 - An Opposing PerspectiveIt’s possible to escape a convergence without clearing it, but that seems rather wasteful to me. People sail for months on end, hoping to catch a glimpse and find their fortune—why would you want to run when one thrusts itself into your lap?-Quoted from Esperanza the SlickRose’s cry of pain had woken Felix. He’d been having a wonderful dream about grilled fish and...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 44
<< Chapter 43| Table of Contents| Chapter 45>>1.44 - Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceOne of my students once asked if it was possible for multiple convergences to form simultaneously. At the time I was a recently tenured lecturer. I had no answer for him, except the commonly accepted one—of course not. Having lived a lifetime since, much of it in the depths of my obsession, I would offer him an alternative answer—with the tide, anything is pos...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 43
<< Chapter 42| Table of Contents| Chapter 44>>1.43 - The Truth of the TideIt is of the utmost importance that a blade be wet in the proper manner. No matter the skill of the smith who forged it, a weapon that isn’t used for war will grow weak. Steel forged in the heat of battle will never break against that nurtured within four walls.-Excerpt from ‘Armoury of the Deep: An Introduction to Blades’ by Xen DiamondeyeThe journey from Eastfel Bay...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 42
<< Chapter 41| Table of Contents| Chapter 43>>1.42 - Every Crew Needs a NameHaving a forgettable name or a poorly drawn flag is the easiest way to become a laughing stock. Every pirate worth their salt can be recognised in an instant. Any sailor who sees their flag should be struck with terror; any admiral spotting their ship should feel his heart fill with fury.-Excerpt from ‘The Pirate’s Code’ by Castell SaltbeardRose struggled to come up...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 41
<< Chapter 40| Table of Contents| Chapter 42>>1.41 - Bitter ConclusionsThere’s something rather charming about being chased out of a place you’d learned to love. It seems scary, but the essence of piracy is freedom. Freedom to explore the wide world and all the magic it holds. When a town bands together to run you out, it means they cared enough to take action. I’d rather be infamous and remembered than obedient and forgotten.-Excerpt from ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 40
<< Chapter 39| Table of Contents| Chapter 41>>1.40 - IntertwinedI’ve lived for far too long and experienced a heart-aching number of farewells. I am still not sure if it hurts most when you get the chance to say goodbye, or if you leave a companion with a hint of hope in their heart. I imagine there are forlorn lovers and friends waiting for me in every corner of the seas.-Quoted from Casavian Whitter, The SoulstealerMr. Rubysoul had left Rose ...
Salt and Blood - Chapter 39
<< Chapter 38| Table of Contents| Chapter 40>>1.39 - SunsplitterNothing in this world captures my heart and soul more than gazing at the sun. Never directly, of course. That’s the beauty of the sea, though. She offers a reflection of that cold mistress, one that offers us sailors a glimpse into its true beauty.-Quoted from Villian Flamespear, The Demon AdmiralSimply gazing at them was enough to leave her stunned. The flickering flames of the fo...
