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The Hippocampus
The Story
A swashbuckling tale of mystery, adventure, treasure, and adversity, our story begins with Jay, a young woman who was once a thief and now sails the seas aboard the mystical ship The Hippocampus. At first glance, it looks like every other ship: a gleaming three-masted carrack made out of some kind of goldish-orange wood, and a flying pennant of a complementary shade of sea green. However, it holds a secret: it's one of five ships built that are able to do something very spectacular. It hops worlds, universes, realities, even dimensions, and spends every night under different stars.
However, life on the ship can't stay peachy forever. Soon they find themselves pursued by the dread pirate Drake Cetus' ship, The Kraken. Will they run or fight? Win or lose? Guess you'll have to find out...
The Setting
She's a gorgeous ship, a perfect ship, and, according to her captain, the world's most agile and swift boat to ever have sailed the seas. She's the home of nearly two hundred crewmen of all shapes, sizes, colors, and homeworlds - from giant spiders to aliens to a couple mundane old humans, every creature fathomable and those that have yet to be imagined are on board. Her mission is one of exploration, noble intentions, and pursuit of knowledge: she strives to seek new worlds, help them, and learn everything she can.
There were five ships made that are like her, called Hoppers: The Hippocampus, The Kraken, The Leviathan, The Scylla, and The Siren. Now, only three remain, since The Scylla was destroyed while exploring and The Leviathan fell to The Kraken.
Oh, yes, The Kraken. I should probably tell you about her.
She's a ship every bit as beautiful as The Hippocampus (don't tell Cap'n Lionheart I said that!) but, instead of made out of Kyrnis wood, is made of the Ebonheart Tree. It's the one ship with a different intention than the rest. She's a pirate ship under the command of Captain Goldeneye - aka Drake Cetus, the biggest, baddest, meanest King of the Sea. He's out for power and he's willing to do anything to get it: including killing every last one of the hyadavii, a race of gryphon-like creatures that are protectors of the sea and wardens of coastal towns, and found on many worlds in many universes. They're considered sacred and where The Hippocampus wishes to preserve, he wants to destroy.
The Characters
Jay
Role: MC
Spoiler
Physical Description
5’ 4”, long, black hair, and piercing blue eyes. She’s lithe like a cat and is quite panache: she wears a bright, floppy red ribbon to tie her hair back in a braid, a colorful tunic, and a brilliant iridescent green panache in the leather sailor’s hat. Her boots are knee-high and always shining.
Her bird is constantly with her: a Black-throated Magpie Jay she calls “Mags.” (See enspoilered image below).
Personality
Optimistic, happy-go-lucky, loyal, independent, adventurous, daredevil. She loves danger and risk and excitement. She’s also a little lonely. But, hey, look on the bright side: she’s not tied down!
Background
Jay was an orphan and never knew her parents, or where they came from, or anything, really. All she knows is that one day Themba found her on the streets as a babe. She took her in and brought her to the Thieves’ Guild where she found the closest thing she would ever have to family. Themba was a mother to her, and Felicia was a mentor. Skip was her brother and Ol’ Meke always made sure to keep her fed.
She could never shake the feeling that it wasn’t the right place for her, however. Though she enjoyed the company of her family and she loved her home she had a wanderlust that she simply couldn’t forget. So, when she was fourteen, she struck out on her own with her cat (Magpie) and never came back.
She wandered all across the world, from pale gold deserts to emerald mountains and cool, dripping subterranean caves. Then, a very peculiar thing happened: she was running from some guards when she ran into Ardeshir Ellonhav, and after that her life was never the same. He was so genuine and kind. When she met Aryessa and stepped foot on The Hippocampus there was no turning back. Ever since she’s been on board. She was seventeen then, and the story takes place four years later.
5’ 4”, long, black hair, and piercing blue eyes. She’s lithe like a cat and is quite panache: she wears a bright, floppy red ribbon to tie her hair back in a braid, a colorful tunic, and a brilliant iridescent green panache in the leather sailor’s hat. Her boots are knee-high and always shining.
Her bird is constantly with her: a Black-throated Magpie Jay she calls “Mags.” (See enspoilered image below).
Personality
Optimistic, happy-go-lucky, loyal, independent, adventurous, daredevil. She loves danger and risk and excitement. She’s also a little lonely. But, hey, look on the bright side: she’s not tied down!
Background
Jay was an orphan and never knew her parents, or where they came from, or anything, really. All she knows is that one day Themba found her on the streets as a babe. She took her in and brought her to the Thieves’ Guild where she found the closest thing she would ever have to family. Themba was a mother to her, and Felicia was a mentor. Skip was her brother and Ol’ Meke always made sure to keep her fed.
She could never shake the feeling that it wasn’t the right place for her, however. Though she enjoyed the company of her family and she loved her home she had a wanderlust that she simply couldn’t forget. So, when she was fourteen, she struck out on her own with her cat (Magpie) and never came back.
She wandered all across the world, from pale gold deserts to emerald mountains and cool, dripping subterranean caves. Then, a very peculiar thing happened: she was running from some guards when she ran into Ardeshir Ellonhav, and after that her life was never the same. He was so genuine and kind. When she met Aryessa and stepped foot on The Hippocampus there was no turning back. Ever since she’s been on board. She was seventeen then, and the story takes place four years later.
Spoiler
Ardeshir Ellonhav
Role: Part of the main crew
Spoiler
Physical Description
A towering 7’ Ari resembles a lion in his size and muscular-yet-not-bulky build. His eyes are dark brown and his skin a shade of deep gold (he’s an islander) and marked with many scars. His hair is black and cropped short. He’s quite intimidating.
He wears a worn brown doublet over a traditional white shirt with the sleeves rolled up (or none, depending on the place). His pants are the same worn brown as his doublet and his feet and calves are covered by long leather boots, if he’s wearing shoes at all. He may carry a great sword on his back - like most of his attire and equipment, it’s worn from years of use, but well taken-care of despite its evident age.
He has a large tattoo covering most of his back, side, and shoulder of a raft of sea lions chasing fish in the sea through a forest of kelp.
Personality
Contrary to what many people think on first glance, Ardeshir is quite friendly and well-meaning. He’s a bit of a klutz and he is a bit quick to fight, but his laugh is joyous and smile warm. What he lacks in experience and technique he makes up for in brute force and skill.
Background
Ardeshir is the son of a fisherman and his wife, a seamstress. He was never very high-up in life but was valued in his community for his great strength. He was quite the family man and absolutely adored his elder brother, Caspian, who had five years on him. He always tried to make himself useful no matter where he was and spent his days fishing, repairing/building boats, and doing heavy lifting for his neighbors. In his free time all he would do is swim with the sea lions. It's what gave him his name - "ari" meaning "lion", and "shir", meaning "sea".
A towering 7’ Ari resembles a lion in his size and muscular-yet-not-bulky build. His eyes are dark brown and his skin a shade of deep gold (he’s an islander) and marked with many scars. His hair is black and cropped short. He’s quite intimidating.
He wears a worn brown doublet over a traditional white shirt with the sleeves rolled up (or none, depending on the place). His pants are the same worn brown as his doublet and his feet and calves are covered by long leather boots, if he’s wearing shoes at all. He may carry a great sword on his back - like most of his attire and equipment, it’s worn from years of use, but well taken-care of despite its evident age.
He has a large tattoo covering most of his back, side, and shoulder of a raft of sea lions chasing fish in the sea through a forest of kelp.
Personality
Contrary to what many people think on first glance, Ardeshir is quite friendly and well-meaning. He’s a bit of a klutz and he is a bit quick to fight, but his laugh is joyous and smile warm. What he lacks in experience and technique he makes up for in brute force and skill.
Background
Ardeshir is the son of a fisherman and his wife, a seamstress. He was never very high-up in life but was valued in his community for his great strength. He was quite the family man and absolutely adored his elder brother, Caspian, who had five years on him. He always tried to make himself useful no matter where he was and spent his days fishing, repairing/building boats, and doing heavy lifting for his neighbors. In his free time all he would do is swim with the sea lions. It's what gave him his name - "ari" meaning "lion", and "shir", meaning "sea".
Aryessa "Lionheart" Hanzel
Role: The Captain of The Hippocampus
Spoiler
Physical Description
Aryessa is about 5’ 4”, with a tall, lithe build, reminiscent of an ungulate. She has very long honey-blonde hair that goes down to her thighs. She’s quite pretty, with tan skin and defined muscles. However, she doesn’t go out of her way to exaggerate her looks: instead, she wears the same clothes as all the other sailors, a simple brown tunic over off-white sleeves and knee-high boots. A rapier swings at her hip.
Personality
Compassionate, kind, noble. She’s loyal and pure of heart. She’s kind of like the mother of the ship, making sure everyone has what they need and can get along. She’s willing to give everything up to do the right thing or for someone else. Though Aryessa has seen some terrible things she realizes that everyone has their reasons and has compassion for every single one of them — and she’ll try to give them all a second chance, if she can. Her philosophy is that people are treated with kindness, perhaps they’ll remember they kindness they, too, have.
Background
She was born and raised in a small pod of hippocampi off the coast of the Mquel Isles in Kyrn. The pod highly valued two things: first, loyalty, and, secondly, obedience. But they, like dolphins, were full of character and playfulness. She was also born with a very peculiar gift: she could change her color, and, to an extent, her shape.
Like most people, she went through a stage in her youth where she was adventurous and rebellious — however, unlike some, it never went away, and she was constantly straying from the pod to go and investigate and learn. On one such adventure she encountered Captain Quervar Bellskylls, or, as he introduced himself, Captain Lionheart. She was enchanted with his ship (also charmed that it was named after her own species) and she began following it around. Eventually he took notice of her and let her come on board to help. At first, this was a challenge due to her shape, but he showed her a few tricks and after many grueling hours on the coast of her home she managed to take on full equine form and was able to join him.
He stayed for a few weeks, due to the ship needing repairs, and she was constantly leaping on ever opportunity to help. After watching her for long enough he deemed her capable and allowed her to stay on as part of the crew. Her pod objected but she already had her mind made up.
Time went on and eventually she became first mate and was able to take on a human form. She learned to fight and to heal and never lost her love. Captain Bellskylls taught her the ways of the sea and the ship.
Then, one day, they were sailing the seas of Xyphl and there was a battle with pirates, in which Captain Bellskylls fell and left Aryessa as the captain. She took the responsibility well but still doubts herself, and wishes he was there.
Aryessa is about 5’ 4”, with a tall, lithe build, reminiscent of an ungulate. She has very long honey-blonde hair that goes down to her thighs. She’s quite pretty, with tan skin and defined muscles. However, she doesn’t go out of her way to exaggerate her looks: instead, she wears the same clothes as all the other sailors, a simple brown tunic over off-white sleeves and knee-high boots. A rapier swings at her hip.
Personality
Compassionate, kind, noble. She’s loyal and pure of heart. She’s kind of like the mother of the ship, making sure everyone has what they need and can get along. She’s willing to give everything up to do the right thing or for someone else. Though Aryessa has seen some terrible things she realizes that everyone has their reasons and has compassion for every single one of them — and she’ll try to give them all a second chance, if she can. Her philosophy is that people are treated with kindness, perhaps they’ll remember they kindness they, too, have.
Background
She was born and raised in a small pod of hippocampi off the coast of the Mquel Isles in Kyrn. The pod highly valued two things: first, loyalty, and, secondly, obedience. But they, like dolphins, were full of character and playfulness. She was also born with a very peculiar gift: she could change her color, and, to an extent, her shape.
Like most people, she went through a stage in her youth where she was adventurous and rebellious — however, unlike some, it never went away, and she was constantly straying from the pod to go and investigate and learn. On one such adventure she encountered Captain Quervar Bellskylls, or, as he introduced himself, Captain Lionheart. She was enchanted with his ship (also charmed that it was named after her own species) and she began following it around. Eventually he took notice of her and let her come on board to help. At first, this was a challenge due to her shape, but he showed her a few tricks and after many grueling hours on the coast of her home she managed to take on full equine form and was able to join him.
He stayed for a few weeks, due to the ship needing repairs, and she was constantly leaping on ever opportunity to help. After watching her for long enough he deemed her capable and allowed her to stay on as part of the crew. Her pod objected but she already had her mind made up.
Time went on and eventually she became first mate and was able to take on a human form. She learned to fight and to heal and never lost her love. Captain Bellskylls taught her the ways of the sea and the ship.
Then, one day, they were sailing the seas of Xyphl and there was a battle with pirates, in which Captain Bellskylls fell and left Aryessa as the captain. She took the responsibility well but still doubts herself, and wishes he was there.
Drake Cetus
Role: The Antagonist
Spoiler
Physical Description
He’s a large man (dwarfed next to Ari, however) with a bushy beard, one eye, and a hook for his left hand. Several of his teeth are missing and he wears a typical pirate captain’s attire, including the hat and the eyepatch.
He has a capuchin monkey as a pet that he always keeps with him.
Personality
Power-hungry, greedy, brazen, self-involved.
He’s a large man (dwarfed next to Ari, however) with a bushy beard, one eye, and a hook for his left hand. Several of his teeth are missing and he wears a typical pirate captain’s attire, including the hat and the eyepatch.
He has a capuchin monkey as a pet that he always keeps with him.
Personality
Power-hungry, greedy, brazen, self-involved.
The Novel
Table of Contents:
