AWC Round 45 Winners!
I got some awesome AWC entries during this round of the competition! I was so pleased to see how users interpreted our theme, and it's with great pleasure that I present our next winners!
Poetry
1st Place
Kneat5
Sailing the sea with the world in their hands
Making others give in to swashbuckling demands
Salty and scurvy, those hoodlums, those crooks
With their patches and peglegs and parrots and hooks
Oh, they're coarse and they're rude and they're fierce and they're tough
Like a wild pack of Kynn only just twice as rough
They'll get what they want, via fighting and stealing
They'll cuss and they'll fuss and they'll leave your world reeling
But who's to say it's so bad, that they get what they seek?
Wouldn't you rather have power than just remain weak?
Because pirates, though wicked, can also be strong
And pirates, though scary, don't always do wrong
They only follow their dreams-- it just happens to be
That they dream about treasure and terror on the sea
So they go out to get it (it's really quite brave)
For chasing ambitions is the right way to behave
Sometimes their manners are not quite the best
And sometimes they're a bit angrier than the rest
But being rough around the edges is no reason to ignore
The noble dreams that these pirates might be fighting for
What if that Svalix with the one eye and gold teeth
Is just looking for money to make the ends meet?
Or scrounging for food to feed his big family?
The truth can be more than just what you might see
So pirates, aggressive, may seem bad and brash
But it's better to think closely about them before you bash
They sail and they loot and they brawl, yes it's true
But pirates are still Anatherians, just like you
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Kneat5's entries are always a delight, and this poem really encompasses the spirit of this challenge. I have a soft-spot for poetry, and the rhymes in this one are quite lovely. I can even see this one being sang in a pub as a pirate shanty, by a racuous band of bandana-bedecked seafarers late into the night! It was a pleasure to have recieved it. Congratulations to Kneat5-san!
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Short Story
First Place
Rhea
Captain Natasha Belkov stood at the prow of her ship, her silvery-white eyes focused on the waves that lapped furiously against the wooden planks that made up the Damsel's Luck.
The Air Emitess flicked her long white hair back behind her shoulders, the strands feathering against the large black wings that were folded loosely along her spine. Her blue-tinged skin was flecked with droplets of salt water, and as was her curse, the Queen of the Seven Seas could feel the kraken moving beneath her ship, the ever-present beast darkening skies the above.
"Cap'n?" a gruff voice said from behind her. She barely turned her head.
"Yes, Jonathan?" she mumbled. Her First Mate, a Demonic Raklith, shifted his weight from foot to foot.
"We're bein' followed, Cap'n." he muttered, his voice holding a snake's warning hiss. This time, Natasha did turn. She squinted her eyes against the hazy late afternoon sunlight, and sure enough, she could just make out a ship on the horizon. And it was gaining fast.
"How long?" she asked, moving fluidly from her position at the prow. He boots clicked on the planks as she walked, her wings whispering with small air flurries.
"'Bout forty minutes now." Jon replied. "Yeh tol' us not ta bother yeh, so we didn' until we realized they was followin' us."
Natasha regarded the man with a sour look, retrieving her spyglass from it's place in her right boot. She extended it, and peered through the lens.
"Goldie. Of course." she growled, the wind around the Damsel whipping up with her sudden fury. Of course she recognized that flag, the brilliant white sails against the near black clouds.
Goldie was a fallen Angelic Fenrir, and beyond angry with Natasha for having killed her late father, and subsequently taken up his mantle of Ruler of the Seas, something that his daughter believed should have rightfully been hers.
Blackbeard had been a horrible man, with even worse values. Most of her extended crew had come from his after the fall of their captain. Some had gone to Goldie, but not enough for Natasha to worry about.
And from the look of the single ship following her fleet of seven ships, not much had changed for the easily angered young woman. Sighing, Natasha snapped her spyglass closed.
"I'm not overly concerned about it." she murmured, replacing her spyglass. "However, if she continues to gain on us, do inform me. I will be in my cabin."
Jon blinked at his captain's dismissal of the other captain, nodding his head dumbly as she turned and walked away. The other members of her crew nodded respectfully as she passed, some muttering the Dread Captain's song under their breath.
Natasha wasn't really sure how she had received the title of "Dread Captain", but as far as she knew, she was the only one to own it. She knew why Goldie was following her. Of course she did. The horrible little whelp intended to kill her, and take her title of Pirate Queen. Natasha scoffed at the very idea.
Once she was inside her cabin, the door shut and locked behind her, she removed her hat, and speared her fingers through her salt-soaked white hair, wincing at the snarls.
She had never wanted to rule the seas. Sure, she loved the oceans, loved being a captain and in charge of her own destiny, but when she'd ended Blackbeard's reign of terror, it was purely because the guy was a monster. She'd tried to convince the pirate counsel to name Goldie Blackbeard's successor, but they wouldn't hear anything of it. And so she'd gotten stuck with the job of keeping the other pirate captains in line, as well as keeping the kraken from devouring... well, everyone.
She had just sat down, when someone pounded on her door.
"Cap'n, they're gettin' ready ta fire on us!" Jon bellowed over the din of other shouting voices. Natasha groaned, wishing she could just close her eyes and ignore everything for a little while. However, that would be going against who she was. And so she hauled herself to her feet, tugged her hat back in place, and strode from her cabin.
Sure enough, Goldie's ship had drawn within range and was turning, it's gun ports opening. Natasha stood with her arms crossed over her chest, a brow arched and a hip cocked.
"Is it wrong that I'm tempted to just set the kraken on her?" she mumbled, and Jon had to choke back a garbled laugh.
"Ah... yes." he muttered gruffly. Natasha's mouth twisted in a frown, before she shrugged her shoulders.
"It was just a thought," she mumbled, before shouting orders to prepare to return fire. The waters below her ship churned as the kraken responded to her anger. Wind began whipping in every direction, the sails above her head flapping and snapping angrily.
"Why would she attack a fleet of seven ships?" Natasha wondered out loud. Jon shrugged his shoulders, grunting.
"Her pa was Blackbeard, Cap'n. He never made no sense, neither." he replied. Natasha tilted her head in agreement with her first mate, as the first shot was fired.
It was a deafeningly loud battle, cannon fire ringing through the air. But as loud as it was, the battle was short-lived. Goldie's voice was easily distinguishable over the other shouting voices coming from her direction, and Natasha clearly heard the woman demand that her ship retreat. Natasha's crew sent up a cheer, some even going as far as to clap her on the back and shout their congratulations.
And as much as Natasha wished she could join in their excitement, she knew that this rivalry between her and Goldie hadn't ended. It had only just begun.
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Backstory. Well-developed characters. Hook for a sequel. This is a story I want to read more of! Rhea's take on this month's theme is a very fascinating glimpse into a masterfully crafted world where power is taken, not given, and where titles must be earned. I was very intrigued by the premise and hope we get a sequel one day. Congratulations to Rhea-san!
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Second Place
PrettyPink187
Captain Maggie wasn't feared or mean. She was actually the sweetest lass on all the Anatherian Sea. Her ship the Destitute was home to the most ragtag band of pirates anyone had ever heard of. That is until her ship was attacked.
She had left her crew docked at the Mystical Island while she hiked to the Bamboo Pond. Canon fire was heard all over the island so she ran back to her ship. She was almost there when Black Fang the Chimera attacked her. The screams of her crew were deafening to her ears. He stood before her with his cutlass drawn. She had not a moment to spare before he was upon her, his blade hitting beside her. She used her small Diacoan stature and speed to duck under him and draw her own sword. She stabbed his leg and darted backwards as he howled towards the sky. He flung his blade to the ground and Cap'n Maggie continued running towards where she could hear her first mate crying.
As she neared her destination a bomb went off, destroying the Plushie Mansion in front of her. The blast knocked her back off her feet and she hit the side of the Master Forger's hut with a thud and slid down.
She stood shakily, wiping the blood from her eye as she walked forward. It was morning. She jogged unsteadily to where her ship had been docked and fell to her knees. Smoking rubble was all that was left. Captain Maggie felt her heart break. She vowed, starting at the smoldering pyre before her to get revenge on Black Fang and avenge her crew.
Rupert the Master Forger called to her softly. She stood and walked to him uncertain. "Listen child," He said as he sat her on his table and began cleaning her wounds. "I am sorry about what happened to your crew but violence should not beget violence. Do not let that scoundrel ruin you. Do not let him melt your heart and forge it to steel. You are better than that."
The kind Kynn wound the bandages one last time around her eye and handed her a glass of water and some bread. "it's not much, but it's what I have. You are welcome to stay as long as you need to heal." Captain Maggie shook her head, silent tears streaking down her all ready matted fur, "Thank you sir. I am indebted to you, but I am afraid this is a time of action. As soon as I can rebuild my ship, I will be leaving. I am sorry to have caused such trouble for your island."
She hopped off the table and stood wobbling as she regained her balance. With her head held high she walked outside and began building a ship. Rupert joined her as she worked and soon they had built a ship just big enough for the tiny Diaco to sail. She bid her new friend farewell and set sail for Pirate's Cove.
Pirate's Cove was once home to many different pirate crews but once Black Fang arrived he took it over as his own. It laid between Market Island and The City of Anatheria on a tiny island not many knew of just North of The Whirlpool. Maggie sailed silently for a week, planning her revenge. She had her pistol, her cutlass and sheer determination. She stopped off at Market Island and bought a larger ship and hired a new crew. One she could take into battle.
It was a full moon when she landed on Pirate's Cove two weeks later, and her anger was now at a rolling boil. In hushed tones she readied her crew for war. She docked her ship silently beside the sleeping form of Black Fang's own Shadow Mist and her crew boarded silently.
Screams soon rang out as her gang followed her last order, Show No Mercy. She ran about, taking out Black Fang's crew as she went. As she entered the Captain's Cabin her bandages came unwound and the moon shone onto her face. A long scar ran from her brow to her chin on the right side of her face and her eye was a mangled mess. Black Fang grinned maliciously at her.
"Did I do that?" he chuckled darkly, "mayhaps you came so I could finish the job!" He sprung to his feet and sliced the air where Maggie had been standing with the cutlass he'd had hidden beneath his pillow. He cursed as he looked around the room. Using the distraction she darted forward from the shadows and knocked the Chimera's legs out from under him, causing him to land hard on his back. She hopped up onto his chest and glared at him.
"Actually I came because you murdered my crew, wrecked my ship, and destroyed that lovely island." each offence was accented with a jab of her claw. She aimed her cutlass over his heart and drove it home. She went back out to the deck where the last of her crew was dispatching the last of Captain Black Fang's.
She rallied the group and together they set forth on the Anatherian Sea, leaving the rotting mess of Black Fang and his crew to serve as a warning for any that would try to take out Captain Maggie.
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This is a powerful and moving story about an Anatherian wronged, and taking revenge into her own hands. It has all the hallmarks of a great pirate story -- powerful characters, action-laden battles, and a willingness to pull no punches. This was a joy to read and an adventure worthy of the high seas. Congratulations to PrettyPink187-san!
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That's all for the AWC! Thank you so much to everyone who entered. I hope you all had fun!
Onward to the next round of competition!