TownCrier/Faction Attraction/Kraken Collective

This is a creative work set in the world of Elanthia, attributed to its original author(s). It does not necessarily represent the official lore of GemStone IV.

Title: Faction Attraction - Kraken Collective

Author:

Few places provide refuge from the political tensions that emerge from governance, no matter the type of leadership. With cultures influencing their cities and town in their image, one would believe that the frontier only exists in the Landing or the savage lands encamped by orcs, trolls, and other cultures. However, far to the south lies an oasis, an escapist paradise where the terrain is rich and bountiful, the oceans vast yet volatile, and the surroundings wrapped in glorious mysteries. Kraken’s Fall remains a bedrock of adventure and mystery yet serves as home to one of the newest organizations devoted to preserving its safety, security, and sanctity. This is the Kraken Collective.

Being a seafaring adventurer familiar with the South (New Ta'Faendryl is not that far away), I took in the crisp night sky and the twinkling of stars as I sailed the South Blue. After a long and perilous journey, I arrived at Kraken's Fall, greeted by the scent of salty sea air and a symphony of busy dock work. The Collective awaited my arrival at the Wandering Eye Market and then escorted me to the Bean and Leaf, where their meetings occur.

Hosts

Wyrmheart

Standing upright on his haunches and utilizing his wide, ridged tail for balance, Wyrmheart towers above those nearby. Thick leathery skin darkens along the shoulders, back, and head, as the ridges that descend to the tale transform into large bony, plate-shaped scales. His face culminates in a long snout edged in dusky hues and sporting long, pointed teeth, while pointed dark eyes rest within a pronounced eyebrow ridge of hard-plated scales. Resting against the smoother contours of his stomach, his webbed fingers end in dark talons.

Infernal Captain Casinoe the Treasure Hunter

He appears to be an Erithian Castaway.

He is taller than average. He appears to be very young. He has opaque midnight black eyes and silken, pale caramel-hued skin. He has very long, white-streaked raven black hair that falls down the back in an unkempt mass of matted cords, strands of kelp and salt-stained hemp rope woven throughout the tangled strands. He has a bony face, a prominent nose and a X-shaped scar across his left eye. His beard is a soft swathe of black, speckled with sea salt and crusted with brine. He has an ebon violet-crested macaw with gleaming steel gears sitting on his shoulder.

Superimposed over Casinoe's form is the ghostly silhouette of a krolvin pirate, a wild-eyed expression on his face. As you watch, he glares around disapprovingly, then takes a large gulp from a bottle of rum.

He has a gradient ebon-inked kraken with twilight-hued tentacles wrapping about each finger on his wrist, a coiled leviathan tattoo on his ankle, an inked sea chest overflowing with gold and gems on his neck, a hanging pirate tattoo with a grey-inked skeletal frame on his wrist, a billowing firestorm tattoo on his neck, a scrollwork rose gold hoop in the middle of his nose, a misshapen bloodstone spike in his left eyebrow, a trio of spiky urchin spines in the ridges of both his ears, and a tiny oak treasure chest opened to reveal minute diamonds in his right eyebrow.

Erratic arcane sigils glow in front of him.

He is in good shape.

A ring of flaming orbs encircles his hands.

He is wearing a dark-masked roof rat, a mist-swirled glass eyeball talisman, a tiny rusted iron tentacle on a bone-linked chain, a hooded sailcloth cloak jaggedly stitched with a skull and crossbones, an enameled cast iron cannon pin, a rust-flaked cast iron beard clip, a sapphire-eyed black skull pin, a plump glaes flying squirrel pin with a fluffy ruby-set tail, a splayed golden kraken pin with a black painted background, a rune-etched smoky topaz stickpin, a kraken-etched insignia, an overflowing gold treasure chest, some hemp suspenders clenched between the teeth of wrought silver skulls, a flame-tinged black leather satchel buckled with a steel skull-and-crossbones, a dark woven loot bag stamped with a broken golden crown, a flame singed black canvas pirate flag loot sack, a salt-stained leather bandolier burned with the image of a kraken, a salt-stained black leather shirt, a dark leather armband inlaid with a steel kraken attacking a ship, a copper ship-paneled lirveil with storm agate links, a grey thunderstone emblem depicting six writhing tentacles, a pair of rugged leather seafarer's handwraps, a smooth bone ring pierced by tiny crystal shards, a plain gold ring, a flame-singed black leather belt with a steel kraken buckle, a translucent sack, a weathered leather scroll case flame-etched with a shipwreck, an archaic steel dodecahedron, a coiled black leather wand belt, a fish skull-clasped weathered sharkskin sack trimmed with jagged teeth, some loose black trousers raggedly cut at the shins, a knotted wireweed cuff, and some side-buckled umber leather boots with slouched cuffs.

Machtig the Blademaster

He appears to be a Human.

He is average height and has tanned skin.

He has a woven cowl wreathing his shoulders and neck, the hood of which is pulled up around his head and casting shadows upon his features.

He is in good shape.

He is wearing a threadbare hooded shroud, a steel-banded backsheath, a stained oilcloth bag, a lacquered wyrwood-inlaid scabbard, some black pants, and some dark leather boots.

Wulfewood

He appears to be a Human.

Secured on his head is a demon-masked horned helmet, its horns turned skyward. The demon mask that covers the face has a terrifying and menacing grin, with its fangs made larger to enhance the grotesque and intimidating appearance. Sprouting from the crest of the helmet is a plume of pitch black hair, the trailing end falling down his back.

He is tall. He appears to be very young. He has black eyes and tanned skin. He has raggedly cut, shaggy black hair worn in a riot of snarled braids knotted with murky indigo feathers. He has an angular face and a thick mustache and beard.

He has a long-stemmed pipe clenched between his teeth.

His demonic shadow looms high above his form, the silhouette flickering in and out of vision.

He gives off a vicious demeanor.

He is holding a heavy steel-studded tetsubo in his right hand.

He is wearing a cloak, a patchwork knapsack sewn from bands of pale coral salmon skin, a lacquered crimson scabbard, a backpack, some crossed leather back sheaths with an adamantine katana strapped to it, some silk-tied laminated plate armor, some discolored white cotton handwraps, some morganite prayerbeads, a rope-tied burlap sack, and some wooden sandals.

Flickering near Wulfewood is a massive wolf, its luminous figure composed of shadowy black energy. Hackles raised and body stiff, it bares its teeth menacingly.

Introduction

Bandits, pirates, and even triton loom over the town with menace, so one must be able to hold their keep. At first sight, one would think the Kraken Collective leader, Wyrmheart, would be one of those threats. Fortunately, his demeanor, though intimidating to the layman, carries an aura of safety. In short, I felt more than safe. The ensemble flanking him was the cherry on top.

Wyrmheart: E'nin mon.

I've known Wyrmheart for quite a while now, so his raspy krolvin voice and accent are second nature to me. However, I will provide a translation for this interview for any confusion.

Yardie: Evening Wyrmheart. Hoping everyone is having a good time.

Wyrmheart: Jah mon.

Yardie: So, as you know, I do some work for the TownCrier. This month is set to interview the Kraken Collective, one of the newer organizations in Elanthia. This will be painless and fun, and hopefully it will be a good way to showcase what the Collective is about.

Defining the Kraken Collective

Yardie: So my first question is, in your own words, how would you all describe what the Kraken Collective is about?

Wyrmheart: Da moment fir mi jah collect mi thoughts mon. Others be feelin free to voice up mon.

Casinoe nods at Wyrmheart.

Casinoe: The collective, to me, is a brotherhood. Camaraderie without constraints. Loose rules and looser women (hopefully).

Casinoe flashes a wide grin.

Casinoe: Lots of rum and lots of fun.

Casinoe pauses in a moment of thoughtful contemplation.

Casinoe quietly says, "And loot.

Pirates and bandits are not the only ones interested in loot and booty. Though, most who travel to Kraken's Fall do not emulate the accosting that bandits commit. In truth, the Fall has seen its share of visitors, from a family of stranded escapees of Caligos starting a business to a band of pirates, including one named Shteve, to realtors eager to herbalists and explorers gathering tales about the Atoll. It has been a place of curiosity, though, for some of the natives, that curiosity can be a concern.

Wyrmheart: Fir me it be about like mindin folk comin tigeda to share adventure, and suppirt each udda mon.

Yardie nods understandingly at Wyrmheart.

Casinoe agrees with Wyrmheart.

Casinoe: It's also about takin care of the island, making sure everyone gets home safe and upright, eventually.

Not everyone gets home safe and upright. That's where groups like the Kraken Collective come in.

Machtig: To me the core of the collective is comraderie, the feeling of belonging to a community that genuinely and sincerely supports for each other and has each others back for no reason other than respect and brotherhood.

I couldn't help but grin at Machtig.

Wyrmheart: Jah mon, di island be our ome so wi bi feelin drawn ti protecin it, mon.

Yardie (pondering): Would you all say it fits life here on Kraken's Fall?

Casinoe: One hundred percent.

Wyrmheart: Personhood, cause we ga some sheila's ta mon.

From what I gather, a "shiela" is a woman. I've heard of that expression before, but many moons ago, during my travels.

Formerly Known As Bandit Island

Wyrmheart: When di merchant routes first opened to Kraken dis place had few islanders.

Casinoe (lazily): Plenty of bandits!

I answered the call to Kraken's almost two years ago, disenchanted by some of the trials and tribulations in the West and having a stint in the East. I needed an escape, a way out, and Kraken's provided that refuge. However, with one constable and little room for the law, bandits roamed the roads, particularly, Widowmaker's Road, which I wonder if it earned its name from all the marauding and murder that transpired.

Wyrmheart: And many bandits. Much time be spent culling dem, dir was few'ya us ta do it. Necessity almost demanded jah comin tigeda in personhood. From di necessity sprouted da Collective.

Casinoe slips a hand to his sleeve, deftly retrieving a curved dark steel kukri with a kraken-capped handle.

Casinoe raises his dark steel kukri in triumph!

For the Collective, each member earns the weapon of the faction, a kukri. This is a knife in nature that curves as it nears the tip. It's a rather vicious weapon, one that serves several purposes, including parroting. If a bandit were to flash a dagger, one of the Collective might laugh at the size of it and chime, 'That's not a knife.'

Wyrmheart nods at Casinoe.

Momentarily revealing the small wrist sheath hidden underneath his sleeve, Casinoe deftly sheathes his dark steel kukri, concealing both it and the sheath once more.

Machtig: I think being so isolated, we were often completely on our own. And a little help would go a long way.

Casinoe: We were a tighter community then, it seemed.

There's no dispute about the need for individuals to coalesce. Sometimes the sheer numbers of bandits felled the best of fighters. Then, upon the discovery of the Triton and the Atoll, more formidable forces with powers of the dark and the mind called for coordinated efforts. But of all the groups in the Fall, this one formed and remained intact. I decided to press my inquiry further.

Collecting the Collective

Yardie: That actually touches base with my second question, and you addressed it. How the group was formed. I presume I am with most of the founders here?

Casinoe nods.

Machtig nods.

Wyrmheart: Ya mon.

Wyrmheart: Tis fair ti say, Leff as well probably.

Casinoe: He's a good lad.

Leff, oddly, was not in attendance. Not only is his a citizen of the island, but he also works in the logging company. I have quite the experience with rangers, those in touch with nature. Leff happens to be a purist, in my eyes, only utilizing the land as minimally as possible and then maintaining nature's order. It's quite admirable, but one that has come into conflict with the Fall's expansion. As a founder, I was curious to his feelings on matters.

Machtig: For my part, I think we all loved the island and had formed friendships with one another through adventures and hardship, a loose collective seemed natural."

Yardie: Conspicuous by his absence, and he's one of the best. I will be sure to include him. So we have the origins, and we have a description. Let's talk about the Kraken in the Kraken Collective. This place is obviously far removed from the rest of Elanthia. What makes the Fall stand out in comparison to say, the Landing or Ta'Illistim?"

Machtig: I think we all wanted to be a part of something but that nothing we had found before really fit, so it was only natural that we had to create our of organization, one that followed our philosophies and allowed us to be ourselves while also a part of something bigger.

Machtig forced a grin out of me with his thoughts.

Machtig: I think Kraken's Fall is one of the last few frontiers, if you can still call it that. One of the last places you can go to feel the...Hm when things were slower and people got to know each other because they had to depend on each other because it was all we had.

Wyrmheart: It's isolation at di time brought those seeking sometin mir meaningful jah adventures mon.

Casinoe nods at Machtig.

Machtig nods.

Casinoe agrees with Wyrmheart.

Machtig nods at Wyrmheart.

Casinoe: It has become so much... muchier with everyone else that has arrived.

Machtig: Adventuring without a net, without the resources, real adventure and danger.

Casinoe (to Machtig, quietly): Those were the days.

Yardie: The unknown.

Machtig: Absolutely.

Wyrmheart: Wi want folks who be lookin fir da more meaningful adventure to come to da island. Mir ave come, but most be in a zombie like state unfortunately.

One of the frustrations throughout the world stems from adventures so focused on their growth and talents, on their quest for wealth and power. They wander through hunting grounds and edifices without a care or a sight to anyone or anything around them. Wyrmheart and many others label them as zombies, and not the undead ones you will find in Potter's Field. Their souls remain intact and among the living but...not.

Yardie: Rather ironic in such a lively place.

Wyrmheart: Jah mon. Jah migh evin say it be just as isolated now as it was den mon.

Wyrmheart shrugs.

Casinoe chuckles.

Yardie: That's....profound.

Machtig: We've been here since the bandit era, and there's some people who have been here with us. The entire time. That I have never spoken to.

Casinoe (to Wyrmheart): About the same interaction, but more crowded.

:Casinoe agrees with Machtig.

Wyrmheart: But it nay matter fir us mon. Wi still lean on each udda.

You grin at Wyrmheart.

Machtig: It's true.

Members and Familiar Faces

Yardie: Let's talk about the members. You have the founders here. And then there's Leff, also a founder, but a nature lover, logger, and all around good person. Are there other members of note that others may not know are members of the Collective?

Wyrmheart: Gimmi a crew of salty dogs, a crate a rum and sturdy ship and all else falls away mon.

Machtig: I would say all of our members are great people and people I am very proud to call my friends.

Wyrmheart: Da murder nurse fer sure, den da mouth piece.

Casinoe: The ranger girl.

Yardie: The murder nurse and the ranger girl.

I chuckled. The members of the Collective had funny names that fit the roles they played on the island. The Murder Nurse is Illumiada, or 'friend Lumi,' an Elf from Illistim who healed wounds as quickly as she could inflict them. The ranger girl, Erienne, is an upbeat, lively, and wondrous hunter of the wild who has become my close friend. I...knew nothing of the mouthpiece, though, so I probed further..

Casinoe nods and grins.

Wyrmheart: Da mout piece, nay forget im mon.

Yardie: Who's the mouth piece?

I've been on the island for a while, I never met this mouthpiece. Not knowing began to bother me.

Machtig: Erienne, Weyrs, Nitos, Malvadere, Nisugi.

Wyrmheart (to Machtig): I say we call im da mout from now on, mon.

Wyrmheart (to Casinoe): Wha ya tink mon.

Wyrmheart: Da mout piece always be talk'n good about da collective. Our loudest suppirter outside a'da collective.

Yardie: Quite a few who do that, but I'm wondering who that might be.

Wyrmheart: Only probalem wit da mout is he nah no he di mout, mon.

Casinoe leans on you.

Machtig attempts to hum a merry little tune.

Yardie: He doesn't know he's the...

And then it donned on me. For the sake of the article, I wanted to reserve my affiliation until the end. However, it would seem I had been outed. And sure, I can be quite loquacious but I don't see myself as a mouthpiece!

Machtig laughs!

Yardie (knowingly): ....oh.

Casinoe laughs!

Yardie: Right.

Machtig's eyes crinkle upward at the edges, though the rest of his face is concealed by the folds of his woven cowl.

Yardie (coughing): Fair enough.

Machtig: Indeed.

Wyrmheart: Wi owe di mout a lot a gratitude fir wha he does mon.

Yardie: That's...that's really nice. Thank you. I'm sure I...er...he would be grateful.

Wyrmheart: Fir da rest'a us rarily lee di island mon.

Machtig: I never do if I can help it. Unless its just to sail around and come back.

Casinoe: Deeds, for me, mostly.

Machtig (to Casione): Forge for me, would love to have one here.

The island provides much for those who inhabit it. But much remains missing in comparison to other towns. Shrines. Guildhalls. Many other amenities. Still, it is a majestical place.

Events

Yardie: Let's talk about events. Are there going to be events on the horizon and if so, when and what might these particular events be?

Wyrmheart: We ave sometin we wan ta do.

You nod at Wyrmheart.

Machtig nods.

Casinoe nods at Machtig.

Wyrmheart: Likely now in two months time.

Machtig: It will be very good.

Wyrmheart: We gadder every Nimiia at 10 and half bells by da Elven Standard.

I nodded at Wyrmheart. At the time of the interview, we nearing the 10 bells to signify the hour.

Yardie: One minute away.

Wyrmheart: Ta plundah the seas.

Wyrmheart: Nah, tirty minutes mon.

Machtig: Wyrm do you want to elaborate on the event in a couple months?

Wulfewood: It should be fun.

Wulfewood grins.

Casinoe gasps.

Casinoe (to Wulfewood): Shhhhh.

You notice Leff moving stealthily into the room.

Leff smiles.

Wyrmheart: Ya can probably descrie it beda mon.

Casinoe turns to Leff and cheers!

Casinoe hugs Leff.

Leff: Apologies for my tardiness.

Wyrmheart: Mach, preview it fer Yardie. Please.

Machtig: We are having a hunting event, where competitors will have to do challenges with restrictions and rules to make it difficult. Test the resourcefulness and adaptability of the hunters.

Wyrmheart (to Machtig): We should git back ti da plain'n dis next few days.

Meetings and Places of Interests

Yardie: Oh, and the meeting place is here, correct?

The 'here' mentioned was the Bean and Leaf establishment, a coffee and tea establishment with drinks of all flavors. Elder organizations have buildings and headquarters. The Collective have yet to establish a headquarters.

Wyrmheart: Most da time, yes.

Casinoe: Sometimes The Last Frontier.

Wyrmheart nods at Casinoe.

Machtig nods.

You nod at Casinoe.

Machtig: We are in the process of selecting a permanent home. (nods).

Casinoe: Good drinks there, better than beans.

Leff steeples his fingers together, quietly observing his surroundings.

I waved to Leff upon his arrival. He's rather stealthy and moves pretty well unseen, but keen eyes with decades of training allow me to keep track most of the time. By far, he is one of the friendliest people in Elanthia.

Leff nods.

Yardie: And here is the other founder. We're conducting our interview of the Kraken Collective for the TownCrier's Faction Attraction.

Leff: Not me. I was just lucky enough to fall in with this group at some point. Question Yardie -- not my friend Yardie -- but TownCrier writer Yardie. This going to bring more people this way?

Yardie: It is an effect, but it's more to educate the masses about what the Collective is about. Interest is sure to be garnered.

Wyrmheart (to Leff): Yes, all da annoying folk mon.

Leff ponders, then steeples his fingers together, quietly observing his surroundings.

Yardie: Hopefully, none of the zombie folks.

Leff nods.

Leff: As you know, the world is a big place, and this is a big island. And there's lots of room for good people. So long as they leave me my secret fishing spots. But, I am very excited to see what Machtig and Wyrm come up with for our Collective adventures.

Leff: There's a secret fishing spot?

Machtig: Was.

Leff shrugs.

Machtig laughs!

Yardie (to Leff, incredulously): How come I don't know this spot?"

Casinoe (melodically): It's a secret.

Leff: If anyone could stalk me there, it's you. But yes, the Collective knows the best fishing spots, the best clamming spots, the best shrimping spots.

We were recently introduced to a new area in Kraken's Fall. Glynjania, the realtor of the Fall, revealed what would seem to be the crown jewel for living and areas for shrimping, clamming, and retrieving matters from the garden. Lovely as it might be, there has been some contention, as the fear of tourism may lead to cultivation or, worse, expansion. Many of us fear colonialism throughout the rest of the world and would rather not see it in the Fall.

Machtig grasps his wyrwood-inlaid scabbard by the locket with his opposite hand, adjusting its position slightly. With practiced ease, he draws the blade of his dark adamantine katana across the scabbard's opening before smoothly sheathing it with a barely audible *snick.*

Machtig: The best place to look at the stars over the cliffs of the island. Machtig's eyes crinkle upward at the edges, though the rest of his face is concealed by the folds of his woven cowl.

Leff: The way the warm sea breeze hits the cool air along the cliff, with songbirds birds in the updrafts.

I grinned at Leff. Many natural pleasantries greeted us here.

Casinoe: The splash of the water as the bodies hit it... Casinoe tucks his arms into his chest and shrugs innocently.

Leff: The best places to hide treasure... because the bank may not be safe.

Closing and Final Thoughts

Yardie: I have one last question. For those interested in the Collective, where should they go and who should they speak to?

Leff leaned on me as I asked the question. He always was pleasant and kind.

Casinoe: Not it. Casinoe gazes in wonder at his surroundings.

Machtig: I would say, come to our Thursday sailing events, get to know the Collective.

Leff deftly removes the dark steel kukri from his belt.

Casinoe slips a hand to his sleeve, deftly retrieving a curved dark steel kukri with a kraken-capped handle.

The dark steel kukri flies past a sleek dappled elf-owl, disappearing into the local environs.

Wyrmheart: We ave scrolls folks can read, can come ta da island on dis night each week, er just project a though mi way.

Machtig: We love guests on our pirate hunting expeditions.

Leff recovers his dark steel kukri. He then carefully hangs his kukri from his belt. It rattles against the hatchet hanging from it, and he carefully adjusts them.

Machtig taps a kraken-etched insignia that he is wearing.

Yardie: Perfect. And I think that wraps it up for our questionnaire.

Casinoe nods to you. Thanks, my friend.

Leff grins at Machtig.

Machtig: Sounds good; we appreciate your interest. if you have any other questions, please let us know.

Wyrmheart (whispering): Ok, who's ready to smash some pirates?

---

After most visits, I would go on my merry way and head home on normal occasions. But the Fall is my home, and while I will not attempt to sway the world on the wondrous nature of Kraken's Fall through my biases, I will express that the family unit that is the Kraken Collective reflects togetherness. We went sailing after pirates shortly after, helping to keep the seas safe and secure for those interested in this happy harbor. I highly encourage the visit for those who have never been to the Fall. But more than that, I would express that for those who feel like strangers lost in a new world and who crave the feeling of the unknown to find the Collective. They will make you feel at home.