Shental Darkmind  

Uploaded September 21st, 2011 by wiscookie

Located near -225, -100 (middle of the zone). In addition to his tasks, he offers up this information:

You say, 'Hail, Shental Darkmind'

Shental Darkmind says 'Ahoy there, as they say here, though I suppose I'll never get used to saying it. I'm usually pretty good with colloquialisms, but apparently not these. I guess it's because I'm not a big fan of the sea, even though I'm making a fair amount of money from it at this time because of the Cartel. I like to spend that money in useful ways, and if you're available I could use your with a few things. Or, if you have a few allies you can call on, I have something a bit more, um, interesting for you to with.'

You say, 'Freetide Cartel?'

Shental Darkmind says 'The cartel is a simple business partnership, really. When I discovered that there were some in the Buried Sea, I knew adventurers would come to take a look. So I found Whent and convinced him to put up some cash to form the cartel. Whent's not a bad merchant by his own rights, though far too honest if you ask me. Of course that made it a bit of a shock when he suggested Petula for our third. I still wonder how they met, most likely he was a victim of one of her raids. She probably impressed him with her tough attitude and past. I'm not sure what she would have seen in him, other than a piece in her plans.'

You say, 'What changes in the Buried Sea?'

Shental Darkmind says 'Big changes. I'm sure you'll notice it if you go out there, but you probably don't like surprises any more than I do. You see a short while ago a huge whirlpool opened up in the sea. There are plenty of people that think they know why, but I won't be telling you any of those tales. You see, I make my money shipping people out there that want to know what's going on, and telling you now just might make you decide that you don't need to go look.' Shental winks. 'Of course I'm never setting foot on a boat again, if I can help it. Once you've looked into something like that I just don't see how you can trust a few planks to keep you safe on the water.'

You say, 'A dangerous past?'

Shental Darkmind says 'If any of it's true, then she's one of the most interesting characters on the sea. I'll tell you what I've heard, though it's best if you don't repeat any of it to the lady herself, she's a bit touchy about the whole thing. She'll likely deny a lot of it, which makes appear more likely to be true. You see, Petula was once married to the great beast known as [1].'

You say, 'Tell me about Ravager'

Shental Darkmind says 'Ravager was a terror on the sea, plundering anything he came across, be they merchant, passenger ship or pirate. They say he and his crew butchered every living thing they met and used them as food supplies. One of his crew said that Ravager would kill crewmen for the slightest provocation, not the least of which would be trying to leave the ship. Petula, they say, was a member of a pirate crew that was butchered by the Ravager. She was a beauty in those days, pretty enough to cause the bloodthirsty Ravager to choose to let her live. She became his bedmate. After a few months she was the one that the orders to the crew.'

You say, 'Gave the orders?'

Shental Darkmind says 'Indeed, seems unlikely doesn't it. But once she started to take command the Ravager, both the ship and the man, became the most dreaded things on the sea. They were not just brutal, but efficient. They needed to replace fewer crew because Ravager didn't interact with them as much. They charted better courses because the navigator was less likely to die for minor mistakes. They say that over the years they amassed a treasure that has not been matched before or since. This part I don't believe, or Petula Bloodwave would not be here on this barren beach her legend to the cartel.'

You say, 'Lending her legend?'

Shental Darkmind says 'We use her to intimidate the local riff raff. Not that we don't also use the threat of the Stormguard, but nobody wants to mess with Ravager's lady. Of course Ravager is dead, and the stories say that she did it. Oh, not directly of course. You see once she took control the Ravager went from children's bogeyman to a real threat, and so the Stormguard made attempts to take the ship, but failed every time. Except, of course, the last time. They emptied their tower and loaded every man they had onto a merchant vessel that was traveling the waters that the Ravager preferred. They got lucky and were found and attacked by the beast. Of course that would have meant their deaths if some sort of [2] had not intervened.'

You say, 'What fate intervened?'

Shental Darkmind says 'Of course I don't believe in fate. I believe that it was the lady legend herself that turned the tide on the Ravager. She told the Stormguard where the Ravager would be and made certain they encountered the pirate brute. Then when the ships engaged, she made sure that the Ravager and crew were not up to full strength. I suspect a version of nightshade poison myself. I think she even led the knights to a large portion of the Ravager plunder in exchange for her life. There's no way she gave them all of it. There is no doubt in my mind that everything that happened from the day she was captured to the day the Ravager died were parts of her plan to obtain [3].'

You say, 'Freedom?'

Shental Darkmind says 'Sure, but not just from the beast they called Ravager, but from her life as a pirate. She talks tough, but I know people and I can read their signals. That woman wants nothing more than to retire to a comfortable home in Freeport. She only works here because she needs to show that she had a chance to earn the money for her life of luxury and she did not keep a large portion of the Ravager pillage. It's a show for the Stormguard. And I have to say, she's impressed me with it. I adore a clever and vicious woman.'