The water was cold.

The journey had been long.

" 'n the view is bloodeh terrible..."

Groaning in annoyance, Captain Aegis Spade kicked his feet up on the plank in front of him, and laid back against the stern of the little boat he had been stuck in for about a week now. Sighing heavily, he rested his head back, and took another lengthy swig from his flask, swallowing down a healthy gulp of the miracle substance. He closed his eyes, and let his arm fall to his side. All this for tha' stupid mess'a tentacles 'n a buncha stuck up blue jackets... It had been over a week since he abandoned his crew in silence of a moonlit night to set out for the greatest treasure he'd ever tracked.

The Wind's Dance had taken port in Confressa, the famed "Pirate Capital", seeking shelter from a rather rough storm. Be it luck or the will of El Dios himself, Aegis had stumbled upon a very peculiar old man. He claimed to be an ancient hero, one who had conversed and even helped the great Kukulu, earning a life-debt with the beast. Intrigued, Spade, with the help of several pitchers proceeded to get rip-roaringly drunk with the man. By the end of the night, his secrets were all written down and sketched out on a dirty old piece of parchment.

Several nights later, after once again calling upon the assistance of a large amount of alcohol, Aegis slipped away from his crew, stumbled out onto the deck of the Dance, and into a small twelve foot, single sailed vessel christened the Errant Venture. He cut the ropes, and the small boat dropped into the calm seas. Within minutes Captain Spade was gone, nothing but the glow of a small lantern, surrounded by miles and miles of empty sea.

Now, a week later he was still following the same messily scrawled instructions under the light of a dim lantern. Better check te' headin', make sure I'm not 'pletely lost. He grabbed the wrinkled chart, and held it up to the light. After a few moments of contemplation, he glanced up to check the stars. He sighed loudly, and smacked himself in the forehead.

"'course there's no stars in 'dis damned cave..."

For the last two days, the Errant Venture had bobbed along the slowly moving water inside a massive, seemingly infinite cavern. The gracing energy of the wind had long since faded, so the Captain was forced to paddle his way into the unknown, or rely on the slowly moving current. He sure as hell didn't trust the current. Against his instinct, the exhausted sailor had caught a few naps while in the strange cave, though he was never sure quite how long he had slept. For all he knew at this point, this cavern had been his home for four or five days.

Luckily, many a fish had also called this place its home. Though it had taken quite a bit of trial of error, Aegis had become quite adapt at "Saberfishing", which was sure to become a popular sport when he returned to his crew. Raw fish was hardly his favorite meal, but desperate times called for the silence of his taste buds. Staring into the murky water, using his lantern for light, Spade had seen many common species of fish.

Though he didn't take a particular notice in it, the farther he drifted into the cave, the more fish were seen swimming in the opposite direction, many with as much "panic" as a fish can display. Occasionally, he'd notice what looked like large squid-like creatures, sharks, and even once a massive whale. This behemoth, over two hundred feet long managed to leap completely out of the water, its massive tail propelling it rapidly away from the depths of the cavern. It would take quite a bit to scare such a beast.

Hours later, Aegis was fast asleep, his open flask dripping slowly onto the deck of the ship. Then, slowly, a foul smell made its way up through his nostrils. He grunted and readjusted several times in his sleep, trying to block himself from the rancid scent. Eventually, it had grown much to putrid to ignore, and he sat up groggily, his face contorted.

"Wha' in Dios' name is'tha smell! I thought Rankor, the bloodeh lord of them island hunters food were tha' worst smell 'maginable, 'n tha' stuff was week-ole' fish'n straight rat'waste!"

Groaning loudly, he downed another swig, placed both hands on the oars, and started rowing. Best get outta' this smell while I'kin.

Before he had even made three full strokes, the terrible aroma was the least of his worries. The silent cavern was suddenly filled with the sound of rushing water. Aegis was on his feet in a second, holding his lantern high in an attempt to see the source. The sound rapidly grew louder and gained intensity in mere seconds. He peered out into the darkness, one sleeve covering his nose and mouth. "Ugh! s'gettin' worse!" Indeed it was, whatever that smell was caused by was somehow trapped up in these mystery-waters.

Then, things go much, much worse.

A single, pulsating strand of light appeared from the source of the noise. It was an sickly-orange "tentacle" of luminescence that pulsated rhythmically. The sound of rushing water grew louder as the tentacle began to waver back and forth. The Capatin's eyes widened. "That old bas'trd wasn't jus' drunk, thi'sn't jus' some cave, it's-"

A powerful shockwave slammed into the side of the Errant Venture, knocking Aegis to his feet as the small watercraft bounced into the air before splashing back down. Spade clammered back onto his feet, just in time to see the most amazing sight of his life.

Kukulu, the God of Ocean, dominated his vision. The foul, unholy being that had doomed countless ships to the bottom of his sea sat in front of him, his massive, pulsating form a sight he'd never believe he'd see. The form of a giant sea monster, with tentacles over ten hundred feet long was before him. Every vein in its body glowed with a dim pulsating orange light. The huge fleshy body was a dull grey, and bristled with "small" (in comparison) fins and smaller tentacles. At its base was a huge crimson eye, one that even from Aegis' distance looked the size of the most formidable Seran galleons. Kukulu emmited a constant sloshing and sucking noise, that sounded just as one would imagine the organs of a man being sucked out from his very chest. The Sea God smelled just as bad, too.

Aegis gulped. Whatever he had planned on coming here for was gone from his mind. He sat before the very overlord of the sea, a servant of El Dios himself. He could only hope his typical luck would hold out. Trying to maintain his composure, Captain Spade reached for his flask with shaking hands, and took a very long draw from it, his wide emerald eyes fixed upon the gargantuan crimson one ahead of him. And then, it spoke.

If a serious of relatively nasty sucking and crunching noises mixed with gurgling water counts as speaking. Aegis raised an eyebrow as he lowered his flask. As the ancient sea god continued, a voice sounded in Aegis’ ears, a cold and heartless whisper, You know who I am, pirate, but who are you to venture into my home without your kind’s vessels of war? Aegis paused before answering,

“I’m Captain Aegi-“

Captain? The cold whisper chuckled, You come to me with titles and ranks, as if they make any difference to one such as myself? The massive tentacles loomed closer to Aegis’ tiny ship, and the sounds of Kukulu’s voice grew louder as they approached. The smell intensified as well.

“’sorry to offend you ‘n your…power, I am Aegis Spade and I’ve come’ta you wit’ nothing but an agreement that’d benefit us both, ver’much.” The long glowing stalks drifted closer, extending in height as they did. Spade began to sweat as his mind raced, “Y-ya have’n child, a son! A young god wit’ enough ‘tential to become as mighty as yerself!”

Kukulu’s giant eye seemed to glare across the water. More noise came from him, followed by another silent voice. This much is true, sailor. You indeed must have come with a good reason… Another glowing light appeared from the depths, this one a bright blue. It grew closer to the surface, showing itself to be only a fraction of the sea god’s size. The new being surfaced next to the ancient one, it was but a tiny version of its father, only it glowed far more intensely than its parent. However, only the veins very close to its center were luminescent. Its small tentacles floated in the dark, only lit by its father’s own light.

Aegis frowned slight. “He’s sick, isn’ he?”

You are correct, sailor. My son was born weak, injured because of your kind’s violence. Oh, he shall be mighty one day, and claim many lives. However his outcome shall only be a fraction of his possibility-

“Unless, I can help ye’.”

Spade hoped interrupting a god wasn’t a death wish. Kukulu glowed brighter, and a series of broken up squiddy noises sounded, followed by a deep throaty laugh in Aegis’ head. Help me? You wish to aide myself? Alright sailor, I am not fool enough to ignore aide when it comes to me so…willingly. One of the massive tentacles was only a few meters from the Errant Venture. Aegis stared up at it in awe, it was easily eighty, a hundred feet long, bristling with suction cups larger than his head. It glowed eerily, casting its sickly orange hue on his skin. He couldn’t hold back a shudder, and his flask was quickly once again at his lips. Alright sailor, I’ll accept your aide. In return, I shall give you what many a man desires, my very own power. You shall be forever marked with my…blessings. Raise your hand, sailor.

Clearly sure this was on the list of “Stupid Things Aegis Spade Has Done”, he raised his free hand in front of him, holding it only inches away from the malicious looking stalk before him. At once, the tentacle leaned in, and one of the smaller suction cups latched onto Aegis’ palm. Suction was applied against his flesh, followed by a few very wet and slimy sensations. ’the hell is this thin’ doin’ to me?, but he did not struggle as the cup sucked on his hand. Then, it released its grasp, and the tentacle slithered into the depths.

The pirate quickly retracted his hand, and stared down at it intently. A large black spot of an unnatural looking ink had appeared on his hand. It slithered and wobbled on it’s own accord, but didn’t feel like anything was there. He prodded it with his left hand, but the flesh felt no different than it had before. He shuddered, this wasn’t a very good sign. Looking back across the dark water, Kukulu spoke again. You shall travel to a place of great knowledge and power. Some humans call it an “Academy”, some “The Dome”. For one such as myself, it holds great importance, though I cannot simply enter it myself. Sailor, you must go there and learn from those who teach. They will not turn you down, this I can assure you.

Spade once again arched his eyebrow. “But what do’ya wan’ from a place like that? How kin’ they help yer kid?”

Another booming laugh pulsated through Aegis’ mind. I can’t tell you that just yet, sailor. I have marked you, and I shall be watching you. When the time comes, I shall tell you what you need to know.
Aegis crossed his arms,

“And what’s in’is for me?

Time shall not pass here while you are gone, Sailor. When you return with what I desire, and my son is restored to his full strength, I will wipe out both the Avelian and Reman navies, making the seas safe for your crew and your people. You will be the most powerful man on the seas.

A smile spread across Spade’s face. Captain Aegis Spade, Commander of the Sea God himself…Like the sound’a that. He took a nice long swig from his flask, allowing the amber liquid to fill his mouth completely before swallowing. He sighed contently afterwards, wiping his mouth clean of any residue with his sleeve.

“Ya gotta deal, send me on mi’way, to this ’Dome’ you’lk of.”

Very well, sailor. Very well…

Kukulu and his son slowly descended into the dark waters below, their glowing auras slowly disappearing in the inky blackness. Aegis sighed again, and glanced down at his palm. It pulsated slowly, showing no signs of change. He scratched at his with his left index finger, but it made no difference. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning exploded from above him, and it struck the water with an explosive force, followed by a deafening thunder clap. Startled, the pirate held his lantern high once again, peering out into the darkness. The water below his ship began to move, the current carrying him towards the point of impact of the thunderbolt. Another explosion of light slashed through the sky, followed by an even louder boom of thunder. The water quickened, and a cloudy haze began to envelop the tiny ship. Another bolt of lightning, followed by several more struck closer and closer to Aegis’ little boat. He grasped onto the side, and held on tight as the water began to toss it back and forth.

With a massive blast, a circle of water erupted around the Errant Venture, rocketing thirty feet into the air. The sound of rushing water and thunder drowned out his own shouts of surprise, and more lighting split the cavern’s sky. He felt the sea come out from under his ship as it spun faster and faster, its bottom quickly filling with water. Aegis was thrown to the floor, soaked and wind blasted. The map and lantern were launched away through the wall of water into the unknown. His eyes opened in horror as his flask began to drift into the air in front of him. He reached hard for it, straining his arms to stretch farther than ever, but that to was swept up and away.

Suddenly, the small ship tipped upside down, and Aegis plummeted into darkness. Then there was a flash of bright light, followed by darkness. A cloudy image of a bright blue sky, then what looked like a distant field of grass. A small castle-like building sat off in the distance. A falling sensation filled his stomach, and what looked like broken timber and a metal flask floated in his vision.

A sickening crunch, followed once again by darkness.