The Medallion's Call

Early in the morning, before any sun had peaked over the surrounding mountains there was activity at the dock. This wasn’t unusual as there was activity there every morning. Between ships getting ready to go out to fish, to ships coming in, the commotion was there. At the end of the small dock, almost tucked away as if not to be seen and as far from the larger ships as possible, was a ship that flew a black and white flag. The flag showed a picture of bones crossed with a red bird sitting in the middle of them, the Fever Dream. The deck was a flurry of activity as the crewmates were working about. Sails were being drawn up and put to rest after a weary and storm filled adventure.

The cargo on the ship was either being fastened or brought to the dock side to be later loaded on a wagon and sold to a merchant. At the top of the ship near the helm one man stood motionless with his hands on his hips, occasionally nodding or yelling directions as he watched the men. The man, bronze from his days in the sun, watched the men scurry about as he hid under his three point hat that had looked worse for wear. Under his right arm was a box about the size of a ship rat, a prize from his latest conquered quest. On the inside the still man was giddy, the prize under his arm being the item he has strived for the last 10 years or so. The item had played a huge part in the stories that he had been told since he first joined the Fever Dream when he was a young cabin boy. This was only after he was caught stowing away in a crate in order to get away from his father. He had yet to open said box, afraid that doing so on the ship would cause a curse and kill them all. No, opening the box on dry land was a better idea.

One of the crew approached the man, slightly lowering his head to him as he did, "Captain, everything is set and ready. Our guest says she is ready to assist us"

The Captain smirked at the older man, the sea had not been kind to this man. He was missing an eye from fights and disease, but that never stopped him from being the best Quartermaster there was. The captain's eyes lingered on the quartermaster's missing eye. He never covered it saying he would rather look scarier than to have something on his face like a patch. "Perfect Jinx. Let's get her unloaded and I would prefer to deal with this sooner rather than later." The captain shifted the box in his arm and headed to the gangplank.

Jinx let out a short and low whistle where two men came rising out of the berth. Each had a guiding hand on a woman's arm. The woman held her head high as she was escorted off the ship. The captain had a soft spot for this woman, as beautiful as she was; she was also feisty and did not back down from the captain, even on his worst days. She did not let her difference hold her back either. Dark skin in color with hair that was in dreads that went every direction from the ribbon that pulled her hair back. Her face had white paint that outlined her hairline. She also had white line down the center of her face across her nose that branched off and wrapped around her eyes.

These lines and dots had meaning for her and her patronage, unfortunately it was unknown to the captain what the meaning was. Her dress wear was similar to the clothing the men on the ship wore. She was wearing brown loose pants with a white top, the only difference was the brown corset she wore over her shirt. She was a bold woman to wear pants, but no one looks at her any different because of that. The shock usually came from the giant holes in her ears. She was a witch for hire, a good one to boot. Originally stolen from her land to be a slave only to escape by killing her captives with a single spell. She has since roamed the seas doing spell work for ships and the like, setting her kinsman free when necessary.

The captain and Jinx were waiting for her on the dock, where once her feet were on unmoving wood the two men went back to the ship.

You could instantly see relief in her eyes to be on something solid and not something that felt like a moving, rocking box. She walked up to the captain with a smirk that would make most men melt, "Alright my fearless leader, you have gone through the trials are you ready to open your prize" she put a hand on his cheek as she spoke, only for the captain to grab her wrist.

"No games, Sephora." His eyes narrowed as he sent her a glare that told her he meant it.

The witch gasped as she pulled her hand away from him and put it on her chest, shocked he would say anything of the sort, "I would never" a devilish grin came across her face, "you did pay extra for no games Captain Lorcan."

Lorcan rolled his eyes as he waved Jinx off just before turning for the shore. Not long after they were riding on horses, Sephora knew better than to ask where they came from. They rode through the silent town, the only sound was the horses' hooves clopping on the cobblestone road. The dock may have been alive with fishermen going out but no one else in town was up yet for the day. Once they got to the edge of town they tapped the horses into a canter and headed for the mountain that met the water. It didn’t take long to get to the mountain but by the time they got there the sun was starting to rise.

Lorcan looked up at the view as they drew the horses to a stop. This mountain was the start of the mountain range that blocks the town off from the rest of the countryside. It comes to the water at a point almost like at one point it was a bridge to somewhere else.

Lorcan then nodded in the direction of a path and tapped his horse into a walk. They went down the path until they reached the edge of the rocky path. Lorcan dismounted and tied his horse off to the side of the road. “It’s too rocky for them. We should return them in the same condition we borrowed them in.” He winked at Sephora who just rolled her eyes as she followed suit.

They trudged through the rocky sand towards the cliff. Hidden between two rock points, Lorcan walked them over to the cave that he knew from his days as a child, an opening that unless you knew about it you would not see it. Jinx lit a torch for each of them and once they were ready Lorcan went in first. Once you were past the small opening the cave opened up to a great cavern. When they were all three in the cave the light from their lanterns lit up the walls and ceiling causing the jewels and gems embedded into the walls to glisten as the fire sticks burnt. They moved to the middle of the room and set the few bags, and the box, in the middle of them.

Sephora moved around the cave placing her hand on one of the sparkling walls. Her hands pulsed with the frequency of the cave, “The power behind this cave is amazing. The spirits love this place. How did you find this?”

Lorcan watched the witch in amazement but ignored her question, “Alright, be ready to earn your wages.” Sephora took a deep breath as she took her hand away from the wall and began to set up her altar, silently praying to her gods to help see her through this.

She looked to Lorcan when she finished setting up, “I need the box now.” Lorcan brought the box over to her where she put it in the middle of the altar. She started mumbling and waving her arms over the box.

Jinx and Lorcan looked at each other then watched the witch woman work. The ground started to shake a bit causing Jinx to lose his footing a bit, he dropped his torch to grab the wall. The shaking didn’t last long but after it stopped a rush of air blew through the cavern blowing all the torches out at once. Then there was silence.

Sephora snapped her fingers and the torches were lit again. With a smile she looked to Lorcan as she stood up from her makeshift altar, “You can open the box now.” He didn’t hesitate. He handed his torch to Jinx and knelt where Sephora had just been sitting herself.

He rested his hand on the lid to the box for a moment, trying to save this feeling. This was what he had been looking for, for such a long time that he couldn’t believe he was about to do it. He gripped the lock piece and slowly pushed it up. He opened the lid to reveal lots of gold coins. He didn’t care about any of them except the one that was on the top. It was a medallion of great design.

It had a skull in the middle of it and the sun’s arms around the edges. It was said that to hold great power. Depending on the legend that you knew the coin did different things. The person that held it would be left to more fortune than the holder could imagine. The medallion could also bring someone back from the dead. The coin would reveal the reincarnation of the lost princess of the pirates, the original princess was lost hundreds of years ago. She’s the reason why pirates go around the world looking for treasure, to find her. No matter the story the right person had to have the coin in their possession and it would be known if the person touching it was meant to have it.

Lorcan sat the now open box on the altar again and with shaking hands picked up the coin. He flipped the coin in his hand over a few times to be sure, but nothing visible happened. He threw the coin down into the box and slammed the lid closed. “Tall tales and lies!” The Pirate got up, throwing stones in his anger at the walls, causing the noise to echo endlessly through the collection of tunnels in the cave.

Alternatively Sephora knew otherwise, when the pirate touched the coin an invisible being appeared from the coin. It circled him, looking him up and down taking him in for a moment before it darted up through a hole in the cavern out to the world above. The invisible being dashed across the countryside through the morning light, traveling back to town. It circled different buildings like it was looking for something before it made its way to the tavern going in through an open window on the first floor. It made its way up the two flights of stairs to the attic room where a young brunette was sleeping on a cot. The invisible being circled over her for a moment then dashed into the amulet on her chest that had the same markings as the medallion. The girl sat up quickly gasping as though she had just had a nightmare.