kaiju Posted June 20, 2016 Posted June 20, 2016 In the bars and taverns of Bastion all sorts of tales are told, especially once enough grog starts to flow. One such story is that of Captain Leon Dracken and the Witch Yolanda... ...a story that begins half a century ago, at the midst of the Forty-Nine Year War, when Admiral Leon Dracken of Oleon was charged with escorting a Priest of Hades to Oleon's early colonies to 'ensure their spiritual purity and discipline'. Not an unusual task, Dracken thought. And, as he would tell himself later, refusal could have meant death... ...but the company of soldiers the priest brought with him was unusual. While Admiral Dracken remained on the ship the priest and soldiers ventured inland to wipe out the followers of the Lord of Deep Waters. The results would be recorded by history as the Blackwater Massacre. The survivors were brought onboard Dracken's ship as prisoners to be taken back to Oleon. Dracken had no doubt any fate other than public execution awaited the prisoners... ...but a storm brought Dracken's voyage to a sudden stop as his ship was battered, broken and began to sink... ...the priest ordered the prisoners remain locked up for their heresies. Dracken disagreed, violently, and as the priest bled out on the deck Dracken tried to save those below... Oleon records that both Dracken and the priest went down with the ship ensuring as many of the crew made it to longboats as possible, and their story ends there. Elsewhere, the story sometimes takes a stranger turn... ...some tell that Leon Dracken and a Blackwater witch named Yolanda were the last to a boat, and that the storm separated them from the other survivors. That Dracken and Yolanda spent days aboard the longboat before the already scant supplies ran out. Dracken was the first to pass out from hunger and dehydration... ...only to awake on an unknown island where Yolanda lead him to a cavern. And within the cave lay a fountain of strangely glowing water... "For the lives you have saved," Yolanda said, "a reward. And for the lives you could not, the burden of your guilt. A life renewed." ...Yolanda bade Dracken drink... ...The effects were immediate, and quite painful... ...And so Dracken left that mysterious isle to begin his career as a pirate. Yolanda remained with him for a time, but eventually the two were parted. Of course, that is just a tall tale, the sort sailors like to tell, isn't it? To the east the real Leon Dracken and one of his crew, the witch Iosefka, have been following Father Tholeau's journal out beyond the known seas. "Hmm", Captain Dracken says to himself, "no one here." "You could hardly be expecting someone," Iosefka says, "from the wrecks on the beach it seems no soul has ventured in some time." "Expecting? No," Dracken says softly, "but hope is the curse of humanity." "I must ask," Iosefka adds, "have you been here before?" Dracken pauses to examine the fountain, filled with brackish green water. "Perhaps," He answers, quietly, "perhaps I have." Quote
Capt Wolf Posted June 20, 2016 Posted June 20, 2016 Nice take on the difference between history and myth (and deja vu?)! I like the narrow stonework bridging the water. And great use of the Maleficent minifig. But I wouldn't drink from that fountain... Quote
kaiju Posted June 20, 2016 Author Posted June 20, 2016 Very neat build! I love IT! Thank you. I was slightly intimidated by the other entries. Nice take on the difference between history and myth (and deja vu?)! I like the narrow stonework bridging the water. And great use of the Maleficent minifig. But I wouldn't drink from that fountain... Not sure Captain Dracken enjoyed it too much at the time. I've been looking for an opportunity to present this part of my sigfig's backstory, and the contest gave me a great opening. Quote
Captain Braunsfeld Posted June 21, 2016 Posted June 21, 2016 Great build, excellent story, fine photography - what else would we be wishing for? Quote
kaiju Posted June 22, 2016 Author Posted June 22, 2016 Nice story and presentation! Great build, excellent story, fine photography - what else would we be wishing for? Thank you both :) Quote
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