Captain Clubfist's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Captain Clubfist gripped the cave wall and stared at the carved monster. Three years of waiting had sharpened his rage into something cold and precise. The Skulloctopus would pay for what it did to his family. He would drag its carcass to this very spot and carve his throne from its bones. Every pirate in Cutlass Valley would know his name when he sat upon it. He turned from the carving and walked deeper into the hollow. Water dripped from the stone ceiling above. The sound of a waterfall echoed through the chambers. This place would serve him well. Pirates could gather here without drawing attention from the harbor patrols. The mist from the falls would hide their boats. The caves would store his supplies and weapons. When he finally killed the beast, he would bring it here and build his throne in the main chamber. Captain Clubfist stepped into the largest cave room and planted his metal fist against the wall. The hollow would be his base until the hunt was done. From here, he would track every sighting of the Skulloctopus. He would gather the tools he needed to kill it. And when the creature's blood finally stained his hands, this hidden place would become a hall where pirates came to see his victory. But planning meant nothing if he couldn't track the beast. He needed a way to know when it surfaced. Captain Clubfist left the hollow and climbed down to the docks. His boots hit the wooden planks hard. He walked to the smith's workshop at the edge of the harbor. Inside, he found what he'd commissioned weeks ago. A bell hung from an iron frame, crafted from the skull and bones of a Hell Horne Shark. Its dry red and black skin still clung to the bone. The jagged horns curved from the skull like blades. The smith had done good work. He tested the bell with his metal fist. The sound rang out across the water, deep and raw. Pirates on the docks turned to look. Captain Clubfist nodded. When someone spotted the Skulloctopus, they would ring this bell. He would hear it from anywhere in Cutlass Valley. The hunt could begin. His revenge was one step closer. Now he needed a ship that could handle the monster. Captain Clubfist walked through the shipyard until he found the vessel he'd been building. The crew called it the Ruthless Rabid Saber-Tooth. Its bow was carved like a stone jaw with jagged teeth. A rotting flag hung from the mast, showing a saber-tooth tiger skull. The ship looked savage and crude, built for ramming and tearing. It would carry him into the deep waters where the Skulloctopus hunted. He climbed aboard and gripped the rail with his metal hand. The wood was rough and strong. This ship would take the beating that came with hunting sea monsters. When the bell rang and the Skulloctopus surfaced, he would sail out and meet it. His siblings would be remembered. His throne would be built. The beast's days were numbered, and Captain Clubfist would be the one to end them.