Cave of Crows

The breeze whipped wildly down the beach. The ocean raged, spraying up against the cliffs. It was a wild habitat, not fit for people. Great gulls and albatross wailed at each other, fighting over fish bones in the sand. The beach went on for miles, untamed and empty. Great rock formations loomed over it, with jagged openings.

 

On the farthest point of the coast, the ocean ran off into a small stream which rounded a bend. The bend lead to a large cave opening. Within, drops of water fell from the ceiling, the dark entrance swallowing the light. The cave was still, absorbing sound and producing an eerie quiet. Birds did not go near the cave. Plants withered and dried before it. It was evil, consumed by its own darkness. The breeze howled through it, scaring away the creatures.

 

Many years ago, the beach had been a home to sailors from all over the world. Hundreds of ships were moored there. Pirates, merchants, treasure-seekers and soldiers. They had come together to form an alliance, to allow trade and talk to happen between them. Stories were swapped, wares exchanged, and songs sung until the early hours.

 

They spread further inland and slowly, a coastal town formed. The beach was a constant hive of activity, welcoming new travellers from all corners of the world. Within a few years, it had grown into a sprawling city. With it, came taverns and brawls and crime. This grew, and the city fell into chaos. Drunken pirates roamed and did as they pleased, merchants stole from each other and innocents fled the coast.

 

This town became known as Crow Rock. Old birds, ravens and crows dined on the recently dead, who lay in the sands at the hands of the violence. Before long, all trading had ceased and the beach as almost a constant battle. Villainous pirates, with bigger ships and crews landed, looking to conquer the city and take it over.

 

The most bloodthirsty, was a Captain Cordell and his crew of the Hermes II. They had pillaged most of the ocean and laid waste to many vessels carrying exotic goods and gold. They sought land and food. When they arrived, they cut apart the coast and killed the townsfolk. They staked their claim, residing at Crows Rock for years to come.

 

Patrolling navy ships had learnt of their presence and devised a plan to rid the pirates of Crows Rock. However, Captain Cordell was cunning, and lined the bay with barrels of gunpowder. Casting them out into the water, covered in seaweed, they were missed by the incoming Navy sailors. Captain Cordell’s crew shot the barrels from a distance, massacring them all in a few minutes.

 

For such an act, the crew of Captain Cordell was cursed. The island belonged to an ancient tribe of spiritual tribesmen, who had witnessed the rise and fall of Crows Rock over the last decade. For committing such an evil, twisted act that crew were haunted, and forced to live in darkness. Their skin burned and blackened, made ugly by their sins.

 

They ran, screaming for the caves. The Captain and his men fled inside and were never heard from again. Only their ships remained, floating, dead on the waters.