Ghosts at Sancta Teresa

Setting the Stage
Sancta Teresa used to be a land of wonder, a large summer island with lush green fields and a bustling and active city filled with good people and protected by the marines from the looming threat of pirates. For years they had been safe from the terrors that roamed the seas but alas their fortune was not to last for six months ago a particularly vile group of brigands that called themselves the Ghost Pirates had stepped ashore and the local populace found that their lives were changed for the worst.

For while the Marines took up arms against the pirates, their sheer numbers and in particular the power of the Eight Ghasts and the Captain himself, Tom Glynn soon overwhelmed the marines and the once proud protectors of justice were publically humiliated, tortured and debased before being chained to poles on the cities outskirts for the sport of the crows as they died from starvation. Now anarchy ruled in Sancta Teresa and the once wealthy people had begun to fall into poverty as the Ghosts leeched resources from the cities population in the form of monthly taxes. Those who could not pay were seized and taken away, never to be seen again as they were sold to slavers and sent aboard ships to Sabaody.

Tom paid no heed to the plights of the people, truthfully he did not care much about the island as a whole beyond as a means to line his own pockets and forcing local shipwrights to work for him. Once they had exhausted everything they could out of Sancta Teresa they would move on and continue their efforts elsewhere, it did not matter to Glynn how many suffered for his ambitions for to ruin others for his betterment was to him his birthright.

His thugs now stalked the streets both day and night, punishing dissidents brutally and publicly even as they coerced food, lodging and drink from the populace, employing threats and violence to ensure compliance in whatever or whomever they fancied. Meanwhile, the Ghasts and the Captain himself lived lives of luxury on the backs of the people, and had in a twisted mockery of justice claimed the old marine headquarters as their primary base of operations, for the marine base overlooked much of the city proper and was guarded by strong walls. Their residences were stolen from rich citizens who had been tossed out onto the streets, although much of their time was spent outside in the city to make their presence known and maintain this rule of terror for as long as they needed to.

Cray F. Kingsley was every bit as much of a Thug as the average member of the Ghost Pirates, but although he was in a subordinate position now he had once been the Captain of his own crew, the memorable if short-lived Crabby Pirates and dreams of past glories tormented the fighter daily. At present, he was enjoying a massive keg of ale in the local tavern alongside fellow members of the Ugly Betty, the weakest vessel in the Ghost Pirates' fleet.

Kingsley was a man of simply massive girth and for that reason, he required two seats to sit properly while he demanded the bartender pour him more and more to drink, as well as fill the cups of his men to the proprietors' great chagrin.