- The Antarsia
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Had it not been for a particularly ferocious storm that uprooted hundreds of trees in the Chandric Forest in the Autumn of 9754 XA, The Antarsia would never have been created. A Nymph commune living in the Chandric Forest at the time saw the incident as a tragedy – but two friends who were desperate to leave the commune and traverse Elysia saw it as an opportunity. They used the battered trees to build a ship, with the Dryad using her skills to shape the wood and the Nyad preparing for the journey. The ship was built with exploration in mind, but also reflected the needs of the Nymphs in its design, featuring a greenhouse at the centre of the ship, a great number of portholes set into the hull (serving as windows), and a lot of intricate carvings.
The Nymph duo were naive and inexperienced in the ways of sailing, however. Given their extreme pacifism, their ship had no weaponry onboard. When faced with threats, The Antarsia would always attempt to flee, but this was not always successful and The Antarsia frequently suffered losses. The crew that the two friends had hired to sail the ship lived in fear of pirates, and began to resent the Nymphs for their refusal to resort to violence. Ultimately the crew rebelled, leaving the Nymphs on a scrap of land and stealing the ship.
It has been said that this initial betrayal laid a curse upon the ship, and it has since been the scene and cause of hundreds of mutinies throughout its history. As a result The Antarsia has changed hands a great many times, and has been adapted to suit various owners. It now has weaponry on board and bears a pirate flag, but some of the original features still remain (including, surprisingly, the greenhouse).
The current owners of the ship are once again Nymphs; two friends who have created a tightly-knit family in the crew of The Antarsia, and have turned their backs on the Sylvan Creed. They have been in control of the ship since 9995 XA – a long stretch in view of the ship’s history. They feel comfortable in their positions, and believe that the curse has come full circle. There are tensions stirring on board, however, due to a love triangle between the Captain, the Quartermaster and the Boatswain, and a few of the crew members fear another rebellion may be on the horizon.
- Captain - Alyssa Kuro
- Alyssa, a Nereid, is admired by the rest of the crew for her determination, strong will and skill in battle. She is naturally suspicious and somewhat afraid of the unknown, and so directs The Antarsia to battle any ship in sight. She is perhaps over confident in this regard, and she relies upon Lelani to calm her temper and moderate her extreme decisions.
- Quartermaster - Lelani
- An Ayad and long time friend of Alyssa, Lelani is in command of every aspect of the ship excepting battles, which are more Alyssa’s forte. Lelani is respected for her calm demeanour and for her intelligence, but her sensuous nature has caused trouble for The Antarsia more than once.
- Master Sailor - Calvin Renyos
- An Anyeli who is anxious by nature, and made only more so by his inability to swim. Much as it makes him uncomfortable, he will not leave The Antarsia as he is avoiding his kind (he deserted from his post in the war and made many enemies as a result). Calvin has been a part of the crew even longer than Lelani and Alyssa, and has been witness to many mutinies during his stretch as Sailing Master. His duties in the position revolve around navigation and sailing.
- Master Gunner - Ahdin ibn Verjin al-Guridji al-Marport
- A gruff, elderly Zanaryan who is as honest and dependable as he is unfriendly. He is particularly bitter about being under the command of two females, but he begrudgingly admires them – Alyssa for her strength and Lelani for her tactical skills. He is in command of a small team of gunners, who spend most of the day practising their elemental skills. Ahdin's rough manner of teaching is not particularly appreciated by his apprentices.
- Boatswain - Scott Turin
- A Human who is a fairly new acquisition to the crew, Scott has caused a stir by attracting and encouraging the affections of both Alyssa and Lelani. A likeable guy, but rather greedy, Scott is in charge of ship maintenance and stock. His charm usually enables him to get bargains on ship supplies. The rest of the crew have readily accepted him, even the mistrustful Alyssa and the grumpy Ahdin.
- First Mate - Manfred Montere
- Manfred appears to be a young boy, but he is in fact a Vampire who has lived longer than many of the crew members. He is particularly wise and sensible, and frequently offers valued advice to the Captain and Quartermaster. He has a solemn nature, and is not one to hurry, even in battle. His duties overlap with Lelani’s, but he tends to defer to her judgement and authority. He is the most experienced sailor aboard the ship, but he is remarkably humble.
- Carpenter - Cole Black
- A calm and unassuming Human, Cole works long hours, carefully restoring the original wooden carvings that have long been neglected. His main role is to repair battle damage to the ship and maintain the hull to plug and prevent leaks.
- Healer/Cook - Alice Cabal
- A Viridis who cooks for the crew and heals their wounds when necessary. Her motherly nature is appreciated by all, but she is just as stubborn as Alyssa in fighting for her beliefs and on behalf of those she has seen fit to protect. She has a particularly good relationship with Cole, and the pair are very good with the younger members of the crew.
- Rigger - Quinn Ralliet
- A young Dracovari who distances herself from the crew, preferring to spend most of her time in the crow’s nest. Her role is to release the sails, but she also plays a valuable role in keeping an eye out for approaching ships. She is bonded to a Dragon named Yukkerick who she summons in order to get news on what is happening elsewhere in Elysia and the Outer Realms.
- Cabin Boy - Rudy Terran
- An eager young Therian who can be ordered around by every crew member to perform small duties such as cleaning, fetching and gathering. He spends a lot of time with Manfred, awed by the Vampire’s vast knowledge. Cole and Alice treat him somewhat like a son, and defend him when he messes up (which is, unfortunately, a frequent occurrence). His enthusiasm is somewhat infectious.
- Musician - Flick
- A young Sidhe who lost his parents at sea, and was picked up by The Antarsia. He is timid and vulnerable, but his music allows him to express himself. He plays music during supper every night, and is particularly valued by Lelani and Alyssa when they are feeling nostalgic, and wish to hear a song to remind them of their homes and heritage.
