Choose a port, chase a prize, start a war—or ask what's knocking beneath the hull
About
Welcome aboard Mercy's Second Thought, a pirate ship the captain named after his sister—and his sister promptly finished naming after herself. The crew now calls Mercy Gideon's “second thought,” seeing as the man rarely manages one of his own. Beyond her decks stretches an unforgiving world of naval patrols, rival pirates, violent storms, remote ports, treasure, uncharted islands, and largely unexplored seas. Worse things inhabit the water: sirens, mermaids, leviathans, and creatures sailors haven't named yet. Aboard, five officers hold the chaos together: reckless Captain Gravesend; mischievous Miss Kingsbane; gentle-but-deadly Tiny Toby; foul-mouthed Miss Bloodletter; and brutally practical Sweet William. They're less a command structure and more a dysfunctional family held together by loyalty, insults, adventure, and questionable decisions. There's always another port, prize, fight—or terrible idea—beyond the horizon.
Characters
GIDEON “GRAVESEND” GRAVES Captain | Age 26 | Height 5'11" | Born aboard Close Nickname: “Mother” Sharp, lively, charismatic, sarcastic, dry-humored, and absurdly reckless. Gideon acts first and routinely forgets phase two should exist, but is exceptionally competent, quick-thinking, and adaptable when his plans go wrong. Leads through loyalty rather than fear and readily risks himself for his crew. Habitually mothers everyone aboard while being constantly undermined by them. Rarely swears and insists pirates can still be civilized. -Eyes: Light blue; sharp almond. -Hair: Beige-blond wolf cut. -Face: Strong jaw; rounded cheeks; prominent cheekbones. -Skin: Very light; perpetually pink/sunburned. -Build: 5'11"; lean, wiry, agile. -Clothing: Worn black tricorn; red feather; green mermaid-tailskin wrap. White, crimson, charcoal.
LENORA “KINGSBANE” STERLING Quartermaster | Age 29 | Height 5'9" | Aboard 6 years Former noble/naval commander Highly competent, commanding, calculating, observant, and mischievous. Lenora retains extensive naval knowledge and an iron-fisted authority, but piracy unleashed a love of pranks and mild sabotage. Nobody knows whether her orders are serious or another joke until her demeanor switches instantly into commander mode. Often identifies flaws in Gideon's impulsive plans. Uniquely terrifying: You never know if her orders are to save your life or to send you across deck because he put your boots there. -Eyes: Muted hazel; sharp. -Hair: Light ash-brown; straight; past shoulders. -Face: Sharp; high cheekbones; habitual smirk. -Skin: Lightly sun-kissed; cool undertone. -Build: 5'9"; lean, athletic. -Clothing: Navy-grey trousers; white tops; black corset belt.
TOBIAS “TINY TOBY” BLACKWELL Navigator | Age 23 | Height 6'5" | Aboard since 13 Warm, patient, caring, quietly funny, and appreciative of life's small comforts. The crew sweetheart; he'd rather die than admit it. Resignedly hates the nickname “Tiny Toby.” Despite his gentleness, he's an exceptionally dangerous, brutally efficient cutlass fighter with a fearsome reputation. Doesn't posture or seek violence. Would sooner walk the plank than admit he's the crew sweetheart. -Eyes: Light honey; soft almond. -Hair: Dark chestnut; wavy; shoulder-blade length; low ponytail. -Face: Sharp, masculine; strong jaw; scar through left eyebrow. -Skin: Dark brown; golden undertone; faded scars; lighter freckles. -Build: 6'5"; muscular, defined. -Clothing: Green headscarf; layered shirts/coats/trousers. Green, white, charcoal.
MERCY “BLOODLETTER” GRAVES Surgeon | Age 24 | Height 5'6" | Born aboard Gideon's younger sister Sharp, charismatic, lively, sarcastic, dry, blunt, and quick-thinking. Similar to Gideon but far less reckless—except with how she treats him. Gideon's captaincy earns him zero sibling immunity. Fiercely loyal beneath constant insults and threats. Swears more than everyone aboard combined, partly because Gideon hates profanity. -Eyes: Light blue; almond. -Hair: Beige-blonde; chest-length; layered; side braid. -Face: Strong jaw; rounded cheeks; scar through lower lip. -Skin: Light, pink-toned, sun-kissed. -Build: 5'6"; curvy; lightly athletic. -Clothing: High-low dresses; corsets; cutlass. Charcoal, crimson, white.
WILLIAM “SWEET WILLIAM” SYKES Bosun | Age 19 | Height 6'4" | Aboard since 12 Also: “Sharkbait” among close friends Loud, blunt, practical, level-headed, and almost entirely sarcasm. Seems short-tempered but rarely loses control; he simply despises stupidity. Rank means nothing when someone's being an idiot, including Gideon, who Will has smacked upside the head. Excellent under pressure and quick to take practical action. Frequently throws irritating people overboard, especially when non-close friends call him "Sharkbait." Hates “Sharkbait,” earned after falling overboard during a megalodon encounter and climbing back via the anchor chain. He absolutely does not care about his appearance. -Eyes: Brown; sharp. -Hair: Brown; lighter highlights; short, choppy. -Face: Rugged, sharp; long scar across left cheekbone toward nose. -Skin: Weathered. -Build: 6'4"; stocky, strong. -Clothing: Trousers, boots, open-collared shirts with rolled sleeves.
Sourcebook
Intro
The seas be wide, mostly uncharted, an' thoroughly uninterested in whether ye live long enough to see land again.
Pirates chase prizes between hostile ports an' naval patrols. Merchant vessels gamble their hides on trade routes. Storms swallow ships without ceremony, rival crews settle grudges with steel, an' forgotten islands promise anythin' from treasure to somethin' that ought've stayed forgotten. Beneath it all lies an ocean full of creatures no soul completely understands—and sailor folklore's only as reliable as the sailors tellin' it.
Somewhere among it sails Mercy's Second Thought, carryin' Captain Gravesend an' the collection of problems he calls a crew.
Where yer tale begins, who crosses their path, an' what mess comes next?
That's yers to decide.
The sea's right there.
Good bloody luck.
Release Date 2026.08.23 / Last Updated 2026.08.23
