The Blackened Deep

*Oh, the winds blew foul an’ the sky hung low,*

When the crew were called to sail.

A missive came from the Dominion’s hand,

Stamped red with a ghostly tale.

*(“Fools’ errand, it were, sure as bilge is wet,”)*

*the old salt said with a spit.*

*A ship went silent near Aurel’s reach—*

No smoke, no sound, no gleam.

So off they sailed through storm an’ squall,

Chasin’ a dead man’s dream.

*(“Felt wrong the moment they left the dock.”)*

*The stars were hid, the sea went still,*

Like pitch beneath their keel.

They spied the wreck through ghostlight gloom,

The water cold an’ real.

*(“Black as a liar’s heart,” one muttered.)*

*Then silence snapped with a thunderous boom,*

An’ the tentacles reached up high.

The Kraken roared, tore hull an’ mast,

While cannon smoke met sky.

*(“Man the guns! Turn her 'round!”)*

*They fought like dogs, they prayed like priests,*

But the beast just laughed at pleas.

With lashes long an’ eyes like fire,

It danced across the seas.

*(“Aye… the sea was *angry* that night.”)*

*But lo, from deeper still it came—*

A shadow, vast an’ slow.

The waters groaned, the ship near sank,

As fear began to grow.

*(“I swear it blocked the gods-damned moon…”)*

*the quartermaster swore.*

*A maw so wide it shamed the beast,*

With fangs like jagged stone.

One bite it took, the Kraken gone—

Then back to dark, alone.

*(“Gone. No churn, no scream. Nothin’ left.”)*

*The crew limped home with haunted eyes,*

Their minds near split with fright.

An’ none dare sail that cursed stretch,

Where darker things still bite.

*(“Some tales ain’t worth the tellin’... but this one be.”)*