The Night Rose

Arwin just watched how the land was getting closer and closer. She had only heard rumors and some published facts about Shadowcoast when she was pirate, but she didn't know more than that.

The name came from the mountains that laid massive shadow to the never-ending coast.

Otherwise, she didn't know what to expect from the place and what she would find out from there.

"Oh right, as we have traditions here, every one of you will get one pistol and one close combat weapon when we get to the island.

We will also provide you a limited amount of ammunition, but if you shoot at the airship, our guards with rifles will happily pick you up from the cost and use you as a ranged practice.

But of course, as we are in prison, we will make it more exciting to you and everyone one of you has to draw two sets of papers where there are numbers, and those include what weapon you get.

So good luck with the drawing, and let's begin the lottery now." The prison guard said, and two guards carrying a wooden bowl of numbers appeared.

The first bowl had the close combat weapons, and the second one had the pistols.

Some of the prisoners got axes, scythe's, swords basically anything that could be used as a weapon while to the pistols they were ranked in with what condition they were as some of them were really old and almost breaking while some were shining new.

Of course, some were more like blunderbuss but in a pistol version, and some were suited for long-range.

When it finally was Arwin's turn to draw, she got a small battle-axe that was more similar to a hafted axe.

"Oh, someone got a lucky draw I see I should have known that our princess luck is excellent." The prison guard flashed a smile towards Arwin.

When Arwin tried her luck with the pistol, she saw that she got an elegant pistol that probably has been owned by a noble at some point.

It wasn't a flintlock pistol that would need maintenance, just like the one some of the unlucky prisoners got. What she is holding was a proper modern pistol that only could fire once. That is the case because the pistol manufacturers haven't revealed how the guns work to keep their trade secrets at themselves.

It still was loaded from the pipe and putting the lead ball inside, but it didn't need to be rifled or a black powder to fire.

"Now, I think some of you wonder about the magic at Shadowcoast.

Let me enlighten you. Yes, magic doesn't work there, but it also works there as the natives have their own magic, so good luck.

I won't tell you anything else, so you all discover the rest by yourselves." The prison guard said while smiling cheekily.

They were slowly landing on the continent, and only now, Arwin realized it was a bustling city.

"This is the Westport, and it's the local trade city within Shadowcoast.

All of the major continents have their own branches here to buy the local stuff and whatever their agenda is on this continent.

So this city has laws, and you will be killed most likely if you break them; otherwise, there aren't any other marked cities that we know in this continent." The prison guard said while they were landing on the town.

Arwin never heard that there was actually a city with soldiers and merchants on Shadowcoast and was surprised about it.

When they landed, someone shouted out.

"Hey, Bill, a new batch of prisoners again? Is it again at that time of the month?

Oh well, they came in an unfortunate time as there is probably going to be a beast tide that's going to hit the city soon." The airship platform guard said.

"Sam, you know we don't care what happens to these people. We just give them weapons and pass them to this island while scaring them.

Now they can go and fend off themselves and try to survive this cursed island." The prison guard answered.

"Bill, this island isn't that bad if you don't count the countless beasts and some of the hostile natives.

We are even almost done with building another city in more of the middle of this place.

It's otherwise quite a relaxing and enjoyable place to live." Sam answered while looking at the prisoners who came out from the airship.

"Oh well, it's not for me to live without magic, you know that Sam. My wife would kill me if we moved here.

But I have to go now; there should be another shipment of prisoners coming in a few days." Bill answered and waved at Sam while heading back to the other airship.

"So you twenty lucky people welcome to the Shadowcoast. I'm Sam, and I will be your guide today.

Of course, those who don't want help or guidance can fuck off right now and stop me from wasting my time. Those who wish to know more about this place I will offer the advice now, let's move forward now." Sam said while starting to move out.