Admiral Palastrando Roque

Roque (if that is his real name) is believed to be a former officer in the Baduhmian Navy who was removed from his position for reasons unknown. At least, that is the story told about him. Truth be told, no one knows the actual story. He refers to himself as Admiral, as do those who sail with him. He also fancies himself a “Pirate King”, a moniker that has been earned through ruthless acts of piracy.

Many of the stories are likely embellished, such as those claiming that Roche has supernatural powers that allow him to part the sea and allow it to swallow his enemies, or that he has the ability to summon fearsome beasts from the depths to aid him in battle. To be sure, these are certainly tall tales.

But the stories of Roque’s cruelty have been evidenced many times, and require no exaggeration. From regular keelhauling of non-compliant crew to leaving the heads of defeated sailors on pikes off the bow of his ship, he revels in the fear these stories strike into the hearts of sailors up and down the coast.

It is believed that Roche is now at the helm of the Crimson temptress, a three-masted barque painted with a black hull and blood-red sails. There is no mistaking the ship even at a distance. Roque likely believes that this ship needs not hide, that its presence alone should strike abject fear into mariners. If you have seen his ship, he has seen you.

The Crimson Temptress is Roque’s second ship of note, the first being sunk at @koru. The story of Koru Boben is that Roque went down with his ship, but somehow survived. His crew was spared their lives, at his request. The incident means he has a distinct hatred, tempered with respect, for Skaltar Shadowfall.

It is believed that Roque has a vast sum of wealth from his exploits, but that much of it was list when his first ship was sunk. As such, it is now believed he must have some base of operations ashore, and that base is where he offloads loot from his piracy. He is not known for pillaging land targets, preferring to keep his focus at sea. But those attacks have resulted in massive hauls. Perhaps the worst, most fearsome haul was when he attacked the freighter Biweviom. The Biweviom was well-known as a well-armed, powerful ship that sailed between Chadigartu, Orsholon and Baduhm, carrying many trade goods and often carrying large loads of ore and processed precious metals. The ship was massive. Its final voyage was intercepted by Roque and his crew. The freighter saw the ship, and immediately moved to repel the attack. But they were no match for Roque. His ship came fast and was qucikly alongside the Biewviom. Roque and his crew ruthlessly fought the freighter crew, and had soon taken over the ship. Roque did not care for any of the trade goods. His only interest was the precious metals and any gems aboard. Once these were removed to his ship, the crew of the Biweviom were foced to climb the ships masts and lashed to them high above the deck. Once all the crew, and the ships officers had been tied and bound so that they could not move, Roque directed his crew to set fire to the deck. A fire aboard a ship is devastating. And the crew of the Biweviom would suffer a double fate: those who did not burn from the flames climbing the masts would drown as the ship went under. It is told that some suffered both fates, burned in the inferno, and while feeling that excruciating pain, feeling their lungs fill with seawater as the ship dragged them down. It is said that Roque raised a goblet of wine in a mocking toast from the port rail of his ship as they pulled away from the Biweviom, and laughed heartily at the screams of the Biweviom's crew.

If the rumors of Roque being a former Baduhmian Admiral are correct, then Roque had to have graduated from the Naval Academy on the coast of Baduhm. this indicates a high level of education and usually, a sense of discipline. Officers in the Baduhmian navy are well-known not only for battle tactics, but in armada-style battle. But they are also known for a weakness: Straight-on battle. They are taught that taking the battle straight to their opponents is the most effective means of fighting. This can often be the case, but means they can often be surprised by unexpected moves by their opponent. These can result in devastating attacks, if the opponent realizes soon enough that they are fighting a Baduhmian ship. Otherwise the opponent is defeated by the forceful and swift attack of the Baduhmian.

Roque's biggest embarassment was his defeat at Koru Boben. Roque underestimated the aggressiveness and inghenuity of his opponet, and was caught unprepared. He allowed his men to be captured and chose to "go down with his ship", but it appears that was not the end of Roque. In fact, it may have only hardened him further, and made a sworn enemy of Skaltar Shadowfall. It is also believed that this incident is where Roque lost his left hand, as prior to Koru Boben, Roque had both hands. As the rumors tell it, Roque was tied to the mast of his ship, destined for the ocean's briny depths. In the sinking, however, the listing of the ship caused massive debris (some say a crate full of cannonshot, others say the cannon itself) slid across the deck and slammed into the mast, with Roque's hand between them. The impact caused sufficient damage to the mast and rope that Roque was able to escape. It is believed he had the hand removed as it was damaged beyond repair.

Fire-red, shoulder length, often in a braid, but most commonly blowing in the wind.