Pious Strength

The Pious Strength was a Pious galley operating in the southern Draconic Ocean in the early Second Age.  

Description

Like all craft in the Pious Armada, the Pious Strength was somewhat crudely made. She came well-supplied with crew, however, more than 300 apiece but many of these were not true sailors but instead Flocks – the devoted peasantry that comprised so much of the Sixfold Faith's early volunteer forces.   Her sails were white and bore upon them a golden emblem – the Sign of the Six.  

History

Second Age

Constructed in 60 2A, the Pious Strength was among five similar ships built in Piety, the beginnings of the church's fleet. It conducted a few missions across the Sea of Six Gods. In 67 2A, the Strength was eventually dispatched to Vhakizla, to blockade the Heartvein River and prevent any aid coming to the dracolich from Thanatos or anywhere else.   When the Silver Saber arrived, both the ship's captain and cleric parlayed with the mercenaries of the Menagerie but could come to no agreement. The following night, the mercenaries launched a surprise attack, showering the Strength with alchemist's fire and burning her to the waterline. Shepherd Visiah was himself killed by Umber, swinging his enormous maul.  

Inhabitants

Overflowing with crew, the Pious Strength was commanded by a pair of figures:  

• Captain Gnorine (female human): The youngest captain in the Pious Armada, Gnorine was among the most zealous. She saw everyone as either a believer or a heretic and brooked no rival to her church's power.
• Shepherd Visiah (male human): An affable yet ambitious priest, Visiah was known for his broad smile, his friendly smile and his cutthroat pursuit of power. He hoped to use his position aboard the Strength to leverage more glory and prestige.

 

Campaigns

The Menagerie

 

• Vhakizla: En route to their new contract, the Menagerie ran afoul of the Pious Strength and her blockade of the Heartvein. Following a brief parley with Shepherd Visiah, they were ordered by their undead patron to break the blockade. (Chapter 2) No sooner had the sun set, however, than the ship was burned with alchemist's fire and sunk in the rivermouth, its crew captured or slain. (Chapter 3)