INTRODUCTION

Wife of the former pirate king, Annie O'Hara has used and deceived many a fool throughout the Splintered Coast. While plenty underestimate her as just a pretty face and pair of legs, she has maneuvered herself into the ultimate position of power. Officially, regardless of what people say, there is no suspicion of foul play in her husband's death, however there are numerous accounts of pirates who drowned, disappeared or simply tripped over and fell onto their own swords as a result of crossing paths with O'Hara. Since the death of her Husband, Annie O'Hara has been busy, relying on the late pirate kings wealth and inheritance to seize the throne and get the other pirate captains in line, or else.

CHARACTERISTICS

A Pirates Life… Leadership within the Splintered Coast is fraught with danger and peril. Pirate Lords do not last long in their reign as assassination and backstabbing occurs with alarming regularity. The Pirate King above them must control the pirates like they might a pack of wild dogs. Control the pack and they will respect you, but show an inkling of weakness and the dogs will devour. While the day to day of the pirate is a bottle of something strong and a good wind in the sails, some pirates live their lives for politics at the end of a flintlock pistol. Swashbuckling, gunpowder and double-cross are the ingredients to the Captains way of life. They lead their crews out on the waves under the orders of the Pirate Lord they serve, or some find their calling as privateers serving to no master but themselves and the sea. With so much uncertainty a Pirate King walks a fine tightrope of commanding respect and assuming it as a given. Meet any sailor in any tavern at any port on any island and they will drunkenly talk about the code a pirate lives by, honor among thieves and goodwill to all those who fly under a flag. Many would argue that the fools who truly believe in that are fresh to the life of a pirate, those flights of fancy change quickly or they'll perish to the sirens call of the ocean. A true pirate they eventually say would rob from their mother and take their brothers wife for a trophy. Truthfully, the organizational structure of the society of seafaring rogues within the Splintered Coast is temperamental at best, while ships have order and hierarchy, the politics beyond the deck is any pirates for the taking, be they strong enough to claim it. Treasure fortunes the bold Annie O'Hara Annie is a pirate of legendary repute, her tales were told throughout the Splintered Coast during her career as a pirate captain. Daughter to a middling wealthy trader from Nastiabach, Annie O'Hara was born after her father had decided to settle in the Splintered Coast with a woman he had fallen madly in love with. Her two role models taught her the ways of high society from the Vathrian Kingdoms as well as the savvy way of life of a Splintered Coast pirate. Annie was a force to be reckoned with, taking her lessons of the world and translating it to her warfare and diplomacy. The attention of other ship captains turned to her and before long, she was being chased towards the sunset by enemies and potential suitors. Annie is considered by many to be the most beautiful treasure of the Splintered Coast and many men have attempted to win her heart or hand in marriage. She ran them all down though until she met the King, pirate lord Callaghan. No one who has met O'Hare would label her a fool, so when an opportunity came to meet and bed the Pirate King, Annie accepted with smiles and warmth. They were wed soon after. While her days as a feared pirate captain were officially over, her scheming and lust for strength and power were not. While nobody can say for certain how it happened, or who was responsible, the accidental death of the King came as a surprise. Annie played the part of the widow almost too perfectly with many a pirate lord and lowly captain making their way to her to offer their ‘condolences'. One by one the pirates of the Splintered Coast declared by the pirate code, that a new King must be chosen. Fighting began as many vied to become the next leader of the seas, some through conquest and others through diplomacy. The weaker lords declared elections must take place, to avoid the inevitable destruction of their ships, and Annie O'Hara watched with a smile, as she had a successor in mind already. She claimed the title for herself and chaos erupted throughout the Splintered Coast. The body of her husband, many whispered, had to yet to even cool.

HISTORY

The Current Age The Champion Hick Hatchet, legendary pirate Captain and notorious cockroach in escaping death lowered anchor. Everywhere he looked, the black flags flew high atop the ships and flotillas of the pirate lords. They had all come to the island for the same reason, to try their hand at becoming the new King of the seas. Hatchet however came with a different approach he was certain. Hatchet was well aware of the fury of the Captains following the declaration by Annie O'Hara that she would assume the title of Pirate King and commended the tenacity of the woman. While others had called her claim outrageous and moved immediately to war, Hatchet believed that the path to power was simpler, he would appeal to her heart. Annie conceded in their meeting the numerous Captains and Lords who challenged her was large, but was dubious of Hick and his reasons for pledging his support to her. She had her own crew, she had her own faction to follow her, but he could potentially help her tip the balance of the scales in her favor faster. She acknowledged the very next day that Hatchet might have his uses when one of her primary competitors to the title was found dead in the night from an apparent drunken accidental fire in his quarters. There was nothing to prove Hick Hatchet was responsible, but she had her suspicions. Annie accepted to meet once more with Hick and listened to his plan, he would support her, fight for her and pledge himself and his ships to hers. All he asked in return was her hand in marriage and a share of her authority. She assumed this would be his offer and she accepted with a smile through gritted teeth. Captain Johnny Johnson, of the ship Charon's Coin, had gathered himself quite a supporting base of pirates. Annie hated to admit that his fleet could potentially rival and overwhelm her own, meaning Hatchets proposal might actually be of great benefit. She agreed though rebuffed his advances to seal the proposal in a more intimate way, promising time together once he had removed Johnson from the ocean. Hick fulfilled his end of the bargain and with a few short weeks, Captain Johnson, and the Charon's Coin was sent to the bottom of the sea. His ships were commandeered and his crew either dead, surrendered or falling over themselves to pledge for Hatchet and O'Hara. Hick had helped bring Annie the wealth of power and strength of force she had been gathering herself all these years in just mere weeks. She was impressed with his efforts, and knew his desires. With that in mind, Annie O'Hara had no troubles or concerns ordering her ships to open fire on Hick and his fleet as met with her. Indeed her only concerns with the double-cross was that Hick had been too stupid to see it himself and that she herself never saw his body sink beneath the waves. The Ages yet to come The histories of tomorrow are awaiting an author, one who would tell the stories of the heroes and events not yet known. O'Hara knows that legendary pirate Hick Hatchet survives and will be coming for her. She has her army of ships and pirates to follow her orders, though for how long she is uncertain. She knows she must strike fear into their hearts and minds to keep them loyal. However for now, those stories are unwritten and the outcomes unknown as the looming threat grows larger across Vathria. . .