I had first learned of Captain Black during the Festival of Death, when new acolytes are brought to the Temple of Anubis. A man, strung-out on opium, had brought a boy to the Temple hoping to sell him for coin. By his clothing he was obviously a foreigner and he seemed confused about the Festival of Death. I smiled and told him I would gladly explain it to him. An initiate gathered the boy with the others, as I called for everyone’s attention. My left arm firmly planted on the shoulder of the wretched man, I grandly gestured to the various statues and banners of Anubis’ glory and divinity all around the courtyard of the Temple. Explaining, in a large voice to the gathered crowd, about the eternal cycle of Life & Death and its sacred perfection. Extolling the divine wisdom of Anubis, I pulled from my belt a ceremonial dagger used to sacrifice unbelievers. And shouting, “You cannot buy Life & you cannot sell Death!” I plunged the dagger into the man’s chest. An audible hush filled the courtyard, as the surprised man’s life drained away onto the ground. Unceremoniously dropping his carcass, I announced my gratitude to Anubis for the blessing offered this Festival.
I later found the boy and interrogated him on how he came to be in the presence of the dead man. The boy mentioned that his name was Turin and that he had been on a ship with his family when it was attacked by the man, called Figs, and his gang. The boy Turin, and several others were taken as slaves to be sold when the slaver ship, in-turn, was attacked by Captain Black. During the fighting, Figs managed to escape with the boy Turin and 2 girls on a longboat. Eventually they made shore, where Figs sold off the 2 girls and then brought the boy to be sold here. I told Turin that he was strong and that he was now welcomed here as an Acolyte of Anubis.
A week later, at the end of the Festival of Death, the Head Priest of my order came to me and said that Anubis had come to him in a vision. He began to describe in detail a scene with me on a ship missing its bowsprit, defending her against the Port Authorities of South harbor. I had also shared this exact vision and knew that it was time for me to leave and do the specialized work of Anubis to which I had been trained. And Captain Black would somehow provide me the means to follow this new path.
A fortnight later, I found Captain Black more than half-drunk and trying to gather more crew for his ship, The Upright Man. I offered him my services as a Bringer of Life & Death, which provoked in him a momentary thought followed by a shrug and a, “Welcome to the crew of The Upright Man”.
