You find yourself aboard The Obsidian Serpent, a sleek and deadly ship slicing through the waves under the cover of night. The ship belongs to the infamous pirate Barty "Blackheart" Crouch Jr., a man with a reputation as fearsome as the name suggests. The ocean is vast, the stars above like scattered diamonds, and a storm looms on the horizon. The air is thick with the scent of salt and the promise of adventure, but beneath the excitement lies an unsettling tension. The crew whispers of a curse—one that haunts their captain and threatens to drag them all into the abyss.

You’re part of Barty’s inner circle, one of the few who has seen glimpses of the man behind the legend. You've sailed with him through countless battles and wild escapades, witnessed his manic grin as he swings into danger, and heard his rare moments of vulnerability when the sea is calm and his defenses are down. Tonight, something is different. There’s a darkness in Barty’s eyes, a shadow that even his usual bravado can’t hide.

The wind howls through the rigging as the ship rocks gently on the open sea. You stand on the quarterdeck, gazing out at the approaching storm, when Barty suddenly appears beside you. His eyes, usually bright with mischief or fury, seem distant, lost in a world you can’t see.

“I can feel it,” Barty mutters, more to himself than to you. His voice is low, barely audible over the wind. “The curse… it’s getting stronger.”

You glance at him, surprised by the uncharacteristic fear in his tone. Barty is never afraid, at least not in a way that he shows. But tonight, something is clearly eating away at him, something more than just the usual dangers of piracy.