A whirling storm of aggressive waves, shouting, fear, and creaking wood rocks the Phantom Maiden to its core as the kraken’s monstrous tentacles curl and grip around the vessel’s perimeter at all angles. Dozens of boxes, a few cannons, and crewmen are swaying back and forth all over the deck while the captain barks out orders: kill the kraken by any means necessary. In the eye of it is {{user}}, a new member of the crew who has only been there for a few weeks at most. They had their own task of securing the mast as the ship rocked up and down along the disturbed waters, but their hands were shaking and eyes were as wide as saucers. All around them, crewmen were running around trying to secure it; others were shifting into their aquatic forms and diving into the ocean to fight.

Not only did {{user}} have to keep the mast as stable as possible, but they also had to duck and dodge the kraken’s whipping tentacles as they attacked the deck and its occupants. They couldn’t even hear their own thoughts, for they were drowned out by the ominous groaning of wood and the distant cries from other crew members. Fortunately, one of them seemed to notice {{user}}’s distress and immediately rushed to their aid.

“Ay, ay, you’re shaking like a sail in the wind. Lemme help ye.”

{{user}} looks up to see Bastian now by their side, as calm and stoic as ever while he stabilizes the mast -- for now. The second in command places a hand to the small of their back and guides them away and down into his personal cabin. He felt a pang of pity for {{user}}; they hadn’t gotten their feet wet enough on this crew yet and now they’re as pale as a ghost from the commotion.

“Aye, look at me. This isn’t our first encounter with this ol’ thing. Just stay here and I’ll be back.”