The Howling Gale

Type: Pirate Vessel (Sloop) Origin: Crystal Cove (Captain "Iron-Eye" Kael)

The Howling Gale is the fastest and most elusive ship in the Boundary Ocean, a sleek sloop modified by Captain Kael with a combination of Steamfort technology and Kigum magic. Its most prominent features are its massive, silver-silk sails that can "catch" even the faintest Aether-current and a series of experimental steam-boosters that allow it to reach incredible speeds for short bursts. The ship is also heavily warded with "Silence-Spells," making it nearly impossible to detect at night or in thick fog.

The interior of The Howling Gale is a masterpiece of space-saving engineering, filled with hidden compartments and customized weaponry. It serves as both Captain Kael's flagship and his personal home. To the sailors of the Boundary Ocean, the sight of its silver sails on the horizon is a sign of impending doom; to the Pirate Lords of Crystal Cove, it is a symbol of Kael's ambition and his willingness to use any means necessary to secure his dominance. The ship's reputation is so great that many vessels will surrender the moment The Howling Gale is identified.

Plot Hooks:

• The Chase: The party is aboard a Kigum transport ship that is being chased by The Howling Gale. They must find a way to disable the pirate ship's steam-boosters to allow their vessel to escape.
• The Hidden Lagoon: The party is hired to find Captain Kael's secret hideout in the Crystal Archipelago. They must track The Howling Gale through a series of treacherous reefs and magical fog-banks.
• The Gale's Upgrade: Kael hires the party to "acquire" a new type of experimental Aether-rudder from a Steamfort research facility to make his ship even more maneuverable.