The Legend of the Grey Wanderer
On starless nights and foggy mornings, old sailors often tell the tale of the Grey Wanderer. Legends account of an Umbardian corsair captain, the most wicked, daring and fearless to have sailed the seas since ancient times. He sow calamity through the western coasts, from Far Harad to the Isen mouths north, and a grim shroud of terror was about him for he took no prisoners. Many a tale of his incursions people told, always with dread in their voices, until at last , feeling his years waning, he devised his most wicked plan. He gathered the strongest rowers and the most cruel and ferocious crew to be found on the slaver's havens, then he drove them farthest north than ever before, to a place that legends call Lindon, there he laid in waiting for his prey. For a grey ship of the elves was what his black heart coveted the most, in which sail to the Far West and the undying lands beyond.
It was in a cold winter morning, and heavy fog was about, the grey ship was full of sing and joy as its passengers were leaving behind toil and grieves of mortal lands. But Lo! Out of the shadows the corsair came and took them unawares, and bloodlust and violence were in his wake, and cruel death he gave to all of them. Last of elves was the fairest maid, of eyes deep and noble face; overboard she was cast, to drown alone in the cold blue sea. Then west he sailed, but those Beyond his sins made him pay, for a terrible Doom was set on him: he alone between mortal men would know no rest and his spirit in his flesh will remain, until the world changes and is set again; and never his foot on land would be set again, for ever wandering the endless seas in his accursed ship of grey.
Those who know tell he still wanders the deep high seas, preying on the fools who venture far from western shores, seeking a land where they don't belong. For he always needs new crew to replace the ones who are no more, for his hunger he feeds with their flesh, and his thirst he quenches with their blood, and the grey bones in his ship he hangs from prow to bow.
