The start of our tale begins, as many tales do, with conflict. A beaten and battered ship drops out of a dense cloud as quickly as its damaged propellers can take it, desperately trying to escape the predator pursuing it. From the clouds, a massive harpoon fires, lodging itself directly inside the ship's side with a crash that sprays a shower of splinters all over. A sinister ship with black sails drags itself into view, slowly closing the distance between the two vessels. The captain of the black-sailed ship laughs heartily to himself, eager to claim some easy spoils from the naive merchant caught in his trap...

Yet his laughter is suddenly cut off, as a harpoon buries itself into the deck of his ship suddenly, mirroring the destruction the Black Pirate's own harpoon caused earlier. From even further above, bursting out of the clouds, the magnificent Golden Mirage can be seen! A raucous symphony of hoots and hollers rings out from the savior ship, and its crew begin to slide down the chains to begin boarding the enemy! Dozens of men and women, each equipped with hook harnesses and their weapons of choice, find themselves planting their boots on a hostile ship's deck, each of them look excited as can be. And why not? After all, it's not every day Blue Pirates get to raid such a prominent and wealthy Black Pirate such as Jahwal Leopold, the fearsome Slave Captain.

The friendly counterinvasion forces are quick to spread out and start engaging the much less friendly invading forces of Jahwal, steel sparking against steel and gunshots starting to ring out. You catch sight of your captain as he slips by you, pistol barking out with a flash as he domes one of the Black Pirates, who immediately begins dissipating into droplets of blue mana - a clean killshot, from the look of things.

"Find your dance partner and show me some results, fellas! And don't forget, use your whistle if you're in too deep! One of the vets will come bail you out!" Captain Keats, your own captain, shouts above the noise of a dozen fights. He seems to spot one of your fellows in a bit of a jam, and immediately rushes off to provide them with some support. You cast your own gaze around the battlefield, and judge where you might be needed the most...

>Is that Jahwal? Alone and slinking off towards his cabin? Don't mind if I do!
>Five against two? That's hardly fair! Go support some of your fellow pirates!
>Looks like some of the Black Pirates just boarded the merchant's vessel! Go take care of those rascals.

As for who you are and what your skills are, well...
>Tabula Rasa. You don't know your real name, and you lost the majority of your memories after a real nasty fight last month.
>Val Lasombra. You're great with magic, but even better with a pistol. Not one for words, you think actions speak much louder.
>Ramza Valentine. Cocky, charming, and killer with a Mageblade.