Legends Before the Storm: Kanja, the Gambler

Born in Calcutta, Kanja Shan was a wealthy spice merchant enjoying a life in luxury. Unfortunately, his lavish lifestyle, coupled with his natural greed, would eventually cost him everything.

Kanja’s business acumen propelled him to the highest ranks of the spice-trading circles. In a world where spices could make a cunning merchant rich, he always wanted more. Whoever controlled the spice controlled the world!

Kanja sponsored and armed pirate crews, sending them after rival spice merchants. The high-risk high-reward game stirred something powerful within him. It was exhilarating.

But it came as no surprise that Kanja’s ravenous ambition put him at odds with some powerful people. The Golden Chain, a league of resourceful smugglers, wanted him caught and quartered for stealing vast amounts of their saffron.

Kanja’s wealth also attracted the attention of his most dangerous adversary: the emperor himself. Kanja’s fortune was seized and his trading fleet scattered as he barely escaped Calcutta with his hide intact.

After many months on the run across half the Seven Seas, Kanja managed to shake off his pursuers and found shelter in a a bustling free port. It was a dreary life, ill-suited to the flamboyant spice thief. His only relief was the cheap liquor at the local tavern.

One sunny day, Kanja finally let his guard down, boastfully blabbering to the tavernkeep about rebuilding his empire. The balding man with a scar on his scalp nodded dutifully as he refilled Kanja’s cup many times over.

The crowd was getting lively. Someone was smashing tables and asking for a fight. The sound of polished boots approached from outside the door. The tavernkeep reached for something below the counter as Kanja droned on.

Occupied by the sight of two beautiful ladies he happened to share the counter with, Kanja ordered another drink to bolster his charm, blissfully unaware of how profoundly the next moments would shape the rest of his life.

When the pirate hunter and her Crown soldiers stormed the tavern, Kanja was not in any shape to fight back. He was easily captured, and all he could do was use his natural charm to quickly make some friends. He whispered to the tied-up tavernkeep next to him, promising infinite riches if they worked together to escape. The tavernkeep just gave him a sly wink.

They were promptly escorted to the pirate hunter’s enormous prison ship. Next stop: the Bloody Bastille, the Crown’s special prison for pirates in this part of the Seven Seas. Soon, most likely, it was off to the gallows.

For Kanja, and anyone else caught in the belly of this prison ship. It was all or nothing now. Time to make a play.

More Legends Before the Storm

If you've missed previous entries in our Legends Before the Storm series, you can get caught up here:

• Honorata, The Adventurer

• Scarlet, The Fearless

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