Ahoy! Discover the tale of the famous pirate Baron-Captain Olsien Guy Mard in a new Meet the Character!
Sera,
At your request I’ve conducted a thorough examination of our documents and relics related to Baron-Admiral Bendu Olo, in search of references to your mysterious ghost captain. While the University has a significant number of items related to the late admiral and All-Flags Navy, I could find only a few scant notes about one Baron-Captain Olsien Guy Mard.
Aside from the brief mention you called out to me in “The Royal House of King Eamond,” I found only a scattering of references left behind by other captains from the armada. In particular, Captain Isara Davaux intensely disliked the man, though the specific reasons she detested “the unwashed thief-sailors of the Riotous Redress” (to borrow their language) was somewhat unclear from context.
The most clarifying document I could find about Baron-Captain Guy Mard actually comes from the baron-admiral himself. The old Sailor-King of Anvil wrote the privateer a letter sometime after the sinking of Thras, though likely the letter didn’t reach Guy Mard before his demise.
I’ve included a copy of the text here in support of your further research. As ever, I’m happy to help a member of the Circle even from afar. May the Mercymother protect you, Tuindoril.
Yours faithfully,
—Varona Vedralu, Senior Lecturer, University of Gwylim
PS: I am to convey, from your sister, that upon your next visit to Solitude she will be making you a large batch of Rahjin’s Sugar Claws. Whether this is a threat or a promised treat I leave for you to decide.
—-
From the Desk of:
Baron-Admiral Bendu Olo
Sailor-King to the Crews of the All-Flags Navy
I believe it was a Colovian Red from 2243. We laid the first new keels for the fleet that year, you see. The core of the armada was brought into service from local navies. You know the names. Onsi’s Oath, the Wind-Like-Anger, the Silver Lantern, my Relentless. All sturdy vessels. The heart of the fleet.
But some shipbuilders in High Rock, the Systres, and even a few as far as Elsweyr agreed to build new ships in support of our last gasp. We had no expectation then, and little hope. Now that Thras lies safely beneath the waves, the emperor heaps praise upon us in sweeping orations to massed crowds. But you and I both know how it was, Guy Mard. I used to joke with the inner circle that, had we failed, my corpse could have been wrapped in debenture slips from head to toe in the style of the Ra Gada.
In any case, the new keels. I had a tradition that when construction began on a ship, I’d buy a nice bottle to commemorate the occasion. We’d drink it after the first battle, say, or after its captain had done some act of derring-do. That’s why I’d had the bottle tucked up on the shelf. It was the keel bottle for the Salted Kraken.
The Kraken, Guy Mard. Your father’s ship.
I’ll never forget the look on your face when we spoke that day. I still don’t know what you told your crew, you old pirate. But the tears on your face. I swore that day I would never reveal your family’s secret. And I will go to my grave, I think sooner than I would like, with that promise kept.
But where are you? You haven’t kept up your end of the bargain. The end of the war has come and gone with you nowhere to be found. I know you’re still alive. That bizarre bell from Syrabane. But you never write back, and your family has nothing but tales.
I hope wherever you are, Guy Mard, that you finally found peace. You made the right choice, you see. Even if history won’t remember you. Baron-Admiral Bendu Olo damned well does.
You’ll encounter the Baron-Captain during the upcoming High Seas of Tamriel event on September 30—don’t be spooked by his otherworldly appearance! Are you and your crew ready to help the salty specter? Let us know via Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.