Part 1
When at last Zartan the pirate returned home from his African adventure, he had barely a day to enjoy the fine rum he had stored for just such a homecoming, nor Bob the fine seeds and grains Zartan had bought so he, too, might enjoy the revelry. They did have time to get quite chipper with their respective indulgences, but then a fierce knock came pounding on the door.
"Begone, you wretched villain!" Zartan shouted drunkenly, which Bob set about repeating gleefully. The pounding did not subside, and finally Zartan, with a groan, set down his emptied glass and swung the door open
"If it's my fists ye be coming to see, you'll be seeing plenty of both!" he announced before he saw the frightful figure before him. Only then did he blink and realize that he had on his doorstep the largest, most fearsome pirate that had ever walked the earth. He was an absolute giant, this pirate, no less than seven feet tall, and as muscled and scarred as he was tall. He had no beard, as many pirates do, but the horrible scar that decorated his face was as much a testament to his masculinity as a beard, and would alarm and frighten even the most confident adversary.
"By God," said Zartan. If he still held his glass, he would have dropped it. His jaw dropped instead, and he stood, stunned, in appreciation of this vision of wickedness which now confronted him. "By God," he said again. "If I've never seen a more more joyous site, old friend!" He then embraced the giant gladly, who deigned to return the affection only for a second.
"I wish I came for pleasure," the loathe pirate replied. "But I have come on more urgent matters. The fact is that I need a band of the bravest and ablest seamen that either the inside or the outside of the world can provide. Will you join us?"
"Will there be unknown perils, and a looming uncertainty of a safe homecoming?" Zartan asked.
"I assure you that all of your previous excursions will be as a day at the park," the gruff sailor replied without a smile, "and you are as likely to see Sheol as this threshhold at the end of it."
Zartan thought it over in a second. He was barely home from his last round of exploits, which took him into the darkest jungles of Africa where he encountered many peoples, places, and creatures which had never before been seen by a man from the outside world. He was not the young pirate he once was, and yet felt that journey in his bones and muscles. He had hoped for some recuperation time before setting out again.
"Let me get my parrot," he said.