Vander Decken

Vander Decken was the first captain of the Flying Dutchman.

Personality
According to legend, Van der Decken went deranged one night and murdered his own crew, defying even heaven itself, and incurring the wrath of God. Though legends do have their inaccuracies, it was only clear that he was mad. Another story tells us that Van der Decken was caught in a storm. A ship that had been travelling next to his asked him if he was going to go into port Van der Decken spoke and said "May I be eternally damned if I do, though I should beat about here 'till the day of judgment." And do he did. Pirates claimed they saw the "Flying Dutchman" in a storm after it had sunk.

Abilities and Powers
During his life Vander Decken managed to develop a fearsome reputation and eventually his legend spread around the world. According to legend, Vander Decken was cursed. However, Pappug did state that legends tend to exaggerate so the legend of Vander Decken is not entirely credible.

Cursed History
According to legend, on a stormy day hundreds of years ago, Vander Decken suddenly became deranged and began killing off his crew mates by throwing them off the ship. He then invoked the wrath of God by defying him. As a punishment, he and his ship were forced to wander the seas forever. However, though it was clear that Decken was mad, as legends tend to exaggerate, several points are debatable.

Death and Legacy
Vander Decken came to the ocean floor to search for a legendary Mermaid Princess who would have the power to command Sea Kings. Unfortunately, he never achieved his goal. He ultimately died on Fishman Island and the knowledge of the mermaid princess of legend was passed down to his descendants, who have been piloting the Flying Dutchman ever since. The current captain is his eighth generation grandson, Vander Decken IX.

Trivia

 * The captain of the Flying Dutchman was unnamed in the original legend. The first version of the legend as a story was printed in "Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine", which names the captain 'Van der Dekken'. The name means "of the deck" and was also used in the Gothic novel "The Phantom Ship" by Frederick Marryat.
 * As his eighth generation grandson is a fishman, it is possible that the first Decken himself (or somewhere along his family tree) was at least related to the species.

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