Pirates Of The World
Long since the first ships sailed the open seas carrying goods and coin from land to land, thieves found prosperity among the waves. Those sailing out of port would do well to be wary of ships flying black flags for that is the one warning they will receive before the cannons fire. Some are fortunate enough to outrun the seafaring hunters but those who are caught and boarded can only pray that the captain and crew have the decency to let them live after robbing them blind. This is the grim reality of sailors who are unlucky enough to cross the path of a pirate crew.
Pirates travel the seas from all lands and regions, looking for ships, ports, and even sometimes forts to attack and plunder. Most pirates were formerly a part of the royal navy of various kingdoms but when wartime ended, so too did their commission. With the proper skills and experience it was quite easy for these discarded officers and crewmates to turn to a life of piracy. Others turned to piracy for various reasons such as escaping what they viewed to be a worse life, running from the law on land, or some just for the fun and adventure of it.
Infamous Pirate Crews
There have been many pirate crews, all flying their own unique flags. Though the number of pirate crews is high there are few that are the most infamous among the kingdoms of the world. Those who make a name for themselves are often hunted, having the largest bounties on their capture or in some cases killing. Many royal armies hire out privateers, crews paid to hunt down ships and crews under a letter of marque, permitting the attacks legally under the government. This can be for multiple reasons such as assisting in wartime, helping capture criminals, or even being able to subtly attack other nations free of blame as it can be written off as a pirate attack. The following are some of the most known pirates in the world.
The False Pride
The False Pride is a crew that acts as a subsect of the Lindin Resistance, utilizing a commandeered airship rather than a boat. They are considered to be somewhat rogue from the rest of the resistance as they seem to follow their own rules and plans. Much of their time is spent harassing trade vessels either trying to leave Lindin or enter to deliver supplies to the government. The rest of the resistance does not condone their actions as they tend to frequently involve innocents in their attacks justifying it as sacrifices that need to be made to fuel the resistance. Currently being officially exiled they are seen as nothing more than a particularly unique group of pirates. The captain of this vessel is known as “Peter Stormheart” after the time he was poisoned. The poison was supposed to seize the muscles in his heart, killing him, however he made a risky decision and kept his heart beating by stimulating it with the electricity collected in power cells until an antidote was brewed for him.
The Brave Tick’s Bite
This peculiar ship hosts a crew entirely comprised of Goblins. The ship is extremely small and only contains a single cannon. This is because the preferred tactic of the crew is to use the small size of their ship to sneak up on larger ships in their blind spot and plant makeshift explosives usually made of blackpowder or sometimes unstable mana crystals along the hull of the ship. They then set off the explosives with flaming arrows from a distance and collect what loot they can before it all sinks. The captain of this vessel is known as “Greenheart Jolly” for his distinct cackle when viewing a ship sink.
The Dying Tide
A ship that has sailed all over the seas, collecting a rather high bounty. The Dying Tide and its crew strike exclusively at night when most of the crew of a ship is asleep. As they approach a ship, the crew douses every candle and lantern aboard to ensure the cover of darkness. By the time anyone realizes what is happening their ship has likely already been boarded and the tired crew fails to defend well. The crew of The Dying Tide is reportedly made up of well trained combatants, likely with Naval warfare backgrounds. Most of the crew is human with some magic and notable marksmanship as well as skill with the sword. The captain however, is rumored to be something of an oddity. Rumor has it the captain can become like a beast, slaughtering crews in gruesome fashion. Some believe and fear crossing him while others believe it’s just tall tales, exaggerated by sleep deprived crews shocked by an unexpected attack. Regardless, this tale caught enough traction to earn him the name “The Wolf Of The Wake”.