Pirates of the Caribbean: Fall of an Empire

Brethren, We are under attack. For years we have been able to enjoy the plunders of the high seas. We have been able to live our lives as we see fit. We have established a system of government within which men are able to do as they please and are not fettered by the restraints of what many call "democracy", what many believe to be a "just way of government". But this way of life, our way of life, is being threatened. The East India Trading Company, led by the petulant Lord Beckett, has declared war against us! How naive. They know not what they ask for. They know not the full power of our coalition. They will rue the day they thought it prudent to challenge us. We call together The Brethren Court. We do not take this action lightly, but feel it is necessary to adequately respond to this threat to our way of life. We also call upon our friend, our ally, Tia Dalma the Voodooist, to call upon our deceased brethren, Bartholomew Roberts and The Magnificent Queen Teuta, to come back from the dead and assist our cause. Take up arms, brethren, and meet us at Shipwreck Cove. As a stronghold of piracy for centuries, it is here we will make our stand. It is here where we will show them what we are made of. It is here where we will show them the error in their decision. It is here where we will WIN.

Brethren *More specific information for each character (crew numbers, resources, locations, etc.) will be handed out individually in dossiers at the beginning of the conference* Jack Sparrow Pirate Lord of the Caribbean

Jack Sparrow was a mysterious young stowaway on a pirate ship, thus foreshadowing his career as a pirate. Once he found the Barnacle, a creaky old ship in the port of Tortuga, he became its captain. After his career as captain of the Barnacle ended somewhat unceremoniously, he worked for the East India Trading Company. Disillusioned by the slave trade that the company participated in, Sparrow defected and became a pirate. Captain Jack is known for using wit, seduction, and creativity when in sticky situations, which are not hard to come by for Mr. Sparrow. During his time as the captain of the famous Black Pearl, Hector Barbossa, Jack’s first mate, led a mutiny and marooned him and became the Pearl’s captain. However, this was probably for the better, as Sparrow was not subject to the same curse that the rest of the Pearl’s crew suffered from after stealing Aztec gold. Another character trait of Captain Jack is his resistance complete lack of accountability for his actions. However, Sparrow is able to use his instincts and clever mind to solve tricky circumstances. As the Pirate lord of the Caribbean, he has a tremendous amount of power, since the Caribbean Sea is full of pirates, pirating activities, and adventure. The Caribbean is a strategic location because of its proximity to treasure, but it is also dangerous due to its proximity to a main hub of the East India Trading Company.

Mr. Gibbs First Mate to Jack Sparrow

Before becoming a pirate, Mr. Gibbs was a sailor in the Royal Navy which gave him experience on the seas. Though not a pirate lord himself, Gibbs is incredibly loyal to his captain, Jack Sparrow. Although he had been a part of the crew that marooned Sparrow, Gibbs regretted his compliance and served Captain Hector Barbossa but was not faithful to him. Always ready to offer a wise word, Gibbs can speak on nearly anything, from the Pirate Code to the Kraken. His weakness is his love for rum. Although Jack sometimes belittles him, Gibbs accepts it, usually acknowledging that Sparrow is right, and yearns to improve. He is willing to give advice, but is ready to follow orders: a necessary combination for a First Mate. Mr. Gibbs is extremely resourceful and wise given his many years on the seven seas, and his advice should not be taken lightly. It has been rumored that Mr. Gibbs has captain aspirations of his own, but nothing has been confirmed. Captain Barbossa Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea

Initially aspiring to be a legitimate sailor, Hector Barbossa became a pirate, citing a strong dislike of rules and regulations in his reasoning. An extremely ambitious pirate and first mate, Barbossa led a mutiny against Jack Sparrow, thus becoming the captain of the Pearl himself. Not always the most forward thinking pirate, Captain Barbossa oversaw the unfortunate curse of the Black Pearl after he and his crew stole Aztec gold. He was killed by Jack Sparrow yet soon resurrected by Tia Dalma (Calypso). Barbossa is cranky and cunning, but once he realizes he no longer possesses the upper hand, he can become surprisingly helpful and loyal. Barbossa is a verbal supporter of releasing Calypso from her human bonds, but there have been rumblings of discontent from the other Brethren and talk of trying to recapture her have

started to surface. Being the Pirate lord of the Captain Sea, which is located between Russia and the caucuses, Barbossa has a large swath of influence in the Brethren Court and is respected. William Turner Close friend of Jack Sparrow

Starting off as a blacksmith, Will Turner never intended to become a pirate. Fate, however, interfered. Will Turner’s father was “Bootstrap Bill Turner” who became one of the crewman aboard the Flying Dutchman, Davy Jones’ infamous ship. It is still widely thought that Mr. Turner still has contact with his father, giving him an intimate connection with the Flying Dutchman, especially given his recent stint as captain Jack Sparrow recruits Will Turner and becomes particularly useful to him; Will is brave, responsible, and smart. He is in love with Elizabeth Swann, a woman of higher class who also sets the past behind her to take part in piracy. Though Jack cared for Will, he tricked him into becoming a crewmember on the Flying Dutchman and, eventually, Will became the captain of the ship, ferrying souls between worlds for ten years. He is not afraid to follow his own beliefs and doesn’t serve Captain Jack all the time; though not a pirate lord, William Turner has been able to influence Jack Sparrow in the past. Elizabeth Swann

Pirate Lord of the North Pacific Seemingly born to defy social boundaries, it was evident from a young age that Elizabeth Swann was not going to be the proper British lady her father, governor Weatherby Swann, wanted her to be. From a young age, Ms. Swann took a fancy to the swashbuckling lifestyle of pirates, learning all she could about them, including their songs. Her path into piracy began at a young age too, though

she didn’t know it yet. Ms. Swann came into contact with a young William Turner while aboard one of her father’s ships. Mr. Turner had washed up after becoming the victim of a pirate attack, and while tending to him Ms. Swann noticed one of the pieces of Aztec gold Mr. Turner had around his neck. From this point on, Ms. Swann’s life changed forever. She became intertwined both in the lives of Mr. Turner as well as Jack Sparrow, and eventually became an integral part in the pirates fight against Lord Beckett. Given her immense involvement, Ms. Swann became the Pirate Lord of the North Pacific, fit with her own fleet of like-minded pirates that refused to fit into their prescribed social roles.

Because of her diminutive stature in relation to most other pirates, Ms. Swann relies primarily on her smarts to outmaneuver her opponents, so far with great success. She is fairly easy going, but cross her once… good luck getting on her good side again.

Sao Feng Pirate Lord of South China Sea Little is known about Sao Feng’s childhood. The little that is known leads us to believe that he grew up in and around piracy. His father was a pirate in the Third Brethren Court. Feng initially sailed in the fleet of his older brother, Liang Dao, as captain of the Empress. In time, though, Feng devised a plan to overthrow his brother, which he successfully executed with the help of Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl. Feng rules his pirate empire from a bathhouse in Singapore, and is built around a network of spies. A ruthless pirate, Feng is both feared and respected by others. He commands a vast fleet of junks, and commands immense loyalty from his sailors. Despite all of this, he tends to stay out of most battles, instead opting to command from the sidelines. One of Feng’s few weaknesses seems to be, like most pirates, beautiful, powerful women.

Though it cannot be confirmed, there has been talk that Sao Feng is deeply connected with the Pirate Confederation of China and Mistress Ching.

Boris Palachnik Rogue Pirate Even less is known about Boris Palachnik than is known about Sao Feng. Palachnik used to be the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea, captain of the Koldunya. For whatever reason, Palachnik and several other pirate captains, Rapiere among them, became rogue and embarked on a bloody massacre of everyone in their path. Even crews that surrendered without a fight were heartlessly slaughtered as a result of Palachnik’s lust for blood and booty. One of our own was a victim of Palachnik’s lust. Palachnik’s Koldunya encountered Barbossa’s Cobra and, once again going against the Code, Palachnik engaged the Cobra, eventually sinking it, but Barbossa and a few others managed to escape.

The Brethren, despite Palachnik’s tendencies, feel it is prudent to keep Palachnik on our side as he can be very useful in our fight against the EITC. But tread carefully, Palachnik’s temper is known to turn on a dime. Don Rafael Don Rafael is a Spanish landowner in the New World. Going against the grain, Rafael is more than cordial towards his Aztec neighbors, and even allowed his son to marry an Aztec girl. All of this nicety towards the natives didn’t bode well for him and his relationship with the other Spanish Dons in the area. Don Rafael’s entrance into piracy came after his estate was attacked and burned to the ground by the other Don’s in reaction to his relationship with the Aztecs. Both his son and his daughter-in-law were killed in the attack, and as a result Rafael took his granddaughter in to raise on his own. He acquired a ship,

named the Venganza, and became one of the most respected Pirate Lords in the Brethren Court. Lady Esmerelda Pirate Lord of the West African Coast

Esmerelda operates off the coast of the Azores, and is oft considered one of the best swordsman on the high seas. When she was 26, she was a far better fencer than Jack Sparrow. In battle she is likely to choose a cutlass, though she occasionally uses a pistol. Esmeralda was highly educated and as such, she is able to speak Spanish, English, Aztec, and French.

Esmeralda is the granddaughter of Pirate Lord Don Rafael. She was orphaned at a young age, leaving her in her grandfather’s protection. When Don Rafael started his career as a pirate, she was sent to convent school in Barcelona. During her time in school she secretly took fencing lessons and at the age of 15 she escaped school to find her grandfather. Don Raphael welcomed her to his ship, the Venganza, to learn some pirating.

Years later in Shipwrecks Cove, Esmerelda reunited with Jack Sparrow whom she met as a young woman. She was introduced to Jack’s friend, Christophe-Julien de Rapièr, captain of the brigantine La Vipère. Christophe tried to woo Esmerelda with his charms but was rebuffed in favor of Jack’s ardor. It was later revealed that Christophe was a traitorous wretch. Two years after Jack Sparrow's escape from Shipwreck Island, Don Rafael was killed by the two-timing Christophe-Julien de Rapièr. This made Esmerelda the new captain of the Venganza and she soon earned the nickname Doña Pirata. Eduardo Villanueva Pirate Lord of the Adriatic Sea

A Spaniard, Villanueva is Pirate Lord of the Adriatic Sea, though he had traveled to ports across the Seven Seas, such as those in the Philippines and

South America. Eduardo Villanueva was a privateer on behalf of Spain. He raided ships across the Adriatic, as well as waters near Spanish holdings in Mexico and South America. His travels and pirating endeavours pitted him against fellow Pirate Lords, Ammand the Corsair, and Capitaine Chevalle, all of whom he battled in his powerful flagship, the Centurion. Ammand and the Barbary Corsairs often raided the coasts of the Mediterranean and whenever they ventured into the Adriatic, they would come into conflict with Villanueva's personal privateer fleet, the Spanish Treasure Fleet. Villanueva also developed a heated rivalry with Capitaine Chevalle, and he came to dislike the Frenchman instantly. He is wanted dead or alive by the East India Trading Company for crimes including pilfering gold, instigating and participating in a bar fight, and piracy on the Spanish seas. The bounty is worth 2,000 guineas. Villanueva is notorious for instigating bar fights. He was also responsible for the brawl that engulfed the fourth Brethren Court meeting. Villanueva is derisive of young upstart pirates, and had more respect for older veteran pirates. He doesn't even consider Jack Sparrow a true Pirate Lord. Villanueva holds Gentleman Jocard in high regard, respecting anyone brave enough to confront him.

Ammand Pirate Lord of the Black Sea

From his flagship, the Seref, Ammand leads the Barbary Corsairs, a somewhat organized group of pirates who rob the trade ships of Christian "infidels". He combined his forces with the Ottoman Empire to control the region from Morocco to Turkey and sometimes beyond. He would sometimes sail into the Adriatic Sea, and would in turn earn the wrath of fellow Pirate Lord, Captain Villanueva, who is lord over those waters. The Barbary Corsairs often

battled Villanueva's Spanish Treasure Fleet, who patrolled the waters of the Adriatic. Ammand is wanted dead or alive by the East India Trading Company for crimes including those against the church, theft of church property, assaulting a nun, and piracy along the Barbary Coast. The reward was 4,400 guineas. Ammand possesses a long curved sword, which he used with a degree of proficiency. Renowned for his defensive skills, he had strong defensive moves but the drawback of poor offense made it difficult for Ammand to win duels. Ammand possesses a unique piece of eight in shape of a chalice. Ammand has a very irritable character. Although well-groomed, clean, and well dressed, Ammand was sometimes barbaric, preferring to “negotiate” with violence. Although their pirates commonly crossed blades, Ammand has quite a bit of respect for Eduardo Villanueva. Ammand has claimed that Villanueva is the only Pirate he would take counsel from. Chevalle Pirate Lord of the Mediterranean

Hailing from Marseilles, the trade capital of France, Chevalle is the lord of the Mediterranean Sea. He is known to prefer the title of "Capitaine".

Chevalle was a former member of the French aristocracy and has spent many a year pillaging the weak and wealthy trade ships of Europe in his flagship, the Fancy, as well as trading between the Old World and the New World in the French Caribbean Colonies, such as Montserrat and Haiti. He was also known to plunder the Spanish Treasure Fleets of fellow Pirate Lord, Captain Eduardo Villanueva as they returned from places such places as Mexico. He is wanted dead or alive by the East India Trading Company for crimes including piracy in the French seas, attempting to steal from the Swiss Bank, and defacement and destruction of French property both on land and at sea. The reward is posted at 6,000 guineas.

Prior to the fourth meeting of the Brethren Court, harsh times had befallen Chevalle, and was at some point captured by royal marines under the command of the ninnyhammer, Lord Cutler Beckett. Chevalle was tried and sentenced to hang at Fort Charles in the town of Port Royal, now under the control of the East India Trading Company. Thankfully, he was rescued by the pirate, Jack Sparrow.

Being a former aristocrat, Chevalle was exceedingly vain, wearing flamboyant and elegant clothing. Though Chevalle is very prideful and dignified he can be logical and straightforward. Chevalle has an ongoing feud with Pirate Lord Villanueva. He also holds great respect for Sri Sumbhajee, thinking that, "His wisdom ran deeper than the bowels of the Kraken.”

Chevalle possesses a unique piece of eight in the form of a Queen of Spades playing card that he keeps hidden up his sleeve. Sumbhajee Angria

Pirate Lord of the Indian Ocean Sri Sumbhajee, presumably from Bombay, is the son of Kanhoji Angria,

who spent his life fighting against the East India Trading Company. Early in his life, Sumbhajee became a Hindu priest, however, he later became a pirate to claim his fortune. He became Pirate Lord of the Indian Ocean by notoriously disrupting trade between Europe and India by sinking merchant ships, particularly those from the East India Trade Company. Sumbhajee owns many ships, with his personal favorite being the Otter, due to its ability to sneak in and out of ports without being noticed. According to his bounty set by the Company, Sumbhajee is worth 2,800 guineas (unusually low considering his actions).

Sumbhajee is regal, exerting his own superiority complex. His materialist personality is shown through his decisions.

Jocard

Pirate Lord of the Atlantic Ocean He was sold into slavery by King Samuel to Gentleman Jocard and became known as “Gombo” for his culinary skills. After revolting against his master, he joined Jack Sparrow on the Black Pearl, but later left to sail with former slaves. Later, he and Jack joined forces to defeat King Samuel and steal his piece of eight, naming Jocard a Pirate Lord. Jack and Jocard prove to be allies, especially when Jack wins a deal and releases Jocard from Davy Jones’ locker. Jocard is wanted dead or alive by the Company for 3,600 guineas. Jocard is against Barbosa’s idea to release Calypso. He displays barbaric behavior and carries a bone weapon rather than western tools, such as swords. His piece of eight is a bone pipe.

Ching Pirate Lord of the South Pacific Ocean

Mistress Ching took over after her husband’s death, commanding the Pirate Confederation of China. She profits from smuggled goods from China to Japan, as well as a chain of brothels. Mistress Ching commands an armada of junks. She is wanted dead or alive by the Company for 3,400 guineas.

Ching opposed Elizabeth Swann’s idea to fight the Company, however, changed her mind once Swann was elected. Ching is an egotistical, elegant, and stubborn woman. She is blind, carrying a cane, sword, pistol, and her piece of eight are, appropriately, ancient Chinese spectacles. Blackbeard (Edward Teach) Pirate Lord of the North Sea, Celtic Sea, and Irish Sea

Originally dispersed by King George to raid enemy ships, Blackbeard is known as the darkest, coldest pirate. His best known vessel is Queen Anne’s Revenge. He is said to have supernatural powers, being able to control ships with his sword. Though many believed he died in the Battle of Ocracoke, some say he escaped to retrieve the Sword of Triton and find the Fountain of Youth. Blackbeard’s equipment includes swords, his vessel, pistols, and his own grenades made from bottles filled with gunpowder. Blackbeard used his weapons to attack both ships from the East India Trading Company as well as those from the Brethren Court. Blackbeard is extremely resourceful, and can prove to be a valuable ally, but also a volatile one. He has many contacts in the United Kingdom, which also happens to be the headquarters of the British East India Trading Company.

Bartholomew Roberts Pirate Lord of the Arabian Sea

Also known as Black Bart, Bartholomew Roberts was a Welsh pirate who operated in the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean from 1719 to 1722. He could easily be the most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy, having been known to have captured over 400 ships in his day. Bartholomew first went to sea at 13 and worked as a merchant until he served as a mate in the Barbados, then as a third mate on the ship, Princess. which was captured off the coast of Africa by the pirate vessels Royal Rover and Royal James. Once these ships were attacked and captured, Bartholomew was elected to take command. After many successful plunderings, he found himself off the coast of Africa near Sierra Leone. Battling against British Captain Chanelor Ogle, it is rumored that Bartholomew was struck in the neck by grapeshot and died, heroically nontheless. His crew threw him overboard to prevent his body being captured and he kept his dignity. Tia resurrects him as the pirate lord of the Arabian

sea. His predilection of feathers, gold diamonds, and silk holsters along with his preference of tea over rum and discipline over chaos make it clear that he belongs in the Arabian with the finer things of life readily available through the silk road trades in the Arabian Peninsula. His reign includes power over the Arabian Sea and the bordering countries along with his clever and sneaky skills of attacking and killing hundreds at once. Queen Teuta

Queen Teuta told the ambassadors that according to the law of the Illyrians, piracy was a lawful trade and that her government had no right to interfere with this as a private enterprise. She also implied that "it was never the custom of royalty to prevent the advantage of its subjects they could get from the sea.” The Roman ambassadors disagreed her attitude and shamelessly made her aware. Being the sassy queen she was, when they boarded their ships to return to Rome, she had her troops seize the ships, kill one of the emissaries, and take the other captive. She was very strong in her beliefs and fought for what she believed in: the free roam of pirates without imposition. The Brethren court deemed it vital for Tia to use her powers and bring back the strong-willed Queen Teuta in order to rightfully oppose Lord Beckett who wishes to annihilate all piracy and seeks to destroy every pirate of the Caribbean. She holds power as one of the top leaders against Lord Beckett and invites others who wish to rally against this extremist.

Christophe-Julien de Rapier Rogue Pirate associated with Boris

Christophe-Julien de Rapier was a French pirate captain during the first half of the 18th century, most notably in command of La Vipère. He was once onboard once with Lord Beckett who laughed at Christophe and made fun of his clothes. However, he made Beckett pay as Christophe allowed his crew to beat and humiliate him. Some time after this incident, he joined the rogue pirates who slaughtered the crews of merchant ships they captured. They even sometimes attacked other pirate ships, never leaving a survivor. At Shipwreck cove, Christophe first met Jack Sparrow and invited him to join his crew. He also met Esmeralda, the granddaughter of Don Rafael, Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea, and he unsuccessfully tried to seduce her. After being revealed as a rouge pirate, Christophe was actually bailed out of his death sentence because Sparrow believed him to be innocent. Once set free however, Christophe freed Borya and then fled the city, taking Jack captive. A few years later, Christophe discovered Jack had swapped the real heart of Zerzura (which he had been desperately questing for) with a cursed rock. Christophe had a fit of rage and shot his first mate. This undoubtedly upset his crew and they place Christophe in captivity similar to what he did to Jack. Later, he ended up finding Jack again and asked to come aboard his ship, Wicked Wench, off the shore of Zerzura, but that led to a duel in which Christophe was wounded but not killed. He was chosen by the Brethren court as the representative for the Rogue Pirates. Some of his best skills include sword fighting, drinking rum, talking to the ladies (he has his good days), and expressing his anger through violence. Edward Teague Pirate Lord of Madagascar

Edward Teague was the father of the infamous Jack Sparrow. It has been said that he has manners with unmistakable touches of sweetness and

vulnerability. He is a feral pirate who can also break hearts with a lovely ballad from his guitar. A legendary pirate in his own right, Teague eventually commanded the awe and fearful respect of all Pirate Lords in the Brethren Court, and was once a very feared pirate in the world. His past is filled with mystery before his piracy life. His titles include Pirate Lord of Madagascar and Keeper of the Code. Over the years, he has saved and rescued Jack time after time. In Brethren Courts, Teague kept the job of reciting the Pirata Codex and playing the interpreter and judge of all things regarding the Code. At some points in his life, he was viewed as a “stay at home pirate” as he did most of his adventures in his younger days as a captain. His candor, rigorous personal integrity, and uncompromising commitment to the Code had earned him the fear and respect not only of the other Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court, but of his son Jack as well. Background of the East India Trading Company Abbreviated as EITC, it was a joint-stock company for monopolizing trade with the East Indies and the Caribbean. The EITC traded silk, cotton, indigo dye, opium, salt, saltpetre and tea. The Company received its charter from Queen Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600. EITC’s motto was: "Auspicio Regis Et Senatus Anglia," Latin for "By the authority of the King and Parliament of England." Shares of the company were bought by aristocrats and wealthy merchants, leaving the government without shares and only indirect control. However, the Company eventually began to control the colonies and exercise military power. Originally, the Company was founded by British explorers who discovered India in hopes of finding gold, silver, ivory and exotic spices. They soon expanded to the Caribbean, under the direction of Lord Cutler Beckett. The Company was based in London, led by a single Governor and a Court of Directors. Piracy was

one of the biggest problems for the Company. In the late 1720s, several EITC ships were sent to join Admiral Lawrence Norrington's Royal Navy fleet and participate in his hunt for Edward Teague, Keeper of the Code and one of the most notorious pirates on the Seven Seas. Though Norrington managed to capture Teague for a brief time, his mission miserably failed. Jack Sparrow, one of our own brethren, used to be one of Beckett’s employees for transporting slaves from Africa to the Caribbean. Sparrow refused to complete the task, so Beckett had his ship, the Wicked Wench, torched and branded Sparrow as a pirate. It is the East India Trading Company that accounts for much of the triangle trade activity in the region, as well as our most vicious and unrelenting enemies. To them, we pose a massive threat to their continued existence and dominance, and have been given unrestricted authority by the Crown to pursue us using any means necessary. It is up to you, brethren, to ensure that the EITC does not achieve its goal. Apart from being influential in Caribbean trade, the EITC is also, as its name suggests, very active in and around the Indian subcontinent. Many ports in this area are under EITC control, so access to this part of the world, at least through the subcontinent, is effectively out of the question until their influence in the region has been diminished. We have complete faith that you brethren will be able to devise a plan to deconstruct this massive bane to our existence.

Colonial Expansion The colonies bolstered the British economic system of mercantilism by

providing natural resources or raw materials. The New England colonies were primarily exporters of fish, lumber, wool, fur, and shipbuilding products. The middle colonies mainly exported wheat, foodstuffs, and flour. The Southern colonies chiefly exported tobacco, corn, and rice. Most of these goods would be

taken to England, where they would be used for manufacturing products. The colonies primarily imported goods such as furniture, clothes, weapons and tools from England. Slaves were of course imported from West Africa. A long time threat to ships navigating the triangular trade routes, pirates greatly affected international trade. Not only did pirates attack such ships, but they also lured sailors away from their own profession and to a less honorable one of piracy because of the harsh living conditions on trade ships. Pirates also raided cities and colonies in the New World, such as the notorious Black Beard’s legacy in Charleston, SC. However, pirates offered an ideal that the colonies began to desire in the 1700s: democracy. Life on pirate ships—and as a pirate—was more democratic than any town in England at the time. Pirates had a hand in their own fate, which was one way in which they could unite with the colonists. Pirates used colonies to hide from their enemies (such as the Royal Navy). For example, the geography of the Outer Banks was a refuge for hiding pirate ships. Overwhelmingly, however, pirates were viewed negatively—primarily in the Southern colonies who suffered most from their raids. In this way, the colonies shared a stake with Britain. Overall, the colonies’ relationship with piracy was volatile. Throughout these next couple of days, we urge you to solidify your influence in your respective regions and to call up all who are willing to join our cause. Use the locals and the resources they can offer us to your advantage. Create strongholds, create alliances, create a pirate empire so that we can effectively combat the growing menace of the Empire. Pirate Technology

The Age of Sail has witnessed great advances in naval technology and strategy within a relatively short period. Similar to land combat, advancements

in armament have tended to outpace tactics, rapidly increasing the destructive power of ships and causing horrendous casualties at sea. New technologies, however, have also made possible the attainment of great riches by adventurous and risk-taking captains.

Although cast iron cannons largely dominate land warfare, the bronze cannon remains the mainstay of navies at this time due to weight, durability, and cost considerations. Gun sizes vary widely between countries and even individual ships, but a rough system of standardization has been developed around the weight of a cannonball. 12-pounder, 24-pounder, and 36-pounder variants are the most common, and are a good representation of contemporary cannon sizes. These weapons also follow a regular distribution of 40%-30%-30% between these variants, i.e. a 100 gun ship would have 40 12-pounder, 30 24-pounder, and 30 36-pounder cannons. The larger weapons are primarily below deck and form the majority of a devastating ‘broadside’, whereby a ship fires all of the guns on one side of the ship at the same time at a target. The smaller weapons are primarily above deck and have a greater range of mobility and direction. Each gun is manned by a crew of 3-5 and firing rate heavily depends on the training of the crew but can reach a speed of one shot every 25-30 seconds. Although some explosive and grenade-type rounds do exist, the cheapest and most common type of ammunition is the solid shot, relying on the kinetic force of impact to cause grievous damage on wooden hulls. Ships obviously rely on winds to sail, but even the most minimal of winds can propel a ship through clever use of rigging and sail.

Personal weapons are very much a hodge-podge collection, but cutlasses are the most common sword used on the seas. It is a small curved sword that, although not the most powerful, can be used for deft, agile sword-work. Firearms are heavily dependent on weather conditions due to the use of black powder and take a long time to reload. Flintlock pistols and rifles are ubiquitous in current navies, and some matchlock weapons can also be found.

Ship classifications vary widely based on location, construction capabilities, and funds for upkeep and crew. Names also vary by region, but ships could be roughly classified by the number of guns and decks. The largest ships, the 3-deckers, have 90-100 guns and are crewed by around 800 sailors. Only a handful exist in even the most powerful of European navies and for a pirate to obtain such a vessel would make him very difficult to stop indeed. Such vessels are primarily seen on the open ocean but can also be seen in the Mediterranean. The Eastern seas are virgin waters for such vessels, but a desperate fleet might deploy one if necessary.

The next largest ship would be the 2-decker, with around 60 guns and 400-500 sailors. One or two of these ships can probably be found in a pirate fleet and a couple dozen exist in a normal European navy. The Indian Ocean and South China Sea have the ‘combat junk’, which is of similar size and armament but relies more on boarding and maneuverability than firepower. The third largest ship (hence alternatively called a third-rate), is the frigate. These smaller ships with 30 guns and 200 sailors on 1 deck rely on speed and numbers in combat. In the Mediterranean and coastal seas of Europe a ‘war galley’ would likely be seen instead of this. These ships have few guns and largely use oars rather than sails. The use of oars allows great maneuverability and tactical advantage in shallow seas and permit quick travel even without any wind. These ships also rely on ramming and boarding rather than cannons. The Indian Ocean and South China Sea have the ‘flying barque’, which is a variant of the ‘junk’. These ships also rely on maneuverability and boarding during combat rather than firepower.

Sloops are the smallest type of ship. These small, 16 gun vessels with around 100 sailors are used primarily for raiding and lightning, surprise attacks. Largely useless against 2 or 3 decker vessels, sloops can run circles around larger vessels and remain hidden relatively easily. The Indian Ocean

and South China Sea have the ‘light junk’ in place of the sloop. These ships are very comparable to their Western counterparts in size and capability for raiding and speedy operations.

Numerous types of merchant vessels ply the world’s seas, but they can largely be described within two broad categories. The small schooner usually carries light cargo such as slaves, fish, and grain, or small amounts of sugar, tobacco, coffee, spices, and other expensive goods. These ships may have a gun or two but rely on speed to escape encounters with pirates. The other type of merchant ship is the galleon. These ships have 10-20 guns but are so slow and plodding as to be quite vulnerable on their own. Galleons often travel in large convoys and are protected by naval ships. However, their cargo includes voluminous amounts of expensive goods or even silver and gold on its way to Europe. With great risk comes great reward for the pirate captain.

State of the World British Economy The British Empire is seemingly unstoppable. The crux of their economic success is predicated on the economic theory of mercantilism. Under this theory, the Empire engages in a zero-sum trading game with other nations, stressing exports and subsidizing the economy against imports and foreign competitors. For the most part, these exports consist of finished goods, which they

then ship to Africa and the New World as part of the larger triangle trade system. This system emphasizes colonial expansion, which is where they get most of their raw materials to help in manufacturing. Their most lucrative colonies at this point in time are the sugar plantations of the Caribbean. These plantations serve as a huge revenue stream for the Empire, and if the trade routes in this area were to be disrupted the Empire would suffer massive revenue setbacks. Not only would this disrupted revenue stream create a strain on the economy, but a very large portion of the revenues from these mercaltilist practices go to funding the Royal Navy, a navy that has been a thorn in our sides for far too long, and a hnavy that hung us out to dry with no employment after the War of Spanish Succession came to an end. Triangle Trade The triangle trade is absolutely crucial to the success of the British Empire. Raw materials are shipped from the New World colonies over to Britain, where the raw materials are then turned into finished manufactured goods and then shipped to Africa in exchange for slaves, which are then shipped to the New World, and the process continues. We have been studying this process intently for years, and it has become obvious to us that if we can disrupt only one leg of this malicious system, the whole operation will come crumbling down. Each leg relies heavily on the other, and if one of them is cut off from the others, the Empire will have no where to go.

South Sea Company This joint stock company was founded in 1711 as an attempt to consolidate and reduce the national debt by trying to open trade in South America. While the South Sea Company has up to this point been extremely successful in its job in

South America, providing slaves to South America and reducing government debt, our sources in the region do not see the Company playing a large, if any role, in the near future. This being said, they still do have offices in Buenos Aires, Caracas, Cartagena, Havana, Panama, Portobello, and Vera Cruz, so while their influence may no longer be as strong, it is still widespread.

State of the World during the 1720s: Britain, Spain, Pirates,

and their colonies along America and the Caribbean.

The scallywag King George I currently rules over Great Britain with an iron fist. He is very involved with international trade and relations especially as debt is beginning to compile slowly throughout his reign. In 1717 he contributed to the creation of the Triple Alliance, an anti-Spanish league composed of Great Britain, France and the United Provinces. In 1718 the Holy Roman Empire was added to the body, which became known as the Quadruple Alliance.

After the War of Spanish in succession 1714, Britain obtained a contract with Spain to supply goods and slaves to Spain’s colonies in the new world at the time, providing British traders and smugglers more access to the traditionally closed Spanish markets in America. This arrangement also contributed heavily to the spread of the glorious practice of piracy across the western Atlantic at this time. Shipping to the colonies boomed simultaneously with the flood of skilled mariners after the war. Merchant shippers used the surplus of sailors' labor to drive wages down, cutting corners to maximize their profits, and creating unsavory conditions aboard their vessel. Our Brethren were even contracted to take part in what became known as “Triangular Trade”. In fact, our infamous Jack Sparrow was literally branded as a pirate after refusing to transport slaves across the Atlantic. In his words, “People aren’t cargo, mate.” This arrangement and the result of greed among merchant ships sparked the spread of

piracy across the western Atlantic. Living conditions on merchant and British trade vessels became so poor sailors began to prefer the freeing life of a pirate. The increased volume of shipping traffic due to the treaty made for perfect opportunities for pirates to swoop in, take money and goods to sell at their own disclosure across the Caribbean. In sum, we face a world of despots, mates. Citizens of the world are oppressed by regimes that do not have their subjects best interests in mind. It is up to us, it is our duty, to free the citizens of the world from these political shackles. We must show the world that the ways of the pirate are not brutish and oppressive, but respectful and freeing. Pirate Code and Democracy

Contrary to popular belief, us pirates are fairly democratic and we have “codes of conduct”, which are written in an attempt to normalize relations between pirates. We have taken rules and regulations from the Royal Navy itself and institutionalized them as a part of our own code of conduct. Our codes include provisions for discipline, the division of loot and stolen goods, compensation for injury, dress codes, and some of our pirate brethren even have policies against smoking. As you can see, we are a rather civilized bunch. Punishment for breaking the code varies from crew to crew, but they are all decided upon by the crew, a hallmark of democracy. Fun Fact: “ Walking the plank” was not used as a punishment or to settle disputes. Much like any modern government today, many of our captains have their crews sign articles stating that they will not betray anyone in the entire crew as well as determining the percentage of any loot that may be acquired by the crew assigned to each pirate. Additionally, like any modern government, we have a hierarchy of power. We are not some group of barbarians that operate in a state of anarchy as many would like to make us out to be. Each crew has a hierarchy

of power between the captain, the quartermaster, the governing council for the vessel, and the regular crewmen; but in battle the pirate captain retains all power and decision-making authority in order maintain chain of command. When time comes to divide the procured wealth shares, profits are normally given to the person by rank as follows: Captain, individuals with a senior position like the quartermaster, crewmen, and individuals in a junior position. Crewmen often only get one share, while the captain usually received five or six shares depending on the size of the crew.