"Corsairs" - wonderful pirate game from Russian developers. In ideological terms, it is largely inspired by the legendary game "Pirates!" Sid Meier and can even be considered a 3D remake of it. In the role of a young Captain Sharpe, you have to taste all the charm of pirate adventures: make dashing raids, board ships, unravel insidious intrigues, trying to advance through the ranks and find legendary treasures, along the way, finding out the secret of his origin ... Great graphics and a bunch of special effects create a stunning effect of presence. The game is spoiled only by the abundance of bugs, which, however, the Akella team is already fixing.
In the West, the game was published by Bethsoft under the name Sea Dogs.
Reluctant corsair
So, you are a young English captain Nicholas Sharp, who escaped from Spanish captivity. You are heading to Highrock Island, the capital British colony, in order to obtain a corsair patent that allows you to “legally” rob Spanish ships (in fact, not only Spanish ones) and thereby compensate for your losses, as well as the moral damage caused. However, you are not required to obtain a corsair patent from the hands of the British and you can take it from the French or even from your former offenders - the Spaniards. Finally, no one forbids you to join a pirate brotherhood and become a "free pirate". Depending on which path you choose, four completely different stories await you and, therefore, four different passages of the same game. However, the goals of the game are about the same: if you take a corsair patent, then your goal is to become the governor of the entire archipelago (whether from the English, French or Spanish side), if you choose the path of a free pirate, then your goal is to proclaim some kind of "independent free pirate state" and become its head.
Quests
To complete the game, you must go through a chain of mandatory quests (different for each of the four parties: the British, French, Spaniards and pirates). The main quests are usually given to you by the governors of the islands. There are also additional quests that are not mandatory for passing, but can significantly help you in this matter. (For example, get an excellent spyglass through which you can see absolutely everything, even the skills of officers of enemy ships.) Anyone can give you these quests, so talk to everyone you meet. Never rush to end the conversation, even if it seems to you that everything is clear - the conversation can take an unexpected turn. In addition, you can get exp just by listening to the nonsense (or advice) of the interlocutors to the end. With some characters, you can and should speak a second or third time: after performing an action, they can give you additional information. (For example, such a hint: if you return something to the alchemist from Highrock, then after the first quest he will give you a second one.)
All quests give you much-needed experience and usually give you gold or something useful (a valuable officer joins your team, you get a valuable item or an item for a further quest, etc.).
During the game, in principle, you can switch sides. It is enough to sail to Shark Island (pirate island) and acquire a patent of any nation there or become a free pirate. It will cost you 5000 gold and -10 reputation. Of course, this will complicate and confuse the passage of the game. For a normal passage, there is no need to "change the owner."
Grow, grow, my Captain!
You start as a green captain of rank 12 (there is no lower), and as you progress through the game, you can reach the rank of captain of the 1st rank. Increasing by each rank gives you the opportunity to control a ship of a higher class: a captain of ranks 12 and 11 can control ships no higher than 6th class, a captain of 10 and 9 ranks - ships no higher than 5th, etc. In addition, with an increase in rank, you are given 3 special points that can be used to develop certain skills.
Skills
Your captain has 9 skills, each of which can be upgraded to level 9.
Navigation - increases the speed and maneuverability of the ship.
Accuracy - gun firing accuracy; Each point increases accuracy by 10%.
Reload - Cooldown time is reduced by 5% per point.
Coordination - all guns do not fire at the same time; each point of coordination reduces the time between firing the first and last cannon by 5%.
Protection - this is the ability of your team to take cover during enemy shelling; each point of defense reduces your team's losses by 5%.
Boarding - allows you to board enemy ships from a longer distance; each point increases "boarding distance" by 5%.
Fencing - the ability to fight effectively when capturing an enemy ship; roughly speaking, this is the power of your punch.
Repair - the ability to repair the hull and sails right on the high seas; it is necessary to have a sufficient number of boards and canvas in the holds. At the maximum "repair" value, it is possible to repair the ship's hull, even if it is 90% damaged. The higher the repair skill, the faster the ship is repaired: for every two points, the repair time is reduced by 1 day; however, repairs cannot be completed in less than 4 days. If you have an understaffed team, then the repair will be slower.
Commerce - the ability to buy goods cheaper and sell more expensive; each point reduces the selling price by 5% and increases the buying price by 5%; however, this skill does not affect the price of the ships you purchase.
Which skills to develop in the first place - it depends on the style of your game. However, some general advice can be given. First of all, pay attention to fencing. Even if you are not going to board ships, get this skill up to at least 5 as early as possible. During the course of quests, you will still have to take forts where this skill plays a critical role: thanks to your high skill in swordsmanship, you can cope with an opponent whose team is 2-4 times larger than yours. Pay the main attention to 3 "shooting" indicators: accuracy, reloading and coordination - they significantly increase the firepower of your ship. Further, it would be useful to raise the navigation in order to initially have an advantage in speed and maneuverability. If you are going to trade by boarding, develop the skill of the same name, which will make it easier for you to approach enemy ships. Protection and repair are obviously secondary skills: fight well and you won't need to "patching holes". Well, if you ran into a strong enemy, immediately after the battle, head to the port and make up for losses. And the skill of commerce seems completely useless, since there are almost no problems with money (well, you will make an extra trading trip in order to compensate for its low level).
officers
There is another way to improve skills - hiring officers whose skills give a plus to your skills. True, officers, as a rule, have to pay a very decent salary (often even exceeding the total salary of all sailors), but this does not matter, since money can always be easily made on trade. Officers can usually be found in taverns or obtained through quests.
First Assistant - your right hand; improves navigation. But most importantly, if you have an assistant, you can take prize ships (captured during boarding) and take them to ports for sale (otherwise you have to sink them).
Gunner - perhaps the second most valuable officer. It immediately raises 3 most important skills: accuracy, reloading and coordination.
boatswain - not the last person on the ship: usually raises the skills of navigation and swordsmanship.
The ship's doctor gives you some defense points.
A carpenter - adds a few repair points.
Treasurer - boosts commerce.
The most valuable officers are presented in table 1. We will keep silent about where and how they can be hired - otherwise it will not be interesting to play. Just a little hint: there are two first mates in the game, both of which can be found on the French Isles (and the patch moves one of them to a pirate island).
Gaining experience
So, the increase in rank occurs as experience accumulates. For each completed quest, you get experience points, but these points are clearly not enough to quickly move up the ranks and get the coveted cool ship. Therefore, one has to engage in a typical "pirate trade": the robbery of ships. Points are awarded for each ship sunk or captured, and for sunk significantly more (usually in the region of 2000-7000, while capturing a ship will not give you more than 2000). This takes into account your skill and dexterity: for a direct hit in the powder magazine (the so-called critical hit, which leads to the immediate death of the ship), you will be given twice as much exp. If, while sailing on a sloop, you manage to sink a frigate, you will get significantly more experience than if you sank some kind of pink there. The biggest exp is given for the destruction of a fort (at least 20,000), but this is also not an easy task and can be achieved only on "cool" vessels of at least 3rd class. At the very beginning of the game, it is very difficult to get exp in a direct pirate way, since almost all opponents are clearly stronger than you. Therefore, this is your advice: do not get involved in a fight alone, it is better to join the battle in which ships allied to you participate. Then you can share their experience, making a very modest contribution to the defeat of the enemy.
Reputation
Reputation is how people treat you: whether they consider you a man of your word, able to help out at any moment, or a windy tramp who cares only about his own well-being. With a low level of reputation, it will be difficult for you to negotiate something with people, and some may even refuse to talk to you at all. If you do not pay your salary on time at a low level of reputation, then a riot will immediately rise on the ship, and you will be strung up on a yardarm (this, of course, will end the game). At high level reputation is willing to do business with you, and transactions (such as hiring officers, buying ships) are cheaper.
Accordingly, behave in such a way that people think highly of you. Do not demand extra or additional rewards and fulfill the requests of the inhabitants (such as bringing wine to a thirsty guard), do not leave allies in trouble. True, reputation can also be bought with money from the local priest on the Dead Island (+1 reputation for only 100 gold).
ships
|
Ships are divided into 7 classes: from the simplest unarmed boat (7th class) to the "floating fortress" - manowar (1st class). At the very beginning, only simple class 6 vessels are available to you, but as Nicholas ranks up, you will be able to acquire more and more solid vessels. When choosing a ship, pay special attention to its speed and maneuverability: a nimble boat with skillful tactics is quite capable of sinking a slow-moving vessel, even if it has at least 2-3 times more firepower. Then look at the number and caliber of guns. Then - for the maximum number of crew: here the more, the better, although at first it may seem the opposite, because each sailor must be paid 50 gold per month. However, after spending at least one boarding battle, you will clearly feel the advantage of a large team. The carrying capacity on ships above the 6th class practically does not play a role (there is usually always enough space in the holds).
The choice of ship depends on your preferred tactics of naval battles. But if you rely on speed and maneuverability, then the typical chain of transition from ship to ship looks like this: Pink - Sloop - Shnyava - (possibly Brig) - Corvette - (possibly Fast Battleship) - Warship. The longed-for goal of many players is to swim on the Manowar, but to complete the entire game, it is enough to limit yourself to the Corvette - the fastest and most maneuverable ship with decent firepower.
For more detailed information on all ships, see the table above.
SECOND PAGE
Armament
There are four types of charges: cores cause the most damage to the hull, knipels - to the sails, buckshot - to the crew; bombs do damage to everything and are especially good at shelling forts, but bombs are the most expensive. Bomb prices are about the same everywhere, but slightly lower in the French Isles. Bombs are especially highly valued on El Caimano, so you can get rich very quickly by delivering them to this island. Please note that all projectiles have different flight ranges, and this range depends on the caliber. Complete data are presented in these tables.
Islands
There are 20 islands in the game, and almost all of them are inhabited. In general, there are no “useless” islands in the game: even if the island is uninhabited, it means that it will be possible to complete some kind of quest on it in due time. Islands appear on the World Map as they become known to you (usually when talking to someone or when receiving a quest). But the islands can also be discovered independently, simply setting a course at random on the World Map. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to “stumble” on the island: it is enough to swim next to it. (CHIT: the Resource\Images\Map\Russian subdirectory contains open card as a graphic file map_open.tga, which can be viewed in almost any graphic editor/viewer.)
Cities
Entire settlements and even cities are spread on the inhabited islands. All "life" in the game takes place in cities: there you get all the information, take quests, hire a team, trade and equip your ship. On the largest islands, there are 4 types of "useful buildings":
Tavern - only here you can replenish the thinned team of sailors (press F1, select "State" and click on the "Hire" button); most often it is in taverns that you can find officers to hire into your team and meet others useful people.
Score - here you can buy / sell goods and ammunition.
Shipyard - here you can sell your own or prize ship (but not the ships of allies) and buy yourself new ship; you can also repair your ship (allied ships too) and replace the guns with more advanced ones.
Castle - it is the residence of the governor of the island; usually it is the governor who gives you the required quests to complete - but only if you have a patent of his nation; if you do not have a patent, then at most you can only talk to the governor, but you will not receive any quest.
You cannot enter a city protected by a fort if its population is hostile to you. The maximum that can be done is to bomb the fort and take a bribe from the local population; however, you will not be able to talk to anyone, and you will not be able to enter anywhere either (except for the palace, where you will receive a bribe). After you leave the island, the fort will automatically regenerate, and the city will begin to live as if nothing had happened. (So you can, if you like, repeat the looting.) The only exception is the case when the destruction of the fort was a quest task. Then the city passes under the flag of your nation with all the ensuing consequences.
Gold!
Trading is the simplest, easiest and safest way to get rich. You buy goods on one island and sell them on another - you get a kind of "trading simulator". The "trick" here is that each island has its own list
| Trade Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: "+" means export; "-" means import. |
It makes no sense to buy/sell goods that are not marked as import/export - in this case, you will most likely end up even at a loss or gain a little. To make it easier for you to navigate, in table 5 we provide a list of imports/exports for all islands (excluding a few islands where there are no exports or imports). If, for example, you play as the English, then from the very beginning of the game a fairly safe route is available to you: Tendales - Highrock - Dead Island. Load canvas and coffee at Tendales, sell canvas at Highrock, load more coffee there, and drive all the coffee on Dead Island. Revenue of 7-9 thousand gold in 3 weeks is guaranteed to you! (requires a vessel with a displacement of about 1000 centners).
But if you consider yourself a real pirate, do what is right for you: rob merchant ships! But do not drown them, but board them. If you sink a ship, then you will gain little in terms of money: you will only collect miserable crumbs floating on the site of the ship's death. But if you capture the ship, then all its cargo will become yours, and you can sell it as your own. In addition, in the captain's cabin you will find several thousand gold coins (usually 2-5 thousand). And, most importantly, you will get a captured ship, which you can take to the nearest port and sell. Only for this it is necessary to have a first assistant who will temporarily take command of the captured ship; in addition, your team should be enough, at least at a minimum, for both ships. If there is no first assistant, and the captured ship is a class higher than yours, then it makes sense to transfer to someone else's ship in order to then sell it and return your own. But, in principle, you can remain in command of a ship to which you have not yet grown in rank. Only in this case you get a -1 penalty to each skill multiplied by the difference in ship classes - so it's hardly worth doing this (For example, if you can only control ships of the 5th class and change to a 3rd class corvette, you will get -2 to each skill.)
Thus, the capture of one merchant ship is approximately equal in monetary terms to one trade turnover. However, if captured, you also get experience! The defeat of the fort and the subsequent capture of the city is even more profitable, but also the most difficult business. For this you get at least +15,000 gold and +20,000 experience!
Naval battles
Ship control
You can make maneuvers and shoot with a view both "from the third" and "from the first person" (transitions - key Q). Maneuvering, of course, is more convenient, watching the whole picture from above, but shooting, as a rule, is better "from the first person" - because then you have the opportunity to aim on your own. There are two exceptions: 1) foggy weather, when you can't see a thing, but your gunner, nevertheless, manages to shoot accurately; 2) you are between two enemy ships; then, by pressing the "space", you simultaneously shoot from two sides, then you can abruptly leave. "From the first person" you can also use a telescope (key ctrl). By pointing the pipe at the ship, you will get its most important characteristics (the coolest pipe allows you to get complete information, up to the skills of officers).
Tactics
Due to skillful tactics, you can take out an enemy that is several times superior to you in terms of firepower. The whole "trick" here is to shoot at the enemy yourself, without receiving change in response. A typical maneuver is to go with your side to the bow of the enemy ship and shoot with the whole side, since not a single ship has guns on the bow. The second option is to go sideways to the stern, but here you run the risk of running into a small slap in the face in the form of a shot from the stern guns (usually insignificant, since no more than 6 guns can be on the stern, and then only for the coolest ships; and this is usually the stern there are only 2 guns). To carry out all these maneuvers, you need to have the fastest and most maneuverable ship. But if you are sailing on a heavy, heavily armed vessel of the 1-2 class, then all these maneuvers are usually useless to you: lower the sails and just turn in place, tracking the maneuvers of the enemy. As soon as it gets close enough, strike with all sides: it is rare for a ship to survive 2-3 such volleys.
In general, from the very beginning, decide what you will do with the enemy: sink him or board him. If drowning - throw it with cannonballs and bombs from a long distance until it goes to the bottom. If you take it on board, then you don’t need to make holes in the ship’s hull - this will not affect its combat capability in any way (and, besides, a riddled ship will cost less if you then want to sell it). So immediately load the knipels and cut his sails. As soon as you have an overwhelming advantage in speed and maneuverability, you can calmly approach from the bow or stern and spray the team with grapeshot. Then you have to go side by side (almost parallel) to the enemy ship - otherwise you won’t be able to board it. As soon as your ship approaches the enemy at a fairly close distance (the greater the boarding skill, the higher the boarding skill), an icon with the image of a boarding "cat" will appear in the upper right corner of the screen - then press F2 on keyboard.
It makes sense to go boarding if you want to get hold of good and / or you know that the enemy captain is very weak in swordsmanship (in this way you can defeat the enemy sailing on stronger ships).
Aboard!
The boarding battle is symbolically represented by the hand-to-hand combat of two captains, but behind each of them is his entire team in the literal sense: the number of hit points (that is, health) of each is equal to the number of his team. In addition, the strength of the captain's strike depends both on his swordsmanship and, again, on the number of Gavriks behind his back. Remember that the fight is tactical, so the one who swings the saber faster does not win. The fact is that every captain gets tired: the degree of his fatigue is displayed by a green indicator (right below the blue health indicator). And the more fatigue, the weaker the blow. Therefore, it is better to wait a bit and hit with full force than, zealously pounding on the keys, rewarding the enemy with 5% -10% hits. While resting, watch the enemy, trying to guess the direction of his strike and set the right block. Just remember that even a successful block misses part of the blow, so you won't be able to sit out. Do not forget about deceptive feints. Finally, a tip: be sure to sign up before the first boarding battle, as you will almost certainly lose it - after all, you also need to get comfortable with the keyboard. Then this save will serve as a good simulator for honing your fencing skills.
Capture of the fort
This is the most difficult, but also the most profitable business. You will need a ship of at least 1-2 class (although you can manage to take out the fort on the Brig). Load at least 1000 bombs into it (3000 is better). Go to 16 gauge - it has the longest range. Entering the harbor, lure all the ships away from the fort and deal with them (so that the fort cannot support them with fire). Now you need to take the most advantageous position for shelling the fort. Focusing on the indicator on the mini-map, approach so that the fort is on the very border of your firing zone. At the same time, you can guess so that only one cannon of the fort can hit you, and then for the most part it would not finish. Lower your sails completely. Change to first person view. Aim as high as possible - up to the position when the crosshair cursor starts to disappear. Shoot, shoot and shoot. When the message about the destruction of the first cannon appears, get a LITTLE closer and shoot the second cannon. And so on... When all the cannons are destroyed (a message about this will appear), swim closer (until the icon with the image of a soldier in a helmet appears in the upper right corner of the screen) and click on F2. After that, you have to win a hand-to-hand duel with the governor of the island (as in boarding). Behind him will be about 500 thugs.
Escape
If you are drawn into a forced battle and you see that you have no chance of winning it, then it is quite possible to try to run away. Turn the ship into the wind, raise full sails and fly away! Of course, they will follow you in pursuit. Shoot at the enemy from the stern guns. If you see that the pursuers are still overtaking you, try to pierce their sails with kniples and continue to flee. (To speed up the process, you can click on R.) Once you've got enough distance, you'll have access to the World Map and be able to sail anywhere.
Allies
As the game progresses, allies may join you. Allies are very desirable in the early stages of the game when your own ship's power is very weak. However, by the end of the game, they already become a clear burden, making almost no real contribution to your victory, but sharing your experience. In addition, allies have to patronize, so that they are not inadvertently sunk, from which your reputation may fall.
Allies can be given general orders:
Follow me - the ally will follow your ship, shooting at all enemies that are in the zone of his defeat. AI behaves in a "straight line": if you lower the sails and start firing at someone, turning around on the spot, then soon an ally with lowered sails will be next to you, standing exactly in the line of fire.
Attack - the ally will fire on the ship until it is completely destroyed.
Capture - will not actually capture the ship, but will fire with buckshot to defeat the team; so you can inadvertently sink the ship.
Retreat - it is better to give this order at the starting position, which is in fact equivalent to the order "do not get involved in a fight"; in the future, this order is practically useless, since a noticeably damaged ship, as a rule, is simply not allowed to leave.
Allied ships can be repaired in the shipyard as if they were your own, only they cannot be sold. Any goods can be loaded onto an ally's ship, but it is no longer possible to take it back from there.
If you capture a prize ship and transfer your first assistant to it, then such a ship will also be considered an ally. The only difference is that this ship is considered your property, so you can sell it or download any goods from it.
THIRD PAGE
The inhabitants of the archipelago
Desmond Ray Beltrop
Beltrop has been leading the pirate settlement of Gray Sales for many years. His past is shrouded in darkness, and his reputation discourages the curious from asking questions. A cold-blooded and calculating bastard, he has gathered around him a whole group of such people who now support his power. Those who are not satisfied with this are usually expelled from Gray Sales.
Samuel Mortons
The governor of the main British colony in the Archipelago, a high-ranking English official, swaggering and greedy. He uses his position to extort bribes and pocket government money. However, you will have to deal with him if you choose to play as the English.
Jacqueline de Bijou
Daughter of the governor of Belleflor, Monsieur Francois de Bijou. A beautiful and educated girl who came with her father from France. Accustomed to secular society there, in Paris, on the Jacqueline archipelago, naturally, she is bored. Probably, she would be happy to meet a young and handsome captain who entered the service of her father.
Gavrila Dubinin
The only native of Russia in the game, a restless boatswain-buzoter, who does not even recognize the concept of discipline. Over the many years he spent at sea, Gavrila sailed far from his homeland and at the same time gained experience. If you hire him as a boatswain, his experience will help you navigate the ship, and his great physical strength and ability to drag people along will help you in hand-to-hand combat.
"Golden" bugs
The game is replete with bugs. Some of them can be used as real cheats (no codes or trainers needed!).
How not to pay your team? Bug: if you are not anchored, then at the beginning of the month you simply will not be asked for a salary (the corresponding offer will not appear)! So anchor the numbers 29-30 and wait a couple of days.
How to avoid an unwanted meeting? Sometimes you are forced to be drawn into the battle, leaving no choice. Well, click on "Yes", and as soon as the screen fades (going to the battle screen), immediately click on Pause(this is a button on the keyboard). Now press Enter. If you managed to stop the game in time, then the World Map will be available to you, from where you can taxi anywhere.
How to defeat the fort garrison in hand-to-hand combat? The problem is that initially there are at least 1000 soldiers in each fort, and after your shelling, there are still 500 people left in it. This is a bit much, but you will no longer be able to shell the fort as soon as all the guns in it are destroyed. However, if you save at this moment and load through this save, then all the guns will “come to life”, as if nothing had happened, but the number of soldiers will not be restored! Here is a great opportunity for you to further thin out the enemy's manpower.
NOTE: All of these bugs "work" in the original version 1.0.
Walkthrough for the British (detailed)
First of all, do not forget to distribute the 3 skill points given to you at the very beginning (entrance to the desired window through F1).
Hirock. Near the gate, talk to guard Billy and promise him a bottle of wine. Wander the streets of the city and find Theodore (in a green camisole). He will inform you that in almost every city there are three useful places: 1) a tavern where you can hire a team, listen to gossip and get auxiliary quests; 2) a shipyard where you can repair the ship, buy new weapons or a completely new ship; 3) a store where you can replenish ammunition, as well as buy a variety of goods. Listen to it to the end, and for this you will receive +250 experience points. In the same place, an old gunner (with a wooden leg) roams the streets. If you listen to the end of his reasoning about guns (an elementary educational program), you will get another +250 experience. Talk also on the street with an unrecognized genius - engineer Albrecht Zalpfer. He will talk about his brilliant invention, but do not try to find out everything to the end - otherwise he will suspect you of a spy and refuse to talk to you further. Instead, offer him a job as a carpenter on your ship - Albrecht will agree to this job for free, but will go ashore on the nearest English island.
At the shipyard and in the store you have nothing to do yet. Go to the tavern and talk to all the people sitting there. An old sailor and an old swordsman will teach you some basics of sailing and swordsmanship. After listening to both of them to the end, you will receive +250+250=500 experience points. From Roberto Gorrando, you will learn about the existence of the island of El Caimano, as well as that you can get an excellent telescope from Andriano Montefi, who lives on it. Julius Ironcast will agree to serve as a gunner on your ship for 600 gold per month - hire him. Listen also to the gossip of the innkeeper himself.
Now to the palace. Local Governor Samuel Mortons will present you with a Corsair's Patent. Talk to the governor again, and he will give you the first task - to take a letter to Tendale Island to the local governor, Sir John Kenford Brish.
Head to the gate, but don't forget to hand a bottle of wine to poor Billy before you go out to sea. For this act, your reputation will rise by +1, and you will receive an additional +250 experience points. You can now talk to the second guard - Frederick, who will ask you for Roma. It is worth returning to the tavern and buying a bottle for only 1 gold. But, by giving the rum to Frederick, you will receive +250 experience points.
Tendales. After going to the island, you will receive +100 experience, and Albrecht will leave your team. However, do not rush to part with him and talk. During a friendly conversation, Albrecht will give you his drawings. Go with him to the shipyard. There you can save these blueprints for 1500 gold (you can't use the blueprints anyway - they are the prototype of the future paddle steamer). Here you can already buy a more capacious boat, having previously sold your pink. Buy an improved bilander - it only slightly loses to Pink in maneuverability, but it can carry 100 centners of cargo more. This will be very handy, because a trading quest awaits you ahead.
In the tavern, you can, in principle, hire boatswain Andrew Shue (400 gold per month) and treasurer Adam Moulin (1000 gold per month). You just don't have enough money for that. But even if enough, you should not do it yet, otherwise your gold supply will completely dry up, and you will have nothing to pay the team with at the end of the month. However, you can talk to Adam Moulin to earn +50 experience (you have to ask Adam what he actually knows how to do).
Now - to the palace to the governor. Handing him the letter will give you +500 experience and +2 reputation. Take the next quest from the governor: take the wheat of the starving colony to the Dead Island. Before sailing, visit the store and buy coffee for the place left in the hold (114 centners will come out), which is highly valued on the Dead Island.
Dead Island. Former jeweler Eugene Haxter (in a green camisole) is wandering the streets - be sure to talk to him and let him carefully examine your locket. Eugene will reveal the secret of the veil over the history of your father - you will learn a lot of useful things for further passage. Well, in addition, get +500 experience points. (At about this time, your rank will increase to 11th, so don't forget to reallocate 3 new skill points.) Now - straight to the tavern to the innkeeper. The innkeeper will want to thank you for the delivered wheat. It’s better to modestly refuse the reward, because the innkeeper will be able to give you only 250 centners of linen, which will still have to be sold, and, most importantly, your reputation will drop by 4 units, which is very noticeable (especially since you can’t buy reputation for any money!) . Also, talk to the gunner David Murray in the tavern and ask him about his service on the Savage - for this you will be given as much as +1000 experience points (hiring David instead of the old Julius is not yet worth it). In the tavern, you can also talk to a merchant who will offer you a quest: escort him first to Highrock, and then to Itkal (for 800+800=1600 gold). Do not take on this quest, because you still have a more profitable and more appropriate quest ahead of you. You will receive it in the store: merchant Nigel Forster will ask you to take 400 centners of linen to Tendales, and from there bring a load of cocoa, for which he will give you 2000 gold. This is exactly what you need, especially since you need to return to Tendales in order to collect the promised fee for the delivery of wheat. (Don't forget to sell him all the coffee, for which you will get approximately 1125 gold!)
Before sailing, you can talk to the priest (standing at the end of the street behind the tavern), and for a modest price of 100 gold, he will absolve you of your sins, which will raise your reputation by +1.
Tendales-2. Go to the store and hand over the load of canvas, for which you will receive +1 reputation. You will be automatically loaded with 150 units of coffee. You'll still have room in the hold, so stock up on his coffee, which is so scarce on Dead Island. Notify the governor of the completed task. He will want to reward you even more than he promised. Modestly refuse, otherwise you will lose a few reputation points: he will generously reward you with 2000 gold anyway. In addition, you will receive +3 reputation and +1000 experience points. Ask the governor for the next task, and he will complain that the trade caravans between his island and Highrock are often robbed by some kind of pirate. You need to establish who he is and stop his activities. Enter the tavern and talk to the innkeeper. He will tell you that one merchant (Margus) miraculously escaped pirate captivity, but now he is in an unconscious state and it is not clear how to treat him - otherwise he could tell a lot about this pirate. Hire a boatswain in the tavern (now you have money for this) and sail to the Dead Island.
Dead Island-2. For the delivered cocoa, you will receive 2000 gold, as well as +500 experience points and +2 reputation. Sell all your cargo of coffee in the shop for about 1000 gold. Buy all the linen and sugar there, they can be sold profitably on Highrock. A fellow traveler to Highrock is found in the same tavern - merchant Jacob Ashton will ask you to accompany him there for 800 gold (plus another 800 for a further trip to Itkal). Before sailing, you can also drop by the priest to get +1 reputation for 100 gold.
Hirock-2. First of all, go to the store and sell all the canvas and sugar. Also talk to the seller, and he will tell you that the miracle doctor alchemist Alyumnus has returned to the city, who can put anyone on their feet. Recognizing Alumnus is very simple: he wears a red beard. Go outside and look for the alchemist. After politely listening to his learned nonsense, you will get the right potion. In the tavern you will find your fellow traveler Jacob, who will give you the promised reward (800 gold) and ask you to accompany him further to the island of Itkal. You can refuse, but then you will lose 3 reputation points. It is better to swim to the island, especially since there is something to overstock.
Itkal. Upon entering the island, you will receive +1000 experience points. Contact Jacob and he will pay you the promised 800 gold. Your reputation will go up by +3. Go to the shop and stock up on linen and sugar to sell on Highrock.
Hirock-3. Sell all sugar and linen in the store. Go to the governor and take the quest from him: escort the ship to Tendales.
Tendales-3. When you leave the ship, you will receive +500 experience and +2 reputation. Go to the innkeeper and give him a potion for the poor fellow Marcus. There, in the tavern, you will find the captain of the ship that you accompanied - this is Lemuel Hamm. The captain will give you the promised 2000 gold coins and tell you that he was carrying a strange “valuable cargo” on his ship - 50 thugs. Go to the governor and tell him about this strange event. For this you will receive +250 experience. The governor, in turn, will inform you that the royal auditor will soon arrive in the colony. Get a hold of coffee and sail to the Dead Island. A pirate ship will be waiting for you in the harbor, but the cannons of the fort will quickly deal with it. (This is at best; at worst, you will have to fight a pirate ship one-on-one on the high seas). You will find a note from the hardened pirate Beltrop, and also get +500 experience points and +3 reputation. After that, your experience should be enough for the 10th rank.
Dead Island. Sell all coffee and return to Tendales. (Actually, the purpose of this voyage is to wait until Marcus "recovers".)
Tendales-4. In the tavern you will find a recovered Marcus. He will say that the malicious pirate's name is Ropleik, and that he often replenishes provisions on the Spanish island of El Caimano. The pirate sails on a corvette - this is a very strong ship of the 3rd class; therefore, you must now buy the vessel as well as possible. The maximum that you can acquire as a captain of the 10th rank is a shnyava of the 5th class. Buy it. If you don't have enough money, make a few trading trips along the Tendales - Highrock - Dead Island route. Load coffee, linen and sugar at Tendales. On Highrock, sell linen and sugar and buy more coffee. Then sell all coffee on Dead Island. For one such flight, you can earn 7-9 thousand gold. (In general, make a few backup trips so that there are no problems with paying salaries later.) When you are ready to sail on El Caimano, stock up on the maximum of bombs, which are highly valued on El Caimano.
El Caimano. This is a Spanish island, and with Spain you have, to put it mildly, strained relations. Therefore, do not be surprised that Spanish ships will begin to fire at you in the harbor. Ignore this and quickly land in the city (this can be done, since there is no fort on El Caimano). Once in the store, sell about half of your load of bombs - "a nice addition to your pension." In the tavern, talk to the pirate (Filipe Vilen) who is thirsty for adventure. Give him 150 gold to repair the ship and he will join you as an ally. On the street, you can talk to two characters in order to get two more additional quests. Andriano Montefi will agree to make a super-duper spyglass for you if you deliver top-class optical glass to him. You can get a glass from Lorenzo Avido from the island of Granda Avilia (only this island is Spanish, and it is guarded by a fort, so the way there is still “ordered” for you). "Honest Pirate" Ronald the Lawman will ask you to deliver the black mark to Frederick the Mole on the island of Gray Sales. For this, he will promise 2000 gold.
Battle with Ropflake. Ropflake will be waiting for you in the harbor of El Caimano. Immediately "set" your ally on him - this is such a distraction. Do not worry about the further fate of your partner - he may even die, this will not affect you in any way. As already mentioned, Ropflake sails on a corvette, so sinking it with the forces of two weak ships (5th and 6th class) is almost impossible (or very difficult). But it is easy to defeat him in hand-to-hand combat, since Ropflake has a “swordsmanship” indicator of zero. So the tactic is simple: go up to the corvette and board it, first trying to hit it with grapeshot. (Ropflake can even go boarding himself, buying into the numerical superiority of his team.) After the victory, you can even transfer to the corvette to sell it later (and it costs about 38,000) and return your shnyava. Just remember to reload all the good from your ship. Now - to Governor Brin, in order to report to him about his brilliant victory.
Tendales-5. Enter the palace and announce the victory. The governor will give you 5000 gold. Go to the shipyard, sell the corvette and buy shnyava (do not forget to replace the guns with 16-gauge). It's time to visit Governor Mortons. Swim to Highrock.
Hirock-4. Mortons will order you to inspect the waters of Itkal Island, not far from which Spanish ships were seen. Well, an order is an order. We swim there.
Itkal-2. In the harbor of Itkal, you will find one Spanish ship of class 5-6, which you can sink without difficulty. Having landed on the island, you will learn with regret that the city was sacked by the Spaniards 2 days ago (and it will always be so, no matter how hard you try to sail to Itkal as early as possible). The store owner will tell you about this, and you will receive 1000 experience. There is nothing to do, we return to Highrock.
Hirock-5. You can lie to Mortons by portraying the victory of the English fleet, but the truth will be revealed the next time you visit the palace, and then you will lose the English patent (and then you will have to play for another nation or earn the favor of the British with incredible efforts). We'll have to tell the truth. Mortons will accuse you of slowness and incompetence. If you object to him, he will again take away your patent. So you have to take all the blame. Mortons will put you out the door, saying that he will give you a new task next time. But it doesn't matter - the main thing is that the English patent remained with us, and you got +1000 experience for the correct answer. Going out into the streets of Highrock, look into all the nooks and crannies and look for the Stranger (obviously a pirate appearance). He will tell you that he came from Olaf Ulsson to tell you that he is waiting for you on the pirate island of Shark Island. There is nothing to do - you have to pay a visit to the pirates.
Shark Island. First of all, take a look at the tavern. There you will find the leader of the pirate brotherhood Olaf Ulsson. After telling him about Edwin Cuttlefish's attack and about the strange note found, you will be advised to talk to Beltrop's former first mate, whose name is Peter Ordo. However, Olaf has no idea where Peter can be found. Okay, let's find out for ourselves. But do not rush to fall behind Olaf. Talk to him again and ask about your father. Olaf will answer that he really served him, but oh recent years life of Malcolm Sharp knows nothing. However, he will report that two members of his team are now alive: One-legged Berquist from the island of Gray Sayles and the former cook Mavriko Kamentata, who maintains a tavern on the Spanish island of Costa Sinistra.
In the same tavern, you can talk to the "evil and terrible" pirate Jace Callow. He will tell about his misfortune: he coveted a golden idol, taking it from an Indian and cutting off the unfortunate native's head. However, before his death, the Indian managed to “attach” evil spirits to the idol, so that from now on the owner of the idol will be haunted by some failures, which constantly happens to James. At the same time, the idol can neither be sold nor simply thrown away. It can only be given to someone. You and James come up with a great plan: why don't you give the idol to Beltrop? For this, James promises to join you. After leaving the tavern, properly comb the surroundings. It is very likely that you will stumble upon Pablo Loco here (if not, then look for him on Gray Sales or further on El Caimano - but wait with El Caimano for now). After talking to him, tell him that you are looking for a rare herb for the alchemist. Pablo will agree to help you, only complain that he needs a boat. Moreover, the "shop" is not good - Pablo needs a special tree, from which he himself will make a "clean" (from evil spirits) boat. This tree grows only on Dead Island. Let's note this for ourselves, but for now let's head to Gray Sales.
Gray Sayles. You will meet one-legged Berquist right on the street (he is not difficult to recognize, right? Hint: he is o-d-n-o-legs). Burquist will report that shortly before his disappearance, Malcolm Sharp committed a very daring and very large robbery of the Spanish colony. Where he then went - no one knows (in any case, Berquist does not know). After entering the store and talking to its owner, you will learn that Ordo has sailed to one of the English governors and that his ship is called "Destiny". Enter the tavern. There you can hire yourself someone. Cannoneer Dreyfus Wick will ask for 2000 gold per month for his services - and he's worth it, as it gives +3 to hit, +3 to reload and +3 to coordination. Carpenter Jacques Dullars will agree to join for only 200 gold (gives +2 to repair). We recommend taking both. You can also choose an ally for yourself - William Kabestan controls the caravel, and this will be a good help for you in the next battles. There you will meet Frederick Mole. Give him a black mark. Now direct your feet to the "palace" of Beltrop. When talking to him, be careful and careful in your answers. From the first time you will not succeed - there will only be a verbal skirmish. From the second entry, you will already be able to talk about the idol. When offering it as a gift, motivate your action by realizing who is the real owner of the island. Be sure to ask for a reward in return, otherwise Beltrop will suspect a trap. Beltrop will offer you to take a fast galleon captured from Spanish merchants - a not sickly vessel, we advise you to take it, because you are unlikely to have any best ship. But you can refuse - Beltrop will not be offended. In addition, you will receive +2000 experience from the ripped idol.
Shark Island 2. Go to the tavern and inform James Callow that your idea was a success: the idol was safely fused to Beltrop. However, James will say that he cheated on you and will refuse to join. However, as a "compensation" he will give 2500 gold - well, that will do. Before looking for Ordo, let's complete a couple of additional quests in order to gain experience and transfer to a more solid vessel.
El Caimano. Find Ronald the Lawman (he roams the streets). Tell him that his mission is complete: the Mole is waiting for him near the uninhabited island of Chaktcha. Ronald will give the promised reward of 2000 gold. Offer your help to Ronald, remembering that the Mole will not be alone. For this you will receive +5 reputation and a great opportunity to fight. So sail to Chaktcha Island.
Battle with Mole. Your forces will be approximately equal: both on your side and on the side of the pirates there will be 3 ships of approximately equal classes. The Mole himself swims on a vessel of the 4th class. There are two possibilities here: quickly destroy the Mole and run away. But it is better to destroy the entire pirate fleet: you are not a cowardly rat, and it will not hurt to gain experience. How to fight - you know yourself. We will give only one piece of advice: do not feel sorry for Ronald's ship; even if he survives, after the battle, Ronald will still leave you.
Now it's time to remember about the task of Pablo Loco.
Dead Island-3. Entering the store, you will purchase the desired tree for 1500 gold; it will then need to be delivered to Pablo Loco. But let's delay this. Almost certainly by this time your gold reserves will noticeably run out, and you need to repair both your ship and the ship of an ally. Therefore, play a little "trading simulator" on the route Dead Island - Highrock - Tendales.
We return to the main storyline. Now we need to look for Peter Ordo at one of the two English governors. Let's say right away that Mortons will not help us in any way, so let's visit Brin.
Tendales-6. Governor Breen will say that Peter Ordo was indeed on the island, but then went to Tel Kerrat, "until the mess is over," as he puts it. We will follow there.
Tel Kerrat. The island belongs to the French, but it is not protected by a fort, so you can safely enter the city. Few people hang around the streets of the city, and Peter is not among them. There is only one "useful place" in the city - a store, so let's head there. The store owner will say that Ordo really visits the island, and will give him signs: Peter wears a yellow scarf on his head. Now, when you go outside, you will meet Ordo. Peter will tell that Beltrop is going to attack Tendales, and one of the high English ranks helps him in this. Peter intends to sit out the trouble on Tel Kerrat, but he is worried about the fate of his girlfriend, Alicia Gardener, who remained on Gray Sales. You promise to help Alicia escape from the island, and in return Peter promises to join you. Not a bad deal. On the street, you can also talk to Galien Brassier and buy a magnificent dagger from him for only 300 gold (maybe it will do).
Gray Sales-2. You can easily find Alicia Gardener on the streets of the pirate village. She will immediately trust you and agree to run with you - there are no problems. Problems will begin when you escape from the island: a pirate frigate (3rd class vessel) is waiting for you in the harbor, the captain of which is ordered to destroy you. With the support of Frederick's caravel, it is not so difficult to sink this frigate. However, you can run away from him - but then he will pursue you every time you show up in the harbor of Gray Sayles. Sail to Shark Island to complete the quest given by Pablo Loco.
Shark Island 3. With Pablo, you can easily exchange the “sacred tree” for the weed you need and, in addition, get +500 experience. To finish this whole thing with a quest, we sail to Highrock.
Hirock-6. Give the weed to Alumnus (+1000 exp, +2 reputation). As a token of gratitude, he will order one of his students to join your team as a surgeon. His name is Dick Oakenwood, and he is waiting for you at the tavern. Well, not a bad ending to the quest, considering that Dick does not require a salary at all, giving +2 to defense. We return to the main storyline - we need to deliver the girl to Tel Kerrat.
Tel Kerrat 2. Peter Ordo honestly fulfill the terms of the agreement and join you with his ship (he has a brig, which is quite robust). You will also learn that Alicia stole a box of documents from Beltrop's cabin, among which there was one very curious letter. In it, someone informs Beltrop that everything is ready to storm Gendales. The gathering place of the pirate fleet is the island of Chaktcha. Instead of a signature - an English official seal. So it's the crook Mortons who wrote this letter (Stirlitz guessed :))! Fearing for his familiar place, he decided to get rid of the young and honest Governor Brin. It was for this purpose that two dilapidated frigates were ordered from England, which would be completely helpless against Beltrop's squadron; on the island itself, the same fifty thugs from the Bristol should support the rebellion. So, Brin needs to be warned.
Tendales-7. But warning about danger is only half the battle. According to Brin, he does not have enough authority to arrest Mortons, but, fortunately, just now the royal auditor, Admiral Alexander Gritstone, has arrived on the archipelago. Brin writes a message to the auditor, which must be delivered to Highrock, where he is now.
Hirock-7. Alexander Gritstone you will find in the governor's residence. Fortunately, Mortons is not in the palace, so you can freely give the letter directly into the hands of Gritstone. At first, the auditor will not believe such grave accusations, but the found letter from Mortons to Beltrop will serve as irrefutable evidence. Gritstone will order the arrest of Mortons, and you will be ordered to defeat the pirate fleet near the island of Chaktcha. The fight is not that hard, but not a joke, so thoroughly "patch all the holes." Don't forget to repair allied ships as well. It is possible that your experience is already enough to transfer to a corvette - then everything is fine in general (you know where to get the money).
Battle with Beltrop's fleet. There will be four ships on the side of the pirates: a corvette (3rd class), two ships of the 4th class (brig and caravel) and a trifle - a vessel of the 6th class. Try to "split" the fleet and deal with the ships one by one. In addition to the usual "fee" for destroying ships, you will receive an additional +8000 experience and +3 reputation for destroying the entire armada. Return to Gritstone to report on a brilliant victory.
Hirock-8. Gritstone will give you 4000 gold for the victory and "reward" the next assignment: to strike a preemptive strike and capture the Spanish island of Costa Sinistra before a new large shipyard is built there.
Costa Sinistra. Capturing a fort is no easy task. Re-read the section “Taking the Fort” beforehand and do not forget to load the maximum cores before leaving. (When shelling a fort, it is better to order your allies not to interfere in this matter, otherwise they will be quickly sunk.) Entering the city, you will see heaps of corpses everywhere and you will not be able to go anywhere. Fortunately, you will meet one surviving citizen. When talking to him, do not demand a bribe (10,000 gold), but declare the island an English colony (otherwise the island will remain Spanish, and your task will not be completed). For this you will receive +5000 experience and +5 reputation.
Hirock-9. Gritstone will reward you with 5000 gold coins and give you another task: to find out where the French are going to install new huge cannons brought from Marseilles and capture them. Entering the tavern, you will learn from its owner that poor Alumnus fell victim to own experiences: in search of the elixir of immortality, he mixed some Indian herbs with refined gold; from such an "elixir" he died.
Have you forgotten that a former cook from your father's ship lives on the Costa Sinistra? So we sail there, and on the way we will look at the Dead Island.
Dead Island-4. In the tavern, you will stumble upon a sailor named Lawrence Norton. He will tell you that near the island of Omori he met three French ships, from which he managed to escape only by a miracle. But a couple of volleys still covered the ship, and one core even got stuck between the bulkheads. Norton has never seen such a core: it is monstrous in size and weighs about 48 pounds. Hehe, looks like we're on the right track: the French are about to set up their new superfood cannons on Omori Island!
Costa Sinistra-2. The innkeeper is a former cook from your father's ship. However, he will refuse to deal with you unless you are sailing under a pirate flag. So those who want to change the storyline and find the innumerable treasures of Malcolm Sharp, let them sail to Rockshore and join the pirate brotherhood. The rest will have to "break off" on this.
Omori. A standard battle with a standard fort and a standard fleet in the harbor (this is already a common thing for us, isn't it?). After the battle, you need to talk to the “respected citizen” and inform him that Omori now belongs to England (do not look for gold - then you will have to take the fort again, which will immediately regain French citizenship, as soon as you sail from the coast). For this you will receive +5000 experience and +5 reputation. We return to Highrock in order to announce our brilliant victory.
Hirock-10. The final touch is the last task. Now Gritstone will instruct you to capture the main base of the Spanish fleet - the island of Isla Ballena. Upon your return, you will be awarded a title of nobility and appointed viceroy of the English colonies. What else do you need to meet a carefree old age? But no one is forcing you to do it. If you are not yet tired of adventure, you can not return to Highrock, but change your citizenship and go through the next chain of quests.
We will not give such a detailed passage for the rest of the parties. We will limit ourselves to a brief guide.
FOURTH PAGE
Passage for the French
main line
The first step is to obtain a French patent. So sail to Belfort to the governor of the French colonies - Monsieur Francois de Bijou. From him you will receive the first task: to meet on the island of Gray Sayles with the French agent Auguste Bromont. (Auguste wanders the streets of the pirate town, so it's very easy to find him.) Auguste will give you a report for the governor, so return to Belfort.
From the report, de Bijou learns that his old friend, the merchant Thierry La Mole, has fallen into the clutches of pirates who demand a huge ransom for his head. The governor does not have that kind of money, and therefore you get a new task: to sail to the Isle de Orange to the head of the merchant guild, Orellan Dupre, in order to borrow the required amount from him. The merchant will give you money against an IOU, which must be taken back to the governor.
Now the governor instructs us to visit Beltrop - the leader of the pirates - and inform him of the place and time of the transfer of the ransom. So we're going to Gray Sayles again. But Beltrop dictates his own terms: he demands that the ship with gold arrive at Gray Sales in exactly one week. Return to Belfort and report this to the governor. The governor, of course, will not want to just give the pirates all the gold and will instruct you to complete this business on your own, without giving any money or support. Well, let's sail to Gray Sales, maybe we'll come up with something there.
Find Captain Damien Rothney on the street of the pirate town and talk to him. Damien had recently joined the French, but here's the bad luck: Beltrop found out about this and captured the ship, and also captured most of the crew. (Damien himself miraculously escaped.) Damien will offer you such a deal: you capture his ship - the Odyssey brig, and Damien himself, freeing his comrades from prison, will also free the poor fellow merchant la Mole.
The brig "Odysseus" is at anchor in Gray Sayles Bay. Just be sure to take it on board - otherwise you will not get the head of the captain of the Odyssey, which must then be handed over to Damien as proof that you have fulfilled your part of the deal. Then talk to La Mole and return to Belfort. On Belfort, you need to talk to the merchant again in order to receive a reward for saving him. The governor will also thank you, but will not give you any further tasks. Well, let's look for them ourselves. We sail to Isle de Orange - maybe we will learn something new there.
After entering the tavern, talk to Fokere Arain. He is preparing the kidnapping of Jacqueline de Bijou (this is the daughter of the French governor) and will offer you to participate in this case. Of course, you refuse this vile offer. In the same tavern, you will meet the former captain of the French fleet, Milon Unserville. After talking with him, you will learn that Fokere has already offered him the same thing, and now Milon is thinking ... There is nothing left for us to do but sail to Belfort in order to warn the governor.
Francois de Bijou will refuse to believe in a conspiracy and simply laugh at you. There is nothing to do - we leave the palace. Entering the tavern, you will learn from the owner that the governor's daughter has been kidnapped. It's time to return to François de Bijou and offer him your services.
Let's start our search with the already familiar tavern on Isle de Orange. Having met Milon there and threatened him with accusations of complicity in the kidnapping of the daughter of the French governor, we can extract some information from him, and at the same time persuade him to join us while searching for Jacqueline. It turns out that in the end Fokere hired a pirate named Michiel Hattenschrag to kidnap the governor's daughter. After the kidnapping, Fokere himself disappeared somewhere, and Michel can be found on the pirate archipelago.
We sail to Gray Sayles and find Michel in the tavern. (If your rank is below seventh, then Michel will simply laugh at you and refuse to say anything.) Michel will report that the Fokere barque called "Nemesis" is anchored off the uninhabited island of Othernotl and is ready to immediately take off and sneak away as soon as he sees " stranger" on the horizon. Therefore, we persuade Mikhel to exchange ships for a while.
Barque "Nemesis" must be boarded (otherwise there will be no chance to find Jacqueline). In the captain's cabin you will find a ring, and from the ship's log you will learn that this ring must be handed over to a certain Brantom Tabari, the captain of the caravel on board which Jacqueline is languishing. Finding Tabari is very simple - he spends time in a tavern on the Isle de Orange. After receiving the ring, he will personally deliver Jacqueline to Belfort.
On Belfort, another, and very difficult task awaits us. We will have to defend this island from the Spanish invasion. The mess will be decent, but so will the reward. After that, the governor will say that he does not have any tasks for you yet.
Well, let's go on an adventure. On the streets of Belfort, a stranger will meet you and hand over a note in which someone convincingly asks to look into the tavern. Well, let's go there. Ba! There, Jacqueline de Bijou is waiting for us and confesses her love to us (that is, Nicholas Sharpe). It's a sin not to reciprocate. But there are three ways to do it. The first and most vulgar (the proposal to immediately spend the night together in a room on the second floor of the tavern) will lead to nothing but a break and hostility from France. The second way is to wait until you are rich and famous enough to ask the governor himself for Jacqueline's hand in marriage. You will have to wait quite a long time (almost until the end of the game), and in dowry you will receive only 8000 gold (not that much by the standards of the end of the game). But there is a third way - a secret wedding, which will immediately bring you +10,000 experience!
So, we choose the third method. But for a secret wedding, a priest is needed, who can only be found on Omori (by the way, having sailed to Omori, you can complete an additional quest along the way - see below). It is not difficult to find Prior Modestus there, who will agree to conduct a secret rite for only the amount of 3000 gold. The place of the wedding is Belfort. So we swim there and head straight for the palace. There, instead of the governor, we meet Jacqueline and the priest - which was required. Go outside and return to the residence again.
This time you will meet there Monsieur de Bijou himself, who will give a new task: to sink two ships near the uninhabited island of Aliando - Spanish and English, on which the diplomats of the two powers intend to conclude an alliance. Having sunk both ships, we return to Belfort and learn that we have been given the title of baron and the rank of admiral of the French Royal Navy. Next - two tasks, befitting a baronial title: to capture the Spanish colony of Costa Sinistra, then - the English fort Hairok. (For the duration of the last operation, you will receive a support ship of the line, and if your rank is higher than the fourth, you can even assign this ship.)
Then - a small respite: just to deliver an ultimatum to Olaf Ohlsson. The next order is to capture the Spanish colony of Isla Ballena. Then you have to defend your native Belfort (which is not so difficult with the support of your own fort). After that, the governor will pay for the previous two missions and say that for the final defeat of all enemies, it is necessary to capture the English colony of Tendales and the Spanish fort of Granda Avilia. After that, you can return to Belfort and get the coveted title of lieutenant governor, or you can continue your wild pirate adventures...
Additional quests
Trade quest-1. On the streets of Belfort, you can meet a merchant named Magis Sobrik. He will pay 1000 gold if you escort his ship to Omori. Then you can turn to Magis a second time. He will give a tip - local merchant Yves Samois is looking for someone to transport his coffee to Isle de Orange. In exchange for 1200 quintals of coffee on Isle de Orange, you will receive 1200 quintals of chocolate. After delivering the chocolate, you will receive 2500 gold from it.
Trading quest-2. This quest becomes available after Jacqueline is released. On the streets of Tel Kerrat, you can meet the merchant Jean Filenet, who will ask you to accompany his ship to Aile de Orange. Then you can get either the promised gold or a spyglass (an average quality pipe, but still better than yours) from Jean.
Ally. In the tavern of Isle de Orange, you can meet Artois Mulet, who will tell about his failed expedition organized by Nicolas de Montferrat. The expedition died through no fault of Artois, but Nicholas drove him out of service. You can talk to Nicholas, then Artois again, and then Artois will join you as an ally.
Passage for the Spaniards
main line
Getting a Spanish patent is not as easy as getting a French one. The fact is that initially Spain is hostile to you, and therefore you will be met by a friendly volley of fort guns, dare you approach any Spanish colony. But there is still a way out: you can get it on Shark Island (from Spanish agent) fake Spanish corsair certificate. (However, you will have to pay 5000 gold for this - take care of the money in advance.) Then you can sail to the main Spanish colony on the island of Granda Avilia and get a real certificate from the alcalde Ricardo Ferrer de Marcadala himself.
From the alcalde you will also receive the first task - to deliver an urgent letter to another alcado, Guilabertus da Muntral, on the island of Isla Ballena. After delivering the letter and receiving a reward of 1000 gold for this, go to the tavern of Isla Balena. The owner of the tavern will tell about an evil and terrible pirate who terrorizes Spanish merchants. Return to the palace and talk to the alcaldos about this pirate. He will say that the pirate's name is Francois Jovignon and that Senor Ricardo (the first mayor) has appointed a solid reward for his head. Alcalde will also advise you to ask about Francois in Shark Island. Well, let's go there.
Talk to Olaf Olsson (head of the pirate brotherhood) on Shark Island and ask him about Francois. Olaf will report that Francois' ship was recently seen near the uninhabited island of Aliando.
Near Aliando you will meet a pirate shnyava. Having sunk it, you can return to de Mercadal with the good news that the evil pirate is finished. However, it is too early to rejoice. It turns out that you sank some other pirate, and Jovignon himself and his ally are now attacking the Spanish colony of El Caimano. Alcalde immediately sends you to help.
You can't rush. No matter how fast you sail, the result will be the same: there will be no pirates near the island. Entering the El Caimano tavern, you will find out that Jovignon has already done his job - he captured the island, received a ransom and sailed away. Where did you sail? You will learn about this by talking to a stranger in the same tavern. You just have to pay 1000 gold for information. The stranger will tell you that in fact, Ulsson agreed with Jovignon and sheltered him on Shark Island. For this, Jovignon shares his booty with him.
Well, we are sailing to Shark Island and take Olsson by the breasts. There it will turn out how the same stranger to whom you paid 1000 gold deceived you: this was Jovignon himself. Olsson will continue to claim that Jovignon has settled somewhere near Aliando, and will even offer to accompany you there. Well, help is very useful to us (this is a whole brig!). This time you will actually find Jovignon with an accomplice near the island. Having sunk their ships, you can return to Ricardo for the promised reward.
Having handed it over, Don Ricardo will send us to the pirate archipelago to meet with the Spanish informant Jose Maria Lopez, whom you can easily find on the streets of Gray Sales. He will report about it. that the British are going to attack the colony of Isla Ballena. We must hurry to notify the alcalde about this. Señor de Muntral will order us to defend the island (it's not so difficult under the protection of your own fort and having a small Spanish fleet in addition). After the victory, the alcalde will reward you and order you to go to Don Ricardo.
And here is the first major task: to capture the English colony on Grandfather Island. Upon your return, you receive 5000 gold and the next (also not bad) task: sink two of the newest English battleships anchored near Itkal. The situation is slightly relieved by the fact that both ships are somewhat battered by the storm and, therefore, will not fight at full strength. (Try to capture one of them, and then sell it if you are not yet mature enough to command a lineman.) After all these glorious deeds, you deservedly receive the title of Spanish grandee and the title of admiral of the Spanish fleet.
Then there is a slight lull. The alcalde has no assignments for us yet, but he is concerned that, according to intelligence data, the French are going to attack one of the Spanish colonies, but which one is unknown. Well, let's try to find out for ourselves. Leaving the palace, we go into the tavern. The owner of the tavern, Salvador Engano, will tell you that his brother, Roberto Enagno, recently boarded a French brig, on which some very important documents were found. You can find Roberto on El Caimano, where his corvette is currently being repaired. We find Roberto in a local tavern (and where else?). He hands over the captured documents to us, and we return to Grand Avilia in order to hand them over to Señor Ricardo.
Among the documents is a plan to attack Ayla Ballena. There is simply no strength to defend the island from the attack of the allies (British and French) now, so a bold decision arises - to get ahead of the enemy and attack ourselves French ships near the island of Tel Kerrat. As you might guess, this mission is entrusted to us.
After the victory at Tel Kerrat (by the way, it will not be an easy mess), we get three tasks one after another: to capture the colony of Isle de Orange, then Highrock, then Belfort.
So far, the allies have been dealt with for the time being, but now the pirates have become very active. Therefore, we are sent to Shark Island with instructions to deliver an ultimatum to Olaf Ulsson. A battle with a pirate flotilla awaits us near the island (well, at least there is no fort on the island). Then we hand over the ultimatum to Olaf without hindrance, and he has no choice but to agree to the demands of Don Ricardo.
Then - the finishing touch - the order to capture the English colony of Tendales, after which you can return to Ricardo and receive from him the appointment of viceroy of the archipelago.
Additional quests
Trade quest-1. The owner of the shop on Costa Sinistra asks to deliver 50 centners of ebony to the owner of the shop on Isla Ballena. Upon his return, he gives 2000 gold.
Trading quest-2. This quest becomes available after the massacre of the pirate Francois Jovignon. Then a trader named Theodora Alameda appears on the streets of Grand Avilia. For 2000 gold he asks to accompany his galleon to Costa Sinitstra. (Don't forget to track down this merchant on the streets of Costa Sinistra afterward to collect the promised reward.)
We drown the pirate. The owner of the tavern on Granda Avilia asks to eliminate smugglers carrying cheap rum to his competitor. We go out to sea and drown or capture the barque "Wizel". Returning to the tavern, we receive the promised reward of 1000 gold.
We deliver the priest. In the tavern of Grand Avilia, you can meet a Spanish priest who wants to get to Shark Island in order to introduce pirates to the Holy Church. Having delivered the priest, we get some experience and reputation.
The search for the missing soldier. On the streets of Isla Ballena you can meet a woman named Catalina. She asks us to find out what happened to her lover, Carlos Esperanza - he was a soldier in one of the Spanish punitive expeditions against pirates. Having gone to the governor, we ask him about the fate of the expedition, without specifying that we are interested in the fate of one soldier. The Governor says that the expedition is missing off the Isle of Othernotla. What exactly happened, he doesn't know. The innkeeper Arno Manlu tells us that the expedition was sunk by pirates near the island of Othernotla. In that battle, many Spanish soldiers were captured and sold to pirates at the slave market in Rockshore. We're going to Othernotla. The pirate ship El Lobo stands there - it used to be part of the missing squadron. Having sunk it, we return to the governor and tell him about the fate of the expedition. For this we get 1000 gold. After that, we go to Gray Sales and talk to the slave trader Raimundo. He tells us that the Spanish soldiers who participated in the expedition were taken prisoner, but when Raimundo's ship passed near the French colony of Omori, Carlos jumped overboard and thus escaped. On Omori we do meet Carlos. After talking with him, you need to return to Catalina and inform her that Carlos is alive and will return to her soon.
The search for the witch. On the street of Isla Ballena you can meet an Englishman named Bartholomew Ulster. He will ask us about a girl named Carla. Naturally, we do not know any Carla - she is a whore in a local tavern. After looking into the tavern and talking to her, we mention that Bartholomew Ulster is looking for her. The girl will obviously be alarmed and even refuse to do her job. Looking to the alcalde de Muntral, we learn that his secretary Bartholomew Ulster was found dead under very strange circumstances. Upon learning that Bartholomew was associated with Carla, the mayor instructs us to investigate this matter. Now we need to find a man named Jaime Zingermann on the streets of the city. (He is the only one who did not use Carla's services.) Jaime tells us that Carla was engaged in witchcraft. Having learned about this, we go to Arnaud Manll and, threatening to pass him off as a witch's accomplice, find out from him where Karla disappeared (at the same time, you can spin him for a couple of thousand, but to the detriment of his reputation). The innkeeper will say that Carla sailed away with a captain named Miguel Kenda to one of the small Spanish colonies. He knows nothing more. In the El Caimano tavern we find Victor Martos, boatswain from Miguel Kenda's ship. He will tell us that the woman on board brought the captain to death, and then fled near Grand Avilia. Arriving at Grand Avilia, in the tavern we finally meet Carla again. You can accuse her of witchcraft and adherence to the devil, and then find the inquisitor's alcalde opposite the residence and hand over the witch to him. The poor girl will be burned, and we can return to the alcalde Muntral and receive a reward. But it is better to choose the second way: after listening to Carla's story, let her go to all four sides and get +5000 (!) Experience points for this.
Passage for pirates
main line
For starters, it would be nice to join the Coastal Brotherhood. Therefore, sail to Skalshorz, meet Olaf Olsson and join the ranks of free luck hunters. However, the mere fact of joining the ranks of the pirates does not change your relations with all powers (until you start attacking their ships). Therefore, up to a certain point, you can freely enter the "civilized" ports, without fear of running into a friendly salvo of the fort's guns.
Swim to Grandfather Island and talk to Eugene Haxter, an old jeweler who will identify the medallion in your chest. He will say that he made this medallion many years ago for Malcolm Sharpe (your father!), The famous pirate who plundered the Spanish Emerald Caravan.
Having learned about this, we go to Ulsson and ask him about his father. Olaf tells us that he once sailed under our father and that Malcolm Sharp disappeared after Olaf was left on the shore with a fit of fever. He also adds that we can learn about Sharpe's fate from the two members of his team who survived. One of them is One-Legged Berquist, he hasn't left Gray Sales for a long time. The second is Mavrikio Kamentata, who has long since left the pirate profession and now runs a tavern on the Spanish island of Costa Sinistra.
First we sail to Gray Sayles to talk to One-Legged Berquist. He talks about how Sharp plundered the Spanish Emerald Caravan and then buried the treasure somewhere, and then disappeared. He does not know any details about Sharpe's death, or pretends not to. Now we need to temporarily go over to the side of the Spaniards (in order to be able to enter the Spanish islands) - so get a fake Spanish certificate from an agent on Gray Sales.
Mavrikio Kamentata refuses to tell anything until we fulfill his order - we need to take the letter to Lorenzo Marquez Avido, a merchant on Grand Avilia. Having delivered the letter, we receive from the merchant a cargo of wine for Mauritius Kamentata. After that, he will tell us about the last voyage of Malcolm Sharpe and offer us half of the map of the island where Sharpe buried his treasures. Mauritius asks for 1000 gold for it, but you can persuade him to give the card away for nothing.
Returning to Ulsson, we tell him about everything that we managed to find out. Olaf advises us to try talking about our father with Desmond Raymond Belthrop, the leader of the pirate settlement Gray Sayles. Nothing good comes from this conversation. Beltrop laughs at us, and we cannot adequately answer him without ending our lives on a yardarm.
Returning to Ulsson, we tell him about our conversation with Beltrop. Then Olaf offers us to turn one business. We must sink the caravel "San Miguel", owned by a merchant named Julio Nederedas, who was "ordered" by his partner. Caravel is located near the island of Granda Avilia. The completion of this task must be reported to Trickster Markus, who will be waiting for us on the island of Tel Kerrat. He will pay us for the execution of the order.
We ask Ulsson about what to do with the map received from Kamentata. He says that no doubt Belthrop knew our father and heard of Malcolm Sharpe's treasure. It can be "caught" on the piece of the map that we have, but you can not do it directly, in the forehead. If we go to him and declare that we have a map, Beltrop will simply slaughter us and take it. According to Ulsson, Beltrop needs to be deceived somehow. But how exactly - over this we still have to rack our brains.
Having sunk Nederedas and having received money from Trickster Markus for this, in a conversation with him we learn that Markus professionally forges securities and documents. Offering him to make a fake, slightly modified duplicate of the map received from Mauritius Kamentata, we pay 2000 gold for this and set off with the fake map to Beltrop. Having traded for her the story about our father (which is also not very true), we can either pretend that we are ready to be friends with Beltrop, or openly declare that he will pay for his atrocities.
After that, in the Gray Sales tavern, we will meet Anna Forge, who will tell us the story of her miserable life. She is from a noble English family. Her father was a friend of Beltrop, who, it turns out, once held a baronial title. Beltrop got involved in a conspiracy against His Majesty and tried to persuade her father to participate in it. He refused and tried to convince the baron to give up the bad idea. But now Beltrop has already refused. Then the father, torn between loyalty to His Majesty and friendship, was forced to hand over the future leader of the pirates to justice. Beltrop was exiled.
Five years later, he returned to England at the head of a pirate fleet, plundered and burned the estate of Anna's father, sparing no one but her. Beltrop took Anna on his ship and has kept Anna with him since then, only a year ago allowing her to leave his residence. Anna's brother, the captain of the English fleet, tried to find her, and during his search he ran into one of the pirate leader's henchmen in the Grandfather Island tavern. They talked, and then a friend of Beltrop ambushed her brother in a dark alleyway, killed him and, as proof of his devotion, brought Beltrop a bloodied head.
In the conversation, it turns out that Beltrop has his own half of Captain Sharp's treasure map. We agree to punish the murderer of Anna's brother in exchange for a promise to steal this half for us. Anne's brother's killer, a pirate named Juan Cocodrillo Sangre, is on the prowl for prey near the French colony of Isle de Orange. Having gone there, we sink his ship "Aspirare" and, without getting involved in a battle with the French, we return to Anna. Upon learning that the death of her brother has been avenged, she gives us a piece of the map. When asked what she is going to do next, Anna replies that she decided to stick a knife in Beltrop's belly. We can promise her to do it for her and then come back for her - otherwise she will try to kill Beltrop and die herself.
After finding One-Legged Berquist, we learn that some captains do not like the way Beltrop manages pirates on Gray Sales. Burquist tells Nicholas the true story of his father's death, treacherously murdered by Beltrop.
Having received the map, we go to Telltak Island, which is shaped like a bull's head. The entrance to the cave where Malcolm Sharp hid the Emerald Cargo is just between the "horns". Along with the treasure, we find Malcolm Sharp's diary, which tells of our father's dream to create a new state in the archipelago, free and independent.
Meanwhile, a deluded and furious Beltrop prowls around the island in his Gorgon manowar. If we don't sink him near Telltak, he'll be after us when we enter Gray Sayles waters. Having sunk Beltrop and returning to Ulsson, we learn that after the death of Beltrop, it became much more difficult to defend Skalshorz, and, as luck would have it, England, France and Spain just decided to take Skalshors into their hands. Looks like the island will have to be abandoned. But the ideas of his father inspired Nicholas so much that he persuades Ulsson to start creating a new free republic in the archipelago. Olaf eventually agrees and says that it is first necessary to get rid of the threat from the colonial powers and, first of all, to protect the Rockshores from France, which has already begun to raise a fleet to seize the pirate islands. Olsson offers us a new ship.
On the island of Isle de Orange, in a tavern, we meet a French officer who is already pretty drunk, but does not stop drinking. From him we learn that the French superintendent Aymery de Aurillac went to inspect the state of the fort on the island of Omori. It is de Aurillac who is responsible for the punitive expedition to Rockshores, and we will have to go to Omori to talk to him. By bribing the superintendent, we get him to agree to sabotage the supply of ammunition. The threat from the French has been temporarily eliminated, which we, having returned to Skalshorz, joyfully inform Ulsson about. However, now the British are preparing a fleet to attack the pirate colony.
We go to Highrock and talk to the owner of the tavern. He tells us that a new batch of convicts has recently been brought to the island. In the same tavern, we can talk to Jeremy McMellon. Inspired by the idea of building a new republic in the archipelago, he promises to find a way to stop the upcoming expedition.
Returning to Ulsson, we tell him that we have found a new ally among the British. Olaf also has news: a new leader has appeared on Gray Sales - the pirate Felipe, nicknamed the Butcher. Olsson advises us to talk to him. Having met the Butcher, we tell him about the idea of creating a new free state in the archipelago. This idea is to the liking of the new leader, but he warns us that three Spanish ships of the line are going to Skalshorz in order to capture the pirate settlements. You need to meet them on the way to Gray Sales. The butcher offers us his help in the battle with the Spaniards. After the battle, he will always be ready to help us.
Having sunk all three liners (one of them needs to be captured), we go to visit McMellon. He says that everything is ready to raise a riot on Highrock, and the only thing he needs is money to buy weapons for the rebels. He needs 3000 gold. Having given the money, we learn that there are three new English ships near the Dead Island. We must get rid of them, otherwise they will crush the rebellion with their weapons and land troops on Highrock to regain control of the colony.
Raise the sails and sail to the Dead Island. Having defeated the English fleet, we return to Ulsson, who praises us for the battle with the Spaniards and says that he is tired of the pirate life and he is going to leave the archipelago and head to Europe. There he will buy a small tavern on the shore and spend the rest of his life in warmth and peace. Instead of himself, he appoints Nicholas Sharp as head of the Rockshore Pirates.
Saying goodbye to Ulsson and promising to visit his tavern on occasion, we drop in on the owner of the tavern on Shark Island. Francis Dullars sends us a letter from Jeremy McMellon, in which he reports that unforeseen circumstances prevent a riot on Highrock. The Spanish are gathering a fleet near Isle Ballena to attack Highrock. We are invited to sink the Spanish fleet, and at the same time capture Isle Ballena.
After capturing Isle Ballena, we return to Gray Sales. There Berquist gives us a second letter from McMellon. After returning to Highrock and talking with McMellon, we set off to capture Grand Avilia, and then Isle de Orange. After capturing the island, we persuade its governor to join the new republic and celebrate the victory.
Additional quests
Ally or gold. In the Shark Island tavern, we meet a pirate named James Callow. He tells us about an Indian idol he took from an old Indian priest. According to him, this idol brings misfortune. The pirate wants to get rid of the damn trinket, but he doesn't know how. Several times he tried to throw the idol away, but it mysteriously returned back. According to the old Indian, from whom James took the idol, this figurine can only be given as a gift. The pirate asks us to help him get rid of the cursed idol and present this trinket to Desmond Ray Beltrop, with whom he has been at odds for a long time. Agreeing to help him, we go to Beltrop and give him a gift. If Nicholas's rank is 7 or higher, then Beltrop will accept him, if not, he will refuse, and we will have to return to James Callow with a salty slurp. You can also try to sell the idol to Nicholas de Montferrat, governor of Isle de Orange. This option is win-win - the governor will gladly accept a gift from us. Having completed the assignment, we return to James. If the reputation of Nicholas is Good Matey, James will join us as an ally, if the reputation is lower, he will give two thousand gold, apologize and leave us.
Free Manowar or Gold. In the Shark Island tavern, we meet a pirate named Hugo Lumbermill. If we have a Spanish corsair patent in our pocket, it's worth talking to him, and then we will have a chance to capture the manowar. Hugo complains to us that he is tired of the pirate life, and will ask you to get a Spanish corsair patent for him. We are heading straight for Guilabertus de Muntral, and if Nicholas Good Matey has a reputation, then we will be able to persuade the governor to issue a patent to the old pirate, if it is lower, then we can suggest de Muntral to deceive the old pirate - to issue him a patent in order to lure him to Isle Ballena and then hang. After that, we return to Lumbermill and give him the letter. If we brought a real corsair patent, he will tell us that there is a damaged French manowar near the island of Chaktcha, which is very easy to capture. After a while, we can drop in on Guilabertus de Muntral and inquire about how the old pirate serves. It turns out that he made an excellent soldier. If we set up Hugo's trap, then after the transfer of the patent, it is necessary to return to Guilabertus de Muntral for a reward - 2500 gold.
Gold. After Eugene Hakster tells us about Malcolm Sharpe, we will meet a smuggler named Octavio Lambrini in the El Caimano tavern. Upon learning that Nicholas is the son of Malcolm Sharp, the smuggler will offer us one business. There is a customs captain on Isle Ballena named Arcadio la Damba. He basically does not take bribes, and because of this, the path to Isle Ballena is closed to smugglers. Octavio wants us to help him get rid of this officer and is willing to pay 3000 gold for it. Having agreed to these conditions, we sail to Isle Ballena and talk in a tavern with Arcadio la Damba. Now we have two options: complete the task of Lambrini or agree with the captain and set up a trap for Lambrini (for this we will receive 2000 gold). Having decided to kill the captain, we explore the waters near Isle Ballena and, having met the brig la Damba, let it go to the bottom and return to Octavio Lambrini for payment. If there is a desire to negotiate with the captain, after talking with him, we need to see Octavio Lambrini and inform him of the successful completion of the assignment and that he can now visit Isla Ballena without hindrance. Near the island of Arcadio, La Damba will intercept the smuggler and bring him to justice. Our participation in this is not required, so we can immediately go to Isla Ballena and there, in the tavern, receive our reward from the captain. However, if we surrender to Captain Octavio Lambrini, his sons will be waiting for us near El Caimano.
"The Sharpe Brothers: Revenge of the Brothers"
Prologue.
... Nathaniel Hauck, cousin of Nicholas Sharpe, the most formidable of pirates in the Caribbean in the seventeenth century, served faithfully as the governor of Portsmouth in England, but for unclear reasons was expelled from the country and recognized as a pirate for three nations - England, France and Spain. But he vowed to return and take revenge ...
Chapter 1.
Exile.
It was a cool morning on May 1, 1630. Nothing broke the silence, only the cries of seagulls could be heard over the Portsmouth wharf.
Nathaniel Hauk stood on the wharf and watched his pinnace Storm being loaded. By noon, he and his crew had to leave the waters of England.
He took out his gold watch and looked at it. This is the only memory of his father that Nathaniel has left. The clock was half past ten.
The captain was distracted by the shout of a sailor:
"Captain, we've sunk. Ready to sail?
- No, wait - Nathaniel answered - Settle your families in the cabins. “I don't think you'd like to leave them to the Governor.
- Yes, captain. And the sailors retired to gather their families.
A few minutes later they filed off to the ship. They walked with their wives and sons, dragging bales of things. Some were carrying furniture. Soon everyone was settled in cabins, things were placed in the hold. Everything was ready to sail.
Soon the governor himself arrived at the pier. He was dignifiedly accompanied by a detachment of soldiers. The procession went through the whole city and ended at the pier. The governor and the soldiers stopped at once.
Seeing this, Nathaniel woke up from his thoughts, and ran up the ladder to the deck of his ship.
- Nathaniel Hauck, your time is running out. Hurry up! Governor Nathaniel warned in a menacing tone. “Hurry up!”
- Of course, Mr. Governor. Not for long - Hauk answered in a slightly mocking tone - We are almost ready to sail.
The clock in the town square struck noon.
- Give mooring lines! shouted the captain, and heavy lashing ropes were hauled up on deck. - Full speed ahead!
And the ship, slowly picking up speed, swayed slightly on the waves and moved away from the pier. Soon the ship completely disappeared from view, disappearing over the horizon. This is where the adventures of Nathaniel Hawk began.
Chapter 2
First meetings.
The next day, early in the morning, Nathaniel, sitting at his desk in his cabin, examined the map, and decided on what desperate attempt he and his team would go.
He heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he muttered, not taking his eyes off the calculations.
The door opened and the boatswain entered the captain's cabin.
- Good morning captain - he greeted Hawk - you have not decided where we will go?
- Well, why, - the captain answered, looking up from the map - I decided - we are moving across the ocean in search of an uninhabited island. As far as I know, there is at least one in the surrounding waters, but there is.
“Wouldn’t it be better to stop at some nearby port?” the boatswain asked.
Smiling, the captain replied:
- Jack, think! We are pirates. For all. Maybe this is not so, but - Nathaniel spread his hands - if we appear at the nearest port, we will be received as ...
- Pirates. Yes - Jack nodded, finishing for the captain - Thank you for explaining, cap. Will you come up on deck?
- Yes. After a minute.
- I'm waiting for you - and the boatswain left.
Soon Hawk went upstairs. There was fog. The dawn was breaking. It was cold.
The sailors were busy working on the masts and deck. No one rested on the ship.
The captain thought again, standing at the side of the ship. His gaze wandered from the bluish-blue water of the ocean to the brightening horizon, but his thoughts were still not about that.
He reasoned like this for some time in the silence, broken only by the rare calls of the sailors and the sound of ocean water, which the ship cut like butter, sailing farther and farther towards the horizon.
Suddenly, the captain's gaze, wandering across the ocean, stumbled upon a barely noticeable silhouette, slowly moving along the horizon.
- Jack, spyglass! - Nathaniel said in a wary tone, stretching his hand back - I need to know who it is.
- Where? - the boatswain asked in surprise, giving the pipe -
Did you see someone?
Hauk, looking through the telescope, gave it to Jack with the words:
- Look there, along the horizon. English pennants...
Yes, it is, captain. Pennants are really English. And below them are some light ships...maybe sloops or kicks...
- CAPTAIN! - the lookout from the mainmast shouted so that Nathaniel trembled, and the boatswain almost dropped the pipe - there, near the horizon, two sloops are moving, ... they changed course ... they are coming at us, sir ... I can’t make out the name ...
- Approximate speed of the ships? - boomed the cap.
- About 11 knots, ... approaching - the lookout did not take his eyes off the telescope for a second -, ... they will be here soon.
- Fine.
About half an hour later, Nathaniel could make out the names of the ships - Liberty and Honor.
They were getting closer. Soon everyone who looked in their direction saw that the captains of both sloops were having a lively conversation among themselves, keeping the ships as close as possible. But soon, seeing a pinnace not far from them, they stopped talking and parted the ships.
- Hey, on the sloops! - Hauk shouted - Who are you, and how far are you sailing?
- I'm Jack Mainston - began the captain of the Freedom - I served with my brother - he pointed at the captain of the Honor - served as a corsair for the governor of Portsmouth for about five years. But just recently he drove me away and told me not to come back. And my brother Dick served the governor for only three years - he entered his service later than me. And now we are exiles, and we want to sail away from these lands before our ships are confiscated.
- Yes, it is so - Dick confirmed his brother's story.
- I share your fate, gentlemen - Nathaniel sighed - I served with the governor for about five years, and recently he kicked me out like a dog, and ordered me to get ready to go. Yesterday I set sail from Portsmouth, but soon I will return and have my revenge on him! Nathaniel finished with anger in his eyes.
- I think that then you will not mind if we join you? - asked Jack Minston - What do you say?
Well, of course I don't mind! - Nathaniel exclaimed joyfully - I will only be happy to have fellow travelers!
In the evening the ships anchored, and Nathaniel gave a sumptuous supper on the ship. Behind him, the captains discussed everything.
“I'm going to settle down on some uninhabited island within a radius of one hundred and fifty miles. We are going to build up there, train new people - and in the cabins of my ship there are families of sailors, which are full of youngsters fit for sea work. And later I'm going to rebuild some new ships using the available wood and pay a visit to Mr. Governor.
Well, what do you say?
- The plan is flawless, Sir Nathaniel! - Jack exclaimed - You think excellently!
- Undoubtedly! - Dick confirmed again - And we should look for the nearest, uninhabited island in a hundred and ten miles. At best, in two days we can reach the goal.
- So that's great! For a new plan! - and the clinking of three glasses was heard, which in a moment were devastated.
The brothers dispersed to their ships, and Hauk still remained standing on the deck, enjoying the beautiful view of the starry sky and the bright full moon, which illuminated the surface of the ocean with a silver path.
Chapter 3
New meeting and new land.
The next morning brought no surprises. The sailors, as usual, fussed on the deck, and the boatswain calculated the coordinates.
Nathaniel went on deck at about five in the morning. The sun had not yet risen, and the ocean looked black in the morning gloom. The sailors unanchored the ships and lay down to drift, but by seven in the morning they had to raise the sails and reach a speed of 10 knots in order to cover up to 150 miles by the morning of the next day.
- Well, captain? – Approaching Hauk, the boatswain asked – Our plans have not changed?
- No, Jack - firmly replied the captain - we are going the same course at the right pace, and therefore soon, I hope, we will settle on some uninhabited land - so Jack, our plans have not changed. At the very least, in the near future.
Until noon, nothing changed - the sailors also worked smoothly, the ship just flew at a record speed - 12 knots. Hauk's team was 15 miles per hour ahead of schedule. That is, by five tomorrow morning they will have overcome one hundred and fifty miles, three hours ahead of schedule.
And Nathaniel was doing his favorite thing - standing on the deck and looking at the ocean expanse in all directions. But he did not have to stand like that for long - he saw a barque coming very close. "Spaniards! - the captain thought with delight, not believing what he saw - This is luck! The barque was a little ahead, a few hundred meters, and the pinnace began to overtake him. Nathaniel already read the name clearly - "The Rich Man". Well, judging by the name, not bad prey was waiting for everyone!
Cutting through the water surface, Hauk's ship smoothly overtook the barque, and panic arose on the deck of the Spanish ship. Among the crowd of sailors, a fat merchant in a blue coat sometimes flashed by - he gesticulated with his hands and shouted something.
- Aha, the sailor fussed! - the captain grinned - and that fat man must be the captain! With him we will talk in a kinder way. Soon the pinnace overtook the bark, and caught up with it side by side.
- Hey, on the bar! - Nathaniel shouted cheerfully - Who are you and where are you going?
- Hello, sir! - I heard the voice of the captain, making his way through the crowd of numb sailors - I am Ed Neil de Son, French, but I serve the Spanish crown. But I'm never lucky, and I'm disappointed in the service. My income is petty and never covers expenses. I recently undertook to carry cargo from the Spanish coast to France, to La Rochelle, and having spent more than two thousand coins on the flight, I received only five hundred! Imagine! This is my last flight - I'm not going into debt anymore. Who are you?
- Thank you for the impressive story, Mr. Neil de Son - the corsair answered with a smile - I English corsair Nathaniel Hauck, was expelled by the Governor of Portsmouth for unclear reasons. I am moving with friends Jack and Dick Minston, also expelled from England by the governor of Portsmouth. And you, as I see it, are Spaniard...
- D - yes - the merchant nodded in fright - What did you want?
- I wanted to make you an offer - the corsair asked in a calm voice - As I understand it, you have a lack of money - you do not pay back your expenses. Therefore, I think you will agree to join our expedition in order to get a lot of money, a new ship, and become a resident of a new country?
- O! Yes, no doubt! I will follow you if you want to show such generosity. Thanks! the Spaniard enthused. – Where are we going?
- Further beyond the horizon at full sail - answered Hauk and moved away from the side.
So Nathaniel got another ally, and drove his ship even faster to the designated target.
In the early morning of the next day, the captain went on deck and looked around. It was foggy, almost nothing could be seen. Nathaniel shivered slightly from the morning cold. It was half past five in the morning. After ten minutes of staring into the distance, Nathaniel noticed a silhouette through the fog that seemed to him an island.
- Land! the lookout suddenly shouted ahead, and everyone was stirred. The corsair's allies stared at the silhouette, which gradually turned into an island.
“Earth, at last! – thought Nathaniel – My dream has come true!”
At five o'clock in the morning four ships entered the lagoon of an unknown island.
Chapter 4
Base.
Having moored to the island, all the sailors descended on the snow-white sand of an unknown land. They were Nathaniel, the Mainston brothers, and the merchant Neil de Son. The wildness of the island struck and accompanied its beauty - shrubs grew very densely, palm trees with mature coconuts towered, and thick grass grew - these were clear signs that the island was uninhabited. This made Hawk happy.
- There is clearly no one on this island - the corsair broke the general silence - which means that it is uninhabited. This is what we were waiting for.
- Yes - continued Dick Mainston - build up here. How do we start construction?
- Building? - Ed asked with surprise - What kind of construction?
- De Son, we want to settle here because we are exiles! Nathaniel almost screamed. “We decided to stay here for at least a few months, and then,” he clenched his fist, “…I'll explain later.
This ended the conversation. On this day, they still spent the night on ships, and the construction was moved to the morning of the next day. We spent the whole day exploring the island. It turned out that in its middle there is a small clearing, where they decided to build the center of the camp.
On the morning of the next day, work began to boil - all the sailors from all ships began the construction of "Nathaniel's workhouse" - that was the name of the two-story mansion in the clearing, which will have a basement, a floor with a small officer's quarters and the captain's office - on the second floor. It was ready in two days.
Shortly after the construction of the "workhouse" they began to build an external palisade - the simplest defense against unexpected pirate attacks. It was rebuilt in a day.
All goods from the Spanish barque were unloaded and moved to the basement (with the permission of Neil de Son, of course).
About half a month more was spent building huts for sailor families - it was obscene to keep them on the ship - so Nathaniel thought.
Having finished this, everyone could say with relief that they settled on the island. This was one of the main steps in Hauk's plan. The camp was rebuilt on June 1, 1630. This is a month after sailing from Portsmouth.
The next day, the captain gathered all his officers and said that it was time to train the youth maritime affairs. They took almost all the young men from the families and lined them up on the sandy shore of the island.
Chapter 5
Maritime business.
- Youths! - Hauk began his lecture - All of you are the sons of sailors, and, most likely, all your future is connected with the service on the ship. And it doesn't matter which one - whether you will be corsairs, merchants, or pirates - it doesn't matter. The important thing is that you must be able to swordsman and some of you must be able to steer a ship, these are the ones who are strongly aimed at the captain's position. If anyone doesn't know, my name is Nathaniel Hauk, captain of the Storm, you can see him in the bay. You will be trained with me by my boatswain Jack Digret, navigator William Ontess, and first mate Roger Minks - all of whom have been with me for more than ten years, and are excellent at fighting. Well, let's start the course, shall we?
- Yes! the rank answered at once.
And the course of naval training began. The majority wanted to learn fencing. But in the first days, almost no one showed good command of the sword - everyone had some kind of shortcomings. A week has passed, and some fencers have distinguished themselves. The flaws became smaller, and the students gained mastery. But all the same, everyone often heard the captain's remarks: "" Such a blow is rather weak! Stronger!", and some started all over again. Soon the Mainston brothers joined the lessons, and even Neil de Son! He also showed a desire to learn fencing. Imagine a fat merchant among skinny boys!
Over time, some have already progressed quite seriously - they fought no worse than a navigator. And Nathaniel left the coast and fencing lessons, and moved to the sea to train his student Richard - one of the few who wished to learn how to manage the ship. Many were considered unsuitable for swimming, and sent to learn fencing.
And Nathaniel asked John Minston for his "Freedom", and went to the bay to train a recruit. Soon boatswain Jack joined him on another sloop, who took on the training of another future captain - Philip.
At first, Hawke made a lot of remarks: “Turn slowly!”, “Not like that!”, etc., that is, the young captain made many mistakes. But over time, Nathaniel admired his beloved student more and more - only a couple of days passed, and he already knew how to make a smooth turn, catch the wind correctly, and even learned how to maneuver quite well! The corsair liked this more and more, and he thought that the captain in his team was almost ready.
Let's mention Jack and his student Philip. He was an explosive fellow, he did not like to swim slowly, and often, when the captain showed Richard a new maneuver, one could observe how a sloop of thirteen knots was rushing along the starboard side, at the helm of which was a joyful Philip. And Jack said to the captain: "He likes to swim like that."
But nevertheless, Richard received encouragement - he was very careful with the ship, and managed it well. Philip, of course, was worse than him.
A few days later, the results of the entire training course were summed up - out of a hundred fencers, a quarter received a sword and ten piastres as a reward, fifty - a sword and five piastres, and the rest, more unfortunate - a sword and one piastres.
Nathaniel proudly presented Richard with a gilded spyglass and a pouch containing a hundred ringing piastres. And also said:
- I'll build a ship for you, Rich; I know that you can become a talented captain.
In response to this, Richard broke into a smile - he knew that the captain would not deceive.
But Philip Jack, with no less solemnity than Hauk (and with a slight grin on his face), handed over a bronze, ordinary spyglass, and five coins. And after that he said: "" And everything could be better if you swam more carefully "".
In the evening everyone celebrated the completion of the training course, and the replenishment of their ranks by young sailors, and drank a glass of rum.
Nathaniel's further plans on the island were as follows: to strengthen its defenses; build docks near the coast for the construction of several support ships, and explore the island to the end, since in its wilderness there could be some kind of lake, or even a source of fresh water.
Chapter 6
Construction of docks and exploration of the island.
The next day, Nathaniel laid out a tough plan - to explore the island for fresh water, and build docks to build small ships.
Five sailors set off to explore the wilderness of the island, making their way through thickets of ferns and shrubs. Half an hour later, they found a source of fresh water - it was a joy to everyone, since the water on the ship was running out. The sailors filled all the containers they had with them with water and returned to the camp.
- Captain, there is water on the island! - they said at once, showing the corsair flasks filled with water. The captain took one of them and took a couple of sips. Then he rubbed his lips with his sleeve and said:
Yes, fresh water. Well done boys. You can rest - and the sailors fell apart on the grass.
A little later, the teams took up the docks. We decided to build them close to the water in order to launch ships along the sand. They cut down two long and wide palm trees, and put them on the edges of the cut-out space (as a base). Then they made a steep ladder along which it would be easy to roll the ship. And planned the piles on the wooden floor. The docks were completed a week later, on the seventh of August.
The captain also asked to build observation nests on two tall palm trees in front of the camp, and to set sentries - the governor's fleet could come. And sentries chose two boys - fencers. Thus ended the implementation of the planned plan.
Chapter 7
Shipbuilding.
The next day, Nathaniel ordered the sailors to begin building the sloop. The team began its construction, and the captain retired to his office, and made an entry in the ship's log:
” August 7, 1630. My friends and I settled on the uninhabited land, explored the island and fortified it. Fencers and a captain from the families of my sailors were trained. Resources and food are running out, but fresh water supplies have been replenished, since a spring was discovered in the middle of the island. We plan to stay here for about a month and then go back to Portsmouth, but this can only be done if I wait for my brother Nicholas Sharp…”
Nathaniel closed the magazine and left the office. He had thoughts that Nicholas Sharp would arrive on the island, and everyone could contemplate how his personal flag was flying, which might also be raised over the island ... but these were only considerations, so all that remained was to hope for it. And so the captain wandered off to observe the construction of the ship.
Ten sailors bustled under him. Hammers banged, nails were hammered, and the ship took on the desired shape. There was also a lively work on the deck, leveling the boards, and the boys gathered to stare at this spectacle. Soon the hull and hold were completed, and the masts were installed - they were supported by thick vines attached to nearby trees (the vines took islands in the thicket). When the masts were fixed, the vines were cut. The ship was almost finished. In the evening they tarred the bottom and fixed the sails. In the morning we decided to test it. Everyone drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 8
Arrival of Nicholas Sharpe.
In the morning, Nathaniel woke up from an incomprehensible noise and voices mixed with it. He hastily got up, dressed and went out. What he saw shocked him. A huge battleship with an English pennant was piled up in a small lagoon, frigates, also English, stood on all sides of it. But the spectacle on the shore was even more striking - soldiers in cuirasses were marching along it, bodies of dead and wounded sailors, including young ones, lay everywhere. Among all of them, Hauck noticed the Mainstones, beaten, in tattered clothes, and nearby the governor of Portsmouth scurried about. Nile de Son stood shackled, surrounded by soldiers. The sight shocked and horrified. Suddenly Jack, his boatswain, ran up to the captain and groaned: "Help!", and fell dead. The corsair became terribly angry, and with gnashing teeth went towards the governor. But suddenly he felt some inexplicable heaviness and weakness in his legs, it was getting harder and harder to walk. But he walked, and gradually approached the villain. In the end, he approached the scoundrel, who was laughing at the top of his lungs, standing over the barely alive Mainstones.
- Sir!!! I will kill you!!! yelled Nathaniel, and drew his sword from its scabbard.
- Come on, brat, hit me! – Ha! Ha! Ha! The governor laughed in the corsair's face.
Nathaniel could not stand such rudeness, swung with a cry, cut the governor in half and ... woke up. He stood in a semi-dark office, holding his saber in his hand, and in front of him stood a barrel cut in half.
- Dream? - he asked himself, sitting on the bed - Damn, this is a dream! Fuh ... - the corsair took a deep breath. He was covered in sweat, his heart was pounding, and he had to sit for a while to calm down. Hawk left the office. Outside it was night, it was cool. The corsair looked around - there was complete darkness around, but suddenly Hauk saw a fire not far from one of the huts. He stood for a while and went to the fire. Soon he saw a figure near him and quickened his pace. As he approached, he saw that Richard was sitting by the fire, gently stirring the wood in the fire. Seeing the corsair, he was surprised, and stared inquiringly at Nathaniel.
- Can't sleep? Hawk asked.
- Yes - Richard answered - he decided to sit by the fire. The sky is beautiful today, isn't it?
The captain looked up. The sky was clear, and a scattering of stars stood out against a dark background.
- It's true - you will not see such a sky in Portsmouth.
- Yes, I've never seen that.
- Rich?
- What?
- Would you like to steer the pinnace? – with smile asked Nathaniel – Now.
- I would like to! Suggest?
- Let's go to.
The two figures slowly moved towards the coast. Soon the moon rose, and it became brighter. The moon illuminated the dark silhouette of the captain's ship. Soon he was slightly distorted by the shadows of two people who had come up on deck. The ship grated a little, the sails straightened - Nathaniel loosened them.
The ship moved slowly, and Nathaniel lay down on his hammock near the cockpit. He looked at the stars, and occasionally glanced at Richard standing at the helm. Suddenly Richard asked:
- Sir Nathaniel, I heard that you have something to do with Nicholas Sharpe. It's true?
- Yes. I am his cousin.
Richard moved away from the helm and approached the corsair.
- Brother? Then can you tell something about him? I heard that he is a ruthless pirate with the wildest band of thugs.
Smiling slightly, Nathaniel replied:
- This is not true. My brother is not such a pirate. He was just like me driven out of service and settled somewhere nearby on the island. He doesn't kill people, and he doesn't rob islands. He only takes revenge.
- So, almost no one knows the truth about him?
- Nobody in the colonies. I, and all his close people, the team naturally know what he really is. I will introduce you to him if he comes to this island.
- Can he come here?
- Yes.
Nathaniel leaned back and lay looking up at the starry sky. Richie returned to the wheel and tried some difficult turns. It didn't take long, or so it seemed to Nathaniel. Richard was driving, and suddenly noticed that the sun was rising. He ran up to the dozing captain and shook him by the sleeve.
- Sir Nathaniel - dawn! We stayed on the ship all night!
- Fine - Hauk rubbed his eyes and stood up - Go home, otherwise you will be lost. Say you were with me and that's it.
Nathaniel threw back the ladder, and Richard flew home like a bullet. The captain remained on deck.
Suddenly, he was dumbfounded, and, taking the pipe, stared at the horizon with his mouth half open.
There, from the horizon to the island, three ships sailed - two frigates and one man-o-var - a heavy hundred-gun ship, of which very few were used in the flotillas. All the ships were black - sheathed with ebony, sailors in leather clothes worked on them, and full order was observed. At the prow of the man-o-var stood the captain.
''Nicholas'' flashed through Hawke's mind, and he ran ashore. Soon all the captain's officers were standing on the sand of the island, as well as the Mainstones and Neil de Son. Next to Nathaniel stood his favorite student, Richard.
The ships were approaching. Soon you could see Sharpe's flag on them - a tense hand with a saber on a black background.
Man-o-var stopped. Sharpe stepped ashore and walked towards his brother. He was stately, bronze-coloured, with glittering boots on his feet, and at his waist hung a long saber engraved with the words "Nicholas Sharpe." He was a majestic man - a symbol of strength and independence.
- Hello, brother! - Sharpe shook hands with his brother - And you are well settled here. The company is not bad ... but who is this? - he pointed to Richard - God forbid, your son?
- Unfortunately, no - Hauk chuckled - this is my student, who, by the way, manages the ship quite well.
“Ah, young captain! - thought Nicholas - Well, hello, the future thunderstorm of the seas!
- Hello, Nicholas Sharpe. I am Richard Blixley, Sir Nathaniel taught me how to be a good captain, and told me about you - Richard answered.
- I hope he didn't lie - looked incredulously at brother Sharpe - What did he say?
- He said that you are the greatest captain, but you never just kill people or plunder the islands.
- That's right - Nicholas smiled - What else have you heard about me?
- In Portsmouth, they said more than once that you are a merciless pirate, endlessly arranging bloodshed, killing people just like that, robbing everyone in your path, the captain.
- But this is not true - said the pirate - This is a blatant lie, slander about a man who is not known. “You will probably be a good captain, so take this.” He handed Richard a saber similar to his own, but only a little shorter. “With this, everyone will respect you when they see my name on the blade.
- Thank you! - the boy thanked the captain - You are very generous.
- Use on health! - Nicholas said with a smile - And now let's go, dear brother, to my ship - he turned to Nathaniel - we have a lot to discuss. And leaving the crew ashore, Nicholas and Nathaniel went to Sharpe's cabin to discuss the situation.
The boatswain and all the officers dispersed over the two frigates to talk to Sharpe's officers and perhaps discuss some issues.
Chapter 9
Talk.
- Well, tell me - Sharpe began, sitting down at the table in his cabin - Sit down - he politely invited his brother.
- Thank you, Nicholas - Hawk sat down - Well then. I'll tell you everything from the beginning.
It happened on the first of May - more than three months ago. I was expelled from service and from the country by the governor of Portsmouth, like you many years ago ...
- Damn pig! - Sharpe scolded the governor - He did not forget that then, ten years ago, he expelled me from there, and remembered about you - you are my brother! And so the justice of His Excellency was done - he drove you away. Dirty flounder!
- Yes, apparently so - continued Hauk - I did not expect this, but I had to gather everyone in the shortest possible time, and at noon the governor kicked me out of the island. Besides, now I'm a public pirate!
- Like me - inserted brother.
- Yes, how are you - Nathaniel grinned - Well. The next day I met the Mainston brothers on two sloops...
- Those two tall and muscular guys? Nicholas asked, interrupting.
- Yes. It was them - continued the corsair - So. I met them a little after noon, and they told me that they too had been expelled by the governor, so they had nowhere to go. So swim with me.
- And that fat man? Sharpe asked. Is he with them too?
- Not. This is Nile de Son, a Spanish merchant, to whom I offered a good deal - a lot of money, a new ship and residence in a new state.
- In my? the brother asked incredulously.
- Yes.
- I'll talk to him about the terms of the contract. Continue.
- We continued our journey, and in the morning of the next day we arrived at a desert island, and settled on it. In the intervening time, we have trained youngsters to fight, and raised the captain - you saw him. That's all. I think you will tell me what happened to you after your exile? finished Nathaniel.
- Yes, I'll tell you. So so. The governor expelled me, and I sailed away so as not to see shame on myself. The guys and I decided to live by our own rules, and therefore we swam in search of uninhabited land.
We found two absolutely wild islands close in location, and decided to settle there. We built a small fort and set up a camp. At first he looked like you now.
Later, when we fortified there, we began to engage in a small "fishery" - we caught small Spanish ships - barges, sloops, and robbed them. But the captains were not killed, the ships were not sunk, but simply - politely boarded, asked for forgiveness for the trouble, and asked to proceed to our island. There we unloaded the cargo from the ship and released the captains. Some even liked living with us so much that they painted their ships black, like ours, and took our flag. So we often replenished the ranks of our allies.
We soon had a mighty hundred-gun fort and fifty ships - a remarkable force, I decided to transform into a state - we also settled the neighboring island, and I proclaimed the islands a state - Sharpe's State. Everyone liked it and everyone agreed. This is how we still live, and we are always glad to accept allies into our ranks, - Sharpe concluded his story.
- And how many ships do you have in your state now?
- About three hundred. Maybe a little more, said Nicholas doubtfully. - At home, they spread a bad name about us - they say, somewhere in the ocean there lives a gang of thugs, tearing apart everyone who swims by. And there are many curious people. Curious merchants float by, fall into our clutches, and remain satisfied with this. Our ranks are growing. Together we are strength.
- Thank you for such a vivid story, brother - said Nathaniel, rising from his chair - I think now is the time to get together and sail to the islands of your state. There we will join forces and crush the governor who so cruelly expelled us...
Yes bro, that's a great idea. And we will include this land in our state.
- I agree! Hauk shouted enthusiastically. “I'll go and announce the collection.
Nathaniel left his brother's cabin and headed ashore, where the officers who had been on Sharpe's frigates were gathering.
Chapter 10
General fees.
Nathaniel got off the ship just as his officers were returning to the island.
- Jack! - the captain shouted - We are going! Let's go to sunset!
- Yes, Captain! – and Jack hastened the rest.
Richard, showing his saber to the rest of the guys, met Nathaniel a little further down the shore.
- Richie, tell everyone to pack their things! We're leaving soon.
Yes, Sir Nathaniel! and Richard fled to the camp.
Soon the corsair warned everyone, and when he returned to his house, he saw a lot of people in the camp, fruitfully discussing something. Jack Minston approached the captain.
- What sir - we set off? - he asked.
"Yes," Nathaniel answered shortly.
- Where are we going? Shall we return to Portsmouth?
- No - the captain looked angrily at Jack - We will go, accompanied by my brother, to his state - to the main island.
- In HIS state? Minston was surprised.
- Yes, in HIS state! He founded it on two islands, and this one will be the third. It's called the Sharpe State. Hawk explained.
- Do many people live there?
- Enough. Anyone who wants to live there, Nicholas gladly accepts.
This ended the conversation. The sailors began to prepare for sailing - they freed their huts from things, and placed them outside.
Nathaniel himself had already moved all his belongings from the study to the ship.
Sharpe went ashore with two sailors. They held a large flag in their hands.
- As I promised from the very beginning - began Nicholas - this island will become part of my country. With all my honor I declare that from now on this island is part of my state.
The sailors climbed the palisade and fixed the flag on the bayonet. Now the coat of arms and Sharpe's flag at the same time could be seen from afar.
- That's it - Sharpe said a little later - So, it's time to start loading!
Ship loading has begun. Now, unlike on the way here, the cargo of Nathaniel's ship was divided among all the ships. Only the families of the sailors were accommodated on the pinnace of Hauk.
By sunset, everything was loaded, and the ships weighed anchor. Nathaniel stood on the deck and looked at the receding island with an incomprehensible sadness. A brother jumped aboard to Hawk.
- Well, dear brother, it won't be long before our revenge - he said smiling.
“Yes, Nick,” Nathaniel replied calmly, “The scoundrel will get his when we arrive at Portsmouth.
- To our common joy - as if finishing, said Nicholas, putting his hand on his brother's shoulder.
Chapter 11
Sharpe State.
For seven days, the ships calmly plied the oceans. Nathaniel every morning, going out on deck, hoped to see on the horizon at least the outline of the islands, but, to his regret, all the days that passed he saw only one thing on the horizon - an endless expanse of water stretching along the horizon line.
But on the eighth day, Nathaniel saw islands on the horizon, clearly outlined against the light background of the horizon.
- Brother, almost arrived! - Nicholas shouted to him from the man-o-var - We will be there in half an hour!
Indeed, not much time has passed when two giant islands came within the range of a cannonball.
The ships slowly entered the wide bay of the main island. Fortifications stood along the banks of the harbor - walls built on top of trees. A strange-looking wall outlined the bay in a semicircle. Cannons were visible in it - a sea of \u200b\u200bguns - they looked out of special windows, and, if necessary, hid in the wall.
In the center of the semicircular wall rose another tall fortification, resembling a fortress. The crenellated walls hid six dozen guns, and, shining in dark black, looked intimidating already from the horizon. Above, on the crenellated walls, sailors stood - about fifty people, no more. But the closer everyone moved to the fort of the island, there were more and more people on the wall. It seemed that one wrong step - all the ships would be smashed by volleys of guns.
Soon Nicholas went ashore, and after that there was a creaking sound - the gates of the fort were opening. Sharpe walked quietly inside. The rest of the captains followed him, but they still retained a certain sense of fear inside them before the unshakable defenders of the island. They all passed under the arch of the gate, over which Sharpe's large flag fluttered, and found themselves inside the city.
Immediately, the feeling of anxiety was replaced by admiration. What they saw inside was shocking. City streets are carefully tidied up, and are divided into many turns and passages. Along the road are evenly built two-story houses - all exactly the same. Faces constantly flash in them, children frolic in the street, flower beds grow. A little further on, steel is sold - swords, cuirasses - this is a dealer in military attributes. Then they sell bread and pies, and much more.
On the edge of the city, on the other side of the island, there are docks where ships are being repaired and new ones are being built, and they are very impressive in size. Nearby was a large pier with many ships - it was guarded by several towers with guns.
Sharpe's Island also had two taverns, a pawnbroker's house, and a shop for wealthier people.
All this looked very much like the capital - although everything was so.
Sharpe led everyone to the palace - big house with the so-called hall-hall, and the discussion hall, in which the captain and at the same time the ruler of the state discussed important problems.
Nicholas waited until everyone was seated and asked:
- Well, how do you like my island?
- Excellent - answered Hawk.
- Delightful! The Minestons replied.
- Indescribable! Neil de Son was the last to answer.
"That's good," Sharpe smiled. "Does anyone have any questions?"
- And how do you live here, away from everyone? After all, you do not have food, resources? asked Jack Minston.
- This is not true. We have plenty of resources, and we are building ships here. When this island was wild, we chopped a lot of wood for ourselves, and hid it in the warehouses of our, then still, camp. And now, both food and resources in a small amount are regularly delivered to us by our people - merchants who have come over to our side. They buy goods wherever they go and bring them here on their ships.
- Aren't they following you? asked Dick Minston.
“Many people know where we are, but they fear a serious collision with my fleet. English expeditions here ended five years ago, and the French and Spaniards do not come here at all - except for merchants, of course.
- Does everyone fit here - everyone who wants to?
Do you have enough space for everyone? asked Neil de Saone in surprise.
- We settle everyone in empty houses, but recently the main part of the settlers goes there - Nicholas waved his hand to the east - to the neighboring island. It's not all populated yet. And now the third island will be populated - later, of course.
- And if the governor attacks? – again asked Ed – What then? Will everyone die? Will you leave the island?
Nicholas, barely holding back his laughter, replied:
- Even if the governor comes here with the whole flotilla, I will not retreat. I will destroy it! He clenched his fist, but instantly calmed down.
The questions are over. Everyone went out of the hall to the island in order to study everything properly.
Yes, for ten years the country of Nicholas has strengthened its status - an impenetrable defense, a flotilla of three hundred ships, a garrison of each of the two forts - two thousand people, and at the same time a peaceful, sonorous name of the state - Libertalia.
Chapter 12
Gathering forces. Invincible armada.
Some time later, the brothers continued the conversation, talking about the planned capture of Portsmouth.
- You say you want to equip the flotilla? Nathaniel asked.
- Yes, dear brother - answered Nicholas - I want to build an armada, and free Portsmouth from the intrigues of the governor. We will make this visit together.
- Well, of course, together - Hauk nodded - I thought so from the very beginning, but I also thought that you would not come to the area of our island. And when I saw your ship on the horizon, I confirmed my opinion.
- That's good - nodded Sharp - I want to take this chance, and with the help of my ships and people begin to destroy tyranny in the English archipelago. From a bloody pirate, in front of everyone, I will become a noble knight - Nicholas laughed.
- Okay ... - Nathaniel himself choked with laughter - Let's get down to business. How many ships will we have and when will we leave?
Sharpe, holding back his laughter, replied:
- Ten ships, as it seems to me, will suffice. We plan to depart either today at sunset or tomorrow morning. On the road we need a week -
at best, five days.
- All right, then I'll go, I'll tell everyone to get ready for the voyage.
Nathaniel went out onto the island, wandering with his gaze over the stone faces of the soldiers of the garrison, over the black ships of his brother, and through the peaceful houses of the inhabitants of Libertalia against such a background.
He called out to the sailors on his pinnace, who immediately began scrubbing the deck and getting ready to sail.
Nathaniel then went to the island to fetch his friends. Approaching them, he said:
- Friends, the tour ends. It's time to get on the road.
- What already? - Surprised Ed - We arrived not so long ago, didn't we?
- Yes, it's time. Time does not allow to wait - Nathaniel continued - Let's go!
- Okay, where are we going? Dick Minston asked as they walked. “Anywhere far away?”
- Not. In Portsmouth - the corsair quickened his pace - We need to pay one urgent visit.
- Who is it - us? grumbled de Son. “And who else?
"Nicholas Sharpe," the captain muttered in response.
By evening, people began to reach into the cabins of Nathaniel's ship - almost everyone wandered around the island. Several sailors who did not yet have families remained in Libertalia. The ships were put in order and ready for a long voyage.
Nicholas's armada included two elite frigates - "Crusher" and "Striking" - the ships had 44 guns each - twelve guns more than the standard. This gave a great advantage in battle. The ships had a double side and a bottom, which prevented the ship from sinking in the event of a break in the side, or if a bomb hit the hold.
Also in the armada there were four 30 - and cannon caravels, and three pinas with 36 guns each.
The handsome man, on which Sharp himself swam, struck both inside and out - a black hull with a shimmer, double sails, and most importantly - one hundred and forty guns, a three-layer hull and bottom, and a crew of a thousand people. Such a man-o-war class ship was the dream of any captain.
As soon as dusk fell, the whole flotilla moved towards the islands of England, leaving behind only a foam plume on the water.
The corsairs sailed for four days at a speed of 15 knots per hour, and after four days they sailed the planned distance.
It was a cool morning on the fifth day of the journey. Already many of the crew were on deck, not counting all the captains, who devoured the misty horizon with hungry eyes, waiting for the appearance of Fort Portsmouth. There was only the sound of a rare creak of someone's feet on the deck, or the wind in the sails - but nothing disturbed the harmony of silence. Everyone was waiting for something.
Slowly, but still, the fog cleared, and everyone saw the fort and harbor of Portsmouth Island slowly approaching. It was early morning and the harbor was empty. Only a couple of onlookers strolled along the pier. But, dumbfounded, they stared with open mouths at the water, where slowly but surely ships under the flag of Nicholas Sharp were advancing.
There was a revival on the deck - everyone was busy in anticipation of a battle. Nicholas and Nathaniel greeted their native marina with a smile.
Chapter 13
Disappointment.
The ships entered the harbor quietly. The wharf hung in an unnatural silence for Portsmouth, drowning in the morning mist.
The armada has moored. Ladder lay on the pier. Nathaniel and Nicholas went ashore first, followed by a dozen sailors and some of the officers. The city sank into a strange silence. Almost no one was on its morning streets, and rare people looked at the captains in surprise.
Having walked along the main street of Portsmouth, the corsairs entered the governor's palace, at the entrance to which, to their bewilderment, there was no one.
There was a bit of a mess inside - overturned chairs and tables lay in the central hall. In the governor's office, papers were scattered, and coins were scattered here and there. On the governor's desk, despite the chaos around, there was order - there was an empty candlestick, a pile of papers, and an open letter lay in the middle of the table. Nathaniel leaned over the table and read the letter:
""Dear pirates-losers! If you are reading this, then you are standing in the middle of my office with your mouths half open. What a pity that I can't see your faces! Of course, I understand your bewilderment, but I say - I sailed away. Perhaps for a long time. I don't want to rot in this lost port! I'm fed up with all this! And you dear pirates, look for me - maybe even see you. Hehe. In the meantime, I say goodbye to you, my avengers. I wish you good revenge. Hehe.
Victim of your revenge ""
Nathaniel, having finished reading, sat down on a chair.
- Nick - somehow squeezed out he - Here, take it. Read this.
Nicholas took the letter from his hands and read it quickly. Then he clenched his fist, gritted his teeth. Throwing the letter on the table, he growled:
- Sailed away. How dare he write such a thing!? US! - Nicholas was visibly angry, his whole face became burgundy, his eyes were filled with blood from anger - I will tear him to pieces !!! Trash!
The corsair, breathing heavily, fell to his knees.
- Nick - sluggishly said brother - What should we do? Where to sail? Where to find this bastard?
- Nathaniel, we'll find him! I swear on my life - we'll find it! Now we will go towards the third island of Libertalia. He's somewhere nearby.
Look at this ink, it's brand new. He must have written this letter this morning, which means that his flotilla could not have sailed far. Let's go to. Crap! Nicholas kicked open the doors, and the captains moved lightly to the ships. To the astonished faces of the sailors, the captains answered:
- Everyone on the ships, quick! Time does not wait!
Everyone immediately joined in the caps' run to the pier. As soon as everyone ran onto the decks of the ships, they immediately removed the ladders and raised the sails. The ships slowly moved from their places, and the long journey continued.
Sharpe's armada moved northeast of Portsmouth, in the direction Nathaniel had taken in his post-exile voyage. The captains hoped to overtake the governor's fleet at any cost. Much depended on this.
An hour after they sailed, just as the Portsmouth pennant disappeared over the horizon, the captains got up to speed limit, and Nicholas decided to talk to Nathaniel.
- Brother - he began - This day means a lot to us - if we do not find the governor, everything will be lost for us. But if we meet him, then finally the punishment will come upon the enemy, which should have been done a long time ago. We must find him, and we will find him!
- Yes, brother - answered Nathaniel - We will find him, we will find him even in hell. No one will interfere with our revenge - and the governor is no exception.
- SHIPS! shouted Nathaniel, looking ahead.
- Where? How many? – the corsair asked stunned
- Many ... not far ahead on some island. They are about half a mile away. It looks like the ships have gubernatorial pennants…yes, that's them, captain!
- THEY! - thought Nathaniel, and his gaze, along with the eyes of his brother, moved to the place where the looking ahead was pointing.
Soon, silhouettes of the governor's large ships began to emerge from the blurry outlines.
Chapter 14
The pursuit.
The armada was approaching the parking of the governor's ships. When the corsairs approached them, they saw that absolute calm reigned on them - there was not a single delay among the crew of those two frigates that Nicholas and Nathaniel had seen. The sailors calmly walked along the deck, and nothing indicated excitement. True, as Sharpe's and Hawke's ships approached, all the sailors turned their faces in their direction, watching intently.
- What are they doing? Nathaniel asked his brother, looking through the chimney. “They seem to be waiting for something. But what?
- Brother, look - answered Nicholas - They keep their hands on their swords, ready to try to board us at any second. They are most likely waiting for the governor's signal.
- Let them wait - Hauk replied dryly - Let's see how they do.
A few moments later, not far from the ships, everyone saw the governor. He went to his ships, accompanied by detachments of soldiers.
- Kill him with a cannon! Shoot! Nathaniel called to his brother.
- Wait, brother - Nicholas reassured him - We will deal with him ... but later.
The governor ceremoniously boarded one of the frigates, and stood near the side.
- Nathaniel, my dear! Where are you from? Complained for revenge? - Smiling, the scoundrel mumbled, but a moment later his face took on a dejected look - he noticed Nick - Nicholas Sharp ?! How did you get here? Where? What for? - and then he yelled - Get out! Disappear! Why are you here? Swim away and live!
- Hell no! - Nicholas snapped, propping his cheek with his hand - We will not sail anywhere. Especially now.
- How dare you! Insolent people! - the villain yelled again - Yes, I will ... destroy you!
- You? - Sharpe began to laugh - Come on!
The governor froze in bewilderment.
- Why are you idle? - joined the conversation Nathaniel - Kill us! We are open!
- I will not tolerate this! - The despot exploded - You will pay for this with your lives! Fire!
The frigates opened fire on Sharpe's and Hauk's ships, but especially on Sharpe's man-o-war.
Puffs of cannon smoke appeared in the air, nothing was visible. This went on for another minute, until the smoke began to dissipate. Looking in the direction of the shots, the governor hoped for victory. Suddenly he heard laughter. Someone's laugh. It was not clear where he was coming from.
Suddenly the governor was shocked and dumbfounded. Among the puffs of smoke, he saw ... absolutely whole brothers laughing furiously at him. And the ships were damaged, and that is not significant.
The governor's jaw dropped.
- Well, Your Highness? Satisfied? Ha! Ha! Ha! - the brothers continued to laugh - We are already killed! Ha! Ha! Ha!
- LEAVING! - the villain yelled - We carry our legs!
And the governor with all his assistants rushed to the other side of the island, where the frigates immediately went.
- Raise the sails! We're on the run! Sharpe shouted, and the ships pulled away.
The ships rounded the arc of the island, and saw the governor and soldiers run up to the ship.
The governor's squadron included two 32-gun frigates, five 20-gun caravels, two galleons of 36 guns each, and the main ship, a lightweight battleship with 75 guns. The ship stood out from the others, as it was hung with a bunch of pennants with the flags and coats of arms of the governor.
Soon the flotilla set off, and, picking up speed, began to leave.
- Nick, they're leaving! - Nathaniel shouted to Nicholas, and immediately ordered the sailors - Full speed ahead! Set all sails!
The same command was heard on all ships. The squadron set off in pursuit of the governor's ships.
By evening, the company began to catch up with the rival, but suddenly everyone saw that storm clouds flaunted in the sky not far from them.
- What do we do? - Asked Nathaniel - Ahead of the storm, and our guests are leaving.
"We'll follow them," Sharpe said firmly, and without waiting for an answer he added, "Even through the storm."
The storm was in force an hour later. The sailors descended from the masts, and it began to rain. It was accompanied by gusts of wind of monstrous force, the masts were bent, and it seemed that they would break at any moment. Sharpe heard his brother's faint voice.
- Do you see them? Hawk shouted. Where are they?
- Yes I see! - the brother shouted in response - On the horizon you can see the stern of one of the frigates. All ships are there!
- Left, Nick! Turn around! Nathaniel yelled. “Our guests have turned too!”
Nicholas watched as his brother deftly turned the ship to starboard and turned to the helm to maneuver.
- Reef! yelled Nathaniel.
- Crap! - Nicholas sharply turned the wheel. The ship was carried to the right with terrible force, some people fell on the deck. The ship slightly touched the reef protruding to the surface, a creaking sound was heard, and the ship was shaken. But a little later, everything calmed down.
- Managed - Nicholas breathed a sigh of relief, and to his delight he noticed that the storm was over. Ahead could be seen the contours of the governor's ships, and the silhouette of some island.
- What is it there? he asked the looking ahead.
Island, sir! - shouted in response forward looking - English flag!
- Lower the sails! We need to rethink the situation.
And the captains decided to discuss the situation for the second time.
Chapter 15
Capture of the island.
- Suicide! - Nathaniel shouted, sitting down on a chair in Nicholas's cabin - In the bay of this island, the ships of the governor, and five more frigates, also under his pennant! Fifteen ships!
- Yes, this is serious - Nicholas replied calmly - But I think we need to act differently.
- How? Hawk asked with a tremor in his voice.
- We must move on land.
- What?! - Nathaniel jumped up from his chair - And? Where are we going?
- To the fort, of course! - Sharpe cheered - Let's take more people, and move towards them!
- Good idea - Nathaniel calmed down - Let's go right now!
Sharpe rushed to the deck without answer, his brother behind him. Soon people landed on the shore of the island, and planned their actions. Moved east.
***
The governor was drinking coffee in his office and asked:
- The company of our two friends did not show up? - He took a sip of coffee - No one will stop me, even the most famous brothers!
- Sir, to you from the watchtower - they ask you to accept - the soldier reported.
- Let them come in - said the villain, putting the cup on the table - I hope the news is good.
Sir, they! - Running in the door, blurted out the messenger.
- Who else? the Governor asked, yawning.
"Hawk and Sharpe, and a horde of sailors!" They're coming here.
The villain was dumbfounded, saying:
Don't let them break into the city! We don't have a garrison! All on defense! - and ran out of the office
An army of sailors approached the wall of the fort. There, on it stood several soldiers.
- Who are you, and to whom? the sentry asked coolly.
- To the Governor, Nicholas Sharpe, and Nathaniel Hauck.
- Forbidden to enter! shouted another sentry from below.
Without answering, everyone rushed to the wooden gate. Having defeated them, the crowd rushed into the depths of the island, chopping all the soldiers on the way.
To save himself, the governor called all the living soldiers to his office in the tower. Soon a crowd of thugs approached.
- Give up, Mr. Governor! Sharpe called out in a lifeless voice. “You have no chance of escaping!
- My guests, can we agree? the villain asked timidly.
- Never! - and with a triumphant cry, the whole army rushed to storm the governor's refuge.
- They're coming, sir - scaredly said the guard - What to do?
- To not give up! Kill them! hissed the governor
There was a thumping sound. People broke into the tower.
Suddenly there was a loud crash, and the office door shattered into chips. Nicholas and Nathaniel flew into it, and about a dozen other sailors. About two hundred more sailors stood on the spiral staircase leading to the tower, sabers in hand.
- Our island, Your Highness! - shouted Nathaniel, pointing his sword to the throat of the villain - And you too, sir! It's time to finally finish one thing.
Chapter 16
A celebration of justice.
Half an hour later, the following picture could be observed on the island: All the sailors went to the ships, and in the middle of them walked Nathaniel and Nicholas, leading the shackled, now former governor of Portsmouth. The sight made my heart warm.
Soon the flotilla set off in a new composition, raising the pennants of Nicholas Sharp on all the governor's ships. The governor was locked in a special cabin, with two sailors assigned to it.
When the glow of sunset appeared on the horizon, Nicholas spoke:
- Yes, brother - he sighed - We have come a giant way here in order to take revenge! I have been waiting for this for ten years, all these years I have been thinking and looking for a way to avenge my exile. But I even liked that I teamed up with you, Nathaniel - because now we will double our revenge!
- That's right, Nicholas - smiling, said Hauk - I gnawed at the thought of revenge immediately after I set sail. Thoughts about this did not leave my head, and now - it happened! I met you, and I will avenge the disgrace caused to me in front of many people there in the harbor! He will answer for everything!
- Brother, this is a fabulous moment! Sharpe continued clapping Nathaniel on the shoulder. “There has never been such a triumph in my life! Ten years of exile, and those ten minutes of happiness when the court will pass sentence on this despot!
- I want it, Nick! Hawk said with heat in his eyes.
"Me too, brother," Sharpe replied with a sigh.
The sunset began to fade, and the ocean was shrouded in a veil of darkness. And the brothers were waiting for their arrival at Portsmouth.
Chapter 17
Trial of Sailhard.
In the early morning of September 15, the ships of Sharpe's squadron entered Portsmouth harbor. They moored in the bay, some of them, due to lack of space, remained in open water.
Immediately after the ships entered the bay, a large crowd of onlookers gathered on the pier. Everyone watched as the Brothers, as Nicholas and Nathaniel were called, disembarked from the ships, leading the shackled Silehard.
After a solemn procession through the streets of the city, the Brothers, with the governor imprisoned in shackles, went to the courtroom, the doors of which were already open, and there were guards at the entrance to it.
Entering the courthouse, the people took their seats.
Everyone sat down, and the judge began to speak:
- So, I open discussion on the trial of former Portsmouth governor Jack Rogers Silehard, who is accused of illegal actions as governor.
- Allow me to supplement the accusations, your honor - calmly asked Nicholas.
- I beg you - the judge responded in the same way, and plunged into hearing.
- I, Nicholas Sharpe, an Englishman, a former English corsair, was in the service of Sir Sylhard for more than ten years, after which I was undeservedly expelled from England, therefore I was forced to settle on a desert island, where I live now. Allow me to charge Sir Silehard with unlawful and unreasonable exile.
- The charge is accepted - the judge responded to the story of Nicholas, and immediately Nathaniel's voice was heard:
- Your honor, may I add?
- We are in the attention - and the judge again became a rumor.
“I, Nathaniel Hauck, ex-English corsair, have reason to bring another charge against Sir Silehard. I served the governor faithfully for five years, and a few months ago, like Nicholas Sharpe, I was expelled from England and was forced to temporarily settle on a desert island 110 miles from Portsmouth.
- Charge against Sir Silehard accepted. And now I would like to give the floor to Jack Silehard himself - he leaned forward a little, looking at the villain - We are listening to you.
- They ... they do not judge correctly, your honor - breathing heavily, the governor said - I expelled these two honest corsairs for the incorrect execution of many of my orders, some of which, by the way, were strictly state content! I deny the accusations.
- What do you say, Nicholas Sharpe?
- I'll say, forgive me for being rude, that this bowler hat should have gotten off the governor's chair a long time ago! People, entire families suffered because of him! And even my sailors! I was constantly complained about the governor, but when I came to the palace, the sir did not receive me!
- This is exactly the truth, your honor - said one sailor - I am a sailor on the ship of Sir Nicholas, my name is Jack Reddis. My family constantly complained about Sir Silehard - sometimes they were taxed more than the rest, sometimes they were kicked out of the house, and they asked for help from me. And one day I found out that Sir Silehard's soldiers almost raped my wife! It was heaven for me to leave these places. My captain saved me and my family.
- Thank you, Jack - without delay, Sharpe replied - Because of the cruelty of this man, we all suffered, and therefore I took all the families of my sailors with me to the island to protect them from the misfortunes associated with this man.
"I did the same," Nathaniel continued.
“Well, you say, Sir Silehard. What do you say to all this?
- I completely deny the guilt of these people! Silehard snarled. “I didn't do any of the above! It's a lie!
- Now we will look at the entries in your book of complaints ... - the judge carefully studied the entries - So, there are a lot of entries of those people about whom the accusers spoke. More than five dozen complaints have been filed against you!
So, the court passes judgment - you, Jack Rogers Silehard, are sentenced by the Potsmouth court to ten years in prison, and a payment of 10 thousand piastres from your funds to everyone who filed a complaint against you, as well as 20 thousand to those who are in the service with these two captains, and filed a complaint against you, and finally, 50 thousand piastres each for these two captains - Nicholas Sharpe and Nathaniel Hauck.
- Not! It's not fair! Silehard protested as he was led from the courtroom to the dungeon. “We will meet again, Brothers!” You will experience my wrath for yourself!
Soon the soldiers and the former governor himself were out of sight. Everyone began to disperse, and Sharpe and Hawk greeted and congratulated each other.
- That's it, brother! Sharpe said gleefully, clapping Hauk on the shoulder. “Our dream has come true. We took revenge.
- Yes bro! - Nathaniel answered just as cheerfully - I will go with you to Libertalia. I have nothing to do here.
Soon everyone left the courthouse and went home.
The next day, in the early morning of September 16, 1630, Portsmouth wharf was crowded with people - everyone wanted to watch the sailing squadron of the legendary captains. The Brothers walked slowly through the crowd towards the ships, occasionally nodding to the people standing on the pier. The ladder was thrown back, and the captains boarded the ship.
The crowd cheered. The captains and several officers turned to the crowd and waved their hands at them. This day was remembered in Portsmouth by its solemnity.
The ships slowly set off, hoisting their sails. The flotilla began to slowly hide behind the rocks of the island, but for a long time the cry of the crowd was heard, and the proudly raised flag on Sharpe's ship was visible ...
... The intrigues of the governor ended in tragedy for himself. The captains on whom he placed the seal of shame by expelling them from the country returned and avenged themselves by arresting the villain and placing him under the orders of the law. The Governor was doomed to sit in a dungeon for a long time, and ponder his stupid actions against the great Brothers, who became symbols of justice and achievement of the goal ...
Printable version of the page:Read all the latest about games and look at 1630... In this turbulent time, the captains of the ships that plied the expanses of the Atlantic quite easily changed their flag, switching to the service from one monarch to another. The game has four main storylines and a lot of additional quests.
Nicholas Sharpe will have the opportunity to serve England, France and Spain, or choose the path full of dangers of one of the members of the "Coastal Brotherhood" - while in the course of the game we will be able to easily move from one storyline to another. This walkthrough is a tip for those who want to complete the game as quickly as possible, without being distracted by trade and naval battles, which can be somehow avoided. However, both are a great way to expand your squadron and strengthen its weapons - actions that are absolutely necessary for those who want to create a military force that any opponents will reckon with.
But we digress a little... So, the Spanish captivity and the flight from the plantation were left behind. Pink is moored at the pier of the main English colony of Highrock, with us forty people of the team, there is some ammunition. Life is full of new hopes, the main of which is to get a corsair patent...
We start the game at the city gates of the English colony of Highrock. In order to enter the service of the King of England, we need to obtain a corsair patent from Governor Samuel Mortons. His residence is on the other side of the city. Having taken the patent, you need to contact the governor again in order to get the first task. We will be instructed to take a letter to Sir John Clifford Breen, governor of the second English colony in the archipelago. There is nothing secret about this letter, but we must deliver it intact without breaking the seals. The reward for successfully completing this quest is 500 gold. The island on which the colony is located is called Tendales - when issuing a quest, it appears on the map.
On the way to the city gates, it is worth stopping by the tavern. Merchants, captains and officers of the ships standing on the Highrock pier spend their free time there. At the table to the left of the entrance, a certain Christopher Clayston, an English officer, is purposefully pumped up with rum. He has already crossed the line beyond which alcohol unties a person's tongue, and for an extra mug he is ready to tell us a "state secret." Recently, two frigates arrived from England to fight the pirates. They were re-armed and Christopher was assigned to one of them. However, according to him, it turns out that these frigates are floating garbage and are almost falling apart from dilapidation. At the next table sits Julius Ironcast, a gunner who lost his sight in battle. He dreams of going to sea and can become a worthy member of our team - in the end, his experience is worth a dozen pairs of the sharpest young eyes. His services will cost us 200 gold per month, and 600 coins will have to be paid immediately as a deposit. Finally, sitting at a table on the right is Pete Dalton, a former apprentice of a local gunsmith. It's not so easy to get this guy to talk - but in the end he tells us a story that some unknown people tried to drive his former owner off the island. Shortly after speaking with them, the gunsmith's son was killed in a street fight, and the master left Highrock, fearing for his life. The new owner kicked Pete out, and now the guy is scared and only dreams of how to get to Tendales Island and find a job there. Perhaps we should offer him our help - in addition to ordinary human humanism, this should have a good effect on our reputation.
Well, it's worth stopping by Governor Mortons and trying to ask him about these mysterious frigates. But, contrary to expectations, after the very first question, his excellency comes into a state of intense anger and simply points us to the door, not forgetting to promise serious trouble to the poor fellow Clayston for his drunken chatter. Looks like it's time for us to really set sail. However, having met on the streets of the city a native of Russia, Gavrila Dubinin, we can part with another four hundred gold coins and acquire a boatswain. But, one way or another, we soon leave the port of Highrock and go to Tendales Island.
The journey promises to be relatively calm - pirates, and even more so the Spaniards, are not often found in this region. Upon arrival on the island, we go to the residence of Governor Brin and give him a letter. After presenting a well-deserved award, he informs us that Samuel Mortons is far from being the best leader, and an example of this is the plight of the small English colony of Grandfather Island, where a real famine occurred due to crop failure. Brin offers us to deliver a cargo of wheat to the island and thereby alleviate the situation of the colonists. You can refuse this task, but... does it make sense? One of the characters we need is located on Grandfather Island, and we still have to sail there, besides, due to the refusal, our reputation will fall. At the same time, for the delivery of cargo, you can get a very good fee - 2000 gold. We agree and, having loaded 150 English centners of selected wheat into the hold, we go to Grandfather Island - a new island that appeared on the map at the time we received the task.
Upon arrival at the place, we need to hand over the cargo to the owner of the local tavern. He is incredibly glad that Governor Breen remembers their troubles - moreover, the innkeeper is even ready to reward us for our efforts. Since all the gold on the island went to the purchase of food, as a reward we are offered to take some linen, which is quite suitable for sale. By agreeing to this proposal, we lose one point of reputation - after all, the governor promised us a generous payment for this trip, and profiting from someone else's misfortune is not good. In the same tavern we meet with the English officer David Murray. History repeats itself, but in reverse: he is ready to treat us to a drink if we agree to listen to his story. Like Christopher Claystone, he was assigned to one of these two ill-fated frigates, moreover, he even managed to visit one of the battles. Murray was a senior gunner, and he saw with his own eyes how, at the very first salvo on a pirate ship, the starboard side of the frigate literally fell off. Our interlocutor turned out to be the only one who managed to escape from the rapidly sinking ship, but the memories of what he experienced, it seems, will not be smoothed out in his memory soon. After this conversation, we can hire Murray as a gunner - he will serve with us for 350 gold coins, and the first month is ready to work for free.
Returning to Tendales Island, we receive the promised 2000 gold from Governor Brin, after which we set off for Highrock for a new task. This time Samuel Mortons is offering us 2000 to escort the Bristol pinnace to Tendales Island. We cannot refuse this task, although it is fraught with a trap: near Tendales, we are attacked by the pirate Edwin, nicknamed Cuttlefish. The battle promises not to be too difficult: Edwin's ship maneuvers rather sluggishly near the island and clearly does not seek to suppress us with its firepower. We should not forget that now we have the Bristol Pinas at our disposal. Having given his captain the order to attack the enemy, we complete what we started with a few accurate volleys. While Edwin's ship is slowly sinking to the bottom, we learn that the pirate was ordered to kill us, and this order was given by someone named Beltrop. Somewhere in the depths of my soul there is a desire to get to know this Beltrop better ... and the sooner the better.
With the captain of "Bristol" Lemuel Humm we meet in Tendale's tavern. He gives us the payment of 2000 gold promised by Mortons and tells us that the only cargo he delivered to Tendales were fifty strong guys of frankly gangster appearance. Perhaps it would not be superfluous to drop in on Governor Brin and tell him this news. After that, we can return to Highrock with a clear conscience.
It's time to complete a couple of additional quests. To begin with, we have to find a man in the dark blue jacket of a scientist on the streets of Highrock. His name is Albrecht Zalpfer. In a conversation with him, questions about a new era in navigation and a new invention of a scientist should be avoided. Zalpfer tells us that he worked for Alexander Bishop until he fired him. Now the inventor dreams of getting to Tendales and finding a job there. Looks like a good deal is coming up. We offer Zalpfer a job as a ship's carpenter, promising to take him to Tendale's in return. He gladly agrees, and we get a high-class worker for free, who will remain with us on the ship until we are going to visit Governor Breen's property. Looking ahead, it should be said that, once on Tendalez, Zalpfer will immediately leave our ship, and we will get some experience in return. But that's not the end of the story. Having found Zalpfer on the streets of Tendales, we, as an old friend, speak with him again - and as a result, the scientist gives us drawings of his new invention. Bertram Michelson, the owner of the local shipyard, will gladly buy them, and we will become 1500 gold richer.
Let's digress for a while. Returning to the city gates of Highrock, we learn that one of the guards, Billy, is unbearably hard to stand guard, unable to wet his throat with a couple of sips of good wine. Can we help the guy? To do this, we will have to look into the tavern. Its owner, Jeremy Wyndham, will gladly give us a bottle of local sour meat for quite an extortionate price of 1 gold. Filled with a sense of legitimate pride in our own nobility, we take the bottle to the soldier and, resolutely refusing money, we receive an increase in reputation and 250 experience points in return. But that's not all. On the right, Billy's friend Frederick is also thirsty. True, he prefers rum wine, but he saw how we brought a bottle to his partner and ... in a word, could Captain Nicholas do another noble deed? Of course, what a question. We return to the tavern and buy a bottle of rum from the owner. Having given it to Frederick, we feel a little guilty for soldering the sentries of the English army, but the increase in reputation and experience received as a reward more than compensates for all moral torment.
Returning to the main storyline, we go to the governor. This time, Sir Mortons invites us to inspect the surroundings of the tiny island of Itkal, explaining this by the fact that Spanish ships have been seen there lately. We can agree to this expedition or refuse, arguing that our ship is too weak to fight the Spaniards. On the way to the city gates, you should pay attention to a very colorful stranger, confidently pacing the streets of Highrock. Strange, he knows our name. The messenger of a certain Olaf Ulsson invites us to visit a pirate colony on the island of Shark Island, after which he flatly refuses to answer any questions. Well, curiosity is not a vice, and we will definitely look there ... in due time. In the meantime, if we have already decided on the first battle with the Spaniards, it is worth thoroughly stocking up on ammunition. By the standards of the beginning of the game, the battle will be quite serious, and the trip to Itkal itself does not promise to be a pleasure trip - there are quite a lot of pirate ships in this region. Near the island, the ship "Tonina" is waiting for us, sailing under the Spanish flag - a ship powerful and maneuverable enough to become a serious opponent in the upcoming battle. However, sooner or later we simply have to let it go to the bottom. After that, you need to look into the city and talk with John Bartons, the owner of the only local institution - a small store. He will tell that the Spaniards captured and plundered Itkal, not protected by the fort. The robbery lasted two days, and as a result, only a few townspeople managed to survive. Too bad we can't sink the Tonina again. But there is nothing to be done - we will have to return to Highrock and tell Governor Mortons such disappointing news. Actually, reporting on the results of our intelligence, we can tell the truth about the sack of Itkal ... but we can also lie, depicting our great victory over the Spaniards and the salvation of the doomed city. In the first case, we will have to take all the blame and dutifully agree when Mortons accuses us of slowness and incompetence. If you start to object to him, he will kick Nicholas out of his residence, and England will become hostile towards us. If we lie, the result will be no better - the truth will be revealed already at the next visit to Mortons, and we will still lose the English corsair patent, acquiring ourselves another powerful enemy. So, if we want to continue to follow this storyline, the only right decision will be to humbly accept all the accusations and meekly leave the residence of the angry governor.
Now is the time to leave Highrock for a while and go on a friendly visit to Shark Island. Olaf Ulsson, the leader of the pirate colony, we can find in the tavern. He invites us to become a member of the "coast brotherhood" - this is a good opportunity to move on to another storyline of the game. But for now we are still fighting on the side of England. However, there are still benefits from this visit. After telling Ulsson about the attack by Edwin "Cuttlefish" and about the cryptic note, we are advised to talk to Beltrop's former first mate, Peter Ordo. The problem is that Ohlsson has no idea where he can be found now. However, you can find out about this from Munito Hernando, the owner of a store on Gray Sales (this island is located northeast of Shark Island). For only 50 gold, this guy will gladly inform us that Ordo has gone to see one of the English governors, who, oddly enough, is his old friend.
Well, looks like it's time to visit our old governor friends. Mortons makes it very unkindly clear that he does not know and does not want to know any of the pirates in general and Peter Ordo in particular; but Brin quite willingly tells us that Ordo was with him a few days ago and, advising him to leave Tendales for a while, went to the island of Tel Kerrat. Looks like we'll have to follow him now.
#seadogs011.bmp Tel Kerrat Island is located in the eastern part of the map. It belongs to the French, but the city is not protected by a fort, we can enter it without interference. From the very beginning, we are in for a cruel disappointment: we do not know what Ordo looks like. However, this is easy to fix. After talking with the owner of a local shop, we learn that Beltrop's former first mate actually arrived on Tel Kerrat, and he has a habit of wearing a yellow headscarf on his head. We take to the streets and - that's luck! “Peter Ordo is walking towards us in person. After talking with him, we learn that Beltrop is planning a raid on Tendales, and one of the British is helping him in this. Ordo himself, having warned Brin of the danger, hopes to sit out the mess with the French in Tel Kerrat. However, there is still one serious problem in his life: his girlfriend, Alicia Gardener, is now in Gray Sales, and Ordo is in dire need of the help of a person who would help her escape from there. Our candidacy is just right. In return, Ordo promises to become our true friend and ally - an offer that is by no means useless for us either. Resolved: We're going back to Gray Sales for Alicia Gardener.
Returning to Gray Sales, we find Alicia Gardener on the streets of the pirate town. The girl gladly agrees to run with us, but Beltrop is not going to part with his prey so easily. Near the coast of Gray Sayles, a frigate under the command of Peter Glantz prowls, the main task of which has recently been the capture of a certain Nicholas Sharp, a corsair in the service of England. Fighting a frigate is a rather thankless task, and you can simply dodge the fight - but in this case, Glantz will attack us every time we are near Gray Sales.
We need to get Alicia to Tel Kerrat to Peter Ordo. He honestly fulfills the terms of the agreement and, together with his ship, joins our squadron. Escaping with Gray Sales, Alicia stole a box of documents from Beltrop's cabin, among which Ordo found one very curious letter. An unknown author informed Beltrop that all preparations for the assault on Tendales were completed, and he could begin the operation. The uninhabited island of Chaktcha was appointed as the gathering place for the pirate fleet. Instead of a signature on the letter, there was an English official seal. Mortons! Fearing for his career, he seriously decided to get rid of the young and energetic Governor Tandales. It was for this purpose that two dilapidated frigates were ordered from England, which would be absolutely helpless against the Beltrop squadron, but on the island itself, the same fifty thugs from the Bristol were supposed to support the rebellion. It is necessary to warn Brin about the impending attack. We're going to Tandales.
But to warn about the danger is only half the battle, you still need to somehow eliminate its source. According to Brin, he does not have enough authority to arrest Mortons, but, fortunately, the Royal Auditor for the Colonies, Admiral Alexander Gritston, is now on the island. He can order the arrest of Mortons, if, of course, we can prove his guilt. Brin is writing a letter to the admiral, and we must deliver it to Highrock. It is worth talking to Brin again, and then he will tell us about the mysterious disappearance of ships on the way between Highrock and Tendales. Everything indicates that some kind of pirate began to operate in these waters, with cunning and arrogance surpassing many members of the coastal brotherhood. But the governor does not have exact information about him, and he advises us to talk to the tavern regulars. So, perhaps, we will do it. According to innkeeper Thomas Hancock, a pirate named Ropflake recently captured a merchant ship owned by a certain Marcus. Marcus was captured along with the ship, but by some miracle he managed to escape from captivity and get to Tendales, where he was sheltered by Hancock. But the guy’s business is still bad - during the journey from bad water and food, some kind of illness happened to him, which is about to finish him off. But since we're going to Highrock anyway, it's worth trying to get such a useful witness back on his feet.
Alexander Gritston meets us at the governor's residence. Fortunately, Mortons is absent, and we give Brin's letter to the admiral without interference. At first, the royal auditor does not want to believe such grave accusations, but a letter found in Beltrop's documents convinces him that we are right. Gritston orders the arrest of Governor Mortons and sets us the next task: we must defeat the pirate fleet near the island of Chaktcha. However, before embarking on this, frankly, difficult task, you can digress a bit and take care of the fate of poor Marcus. First, we need to talk to the owner of the local store, George Heavensile. He tells us that the famous doctor Alyumnus has recently arrived on the island. Having found the venerable doctor on the streets of Highrock and very impolitely interrupting the flow of highly scientific chatter, we take the medicine for Marcus from him. After that, we can return to Tandales and, with a clear conscience, give the medicine to Thomas Hancock. We meet the recovered Marcus the next time we visit the tavern. In gratitude for his salvation, he tells us that Ropflake's corvette "Chance" was last seen near the island of El Caimano. How nice - we are almost on the road. Before heading off to fight the pirate fleet, Ordo and I can swim to El Caimano and rid the waters of another hanging man. We will receive a reward for the capture of Ropflake during our next visit to Governor Breen.
The next task is also optional, but very, very useful for those who decide to change the game's storyline. In Highrock's tavern, you can meet a sailor named Roberto Gorrando. Upon learning that Nicholas is a corsair, he tells that a craftsman lives on El Caimano, who makes magnificent telescopes. His name is Adriano Montefi. Having found a person with this name on the streets of El Caimano, we talk with him, trying to be extremely polite at the same time. As a result, Montefi agrees to make a pipe for us for free or, if we nevertheless were rude to him, for 1500 gold. The only problem is that it doesn't have crystal, which is used to make lenses for the best spyglasses. Crystal can be bought from Lorenzo Marques Avido in Granada Avilia, but you can get there only with a Spanish corsair patent in your pocket. Those who wish to change the storyline of the game can easily get into the Granada Avilia store and buy rock crystal there, from which Andriano Montefi will willingly make the best spyglass. Also on El Caimano we can meet a pirate named Ronald the Lawman. He tells us that his friend was treacherously killed by another pirate - Frederick, nicknamed the Mole, and asks to deliver the black mark to the Mole. Frederick sits in Gray Sales and does not show his nose from there, fleeing from just retribution behind Beltrop's back. Ronald makes an appointment with him near Chaktcha Island. Having delivered the black mark to the addressee and returned to El Caimano, we can warn Ronald that the Mole is preparing a trap for him, and even join him in order for pirate justice to prevail. In this case, in addition to the money for delivering the black mark after sinking the Mole, we will get a solid increase in reputation and experience.
The battle with Fort Costa Sinistra promises to be difficult, but sooner or later we still manage to win. Returning to Highrock and informing the admiral that the former Spanish colony is now attached to the possessions of England, we get another task. Now we have to find out where the French are going to install the huge new guns brought from Marseilles - and, if possible, capture them. In the tavern of Grandfather Island, we meet an English sailor named Lawrence Norton. Near the island of Omori, he met three French ships that were trying to sink his pinnace. By some miracle, he managed to escape, but a couple of volleys still covered the ship, and one shot even flew into the captain's cabin. The weight of this core was found to be forty-eight pounds. Thanking Norton for the story, we set off for Omori. It seems that this is where the French placed their monstrous weapons. In order to get them, we will have to capture the island.
After the capture of Omori and the delivery of guns, Admiral Alexander Gritston sends us to capture the main base of the Spanish fleet - the island of Isla Ballena. Upon returning from there, Nicholas Sharp is awarded the title of nobility and appointed Viceroy of the English colonies in the archipelago.
In order to go over to the side of France at the very beginning of the game, we must leave Highrock and head to Belleflor, the main French colony in the archipelago. Having visited the governor of the colony, Monsieur Francois de Bijou, we receive from him a corsair patent and the first task: to meet with the French agent Auguste Bromont on the island of Gray Sales. Well, our service begins in a very unusual way. Having found Auguste Bromont on the streets of the pirate town, we receive a report from him for the governor de Bijou, after which we return to Bellflor. I wonder what kind of charming girl is standing next to the governor? After reading the report, de Bijou will fall into a state of panic: his old friend, merchant Thierry La Mole, has fallen into the hands of the leader of the Gray Sales, the pirate Beltrop, and now a huge ransom is demanded for his life. The governor is ready to give money with pleasure, the only problem is that he simply does not have the required amount. As a result, we are sent to Isle d'Orange to the head of the merchant guild, Orellan Dupre, in order to borrow money from him. The governor was in such a hurry to send us that he even forgot to name the amount required, therefore, drawing up an IOU in the name of Monsieur Francois de Bijou, we give a figure almost at random - twenty thousand. Fortunately, upon returning to Belflor, it turns out that we guessed the amount correctly, but with the percentages we made a little mistake ... but this, however, is already the governor's problem. We are instructed to inform Beltrop about the place and time of the exchange. We're heading back to Gray Sales.
Beltrop's residence is aboard a beached galleon. The leader of the pirates is extremely unkind: he tells us that he himself will appoint the time and place of the meeting, and demands that the ship with gold arrive in Gray Sales in a week. Returning to Belflor, we convey to the governor the answer of Beltrop. De Bijou immediately declares that sending a ship with gold to Gray Sales means simply giving it to pirates, and categorically refuses to take part in such stupidity. However, he suggests that we try to free La Mole on our own, without money and without the slightest support. Well, it looks like we don't have much of a choice. We're sailing for Gray Sales again.
On the streets of a pirate city, we have to find a captain named Damien Rothney, and he will make us an offer that is truly difficult to refuse ... Recently, Damien was offered to go to serve in the French fleet, and he decided to accept - for a man of his age full of dangers and hardships The life of a pirate is indeed too hard. Gathering his team, he invited those who wished to join him. Most of the pirates supported the captain, but, as always, there were also those who were dissatisfied. Instead of slitting their throats, Rotney let them go on all four sides. As it turned out, in vain. Some of the released whispered to Beltrop that old Rothney had decided to betray the coastal brotherhood and defect to the French. Beltrop was furious and ordered his men to seize the traitor's ship. The brig "Odyssey" was presented to someone from the henchmen of the leader of the pirate colony, the team was captured by Beltrop, and Rothney himself barely avoided a walk on the board. This is such an unfortunate story. Rotney offers us a deal: with the help of his friends, he can escape from the island at any time, but before that he needs to free his team from captivity. And he really doesn't want his ship to belong to some sucker. Rotney would be very pleased if we brought him the head of the captain who now commands the brig Odysseus. I'm so glad that I would gladly release the merchant along with my friends ... how is he? Oh yes, Thierry La Mole - fortunately he sits in the same hold as Rotney's team. But the capture of the brig must be carried out as quietly and imperceptibly as possible, otherwise the shots will wake up the whole city.
Rotney's former ship, the brig Odyssey, is in the waters of Gray Sales. We'll have to take it on board - if the ship is sunk, we will not be able to get the head of its captain, and therefore save the merchant. However, no one said that we could not shoot a little, having killed most of the team on the Odyssey: in the end, forty people against a hundred - the alignment is not the most successful, and it needs to be changed. After a successful boarding, we get the head of the unlucky captain and, returning to Gray Sayles, we give it to Rotney. And here is our merchant! After talking with him, we take him on board and return to Belleflor. There, the rescued merchant will need to be found again in order to receive a reward for a brilliant operation.
In the tavern of Aile do Orange, we meet a certain Foquere Arain, who invites us to take part in one very foul-smelling business ... He is going to kidnap Francois de Bijou's daughter, Jacqueline, and then demand a ransom for her from the governor of Belflor. Naturally, Nicholas Sharp would never do such a thing. Having refused Arain, in the same tavern we get acquainted with the former captain of the French fleet, Milon Anserville. Fokere Arain made him the same offer he made to us, and Unserville has already made up his mind...
We return to de Bijou to warn him about the impending kidnapping, but the old stubborn one does not want to listen to anything and only laughs at us. Shortly thereafter, the owner of the tavern of the island of Belflor, Noire Senaigan, informs us that the daughter of the governor, Jacqueline de Bijou, was kidnapped by unknown people, and now a huge ransom is demanded for her life. We return to the governor and offer him our services in the search for our daughter.
This search should begin with the already familiar tavern on Aile d'Orange. Having met Milon Anserville there and threatened him with accusations of complicity in the kidnapping, we can extract some information from him, and at the same time force Milon to join us for a while in search of Mademoiselle de Bijou. It turned out that when Anserville refused Arain's offer to Fokere, he hired a pirate named Michel Hattenschrag to take his place. After the kidnapping of the governor's daughter, Fokere mysteriously disappeared, but Gattenschrag, according to Anseriville, can be found on Skaoshores.
The Gattenschrag is actually located in a tavern on the island of Gray Sales. If Nicholas Sharp's rank is still below fifth, the pirate will simply laugh at our threats. After our rank rises to seven, ridicule will stop, and Gattenschrag will begin to respect and fear us. He will tell you that the barque belonging to Foker Arain is anchored off the uninhabited island of Othernotla, ready to immediately weigh anchor and run away without looking back, as soon as at least one sail appears on the horizon. But Gattenschrag's ship is unlikely to frighten him... We politely offer the pirate to exchange ships, and he, swearing desperately, agrees. In parting, Gattenschrag warns us that if we sink the barque Fokere Arain, then we will have no chance of finding Mademoiselle de Bijou.
Having laid a course for the island of Othernotla, we take the barque "Nemesis" for boarding. Unfortunately, during the attack, Arain himself was killed, and we can only be content with his ship's log and the ring found in the captain's cabin. It follows from the entries in the journal that we must give this ring to a certain Brantom Tabari, the captain of the caravel on board which the kidnappers hide Jacqueline. The Tabari caravel stands in the port of Aile doranja, and the captain himself has a pleasant time in the city tavern. Having received the ring, he decides that the ransom from the governor has already been received, and, counting his share in his mind, personally delivers Jacqueline to Belleflor.
Returning to Belflor, we learn that the Spaniards are preparing an attack on the island. In preparation for the war, Monsieur de Bijou laid down several heavy warships, but now he has practically nothing at his disposal. Having laid all this out, the governor asks us to protect the island. M-yes, the task is not easy... After the last Spanish ship sinks to the seabed with our help, de Bijou gives us a reward and lets us go, saying that now he does not have a suitable task for us.
On the streets of Belflor we meet a stranger who gives us a note. In it, we are convincingly asked to look into the city tavern - it seems that someone really wants to meet us. In the tavern we meet Jacqueline de Bijou, and she confesses her love to Nicholas Sharpe. Probably, this girl should not talk about the passion that burns us and the irresistible desire to spend this night together in a room on the second floor of the tavern. Offended, she will certainly tell her father about everything, and after that France will become hostile towards us. It is better to ask the girl to wait until you are so rich and famous that you will not be embarrassed to ask for her hand in marriage with the governor de Bijou. However, there is also a third option: we can get married secretly and only then put the happy father-in-law in front of a fait accompli. The choice is ours - the choice between secret and open marriage ... and at the same time between money and experience. By secretly marrying Jacqueline, we will get 10,000 experience, and by officially asking de Bijou for her hand in marriage - a dowry, 8,000 gold.
For a secret wedding, we need to find a priest - not a single clergyman on Belflor will agree to conduct this ceremony without the permission of the governor. We will look for him on Omori - and at the same time we will also earn some money along the way. On the streets of Belflor, we need to find a merchant named Magis Sobrik. He will gladly hire us to escort his ship to Omori, promising not only to pay 1000 gold as a reward, but also to tell all his friends and companions about us. Having safely escorted the La Belle caravel to the port of Omori and having received the agreed payment from Magis, you need to contact him again. He will say that the local merchant Yves Samois is looking for someone to transport his coffee to Aile d'Orange. If Nicholas Sharpe's reputation is not lower than Plain Fellow, Samua will agree to load on our ship 1200 quintals of coffee, intended for shipment to Joseph Godonville. He will exchange coffee for 1,200 quintals of chocolate, which must be delivered back to Samua. But we can cheat a little and take coffee not to Godonville on Isle d'Orange, but to Jean Neuville on Belleflor. The latter is ready to exchange 1200 centners of coffee for 1600 centners of chocolate. Returning to Yves Samois, we give him the agreed 1200 centners and get 2500 gold for our work - and at the same time we still have 400 centners of chocolate that can be easily sold.
The next task is optional and is intended for those who want to change the storyline of the game. On the streets of Isle d'Orange we meet an old woman who tells us the story of the lost ring... She is clearly out of her mind. After talking after that with the owner of the tavern Isle doranzha, we learn that this woman's name is Josephine Lodet and that her son died during the assault on Isle Ballena by the French fleet. Upon learning of his death, she went crazy and keeps talking about some kind of sapphire ring that she lost. We need to get to the island of Isla Ballena, and for this, most likely, we will have to change the corsair patent. After asking Arnaud Manll, the owner of the tavern, about the sapphire ring, we learn that one of the local girls named Francesca wears a similar ring. She is weak-minded, and it will not be difficult to take this ring from her. We leave the tavern and meet Francesca on the street. After telling her the story of the crazy woman, we get the ring for free, otherwise we have to pay for it. When we return to Isle d'Orange, we give this ring to Josephine Lodet. Seeing him, she comes to her senses.
And a couple more optional tasks. In the tavern Aile dorange we meet Artois Mulet, who tells us the story of his miserable life. A year ago, Nicholas de Montferrat put him at the head of an expedition that set off in search of new lands south of the archipelago. Unfortunately, the expedition perished, and only Artois Mulet managed to return. When he came to Nicholas Montferrat, he announced that Artois Mulet had simply squandered the expeditionary funds and now appeared to him without the slightest proof of his words. Then he demoted Artois Mulet and expelled him from the service.
We can offer him to enter the service of us (if the rank of Nicholas Sharp is below 7, he will refuse) or try to persuade Montferrat to take Artois back. Nothing will come of the last venture, but after we tell Artois about our failure, he can be hired regardless of Nicholas's rank.
After we rescued the daughter of François de Bijou from captivity, on the streets of Tel Kerrat you can meet a merchant named Jean Filenet, who will ask us to escort his ship to Isle d'Orange (if Nicholas Sharp's reputation is not lower than Plain Fellow). After we escort pinas "Joan" to Isle d'Orange, we need to talk to Filene in order to get payment from him. Instead, he will offer us his spyglass (medium quality), but this replacement can be refused.
But we were a little distracted - after all, a wedding is on the nose. On Omori, we find Prior Modestus, who is ready to secretly marry lovers for only 3000 gold. He will promise to visit Belleflor as soon as he finishes his business, but he obviously has little business - by the time we return to the island, the prior is already waiting for us there. Looking into the residence of the governor, instead of Monsieur de Bijou himself, we meet Jacqueline and Modestus there. After talking to the prior, we get 10,000 experience, and after that, a slightly ... hmm, slightly shortened version of the wedding ceremony begins.
Once again on the streets of Belleflor, we return to the governor's residence and receive a new task from Monsieur de Bijou. Spain and England intend to conclude an alliance, and the diplomats of both powers are preparing for a secret meeting near the uninhabited island of Aliando. We must go there and sink both ships, the English and the Spanish. If we manage to do everything carefully and leave no traces, the two powers will accuse each other of treachery, and the future alliance will never take place.
Having carefully sunk both ships, we return to de Bijou and learn that we have been given the title of baron and the rank of admiral of the French Royal Navy. There is one more news: after the death of their ambassador, the Spaniards tried to land troops on the coast of the English colony of Highrock. The attempt was unsuccessful, and now the garrisons of the Spanish forts are significantly weakened. We are instructed, without wasting time, to seize the Spanish colony of Costa Sinistra. After the successful completion of this operation, de Bijou sends us to capture the English colony of Highrock. The British have almost completed the launching of the latest warship, and if we succeed in capturing the island, this ship will pass into the hands of the French. Highrock is very well protected, and for the duration of this operation we get a ship of the line to help (if Nicholas Sharp's rank is above 4, you can simply take this ship for yourself).
After the capture of Highrock, we receive an order to take the ultimatum de Bijou to Olaf Olsson. Upon his return, the governor will tell us that the British and Spaniards have nevertheless united and are going to attack Aile d'Orange. De Bijou firmly believes that France has enough forces to repel this attack. His plan is to capture the Spanish colony of Isla Ballena while the Spanish themselves attack Isle d'Orange. To complete this task, de Bijou offers us the same warship that we managed to capture at the Highrock shipyard. By the way, by this moment we can already ask the governor for the hand of his daughter and receive a dowry of 8000 gold - or admit that they are now, to some extent, relatives.
Having captured Isla Ballen and returning to the governor, we learn that an attack is being prepared on the island. After collecting the remains of their ships, the allies head for Belflor in a futile attempt to turn the tide of hostilities. With the support of the fort, we must protect our island. After the attack is repulsed, the governor will pay us for the two previous missions and say that for the final defeat of the Spaniards and the British in the archipelago, it remains to capture the English colony of Tendales and the Spanish Granda Avilia. After the successful completion of this last task, we return to de Bijou, and he solemnly reads us a royal decree appointing Nicholas Sharp as Viceroy of the archipelago.
In order to start the Spanish line, we need to accumulate five thousand gold and sail to Shark Island, where a fake Spanish corsair certificate can be purchased from a Spanish agent. After that, you need to sail to the main Spanish colony of Grand Avilia and get a real certificate from the alcalde Ricardo Ferrer de Mercadal. De Mercadal immediately instructs us to deliver an urgent message to the second Spanish alcalde, Guilabertus da Muntral, on the island of Isla Ballena. The island appears on the map.
Having delivered the letter and received payment - 1000 gold - we go to the tavern of Ayla Ballen. The owner, Arnaud Manlu, tells us about a terrible pirate who terrorizes Spanish merchants. Returning to the mayor, we express a desire to participate in the hunt for a pirate, whose name, as it turns out, is Francois Jovignon. Alcalde advises us to ask about the pirate on Shark Island and informs us that the lord de Mercadal has appointed a solid reward for the head of Jovignon. The island appears on the map. Returning there, we meet Olaf Ohlson and ask him about Francois Jovignon. He tells that Francois appeared in the archipelago recently, but refused to join the Shore Brotherhood, and therefore was expelled from the Rockshores. They say that his ship was seen near the uninhabited island of Aliando (this island appears on the map).
Having gone to Aliando, we meet a pirate shnyava there. Having sunk it, you can return to De Mercadal with the good news that the evil pirate will no longer rob poor merchants. However, Don Ricardo clarifies the situation. It turns out that we sank some pirate who happened to be near Aliando, and Jovignon and his ally are now attacking the Spanish colony of El Caimano, from where a ship arrived asking for help. Alcalde sends us to El Caimano, since he has no other ships at hand at the moment.
Having sailed to El Caimano, we enter the tavern and make acquaintance with its owner. He tells us that Jovignon captured the island, received a ransom for not plundering the city, and sailed away. A stranger is waiting for us in the tavern. For a thousand gold pieces, he offers us information that will allow us to catch Jovignon. After paying him, we learn that Ulsson actually conspired with Jovignon and provided him with asylum on Shark Island. In return, Jovignon shares the booty with Olsson.
We return to Shark Island and accuse Olsson of colluding with Jovignon. The pirate will flare up, but everything will do without a fight. It turns out that the stranger to whom we paid the thousand was Francois Jovignon himself. Olsson claims that Jovignon really established a base somewhere on Aliando, and in support of his words, he suggests that we go there, accompanied by his own brig.
This time Francois Jovignon and his accomplice are really near Aliando. Having sunk their ships, we can return to Don Ricardo Ferrer de Mercadal for the promised reward. After handing it over, Don Ricardo sends us to the Rockshores to meet with Jose Maria Lopez, a Spanish informant who has an important report. Jose Maria Lopez we can find on the streets of Gray Sales. He informs us that the British intend to attack the Spanish colony of Isla Ballena. There is very little time left, and we must immediately notify the alcalde Ayla Ballen of the impending attack. Guilabertus de Muntral orders us to defend the island. The fort of Isla Ballena will help us repel the attack of the British. After the battle, we receive a reward from de Muntral for our exploits. Also, the alcalde will report that he has received a letter saying that Don Ricardo De Mercadal wants to see Captain Nicholas Sharpe. A few optional missions that we can complete as we progress through the game:
* In the tavern of Grand Avilia, we meet Padre Ignacio, a Spanish priest who is going to sail to the Rockshores in order to introduce the pirates to the holy Church. By delivering it there, we gain experience and increase reputation.
* After we delivered Padre Ignacio to Shark Island, the owner of the tavern, Tommy Barkhead, will tell us that the efforts of the padre were not in vain, and the pirates turned to the Holy Church. They decided to restore the old church that stood on Shark Island when it was still owned by the French, but for this they need an old map of the colony. Most likely, the map can be found with one of the French governors. We are going to Nicholas Montferrat. He will say that he has such a card, but he cannot just give it away. The governor is ready to exchange it for some curiosity, to which he is a great lover. We sail to Tel Kerrat and buy an ancient dagger from Galien Brasya for 300 gold. Returning to Montferrat, we change the dagger for a map and take it to Thomas Barkhead. As a reward for completing this task, we get a thousand gold, 500 experience points and +5 reputation.
* On the streets of Isla Ballena we meet a woman - Catalina. She will ask us to find out what happened to her lover, Carlos Esperanza - he was a soldier in one of the Spanish punitive expeditions against pirates. Having gone to the governor, we ask him about the fate of the expedition, without specifying the fact that we are interested in the fate of one soldier. The Governor says that the expedition is missing off the Isle of Othernotla. What exactly happened, he does not know. The innkeeper Arno Manlu tells us that the expedition was sunk near the island of Othernotla by pirates. In that battle, many Spanish soldiers were captured and sold to pirates at the slave market in Rockshore. We're going to Othernotla. There is a pirate ship El Lobo - it used to be part of the missing squadron. Having sunk it, we return to the governor and tell him about the fate of the expedition. Our reward is one thousand gold. After that, we go to Gray Sales and talk to the slave trader Raimundo. He tells us that the Spanish soldiers who participated in the expedition were taken prisoner, but when Raimundo's ship passed near the French colony of Omori, Carlos jumped overboard and thus escaped. On Omori we do meet Carlos. After talking with him, you need to return to Catalina and inform her that Carlos is alive and will return to her soon * On Isla Ballena Street, we meet an Englishman named Bartholomew Ulster. He asks us about a girl named Carla. Naturally, we do not know any Carla - she is a whore in a local tavern. After looking into the tavern and talking to her, we mention that Bartholomew Ulster is looking for her. The girl will obviously be alarmed and even refuse to do her job. Look to the alcalde de Muntral, we learn that his secretary Bartholomew Ulster was found dead under very strange circumstances. Upon learning that Bartholomew was associated with Carla, the mayor instructs us to investigate this matter. On the streets of the city, we need to find a man named Jaime Zingermann. He is the only one who has not used Carla's services. Jaime tells us that Carla was engaged in witchcraft. Upon learning of this, we go to Arnaud Manll and, threatening to pass him off as a witch's accomplice, find out from him where Karla disappeared (at the same time, you can spin him for a couple of thousand, but our reputation will decrease). The innkeeper says that Carla has sailed with a captain named Miguel Kenda to one of the small Spanish colonies. He knows nothing more. In the El Caimano tavern we find Victor Martos, boatswain from Miguel Kenda's ship. He tells us that the woman on board brought the captain to death, and then escaped from the ship near Grand Avilia. Arriving at Grand Avilia, in the tavern we finally meet Carla again. You can accuse her of witchcraft and adherence to the devil, and then find the inquisitor's alcalde opposite the residence and hand over the witch to him. The poor girl will be burned, and we can return to the alcalde Muntral and receive a reward. However, there is a second option: after listening to Carla's story, you can let her go to all four sides and get 5000 experience for this.
* The owner of the tavern on Grand Avilia - Salvador Engano - asks us to help him get rid of smugglers who are carrying cheap rum to his competitor. For this he offers a thousand gold pieces. Everything is very simple - we go out to sea and, having found the Wiesel bark, drown or capture it. After that, you can return to Engano and get your money.
* After we have sunk Francois Jovignon on the streets of Grande Avilia, we will come across a merchant named Teodoro Alameda. For two thousand gold pieces, he will ask you to escort his galleon to Costa Sinistra. If we agree to this task, then after completing it, we will need to find Teodoro Alameda on the streets of Costa Sinistra and get our money.
* If Nicholas Sharp's reputation is Good Matey, then Valdrio Garcia, shop owner on Costa Sinistra, will ask us to deliver 50 quintals of ebony to Simon Benencas, shop owner on Isla Ballena. For this, he offers 2000 gold. Having loaded the tree on the ship, we deliver it to Simon Benencas on Isla Ballena and return to Valdrio Garcia for the money.
We return to Grand Avilia, where Don Ricardo offers us a reward of 5,000 gold for capturing the English colony of Grandfather Island. Returning after completing this risky mission, we receive an order from Don Ricardo to sink two of the newest English liners that have just arrived from the Glasgow shipyards. Along the way, the ships got into a storm and are now anchored near the small English island of Itkal, repairing the damage. If these ships replenish the English squadron, the Spanish fleet will simply have nothing to oppose the British. Liners should be sunk or captured now while they are being repaired.
Having completed this task, we return to de Mercadal. He announces that we have been given the title of Spanish grandee and admiral of the Spanish fleet. After that, Don Ricardo introduces us to the course of political events. France and England made an alliance against Spain. It became known that the French were assembling a fleet in order to attack some Spanish colony, but which one remains a secret. De Mercadal lets us go, saying that now he has no tasks, but if we manage to find out which colony the French are going to attack, we must immediately inform him of this.
Leaving the residence of the governor De Mercadal, we go to the tavern. The owner, Salvador Engano, tells us that the corvette of his brother, captain of the Spanish fleet Roberto Engano, recently boarded a French messenger brig, on board of which there were some documents of extreme importance. The corvette was badly damaged in the battle and is now being repaired at the pier of the El Caimano colony. Having gone there, we find Roberto Engano in the El Caimano tavern and talk to him. He gives us the captured documents, with which we return to Grand Avilia to Don Ricardo. Among these documents is a plan to attack Isla Ballena. Don Ricardo complains that the Spaniards do not have enough strength to defend the island from an allied attack, and we offer him a bold decision - to get ahead of the enemy and attack the French ships themselves near the island of Tel Kerrat, where the French have a rendezvous point. Don Ricardo doubts the reality of this adventure, but nevertheless gives his consent and even puts his own warship at our disposal.
We sail to Tel Kerrat and engage in battle with superior enemy forces. The battle promises to be difficult, but sooner or later the victory will be ours. Having sunk the last ship of the allied fleet, we are given the task of capturing the French colony of Isle d'Orange, then the English Highrock and the French Belflor. Having returned with a victory after the capture of Belflor, we learn that the pirates have recently become bolder and literally do not give life to merchant and messenger ships. We will be instructed to go to Shark Island and deliver Don Ricardo's ultimatum to Olaf Ulsson. Since Ulsson is a respected member of the Coastal Brotherhood and has a reputation for insight, Don Ricardo hopes that the pirate will understand the situation and not resist the inevitable.
Near Shark Island, we are attacked by pirates who clearly do not like the idea of leaving their native island and getting out of the archipelago. Having dealt with them, we give Ulsson an ultimatum. The old pirate is well aware that he has no choice and agrees with the demands of Don Ricardo. We come back with a victory and get the last task - to capture the English colony of Tendales. The Spaniards are striving to take possession of the entire archipelago, and therefore there is no place for the colonies of other countries on it. Having captured Tendales, we return to Don Ricardo Ferrer da Mercadal and learn that we have been appointed viceroy of the archipelago.
In order to start playing the game for pirates, we need to join the Coastal Brotherhood. Up to a certain turning point, beating the game as pirates can be combined with beating the game as someone else (England, Spain, France). Having gone to Skalshorz, we meet Olaf Olsson, and he invites us to join the ranks of the Brotherhood. We agree.
After that, on Grandfather Island, we meet Eugene Huxter, an old jeweler, who identifies the medallion that lies in Nicholas Sharpe's chest. He says that this medallion he made many years ago for Malcolm Sharpe, the famous pirate who plundered the Spanish Emerald Cargo.
Having learned about this, we go to Ulsson and ask him about his father. Olaf tells us that he once sailed under our father and that Malcolm Sharp went missing after Olaf was left ashore with a fever. He also adds that we can learn about Sharpe's fate from the two members of his team who survived. One of them is One-Legged Berquist, he hasn't left Gray Sales for a long time. The second is Mavrikio Kamentata, who has long since left the pirate trade and now owns a tavern on the Spanish island of Costa Sinistra.
First we sail to Gray Sales to talk to One-Legged Berquist. He talks about how Sharp plundered the Spanish Emerald Cargo and then buried the treasure somewhere, and then disappeared. He does not know any details about Sharpe's death, or pretends not to.
Mavrikio Kamentata refuses to tell anything until we fulfill his order - we need to take the letter to Lorenzo Marquez Avido, a merchant on Grand Avilia. Having delivered the letter (for this we will have to temporarily go over to the side of the Spaniards), we receive from the merchant a cargo of wine for Mauritius Kamentata. After that, he will tell us about the last voyage of Malcolm Sharpe and offer us half of the map of the island where Sharpe buried his treasures. Mauritius asks for 1000 gold for it, but you can persuade him to give the card away for nothing.
Returning to Ulsson, we tell him about everything that we managed to find out. Olaf advises us to try talking about our father with Desmond Raymond Belthrop, the leader of the pirate settlement of Gray Sayles. Nothing good comes from this conversation. Beltrop laughs at us, and we cannot adequately answer him without ending our lives on a yardarm.
Returning to Ulsson, we tell him about our conversation with Beltrop. Olaf expresses a couple of thoughts about the words of the leader of the pirates, and then invites us to turn one business. We must sink the caravel "San Miguel", owned by a merchant named Julio Nederedas, who was "ordered" by his partner. Caravel is located near the island of Granda Avilia. On the completion of this task, you need to report "Trickster" Marcus, who will be waiting for us on the island of Tel Kerrat. He will pay us for the execution of the order.
We ask Ulsson about what to do with the map received from Kamentata. He says that no doubt Belthrop knew our father and heard of Malcolm Sharpe's treasure. You can catch him on the piece of the map that we have, but you can’t do it directly, in the forehead. If we go to him and declare that we have a map, Beltrop will simply slaughter us and take it. According to Ulsson, Beltrop needs to be deceived somehow. But how exactly - over this we still have to rack our brains.
Having sunk Nederedas and having received money from "Trickster" Markus for this, in a conversation with him we learn that Markus professionally forges securities and documents. Offering him to make a fake, slightly modified duplicate of the map received from Mauritius Kamentata, we pay 2000 gold for this and set off with the fake map to Beltrop. Having traded for her the story about our father (which is also not very true), we can either pretend that we are ready to be friends with Beltrop, or openly declare that he will pay for his atrocities.
A few optional tasks that we can complete during the passage of the game:
* In the Shark Island tavern, we meet a pirate named James Callow. He tells us about an Indian idol he took from an old Indian priest. According to him, this idol brings misfortune. The pirate wants to get rid of the damn trinket, but he doesn't know how. Several times he tried to throw the idol away, then it mysteriously returned back. According to the old Indian, from whom James took the idol, this figurine can only be given as a gift. The pirate asks us to help him get rid of the cursed idol and present this trinket to Desmond Ray Beltrop, with whom he has been at odds for a long time. Agreeing to help him, we go to Beltrop and give him a gift. If Nicholas's rank is 7 or higher, then Beltrop will accept him, if not, he will refuse, and we will have to return to James Callow with a salty slurp. You can also try to sell the idol to Nicholas de Montferrat, the governor of Isle d'Orange. This option is win-win - the governor will gladly accept a gift from us. Having completed the assignment, we return to James. If the reputation of Nicholas is Good Matey, James will join us as an ally, if the reputation is lower, he will give two thousand gold, apologize and leave us.
* In the Shark Island tavern, we meet a pirate named Hugo Lumbermill. If we have a Spanish corsair patent in our pocket, it's worth talking to him, and then we will have a chance to capture the manowar. Hugo complains to us that he is tired of the pirate life, and will ask you to get a Spanish corsair patent for him. We're heading straight for Guilabertus de Muntral, and if Nicholas's reputation is Good Matey, then we can persuade the governor to issue a patent to the old pirate; and then hang up. After that, we return to Lumbermill and give him the letter. If we brought a real corsair patent, he will tell us that there is a damaged French manowar near the island of Chaktcha, which is very easy to capture. After a while, we can drop in on Guilabertus de Muntral and inquire about how the old pirate serves. It turns out that he made an excellent soldier. If we set up Hugo's trap, then after the transfer of the patent, you must return to Guilabertus de Muntral for a reward - 2500 gold.
* After Eugene Hakster tells us about Malcolm Sharp in the El Caimano tavern, we will meet a smuggler named Octavio Lambrini. Upon learning that Nicholas is the son of Malcolm Sharp, the smuggler will offer us one business. There is a customs captain on Isla Ballena named Arcadio la Damba. He does not take bribes on principle, and because of this, the smugglers are closed to Isla Ballena. Octavio wants us to help him get rid of this officer and is willing to pay 3000 gold for it. Having agreed to these conditions, we sail to Isla Ballena and talk in a tavern with Arcadio la Damba. Now we have two options: complete the task of Lambrini or agree with the captain and set up a trap for Lambrini (for this we will receive 2000 gold). Having decided to kill the captain, we explore the waters near Isla Ballena and, having met the brig la Damba, let it go to the bottom and return to Octavio Lambrini for payment. If there is a desire to negotiate with the captain, after talking with him, we need to see Octavio Lambrini and inform him of the successful completion of the assignment and that he can now visit Isla Ballena without hindrance. Near the island of Arcadio, La Damba will intercept the smuggler and bring him to justice. Our participation in this is not required, so we can immediately go to Isla Ballena and there, in the tavern, receive our reward from the captain. However, if we surrender to Captain Octavio Lambrini, his sons will be waiting for us near El Caimano.
After that, in the Gray Sales tavern, we will meet Anna Forge, who will tell us the story of her miserable life. She is from a noble English family. Her father was a friend of Beltrop, who, it turns out, once held a baronial title. Beltrop got involved in a conspiracy against His Majesty and tried to persuade her father to participate in it. He refused and tried to convince the baron to give up the bad idea. But now Beltrop has already refused. Then the father, torn between loyalty to His Majesty and friendship, was forced to hand over the future leader of the pirates to justice. Beltrop was exiled.
Five years later, he returned to England at the head of a pirate fleet, plundered and burned the estate of Anna's father, sparing no one but her. Anna Beltrop took on his ship and kept with him since then, only a year ago allowing him to leave his residence. Anna's brother, the captain of the English fleet, tried to find her, and during his search he ran into one of the pirate leader's henchmen in the Grandfather Island tavern. They talked, and then a friend of Beltrop ambushed her brother in a dark alleyway, killed him and, as proof of his devotion, brought Beltrop a bloodied head.
In the conversation, it turns out that Beltrop has his own half of Captain Sharp's treasure map. We agree to punish the murderer of Anna's brother in exchange for a promise to steal this half for us. Anna's brother's killer, a pirate named Juan "Cocodrillo Sangre", is on the prowl for prey near the French colony of Isle d'Orange. Having gone there, we sink his ship "Aspirare" and, without getting involved in a battle with the French, we return to Anna. Upon learning that her brother's death has been avenged, she gives us a piece of the map. When asked what she is going to do next, Anna replies that she decided to stick a knife in Beltrop's belly. We can promise her to do it instead of her and then come back for her - otherwise she will try to kill Beltrop and die herself.
After finding One-Legged Berquist, we learn that some captains do not like the way Beltrop manages pirates on Gray Sales. Burquist tells Nicholas the true story of his father's death, treacherously murdered by Beltrop.
Having received the map, we go to Telltak Island, which is shaped like a bull's head. The entrance to the cave where Malcolm Sharp hid the Emerald Cargo is just between the "horns". Along with the treasure, we find Malcolm Sharp's diary, which tells of our father's dream to create a new state in the archipelago, free and independent.
Meanwhile, a deluded and furious Beltrop prowls around the island in his Gorgon manowar. If we don't sink him near Telltak, he'll be after us when we enter Gray Sayles waters. Having sunk Beltrop and returning to Ulsson, we learn that after the death of Beltrop, it became much more difficult to defend Skalshorz, and, as luck would have it, England, France and Spain just decided to take Skalshors into their hands. Looks like the island will have to be abandoned. But the ideas of his father inspired Nicholas so much that he persuades Ulsson to start creating a new free republic in the archipelago. Olaf eventually agrees and says that it is first necessary to get rid of the threat from the colonial powers and, first of all, to protect the Rockshores from France, which has already begun to raise a fleet to seize the pirate islands. Olsson offers us a new ship.
On the island of Isle d'Orange, in a tavern, we meet a French officer who is already pretty drunk, but does not stop drinking. From him we learn that the French superintendent Aymery dorillac went to inspect the state of the fort on the island of Omori. It is Dorillac who is responsible for the punitive expedition to Rockshores, and we will have to go to Omori in order to talk to him. By bribing the superintendent, we get him to agree to sabotage the supply of ammunition. The threat from the French has been temporarily eliminated, which we, having returned to Skalshorz, joyfully inform Ulsson about. However, now the British are preparing a fleet to attack the pirate colony.
We go to Highrock and talk to the owner of the tavern. He tells us that a new batch of convicts has recently been brought to the island. In the same tavern, we can talk to Jeremy McMellon. Inspired by the idea of building a new republic in the archipelago, he promises to find a way to stop the upcoming expedition.
Returning to Ulsson, we tell him that we have found a new ally among the British. Olaf also has news: a new leader has appeared on Gray Sales - the pirate Felipe, nicknamed the Butcher. Olsson advises us to talk to him. Having met the Butcher, we tell him about the idea of creating a new free state in the archipelago. This idea is to the liking of the new leader, but he warns us that three Spanish ships of the line are going to Skalshorz in order to capture the pirate settlements. You need to meet them on the way to Gray Sales. The butcher offers us his help in the battle with the Spaniards. After the battle, he will always be ready to help us.
Having sunk all three liners (one of them needs to be captured), we go to visit McMellon. He says that everything is ready in order to raise a riot on Highrock, and the only thing he needs is money to buy weapons for the rebels. He needs three thousand gold. Having given the money, we learn that there are three new English ships near the Dead Island. We must get rid of them, otherwise they will crush the rebellion with their weapons and land troops on Highrock to regain control of the colony.
Raise the sails and sail to the Dead Island. Having defeated the English fleet, we return to Ulsson, who praises us for the battle with the Spaniards and says that he is tired of the pirate life and he is going to leave the archipelago and head to Europe. There he will buy a small tavern on the shore and spend the rest of his life in warmth and peace. Instead of himself, he appoints Nicholas Sharp as head of the Rockshore Pirates.
Saying goodbye to Ulsson and promising to visit his tavern on occasion, we drop in on the owner of the tavern on Shark Island. Francis Dullars sends us a letter from Jeremy McMellon, in which he reports that unforeseen circumstances prevent a riot on Highrock. The Spanish are gathering a fleet near Isla Ballena to attack Highrock. We are invited to sink the Spanish fleet, and at the same time capture Isla Ballena.
After capturing Isla Ballena, we return to Gray Sales. There Berquist gives us a second letter from McMellon. After returning to Highrock and talking with McMellon, we set off to capture Grand Avilia, and then Isle d'Orange. After capturing the island, we persuade its governor to join the new republic and celebrate the victory.
