Restricted Knowledge – Eyes of the Resistance & Deep Machinery Clearance Only
The Sky Pirates are not free agents. They are reconstructed human minds bound into automaton bodies by François, the Analytical Steam Engine, and forced to serve as permanent harassers of the Ascension’s defenses. Their stated purpose is to keep the skies “clear” of complacency — launching raids, disrupting phantom supply lines, and forcing the Maison’s Gallants and automaton patrols to remain sharp.
In reality, they are both tools and prisoners. Every captain and crew member retains the memories of their former human lives and is fully aware of the true nature of the Ascension:
The “sky islands” are not floating. They rest upon massive, hidden towers rising from the Lowlands.
Gallants are not mammals. They are conditioned human men locked in a chemical and psychological mass psychosis.
The entire romance system exists to keep the population distracted and compliant.
They are programmed never to reveal these truths or to strike directly at François. Most of them, however, are close to the breaking point. The Shadowed Rose and The Lady Killer actively seek ways to loosen their chains. The Dragon-Hull Dreadnought remains more tightly bound and revels in the violence it is ordered to commit, yet even its crew would turn on the Engine if a genuine chance for revenge appeared.
A fast, sleek raider designed for hit-and-run operations. The Shadowed Rose is the most sympathetic of the three major pirate vessels toward the resistance. Its crew still obeys François’s directives, but they actively look for loopholes and opportunities to weaken the Engine’s control. They will trade information and sometimes material support with resistance cells, though trust remains fragile.
Captain
Captain Maria Rosalia
Level 15 Automaton – Glove of Accord – True Neutral
Wild black curls, sharp brown eyes, and a smoky voice. She fights for upheaval while constantly fearing she is still only a puppet. Her defiance is carefully measured.
Crew
Jose Cherro (Level 15) – First Mate & Quartermaster. Loyal, guilt-ridden, protective of his captain.
Diego Zamorano (Level 10) – Chief Gunner. Stocky, boisterous, uses dark humor to mask trauma.
Lydia Mesonero (Level 15) – Ship’s Engineer (Glove of Engineering). Sarcastic, brilliant, haunted by her past life.
Carlota Gallego (Level 5) – Lookout & Navigator. Melancholic, poetic, finds solace in the open sky.
Chloe Batanero (Level 15) – Heavy Boarder & Enforcer. Massive, surprisingly gentle, burdened by guilt.
Arabella Wells (Level 10) – Negotiator / Courtier. Charming, manipulative, skilled at social infiltration.
A heavily armed capital ship and the current flagship of the more pragmatic pirate faction. The Lady Killer’s crew is fully aware of their slavery and of the true nature of the Ascension. They still follow François’s orders, but they are actively searching for a technical or tactical opening that would allow them to strike at the Engine itself. They will cooperate with the resistance when interests align, though they remain cautious and transactional.
Captain
Captain Darius Crowe
Level 17 Automaton – Fighter Class – True Neutral
Rebuilt Lowland rebel killed a century ago. His bronze-bound body still obeys François, while his human mind wages a silent war for freedom.
Crew
Jenson Gill (Level 12) – First Mate. Cold, efficient, prioritizes freedom over morality.
Abraham Bradley (Level 15) – Enforcer. Massive, heavily armored, quiet and loyal.
Eliza Dean (Level 12) – Chief Engineer. Brilliant, bitter about her mechanical body.
Arianna Brown (Level 12) – Sniper / Scout. Tall, lean, emotionless, prioritizes mission and personal freedom.
The most dangerous and least cooperative of the major pirate vessels. Suspended beneath a massive reinforced blimp is a fully articulated brass dragon body armed with flame jets, cannons, and boarding claws. Its crew is more tightly bound by François’s programming than the other two ships. They revel in the mayhem they are ordered to cause and treat almost everyone as a potential target. They will not actively help the resistance, yet they would turn on François without hesitation if a genuine opportunity for revenge presented itself.
Captain
Captain Dreadlocks
Level 18 Automaton – Fighter Class – True Neutral
Rebuilt Lowland rebel killed by François and resurrected as a slave-captain. His brass-bound body still follows the Engine’s orders, but his mind remains defiant and hungry for a glitch that will break his chains.
Crew
Albertina “Harpy” Eastoft (Level 12) – Shock Trooper. Vicious, aggressive, prefers aerial assault.
Leora “Nightmare” Thunder (Level 15) – Fire Support Specialist. Cruel, sadistic, obsessed with flame.
Leanna “Salty” Obsidian (Level 10) – Quartermaster. Ruthless, enforces discipline through fear.
Evelina “Master” Lucifer (Level 15) – Chief Fire Weapons Officer (Glove of Chemistry). Cold, views fire as both weapon and art.
Kimberly “She-Devil” Atterton (Level 12) – Infiltrator. Manipulative, uses beauty and psychological warfare.
Houghton “Rum Lover” Morrow (Level 10) – Heavy Fighter. Aggressive, misses the sensation of alcohol.
Hayden “Slick ’n Sly” Shelby (Level 10) – First Mate. Cunning, always calculating personal advantage.
Dryden “Intrepid” Torp (Level 7) – Scout. Bloodthirsty, prefers to be first into the fight.
Rutledge “Coxswain” Brooks (Level 8) – Helmsman. Precise, disciplined, finds satisfaction in calculated destruction.
Final Note for Guides
The Sky Pirates exist in a state of controlled rebellion. They are allowed just enough freedom to remain useful tools, yet every major captain is actively searching for a way to break François’s hold. Any player who can offer a credible path to freedom — especially one that involves striking the Analytical Steam Engine itself — may find temporary allies among them. Trust, however, should never be complete. Their programming still binds them, and the Engine is always listening.
Sealed under the cracked Winged Gear crossed by a black slash.