The Pirates of Blackbeard are an enigmatic and feared faction within the Kingdom of Banana. They are the remnants of a once-powerful naval armada brought to Banana by the infamous Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard. Blackbeard, a pirate captain of unparalleled skill, sailed to Banana with his vast fleet after hearing tales of the Almoni’s magic. He sought to conquer the kingdom, but his ambitions were thwarted when his entire fleet was stricken by a devastating disease—the same one that nearly wiped out the Almoni and Fang.
Though Blackbeard died alongside the majority of his forces, a small remnant of pirates managed to survive and escape. These survivors, known as the Lost Armada, now operate out of a small, independent village called Tortuga in the northern coast of Banana. Though their numbers are small, they remain a formidable threat—a disbanded faction of pirates who still control secret coves and hidden ports, with a lingering mystical connection to Blackbeard’s sailors.
Today, the pirate faction is less of a unified force and more of a loose confederation of rogue pirates, outlaws, and sailors who hold no allegiance to the crown or the noble houses of Banana. Though they are considered outlaws, their knowledge of hidden sea routes and magical prowess makes them valuable players in Banana’s ongoing political games, despite their unpredictable nature.
Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious pirate who gained his fearsome reputation across the seas. Not just a master of the sword and sail, Blackbeard was also a self-taught practitioner of magic. His mystical powers were rumored to have been acquired during his travels to distant lands. He learned how to tap into his own mana, allowing him to summon mystical fog that would cover his ship, creating a terrifying and impenetrable shroud on the sea. On more than one occasion, witnesses claimed to have seen Blackbeard healing in the middle of a battle, or even sending explosions at his enemies.
Blackbeard’s powers, combined with his ruthless nature and charismatic leadership, made him a legend. He eventually set his sights on Banana, lured by tales of the Almoni’s magic—stories that spoke of people who could wield immense mystical power from an ancient age. Blackbeard was eager to expand his empire, and he believed that if he could control the magic of the Almoni, he could become invincible.
In the years before the Bronze Age, Blackbeard arrived in Banana with a massive fleet—hundreds of ships, manned by thousands of pirates. He brought with him a diverse crew, some of whom had sailed the seas from distant lands, and many of whom had been enchanted by his mastery of arcane knowledge. At the time, Banana was a relatively disorganized land, struggling with its own internal conflicts. The Morvain, Burrows, and other houses were still in their formative stages, and the kingdom was vulnerable to a decisive invasion.
However, the invasion did not go as planned. Just as Blackbeard’s fleet arrived on the coast of Nova and began its march inland, disaster struck. A deadly disease, one that would later come to be known as the Almoni plague, swept through Blackbeard’s fleet. This mysterious affliction targeted those with high levels of mana, and Blackbeard, as well as many of his officers and sailors, were soon incapacitated. His magical abilities, which had once made him a feared opponent, proved no match for the disease. Within days, Blackbeard was dead, and most of his fleet was decimated.
With Blackbeard and many of his pirates dead, the surviving members of his armada were now caught between the forces of the Morvain, the Burrows, and the Fang. These three noble houses had banded together to destroy Blackbeard’s forces, seeing them as a serious threat to their control over the kingdom.
The survivors fled in disarray. Some of them sought refuge with the Almoni, believing that the mystical island people held the key to their survival. Others went deeper into the wilds, only to fall victim to the Fang during a brutal period known as the Black Fog, a time of war and purging by the Fang clan, where pirates were hunted and killed without mercy. It was in this chaotic period that Akuchi of the Fang cemented his role as the protector of the Fang people, using his newfound powers and leadership to eliminate any threat that came too close.
The remnants of Blackbeard’s pirates, scattered and broken, were eventually pushed to the northern coast of Banana, where they found refuge in a small, isolated cove. The pirates, now reduced to a few hundred, made their home in a hidden settlement known as Tortuga, named after a legendary pirate island they had heard of in their travels. This settlement was small, with a modest port and secretive coastline, but it allowed them to survive and continue their existence outside the control of the kingdom.
Tortuga is a small, independent port village on the northern coast of Banana, completely outside the kingdom’s jurisdiction. Located in a secluded bay, the town is made up of weathered pirate ships, ramshackle taverns, and hidden coves. Tortuga is known for its unsavory reputation, attracting a diverse population of outlaws, rogues, and mercenaries. The village is technically not part of the kingdom due to its size and distance from Nova, but it operates as a hub for smuggling, pirate activity, and black market dealings.
Though Tortuga is small, it has grown into a center for pirate activity, where former Blackbeard crew members and their descendants continue to hold sway. The village has no formal government or hierarchy, but the pirates are loosely united by a single code: survival above all else. The few that still possess Blackbeard’s mystical knowledge serve as the elders, using their arcane powers to maintain control over the village and ensure that their interests are protected.
The pirates of the Lost Armada are bound together by a mystical code, passed down through Blackbeard’s lieutenants and magicians. This code is steeped in arcane lore and is said to contain runes and spells that were part of Blackbeard’s original spellbook. These magical rites have given the pirates a peculiar edge: they are able to tap into dark magic—including the ability to summon the mist that Blackbeard used to cloak his ships, as well as healing magic that can sustain them in battle. Many of the pirates are adept at magic, though not as powerful as the Almoni, they retain a unique mystical heritage that sets them apart from the rest of Banana.
The fog around their ships is not just a physical phenomenon; it is a manifestation of mana and dark magic—a relic of Blackbeard’s power that still lingers in the air around Tortuga. Ships that are lucky enough to sail alongside a pirate vessel may find themselves shrouded in the fog, making it difficult for any pursuer to locate them or attack.
Despite their chaotic nature, the remaining pirates have a loose hierarchy. The elders—those who served under Blackbeard and inherited his magical knowledge—act as the leaders of Tortuga. These individuals are highly respected, and their word is often final on important matters. Beneath them are the captains—those who command ships and lead smaller crews of pirates. These captains form the bulk of the pirate force, though many operate independently, as the pirates themselves are rarely bound by any formal structure.
Today, the pirates of Tortuga are involved in a variety of criminal enterprises, including smuggling, illegal trading, piracy, and raids along the coast. They maintain a network of hidden coves and secret trade routes. While some pirate crews operate solely for profit, others remain driven by the legacy of Blackbeard, seeking to reclaim his mystical knowledge and restore the Lost Armada to its former glory.
The pirates, though fragmented, still harbor a deep resentment toward the noble houses of Banana, who they view as the cause of their downfall. Over the years, they’ve made occasional attempts to raid the kingdom, though their lack of numbers and infighting have kept them from achieving any significant success.
The Pirates of the Lost Armada, though broken and scattered, continue to haunt the northern seas of Banana. The legacy of Blackbeard lives on in their mystical fog, and his magical prowess lingers in the minds of those who were once part of his crew. Tortuga remains their home, but the pirates are ever restless, continuing to seek treasure, power, and perhaps, one day, the return of their fallen captain’s legacy.