What is it to be a pirate? In the simplest of terms, it is to do as follows: Pirates rob ships at sea for personal profit. Many of the pirates of the southern seas operate from the protected harbour of Sartosa. These are desperate men who are unwelcome in most civilized lands, and can sell their ill-gotten gains only through the city of Sartosa and others like it.

Pirate attacks can take many forms, some pirates take only cargo, freeing the ship and its crew to travel on safely, some sink the ship, offering membership to those able-bodied sailors who will accept it, killing the rest (or if it is one of the more honourable pirate captains, freeing them on the nearest coastline that he can approach safely), others take all aboard and sell them into slavery, killing those they deem to make unsatisfactory slaves. Still others kill all aboard so that the crime will go unreported.

Privateers, on the other hand, raid on the high seas under a letter of marque from some government, and in the waters of that government they are considered legal. In the waters of all the countries whose ships and territories they raid they are considered to be pirates and outlaws.

Both pirates and privateers rely heavily on seamanship and navigation to locate their targets. They often wait along sea lanes for days or even weeks before locating a victim which is weak and slow enough for them to make a capture. Both pirates and privateers will make raids upon coastal villages and cities if they see a rich enough prize to be had and/or a weak garrison.

Pirates and privateers both attract the outcasts, the disinherited, and the disenchanted amongst the people of the many countries and races of the world. You will find strong warriors, cunning seamen, sharp-eyed gunners, and shrewd captains right alongside brigands, murderers, canivers, and scum, all brought together by the lure of riches to be had.

Pirates and privateers also work closely with smugglers and slavers and during times of thin pickings on the high seas you will find them taking up both of these trades themselves.

The pirates and privateers of Sartosa, the City of Pirates, live by a harsh set of laws, or Articles, known as the Pirate's Law or the Pirate's Articles. These are strictly and visciously enforced to the letter.

Article one

Every man shall obey civil command; the captain shall have on full share and a half in all prizes. The Master, Carpenter, Boatswain, and Gunner shall have one share and quarter.

Article two

If any man shall offer to run away, or keep any secret from the Company, he shall be maroon'd with one bottle of powder, one bottle of Water, one small Arm, and shot.

Article three

If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the value of a piece of Gold, he shall be Maroon'd or shot.

Article four

If at any Time we should meet at another Marooner (that is, Pirate) that man shall sign his Articles without Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.

Article five

That a man that shall strike another, whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive Moses's Law (that is 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare Back.

Article six

That Man that shall snap his Arms, or smoke Tobacco in the Hold, without cap to his Pipe, or carry a candle lighted without lanthorn, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the former Article.

Article seven

That Man that shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.

Article eight

If any man shall lose a joint in time of Engagement, shall have 400 Pieces of Gold: if a limb, 800.

Article nine

If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer Death.