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"Irontide or Bloodsail, Defias or Freebooter" - The Pirates of World of Warcraft
No ar
Criado
03/3/2024 em 17:07
por
DiscordianKitty
Patch 10.2.6 introduces a new "unique event". While this patch has been kept off the PTR, and is shrouded in mystery, there are clues that suggest Pirates may be somehow involved - clues like the obvious pirate flag associated with the patch. While we wait to finally experience this patch ourselves, we thought it'd be fun to revisit some of the pirates of Azeroth, and their stories.
The Nightsquall
The first pirate that needs to be mentioned is Captain Nightsquall, a character we first heard about during Patch 10.0.7, Return to the Forbidden Reach. According to the lore book
Regresso de Nórtias
, this infamous night elf pirate captain hadn't been heard from for many years, ever since he sailed west. The western ocean is thought to be impossible to cross, due to violent storms that destroy any ships that try it, so many believed the Nightsquall to be dead. However, the book claims he has returned with the hulls of his ships "full to burstin' with treasures like ye've never seen before!"
What's more, the Nightsquall claims to have a new prize in his crosshairs, and to claim it, he is recruiting all the pirates of Azeroth whether "Irontide or Bloodsail, Defias or Freebooter" to his cause.
The Nightsquall is a fun story, but that's not the only reason we're leading with him. There is, in fact, reason to believe patch 10.2.6 will have something to do with this character. During the
announcement that 10.2.6 would, indeed, be kept off the PTR
, Holly Longdale called what they've created "a unique event inspired by past musings from the community". And if there is something pirate-related that sparked musings from the community - it was the Nightsquall.
When this book was first discovered, it sparked a considerable amount of speculation. Examples include videos from
Taliesin and Evitel
and
Bellular
, as well as
our own article
. Most linked the Nighsquall heading west to Avaloren, an unknown land mentioned in another Dragonflight lore book. But while speculation ran rampant, Blizzard seemed almost taken aback by how many theories were being built around one in-game book. Eventually, while a lot of the community still believed 11.0 would involve pirates and sea travel of some sort, Mike Ybarra tweeted the simple phrase, "
No pirates
". So while it seems pirates were never planned to play a major role in
The War Within
, an event involving the Nightsquall would make sense for 10.2.6.
If Captain Nightsquall has indeed discovered new land beyond the western storms, that makes him truly remarkable. Perhaps this is why the pirates of Azeroth - regardless of pirate faction - are willing to follow him. Let's take a closer look at the ones mentioned in the book.
The Irontide Raiders
We first met the Irontide during
Battle for Azeroth
. Originally, they were formed from the crew captained by none other than Flynn Fairwind and his first mate, Harlan Sweete. Flynn lost his taste for piracy after a job went bad, and decided to leave, simply disappearing one day. Afterwards, Harlan gathered the nastiest of the crew to form the Irontide Raiders.
Under Harlan Sweete's rule, the Irontide were known to be ruthless, and would only recruit those deemed cruel and heartless enough. During
Battle for Azeroth
, they allied with the Ashvane Trading Company and assisted with an attempted coup of Kul Tiras. Bankrolled by Lady Ashvane, Harlan Sweete completely took over the once haven port of Freehold and kept it under Irontide rule. Eventually, Flynn himself recruited adventurers to help take out his former first mate. It's unknown who leads the Irontide now, but they've clearly answered the Nightsquall's call, as Irontide pirates can be found in the Forbidden Reach following his orders to plunder the secrets of the Dragon Isles in his name.
The Bloodsail Buccaneers
Perhaps the most infamous pirates of Azeroth, the Bloodsail Buccaneers once had a reputation for being the most bloodthirsty of all pirates. Not even other pirates were safe from their attacks - historically, the Bloodsail have attempted to plunder the pirate city of Booty Bay more than once, but the city is under the protection of the Blackwater Raiders, another pirate crew. To this day, if you see players slaughtering NPCs in Booty Bay, they're likely trying to build Bloodsail reputation.
Sometime after the Cataclysm, a Bloodsail Admiral, Eliza Goreblade, discovered the Dreadblades - a pair of cutlasses designed by an eredar of the Legion for the specific purpose of corrupting the mortals of Azeroth. The blades granted Eliza a vision - herself, the leader of the largest pirate fleet ever to exist, having conquered all the high seas and nations of Azeroth. The Bloodsail under her command slaughtered any they came across, including rival pirates - and became a deadly menace on the high seas. Over time, as the power of the Dreadblades grew, so Eliza's crew changed. Their bodies withered away, leaving only an undead skeleton crew behind. Eventually, it was other Bloodsail who intervened...
By the time of
Legion
, at least some Bloodsail seemed to have made peace with Booty Bay. Those based around the pirate town are ruled by Fleet Admiral Tethys and are affiliated with the Uncrowned, a secret Rogue order that works in the shadows to influence Azeroth, and who helped in the fight against the Legion. It was Tethys who sent a rogue champion to kill Eliza - putting an end to her reign of terror - and claim the Dreadblades from her.
The Blackwater Raiders
The Blackwater Raiders is a pirate faction based in Booty Bay, which is under their protection. They are closely affiliated with the goblin organization the Steamwheedle Cartel, which controls Booty Bay along with several other towns across Azeroth. Unlike the Bloodsail, the Blackwater Raiders have a reputation for being honorable, and for killing only when necessary. They are led by the goblin Baron Revilgaz, and its Fleet Master is the tauren Seahorn.
Some Blackwater Raiders were in Gilneas when it closed its borders, and were infected with the Worgen curse. After the Cataclysm destroyed the Gilnean wall, at least one of these Worgen - "'Good Boy' Bruce" - joined the Bloodsail instead. After killing Bruce, players could bring his coin to Fleet-Master Seahorn, who would mourn his old friend's change of loyalties and death.
Despite their reputation for killing only when necessary, the Blackwater Raiders are still pirates, and dangerous to deal with. When a young blue dragon, Zeros, recently found himself in debt to Baron Revilgaz, the Baron very nearly took the scales from his hide until the far older and more impressive dragon - Senegos - intervened.
One famous Blackwater Raider is Catelyn the Blade. Catelyn met Li Li and Chen Stormstout after stealing a valuable item called the Pearl of Pandaria from Li Li. Despite this rocky beginning, the three ended up becoming friends. Catelyn
recently toured Pandaria with Li Li and Chen
, and afterwards invited Li Li to join her on her travels. As of Chen's last letter from her, Li Li hasn't yet decided to officially join the Blackwater Raiders herself, but is enjoying her time on Catelyn's ship.
North & Southsea Freebooters
The Southsea Freebooters are the pirates most seen around central Kalimdor, while the Northsea Freebooters are found in Northrend. The two groups dislike each other intensely, but since the Southsea Freebooters were introduced first and are a much larger organization, it seems likely they are the original faction.
Southsea Freebooters act as a constant annoyance to areas like the Barrens, a Thousand Needles, and Tanaris, and they are absolutely hated by the goblins of Ratchet. After the bombing of Theramore, Jaina Proudmoore killed all the Southsea Freebooters of Fray Island on her way to attacking Orgrimmar, though she was eventually convinced to leave the city alone. Southsea Freebooters seem to enjoy exploration, and bands of their pirates have been found on the Timeless Isle of Pandaria, in Azsuna of the Broken Isles, and exploring the islands of
Battle for Azeroth
's island expeditions. They were even present in Kezan, working for Trade Prince Gallywix, before the eruption of Mount Kajaro.
The Northsea Freebooters may be a smaller group than their Southsea counterparts, but they've made up for it by being worse criminals and murderers. After raiding an ancient vrykul buriel ground in Howling Fjord, the Northsea Freebooters found themselves struggling with cursed artifacts and spirits of the vengeful dead. Even their former leader, Jonah Sterling, was reportedly driven insane by one of these artifacts. During Garrosh's trial, Warlord Zaela hired the Northsea Freebooters to attack the Temple of the White Tiger.
Since a change in leadership - the pirate Annie Bonn took over after arranging to have "Mad" Jonah Sterling killed - they're reportedly more annoying these days than monstrous.
Timecap'n Hooktail
Finally, we can't go without mentioning one of the most interesting pirates we've ever encountered, Captain Caulle Whiphook - or Timecap'n Hooktail. This Kul Tiran pirate queen was really an Infinite Dragon - a fact her own crew were surprised to discover during the events of
Shadowlands
, when the Broker So'leah stole an artifact that was found among the ruins of the Black Empire from her. Sadly, we defeated this Infinite Pirate Dragon, but the memory of her has never been forgotten. We would not be sad to learn she somehow survived the encounter and also happens to have since learned dragonriding.
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