I think that's enough interest to justify moving ahead with the OOC. I'll start working on the world primer, but to get people thinking about character and story ideas, here's a quick outline:


[u][I]Main Factions in Free Sail:[/i][/u]

[I]The Freebooters:[/i] A confederation of mercenary crews loyal only to each other. A fledgling democracy without a centralized leader, decisions among the Freebooters are made by a Council of ship captains. All are welcome to join, provided they adhere to the Freebooters' Code. Despite the independent and egalitarian nature of the Freebooters, politicking and treachery is still common, and some of the more ruthless crews pride themselves on finding loopholes in the Code to benefit themselves.

[I]Los Vigilantes:[/I] An organization of masked outlaws arising from the tyrannical rule of the Castillian governors, Los Vigilantes hold themselves up as defenders of the oppressed and fighters against injustice. Members of the organization keep their identities a secret even from each other, relying on garish masks and outlandish personalities to cause sensation and inspire the downtrodden. Not every member of Los Vigilantes is as altruistic as they should be, however, as some are more interested merely in causing mayhem than in helping the poor.

[I]The Exchange:[/I] Officially the Exchange is a conglomerate of bankers, merchants, and shipping magnates all with a vested interest in developing the Antillean colonies. In practice, however, the Exchange is the largest criminal syndicate in the New World, overseeing the trade of everything from stolen goods to illicit drugs to captive people. All of the Old World kingdoms know what the Exchange really is, but all of them are willing to turn a blind eye to their dealings as long as they make a tidy profit from it.

[I]The Order of the Spyglass:[/i] An organization founded by rich scholars, the Order of the Spyglass is dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of the New World. Comprised mostly of treasure hunters, explorers, navigators, and pathfinders, members of the Order are notorious for being insatiably curious in their hunt to find lost knowledge and unseen civilizations...provided, of course, that they get their share of the fortune and fame.

[I]Les Fréres de Fer:[/I] Formerly the bodyguards of the late king of Vallé D'Or, the musketeers of Les Fréres de Fer are sworn to uphold the virtues of Justice, Honor, and Love. Musketeers are often hired as protectors of small villages and towns, bodyguards for the well-to-do, and bounty hunters to track down criminals and pirates. While Les Fréres are generally well-regarded, their Order is also highly secretive, and many believe their true intent is not merely to inspire the local population, but to build an army in exile and reclaim their homeland.

[I]The Black Fleet:[/I] Unapologetic in their brutality and cruelty, the Black Fleet have no pretense about being anything but pirates. While they are often seen in Free Sail spending their plunder, their true home is the dreaded Isla del Miedo somewhere in the maelstrom of the Triangulo de la Muerte. The pirates of the Black Fleet are infamous for their treachery even among their own, with their only uniting quality being their allegiance to the pirate king Edward Wrathbourne. Legends say that in exchange for obedience, Wrathbourne gives his captains treasures and weapons that grant them supernatural power, and that monsters and dead men walk among their crews. How much of that is true, and how much is spread by the Black Fleet themselves to build their fearsome reputation, remains to be seen.


[B][u]Old World Kingdoms:[/u][/B]

[I]Castille:[/I] (aka Not Spain) The dominant power in the Antillean Sea, Castillian forts dot many of the islands and ports of the Archipelago. However, recent military losses back on the continent have greatly reduced their presence, allowing other kingdoms and factions to rise. Castillians are famed for having hot tempers, and for placing a great deal on family lineage and bloodlines. Their duelists are some of the most feared in the world, and though they are rare, the massive hulking Castillian galleons can devastate whole fleets by themselves.

[I]Albion:[/I] (aka Not England) Once an enchanted island where history and fairy tale were the same, Albion has since become a rising empire at sea, and the main rival of Castille for control of the New World. While most of their colonies are far north on the mainland continent, Albion has taken several islands in the Antillean recently, and the sight of Albion Redcoats has become more and more common in ports and cities. A culture deeply divided between commoners and aristocracy, the Albion nobility have a deep sense of propriety and need for law and order, while the common people rally around tricksters and outlaws. Albion sailors pride themselves on their superiority at sea.

[I]Vallé D'Or:[/I] (aka Not France) once the cultural center of the Old World, Vallé D'Or has undergone incredible turmoil in recent years. Revolutionaries deposed their king and slaughtered the aristocracy, and in the ensuing chaos arose the mad conqueror Leon de Corsique, who now wages war across the continent. Vallé D'Or only has a single colony in the New World, the Château de Rêves, where the last surviving nobles and their Musketeers hold out in the hopes of returning some day. Vallé D'Orans are known for being romantics at heart, and for their innate sense of superiority.

[I]Medicia:[/I] (aka Not Italy) A collection of city-states rather than a unified nation, Medicia has no land holds in the New World, but still carries tremendous influence. Medician galleys are considered the fastest and best-made ships in the world, and thus Medician merchants wield great power in the shipping industries. While it is rarely mentioned in polite company, it is well known that many prominent Medician families are deeply involved in the Exchange, and are said to have networks of spies and assassins ready at all times. Medicians are often shrewd, suspicious to the point of paranoia, and keen for useful information.


(More to come)