Would this be a bad time to ask when we are to start?

Like I said, I feel like the three different arcs don't fit together. My recommendation would be to drop the connection to the Exchange entirely since that one seems like more of a hindrance to what you want to do with the character, and then focus on him being in the region either to find his brother or figure out how to break the curse of the ghost-ring.

btw, what islands are in Free Sail aside Shepherd Island?

• Santa Carlotta: Castille's largest colony and default capital in the New World. Home to about 7,000 people, ruled by the iron-fisted Don Esposito.
• Queensport: Albion's main capital and naval shipyard. Home to about 5000, overseen by the honorable Governor Woods.
• Isla del Miedo: home of the Black Fleet, located in the dreaded Triangulo De La Muerte.

Damn, several really good hooks.

So I did come up with an idea.

Can I have a character start with an impoverished claim or business that she sort of got handed to get her out of sight and mind of her family from Old World?

@AndyC, worldbuilding question: Has there been a way to find a middle ground between the Vaticine and Objectionists?

Like, a creed that says that Malkos is both Theus' human-born son and Theus in human form himself, and such?

Am I also fair to say that most people do not know how to read in the setting? I see a particular niche with a character that can’t fight but can runs books, read, and politic around.