Sea of Broken Flags

In Sea of Broken Flags, there are no heroes - only survivors, captains, and liars. Empires fight with ink and treaties, pirates with iron and fire. Magic exists, but it whispers rather than roars, and those who rely on it too much tend to vanish beneath the waves. Magic Level: Low Magic (Subtle & Supportive) — magic is rare, restrained, and indirect. It enhances skill, luck, perception, or endurance rather than replacing human ability. True sorcery is feared and often tied to artifacts, curses, or the sea itself. Tone & Style: Grounded, brutal, political, and character-driven — similar to Black Sails. Victory comes from planning, alliances, intimidation, and reputation, not flashy spells. Technology: Golden Age of Piracy: brigs, sloops, frigates, galleons, cannons, pistols, muskets, grenades, navigational charts, sextants, primitive medicine No industrial tech. Everything depends on crew competence. Core Pillars of Play / Story: Personal progression Crew development Ship mastery Territorial control Reputation and legend

A lawless ocean region beyond full imperial control. Dozens of islands, colonial ports, pirate havens, and hidden anchorages compete for dominance. Freeport of Nassau A semi-lawless pirate republic. No king, no crown - only captains, votes, and deals made in taverns. Power shifts constantly. The Pirate Havens Lawless ports such as Nassau-like free towns. These settlements operate as fragile republics, governed by councils of captains, merchant interests, and fear. No standing law-only enforcement. Imperial Colonies Heavily fortified ports and plantation islands controlled by European empires. Wealthy, corrupt, and dependent on constant trade and slave labor. Open Trade Seas Vast shipping lanes connecting Europe, Africa, and the New World. The arteries of empire-and the hunting grounds of pirates. The Outer Waters Poorly charted regions filled with storms, reefs, and wrecks. Often associated with ghost stories and vanishing ships.

1. Humans are the only living people in the world. Cultural identity is shaped by origin, profession, and loyalty-not blood or race. -Sailors -Pirates -Slaves and freedmen -Merchants -Naval officers At sea, background matters less than competence. A former slave can become a captain. A noble-born officer can die nameless. 2. Spirits (Non-Playable) Ghosts, echoes, and restless dead exist only as narrative elements, not a race. They appear rarely: -bound to shipwrecks -tied to cursed treasure -lingering after betrayal or mass death Most sailors fear them, but many doubt they are real-until proven otherwise.

The Pirate Republic Struggle Pirate havens debate survival versus freedom. Some seek legitimacy; others believe compromise is death. Imperial Suppression Campaigns European crowns deploy elite admirals and hunter fleets to wipe piracy from the seas. Privateer Rivalries Legal pirates backed by nations clash with outlaw captains, creating shifting alliances and betrayals. Control of Ports and Islands Whoever controls food, repairs, and shelter controls the sea-temporarily. The Spread of Cursed Artifacts Whispers of unnatural objects surface among sailors, drawing fear, greed, and obsession.

Magic is extremely subtle and rare. It appears only as: -cursed objects -unnatural luck or misfortune -whispers, visions, or persistent dreams -ships that should not sail—but do Magic never grants open power. It bends probability, often with a terrible price. Those who seek it aggressively tend to disappear. Religion -Faith is pragmatic and superstitious. -Sailors pray before storms -Crews make offerings before voyages -No unified church governs the sea -Religion provides comfort, not miracles.

There is no known planar travel. However, certain places—deep trenches, mass graves, shipwreck fields-feel thin, as if something presses against reality. Spirits do not come from another plane so much as fail to leave this one. The sea itself acts as a boundary between worlds.

The Age of Discovery European powers expand into the New World. The Colonial Age Trade empires rise; slavery and resource extraction dominate. The Age of Privateers Governments legalize piracy during wartime. The Golden Age of Piracy Privateers are discarded. Pirates turn against the crowns. The Crownless Age The current era-pirates rule the sea, briefly.

1. Currency Gold coins, silver, Spanish pieces of eight, raw cargo. 2. Trade Goods -Sugar -Rum -Tobacco -Slaves -Weapons -Gunpowder 3. Economic Power -Control of ports -Access to repairs and supplies -Information networks -Loyal crews Gold is temporary. Ships and men are everything.

1. Pirate Law Each crew follows its own articles, but common rules exist: - captains can be challenged - loot is shared - betrayal is punished by death -Law exists only as long as force supports it. 2. Imperial Law Public, rigid, and merciless: -hangings -gibbets -mass executions Justice is meant to terrify, not reform. 3.View of Adventurers Adventurers are: -mercenaries -future captains -disposable tools -potential legends They are valued—but never trusted.

1. Human Threats - Pirate lords - Imperial admirals - Privateer captains - Slave traders - Informants and traitors 2. Supernatural Threats (Rare) - Ghost ships bound by curses - Possessed relics - The lingering dead tied to betrayal or massacre 3. The Greatest Enemy Time. Hunger. Disease. Fear. 4. Animals - Sharks - Big octopus - Kraken [Ultra Rare] - Mobidick [Ultra Rare]