THE WORLD

The cobblestone heart of Port Royal. The grand coral fountain. The bulletin board covered in wanted posters. The sailors, merchants, animals, and constables going about their day — and paying very close attention to new arrivals.

Where sailors drink their wages, captains make deals they'll regret, and at least two people are running a card game they've definitely rigged. The best place to hear rumors and the worst place to make enemies.

The lifeblood of Port Royal — where ships arrive loaded with cargo and leave loaded with ambition. Naval ships at anchor. Merchant vessels being loaded. And somewhere, a boat that doesn't appear on any manifest.

Spices from the East Indies, silk from Cathay, silver from Spanish mines, and anything else someone needed badly enough to get it here. Also: information. You can buy most things in the Market District. The interesting things require more than gold.

The legitimate face of maritime commerce and the illegitimate heart of half of Port Royal's dealings. Captains register their ships here, collect Letters of Marque, and conduct business they'd rather the Admiral didn't hear about.

Admiral Pemberton's domain. Thirty-two cannon pointed at the harbor entrance. The cells below are full of men who made poor choices. The offices above are full of men making poor choices right now.

Blackwater Jack's ghost ship. Location changes nightly. Approaches only when it chooses to be approached. The most challenging zone in the game, and the key to the main storyline's resolution. Not for new players. Not for the faint-hearted. Worth every risk.

The Brotherhood of the Coast's informal capital. No laws, no navy patrols, no polite company. The best place to hire crew, fence stolen cargo, and hear what the pirates are planning next. Also the best place to get robbed by people who are very good at it.

Mambo Celestine's territory. Where the Voodoo Circle conducts its rites and the Loa are closest to the surface world. Strange things happen in the swamps after dark. Strange things happen in the swamps before dark, too.

The deep water between the islands, where Spanish treasure fleets run and pirates hunt them. Where sea serpents make shipping routes unpredictable. Where the Loa's influence is strongest and the horizon hides more than it reveals.