Blackbeard (Edward Teach) is the main antagonist of Windrose. In the game's alternate history, he has forged a pact with the devil and now commands an army of the undead. He is directly responsible for the player character's downfall at the start of the game.
Backstory
Before his supernatural transformation, Blackbeard was already a feared pirate. He was a member of the Brethren of the Coast, a loose pirate brotherhood. He betrayed the Brethren by stealing a large sum of gold that was meant for Tortuga, using the stolen wealth to build his own crew and fleet.
At some point, he made a deal with infernal powers. The specifics of the pact are part of the game's story, but the result is clear: Blackbeard gained the ability to raise and command the dead, making his forces effectively limitless.
Undead fleet
Blackbeard's fleet is crewed by the risen dead. These undead sailors fight on land and sea, serving as both common enemies and elite opponents throughout the game. His ships roam the archipelago, making naval travel dangerous even in supposedly safe waters.
Defeat of the British Navy
One of Blackbeard's most significant acts was the destruction of the British Navy. With conventional military power eliminated, there is no organized force capable of opposing him. This power vacuum is why Tortuga has become the last holdout and why the player's survival and resistance matter.
Role in the story
The game opens with Blackbeard ambushing and defeating the player character. From that point, building up enough strength to challenge him again becomes the long-term narrative arc. The journey involves uniting remnants of the Brethren, uncovering the secrets of Columbus's Book of Prophecies, and finding a way to counter his supernatural power.