Columbus's Book of Prophecies is one of Windrose's central story elements. In the game's alternate history, the book contains missing pages that describe a treasure capable of granting control over the seas. Multiple factions are searching for these pages, making them a driver of conflict throughout the narrative.
The real Book of Prophecies
The Libro de las Profecias is an actual historical document. Christopher Columbus compiled it between 1501 and 1504, during his final years. It is a collection of biblical passages and prophetic texts that Columbus used to justify his voyages as divinely ordained. The real book is a theological document, not a treasure map. Windrose takes the historical artifact and reimagines it as something far more powerful.
In-game role
In Windrose's alternate timeline, the Book of Prophecies contains hidden information that Columbus discovered or concealed. Certain pages were torn out or went missing, and these pages describe a treasure that could grant dominion over the oceans. The nature of this treasure, whether it is a physical object, a supernatural power, or something else, is part of the game's mystery.
The chain of events
The British East India Company came into possession of several of the missing pages. During an expedition, the Company's team uncovered the first fragment of the treasure described in the pages and attempted to ship it back to London. But the information leaked. Edward Teach heard about the cargo and ordered his lieutenant Israel Hands to intercept the ship. This chain of events sets the central conflict of the game in motion, connecting Columbus's historical document to the pirate war that engulfs the Caribbean.
Story function
The Book of Prophecies provides Windrose with a narrative throughline that connects the grounded pirate survival gameplay to the game's supernatural elements. It bridges the gap between gathering wood on a beach and confronting an undead pirate lord. The search for the missing pages gives players a reason to explore the wider archipelago and interact with multiple factions beyond just fighting Blackbeard's forces.