Several factions control different parts of Windrose's alternate Caribbean. Their competing interests and alliances drive the game's story and create the political backdrop for the player's adventure.
The Brethren of the Coast
A pirate brotherhood that once unified the Caribbean's independent pirates under a common code. Blackbeard's betrayal shattered the Brethren. Surviving members are scattered across the archipelago, and reuniting them is part of the main storyline. The Brethren represent the game's "good pirate" faction, criminals with a code.
Blackbeard's undead fleet
The dominant military power in the game. Blackbeard's supernatural pact gives him an army that does not tire, fear, or need supplies. His forces patrol the seas and occupy strategic islands. Defeating his lieutenants and disrupting his supply of infernal power is how the player weakens his grip on the region.
British East India Company
A merchant-military organization that has come into possession of several missing pages from Columbus's Book of Prophecies. These pages describe a treasure that could grant control over the seas. The Company's motivations are mercantile rather than heroic, and their relationship with the player likely shifts between cooperation and competition depending on circumstances.
Tortuga's defenders
The civilian and military population of Tortuga, the last major settlement holding out against Blackbeard's undead. Tortuga has been reimagined as a besieged outpost rather than its historical role as a pirate haven. Helping Tortuga's defenders and strengthening the town's defenses is part of the game's progression.
Other power groups
Secret cults, rival pirate captains, and indigenous island communities are referenced in the game's lore. The full extent of faction interactions, reputation systems, and alliance mechanics will become clearer as the game progresses through Early Access.