SETTING

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Isla Empieza is your hub island in this game. It's where all characters appear when they arrive and somehow, no matter how far away you sail from it, you always seem to be able to get back to it within a day or two. There's only one town here, located in the northern section of the island. It's not very large, and there's not much to it, but you should be able to satisfy all your basic needs here.



The roads are a mix of dirt and old, cracked cobblestone, lined with various dwellings made of weather-beaten wood and stone. Many of the buildings have balconies, and from balcony to balcony sometimes you'll see lines hung, often with clothes draped over top. There's no electrical lighting here, but there are many gas lamps along the road and some candles in the windows.

You might find an assortment of animals lining the pathways, too, so don't be alarmed by that. Chickens and pigs roam free here, though be careful about assuming they don't belong to anyone. The locals here will turn on you quick if they find out you're a thief.

And speaking of the locals, you'll notice they mostly keep to themselves. They're civil enough if you are, and they'll help you get a room at the inn and even show you where the harbor is and allow you your pick of whatever ships they have available. But you'll find it difficult to form any real connections with them. You're a stranger, after all, and clearly not from their world. If you're here to chase down the Piedra Roja like the other pirates that sail the seas, then you'll surely have the Navy after you, as well. And the people here have no reason to get on the law's bad side.

Heading south from the town will take you to the cove where the shipyard and harbor are located. There's also a stretch of beach here with several long docks jutting away from it.

Traveling yet further south will take you to an uninhabited forest. Well...we think it's uninhabited. For some reason, the locals don't like to venture very far into it...



1: The Town





The center of the town is where you'll most likely arrive. There's an old fountain here, with a stone figure in the middle that was once a detailed carving of a beautiful woman with a long, sleek fishtail instead of legs. The sea winds have since beaten away many of the finer points of her features, and in many places she's chipped and cracked. The end of her tail seems to have broken off altogether, and overall the stone she's carved from has taken on a faintly greenish tint. It doesn't look as if the fountain even works anymore.

But of course, what's important here is the boulder she sits atop, and the words that are etched into it. Many of them are hard to read, but with a little effort you should be able to make out what it says:

Behold this ruby,
Centuries old.
Its power is great,
True depths untold.
What once was whole,
Now in parts 'tis shattered.
Having it all,
Aye, that's what matters.
Rebuild the gem
And whatever ye wish will be.
Whether wealth, good fortune,
Mayhap the chance to flee.
Strangers listen:
Take heed, take care.
Or be lost forever
To Davy Jones' lair.

If you ask the locals about it, they won't answer you. In fact, you might notice they tend to stay away from the fountain in general.

Despite that, this is still the town center, and you'll find several stalls lining the path in this area, each of them selling various things. Fruit, fish, dried meats, handmade jewelry, swords... This area is the market, and you'll also find shops in the buildings behind the stalls that sell clothes, weapons, and extra necessities for your ship.

Branching off on a northwest path away from the market is where you'll find the local inn. It's fairly large, with plenty of rooms to house anyone who needs a place to sleep for the night. The rooms are all upstairs, though. On the first floor there is instead a pub that is very popular with the locals. It gets rowdy at night, but the barkeep is a big, burly man who manages to keep things from getting out of hand with his glare alone. Remember that glare, because the landlady of the inn is this man's wife, and despite being married she is still...very...friendly. And doesn't seem to know the meaning of the words 'personal space'.

Across the way from the inn, down a back alley, there is a very strange little shop. It's easy to miss if you're not looking for it, and it's possible the locals don't even know it's there. This shop is called the Backwater Brig, and it's here that you'll be able to purchase certain items and any necessities from your home world. You won't be able to find everything here, but if there's something specific you need that you don't think this world will have, this is the place to check.

Continuing down the path the inn is on will bring you to a couple more taverns, some seedier than others, and at the very end of the road you'll find a hostel. If you're going to stay in town for more than a few nights, you'll probably want to go there. They'll give you a room for up to a week at a very fair price.

Heading east from the town center will take you to the residential quarter. This is where all the locals live, but they might think it suspicious if you wander this way.

The southwest path from the town center takes you in the direction of the beach.





2: Shipyard / Harbor

The beach stretches south for about two miles, and a good portion of it is taken up by the shipyard. The shipwrights here are well-known for their good work, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal than the prices they offer:

SHIP TYPE ( COST ): CREW SIZE

Sailboat ( $ ): 1-3
Ketch ( $$ ): 3-7
Caravel ( $$ ): 5-10
Brig Sloop ( $$$ ): 8-15
Galleon ( $$$$ ): 12-20
Frigate ( $$$$$ ) 18-25**

**There are currently no frigates available on Isla Empieza.

This is where you will get your ship.

Be sure to give her a good name, and take care of her. A ship that's treated well will in turn carry her passengers far, after all.





3: The Forest

Past the beach is a line of trees that provide some much needed shade on the hotter days of the year. However, should you decide to take a stroll in this direction, you'll find that the forest quickly thickens and the farther you go, the darker it seems to get.

There's obviously a reason the locals don't tread here. But what could it be?





4: Seaside Cave

The forest takes you right up to the ocean on the southern end of the island. The water isn't far from the town's edge in the north, and obviously setting sail from the harbor will take you to the sea in the east.

So what's in the west?

Follow the setting sun and you'll see it dip behind a rocky mountaintop, jutting quickly and suddenly out of the land and blocking your view of the sea in that direction. The cliffs there are steep, but they're not necessarily hiding anything. You can steer your ship that way and sail around the back of the island if you need to prove it to yourself. And you'll find just as many islands to explore in the western waters as you would the eastern.

But if you happen to glance back at the island, watching it shrink in the distance as your ship carries you away, you might, perhaps, notice a darkened hollow in the mountainside, half full of water from the waves continuously splashing up against it.

Curious...but probably nothing special. Just an empty cave, right?





People to Know:

Davy Jones - thepiratesdevil
The very reason you're even in this world. It was his powers that pulled you here and he's the one who sent you on this ridiculous quest for treasure. There are many myths and tales surrounding this legendary pirate, but there don't seem to be many who know any real details about him. What is it he seeks? Why does he want the Piedra Roja so badly?

Scurvey Dog & Meep - scurveydog
A mysterious helper (and her assistant) to strangers in this world. This ol' sea hag somehow has access to the journals. She turns up occasionally, unless the lot of you do something to piss her off. Not something you'll want to do often, because she's the only one providing any answers about this place. Choose your words wisely, though, usually it's only one question per week...

Miss Margie - backwaters
The shopkeeper of the Backwater Brig, a strange little shop that sells items from worlds other than this one. There's more to her than meets the eye, and she always seems to have gossip to share. Stop in and visit if you need to get some shopping done, but don't forget to poke around and see if she has any new rumors or news for you.

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