The Goldcoves & The Leviathan’s Pact
Long ago, before ships peppered the horizon, the mighty Leviathans ruled the seas; ancient guardians who held storms and tides in a delicate balance. In a time-before-time known as the Stillwater Era, ancient sages approached the Leviathans with respect and humility, ultimately forging the Leviathan’s Pact: a solemn agreement to preserve harmony between invention, nature, and freedom. The seas calmed. Islands settled. And peace reigned amongst the pirate nations.
That fragile balance fractured when ambition awoke in the hearts of men. Towers of arcane cogwork and runic mystery hummed to life, while living vessels were grown from coral and bone and echoed with chaotic rituals. The great Leviathan's Pact, which had been held so strongly by their ancestors, had now been splintered by the pirates' hubris. From the shattered calm arose three factions: the Iron Corsairs, masters of machine and rune; the Sea Wolves, singers and sculptors of wild magics; and the Black Blades, rogue storytellers and opportunists refusing any master. Their conflicting visions for the future of their world tug at the sea itself, summoning echoes of the Leviathans, stirring ancient monsters, and reshaping the tides of war.
Now, the Goldcoves stand on the cusp of a new age. Hidden bays glitter with treasure and danger. Rune-charged towers dot the horizon. Brave wanderers who find themselves newly adrift in the Goldcoves set out on epic adventures to earn renown, empower their runebooks, and ascend as true Pirate Lords. Every captured tower, defeated scion, and doubloon earned brings each pirate closer to rekindling, or forever shattering, the old Leviathan's Pact, forging their own legacy in the story of the Goldcoves.
Sea Wolves
The Sea Wolves hail from Splinterhaven, built of living wood, bone, and coral, a true echo of the ocean’s primal rhythms. Led by Grendel Stormchaser, they believe the sea must be heard, not bent. Their living-wood ships, grown and shaped by tidesong rituals, make them natural symbionts of the waves. As pirates fight alongside Sea Wolves, they join in war chants by the towers, harness the power of Leviathan Scions, and commune with their ships via wild sea magic.
Iron Corsairs
In contrast, the Iron Corsairs rule from Ironreef, a city forged in steel and arcane cogwork. Under Balthazar Redhand, they push the boundaries of invention, believing in mastery over the oceans through magic and engineering. Their rune-powered vessels blaze through the seas, capturing towers to channel ancient leylines and accelerate their quest to reshape the Leviathan's Pact. Pirates aligned with the Iron Corsairs master mechanically complex vessels, reinforce towers with modern magic, and find clever ways to capture the latent runes of the Leviathan Scions.
Black Blades
The Black Blades, led by Anansi Bloodmoon, sail the fine line between order and chaos as truly free agents in the endless faction wars. They drift between Splinterhaven and Ironreef, offering contracts and knowledge to both sides for a price. Players who seek them out may unlock hidden secrets that have been kept buried away for eons, or may find themselves at bladepoint on the wrong end of a bargain!
The Goldcoves
The Goldcoves lie divided by fate and steel. On one side, the ancient timber walls of Splinterhaven, stronghold of the Sea Wolves; on the other, the gear‑forged battlements of Ironreef, home to the Iron Corsairs. Between them lie six rune‑charged towers, each a fulcrum of the Leviathan's Pact. Pirates from both factions vie in eternal combat to capture those towers and tip the balance of the sea in their faction's favor.
The central expanse of the Goldcoves is home to a deep abyss, from which infrequently emerge Leviathan Scions. These great beings, stirred by the aura of battle, rise to test the courage of any who lay siege to the towers.
Twin volanoes loom silently at the poles of the Goldcoves, two witnesses to the eternal conflict. Mountain ridges crisscross the sea's spine, and old giant heroes lay petrified in state, now serving as island habitats for the Goldcoves' many wild creatures who guard the myriad of treasures hidden away.
The Scions
The Scions are the offspring of the ancient Leviathans; powerful, primal beings awakened by the tension of the Leviathan’s Pact. These majestic creatures rise from the abyss in cyclical storms, drawn toward the rune-charged towers where conflict rages. Though significantly less colossal than their progenitors, each Scion brings ancient might and elemental fury, challenging captains to prove their worth in sea-shaking battles that shape your legacy in the Goldcoves.
The Wilds
The Wilds encompass the untamed and unpredictable dangers beyond faction lines. Along the fringes, skeleton raiders, venomous snakes, and other oddball remnants of past pirate crews croak their challenges on forgotten shores. Tide-worn golems, constructed from living coral and starforged stone, roam the heart of the Goldcoves, silent guardians of long-lost lore and formidable opponents to any who wander too carelessly.
Runes
Runes are echoes of the Leviathan’s Pact. These fragments of ancient power are discovered amongst sunken towers, petrified guardians, and slain Scions. Pirates collect and inscribe these runes into their runebooks, crafting unique combinations of power that amplify ship systems, weapons, or crew abilities. Each runebook has limited slots, and swapping runes will entirely change your tactical approach. Pirates commonly enhance cannon range, improve repair speed, or add unique elemental modifiers to their adventures.
Talents
Talents, by contrast, are not learned, but awakened. Deep within each pirate lies dormant Leviathan energy, a spark of ancient magic lying in wait. As pirates level up, fight Scions, and master tower sieges, they unlock their own latent powers, unleashing their full potential as either Demolitionist, Tactician, or Tinker to turn the tides of battle.
Titles
When a Pirate first sets foot in the Goldcoves, they carry no name but “Recruit.” It is only through deeds of valor, such as raising flags atop rune-charged towers, standing firm against Leviathan Scions, or ferrying precious doubloons hard-won on the warfront that the sea begins to recognize each individual. Each elevated title fosters whispers among sailors, elevating captains from faceless marauders to figures of legend. With every battle and bounty, the sea’s ancient magic responds, bestowing upon these captains new titles, until at last, the chosen few ascend mythical ranks to rule them all.
Reputation
Each captain’s name is forged not by titles, but by action, and, in particular, by how sharply those actions strike the tides. From the first cannon shot to each daring doubloon run, every skillful maneuver builds a reputation that echoes across the Goldcovers. Mariners who consistently perform at the top of their craft earn whispers in taverns and warnings from foes on the waves. In this world, your reputation is your story, earned only by true mastery and celebrated in song on every successful voyage.
