Last night our crew of three, @x-crowheart-x, @x-wolfstryder-x and myself started out on a brig, and what do we see whiles stocking our brig, the swirling dance of lights off in the distance. We had spawned at golden sands, yet we could see these wonderful lights all the way over in the far corner of Devils Roar. So we set sail right away, fighting the wind as we went, but making decent time.
Along the way, we spot a sloop that seemed to be heading that way at first, but gave up rather quickly. Then another brig off on the horrizon, clearly heading to claim the chest for themselves. It was a race, but they had better wind and were slightly ahead of us. Undeterred we raced to try and out sail them, but alas, it was not meant to be, their advantage of wind allowed them time to get to the chest and claim it. We arrived just as they were starting to set sail. Meanwhile, behind us, a galleon is coming to try and make their own claim as well.
We give chase and trade shots with the brig before the galleon catches up. The galleon full on plows into the other brig, yet their skilled crew manages to fend off the galleons efforts and saves their ship. We continue to chase, but the galleon decides to take us on now. We land several leathal blows to the galleon, killing some of their crew, crashing their main sail and in the end causing enough damage to sink them. All while still chasing the brig.
The brig crew were efficient and able to get to Marrow's Peak with just enough time to sell the chest before we could stop them. The brig crew decides they want a fight, so we give them one and in the end sink and kill them off. At this point, we decide to do the Devils Roar bilge rat adventure since were are here. (While the new relics look awesome, the actual quest still feels like more of the same thing wrapped in new clothes). While working on our quest, the colors swirl high once again, within the devils roar itself. With no one around we collect and sell the chest quickly.
We finish the quest, and are just about to head to galleons grave when once again, the swirling, glowing colors appear behind us, again in the devils roar, this time next to Marrows Peak. So once again, without a soul around, we collect and sell this chest, also selling the special relic stuff, but leaving the rest of what we had found on board, as we see a sloop off in the distance with an alliance flag. So we set sail to try and group up with this sloop.
As we get closer we are able to join alliances. They already have a small alliance going, but it appears this pirate is AFK, with their sails part of the way down, just sailing in a straight line. Leaving him be, we decide to do the ancient isle quest, since we are in the area. Our first stop is Cannon Cove, while at the island, another sloop makes it's way over. This time, while we are dispatching our skellies, this solo pirate comes over, and begins attacking. I don't believe he intended to hit us as he was trying to attack the skellies, but he did not stop swinging, so I dispatch him so that we can concentrate on the skellies. Dispatching them, we return to our ship to with skulls in hand. The other pirate spawns back, and we talk him into an alliance. Moving on to our next island at snake island, yet another sloop shows up. This one also has an alliance flag out, but is not acting quite right. So we are cautious, sure enough, as they get along side us, they let their cannons sing and switch their flag to a reaper flag. We circle around to get a better angle, and after a few short minutes we are able to dispatch their sloop to the deep and send their souls to the damned.
We set sail for our last island, plunder valley. And while to this point, we had quite the adventure so far, it was about to get even more epic. Before we make landfall at Plunder, we see not one, but two sets of swirling beauties in the sky, both north of our position. So, we set sail, heading for the closest one. As we set sail, we see a brig to our west, coming from golden sands, attempting to beat us to it, but we had the better wind, and the better angle. We get there and find the chest, and as we load up on our ship, the other brig catches up. They unleash some cannon fire, but miss. We circle around and head toward sanctuary to sell, believing the other brig would sail to the other swirl in the sky. But to our delight, they give chase to us. @x-wolfstryder-x is able to board their ship and drop anchor, giving us plenty of cushion to get to sanctuary and sell the chest. Still loading with a large amount of loot though, we continue sailing on to the next swirling cloud. Again, the brig gives chase, and again wolf is able to board them and drop their anchor.
However, we see another brig coming from Daggertooth on a direct line towards us. So once again, we quickly grab the chest and set sail. As we sail, we see our original pursuers try to give chase, the other brig coming from Daggertooth, and a third brig coming around lone cove. @x-crowheart-x cuts to port towards the brig that is coming from lone cove, as we try to cause some confusion between them and our two other pursuit ships. With two ships in direct line following us, and the third brig seemingly giving up, Wolf grabs a GPB and goes overboard. He misses the closest brig, but is able to get the one after that one. Sinking them quickly.
Still with one brig close behind us, we head to daggertooth. Where I jump off with he chest with Wolf to protect me, Crow continue to sail forth keeping out of range of the other brig. Sure enough, the other brig cannons some pirates to us, but a shade to late as I am able to deliver the chest seconds before they can reach us. They send me to the damned, while Wolf sticks around to return the favor upon them.
Both of us return to our ship and we set sail to plunder to complete our quest. After completing plunder, we find we still have one more place to visit. Lost gold fort. However, while finishing up at plunder, Crow sees another brig, seeming to sail to the other side of plunder. As we set sail to lost gold fort, we see them in plain site. Shortly after we make our landing the other brig sets sail, turning towards us, they give chase. We finish up at lost gold fort and collect our booty just as they get close.
Moving northeast, we decide to load our rowboat with the treasure. Wolf and I would drop off and sell at Galleon's Grave, while crow continues to sail away, hoping they give him chase. Wolf decides to try and cause some chaos and leaps overboard with a GPB. CONTACT, he gets them good, nearly sinking their ship. But causing enough damage that they decide to stop pursuing us. We sell off most of the booty we had collected, when we see the swirling cloud again. This time, it is down south of plunder, where we were just at. So we set sail once more.
Before we could get there, the cloud goes away. Tracking the chest on our map, we try to out race the brig to Golden Sands. Once again, we are not the only ones in pursuit of that chest, as another brig and a sloop are also trying to out sail the brig with the chest. They get to the island before us, but do not sell right away. The other brig was too close and they have to fend them off. After some back and forth, we sink the sloop (after they try to attack us) and we sink the other brig. Heading to the island, wolf and I try and steel the chest, but wolf and I get separated. While Wolf is tied up with one of their crew, the other two crew members try to make their way to the tavern. I Spot them and give chase, but as I try to attack the pirate holding the chest, his partner is able to stop me from behind. (I really do not like the knock back or pause that getting hit causes. Land one hit and the fight is generally over with). I lift a grog to them, as they were able to sell the chest.
All in all, what a fun night. Sunk many ships and sent many souls to the damned, without losing our ship once. We were able to collect and sell 4 chests, despite two of them being hotly contested.
Though I am not impressed with the relics quests, the relics are kind of cool. But what makes this update really fun is the reapers chest. My only worry is, we noticed that people seem to have gone back to the server hopping in order to find chests. Reminiscent of the days when you server hopped for forts. Though it is fun to have that engaging PvP, just like when fort server hopping was a thing. So, my hats off to Rare, though I do hope they find a way to mitigate server hopping, but man, what a fun night. It has been far too long since I was able to say that while playing SoT.
And in conclusion, we are back yee scurvy dogs, watch yer horizon's and if you do happen upon our crew, yee might want to think twice about taking us on....
