I shot my last megalodon and collected my doubloons. Then with great haste I travel to the closest outpost and turn in the gathered treasure.
I am so excited! I go and talk to Duke, yes. I rub my hands excitedly and start purchasing reputations, a little for the Hoarders, a little more for the Order and with a mad glee a ton towards the Alliance.
Yes, I feel the rush as those around me take notice of my new status with the different groups. I saunter to the Mysterious Stranger. He introduces himself as George. He looks me up and down and says, "Your reputation is low as you arrive, my first goal's set all companies to five." I glance at him and proclaim, "But I'm .... fifty, " I shuffle to my letters of recommendation and show him a stack for the Hoarders, "See, and then there's this." A log is shown to George. He looks on nonplussed. "But, but," I sputter. "And I have these!" George is shown another stack of letters of recommendation, this time for the Order. "And these!" Liberte's voice raises, "And these!" She shuffles some recommendations for the Alliance, "Seeeeee. I have these! What you mean I have to be five! I ..." George just stairs at the raving pirate in front of him. Not saying a word. Then finally he says, "Good luck on your next voyage." I squint at him, "Riiiiight. I'll go somewhere else then!"
Liberte turns and stomps off muttering something about five and what does he mean?! I push past any patrons either exiting or entering the tavern and stalk off towards the docks. Coming to a quick stop the woman screams, "Where's my sloop!"
Behind her, Liberte hears a mad gufaw, "Lass, " Sue starts but is interrupted. "What is it Sue, tell me?" She points a finger towards where her sloop was anchored. "It was right there." Sue rolls her eyes and continues, "Well lass, after your run in with the megalodon, and you was turnin' in your loot from it...Well. " Liberte turns and stomps to Sue, "Well. What?!" Sue crosses her burly arms across her bossom and quietly counts, "Pirate Legends, what a bunch of sl....Waaaaaaiiiit." Sue tilts her head and looks at Liberte. She removes herself from her little shop and resumes eyeing Liberte. "I...What is this?" Sue pauses, standing right in front of the dumbfounded pirate, "You're no Pirate Legend."
Liberte pulls out those letters of recommendation for the different companies and says, "I have the letters right here, Sue. Right. " The letters flap in the wind, waved right under shipwright's nose, then with a quick hand she stills Liberte's waving hand, "Lemme see you jackhole." Liberte freezes to let Sue look at the letters. The other woman rubs her chin, "Yes, those are real letters, not forgeries. But....I don't understand. What did George say to you when you spoke to him." Liberte snorts, "Something about me bein' five in all the companies, and good sailin'."
Sue releases Liberte's hand, "I see." Liberte's eyes bug out, "What do you see?!" She returns to her post, behind the counter of her workshop. "Those letters are real enough, but....You failed to pay the requisite gold for yer promotions." Liberte nearly faints, "I what?!" Sue repeats, "I said, you didn't pay the requisite gold to get yer promotions with the companies."
Liberte begins pacing, "I did so, I was talking to ...Mmmm, Horace, I think it was and I gave him some gold for promotions. Two I think." Sue laughs, "Right, but you be needin' to buy more. It's a thing." Liberte snorts, "It's a thing. Those ... I... But... Reallly?" And with a bang of the hammer Sue simply replies, "Really. Go talk to the companies and get yer promotions then go talk to George."
Liberte stops pacing, "I'm going to another Outpost. George is a pimple on the wart of destiny." Sue laughs, "Right. Soooo, I see a mermaid lookin' for ya. You might want to get yer sloop if ya want to do that."
And with a flourish Liberte heads to the mermaid, and her sloop.
Editor notes - I started this game on or about 10/13/2018. My promotions are 2/10, 0/10, and 0/10. Athena is level 4.75ish. But, my levels are 50/50/50/4.75ish. So that's why Liberte, that's me, is the Pirate Legend that, Isn't.