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The Bilge Rats

Larinna is the latest representative of the Bilge Rats, a group of thrill-seekers on a quest to prove that the real pirate life involves danger, bravado and the ever-present possibility of an exciting death – which they do by dreaming up wild schemes to test the mettle of their fellow buccaneers. (Larinna’s predecessor Duke wanted to write this piece himself, but we tossed for it and I won, by tossing him all the way out of the door and into a pile of crates.)

When they’re not getting swept up in the drama of the day as Duke was liable to do, the Bilge Rats like to keep an ear to the ground for new and exciting developments on the seas. Then they’ll build a Voyage around that, creating challenges that bring pirates together in unusual ways. Take their debut event which tasked crews with locating and occupying the lofty Skeleton Thrones hidden across the Sea of Thieves, or the Reaper’s Run Voyages which encouraged pirates to complete dangerous journeys while marked as a target. If you’d like to see what they’re up to for yourself, you can find the Bilge Rats on any Outpost, generally hanging around in or near the tavern.

Even on days when the Bilge Rats don’t have any new tricks up their sleeves, they’ll still accept leftover loot from their past adventures, such as Ritual Skulls, Ashen Keys and Ashen Chests. Rather than gold, the Bilge Rats award Doubloons for completing their challenges and earning Commendations.

These Doubloons can then be used to purchase clothing, equipment and weapons in the Bilge Rats’ very own Black Market: a shop that offers variations on and additions to previously introduced sets, so you can add the finishing touches to a look you once started or try out a brand new one. Don’t worry about missing a set you’ve been waiting for – each time the Black Market stock is refreshed, older wares are shifted into the Black Market Archive where they’re available indefinitely, just without their introductory discount.

Doubloons can also be exchanged for a Letter of Recommendation, which proves that the Bilge Rats consider you a skilled pirate and automatically increases your reputation with whichever Trading Company the letter’s addressed to. What’s reputation good for, you ask? Hmm… I’ll leave that for Duke himself to explain once he’s sobered up.

By Nine-Cat Nura

I’m Nine-Cat Nura, writing to you from the Sea of Thieves. Why? I was promised a good amount of gold if I did, that’s why. Besides, the rest of my crew are ashore, handing in a couple of skulls to Madame Olive over at the—well, I’m getting ahead of myself.