Acuerdos
The Acuerdos is a loose organisation of pirates in Ara. The view themselves as the only valid pirates and the only folks with the right to perform piracy upon the seas. Others can join or be destroyed.
Once you sign the Kerdos, you are a Kerdo for life unless you are killed, expelled, or buy your passage.
Structure
The Kerdos are run by the Pirate Council. The Council is chosen by the various loose factions that exist within the Kerdos. The de facto leader of the Council is sometimes referred to as the Pirate King (regardless of gender).
No Kerdo is restricted to any particular activity, but various captains (and crews) have preferred ways of operating. Over time, this has formed itself into semi-political factions, with the most influential in each voted to the Council. They’ll usually stay in place until they lose favour, die, or are killed – sometimes all at the same time.
No Kerdo is restricted to any particular activity, but various captains (and crews) have preferred ways of operating. Over time, this has formed itself into semi-political factions, with the most influential in each voted to the Council. They’ll usually stay in place until they lose favour, die, or are killed – sometimes all at the same time.
- Troopers – A group mostly focussed on policing the Accords and the waters around Kapuluga and the Spice Islands. Often somewhat ridiculed, as a retirement home for aging pirates, but it’s also an incubator for new talent and holds a lot of power as they essentially run Cala Picaro. The ‘Pirate King’ is usually the most influential in this faction.
- Looters – Pirates focussed on raiding other ships
- Booters – Pirates focussed on Smuggling and transport of illicit materials – formerly run by Rodrigo before he bought his passage
- ‘Crooters – Slavers and pirates focussed on capturing, transporting and selling people, rather than booty. This was a much more powerful faction
- Shooters - Magic users in the pirate community – the least monolithic of the factions, they provide magic users to all other factions
Culture
The Acuerdos were founded and built upon the Pirate Accords. As such, much of their culture derives from them. These accords are rigorously enforced, thought there is a massive culture of finding loopholes, cod-lawyering and going by the word, not the spirit.
II. No signatory shall every take upon themselves Letters of Marque, nor fly under the flag at the behest of state, monarch or sponsor which is not a signatory.
III. No non-signatory has the right to pirate in the waters claimed by a signatory and may be removed with prejudice.
IV. A Signatory of the Accords is bound forever, save in Death, Expulsion (see IXa,ii) or Purchase of Passage (see VI).
V. All who wish to be the considered Company of a ship must sign the Accords in the presence of the Captain of said ship, and be entered into the records at the next time that Captain returns to Accorded Grounds. Any sentient being may sign the Accords upon:
a. Presentation to the Council, with their own ship
b. Capture or discovery by an Accorded ship
c. Application to an Accorded Captain
VI. Should a signatory wish to quit the Accords, and thus the practice of Piracy, they shall buy their passage with Gold, Jewels, Silver, items of arcana or items of practical value (such as ships) to the value of no less that ten percent of their total recorded prizes. They are recorded as ‘Removed through Purchase’ and their records expunged. They shall be unmolested by signatories unless they should continue to pursue Piracy, or breech Loyalties.
VII. The Lands and Waters of Kapuluga are the home of the Accords and are designate Accorded Ground. They are not the territories of any individual, state, captain or ship. Piracy shall not be conducted in these waters, though non-signatories may be challenged and levied for passage. Other areas may be designated Accorded Ground at the decision of the Council.
VIII. As the hull of a ship, these Accords hold fast so long as they are followed and enforced. It is the duty of all levels of Loyalty to enforce the Accords. Dereliction from enforcement shall itself be held as breach. Any breaches may trigger Reprisals.
IX. Reprisals – Reprisals may be applied as seen fit and in accordance with the rules set out in the Accords and at the judgement of the Presiding Officer in the case of a trial. The Presiding Officer shall be, in order of precedence, The Council, a member of the Council and in their absence, the highest ranking Captain (in case of debate, the highest ranking captain is defined as Captain of number of ships, size of ship(s), number of crew and current hoard in that order). In the heat of battle, the role of the Presiding Officer is the highest ranking individual signatory present. The Reprisal may be commuted to a lower grade at the behest of Presiding Officer, particularly in the case of a mitigating circumstance.
a. Recognised Reprisals include, but are not exclusive to:
i. Death – for greatest breaches, including risk to the Accords and Breaches of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Loyalties, if not superceded by a requirement of a higher loyalty.
ii. Expulsion from the Accords – Signatories are referred to as ‘removed in disgrace’. They are not afforded the protection from molestation the purchase of passage confers
iii. Marooning – a marooned signatory shall be left on a landmass upon which water is visible upon all sides, with one month’s scant provision, one bottle of water, one bottle of rum and a dagger or similar basic weapon for self-defence or self-annihilation
iv. Demotion – A disgraceful reduction in rank or removal of ship
v. Amputation – For severe offences including larceny within the waters of the Accords, or failure to provision crew or breaches of the lower loyalties
vi. Keel-hauling
vii. Lashes
viii. Cessation of rations
ix. Increase of duties
X. Every signatory's quarrels that derive not from a breach of the Accords are to be ended on shore or designated Accords grounds, at sword or choice of weapon, as chosen by offended party. The quarter-master of the ship, when the parties will not come to any reconciliation, accompanies them on shore with what assistance he thinks proper, and turns the disputant back to back, at so many paces distance; at the word of command, they turn and duel and then he is declared the victor who draws the first blood.
XI. Any signatory that feels they have the claim of death upon another must present the Black Spot before the Accorded duel, as described in the previous article
XII. Should the Council wish to rule directly on an alleged breach of the Accords, they are empowered to place said individual, and in the case of a Captain, their ship and crew, ‘Under the Hook’ for a bounty upon their return.
XIII. Should the Council find any signatory found to be in breach of the Accords and sentence them to death, they are empowered to place said signatory, and in the case of a Captain, their ship and crew, ‘Under the Black Hook’ for a bounty upon their proven demise.
XIV. The lands and waters of the Accords shall be designated as aboard ship for the exercise of these rules, except where a stated exemption applies.
XV. Every signatory shall obey civil Command; every signatory shall obey their commander in all respects, as if the ship was their own, and as if they received monthly wages.
XVI. Each signatory aboard ship has a vote in affairs of moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity (not an uncommon thing among them) makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
XVII. A Captain is obliged to set a fair rate of recompense for their crew. A Captain may set the terms upon which their crew operate, be these no purchase, no pay, a set salary or alternative arrangement.
XVIII. The standard shares of prize are Captain and Quartermaster to receive two shares of a prize: the master, boatswain, and master fighter, one share and a half, and other officers one and quarter, unless some other arrangement is agreed by full consent of the crew before sail.
XIX. Compensation is provided the Captain for the use of their ship, and the salary of the carpenter, or shipwright, who mended, careened, and rigged the vessel (the latter usually about 150 pieces of gold). A sum for provisions and victuals is specified, usually 200 pieces of gold. A salary and compensation is specified for the surgeon and his medicine chest, usually 25 pieces of gold.
XX. A standard compensation is provided for maimed and mutilated buccaneers, who have come to their wounds outside of reprisals or self-infliction.
a. For the loss of a right arm, shall be six hundred pieces of gold;
b. For the loss of a left arm five hundred pieces of gold
c. For a right leg five hundred pieces of gold;
d. For the left leg four hundred pieces of eight
e. For an eye one hundred pieces of gold
f. For a finger of the hand the same reward as for the eye.
XXI. Them that sees a Sail first, shall have the choice of the best mundane Small Arm aboard of her.
XXII. If any Gold, Jewels, Silver, items of arcana &c. be found on Board of any Prize or Prizes to the value of 5 silvers & the finder do not deliver it to the Quarter Master in the space of 24 hours he shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority shall think fit.
XXIII. Any signatory who defrauds another of the Accords to the value of a 5 Silvers in plate, jewels, arcana or money, marooning is acceptable punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, slitting the ears and nose of them that is guilty, and setting them on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where they was sure to encounter hardships.
XXIV. No person to game at cards or dice for money upon Accorded grounds or aboard ship.
XXV. The lights and candles to be put out at eight o'clock at night: if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open deck.
XXVI. That signatory shall not keep their Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect their Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company shall think fit.
XXVII. Any signatory that offers to meddle with, or does take the body of another, signatory or not, without their Consent in Accorded spaces, shall suffer present Death.
XXVIII. No signatory is to carry to sea, openly or disguised, a non-signatory for the purpose of lying with them. Any aboard ship must either pay their way as a passenger or as crew.
XXIX. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, is to be punished with death or marooning.
XXX. Them that shall be guilty of Drunkenness in time of Engagement shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority of the Company shall think fit.
XXXI. If any time another Marooner is encountered, they be given the opportunity to re-sign their Articles with the Captain of the discovering ship or shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
XXXII. Them that shall strike another whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive forty stripes on the bare back.
XXXIII. Them that shall smoke in the Hold, without a Cap to their Pipe, conjure fire or sparks, or carry a Candle lighted without a safety lantern, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the former Article.
XXXIV. No signatory shall go on shore till the ship is off the ground, and in readiness to put to sea.
XXXV. Good Quarters to be given when Craved.
XXXVI. A request for Parley shall always be considered and always granted if the requestor is also a signatory.
The Pirate Accords
I. The First Loyalty of a Signatory is to the Accords. The Second Loyalty of a signatory is to the Council. The Third Loyalty of a Signatory is to their ship. The Fourth Loyalty of a signatory is to their Captain. The Fifth Loyalty is to their shipmates and other signatories. The Sixth Loyalty is to themselves. A signatory is beholden to no other Loyalties.II. No signatory shall every take upon themselves Letters of Marque, nor fly under the flag at the behest of state, monarch or sponsor which is not a signatory.
III. No non-signatory has the right to pirate in the waters claimed by a signatory and may be removed with prejudice.
IV. A Signatory of the Accords is bound forever, save in Death, Expulsion (see IXa,ii) or Purchase of Passage (see VI).
V. All who wish to be the considered Company of a ship must sign the Accords in the presence of the Captain of said ship, and be entered into the records at the next time that Captain returns to Accorded Grounds. Any sentient being may sign the Accords upon:
a. Presentation to the Council, with their own ship
b. Capture or discovery by an Accorded ship
c. Application to an Accorded Captain
VI. Should a signatory wish to quit the Accords, and thus the practice of Piracy, they shall buy their passage with Gold, Jewels, Silver, items of arcana or items of practical value (such as ships) to the value of no less that ten percent of their total recorded prizes. They are recorded as ‘Removed through Purchase’ and their records expunged. They shall be unmolested by signatories unless they should continue to pursue Piracy, or breech Loyalties.
VII. The Lands and Waters of Kapuluga are the home of the Accords and are designate Accorded Ground. They are not the territories of any individual, state, captain or ship. Piracy shall not be conducted in these waters, though non-signatories may be challenged and levied for passage. Other areas may be designated Accorded Ground at the decision of the Council.
VIII. As the hull of a ship, these Accords hold fast so long as they are followed and enforced. It is the duty of all levels of Loyalty to enforce the Accords. Dereliction from enforcement shall itself be held as breach. Any breaches may trigger Reprisals.
IX. Reprisals – Reprisals may be applied as seen fit and in accordance with the rules set out in the Accords and at the judgement of the Presiding Officer in the case of a trial. The Presiding Officer shall be, in order of precedence, The Council, a member of the Council and in their absence, the highest ranking Captain (in case of debate, the highest ranking captain is defined as Captain of number of ships, size of ship(s), number of crew and current hoard in that order). In the heat of battle, the role of the Presiding Officer is the highest ranking individual signatory present. The Reprisal may be commuted to a lower grade at the behest of Presiding Officer, particularly in the case of a mitigating circumstance.
a. Recognised Reprisals include, but are not exclusive to:
i. Death – for greatest breaches, including risk to the Accords and Breaches of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Loyalties, if not superceded by a requirement of a higher loyalty.
ii. Expulsion from the Accords – Signatories are referred to as ‘removed in disgrace’. They are not afforded the protection from molestation the purchase of passage confers
iii. Marooning – a marooned signatory shall be left on a landmass upon which water is visible upon all sides, with one month’s scant provision, one bottle of water, one bottle of rum and a dagger or similar basic weapon for self-defence or self-annihilation
iv. Demotion – A disgraceful reduction in rank or removal of ship
v. Amputation – For severe offences including larceny within the waters of the Accords, or failure to provision crew or breaches of the lower loyalties
vi. Keel-hauling
vii. Lashes
viii. Cessation of rations
ix. Increase of duties
X. Every signatory's quarrels that derive not from a breach of the Accords are to be ended on shore or designated Accords grounds, at sword or choice of weapon, as chosen by offended party. The quarter-master of the ship, when the parties will not come to any reconciliation, accompanies them on shore with what assistance he thinks proper, and turns the disputant back to back, at so many paces distance; at the word of command, they turn and duel and then he is declared the victor who draws the first blood.
XI. Any signatory that feels they have the claim of death upon another must present the Black Spot before the Accorded duel, as described in the previous article
XII. Should the Council wish to rule directly on an alleged breach of the Accords, they are empowered to place said individual, and in the case of a Captain, their ship and crew, ‘Under the Hook’ for a bounty upon their return.
XIII. Should the Council find any signatory found to be in breach of the Accords and sentence them to death, they are empowered to place said signatory, and in the case of a Captain, their ship and crew, ‘Under the Black Hook’ for a bounty upon their proven demise.
XIV. The lands and waters of the Accords shall be designated as aboard ship for the exercise of these rules, except where a stated exemption applies.
XV. Every signatory shall obey civil Command; every signatory shall obey their commander in all respects, as if the ship was their own, and as if they received monthly wages.
XVI. Each signatory aboard ship has a vote in affairs of moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity (not an uncommon thing among them) makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
XVII. A Captain is obliged to set a fair rate of recompense for their crew. A Captain may set the terms upon which their crew operate, be these no purchase, no pay, a set salary or alternative arrangement.
XVIII. The standard shares of prize are Captain and Quartermaster to receive two shares of a prize: the master, boatswain, and master fighter, one share and a half, and other officers one and quarter, unless some other arrangement is agreed by full consent of the crew before sail.
XIX. Compensation is provided the Captain for the use of their ship, and the salary of the carpenter, or shipwright, who mended, careened, and rigged the vessel (the latter usually about 150 pieces of gold). A sum for provisions and victuals is specified, usually 200 pieces of gold. A salary and compensation is specified for the surgeon and his medicine chest, usually 25 pieces of gold.
XX. A standard compensation is provided for maimed and mutilated buccaneers, who have come to their wounds outside of reprisals or self-infliction.
a. For the loss of a right arm, shall be six hundred pieces of gold;
b. For the loss of a left arm five hundred pieces of gold
c. For a right leg five hundred pieces of gold;
d. For the left leg four hundred pieces of eight
e. For an eye one hundred pieces of gold
f. For a finger of the hand the same reward as for the eye.
XXI. Them that sees a Sail first, shall have the choice of the best mundane Small Arm aboard of her.
XXII. If any Gold, Jewels, Silver, items of arcana &c. be found on Board of any Prize or Prizes to the value of 5 silvers & the finder do not deliver it to the Quarter Master in the space of 24 hours he shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority shall think fit.
XXIII. Any signatory who defrauds another of the Accords to the value of a 5 Silvers in plate, jewels, arcana or money, marooning is acceptable punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, slitting the ears and nose of them that is guilty, and setting them on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where they was sure to encounter hardships.
XXIV. No person to game at cards or dice for money upon Accorded grounds or aboard ship.
XXV. The lights and candles to be put out at eight o'clock at night: if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open deck.
XXVI. That signatory shall not keep their Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect their Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company shall think fit.
XXVII. Any signatory that offers to meddle with, or does take the body of another, signatory or not, without their Consent in Accorded spaces, shall suffer present Death.
XXVIII. No signatory is to carry to sea, openly or disguised, a non-signatory for the purpose of lying with them. Any aboard ship must either pay their way as a passenger or as crew.
XXIX. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, is to be punished with death or marooning.
XXX. Them that shall be guilty of Drunkenness in time of Engagement shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority of the Company shall think fit.
XXXI. If any time another Marooner is encountered, they be given the opportunity to re-sign their Articles with the Captain of the discovering ship or shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
XXXII. Them that shall strike another whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive forty stripes on the bare back.
XXXIII. Them that shall smoke in the Hold, without a Cap to their Pipe, conjure fire or sparks, or carry a Candle lighted without a safety lantern, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the former Article.
XXXIV. No signatory shall go on shore till the ship is off the ground, and in readiness to put to sea.
XXXV. Good Quarters to be given when Craved.
XXXVI. A request for Parley shall always be considered and always granted if the requestor is also a signatory.
Type
Guild, Privateers
Capital
Alternative Names
Kerdos
Location
Controlled Territories
Comments