Jacob Brigandine

## ***Early Life and Career***

Jacob Brigandine was the Governor of the East Baatar Trading Company. Born in 1588 A.T.F and raised in a prosperous merchant family in Bardia, Jacob Brigandine joined the East Baatar Trading Company after a fight with his father in 1604 A.T.F. For many years he faithfully served the Company, eventually becoming the Director of a subsidiary company called West Stormbring Imports and Exports. From his post in Baatar, he organized a search for the mythical island of ''Okerma'', hoping to find its legendary treasure. However, the quest to locate Okerma was unsuccessful due to Jacob being betrayed by Captain Weldt Berringer, a man he trusted enough to place him in charge of his own ship, the merchantman Wicked Wench. Not only did Berringer cause Jacobs quest to locate Okerma to fail, but he also liberated a cargo of slaves which Brigandine's patron Lord Penwallow needed for his plantation in the Ketheltiki. Since Berringer's act ruined Jacobs chance to join the Bardian nobility, Brigandine ordered his men to burn the Wench and personally branded Berringer as a pirate.

Though his quest for a nobles title was delayed, Brigandine nonetheless continued to work for the Company. Some years after the burning of the Wicked Wench, Brigandine was granted the title of Lord from a Bardian King, and eventually became the Company's governor. As a duly appointed representative of King Joje II, he led the Company's expansion in the Kethelibbean, taking control over Port Rum with the blessing of the Crown, turning it into his base of operations. Mean-spirited and arrogant, Brigandine was rarely seen without his ruthless enforcer, Luka Mercier. With the large East Baatar Trading Company fleet and an army of mercenaries under his command, Lord Brigandine made it his goal to forever annihilate piracy from the world.

As times changed on the high seas, freedom-loving buccaneers like Weldt Berringer were soon threatened with extinction. Meanwhile, Lord Brigandine set his sights on retrieving the fabled Rich Man's Chest; whoever possessed the Chest controls the seas. Brigandine intended to use this chest to build up his Company to something greater than it already was, and when he finally retrieved the chest, he was attacked by Barnes 'Crazy' Barclay's flagship, which destroyed his 40-gun Man'o'War. Brigandine's ship was devastated, Brigandines ship in near ruin was boarded by Barclay - Brigandine ordered his men to surrender, stating ''They are too strong!''.

Barclay was known as the Pirate who defeated Weldt Berringer, and also known for being unpredictable earning his nickname 'Crazy' . Barnes spared Brigandine's life and all of his soldiers, and Lord Jacob Brigandine started a new chapter in his life. After being spared, Barnes made an unusual move and recruited Jacob. After serving for nearly a year in Barclays Armada, Barclay tasked him with managing his Merchant Empire in Reichland.

## ***Arrival in Reichland and Sponsoring of The Reichlandian Republic***

After being dispatched by Barclay to manage his realm, he put his trusted enforcer Luka Mercier in charge of the the Spiced Empires fleets. Although Brigandine was assigned to manage Barclays realm, some of the admirals who previously served under Barclay refused to bend the knee to Jacob. Jacob was furious and upon realizing many of these admirals were once ex-pirates Jacob ordered Luka to hunt them down. By 1622 A.T.F any who resisted Jacob were forced to submit or were killed by Luka Mercier. The Major Merchant Companies under The Spiced Empire didn't mirror the actions that some of the admiralty did, and both Krahmen Vernshina of Nordwind and Frederick Von Siegward of The Bravo Trading Company bent the knee without issue.

Barnes Barclay was informed that his stand in had slaughtered several of his prominent admirals for disobedience. Instead of punishing Jacob, Barnes was pleased that he had found a competent and ruthless administrator. Barnes dispatched several more fleets to replenish the fleets lost from the minor infighting, and sent several thousand Bardian Mercenaries for whatever future campaigns Jacob wished to endure. During these minor conflicts Jacob was negotiating with Lux Voltaire, an ambassador of his fathers trading company. Jacob had not only been given command of a Mercantile Empire but was also the sole occupier of the only route trade ships could take to reach Reichland safely. Jacob and Lux Voltaire eventually brokered a deal with the terms being, Lux pledged that the Reichlandian Branch of The Eastern Franikan Trading Company and the assets sent too it would be willing to join the Spiced Empire, and as compensation for the remainder of the company being unable to take this pledge the tariff would be raised on the Eastern Franikan Trading Company's Reichlandian Branch to 20%. **Jacob Brigandine** accepted and on March the 4th 1623 A.T.F the treaty was ratified.

During the next 4 years Jacob quietly managed his realm, and things progressed smoothly as Luka Mercier was sure to keep anyone in line. In-between the years Jacob had become friends with Lux Voltaire oftentimes going out of his way to help his friend when needed. In early 1627 A.T.F Jacob Brigandine was approached by a Chinikan Noble by the name of Tokuda Naro. Tokuda Naro explained that he was sent by an organization that worked closely with the Duvans, and that a book of great power had fallen into the wrong hands. Tokuda requested that Jacob loan him some funds and manpower, and in return the Duvans would be willing to repay him with a powerful Duvanian Steamship. Jacob agreed and loaned him a large sum of gold coins, and dispatched Lux Voltaire to assist. Within the year Tokuda succeeded in his quest and had honored his word to Jacob, and presented him with a Duvanian Steamship.

7 Years later Tokuda was still in Reichland on his own volition. Tokuda once again approached Jacob Brigandine with an offer, Tokuda and Lux Voltaire had begun laying the foundations for a unified Reichland. Reichlands major powers were weak, the Yuraks only possessed one large Armada and enough field armies to defend the Capitol. While in the East the Eastern Sovereign Alliance continued to stagnate and decay. Tokuda dispatched Lux Voltaire to negotiate on his behalf, Lux offered Jacobs realm full autonomy and would also pay a 40% tariff for all trade going through the Southern Passage. To the surprise of everyone Jacob immediately accepted stating "for a friend who has honored his word to me, i shall honor mine and see your home at peace. For tonight we drink and tomorrow we fight!". Jacob also accepted due to a transgression years prior the Yuraks had kickstarted by the Yurak-led destruction of Tigaria and the murder of Frederick Von Siegward. Shortly after the fall of Tigaria, Luka Mercier was dispatched to retaliate against the Yuraks, and he retaliated by raising the City of Nova Baatar causing an uneasy standoff between The Spiced Empire and The Yurak Horde. After accepting Jacob dispatched Luka Mercier to recruit the local Norks and Bardians who had colonized the Southern Island around Nork Shore to assemble a field Army. Although Jacob was unable to deploy the full Spiced Empires fleet, he was able to loan the Duvanian Steamship to their forces. Later during

## ***Later Life***

Although Jacob helped supply and sponsored the Reichlandian Republic he did not participate in any of the following battles towards the closing days of the Second Reichlandian Civil War. Jacob instead kept his focus towards managing his lords realm and maintaining his fleet. Jacob Brigandine would survive the Second Reichlandian Civil War, and continued to keep in good relations with both Tokuda and Lux. In 1655 A.T.F his trusty enforcer Luka Mercier had died of an unknown disease, prompting Jacob to step down from his position at the age of 67. With no one to take his place due to the death of Barclay years prior, the Spiced Empire ceased to exist and was eventually absorbed by the Reichlandian Republic. The last report of Jacob was reported in 1658 A.T.F when fishers off the shores of Teratime reported a man captaining a Duvanian Steamship searching for treasure claiming it was "his last hunt before joining Barclay and Mercier at The Edge of The World".

## ***Personality***

Jacob Brigandine was known to be a brutal and stern leader. Although he had earned a reputation for being stout man, he cared deeply for those who fought under his banner and close friends who kept their word. Jacob was known to be a strategist oftentimes preferring to negotiate and plan out his advances compared to the rash locals that surrounded him. Compared to the lords he normally served, Jacob preferred administration over conflict though when conflict did arrive Jacob would not shy away from it. Although Jacob was known to care deeply for his friends and men who served under him ,it was said that Jacob oftentimes could be greedy.

## ***Appearance***

Jacob possessed white skin that was well tanned from constantly being exposed to the sun when sailing. Jacob stood 5.10 Feet tall and weighed 230 pounds, he possessed a black and grey beard which was odd for his age. His head was completely bald by choice as he would often shave his own head to avoid head lice. Jacob had dark black eyes and was regarded as having wrinkles at a young age. When he was not sailing or fighting Jacob was known to wear lavish Bardian Nobles Robes and Gowns. When sailing or fighting he wore a tricorn hat with a pirates vest and would use a Bardian Broadsword in combat, it was said Jacob also carried a blunder-bus on his back.