4th Meeting of the Brethren Court

"*Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn, we're at war.*"

The **4th Meeting of the Brethren Court** was the fourth time in history that the pirate Brethren Court convened, this time, in the midst of war against the EITC, during the War Against Piracy. They were called together by Captain Hector Barbossa, one of the pirate lords, who used the war as a means of bringing the Court together, while also intending to use the alliance to free Calypso from her human bonds, allowing the power of the ocean to return to the sea goddess, allowing the pirates to use her power to fight back and win against the East India Trading Company.

## Prelude

##### War Against Piracy

In the last year, pirates had come under attack from the East India Trading Company, that was hunting down and killing all the pirates across the planet. As the pirates numbers dwindled, Calypso, stuck in her human form as Tia Dalma, began a plot to return to her true self, bringing the Brethren Court together to free her using the nine pieces of eight. She found the dead body of Hector Barbossa and used her magic to resurrect him, needing his status as a member of the Court. Soon after she brought Barbossa back, Jack Sparrow, another Pirate Lord that Dalma would need, also met his demise and was taken to Davy Jones' Locker. Tia Dalma set out with Barbossa and Jack's motley crew to return Jack to the land of the living. They were successful, returning to the land of the living with Jack in tow.

To fight back against the EITC, Hector Barbossa sent out the song *Hoist the Colours*, calling for the Court to convene so that they may discuss strategy to fight back and release Calypso. Slowly pirates began their journeys to Shipwreck Cove. During Sao Feng's journey he was killed during an attack of the *Flying Dutchman.* Before he died, he passed his piece of eight to Elizabeth Swann, who had been travelling with him pretending to be Calypso. He named Elizabeth as the captain of his ship and his crew. Taking Feng's place, Elizabeth continued on to Shipwreck Cove as a Pirate Lord.

##### Jack's Deal

Unknown to any of the pirates going to Shipwreck Cove, Jack Sparrow had made a deal with Lord Cutler Beckett that he would lead the EITC to Shipwreck Cove in return for immunity against both the EITC and Davy Jones. Only interested in self-preservation, Sparrow made the deal and began his journey to Shipwreck Cove. During the journey, Jack sent Will Turner aboard on a floating raft to be found by Cutler Beckett, so that Will could uphold Jack's bargain and lead Beckett to Shipwreck Cove using Jack's compass.

Jack Sparrow and the *Black Pearl* arrived on the coast of Shipwreck Island, surveying the island for a means into their terminal destination. During their momentary pause, Tia Dalma spoke with Barbossa about their deal. Suspecting that Barbossa may be planning on betraying her, Dalma reminded Barbossa of her power to resurrect him, and that she could easily take that power away. Barbossa called her bluff however, stating she needed him. To stop her from making a deal with anyone else, Barbossa sent Dalma to the brig.

Will Turner was soon found by the *Endeavour*, brought aboard and met with grace by Lord Beckett, who sat across from him at a table where they made discussions over tea. Davy Jones was summoned to the ship to meet with Will and join in the conversations. It was mere moments before Davy Jones learnt about Jack Sparrow's return. Will also revealed to Beckett and Jones that the Brethren Court intended to release Calypso, much to the dismay and anger of Davy Jones. It was with Jones' determination to stop Dalma from returning to her true form that Will discovered that Jones once loved Calypso. Will told Jones that he would free his father and that Beckett would ensure the safety of Elizabeth and in return he would lead them to Shipwreck Cove. Jones' asked only that Calypso be murdered. Will told Jones that Calypso was aboard the *Pearl,* and the *Pearl* was at Shipwreck Cove. He also revealed his ownership of Jack's compass, that he would use to lead them to the Brethren Court.

## Recount

##### The Meeting

The Brethren Court convened at night, not long after the arrival of Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa aboard the *Black Pearl*. Jack was clearly unsure of the event, painfully aware that he owed everyone present money. Barbossa hosted the event as Master of Ceremonies, standing at the far end of the Court table in their chamber. He officially announced the commencement of the 4th Brethren Court Meeting. Each pirate lord presented their nine piece of eight to confirm their identity and their right to be present. There was Barbossa himself, Jack Sparrow, Ammand, Chevalle, Sumbhajee Angria, Ching, Jocard, Eduardo Villanueva and Edward Teague. When Jack was asked to present his own piece of eight, he made light that Sao Feng had not yet arrived. That was when Elizabeth Swann arrived, announcing Feng's death and that she had taken his place. She entered the Court as it's newest member.

Her first act within the Court was to heed her warning she got from the late James Norrington, announcing that their location had been betrayed and that Lord Cutler Beckett was on his way to Shipwreck Cove with the *Dutchman* at his heel. When Barbossa posed the question as to their plan of action, Elizabeth called out for action, and for them to fight. Ching spoke out, saying that there was no need to fight if they could not penetrate the fortress of Shipwreck Cove. She proposed they remain within the well supplied fortress. Barbossa put forth a third solution, that they must free Calypso and return the power of the seas to the sea goddess. The room burst into chaos as both protests to the idea rang out against those who supported the plan. A fight broke out across the table, one that Barbossa, Elizabeth and Jack quietly watched from the head of the table.

Meanwhile, aboard the *Black Pearl,* Davy Jones used his powers to gain access to the ship where he found Calypso in the brig. He revealed himself to her, asking why she could not be found on the day that he had returned to shore all those years ago. She responded that it was her nature. Jones asked about the Brethren Court, to which Calypso replied that the last thing they would ever learn is how cruel she could be once she was in her true form. With his final admittance that his heart would always belong to her, Davy Jones left Calypso alone in her cell.

Barbossa was finally able to end the sprawling fight during the Meeting, firing a shot into the ceiling that silenced the crowd. They fell silent and listened as Barbossa spoke, saying that in Calypso's gratitude she would fill the pirates with plenty of plunder and wealth. Jack Sparrow opposed this view. Having promised Cutler Beckett that he would lure the pirates to the outside of the cove where they could be attacked, Jack claimed that he wasn't so sure Calypso would be so grateful to the pirates. Instead, he claimed that he agreed with Elizabeth and that they should fight the enemy head on. The Court agreed with Jack, however Barbossa quickly shot down the idea, stating that an act of war such that Jack was suggested could only be called by the Pirate King. When Jack pushed Barbossa to admit that he made the rule up, Barbossa called out Captain Teague, Keeper of the Code, to make clear the code laws. Teague came forth with the Pirata Codex, making clear that Barbossa was correct.

Having not had a pirate king since the First Court, Jack Sparrow called for a vote to choose the new Pirate King. Each pirate put forth their own name, including Barbossa and Swann. However, knowing that he wants met his, Jack voted for Elizabeth, becoming the first pirate to vote for someone other than themselves. The vote was initially met with outrage from the other pirate lords, however Jack made clear that their protest was a violation of the code. Not wanting to break the code, the pirates conceded, accepting Elizabeth Swann as the new Pirate King. Her first order: To prepare every ship that floats for battle. She made a declaration of war against the East India Trading Company met by a roar of support from the pirate lords. In the chaotic shouting, Barbossa and Ragetti slipped away, stealing the nine pieces of eight. With that, the 4th Meeting of the Brethren Court is ended.

## Aftermath

##### Next: Battle of Calypso's Maelstrom

The next day, the pirate fleet amassed into an armada outside of Shipwreck Island, Pirate King Elizabeth Swann present on the lead ship. They lay in wait for their enemy to arrive.

## Appearances

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End