As Katarina embarks on a voyage to avenge the death of her father at the
hands of Captain Hawke, she'll also embark on a voyage of discovery --
learning her past as well as her destiny. 

Years ago, too many to count, explorers colonized the island domains of the
Five Seas. The islands these seas contained were harsh and dangerous and
only the most hardy of colonist survived. However, the riches available
never failed to lure the bold, the adventurous, and the greedy. Each of the
Five Seas contained collections of islands that were classified as "Worlds"
because of their unique environments. Because of the often fatal dangers
of crossing from one world to another, mystical Chartstones were created
that would not only guide a ship on the safest course from one point to the
next, but would also give the ship and its crew a measure of protection in
the harsh environments. What follows are short descriptions of each of the
worlds. 

The Pirate Isles: 
These isles are named for the many pirate groups who made their home in
the hidden coves and bays of this world. In the Five Seas, it is by far the
most hospitable place, a tropical paradise. However, looks can be deceiving
for the unwary. While Governor Marcus DeLeon did his best to clean out the
cutthroats who inhabit the isles, large bands still raid the towns from time
to time, not to mention the rather oversized and overly aggressive wildlife. 

The Haunted Isles: 
Many people inhabit the Five Seas, and all of them will one day come to an
end; sometimes peaceful,sometimes not. The colonies agreed that these
isles would become the burial grounds for all of the island worlds. Hundreds
of graves dot the shorelines as well as the larger tombs of its more famous
residents. The islands are blanketed in perpetual night and an aura of doom.
Not all of the dead rest easily, and travelers should be ready to deal with all
manner of restless spirits. 

The Voodoo Isles: 
This world is dark, gloomy and thick with the mystical power of the natives
who lived here long before the colonists ever set foot in the Five Seas. The
natives can still be found from time to time, and many an old salt has told
tales of narrow escapes from the clutches of angry fiends. While most of
the tales are told to keep the rum flowing freely at the local tavern, not all
of those stories should be dismissed. Many a sailor has gone missing here
only to have his crew find a shrunken head bearing an uncanny resemblance
to the lost soul. 

The Volcanic Isles: 
Almost every chunk of land large enough to call an island in this world
sports an active volcano. The very sea itself churns with the magma, as if
a giant wound had been torn in the earth itself. While the Chartstones to
this foul place protect the ship and crew from most of the effects of the
dreadful heat, there are many more hazards left to make life difficult.
Rumors persist of the very land itself rising to crush the weary traveler, but
such rumors have not yet been verified. 

The Winter Isles: 
The northernmost isles of the Five Seas are covered in an eternal blanket of
frost and snow. Every captain should watch for the treacherous icebergs in
the waters, and worse still are the creatures that walk the snowy cliffs of
the isles. Slippery paths and the icy depths of the surrounding waters make
this one of the most inhospitable places in the Five Seas. 

Skull Cove: 
Skull Cove is the legendary place where Mara Rousseau, captain of the
Pirates of Skull Cove, supposedly buried her treasure.Only Mara knew the
location of Skull Cove, and it was a secret she took with her to the grave.

* Know Your Enemy: Ships come in different sizes, strengths and cannon positions. Make
sure you know where you should be to avoid damage, if you can outrun the enemy, and
how some of the many enemy ship captains think. 

* Crossing the T: Sea combat is not just a question of firing your cannon until the other
ship sinks. It demands a certain amount of strategy. Most ships can only fire from their
port or starboard (left and right sides). Therefore, the best place for you to be is in front
of or behind that ship. This is called crossing the T. Position yourself such that the enemy
ship is pointing its front or rear to your side, and then open up with a broadside. You can
bring all your guns to bear on the enemy and he can't fire back. Be careful though, some
of the more powerful ships have front and rear-mounted cannons. 

* Use your Special Powers: You have many tricks at your disposal - don't forget about
them. Is your opponent too fast? Fire off some chain shot and shred his sails. Does he
outgun you? Fire off a stink pot and watch his shots hit anywhere but your ship. Is there a
massive barrage of cannon fire coming your way? Hit your Wind Boost and dodge out of
the way. Need to do more damage? Use a mystical figurehead. All of these things can
change an impossible battle into something much more manageable. 

* Keep your Ship in Shape: The careless captain spends all his loot on ammo. A wise
captain buys the ammo he needs, but also buys canvas for repairing sails and wood for
patching fresh cannonball holes. Spending a few extra pieces of eight on repair items
could keep you afloat and help you win the battle. After all, all those cannonballs you
bought won't help you if you're on the bottom of the ocean.