The year is 1775, and you find yourself in Congo Town, the capital of the Pirate Confederacy of New Providence. The Angevin Empire, a personal union of New Bordeaux, France, and England, has colonized most of the United States territory, except for California, which is Russian. The Pirate Confederacy is a haven for smuggling and pirates, with a Grand Captain elected to head New Providence each year. You've arrived at the Dockside Tavern, where James-Louis de Montreal awaits, seeking a job and a chance to make a name for himself in the high seas.