| “ | Bonjour! We are the Compagnie Royale. Our military camps are few and disconnected from the French leadership back home. We possess little in the way of resources, but we have all the freedom to experiment with the most brazen of tactics. | „ |
| ~ Compagnie Royale -- Skull and Bones twitter |
One of the major factions and megacorporations, the Compagnie Royale is a french trading company chartered by the French Monarchy to scratch out a foothold in the Indian Ocean. They have holdings throughout the Red Isles as well as the Coast of Africa and are likely one of the first factions that a new pirate is likely to face off against.
Background[]
Compagnie Royale Settlement
The second of the Indian Oceans megacorporation is the Compagnie Royale. The French mariners spread far and wide in search of trade partners. Like the Dutch, these guys hope to make a fortune on the ocean, but not through conquest. Instead, they're willing to trade with anyone. It doesn't matter if their clients are bloodthirsty pirates. As long as their money's good, a deal is on the table.
The Compagnie Royale scrutinizes the Indian Ocean for political and trade opportunities as they seek out these clients in a couple of places. The first in the eastern part of the Red Isles. The faction's capital settlement is here, located at La Bastide. However, they also have holdings along the southern Coast of Africa. The French clearly have a longer reach than other factions. That's probably due to their loose social standards as they are noted for having good relations with their trading partners, which include pirates and smugglers. The emphasis on business over combat could conceivably win them the whole sea.
Amongst the chaos you may find a Compagnie Convoy making its way across the Indian Ocean.
The Compagnie Royale brings a sampling of French sophistication and high culture to the native regions of Madagascar and other locations on the eastern trade routes. Flamboyant French sailors in port may either dazzle the locals... or confound them!
The French Eastern Colonies are Governed by one Sieur Legrand, who aside from signing off on letters of Marque for pirate hunting privateers, playing tennis when Fort Louis was overrun and making a deal with an anonymous agent to discover the location of Lanitra, the French Governor hasn't done much. However with the world of Skull and Bones set on the precipice the Compagnie Royale has dispatched a pair of experienced yet sophisticated pirate hunters - Armand and Bertrand Hubac - to seize control of the Indian Ocean.
Royal Holdings[]
Under construction French Fort in Madagascar
Chartered by the French monarchy, the Compagnie Royale trading company scratched out a foothold in the Indian Ocean by focusing on luxury goods. Its fleet can't match the firepower of the British or even the Dutch, but the speedy, highly maneuverable Compagnie ships like the brigantine often let French mariners sail circles around the competition.
At the time of Skull and Bones, the French have become the dominant Western player in the Red Isles region. As a later arrival to the Indian Ocean theater of commerce, the Compagnie Royale has compensated for lost time by using its considerable diplomatic skills to make profitable inroads with the Clan of Fara and other native trading partners. Compagnie officials even try to trade with local smuggling bands across the region, but the relationship is strained at best - mistrust, backstabbings, and betrayals are common!
Compagnie Commanders[]
The Compagnie Royale have many military camps across the Indian Ocean and remain disconnected from the leadership back home. Despite the disconnect with their homeland, which comes in the form of irregular and often contradictory communications, there are many experienced commanders running the French outposts.
These experienced commanders who, though lacking connections or wealth, showcase cunning and resilience seldom seen. Whilst they don’t have much in the way of resources, they have the freedom to experiment, leading to these commanders engage in the most brazen tactics. The French also have access to a wide range of vessels including, among others mortar equipped broadsiders, skirmishers who specialize in flooding damage and rammers, meaning that pirates must therefore be wary of what tactics they can come up with.
Many take in the poor conditions of the Compagnie camps and believe them to be weak and incapable of launching any kind of successful military operation. Be warned however, for these conditions do not tell the same story as those shared of the Compagnie's recent military successes in the Red Isles and the Coast of Africa. Though these successes do not speak of the low troop morale, with these poor conditions wearing the troops down. It is said the pay is meager, the weapons don’t always work, and the tents leak, though on the plus side, there is always more wine.
Despite their poor conditions, there is a strong sense of camaraderie in the camp and parties are often on the agenda. One can easily recognize their sails in blue, white and yellow with the fleur de Lys as a pattern and their symbol displayed proudly in the middle. The Compagnie primarily trade in, among other things, ale, tobacco, ambergris, and vanilla.
Notable Characters[]
- Sieur Legrand - French Governor
- Francis Caradec - Elite Captain, Scurlock's nemesis
- Galvin Roche - Elite Captain
- Hubac Twins - Pirate Hunters
- Unknown elite captain of the Soleil Royal
Gallery[]
