| “ | You've seen my ships in the harbor. Do you know where they're headed? Holds brimming with spices, ambergris, and other delights? They make passage for New York and in return, the slobber-faced Teuling gives me all the silver, supplies, and guns I need. As long as that fleshpile gets his goods, I can do whatever I want on this island. I control the flow of coin, so I bow down to none. | „ |
| ~ The Kingpin John Scurlock |
An important aspect of Sainte-Anne’s success is the trade route between John Scurlock's Sainte-Anne and merchant kingpin Fredryck Teuling in New York. Their exact relationship is not known, but Teuling has been known to provide Sainte-Anne with supplies and infrastructure over the course of the port’s lifespan in exchange for ill gotten goods from the Indian Ocean.
Background[]
Known to many in Sainte-Anne as the Merchant Baron of New York, Frederick Teuling is a power broker based in New York who is also one of the founders of the Pirate Round, establishing the smuggling arrangements between New York and Sainte-Anne that keep the pirate den supplied and as such directly works with John Scurlock. Wealth and image are of significant importance to Teuling, with him caring extensively about trade and profits.
Over the course of the game, Teuling puts pressure on Scurlock to deliver more goods across the Indian Ocean and beyond, all in the name of expanding his own influence. However after Scurlock starts to struggle to meet demand, he gets increasingly frustrated with Scurlock due to the latter’s tenuous control over trade in the Indian Ocean and starts getting more involved in the operations of the Pirate Round.
Amongst all the chaos across the Indian Ocean, ever the shrewd businessman, Teuling is looking for opportunities. However despite what the La Bastide Gazzette would have you believe, Teuling has never stepped foot in Sainte-Anne, instead dispatching an agent by the name of William Blackwood to the pirate dens. Blackwood's job is to recruit pirate enterprising Captains who can fulfill his clients' rapidly growing demands after Scurlock's own operations come up short, thanks in no small part to Francis Caradec. Teuling is very willing to go behind Scurlock’s back if it means getting what he wants and may be looking for someone easier to control -- something which Blackwood implies but never outright states.
Blackwood says that Teuling has ideas and plans which go further and beyond the so-called “Kingpins” of the Indian Ocean and that when the time comes, someone will have to assume control of this region. Someone who will see to it that business runs smoothly, whether that requires discretion or a firm hand. Although what these plans are and quite exactly what Teuling is truly after beyond expanding his business remains a secret only he can tell.
Whilst unlikely to be a member, Teuling has a working business relationship with The Helm. They bring profits that Scurlock can't ignore and Teuling cares more about profits than about the Helm's operations for the moment. Thanks to that, Yanita was able to establish her Helm office in the heart of the Lion's den, much to the displeasure of Scurlock, mainly due to the Helm's aim to remain independent from all governing bodies and the pirate king's direct control in particular.
With a willingness to make questionable deals with questionable people, Teuling once saw the tactics of Philippe La Peste tactics as an asset to secure the Pirate Round. However with La Peste’s increasingly brutal methods, he soon found himself at odds with the Plague King’s unchecked ambitions. Now Teuling despairs as the Indian Ocean further descends into chaos. The arrival of La Peste, the Hubac Twins, and Li Tian Ning aren’t doing the Pirate Round any favors. Whilst he attempts to keep his assets safe from his position in New York, it’s up to John Scurlock and Admiral Rahma to secure the Pirate Round on the ground.
| “ | All this death and turmoil... rumors are going around of ghost ships and sea beasts plaguing trade routes. Meanwhile, powerful figures continue to descend on the Indian Ocean. The way they're drawn here, it's as if they're after something Captain. With smugglers terrified and goods getting lost, my employer is losing confidence in Scurlock's abilities. Mr. Teuling's breathing down my neck, all because that drunkard can't get his affairs in order. Tch. Go speak to our dear old Kingpin of Sainte-Anne, would ya? Maybe you can help sort out this wretched mess. |
„ |
| ~ William Blackwood |
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