John Scurlock, Kingpin of Sainte-Anne and one of the founders of the Pirate Round. Seen by many as an unprincipled businessman willing to do anything for profit - he has a knack for schemes. In his eyes, all captains as expendable, which yes, does include you as well.
John Scurlock[]
John Scurlock is one of the Kingpins in Skull and Bones. He is a middle-aged, mostly gnarly pirate that is known for his ruthless ways of gaining profits. He is the Leader of the Pirate Den Sainte Anne and willingly exploits all the factions in the region, including the Sea People, Clan of Fara, and the Compagnie Royale. Once the player escapes the Shipwreck of the Exeter and reaches Sainte Anne, they will have to gain Scurlock's trust in order to get a foothold in the region and rise in the ranks toward Kingpin.
Although once working with Freeman and his crew, Scurlock was left out of the Heist of the Schaduw. Like many across the Indian Ocean, Scurlock knows of Freeman’s Treasure, believing it to be untold riches. Bitter and angry towards Freeman, there are rumors that Scurlock’s actions, revealing the location of Lanitra to the Compagnie, led to its destruction at the hands of the DMC and Compagnie.
Following this, Scurlock set up a new pirate den at the port of Sainte-Anne, though this wouldn’t have been possible without his alliance with the Sea People. Despite the wealth and power this has brought him, what he has isn’t enough, he wants to control the Red Isle and expand his trade network.
Background[]
| “ | "You see, I left home barely a lad. Why? Father was a severe man. When mother died, he and his lash left me no choice but to escape. I took to the streets. I begged what I could. I stole what I couldn't. Point is, I was cut down before I had a chance to grow. Here, I am chief of trade, but I am still not entirely free of the lash. When Teuling and the pirate round call, I must heed. If I grasp the helm and deviat from course, only ruin awaits. Yet, stay put, and my fate is not my own. Leave me alone, I wish to think..." | „ |
| ~ John Scurlock |
Born in England, Scurlock had a harsh upbringing with an abusive father. After his mother died, Scurlock ran away from home and begged on the streets for a time, before joining a ship’s company, becoming involved in piracy along the Eastern seaboard of the Americas. Pursued by famed pirate-hunter William Coote, Scurlock fled to the Red Isle and, by 1687, established a base of operations on the island of Sainte-Anne. By the following year, he controlled the inland waterway having established a well-armed stronghold overlooking the island harbour as well as protecting the settlements’ warehouses.
Sainte-Anne quickly became a popular haven amongst fellow pirates with Scurlock supplying pirates in exchange for high fees. These trading supplies came from a partnership with Fredryck Teuling, a New York based merchant; and in return Scurlock ensures the steady flow of high value trade goods to his sponsor.
After the success of Freeman‘s heist of the DMC treasure ship, the Schaduw in 1690. Scurlock viewed the nearby pirate paradise of Lanitra as a threat to his operations and schemed with the outraged European Trading companies in return for the protection of his pirate den. The Compagnie Royale and DMC sent six warships to destroy Lanitra and round up and kill the pirates, including a number of Freeman’s crew.
An expert schemer, Scurlock ensured the instability of the region by playing off the local civil war between the Sea People and the Clan of Fara by supplying weapons and supplies to the embattled Sea People starting from 1693. By forcing conflict, the attention of the Compagnie shifted from the presence of Sainte-Anne and towards an emerging conflict with the Ungwana Confederation and Clan of Fara.
In January 1694, Scurlock sent aid and supplies to rebuild the recently razed Sea People settlement, Tenina Town. This shift in support has seemingly increased the relationship between Scurlock and Sainte-Anne’s closest neighbours. By 1695, Scurlock now lives a somewhat luxurious life and enjoys success due to his partnership with Teuling. However, he has his eyes on the horizon as new threats emerge and potentially the Compagnie seek to curb the presence of pirates in the region once more.
The Lion of Sainte-Anne[]
With a determination to be his own master, Scurlock wants to rid himself of the chains he finds himself bound by. Self-titling himself ‘The Lion of Sainte-Anne’ and the statue of himself, it is clear his obsession with glory and power seed into his belief he can attain his freedom through immense wealth. He may shake your hand and offer to do business, but he's just as paranoid and haunted as the rest of them.
Constantly scheming and arranging underhanded deals, Scurlock has planted agents within the Compagnie, Sea People and Clan of Fara, in an attempt to suit his own needs. The messy conflict ongoing between these factions has allowed his double-dealing to operate undetected so far, but he isn’t without suspicion. By his own admission, should his schemes ever be revealed, then he would be in significant danger.
Endlessly facing immense pressure and scrutiny from his New York patron, Frederick Teuling, Scurlock is looking for any advantage he can get. He knows Teuling is unhappy with him and all the chaos across the Indian Ocean is disrupting the Pirate Round, shipments to Teuling in New York and his profits.
Scurlock is all the more elated when you uncover evidence that a huge French treasure ship will sail through the region. Eager, and some might say desperate, to immortalize his name after being cast aside by the legendary pirate lord, Uricko Freeman. For this, Scurlock is willing to risk it all, including the player pirate, whom he sends to steal this treasure.
There are those who would say Scurlock’s desperation is likely to be his undoing. Sending his proteges after the French treasure did nothing more than expose himself as the source of leaks to Captain Caradec and paint more of a target on his back.
As the player pirate confronts Scurlock about his betrayal, the underlying tension is clear, with Scurlock trying to placate them with riches and future opportunities. For now, an uneasy peace exists, for Scurlock realizes he no longer has a simple pawn in his protege. It seems the only way forward is truce for now, as his former student finds greed a more powerful motivator than revenge... for the time being.
The Shadows of the Deep[]
| “ | "Before the Schaduw went down, the ship was helmed by one Commodore Jonas Vanderkill. My scouts say the vessel's been spotted again in the Open Seas, its guts hanging out and sails shot to hell." "How'd you like to get so rich you'll be pissing silver Cully? The Hubac Twins, Li Tian Ning, and La-fucking-Peste. It was hard enough churning a profit before these shit-lords invaded our shores. They're after the Schaduw's treasure too, mark me. And we need to beat them to it." "I'm counting on you, Cully. You find that treasure, you get a cut. Plain as pie. Think of it as an investment in our future partnership." |
„ |
| ~ John Scurlock -- Shadows of the Deep |
Things have not gone well for Scurlock since he and his protege went their separate ways as death, turmoil and chaos grip the Indian ocean. Ghost ships and sea beasts plague trade routes, whilst powerful pirate lords, privateers and other figures continue to descend on the Indian Ocean -- as though drawn by something. As smugglers are terrified and goods get lost, the pirate round suffers and Teuling loses confidence in Scurlock's abilities.
Whether on their own initiative or at the behest of William Blackwood, the pirate protege returns to Sainte-Anne to help Scurlock and whilst the Kingpin of Sainte-Anne no doubt still holds no small amount of jealously towards the shipwrecked scoundrel turned burgeoning Kingpin, both have much bigger fish to fry as Vikram Rajan brought death and destruction to the Indian Ocean.
Still bitter from being kicked off the heist crew by Freeman, Scurlock sees this as his chance to claim finally claim the treasure he was denied. Even when faced with reports of the Schaduw returning from the depths, Scurlock is still convinced there is fortune to be had and is more eager than ever to get his hands on it first as well as finding a way to make sure the Schaduw stays sunk. Yet over time John Scurlock realizes that there is more at stake than silver and becomes notably rattled by the supernatural events manifesting all around him -- which he blames on Freeman and his Heist.
After defeating Vikram one final time, the captain would return to Sainte-Anne, meeting John Scurlock on the bridge near Atelier's shop. The defeat of Vikram sees a turn in both of their fortunes as the seas became calmer, trade goes back to normal and whilst they didn't find the motherload of silver they were looking for, enough had been recovered to satisfy Frederick Teuling for the time being.
Regardless of whether the captain tells Scurlock the truth of the treasure, the Kingpin will still give them their cut and even seems to have come around to the idea of them both being partners. However Scurlock will also sarcastically warn the captain to watch his back as it was only a matter of time until one of them tried to to stab the other in the back.
Personality[]
Character[]
- John Scurlock is obsessed with wealth and power.
- He wants to gain control over the Red Isle Region and expand his reach through trade.
- He never wants to be anyone's pawn. He is determined to be his own master and seeks to attain his freedom through immense wealth, exploiting anyone who crosses his path.
- Scurlock is fond of the term cully and often uses it in reference to the player. However the term cully is used to refer to someone gullible, easily duped, tricked, or imposed upon. Perhaps alluding to his manipulations from the moment they meet.
- By the time the player pirate has become a Kingpin, they have become competition in Scurlock's eyes; particularly once Yanita expands the services of the Helm available to the Kingpin and enhances their Office. Those who have investigated Lanitra, will know what he does to his rivals.
- Scurlock says that he is not a superstitious man, however when faced with Vikram Rajan and the supernatural powers he commands, even the Lion of Sainte-Anne is noticeably rattled.
Background[]
- He was the mastermind behind the Pirate Round, ensuring that all trades flow through him.
- Has recruited men and women from all over to join his smuggling network, which has agents planted in each of the factions.
- His past is plagued by betrayal, leading to fears of abandonment and further betrayal, though he hides these fears well.
- He sold off Lanitra to the Compagnie Royale and the DMC in order to gain immunity from the advances of the Megacorps.
- His relation to his father has been troublesome.
Ship[]
His ship is the Margarete, a level 10 Brigantine equipped with Demi-Cannons on her starboard and port sides, Scurlock's Long Nines in the bow, Culverines in the stern, and a Mortar as an Auxillary Weapon. Further, it has the Scurlock Ship Cosmetic Item Set equipped, which the Player will unlock playing through the main story line in Sainte Anne.
Devblog[]
Trivia and speculation[]
John Scurlock's character seems to take elements from Adam Baldridge with some elements from Thomas Tew.
Adam Baldridge was an English pirate and one of the early founders of the pirate settlements in Madagascar. After fleeing from Jamaica to escape murder charges, Baldridge sailed to Madagascar and by 1690 had established a base of operations on the island of St. Mary's. By the following year, Baldridge controlled the inland waterway into St. Mary's having established a virtual stronghold overlooking the island harbour as well as protecting the settlements' warehouses. After he had subdued the local tribes, native chieftains would be forced to pay Baldridge to mediate between warring tribes. Similarly, John Scurlock founded and rules over the pirate Haven of Sainte-Anne, and plays off the local civil war between the Sea People and Clan of Fara to his own advantage, supplying enough weapons and supplies to keep it going but not to win.
Another similarity between the two is that Baldridge's settlement become a popular haven among pirates of the Mediterranean with Baldridge supplying pirates in exchange for high fees. Baldridge's trading supplies came from New York merchant Frederick Philipse, who received slaves back in return. Whilst Scurlock doesn't deal in slaves (as far as we know) Frederick Teuling, a New York power broker, 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.
Thomas Tew meanwhile was also was a 17th-century English privateer-turned-pirate. He embarked on two major pirate voyages and met a bloody death on the second, and he pioneered the route which became known as the Pirate Round and came across other infamous pirates such as Henry Avery and William Kidd. The Pirate Round in the Skull and Bones universe meanwhile was pioneered by John Scurlock, who has had dealings with other pirates such as Uricko Freeman and Admiral Rahma.
Gallery[]
