La Bastide is the French Compagnie Royale capital found east of Sainte-Anne. It's military presence can be felt along the east of Sainte-Anne, and the southern Coast of Africa. Presumably the newspaper La Bastide Gazette operates out of the settlement.
It is protected by three large watchtowers. Two on the island of La Bastide, a third on a small island within the settlement's control zone and fourth on an island further to the south outside of the settlements control zone. Either interacting with or using the spy glass to view the settlement will award the achievement: Home of Compagnie Royale.
La Bastide Lore[]
| “ | Can you imagine they wanted to name the fort after another dead king buried halfway across the world? Ridiculous! Another Charles the Fourth and Louis the Fifteenth, and pretty soon our enemies will be able to count the number of forts plundered the same way their heads rolled! After numerous back-and-forths with Paris, Naval Headquarters has finally validated “La Bastide.” It is fitting for an installation constantly fending off pirate scum and bureaucratic noses back home. Sometimes, I cannot tell the difference. |
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| ~ C. Vauban: Naval Chronicle -- Gained via plundering La Bastide |
La Bastide is a French fortress and the Compagnie Royale capital in the Indian Ocean. Like it's namesake, the town of La Bastide is built around a central square out from which scales a grid-like street system which extends across the whole island, which can be roughly split into three sections. The upper town, the lower town and the island bastion.
The lower town contains the main port, located between two statues of men on horseback. Behind the main port is a thoroughfare leading into a central square, surrounded by several french-colonial style town houses for the island's residents. To the east of the square is one of the large Guard Towers which protect the lower city, along with a few warehouses, more docks a few compagnie banners, and another statue. West of the main square is much the same, with more houses, warehouses and another Guard Tower.
The upper town meanwhile is located further north, on top of the rocky elevated terrain high above the rest of the town. This section of the settlement contains more houses which are clustered around a cathedral. The entire upper heights is surrounded and protected protected by a large, stone curtain wall with many cylindrical towers connected to it. Theoretically the height and fortifications would be able to protect the settlement during attack, however the walls and all the castle towers are in a state of disrepair, likely thanks to having to constantly fending off attacks by pirates.
Finally, south of the main island but still within sight of La Bastide is a small rocky island who's central feature is a lone Guard Tower, with military tents, with crumbling stone walls surrounding them. In all likelihood this was once a much larger fortification, but much like the rest of La Bastide, has been worn down by constant attacks and neglect.
La Bastide Possible Loot[]
The following items can be purchased or plundered from La Bastide. Purchased items will be of limited stock that refreshes after an hour. Plundering, however, will, more often than not, yield more loot at the risk of getting sunken by the settlement's defenses.
Purchase or Plunder the following[]
Best Commodities to Sell to La Bastide[]
These items are usually the highest in demand in this region. Prices of certain commodities may vary at times, but it is best to sell these particular commodities here to maximize your profit.
Trivia[]
The term Bastide refers to a type of small town built around a central square out from which scales a grid-like street system surrounded by farmland worked by the townspeople. Bastide towns were first built following the Treaty of Paris in 1229 at the end of the Cathar Crusade. They were created as fortified market towns with the aim of concentrating the population in secure places for ease of administration while returning a profit to their sponsors.
La Bastide, and the entire Port I'Hermine sub-region, seem to be based on Isle de France, which was French colony in the Indian Ocean from 1715 to 1810, comprising the island now known as Mauritius and its dependent territories, including Île Bourbon, now known as Réunion. It was governed by the French East India Company and formed part of the French colonial empire. Under the French, the island witnessed major changes. The increasing importance of agriculture led to the "import" of slaves and the undertaking of vast infrastructural works that transformed the capital Port Louis (a possible influence for La Bastide) into a major port, warehousing, and commercial center.
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