What do we know about the Sanguine Sirens and Kracken's Arm

[Morningstar1337]

Preemptive Video

 

 

The Maelstrom as we know it is primarily comprised of Pirate crews. The addition of Hullbreaker Hardmode among other things have pushed two of these crews into the spotlight. The Sanguine Sirens, an all female crew and the Kracken's Arm who I speculate for contrast's sake to be all-male.

 

The Sirens are led by Rhoswen, a female Roegadyn who seems to have a Tsundere-ish relationship with Carvallain the Elezen leader of the Arm. Another related NPC is the ex-Siren chef Melkoko Melko.

 

While the pirate crews wee re-purposed into the Crimson Fleet Navy an the bulk of the Maelstrom's forces. These two crews in particular seem to be in a rivalry of sorts.

 

From what I notice an remembered (mostly form the first Boss fight, the Siren Lalafells seem to rather avoid letting their hair down, Melkoko's hair is in twintails an the Gunners have either the Odango hairstyle or lower pigtails (Though I'm certain this is just SE being lazy with the models combined with a coincidence with Melkoko). Meanwhile what can be inferred from the Kracken's Arm is that they seem to have a affinity with capturing feral beasts resulting in the appearance of Arouchs, Dodos, Jackals an likely Tigers, all of which appeared in La Noscea as mobs (the latter being exclusive to the MCH intro quests), and more tellingly the 2nd boss Ymir.

 

These two crews seem to be high in the chain of command of the Maelstrom, possibly the 3rd and 4th (or 4th and 5th) in command

 

Now what else so we know about these two crews?

[As'elena]

The majority of the Maelstrom consists of the main Lominsan Armada which are the Knights of the Barracuda. Pirate gangs play an important part, but is not what the Maelstrom is primarily made up of as far as I'm aware. It is also never really specified how high they are in the chain of command, but I honestly doubt a pirate gang is close to commanding more than the fleet they are a part of.

 

Rhoswen is also a female Hyur Midlander, not a Roegadyn!

 

What we really know about those two pirate gangs is a bit limited however. The Sanguine Sirens are indeed an all-female crew that own the Missing Member in Limsa Lominsa. That being said, they did have one male member in their crew back in 1.0 who used to infiltrate the Barracuda during Sthallman's grand scheme of becoming Admiral.

 

The Kraken's Arms have very little information aside from the fact we know that they control most of the spice trade and that Captain Carvallain might have blood-ties in Ishgard. We don't know for certain the Kraken's are responsible for bringing all that wildlife to Vylbrand but a lot of La Noscean creatures originate from the east. I recall Dodo's come from some island just east of Thanalan and coeurl, I think originate from Thavnair.

 

It is also worth noting that both crews used to frequently use the Astalicia and former illegitimate Marauder's Guild, founded by One-Eyed Hyllfyr, leader of the Bloody Executioners. They are currently known to be the most powerful pirate gang and have a lot of sway over what other pirate crews do.

[Valence]

Pirates are mostly what they have become under Merlwyb new structures really: privateers. They get letters of marque that allow them to continue exerting their trade (pirating) over cerain vessels, like garleans. Other than that, they are not properly integrated into the Maelstrom as far as I know.

 

But they hold various degrees of influence! They are a bit like the nobles/aristocracy of the Thalassocracy here. They have power, wealth, men and influence.

[As'elena]

Pirates are mostly what they have become under Merlwyb new structures really: privateers. They get letters of marque that allow them to continue exerting their trade (pirating) over cerain vessels, like garleans. Other than that, they are not properly integrated into the Maelstrom as far as I know.

 

But they hold various degrees of influence! They are a bit like the nobles/aristocracy of the Thalassocracy here. They have power, wealth, men and influence.

Pirates are not part of the main armada, but the new Crimson Fleet is made up of both Knights and Pirates, so it depends really! Some pirates do sail directly under Maelstrom Command.

[Sounsyy]

This is probably going to be a long post, as its difficult to talk about any one part of the Lominsan navy without explaining all of the other parts and how they come together. It's very convoluted, mainly because Merlwyb's reign has changed everything.

 

So let's start simple:

The Maelstrom as we know it is primarily comprised of Pirate crews.

 

This is incorrect, but on a technicality. The majority of the Maelstrom is made up of the old Thalassocratic Navy, called The Lominsan Armada. The Lominsan Armada is made up of nine squadrons, manned by conscripted sailors called the Knights of the Barracuda. Each individual squadron patrols a separate body of water under Limsa's control:

 

1st Squadron - Galadion Bay (Waters around Limsa Lominsa city.)

2nd Squadron - Bloodbrine Sea (Northernmost of the Five Seas, above Farreach.)

3rd Squadron - Straight of Merlthor (Waters separating Vylbrand from the Aldenard mainland.)

4th Squadron - Indigo Deep (Westernmost of the Five Seas - Sahagin Territory.)

5th Squadron - Sea of Ash (Southeastern of the Five Seas - the waters off the coast of Thanalan.)

6th Squadron - Rhotano Sea/Cieldalaes (Southwestern of the Five Seas - Southern Isles to Meracydia.)

7th Squadron - Bianaq (Unknown body of water.*)

8th Squadron - Clearwater (Unknown body of water.**)

9th Squadron - Sea of Jade (Easternmost of the Five Seas - coast of Gyr Abania to Thavnair and Othard.)

 

*Based on lore text from Fishing, we know that Bianaq is an island in Eorzea surrounded by warm water. We do not know where exactly this island is, but I've read speculation that it is the small, unnamed island just east of Cape Deadwind and south of the Bay of Dha'yuz on the edge of the Sea of Ash.

**In 1.0, there was a lake in Coerthas named Clearwater, however, it is highly unlikely Limsa had a squadron stationed there. I have found no other mention of a body of water named Clearwater.

 

Here's the technicality, the Knights of the Barracuda aren't considered pirates any longer. When a new Admiral wins the Trident, his/her crew becomes the next Knights of the Barracuda as seen fit.

 

Yer only way t' th' top is through the cap'n. If he takes the Admiral's chair' date=' that makes me an official Knight o' the Barracuda… which makes ye the official scrag of an official 'Cuda… which has got t' be better than the next-t'-naught ye be now.[/quote']

 

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Now, what exactly is the Trident?

 

Only way our cap'n'll make Admiral is if the guild takes the flag in the next Trident - a three-pronged race t' rule the seas. Unlike the other townships whose leaders are chosen by bloodlines, Limsa leaves its rule in the hands of its people. Every man bleeds red the same, so we don't see how one man's blood can be deemed better than another's.

 

Anyone can join the Trident, and the victor and his crew are granted full reign over the realm…that is, until the next race. The Trident is where us pirates can cock our leg t' the city, and piss on what we please. There ain't no rules - least none worth followin' - and the winner takes all.

 

But there be more t' the Trident than just traipsin' from hither t' thither. A crew has t' prove they've got what it takes t' run a realm. Handlin' pest problems be one o' them duties.

 

>insert Geisswaen excerpt

 

Now, any pirate captain can run the Trident, but only the biggest and most well established pirate gangs have the means to complete it. The current four largest pirate factions are the Bloody Executioners, the Sanguine Sirens, the Kraken's Arms, and the Salthounds. Roughly fifteen years ago, former Commodore Sthalmann engineered a coup to kill the former Admiral and cripple the pirate factions. His plan was largely a success, however, he was eventually betrayed, disgraced, and imprisoned for several years for his crimes. He changed his name to Rostnsthal and his second in command, Reyner Hansred, became the new Commodore.

 

Seeking to purge Limsa Lominsa of any further corruption in the ranks of the Knights of the Barracuda, the pirate gangs threw their support behind Captain Hyllfyr of the Bloody Executioners, the undisputed ruler of the seas at the time, in the following Trident. However, Captain Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn of the League of Lost Bastards, who had but recently returned from her expedition to discover the New World, would cause a major upset among the populace of Limsa and claim victory over Hyllfyr, becoming the newest Admiral.

 

Merlwyb went on to make radical new changes to Limsa Lominsa, making Mealvaan's Gate what it is today, outlawing piracy, invading kobold lands, raising taxes on all goods, etc. With the eventual rise of the Maelstrom, she relied on the influence of Captain Hyllfyr, who had long opposed her at every turn, to unite the remaining pirate factions under her banner to fight the Garleans. This treaty, called the Galadion Accord, was signed by the pirate captains and pirates under Merlwyb became Privateers, able to continue pirating so long as they did not attack any Lominsan ships. Merlwyb became Chief Admiral, and the Five Seas were put under martial law.

 

Today, the Maelstrom has swallowed the first five squadrons of the Lominsan Armada into its ranks, as well as recruiting pirates and knights into the new Crimson Fleet. Specifically, these pirate factions belong under the Black Sails Levy.

 

Eh!? Pirates turned up at the drill!? What in the seven hells did they want!?

Why' date=' to do their civic duty, of course. They invited themselves, [b']as members of the Black Sails unit[/b]. You'd be forgiven for forgetting, but the pirate powers are still bound to the Maelstrom by the Galadion Accord. Of course, they never deign to take part in our exercises, and we've long since stopped asking.

 

 

So to answer this:

These two crews seem to be high in the chain of command of the Maelstrom, possibly the 3rd and 4th (or 4th and 5th) in command

 

The pirate gangs have no place in the Maelstrom chain of command. They operate under the banner of the Black Sails, which is overseen by a Storm Commander. Before the Calamity, Hyllfyr held a position on Merlwyb's council, but according to the Rogue storyline, Hyllfyr (now referred to as One-Eyed Hyllfyr) has retired and the Bloody Executioners have split into some smaller factions, most still following Hyllfyr's First Mate, Mannskoen.

 

So, most of the pirate factions no longer follow a unified leader, outside of Merlwyb of course, and the remaining two factions, the Kraken's Arms and the Sanguine Sirens do their own thing. Carvallain, Captain of the Kraken's Arms and their ship the Misery, has taken up the "spice" trade, although "spice" is just the word he uses for his legitimate business front, the Seventh Sage. He's actually known to still smuggle and traffic all sorts of black market goods and trinkets across the southern seas, as far away as Meracydia. Rhoswen (Midlander female btw) and her Sanguine Sirens have established a tavern called the Missing Member. It's unknown whether or not her ship, the Lady Infernal, was destroyed in the Calamity or not.

 

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