Treasure Series
Locations
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Doljeon
The capital of Jaecho, location of its palace and many government offices, and hub of the arts and culture, Doljeon is always bustling with life, making it an ideal location to settle. The city is situated inland on the Chigu river, central relative to the harbour town of Kon and the western Bundam Lake.Doljeon is where Seonghwa grew up mere streets away from the palace under the pretense of being a regular civilian, and as he quickly learns before coronation, the perfectly trimmed gardens and fragrantly scented baths of the royalty are a completely different world than the crowded markets and filthy slums beyond palace walls.

Kon
Kon, the naval shipyard and military headquarters, is a vivacious city of activity and gossip located at the mouth of the Chigu river. Protected by the Archipelago to the East, the town rarely sees action but is impenetrability fortified should the need arise.Wooyoung lived here for a time while his brother trained at the naval academy and many of the most famous ships were born in Kon’s waters. To the ATEEZ, however, it is a town full of enemies.

So-ai
Nestled in the upper foothills of the Hagilsan mountains, northwest of Panhang and the coastline, So-ai is the educational and industrial centre of Jaecho. A people’s revolt here tragically cost Yunho’s parents their lives while he was enrolled in the Academy for Youth, the same school Mingi attended during his stay in So-ai. The orphanage Yunho and his brother escaped from was on the outskirts of the town, a place Yunho was eager to leave despite the oncoming winter.Populated by workers and students, So-ai is a breeding ground for social change.

Panhang
One of the most significant locations in terms of plot, Panhang also claims a position as the most important coastal town on the north shores of the Eastern Sea. The Kim family of Jangwon Hall owns and works much of the land surrounding the city, and it’s a very successful enterprise of fishing, shelling, mining, and trade.Hongjoong grew up here and was joined later on by Mingi’s family where they eventually settled. Many important events leading up to the Treasure series take place on Panhang’s beaches and even grown and united, the crew of the ATEEZ find themselves there several times over the course of the story.

Ineo
Situated inland and southwest of Panhang, the small riverside town of Ineo is a natural stop on the road to Doljeon and, for certain creative fisherman, a potential source of income. Being little more than a conveniently located village, Ineo relies on tourism and especially the influx of travellers passing through around holidays.Due to Ineo's location proximate to waterfalls in the woods between it and Panhang, water flows constantly through to the northern arm of the Chigu River. The rainy season can be especially difficult with flooding and torrential downpours. When Mingi's father travels here seeking river fish and delicacies to sell in Panhang, the flooding of the Chigu's muddy banks almost becomes his end.

Bundam
When they aren’t living the high life in Doljeon, Jaecho’s elite retire to their peaceful lakeside mansions in the quiet western town of Bundam. The Kang Estate is located here and the woods where Yeosang spent his childhood surround it. Save for the intriguing daily lives of the wealthy, not much happens around Bundam Lake.It’s centrally located, west of the capital Doljeon and east of the hills of Lower Hagilsan where the rainwater trickles down to the Lake and flows on eastward to form the Chigu river. Residents who aren’t decorated officers or successful politicians and socialites contribute to the logging and textile industries.

Chonanje
The other major settlement on Bundam Lake, Chonanje, is found on the eastern banks, across from the town of Bundam. At the junction of the lake and Chigu River, it serves as a connection between Bundam and its estates and the capital of Doljeon, farther down the river.Small and primarily market-based, Chonanje is the slightly more bustling twin of Bundam and a frequent destination for Bundam residents on a weekend or festival day. Yeosang's sister Yeseul lives here with her husband and easily picks up all the newest gossip and latest fashions.

Hamnyong
Another option for wealthy families seeking wide open space and proximity to nature, the southern county town of Hamnyong is a common retreat for city folk and a paradise for landowners. Located south and slightly east of Doljeon, the town is not quite a day's ride away and serves as a suitable rest stop on the way to the Tae peninsula or through the southern hills to the Haemin border.Many grand estates are located here while workers and tenants care for the fields, considering agriculture is the area's largest contribution to Jaecho. Yeosang's sister Yeseul's husband was born and raised here and continues to maintain a connection to the area.

Tae Gyungkaai
The southernmost city of Jaecho, Tae Gyungkaai is located on the Haemin-facing coast of the Tae peninsula and was once the site of a famous naval battle years ago. Due to its history of wars and struggles running pirates out of town, the city has gained a significant amount of tourism to its picturesque ruins. Though it may still be a dangerous place to live at any time, this is the town where Wooyoung grew up before moving to Kon.It appears again when he journeys there on his search for San, and, fittingly, continues to see action over the course of the Haemin War.

Ulso
Barely big enough to be called a village, the tiny backwater town of Ulso sits against the cliff face on the edge of the Tae peninsula, a spit of land that juts out just above the Haemin border and despite being a small, unknown corner of the kingdom, is close in proximity to a mermaid cove.Jongho grew up here and discovered the cove himself, eventually being brought into the fold and later found by the ATEEZ. Except for his legacy, Ulso doesn’t have much else to offer as a result of neglect in favour of the bigger peninsula towns like Tae Gyungkaai.
The Archipelago
Comprised of 23 islands, Keunhae being the largest and Somhae being the smallest, the Archipelago is the gateway to the East. Only 9 of the islands have major villages on them and only two of these are significant in Treasure.

Namhae
A pivotal location for several reasons, Namhae and its two towns is the easternmost island of the Archipelago, making it a prime location for a Navy garrison, just as San recounts when he moves there with his half-sister to live with their grandparents. Pirates are driven farther and farther away with the increased Navy presence and the natural beauty of the pristine ocean and beaches is gradually soiled by conflict and war as Namhae becomes a battleground in the later books of the Treasure series.

Dalhae
Neighbouring Namhae to the south is the smaller island of Dalhae. There is a town on the northwestern side but much of the island is comprised of caves. The famous Golden Age pirate Seongho used them to hide out in before being ambushed by the Navy, and Eden also grew up here, in his early days of piracy connecting the caves and turning them into a new refuge for pirates- but only those he allowed in.

Haemin Lands
Only a few locations in the enemy nation of Haemin are named, but the country lies to the south of Jaecho and is equally biodeverse, with deserts and mountains to the west, forests and cities to the north, and volcanic islands in the east.Among the more notable are the capital Yuji and its volcano. Characters also visit a smaller jungle island and town called Ama during their stay.

Coral Harbour / The Colonies
Ever since the grouping of islands now known as the Colonies was discovered, Jaecho had their eye on them. The island cluster lies directly east of the Archipelago and its southwestern island, Coral Harbour, was one of the first to be settled and became the commercial centre of the entire region. The westernmost island, Kibo, also enjoyed prosperity from trade and as the first stop east of the Archipelago.The colonies are important strategically due to their abundant resources and direct line of trade to the mainland. Although it’s generally safer for a pirate crew to stay away from the Jaecho-owned territory unless they plan to raid it or unearth treasure, Coral Harbour and its neighbours provide good rest stops along the journey, as long as they can blend in with the colonial crowd.

Mystic Island
Southeast of the Archipelago and tucked away from detection by the colonies, a few remote islands dot the Great Ocean. The Mystic set up her temple here and tamed the wild animals, training them to defend her while she worked her magic. The island itself transformed into a sacred place at her presence.Though the Mystic is generally an ally, it matters which end you approach her island from. The western side is an easy hike to her home near the waterfall, but the eastern coast is covered in dense forest and populated with jaguars.

Dagger Cliffs/ Dragoncove
Just south of the colonies is a treacherous patch of sea, the gateway to which has become known as the dagger cliffs. The razor sharp rocks lie on the cusp of two tectonic plates and crush unsuspecting ships that fail to navigate the shifting maze successfully.Turning away to the north will lead a pirate into the colonies, but bypassing the cliffs to the south will lead them to Dragoncove, an island where an ancient dragon has slept on its gold for generations unbothered. It is one of several mythical creatures (including the kraken) living in these waters, thriving in the absence of humans until a few brave crews interrupted it.

Smokey Island
This memorable location from the first act of Treasure is the eastern marker of the wild lands, where creatures like krakens and dragons habitate the uncolonized islands. It is a dormant volcano with certain traces of an ancient human presence such as the cursed gold in its caves or the deserted hut falling apart near its small freshwater stream. For now, it is too dangerous a place for Jaecho to claim but its location next to the Doldrums could make it an ideal fort one day.

Maddox's Island
The small isle our heroes endearingly refer to as "Maddox's Island" is not actually his by any stretch of the imagination. When, as Navigator Kang records in his memoirs, the Black Crow sailed the long way north around the Doldrums, they reached this little isle and took up residence in the abandoned fort facing the west, building a town and settling it. It is the closest Jaecho colony to the pirate havens, which makes it an important battle location that appears in several skirmishes over the course of Treasure.On the final voyage of the crew of the Stardust, the dwindling crew and their disheartened Captain Eden had intended to take over the pirate lands which had fallen into disarray following the fire ship attack that sunk the Stardust, and Eden's long hiatus. However, the wild islands and the Doldrums proved fatal for many of the men, and a surprise attack by the naval garrison on "Maddox's Island" resulted in Quartermaster Maddox's capture, another event important in the first Treasure volume. To keep anyone from finding him, a massive and intricate garden maze was built, and several other surprises like hallucinogenic fruit await our heroes when they first arrive.The island is also the location of a turning point in the fourth installment, which sees even more of the fortress destroyed in a sudden Haemin attack.

Sunken City
The Sunken City is one of only a couple of underwater civilizations known to man at the time of Treasure. There may be many more undiscovered, but the people of the town on Maddox's Island know well just how dangerous the siren kingdom can be for unwelcome guests. In a local tale, only one man survived an encounter with the sirens, despite losing his voice to the Queen, a powerful creature who uses her own powerful song to kill invaders.ATEEZ's Master-at-Arms Jongho bested the Queen with skills he learned from the sirens' distant mermaid relatives back in the cove off Ulso. Apart from these two, no human has set eyes on the shimmering city, a place believed to be a sunken island that was banished to the bottom of the sea while its residents were cursed with horrifying features and never again allowed on land.

Fortress Island
Not much is known about the Fortress Island, not even its real name. On a sailor's map it lies to the far southeast along the equator, too far from Haemin to be considered one of its islands, and too far below the pirate havens to be on Jaecho's radar.Every townsperson in Freeport will warn you to stay away, and their warnings ought to be heeded. Deadly disease, dictators, and mutineers run amock, enslaving even their own people to run the sun-scorched cesspool. Even most of the residents are not named, and whether the Master planned to take over the pirate havens and run them under his leadership to end the power struggle or whether he was under the thumb of the Navy all along due to the presence of a disguised and Navy-allied Babylon is a mystery that dies with him-- in a bloody beheading as his castle is consumed with fire.

The North
The Arctic ice caves of the North are yet another extreme location pirates are often warned away from. The only person who has willingly explored the frozen tundra in Treasure history is Eden, and he found magic.The sparkling caves concealed highly reactive enchanted crystal, which the Dread Pirate took and fashioned a necklace out of to use as the key to his treasure. Besides dangerous ice and subzero temperatures, the magic of the North has its adverse effects as well, because when magic crystal comes into contact with another magical energy (being, object, person, or even virus) it causes detriment. Among these victims are Jongho whose memories were stolen by the crystal key, and Hongjoong and Wooyoung who both experienced extreme sickness exacerbated by the necklace's presence.In the wise words of Eden, "The North is a frontier best left to its own devices."

Wonderland
It goes by many names, and is colourful in every way imaginable, but the island on which Eden's treasure was buried turned out not to be the final destination of the ATEEZ's maiden voyage. A magical place highly affected by the sea goddess' magic, it seemed like the perfect area for Eden to settle down, and he fled to this utopia after the fire ship ambush, burying his treasure there and intending to live out the rest of his days alone and disgraced.When the call from the Mystic prompted him to leave and search for Babylon, the ATEEZ was just beginning to follow his trail and they arrived and spent a few days there before their own magical struggle prompted them to leave.The glowing plants, golden rain, and nightly aurora make it a promising getaway when the magic is under control and a potential addition to the Unified Freelands.

Isle of Babylon
The Mystic wasn’t the only sorcerer to claim an island in the vast ocean to the south. Not much is known about this island, because until the murdering magician Babylon was marooned there by his Captain Eden, the rocky spit of land was uninhabited and unsettled.His fortress home was built on the cliffside through the use of his magic, only a possibility because Eden allowed him his spellbook when he left him there. This magic maintained the island’s secrecy and helped him run things smoothly when he was there, though for quite some time he was embroiled in Navy schemes.The ATEEZ’s infiltration of this place is the last we see or hear of it, a forgotten island henceforth from the moment its owner is floated out to sea for the birds to feast on him.

Uninhabited Island
The third little isle in this desertlike corner of uninterrupted ocean never receives a name, because Hongjoong refuses to name it. He was stranded there 292 days as a result of the fire ship ambush and it was this life changing experience that strengthened his resolve and really turned him into a pirate.The island itself is small enough to be missed, but large enough to house some life. There are decently thick patches of palms and other vegetation, a small freshwater stream, and some minor caves toward the inside of the island. Wild animals such as seabirds, crabs and crustaceans, jellyfish, and even a coastal jaguar live on the beach, in the foliage, and in the surrounding ocean. With resourcefulness, the place is survivable, though it is incredibly remote and far from any trade routes, prompting Hongjoong's eventual self-rescue.The ATEEZ returns years later as a ploy to catch Babylon, but the fight is a disaster and the island ends up destroyed in fire and wind.In Hongjoong's words "it was a demon from the past" and he feels no sadness over its death.

Geobugi
Arguably one of the most important locations in the latter instalments of Treasure, the Freelands are more than just a pirate haven. They’re the birthplace of a revolution.Consisting of places such as Geobugi, Kehan, Dulumi, Freeport, and others, the island cluster has a long and detailed history explained more in depth by the surviving crew of the Stardust.Evidence of a now extinct ancient civilisation prompted Golden Age pirates to set up camp there as they fled the Navy’s increasing hostility. When Eden repurposed Captain Seongho’s caves on Dalhae, he turned them into the westernmost stop of a large system of secret refuges. The pirates who took these hidden paths to Geobugi banded together to defend the land from the Navy’s assault and succeeded, though the subsequent loss of the Stardust in the fire ship incident took momentum out of their fight and Eden’s long hiatus allowed the alliances to dissolve.The Geobugi the ATEEZ knew at first was a safe but mellow land, the last of the great pirate havens and seemingly the final resting place of the age of piracy.Until the war.The combination of Admiral Kim’s bloody tirade, sudden battle with Haemin, and the execution of the Pirate King could have either ended piracy for good or brought it back in a fiery blaze of allied survivors, hellbent on claiming their place in the world.Naturally, it was the latter.
This section is a work in progress
Characters
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disclaimer: due to the large number of characters, several unnamed or background characters are not listed

Ateez
The crew of the ATEEZ is a ragtag band of misfits. Their officers are bound together with a strong sense of love and respect, and that connection extends to their crew although to a slightly lesser extent. This crew has made it through many dangers and have what it takes to survive many more, as long as they continue to be led by the most vivacious young pirates in the eastern ocean.
Officers
Crew List
Kim Yujin (quarterdeck attendant, combat)
Jung Hanbyeol (surgeon’s mate)
Kim Dooeun (cook’s mate)
Jung Hojun (boatswain’s mate)
Kwak Daehan (rigging)
Kim Gyuwook (cannons)
Briefly Mentioned or Unmentioned
Jung Jaeoh
Choi Seunghee
Hong Jaemin
Song Gyungsu
Kim Yoon
Im Semin
Jeon Byeongchan
Lee Woonwoong
Song Wongi
Nam Taesu
An Jaehyo

Hongjoong
Our leading man, the eminent Captain of the ATEEZ, loved by many and despised by many others. Though the story doesn't always follow him, it is very much about him, as one of the most important characters with a large role in the chase across the Eastern Sea and the final gathering of pirates under his alias, The Pirate King.Position: Captain
Hometown: Panhang
Pirate Origin: The infamous pirate Eden saved his life in the boating incident that killed his parents and eventually became his mentor, teaching him about piracy until the fire ship tragedy forced Hongjoong to become a pirate in his own right and build the ATEEZ himself.Check out his backstory spin-off My Way for more~

Seonghwa
Equally as important to the functioning of the crew as her esteemed captain, Seonghwa is considered by the members to be on par with Mingi as second in command in all but name- and for good reason. Though he prefers to work behind the scenes and doubts his skills in piracy, Seonghwa is the beating heart of the ATEEZ.Position: Boatswain, Cook, Cooper
Hometown: Doljeon
Pirate Origin: Upon discovering his secret identity as the second prince, Seonghwa left to work as cooper’s apprentice aboard a merchant ship and was eventually kidnapped by the ATEEZ and made to work for them, a job which he decided for himself that he wanted to continue when he unwittingly grew to care for the officers.Check out his backstory spin-off Across the Night for more~

Yunho
One of the members with the most action experience packed into his troubled past, Yunho is the fierce centre of all ATEEZ's risky ventures and attacks, as well as the warm soul that cheers his crewmates after their losses. Duality is an understatement.Position: Master Rigger
Hometown: So-ai
Pirate Origin: An orphan and sole supporter of his younger brother, Yunho became an expert in street life and wrestling for money. An encounter and fight with Hongjoong resulted in him being offered a position on the ATEEZ, one which he eventually took after some convincing.Check out his backstory spin-off Distant Daylight for more~

Yeosang
Hongjoong may give ATEEZ purpose, but Yeosang gives them direction. Though he may be shy, he's the highly intellectual brains of the operation with intense Navy experience to go along with it, and holds the keys to the journey, without which the crew can't hope to go on.Position: Sailing Master, Navigation
Hometown: Bundam
Pirate Origin: Unlike some of the others, Yeosang chose piracy after an internal battle that lasted for years. He was raised by his navigator father in a strict military household and slowly came to terms with the Navy’s atrocities, stealing a treasure map from the privateer he was apprenticed to and giving it to the ATEEZ as both a peace offering and job application.Check out his backstory spin-off Walking in the Darkness for more~

San
He may be a firebrand and a bit of a loose cannon, but San is a vital member of the ATEEZ- literally. Without his perseverance and hunger for knowledge and expertise, the crew would have been blown away long ago. His voyage of discovery is one that goes along with Wooyoung's and directly impacts the reading of the work.Position: Surgeon, Carpenter
Hometown: Namhae
Pirate Origin: Always the restless, adventurous type, San was intrigued with piracy from the moment he knew what it was. Despite his relatively peaceful island life, piracy chose him when a wounded Yunho showed up needing amputation and San volunteered to help, securing a place aboard the ATEEZ soon after.Check out his backstory spin-off Paradise for more~

Mingi
Without Mingi, there would be no ATEEZ. A restless boy with a complicated past, Mingi finally finds where he belongs and embraces the crew wholeheartedly. He may have one or two personal issues to work through, but no one is as staunchly committed to the life of the ship as he.Position: Quartermaster
Hometown: Panhang
Pirate Origin: The closest thing Hongjoong had to a childhood friend, Mingi felt extremely guilty for his part in the fire ship incident and vowed to do his best to protect Hongjoong afterwards, even if that meant joining his highly illegal and extremely risky pirate mission, especially if it helped pay off his older brother’s gambling debts and support his parents.Check out his backstory spin-off The Windy Road for more~

Wooyoung
Wooyoung, viewpoint character of the opening volume of the Treasure Series, undertakes more or less willingly an adventure that changes his entire life. Once a cheeky, insolent powder monkey hardened in his ways, he unfolds into the spritely and amiable officer we know and love by the end and we learn of the ATEEZ through his lens. The reader follows him through many trials until he finds and keeps a family of his own- or rather, until they find him.Position: Master Gunner
Hometown: Tae Gyungkaai
Pirate Origin: Despite his older brother becoming a naval officer, Wooyoung didn’t succeed in following in his footsteps, staying stuck at the bottom of the food chain as a privateer vessel’s powder monkey until the incident at the beginning of Treasure which introduces him to the ATEEZ, his future home.Check out his backstory spin-off Blinded By Desire for more~

Jongho
The youngest but strongest of the ATEEZ members is a crucial part of the team. With experience in virtually everything, Jongho is an all-rounder and cool-headed asset in just about any situation. Through his storyline, certain magical elements of the universe are explored and when he overcomes his reservations, they'll become yet another thing Jongho is good at.Position: Master-At-Arms
Hometown: Ulso
Pirate Origin: When his abusive father pushed him to the breaking point, Jongho ran away and found himself adopted by a secret group of mermaids. He remained with them and learned from them until a storm one day inflicted a magical curse on him and he was discovered unconscious by the ATEEZ on the beach and taken in to join them.Check out his backstory spin-off Dreamer for more~

Stardust
In the Golden Era of Piracy, no single crew travelled farther, plundered more, or evaded faster than the Stardust. Built by the Royal Navy and commandeered by the famous Dread Pirate Eden, she earned her place in history books and served them well for many years, seeing many voyages before her destruction by fire in an incident with the Royal Navy.The crew itself, united by bonds stronger than the keel of their ship, remained alive in secret, waiting for the moment in which they would all be brought together again.Hongjoong's search for remnants of the Stardust, especially her presumed dead captain, is the drive which begins our story.
Officers
This section contains spoilers

Eden
Also known as The Dread Pirate or sometimes The Ghost Pirate, Kim Yonghwan (or "Eden" as other pirates referred to him) cut a memorable swath through the annals of maritime history and geography. Lands the Navy had not even located on a map yet are peppered with his footprints. To his crew and especially our protagonists, his name is synonymous with the pirate's paradise; freedom. Though his mysterious hidden treasure is sought after by many, it is nowhere near as valuable as he is to the officers of the Ateez. In the beginning, Eden is the Treasure.Position: Captain
Hometown: Dalhae
Pirate Origin/Backstory: Little is known about the life of Eden pre-piracy. The youngest convert to piracy in known history, he was born and raised on the archipelago island of Dalhae and operated out of that port for most of his childhood, taking odd jobs along the archipelago before becoming a pirate as a twelve-year-old to escape his circumstances and make money. Eden quickly learned the ropes and struck out on his own, gaining a following through various means and rising to infamy in the last stages of the Golden Age of Piracy, captaining his commandeered and renamed ship, The Stardust. Soon he had connections everywhere and hiding spots on virtually every stretch of land.It was his terrorising the coast that set Admiral Kim on his pirate hunt, cracking down on all suspected pirate activities near the trade routes. Eventually, Kim pressed on even into the uncharted East to find the secret pirate hub of Geobugi, an independent haven where Eden stopped to rest and blow his riches quite frequently. When the Admiral arrived with his haggard crew aboard the Black Crow, Eden and the island forces united to defend Geobugi, defeating them in a bloody shootout that cost both sides dearly. Eden's quartermaster and close friend, Maddox, was injured in the battle, so Eden undertook the voyage back to the mainland, to the town of Panhang where Maddox had grown up on his request to heal him back to full health.Leaving him to recover and promising to come back for him, Eden set out from Panhang but was caught in a summer typhoon. That very same night, he witnessed the deaths of the parents of Kim Hongjoong, a young fisherman's son at the time, and neglected to save them, fearing that he would be identified as a wanted pirate and handed over to the Navy. Eventually, the storm forced him back to the beach, where he found Hongjoong washed up in the early morning and, pitying him, dragged him to a nearby lighthouse, saving his life.Eden waited along the beach for the weather to improve so he could row back out and join his crew where they were anchored, coincidentally meeting Hongjoong there again a couple of days after the incident.When Eden came to Panhang to visit Maddox in the following months, he continued to find Hongjoong waiting for him at the beach. Inevitably, he began teaching him things and soon the boy was growing up and wanted to be apprenticed to him. Eden allowed this and saw it as a type of redemption for allowing his parents to die, but continued to keep the truth from the boy.Check out the backstory spin-offs My Way and Walking in the Darkness and the second half of the main series for more~

Maddox
With an early chapter of Treasure devoted to him, Maddox is a figure always in the background of major events, a dependable support both for his captain Eden and for his young successors, the Ateez. His loyalty and skill make him a valuable ally later on, though the vengeance in his distant past and the mysterious circumstances of his capture prompt suspicion towards him from some of the members.Position: Quartermaster
Hometown: Panhang
Pirate Origin: Having grown up in Panhang where he took over his fathers' business, Maddox very much resented it when Eden attacked and robbed them at the market. In his quest for revenge, he ironically took on an increasingly pirate-leaning persona to hunt the Stardust down, and after a bit of a duel, Eden managed to recruit him to be quartermaster- a job much better suited for him anyway.Check out the backstory spin-off My Way and the main series for more~

Minseob
A strong disciplinarian with a stiff upper lip, Minseob keeps everything in shape and the reputation of the Stardust dark and intimidating, although he admittedly has a soft spot for the young upstart captain of the ATEEZ.Position: Boatswain
Hometown: Kon
Pirate Origin: For most of his life he thought his calling was the Royal Navy, and he was a legendary lieutenant on track for the admiralty before he was bested in combat by Eden and turned pirate. Some of his stricter ways bleed through to the management of the ship, a side effect Eden always appreciated.
Soomin
Other than the classic tale of rags-to-riches, Soomin has plenty to boast about as mastermind behind many of the Stardust's risky maneouvres and bravest in combat (a fact which made up for his early lack of skill).Position: Master Gunner
Hometown: Kon
Pirate Origin: As long as he can remember, Soomin was working on Navy ships. When life as one of a thousand nameless powder monkeys had no direction or opportunity, he convinced his friend Jonghoon to jump ship with him and the rest is history.
Jihan
One of few visionaries in the field of astronomy at the time, Jihan became an unknown pioneer in navigation, responsible for safely directing the Stardust to many remote and magical lands in the height of her voyaging.Position: Navigator
Hometown: Doljeon
Pirate Origin: Since the Navy already had a navigator, there wasn't much Jihan could do to make a living, and he wound up kicked out of his childhood home as a deadbeat teen on the streets. Eden sensed his potential and recruited him to the Stardust, a place where he held on to his rebellious streak but became grounded in the action he experienced.
Jonghoon
Always the more timid of the two, Jonghoon didn't realise his potential until Soomin convinced him to be a pirate. Strong and skillful with firearms, he found he was always obeyed and successful with intimidation, an asset to operating as an officer aboard the Stardust.Position: Master-At-Arms
Hometown: Kon
Pirate Origin: More of a brother than a friend to Soomin as long as he knew him, Jonghoon was always very dependent on him as they navigated the difficult environment of Kon. Trusting Soomin's judgement, Jonghoon switched to piracy and became almost a completely different person.
Youngsaeng
While a naval officer turning pirate is no surprise, a scholar winding up in the rigging is a lot less likely. Nonetheless, the Stardust benefitted for many years from Youngsaeng's determination, optimism, and expertise, and Geobugi continues to benefit from his presence.Position: Master Rigger
Hometown: So-ai
Pirate Origin: After finishing his studies, Youngsaeng made the controversial decision to follow the footsteps of his dead father, becoming a sailor on a merchant ship. In a hiring misunderstanding of untold proportions, he wound up on the Stardust instead and, luckily for everyone, decided to stay.
Namji
Part-time apothecary shop owner and part-time pirate, Namji became the newest addition to the Stardust's officers when she was recruited on Geobugi to replace the traitor Babylon, a job living on the edge of the east and working with the sparse medicine of no man's land prepared her for.Position: Surgeon
Hometown: Tae Gyungkaai
Pirate Origin: Seeking more exciting and useful ways to use her surgeon skills, Namji undertook a dangerous journey as a teenager and travelled east, eventually settling in Geobugi when the colonies were not to her taste, and was well acquainted with all types of people in the free lands, especially pirates. It was a natural conclusion for her to join them when Eden came knocking with the proposal.
Check out the backstory spin-off My Way and the main series for more~

Allies
Other Pirates
Captain Aewol and the Lioness
Captain Minho and the Kiseki
Captain Ren and the Moondancer
Captain Jinyoung and the 7 Seas
Captain Soojung and the Persuasion

The Mystic
The most shadowy and mysterious of all the ATEEZ's allies, not much is known about the Mystic beyond her possession of great power and the strangely slow passage of time on her island.Backstory: The Mystic appears to be a constant throughout the entire timeline covered in the series. It seems as if she has always resided on her island and always will. No one knows when she moved in and transformed the island, but her power of casting spells and prophecy are invaluable to the pirate crews who seek her out. The ATEEZ is introduced to her because of her connection with the crew of the Stardust, and it seems her special relationship with them carries over to the next generation.
Captain Seongho and the Hammerhead II

Perhaps the most famous downfall of any pirate belongs to Captain Seongho of the Hammerhead. Credited as the person who founded Geobugi as a pirate paradise and settled the free islands in its vicinity, his encounters with a young and power-hungry Admiral Kim made him bitter and forever tainted his reputation.Backstory: After rising to prominence and spearheading the Golden Age of piracy, in his arrogance and overestimation of the loyalty of his officers, Seongho was slowly picked apart by then-Captain Kim. After he found himself alone and abandoned by most of his men, Seongho was attacked and lost his eye, his ship, and his influence. Hoping to receive help from the newly emerged Dread Pirate Eden, one who was quickly taking over his own place as the foremost successor of the Golden Age, he asked to be allowed in to the refuge in the caves of Dalhae but was refused, deepening his bitterness. While the war on piracy raged on, Captain Seongho went on a revenge quest. Too cowardly to assassinate Kim outright, he hunted down Navigator Kang, the person he blamed for leading Kim to his hideout. When his attempted kidnapping and ransom of Kang's son Yeosang ended in failure, he commandeered the Hammerhead II and sailed for Geobugi one last time, intending to escape to Haemin and never to leave. Ironically, a significant treasure he had hidden underwater but had never retrieved and lost the map for was found by Yeosang himself a few years later, a fact which takes a few years for Seongho to discover. In his recruiting for the Hammerhead II, his paranoia that his new crew might once again betray him led to his distance and apathy towards them, though nonetheless the young boy Gunho who he recruited in Dalhae as a doctor grew close to him.
This section contains spoilers

Admiral Kim
The foremost and most notorious of all the ATEEZ's villains, whose ambition and skill prove to be the greatest threat piracy has ever known.Backstory:
Admiral Kim was born in Doljeon, Jaecho's capital, to a well off military family and followed in his father's footsteps, entering the academy and graduating with top marks. At the expense of nearly all his friends and companions he made it from midshipman to captain and from captain to admiral. It was around this time that piracy reached an all time peak and pirate hunting became lucrative, a quick step to promotion and better pay. Teaming up with a young Navigator Kang, Kim sought to bring down Captain Seongho of the Hammerhead, the most significant pirate at the time, one who controlled a formidable fleet of his own and with it created the secret pirate haven of Geobugi in the East.In a demonstration of his patience and tactical ability, Kim painstakingly gathered information through a network of sources on many of Seongho's own officers, capturing many, executing the stubbornest and bribing the rest. Some even stepped forward willingly with information to spare their own lives from Kim's massacre. When finally he had Seongho where he wanted him, Kim struck viciously, sinking the Hammerhead and injuring Seongho, gouging out one of his eyes but doing the most torture to his pride.If his superiors were concerned by his sadistic tendencies, they didn't mention it.From this victory Kim only continued to gain power. Another pirate threat appeared on the heels of the Hammerhead relatively quickly. The upstart captain Eden and his crew of the Stardust matched Kim for cunning and proved to be much more difficult to destroy. However, Kim loved a good challenge. The loss of the Hammerhead didn't seem to affect the rest of the pirate community and attacks along the archipelago became more and more frequent. Going for a more hands-on approach, Kim captained the Black Crow on a voyage East, hoping to find the location of the secret pirate haven after a few hints from a mole aboard the pirate Jinyoung's ship.Wearied after a long trip and many hardships, the crew managed to convince Kim to stop after beginning a fortress building project on the furthest abandoned island they managed to reach. The Crow returned for a second voyage and succeeded in locating Geobugi, but by the time they arrived the pirates were ready for them. Led by Eden, the city of pirates completely thrashed the Navy. It was the first real loss for Kim and one that pushed him even harder toward total annihilation of piracy.An opportunity presented itself when Eden was coincidentally captured lurking along the coast and brought to Kim. The Admiral convinced Navigator Kang to join him again and forced Eden to bring them to his crew. However, Eden outsmarted the Admiral once again by leading him into an ambush that the Black Crow crawled away from. It was two strikes for Kim and he was even more enraged by this second loss.Once more fate sided with him a couple of years later with the arrival of a tip from the master of Jangwon Hall in Panhang reporting a suspicious man that had kidnapped a child in their charge. Kim immediately went after them in pursuit, bringing down the Stardust once and for all with a cruel fire ship tactic sure to kill both pirate and child.Convinced of his success, the Admiral gave his condolences to the family (none of whom were all that shaken up over the matter) and basked in his victory and his promotion to the Navy's chief admiral.Until one young pirate began to cause trouble again.Check out the backstory spin-offs The Windy Road and Walking in the Darkness and the second half of the main series for more~
This section contains spoilers

Lieutenant Byun
From Admiral Kim's right hand torturer to the primary leader of a mutiny against him, Lieutenant Byun is one of the most instrumental characters in the latter books of the series.Backstory: As a midshipman, Byun received a report from the captain of the merchant ship Monarch that the secret second prince had been kidnapped by pirates, an event which clued him in to the greater scheme of things. Thinking little of this event in the following year as he worked his way up the ranks and became First Lieutenant to the most celebrated Admiral and naval vessel of all time, the incident nonetheless stayed in his mind and prompted him to convince Kim to spare Seonghwa's life when they tracked the pirates down in Namhae. Doing so led to the prince's reunification with the royal family and eventual coronation, and at that moment, the "softening" of a lieutenant who previously had taken no issue with beating a pirate within an inch of his life began.
Steward Doh
As arguably the first person on the Black Crow to be wholly won over by Lucky's charisma, Doh remains at the heart of the mutiny, though quiet and operating mostly behind the scenes.Backstory: A professional in the culinary arts, Doh chose a more dangerous and unpredictable career path than most high-quality chefs and joined the Black Crow at around the same time as Surgeon Oh, creating a bond between the two. While the surgeon hesitated to show kindness to the pirate prisoner, Doh had no qualms sneaking him extra servings and making conversation with him, a disposition which created a jumping-off point for the eventual mutiny.
Helmsman Kim
Offered a chance to redeem himself from a mistake early on in the Haemin war that cost in lives, the choice the stubborn helmsman makes could either result in the loss of more or the saving of many others.Backstory: Despite being a coxswain for the Black Crow before, the battle off Kibo was Helmsman Kim's first time steering her himself, and his distractedness on the edge of battle resulted in the ship drifting too close to shore and opening up space for the second Haemin ship to collide with them. This prompted a boarding and close combat that, while the Crow won, was nonetheless costly. As much as he wanted to write off the misjudgement, the other lieutenants were every bit as aware of it as he was and used the mistake as well as his loyalty to the throne as an argument to convince the helmsman to join their mutiny, a decision which could have ended the scheme then and there.
Lieutenant Park
Initially a people-pleasing rule follower, the least of the Black Crow's lieutenants nonetheless becomes integral to shifting allegiances on board in the favour of the pirates.Backstory: Park joins both the story and the crew of the Black Crow late in comparison to others, and his immense loyalty to the crown prompts him at first to obey the Admiral unconditionally before his growing affection for the prisoner Lucky causes him to question his orders, instead aligning with the other lieutenants, especially when a drunk night's conversation with Navigator Kang reveals Admiral Kim's secret assassination plot and wholly changes Park's view of him.
Midshipman Moon
Though little more than an errand runner in his early appearances, the sympathetic midshipman takes advantage of his close position to his superiors and earns more and more responsibility throughout the ongoing war.Backstory: When he discovered he was going to be assigned to the Black Crow at the beginning of the Haemin war, Moon was thrilled to serve the legendary Admiral Kim. Upon actually meeting him and spending most of his time with the merciful lieutenants who were forgiving of his rookie mistakes, he gravitated to them instead and, though risking his career and his very life, trusted their judgment enough to cover up and keep a lookout for their secret meetings with Lucky.
Lieutenant Gu
Whatever doubts second lieutenant Gu may have had about Admiral Kim's tactics and relentless pursuit of glory to the detriment of everyone else went with him to the bottom of the sea, but his death did provide the crew with an opportunity to free themselves.Backstory: Though not mentioned until after the fact, the initially pro-Admiral Kim officer was among those killed in the battle off Kibo as a result of the helmsman's mistake. This caused Han's promotion and subsequent mutiny though questions are raised as to what Gu's own opinion would have been on the matter. As a rich nobleman with extensive seafaring experience, he trusted the Admiral's judgement on most things and occasionally butted heads with Lieutenant Byun, one rank his superior, but ultimately perished in the battle and created space for the eventual mutiny.
Surgeon Oh
The most skeptical of the stoic duo, Surgeon Oh does everything he can to advance his research. But when a more important decision concerning the fate of the Black Crow is his to make, his trust in his fellow lieutenants proves to win out in the end.Backstory: As the best doctor in Doljeon, Oh's career with the Navy naturally landed him a place on the Black Crow, their best ship. For many years he kept her crew and most importantly, her captain, alive until the next battle. His apathetic approach to patients in favour of using them as research subjects results in some difficulty until gradually he softens into a reliable ally, however skeptical he remains.
Assassin Jang
Despite only appearing a few times, the silent assassin's impact on the plot is massive. The single event of his failed mission to kill the second prince creates a ripple effect that changes allegiances and causes battles.Backstory: As someone whose very existence is off-record, little is known about Assassin Jang, even to the high-ranking figures who hired him. Admiral Kim, having used his services once or twice, was familiar enough with his track record to send him after the high profile target of the royal family, a decision which came back to bite him when not only did Jang fail to finish the job, but his officers found out about the arrangement and disapproved.
Lieutenant Han
A quieter officer with his opinions than most of the others, Han is assumed to be aligned with the admiral until a surprising conversion puts the officers in position to secretly plan to overthrow him.Backstory: A close friend of Lieutenant Gu's, Han originally shared his views on the Admiral's methods, until Gu's death caused him to question Kim's selfish recklessness. When he moved up from the rank of third lieutenant to second but continued to meticulously run the ship without any indication that his ideas had changed, the other lieutenants took a gamble on inviting him to their secret meeting, one that paid off when it was discovered that he was indeed of the same mind.
Check out the second half of the main series for more~
This section contains spoilers

Admiral Lee
A staunch supporter of the Royal family and military traditionalist, the elder Admiral Lee is distant until the final volume, where his underlying fears may open up an opportunity for transformation.Backstory: Born into the upper class with a proverbial foot in the door of the palace, Lee didn't struggle too much in his journey to become a commissioned officer. Though he proved himself to his superiors and advanced through the ranks until the crowning achievement of Admiralship was bestowed on him, he took up a much more cautious approach later in life. Letting other power hungry officers do his dirty work, the thought that he might have to involve himself directly in combat again didn't cross his mind and he did what he could to avoid it... until war with Haemin, and widespread change in even the highest levels of government.
Lieutenant Yoo
Although he may be the first lieutenant of a mere escort ship to the Black Crow, Yoo Dojoon wears his title with pride and remains committed to his men, even when a Haemin ambush threatens to claim his very life.Backstory: Deciding on a Navy career a bit later in life than usual and missing his chance at promotion more than once, Yoo remained a midshipman up until the king's assassination when the Haemin War broke out and his skill with the language was needed. Hungry to do his duty to the crown, he grasped the opportunity with both hands, charging ahead with more fervour than the captain himself and earning the respect of a certain navigator-turned-pirate. Despite plenty of action experience, the Battle off Kibo is his first one leading the efforts and though it does not prove enough in the end, Yoo goes down with the ship knowing he did his duty.
Captain Bang
As someone whose entire job is catching pirates for the Navy, it's difficult to imagine a Bang Si-Hyuk before his privateering days. Nonetheless his position is pivotal for more than a few events in Treasure.Backstory: After turning coat on his fellow pirates when he saw the way things were headed with Seongho, Bang offered his services to the Admiralty. He decided to run his ship the Navy way, using their recruitment and examination system to secure himself lieutenants, midshipmen, cadets, and the like. Over time his original pirate crew was all but phased out and replaced with naval officers. Constantly making efforts to prove himself an asset to them, he let the Admirals meddle when they wished and relentlessly pursued every pirate crew he caught wind of. Sometimes overestimating himself, he suffered plenty of losses and ship changes, and knowing he was costing the Navy in resources, spent time sidling up to the influential upper crust at Bundam Lake, even rescuing a young Yeosang in a kidnapping situation. By the time the main series takes place, it has become clear that however immoral Bang may have been as a pirate, he became ten times worse in bloodshed as a privateer.
This section is a work in progress

Fortress
This section contains spoilers
The Master and his Wife

The main villain of Volume 2, a mysterious businessman with control of an entire island, turns out to be a much more difficult challenge than initially suspected, with his invisible informants, clever mind games, and seemingly unending reach.Backstory:
It is almost impossible to report a backstory on the Master. No one knows how or when he came to power over the Fortress Island to such an extent, what his true aims are with his ever expanding slave trade business, or even his real name. His followers are silent and unwavering and his connections to the other enemies of the ATEEZ are shrouded in mystery.Even less is known about his wife. Trained in etiquette and social graces, she has the poise of an upper class matron but lives under the shadow of her manipulative husband, forbidden from even introducing herself by name. Though aware of the general bent of his schemes, she turns a blind eye until her final hour, when despair and realisation send her to her doom.
This section contains spoilers
Seunghyun

The Master's accomplice, enforcer, and right hand man, Seunghyun follows orders creatively but without question. His wit and ability to command combine to blindside the pirate crew with a mutiny, but for all his ego and self-preservation, he becomes just another pawn in the game.Backstory:
Seunghyun became a ward of the Master when he was likely not much older than little Junyoung. By adulthood he can't properly remember how it was that he came to be sold but it was the Master who graciously bought him and took him under his wing, grooming him into the next Master of the Fortress. Over the years, he hones his craft of taking unsuspecting crews and acquiring their ships with a variety of tactics, helping the Master to keep his slaves working and his islanders in line.It's when Seunghyun is in his prime that he makes a fatal mistake; failing to realise that the Master's affection for a newly captured ward has eclipsed his affection for his own. With the pirate Hongjoong under his wing, the Master allows Seunghyun to be manipulated to his doom, his death serving as a test... one that is ultimately a failure.
This section is a work in progress

Other
This section contains spoilers
Babylon

Originally the Stardust's surgeon and cook, Babylon has many names and goes through many forms as he changes in character. From doctor to pirate to sorcerer to slavemaster, this shapeshifting villain is one of the slimiest in ATEEZ's history.Hometown: Kon
Backstory:
Originally trained as a physician, Lee Jongmin was in possession of a loose moral code ever since his childhood on the bad side of town. He followed where the money led and not long into the recession that hit Kon he made the economical decision to join the Stardust officers, hired on by Eden. Being in possession of a number of useful skills, including cooking, he became an invaluable member of the crew and happily remained so until one voyage when he stumbled upon a certain spellbook in a village in the archipelago.Convinced to dark magic, he began performing experiments in the form of blood rituals, picking off crew members one by one. When caught, he used Eden's mercy against him, requesting to be marooned on an uninhabited island in the south seas. There, he made himself an estate that served as his base of operations while he perfected his ability to shapeshift and continued to study spells. He was instrumental in the demon legion's first plan; inhabiting every human on earth. When they decided to come at the problem of world domination another way-- through inhabiting powerful individuals-- it was Babylon's job to keep an eye on them. He created a working relationship with the Navy and moved in to an estate on the Fortress Island to keep tabs on the Master.After the Master's failure to gain any more control and the Navy's abandonment of him (thanks to the battle with the ATEEZ, where fire was set to the island) he fled, injured, to his final resting place; the location of his marooning, shot lodged in him from Yeosang's gun.Though Eden gives him a burial at sea, the demon's plans live on. Babylon's part in them is merely over.
This section is a work in progress
Haemin Enemies

This section contains spoilers
Demons

A creeping evil in the third volume, the demons lying in wait do not give up their goal easily and return in the fifth instalment. With many abilities in magic, their weaknesses are difficult to pinpoint, but their prior brush with pirates may bring about their downfall.Backstory:
Similar in appearance to the mythical dokkaebi but less mischievous and more evil, a demon in the Treasure universe is part of a team, a legion. Tired of their low position in the underworld, the demonic forces took any opportunity they could to be summoned to earth. When one millennia the pirate Babylon first dabbled in sorcery and brought the prime demon into the world via spellbook, they began together on the demon legion's first plan; inhabiting every human on earth. When this strategy proved to be slow-going and impractical, they changed tactics.Now marooned and left to his own devices, Babylon did the demons' bidding and monitored the three powers of the world known to him; the king of Jaecho, the king of Haemin, and the Master of the Fortress Island. The strongest of these was Jaecho with its riches and control of other territories, so it became the main target. Although Babylon met his demise, the spellbook passed to another and an opportunity arose. The new owner, San, was unexperienced in magic and when he accidentally summoned the prime demon yet again, it took advantage of his proximity to second prince of Jaecho, Seonghwa, and attempted to wrestle control of the country through him.Despite failure and banishment, the prime demon's companions were already at work possessing the king of Haemin and wrestling control of that country. All that was left was to wage war and take Jaecho by force.And then a certain pirate crew intervened yet again.
This section is a work in progress
Family

Instrumental to the upbringing of our heroes from their very first days, the family members of the ATEEZ officers appear in the spinoff works, some more than others, and leave lasting impacts even after some among them are long gone.Only biological and marital relatives are listed here, but all other figures in the backstories, central and minor, can be found in the "background" section.
The Kims of Jangwon Hall

Kim Hohyun
An influence on his life long after his untimely death, Hongjoong's father was his first teacher and his memory continues on in his adventurous sense of humour and the bright colours he uses to paint the ship.Backstory: Born in Panhang to the incredibly wealthy and influential Kim family in Jangwon Hall, Hohyun had a comfortable upper class upbringing but was left unfulfilled being the sixth and youngest child of the Master of the Hall. Knowing he would not inherit much and not desiring riches, he married a commoner woman for love instead of gain and purchased a cottage near the city. His self-taught fishing trade was his pride and joy and he eagerly involved his son in it, hoping to pass the business on. His perceived recklessness earned him a great deal of skepticism from relatives, but he carried on without heeding them. Growing more and more estranged from his family was of no concern when he had everything he needed in the life he had made for himself. Never once did he suspect he would drown in a summer typhoon.
Grandfather Kiduk
The patriarch of the affluent Kim family has done a lot to maintain their status in the upper crust, but his commitment to being Master of Jangwon may border on obsession and an inability to let go.Backstory: The Kims had been running the show in Panhang since long before Kiduk's time, back when the first master and architect of Jangwon began in lucrative fishing. Later generations then amassed a fortune in farming, and Kiduk's leadership saw the Kim family's enterprise expand to include mining. He took over for his own father diligently after years of preparation and put the family fortune first at personal cost more than once. By the time he raised all six of his children and grew old and senile, his own son Ryeowook was chomping at the bit. Though Kiduk refused to officially hand over the reins of Jangwon until his death, he spends most of his days bedridden during Hongjoong's childhood, quietly usurped by his son in name but respected and honoured above all nonetheless.
Cousin Seyong
Hongjoong's new guardian in name though not legally, his cousin Seyong is a bit young to be his father but tries to fill that role regardless. Shy and withdrawn but reliable and principled, he finds himself stretched thin and does his best for his family.Backstory: Raised to be a genteel and stately heir of the Hall, Seyong always acted with decorum and generosity towards those of his own station as well as those lower in society. Though he was spoiled as a child, he took time in his teenage years to travel and come to understand the world outside of Panhang, returning humbled... and in love. Since marrying Yujung, it became routine for him to act as the middle man, needing to defend her from his judgmental family, especially his mother, and Seyong struggled to stand up for himself but put his wife first in every situation thereafter. After the death of his young uncle Hohyun, the family member dearest to him, he retreated even more into his shell and it was not until the birth of his son that smiles began to grace his face again. The future of Jangwon would be safe in his hands, but it would not be Hongjoong's future.
Aunt Sohee & Uncle Raewon
A lover of music and expert entertainer, Kiduk's third child Sohee takes a liking to Hongjoong-- or more specifically, Hongjoong's talent-- and crafts big dreams for him, hoping to leverage one of her many upper class connections to give him the life she would've lived had she taken a different path.Backstory: Pretty, flirtatious, and clever, Sohee had the pick of any man she wanted in Panhang and enjoyed her fair share of admirers growing up, taking great pleasure in navigating the web of society. Although she was arguably a touch ditsy, especially in comparison to her uptight older sister, Sohee adored the stage, found success in the arts, and loved studying the pianoforte most of all. After turning down many offers of engagement, she one day had to come to terms with the fact that the perfect man of her dreams simply did not exist, and so settled for Raewon. A few years older than her and much more pragmatic and guarded than she, he was a successful banker deemed a good match by both families in a general consensus and their marriage, though not as passionate and magical as Sohee once desired, was stable and loving and produced her beloved son Myungsoo. In the emotional time after Hoyhun and Eunha's deaths, she discovered and latched onto Hongjoong's musical ability and increased her attention to his piano lessons, investing her time and fellow musician contacts into his future career. Though his disappearance stopped those plans from coming to fruition, Hongjoong's discovery of little Yubin's affection for music gave Sohee a new project and a new young gentleman to fashion into a performer.
Baek Eunha
Hongjoong's talented and devoted mother, the source of his knowledge of medicine and gentle disposition, Eunha was sadly plagued by anxiety and paranoia in later life thanks to the tragic death of her first child.Backstory: Eunha was the daughter of one of Jangwon Hall's gardeners, and though she grew up wishing to be a lady, she could never have imagined her childhood crush on the master's youngest son would blossom into a beautiful romance and then a beautiful family. When her firstborn repeatedly became ill, she began working tirelessly at Panhang's main herbalist store to help afford the doctors. His death sent her spiralling into a depression that haunted her for years to come.
Though she loved Hongjoong dearly and protected him desperately from the world, her bright and creative soul had somewhat dimmed by the time he was born. Still, her diary passed to him along with a love of books, music, and learning, and a bit of botanical knowledge that would later save his life.
Uncle Ryeowook
According to My Way, Ryeowook has transformed into a cold, distant relative weighed down by the pressure of managing the largest estate in the northeast and aristocratic center of the coastline.Backstory: In Hongjoong's own words, Uncle Ryeowook was the eldest and acted as master of the household, perhaps preemptively, and ever since he had taken up that mantle the fun and softhearted Uncle that Hongjoong remembered had been replaced by this man. As the first of six children, responsibility was no stranger to him and he trained in business and economics while leadership of Panhang loomed for many years. After the birth of his own son and later on in his prime, he was kinder and warmer to those around him, including his youngest brother and his small family, but taking over for his father when it was deemed best meant little time for fun and frivolity. To Ryeowook, the Kim name is their most important asset, and though he can be reasoned and negotiated with, no currency can have more value than influence.
Yujung & Yubin
Out of all his relatives it is Yujung, a mere cousin-in-law, whom Hongjoong trusts the most. Empathetic and kind, it is she who does what she can for him after his parents' passing despite her own timid nature and the stress of living at Jangwon.Backstory: Even while growing up in Doljeon as a clothing shopkeeper's daughter, Yujung was well acquainted with loss. After losing her mother and younger brother in childbirth, she developed anxiety about pregnancy and swore she'd never have a child. When she met Seyong on his tour of Jaecho, she remained firm in that promise even as she fell in love with him and agreed to marriage. From her wedding day onward, she was a cog in the machine of Jangwon, constantly pressed upon by the rest of Seyong's family to produce an heir. It was Eunha who helped her feel comfortable with the Kim family and welcomed her with open arms. They became fast friends, and seeing her joy at being Hyunseok's mother created a longing in Yujung, despite her vow, to have children of her own. Hyunseok's loss and then Hohyun and Eunha's much later only served to make Yujung more and more withdrawn, scared of showing love only to lose those closest to her. She overcame her fears with the birth of her son Yubin, healthy despite complications, and lovingly dedicates her life to raising him, though Hongjoong as a side effect slowly fades from her view.
Cousin Myungsoo & Bora
Though distant from Hongjoong and only really friends in name, Myungsoo is the closest relative to his age and achieves the escape from Jangwon Hall that the pirate could only dream of in his younger days.Backstory: A free spirit in the middle of a large family, Myungsoo grew up feeling somewhat suffocated and sought his independence early in his teenage years. Though he took after his analytical father, his mother Sohee tried and failed to interest him in art and music at a young age. He much preferred going out with his many friends and was often absent from the Hall. Since he was not directly in line to inherit the position of Master of Jangwon, he spent his days searching for a career that interested him and befit his aristocratic background, trying multiple and eventually settling on becoming a barrister. Sweet, sociable Bora was a good partner for him. Although she was the child of a wealthy land owner in Hamnyong, and the only daughter among many sons, she was not above making friends with anyone from any social class (even Mingi's mother). Interestingly, she also unknowingly creates a distant connection between Hongjoong and Yeosang by bridging the gap between the Kang and Kim families. Her brother is married to Yeosang's older sister Yeseul, and she marries Hongjoong's cousin Myungsoo.
Kim Hyunseok
Only ever a ghost from the past to Hongjoong, his sickly elder brother lived a life of turmoil, but one Hongjoong always wishes he could have known.Backstory: Despite being born into a loving family that did all they could for him, mysterious illness repeatedly struck Hyunseok from a young age. Refusing to allow these setbacks to influence his life, he carried on going to school and playing with friends as long as he could, defying his mother's wishes. Although her overprotectiveness in his time had not yet reached the height it would grow to when his younger brother was born, years later, it was strong enough in the end to convince him that she was right. He did his best to be well again for her and spent the last few weeks comfortable in bed at home. Eventually, the disease got the better of him and he succumbed and died at a mere ten years old.
Aunt Minkyung
In a competition for Hongjoong's least favourite relative, Minkyung would likely win. Greedy, stuck-up, and uncompromising, no one makes his life there more difficult than she.Backstory: Being daughter of a councilman, Minkyung had everything growing up and was always on the lookout for more; prettier dresses, fancier meals, more expensive decorations. Ever conscious of her status as a lady, she married for the money but would never admit it. Needing to maintain social standing at all costs, she bent her every effort toward impressing guests and running the Hall the proper way. Hosting the Midwinter's and Midsummer's Balls became her favourite traditions, opportunities to show off the luxury of Jangwon. Bearing the next heir of the hall was her next greatest achievement, and she spoiled him with one hand and brought him up as a proper gentleman with the other. Though she remained a stickler for order and formality, certain relatives close to her carved out a soft spot in her heart. When out of her favour, however, whether through one's own fault or not, it is nearly impossible to find a way in.
Aunt Ajung
Snobby, sarcastic, and snide with a special contempt for young children, Aunt Ajung is a thorn in Hongjoong's side as a boy, although she eventually starts to respect him as he ages and regards him with a sense of shame.Backstory: Kiduk's second oldest and the eldest daughter, Ajung worked hard to become the golden child of Jangwon in her youth, overperforming in her studies and becoming an expert in manners, though her younger sister Sohee's natural charm typically prevailed over her own. She was always a bit bossy and controlling, with a need for everything to be organised just so to maintain the family's social standing and impress any potential suitors. When Minkyung married into the family, Ajung developed a sort of love/hate relationship to her, jealous and put out by her creative control over the inner workings of the Hall but impressed by her wit and ruthlessness in getting what she wanted, confiding in her from time to time. Hoping to marry into another stately family and craft a legacy of her own with many children, Ajung threw all her hopes on a man who convinced her with promises but ultimately left her at the altar for a more beautiful woman, turning her bitter past the point of no return. Not even her youngest brother's death could sway her into embracing her youngest nephew, though when he emerges as a charming young man himself she later regrets her harshness.
Uncle Dongwon & Uncle Donghyun
The troublesome twins of Jangwon Hall are a burden to the rest of the family but a fascination to Hongjoong. As the pair share their knowledge of the world with him, he grows in-- at the very least-- his ability to hold his liquor.Backstory: Fourth and fifth of Kiduk's children respectively, the twins were in a similar situation as Hohyun; stuck at the bottom of the food chain with little chance of inheriting as much as their older siblings. Unlike Hohyun however, neither one committed to crafting a life on their own merit, and they remained as undisciplined and lazy as they had been in their teens, a feat only excusable due to class. Though they had once been close to their younger brother as children, they naturally drifted apart from him, spending their time in private social clubs drinking and seeking entertainment. Despite their professed rivalry with one another, they remained close as twins and bickered among themselves at every turn. Dongwon, a few minutes Donghyun's senior, always considered himself more mature, but fell into the same vices regardless. The twins, out of all the siblings, were secretly the most affected by Hohyun's death, though they never let it on and drank their woes away.
The Park Royal Family

King Geumjong
Like many monarchs, King Geumjong of Jaecho desired greatness but instead left a complicated legacy, praised for keeping the country secure and prosperous during his reign, but criticised for his corruption.Backstory: Great-grandson of the wandering warrior Park Chul who had established the present dynasty, Geumjong was raised with a view to preserving the Jaecho that had sprung up in past generations, a wealthy country that had expanded to claim land and resources in the colonies and a few outposts elsewhere. He himself had helped in the military campaign to construct fortresses on the islands as his father's representative and, when his father stepped down from the throne due to illness, continued to pay great attention to establishing profitable supply lines as king. Although this initiative added considerable riches to Jaecho and improved the economy as a whole, Geumjong found himself rocked by constant scandals which tarnished public opinion of him. He was particularly lambasted for accepting bribes and placing friends in high positions in the government, acts which caused rioting in multiple cities that went on for some time. Infidelity to the queen became another of his misconducts, unwittingly resulting in the birth of three sons instead of two, a fact he refused to believe. His reign saw the decline and then re-emergence of piracy, one of whom was his own son Seonghwa, another fact he would never learn before his assassination at the hands of the neighbouring southern country of Haemin.
Queen Indeok
Queen Consort and later Queen Mother Indeok bears many blows over her time in the palace, many of which are the fault of her own husband, but stands beside him loyally thanks to her strong sense of duty.Backstory: The daughter of one of the high ranking ministers in the palace court, Indeok was already a noblewoman before her selection as queen. Though she did perform exceedingly well in the rigorous process and was agreed upon to be a virtuous candidate and a good match, it was questioned by many outside the palace whether she had truly been selected on her own merits or as a result of her father's bribery. This rumour haunted Indeok who dedicated herself to proving her ability and sophistication, doubling down on the traditions of the royalty, not caring that her marriage was essentially a political alliance and even entirely unaware for a long time that an attempt was made on her life. She performed her duty to give birth to a crown prince and then gave birth to a second prince, three years later. As was the custom, she left her children to the palace staff to be raised and did not think much of young Junhee's cries that his little brother had been replaced at five years old. When their second son appeared to become deformed, Indeok supported her husband's decision to confine him from the palace away from the public eye and carried on with her life without missing a single step. Only years later, when Junhee's accusation proved to be true, did she falter in her firm judgment. The King was suddenly assassinated shortly after and Indeok was left to grapple with the fallout; her firstborn being crowned and her second son returning, a complete stranger to her and to the kingdom.
Park Junhee
Out of the entire royal family, perhaps no one else resents the isolation of the palace as much as Junhee. His intelligence, determination, and willingness to get his hands dirty eventually make him a potential ally for his long lost brother Seonghwa.Backstory: Born and raised with the future most important job in the world in the most secluded environment in the capital, Crown Prince Junhee longed for freedom for as long as he could remember. He was much too adventurous for a prince and once, in his exploration of his baby brother's room, had even dropped him accidentally, secretly scarring his head. He remained curious throughout his youth and was attentive to his lessons, learning as much as he could about the world for when his coronation day came. He attempted to maintain a close relationship with his little brother although it was not strictly permitted and, at a mere eight years old, was the only person to notice that he had been switched with another child. No one else believed him but he became obsessed with the idea and vowed to find him. Out of favour with his parents due to his unconventional attitude, he secured permission to join the navy, an undercover position he kept while he searched for Seonghwa for years. Unbekownst to him, they did in fact meet while both disguised, but soon after overhearing a report and speaking with the merchant Hwang, finding out that he had been captured by pirates, Junhee had no choice but to assume his brother was dead. After travelling a while longer and getting to know the common people he would be ruling, he finally agreed to marry and that is when Seonghwa finally came to his door, no more disguises, to reveal himself.
The Jeong Family of So-Ai

Father
The just and scholarly type, Yunho's Father passed on an inquisitive nature and interest in studying the world as well as excellent social skills. Though he was gone too soon, those he left behind would become key figures in a world history he would have been fascinated with.Backstory: Being descended from an Old World artisanal family, Yunho's Father could have carried on the family trade and remained in the vaguely middle class stratum, but was more of a scholar than a worker and used his allowance to attend the University of So-Ai instead, studying the modern languages. Thanks to his education at such a prestigious institution he easily landed a position with them as professor and climbed the ranks gradually, making a hefty salary in comparison to the rest of his relatives. After meeting his wife and settling into life with her and their two sons, he started them early on a first-rate education at the local Academy for Youth, hoping they would take an interest in the liberal arts as he had. Though he did not approve of some of the king's policies and certainly took issue with his apparent bribery, he ironically was not intending to join the protest in So-Ai that fateful night and was accidentally killed in the riot that ensued, forever altering the course of Yunho's life.
Mother
Brave, honest, and hard working, Yunho's Mother was his cornerstone, and not only his but especially his brother Gunho's. An important member of society, So-Ai itself seems different after her death. Life without her never quite makes sense the way it did when she was there.Backstory: The eldest daughter of a mountain dwelling architect, Yunho's Mother had a strong work ethic and sense of morals from childhood and became the manager of everything; her siblings, her ailing mother, the housework, the finances, even her father's clientele. When she met her future husband at a social ball, they connected instantly but it was she that made the first move and confessed her feelings after courting for awhile. As an active member of society, frequently aiding charities and helping the poor as well as arranging events for others of her class and supporting fellow young ladies, she was sought after by many but only gave her heart to one. After marrying and starting a family, she managed a household and finances of her own with poise, investing the most time and energy into her two sons. It was due to her insistence that a few rioters in the square should not spoil their dinner that she and Yunho's Father set out that night but did not return. All she leaves behind to her sons is the music box she used to sing them to sleep.
Jeong Gunho
Younger and "softer" of the Jeong brothers is Gunho, the sweet and innocent one who seemed as if he would never become a pirate. After embarking on pirate adventures of his own with the goal of supporting Gunho, Yunho is shocked to learn that he-- and everyone else-- was wrong.Backstory: Suddenly orphaned at a young age, Gunho did not adjust well to life in the orphanage. Despite having a chance at adoption due to his age and disposition, he remained loyal to his older brother and went along with his harebrained schemes for survival on the streets of So-Ai, then eventually Dalhae. Having an interest in nature, he was always kind to animals and knowledgable about plants-- traits that made him better suited for a quiet life than one of constant danger. The more athletic and adventurous Yunho was always fiercely protective of him because he never was much of a fighter. Feeling guilty about their dishonest and dangerous means of making a living, Gunho was relegated to using his cuteness and charm and working much more behind the scenes than Yunho. Desiring a community after his brother left to earn money for the both of them as a pirate, he joined Seongho's second crew as their healer, a job he was suited to even if the life of piracy was ultimately not for him.
The Kangs of Bundam Lake

Navigator Kang Dongyeop
Loyalty is everything to Yeosang's father, Head Navigator Kang. Bookish, reclusive, and sometimes even emotionally distant as well as physically, he pursues eastern voyages and parenting the same way; with order and accuracy. Though he loves his children dearly, he finds himself questioning both Yeosang's loyalty to him, and his own loyalty to crown and country in a brewing war.Backstory: Son of a well to do navy doctor, Dongyeop was well acquainted with the seas from a young age and longed to explore further east and chart the stars everywhere he went. He joined the navy as a midshipman before being taken on as navigator and rising in the ranks until he was commissioned to join the Black Crow, beginning a long partnership with Admiral Kim that would weather many storms. Considered a bit of a taciturn wallflower, he never expected to woo Yeosang's mother, the jewel of the academy. Being himself, he forged a connection with her that lasted even beyond her death (an event that wounded him deeply). Ignoring his own reservations about the Admiral's methods, he was often absent hunting pirates and reconnected each time he returned home to a son who looked up to him with wonder. His stories of discovering Seongho in the Dalhae caves, founding the fortress on Maddox's island, and searching out Eden's crew became inspirational larger than life tales to Yeosang but also created enemies. After learning of his son's pirate exploits, he collected and confined him to the house before signing him up for the war as a trial by fire. Only when Yeosang is presumed dead at Kibo does he realise his mistake and give up the fight, ransomed by the enemy and haunted by the possibility that his son survived.
Mother
A quiet and calculating woman of legendary beauty, Yeosang's mother was the object of desire of half the naval academy in her youth. Though treated by certain members of society and especially her peers with jealousy and suspicion, she was not truly as vain and superficial as they claimed and in fact, to those she trusted, she showed herself to be honest and generous.Backstory: Hailed for her entire childhood as the prettiest girl on Bundam Lake, Yeosang's mother was raised with the expectation that she would marry well. Aside from her good looks, she was endowed with a great deal of natural charm and boasted a good lineage, being born to one of the top Admirals who enjoyed an illustrious career and later became an instructor at the Naval Academy. Though her parents neglected her formal education and the hiring of a tutor in favour of more domestic pursuits such as gardening and needlework, she mastered them all and took on mathematics in addition. Because of the scandalous rumours invented about her, she kept her circle small and only revealed her true self to the single suitor who seemed to want to know her as a person, not just a potential wife-- the man who would ironically go on to become her husband. The two were a good match and it was plain to see, even to the competitors for her hand. Finally able to drop her guard, she loosened up considerably over the course of their life together, giving her whole heart in the process of raising a daughter of her own to succeed the way she had succeeded but tragically dying in childbirth much later to her son Yeosang.
Kang Yeseul
Caught between wanting to live up to her mother's example but also wanting a life of her own, Yeseul grew up a bit too quickly. Spunky, outgoing, and affectionate, she provides a foil to the more reserved Yeosang and does what she can to steer him in the right direction despite her own sense of adventure.Backstory: An only child until she approached her teenage years, Yeseul enjoyed the love and attention of both her parents when they were active members of upper class society. She was excited about the world and impatient to join it. Like her mother, she was trained in home economics and mastered embroidery, dancing, and language arts, though she had no interest in the boys at the Naval Academy. She was especially fond of poetry and memorised a great deal more than was required of her. Thanks to her father's interest in her education-- and due to her own insistence-- she learned science, history, rhetoric and all manner of academic subjects typically considered unimportant for a girl of her status. Geography was her favourite and she dreamed of going on adventures and writing a travelogue or a novel. Yeseul was twelve years old when her mother died and her little brother was born. She became something of a maternal figure to him at home, but also spent a great deal of time travelling in the south where she eventually met her husband, a nobleman from Hamnyong, and moved to the other side of the lake with him for most of the year, keeping a winter home in Tae Gyungkaai. She could never stray too far from home while her brother was still a child, feeling the responsibility to protect and prepare him. With Yeosang coming of age, however, there was no telling what paths may open for her.
The Namhae Choi Family

Choi Jongcheol
Simultaneously strict and doting, especially on his daughter, San's father Jongcheol is the most disciplined man he knows. Despite carrying a dark and painful past of his own, everything he does is for the family he has left, and San learns how to defend himself under his teaching.Backstory: Hailing from the archipelago island of Namhae, it was always Jongcheol's goal to escape to the mainland. Though he loved his parents and cultivated a positive relationship with them in his adulthood, he took the opportunity when it came to him to train in the Hagilsan mountains to be a palace guard. It was here that he met his first love, a temple priestess in the village where he was learning martial arts. Their hurried romance and rushed marriage brought a daughter into the world; Haneul. When the time came for him to go to Doljeon and the priestess ended things and cut him off, he alone became responsible for Haneul. Struggling to both care for an infant and train at the palace, Jongcheol would've given up if not for Seol Myungok, the court lady who worked at the palace laundry. She gave valuable advice and began to assist him regularly, and the two gradually fell in love. They married quietly and some time later had a son, San, but their days together tragically ended with Myungok's death in a palace assassination attempt. Due to his insistence that the case be properly investigated and his threatening to expose their cowardice when his superiors decided to cover it up, Jongcheol was dishonourably dismissed from the guard, packing his bags and moving to a small town on the river, disgraced and poor. There was nothing left for him to do but open a studio to teach martial arts and sword fighting and raise his children, struggling to maintain the house on his own until he could hire workers. Afraid to lose yet another, his beloved daughter, this time to sickness, he didn't easily pick up on the changing dynamics at home while he was out working long hours. Jongcheol always wished his children would be like true siblings to each other and when the time came to make a decision, he parted with them for their good as a family, knowing it would pain him inside.
Grandfather
Industrious and a bit gruff, San's grandfather has a stern side formed by years of hard labour and calloused skin, but also a jovial personality fond of jokes and of his grandchildren. He's had to work ceaselessly for everything in life, and respects most those who do the same.Backstory: Grandfather took over his father's carpentry business just as his father had taken over his grandfather's. Tradition was his life, and the very goal of building something at all was in order to make it last for generations. He faced adversity on Namhae just as his forebears had, although to him one such struggle was in marrying a woman whose family looked down on him. Determined to prove himself, he made a living that everyone could be proud of, with skill and creativity in his handiwork at the shop. It then came as a great shock to him that after everything he had done to craft the perfect life, his son Jongcheol wanted to leave and refused to take over the family business. Age was no factor for Grandfather, and he worked on as he grew older and older with no one as his apprentice. It wouldn't be right to hand the shop off to some village boy. When Jongcheol smoothed over their relationship through years of careful mending, Grandfather was happy to care for his two children for however long he needed, and was pleased to find that young San had some skill with carpentry. Despite his patience with him, San instead heard the call of the sea and so Grandfather fixed up the sailboat, likely giving up the future of his shop.
Seol Myungok
A shadow from the past, the mother San has almost no memory of, Myungok lived a dramatic life that ended in a dramatic death. Courageous and honourable but also generous and compassionate, she took mercy on a struggling Jongcheol who would much rather have died in her place.Backstory: Following the footsteps of her mother, Myungok worked alongside her in the palace laundry for some time before her promotion to a full time court lady, living in the palace and tending to the Queen's clothing every day. Though she was acquainted with Lina, the princes' nurse, she never met the second prince herself and ultimately died a few years before he was switched. She was one of a tight-knit group, aside from a laundry maid who secretly disapproved of the Queen and plotted her death. Believing she had forfeited any chance at marriage or even a normal life when she was summoned to live in the palace, it was not Myungok's intention to fall in love with the new royal guard. Her rank of court ladies occasionally had dealings with them and, thanks to her strong sense of duty where it came to the security of the royal family, Myungok especially kept an eye on new recruits. As a result she was the first to learn he had an infant daughter and to notice that he was struggling to care for her. It was unusual but not forbidden for court ladies and royal guards to visit one another's chambers, so taking mercy on him and his child, she offered to use her spare time to help Jongcheol with childrearing. They became fond of each other and discovered how alike their worldviews and dispositions were, endearing them to one another even when they weren't bonding over little Haneul's growth. The pair married in a small ceremony and became an official family, adding San to their numbers when Myungok gave birth to him. Their happy days came to an end when he was only a little older than a year when the treacherous laundry maid laced one of the Queen's garments with a poisonous elixir meant to kill her on contact. It was instead a suspicious Myungok who picked it up to inspect it and was killed. The head guard on duty, wanting to avoid blame, had the maid quietly dismissed but hid Myungok's murder, and so she was never avenged.
Grandmother
San's Grandmother is everything a grandmother should be in his eyes; wise, cordial, dignified, and incredibly indulgent. She is the rock he thinks of when he imagines home, despite not seeing her half as much in his early years as when he lived with her.Backstory: As a young girl, she took an interest in food thanks to her parents' expertise and wide range of skills when it came to cooking a variety of cuisines. Growing up, she worked in her father's bakery and made bread, cakes, and pastries day in and day out until she could do so in her sleep. She was always sassy and outspoken in her school days and instigated more than a few pranks herself. She and San's grandfather were childhood sweethearts, best friends for many years until their relationship began to develop into something more. Her family, however (and father in particular) did not approve of her choice when she announced that she wished to marry him and tried for a long time to make her change her mind. Their dislike was never warranted, in her opinion, when her husband was always well-mannered and well thought of in his own circles. Though her father ran the best bakery on the island and made a fair amount doing so, she never saw the cottage above the carpentry shop as any less serviceable and worked without complaint for many years raising a family and becoming its backbone. She relished the chance to help raise her grandchildren and did everything she could to make her home theirs, an effort that went unnoticed until San matured enough to reflect on it.
Choi Haneul
Jongchoel's darling firstborn daughter and San's half sister, Haneul lives up to the name with beauty and grace that rivals that of the sky. Prior to her sickness, she was San's favourite playmate and after it, she is the stated reason for his subsequent pirate adventures-- though things are more complicated than they seem.Backstory: In a world where any other infant daughter of a struggling single father might've been handed to the nearest orphanage, Haneul remained her father's pride and joy and motivated him. She was born, a healthy child, in the mountains but her earliest memories were of Doljeon and the people she considered her parents; Jongcheol and Myongok. Never really knowing her birth mother made her stepmother the only real reference for the concept and those days were happy and full of bright-eyed learning about the world. Baby San soon came along and Haneul was very fascinated about him, learning everything there was to know about caring for a baby by her stepmother's example. When Myungok tragically died and Jongcheol was forced out of the palace, young Haneul did her best to remain optimistic in the face of the new challenge that was life in a small village outside the capital. She often kept San entertained while Father was establishing his studio and the two were very close as young children. Together, their imaginations took them everywhere, and even when the money was tight, their happy cocoon of a family sheltered them from everything. Haneul was much more sheepish than San when it came to making friends, but she enjoyed her life on the mainland and learning a bit of self-defense from her father. Until the illness came, and there was nothing she could do to defend herself. Though she was in pain, she did better for a time, enjoying the climate and natural beauty of the sea when she and San moved to Namhae to stay with their grandparents. Illness struck again, however, and Haneul began to withdraw into herself, mood darkening as her condition worsened. She was always selfless and advocated for San to live unburdened from her, despite knowing she would miss him if he left. No one knew San better than she did, however far apart they had drifted as teens.
Haneul's Mother
A cryptic woman whose devotion to the mountain god exceeded her devotion to her husband and even newborn daughter, Jongcheol's first wife chooses to remain in the past and separate from society in the end.Backstory: Born into the religion of the mountain god, she rarely descended the Hagilsan mountains and was content to help to care for the temple complex and support those living and training there. One such man was Jongcheol for a time, and although it was not advised that she become entangled in the worldly attachment of lust, she fell for him after watching him train in harsh conditions without wavering and the two were infatuated with each other for several months before tying the knot. Her superiors in the temple disapproved quietly and, knowing Jongcheol would soon be leaving for Doljeon to become a palace guard as he had always dreamed-- indeed, as he was there in the first place to train for-- she had a difficult decision to make regarding their future together. Haneul's birth only added further confusion when she wished to raise the infant with the traditions of her mountain religion, bringing her up communally and apart from the outside world. Jongcheol did not agree with this approach and, realising it would never work between them, his wife suddenly gave him full custody of Haneul and ended their marriage. She was now free to continue to rise in the temple ranks and find love among her own people and he was free to take their daughter into the world.
The Song Family

Father
Less a merchant and more an itinerant peddler, Mingi's father has not exactly been the most truthful when it comes to his life events. Leaving the truth unsaid is just the way things work in the Song family, however, and the man Mingi's father becomes despite his many setbacks is one who is still a great inspiration to him.Backstory: Brought up in Hamnyong as the child of a low ranking cattle herder, Mingi's father was a bit of a delinquent in his younger days before growing up and leaving the nest, travelling to Kon for his first real job. He began selling wares he had purchased in various markets on the street, not being trained as a craftsman of any kind himself, and when he had slow days of little success, mucked out stalls in the stables for pay. Since he worked a variety of odd jobs, he met a variety of people in Kon, including his eventual wife who was entangled in the prostitution business at the time. Though he tried his best to save his hard earned money rather than blowing it on gambling, drink, or pleasure, he made an exception just to make the woman's acquaintance. Their eventual marriage marked the beginning of a new era for him, as he moved to the next town. The smaller the village, the faster he exhausted the potential customers so he remained on the move even shortly after the birth of his first son. After successful peddling in these towns, he was surprised to find much more competition in the captial Doljeon and experienced yet another downturn in profits. He worked the streets long enough to provide the basic needs for his growing family when they added a second son, Mingi, to the bunch but eventually migrated to So-Ai where sales increased and more odd jobs were hiring. He was able to send his sons to the prestigious Academy until disease struck the town and again sent the Songs packing, turning east again toward the coastline. His lucky deal on the house in Panhang came about due to the untimely death of the previous owners, the Kims, but the economic conditions allowed the Songs to stay for a year that became another, and so on. After Minseok gambled away their livelihood and disappeared, Mingi's father was finally pushed to start with a trade; fishing. Although it wasn't easy, he persevered even in slow seasons, risking his life to travel inland to the river when stocks were low, and for that reason he became Mingi's hero and the reason he agreed to become a pirate.
Mother
A product of society's underbelly, Mingi's mother has been wronged by the world her entire life. Coming from the poorest conditions of perhaps any character in the Treasure saga, she has been through adversity and accepted her lot with patience that could rightly have manifested as anger instead.Backstory: Because her parents died too early for her to remember them, Mingi's mother never knew any sort of family growing up, only the cold and rigid discipline of Kon's orphanage for girls. She escaped and was readmitted more than once, relying on petty crime and pickpocketing while she wandered the streets alone. Finally aging out of the system, she was immediately faced with the challenge of survival and pressured into giving everything she had every day for the next meal to come. An abusive lover, once her partner in crime, pressured her into the brothel before disappearing with everything she had saved up. She knew no other life than to sell even her own body, as miserable as it made her. Life outside of Kon or even outside of the slums was unreachable to her until she fell for a travelling visitor who did not judge her. The temporary and nomadic nature of his work allowed her an escape and she moved with him to the next city, and then the next. Though it took time and healing, she eventually opened up to him and he became her husband in a relationship built on trust. She locked away her past and focused on the future of her family, embracing her new status to the extent that her own children never knew her origin. Worrisome and superstitious, she set a lot of rules in their new house. Her sons should be well-behaved and their living space clean and orderly without any dirty reminder of her earlier life in sight. She could only forget the past if she was not confronted with it, if she managed to become someone else. Sadly, it remained her knee-jerk response to revert to the only trade she knew, selling herself, when the family was faced with poverty once more. Despite the town's hatred, she always seemed impervious to it. She taught Mingi he was more than his circumstances, a truth she knew well from her own life. He went on to make every effort to support her so that she would never need to enter the brothel again, placed in danger every night just to keep their family afloat, and thanks to his portion of the treasure, she retires from it for good.
Song Minseok
The moody, independent teenage brother Minseok has more to be thankful for than he realises, but wastes his opportunity and his potential on an addiction to gambling that swallows his own life and his entire family. Whether he will ever return is Mingi's greatest mystery.Backstory: Though his fortunes were infinitely greater than those of his parents growing up, Minseok was rarely grateful for his lot in life and hated the way his family constantly moved from place to place. He struggled to make friends or feel as if he belonged anywhere, and rather than allow his family to fulfil that role of a connection in life, he simply tried even harder to integrate with every new community they reached, always envious of that which was out of reach. His only playmate was his little brother Mingi, whom he loved in his own way but struggled to express his affection for. More often than not the two fought and roughhoused with their pent up energy, especially as they got older. A lazy and selfish lad, especially in comparison to his hyperactive father, he preferred spending his time in taverns and pubs, drinking and playing games. He wasn't particularly good but he liked to gamble, and with what spare change he had, did so. His affinity for the pub atmosphere and the amount of time with which he frequented the establishment as a regular landed him a job there (not any developed skill or recommendation of a previous employer) when the Songs moved to Panhang and his father lit a fire under him to make some money of his own. However, he just couldn't stay away from the card games and joined in on his off days to see if he could take the pot. A witch capable of disguising herself (a similar method to Babylon's shapeshifting) also frequented the place and with careful planning and research chose her victim, the reckless player who allowed Minseok to win just enough to fall into complacency. She chose her moment to strike wisely and when he lost it was too late. He had gambled himself into so much debt, it would take years for his family to recover and would push his mother back into prostitution, revitalising her traumatic past and further troubling the Songs. He disappeared from the loan sharks and from his own family with little explanation and no goodbyes, and was not seen or heard from again by any of them, at the very least for many years to come.
The Jungs of Tae Gyunkaai

Jung Koosung
As second son who failed to join the military, Wooyoung's father Koosung actually has quite a bit in common with him. His approach to life after such a failure, however, differs drastically and where Koosung plays by the rules, Wooyoung refuses to.Backstory: Born into a military family in Tae Gyungkaai, Koosung had a disciplined upbringing and a difficult relationship with his father. He was the second son born to him out of seven, and he wasn't the most athletic or strategic of the bunch like his elder brother and a few of his younger ones. His father's position was in the royal marines, so he was often called upon to serve as sentry and would be away from the family for long stretches of time, leaving his wife, Koosung's mother, to shoulder the burden of raising seven sons. Competition between the brothers to impress their father was constant, and Koosung did everything he could at first to succeed, despite knowing he was among the weakest of the boys. His elder brother receiving a promotion to officer became even more motivation to Koosung, who still couldn't manage the examinations after multiple attempts. Feeling like a failure, he finally switched career paths to become a courtroom scribe's apprentice, a good opportunity that went undervalued by Koosung and his father both. Despite his excellence as a scribe, Koosung took his family's opinion to heart and considered himself a disappointment. Eunkyung's pity on him finally encouraged some self-esteem, and after their wedding Koosung distanced himself from his parents as much as possible while living in the same city. Though he had struggled so much with the expectations on him in youth, Koosung still prized a high position in the military before all else and wished for both of his sons to make the grade where he hadn't. He never thought history would repeat itself.
Eom Eunkyung
Performance is everything to Wooyoung's mother Eunkyung. With her upbringing as a lady and her interest in the stage, she is thoroughly prepared to play the part of a woman much more well off than she, and making sure her family's reputation catches up with that image is the primary goal of her life.Backstory: With a father who was a well-known judge and a mother from a well-off family, Eunkyung was not necessarily highborn but did become accustomed to certain luxuries in her life and especially at her time in finishing school. She earned top marks there and when she returned home, loved the theatre best, having grown up wishing to be an actress one day. Koosung, a scribe's apprentice at the time in her father's courtroom, caught her eye and the two became acquainted over time, eventually falling in love. The two were married without Eunkyung considering the amount of his money, relying on her position in the complicated social network of Jaecho and especially of Tae Gyungkaai. Eventually, her lifestyle became difficult to maintain so she focused even harder on playing the part with social niceties and a bit of an obsession with upward mobility. She didn't intend to become shallow or manipulative toward her husband and two sons, whom she adored, but merely placed the utmost importance on that which society gave the utmost importance; status. She encouraged Koosung to secure a better job and mobilised the household to impress guests frequently. Her eldest son Woosung took to this act better than Wooyoung, who much preferred the real side of his mother; her storytelling, her playful nature, and her stubbornness. After all, he inherited it from her. She was overjoyed at Woosung's acceptance into the Navy and the shame of Wooyoung's failure frayed their relationship to the point that he saw no reason in returning home for years.
Jung Woosung
Once a mischievous and fun loving boy, Woosung changes for the worse in his little brother's opinion as he shoulders the responsibility of success in the family and eventually joins the Navy. After years of separation, it seems impossible that the two can reconcile, but a chance encounter in war changes the course of their relationship.Backstory: Woosung was a mere two years old when Wooyoung came into the world, so he hardly could remember a day without his little brother and best friend. Growing up in the fascinating city of Tae Gyungkaai, the two got up to all kinds of schemes, especially playing pranks on each other and he wasn't above manhandling his brother in a pillow fight or hiding his clothes when he went swimming. Always a bit more practical and focused, Woosung was generally better behaved and more interested in what the adults were doing. The pair's good natured adventures slowly lessened as their parents pushed them to perform well. Due to pressure from his father, Woosung set his sights on joining the military and began testing young. Focused on fitness and training and growing more and more embarrassed by Wooyoung's antics every day, the two argued with increasing frequency and spent less and less time together by their old tree swing. Deciding on the Navy, Woosung joined at a mere eleven years old in the hopes of garnering the experience to ace his examinations for an officer's commission, his brother failing to make the grade for a miniscule physical reason. Woosung's work took years to pay off and he only made Lieutenant on the Indeok shortly before the Haemin war, a conflict that pushed the brothers together once again when Wooyoung was pressganged. It was a shock for Woosung to meet him there, but the battle and subsequent injury at Kibo grounded him long enough to realise his brother had beaten him after all.
Jung Kyungmin
Born in a time of loneliness for his parents, Kyungmin is a late addition to the Jung family who went unknown to Wooyoung for five years. Though his response to learning about him is initially hurt and rejection, Wooyoung can't help but love his little brother before ever meeting him, seeing him as a representation of the young boys he so earnestly longs to protect.Backstory: With Woosung rising the ranks of the Navy, coming home occasionally for holidays, and Wooyoung off somewhere running low level errands as a powder monkey on a privateer's ship, Koosung and Eunkyung found themselves with an empty nest much ahead of schedule. Kyungmin came along soon after, and the parents were once again raising a rambunctous boy in the beachside fortress town. He was bright and incredibly sweet, much like Wooyoung, but without the influence of his older brothers and thanks to his parents' softening attitude toward childrearing, Kyungmin began to grow up with the benefit of their full undivided attention and fostered a closer relationship with them than either of his hyungs. Despite Wooyoung's assumptions, his parents did in fact present him in a positive light to little Kyungmin, telling him he was simply away on a long trip rather than divulging their suspicions that he had run away for good. Looking up to both of his absent brothers as heroes, he wished to meet them but didn't care to go into the military as either of them had attempted. Still a little boy of five, he had no huge ambitions of navy commissions and wanted whatever his heart desired at the moment as his future. The Haemin war brought a sudden change to his life, especially the attack on Tae Gyungkaai which struck while he was out playing with his friends, avoiding parental supervision. He tried to be big and brave like his brothers, but the battle shook him to his core and brought his first meeting with Wooyoung that much closer.
The Ulso Choi Family

Father
Abused in his childhood by a father whose strictness hardened him into an equally strict man, Jongho's father is unforgiving and cold, with a son whose mercy he does not deserve. Only through Jongho's wit and skill does he escape from under his thumb.Backstory: Having been born in the outskirt town of Ulso as the son of a metalworker, Jongho's father always counted on taking over the smithy one day but wondered if he could do more. His arrogance and dishonesty appeared to come naturally but was in fact a learned behaviour, modelled for him by his own scumbag father. Any brightness was beaten out of him by the time he was Jongho's age and when his lack of focus or ambition in childhood doomed him "to manual labour and nothing else", the smithy became his haven. The smithy and the tavern. Between his love for strong liquor and women, he gained a reputation among other men for his promiscuity, but managed to keep the general public's opinion of him positive, seducing barmaids as he pleased. One such barmaid became his wife after a bit too much talk in the town about their relationship, and from the birth of their son onwards, it was all downhill. To control his house the way he wanted to, Jongho's father resorted to the same tactics his own father had used; fear and manipulation. When his wife talked back and questioned him, he didn't hesitate to continue that violence against her, and after four years of turmoil due to his cycle of perpetuating abuse and then begging for forgiveness, he went a step too far for her and struck her. She was gone the next day, and his drunken rage found a new target; Jongho. Over the years, he knew in the back of his mind that he had taken things too far and feared judgment from the town should they discover his true nature behind closed doors, but saw no return or repentance.
Mother
A small town woman who had already suffered a tragedy by the time she was a teen, Jongho's mother unknowingly winds up over her head in an abusive relationship that, in her mind, leaves her with no choice but to abandon her son at the age of four.Backstory: Born with a twin sister, Jongho's mother enjoyed a relatively normal upbringing for her childhood years in the small village of Ulso, an insular little town on the edge of the Tae peninsula. After a pirate raid gone wrong resulted in her parents' deaths as a teenager, the local innkeeper took her and her sister in. In adulthood, the two remained close, even when her twin married a grocer in another town and moved away, often exchanging letters. While working at the tavern, she met her future husband and after some smooth words on his part, was quickly besotted. Their whirlwind romance spread around the grapevine of Ulso and, feeling embarrassed at the gossip, she urged him to consider marriage. Eventually, the two became man and wife to socially legitimise their relations and soon a son, Jongho, was born. Often spent of energy after the difficult pregnancy and stress of raising a child, she wasn't able to keep house to the standards her husband demanded of her and had no one to come to her defence in their arguments. His rage was a surprise to her at first but the regular progression of it turned her own home into a prison. When he physically struck her, she could take it in silence no longer and wrote to her twin sister, who insisted she leave and come live with her and her husband inland. On the day she left, she decided to leave Jongho behind, believing in some small part of herself that she had been the problem, the reason for the rage, and assuming her now ex-husband wouldn't take his anger out on their son. She was so very wrong.
This section is a work in progress
This section is a work in progress
This section is a work in progress
Nautical Glossary
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This section is a work in progress
Admiral
Admiralty
Adrift
Aft
Ahoy
Aloft
Amidships
Avast
Aye Aye
Ballast
Barnacle
Batten
Becalmed
Belay
Bilboes
Bilge
Blunderbuss
Boatswain
Boatwright
Boom
Bow
Bow chaser
Broadside
Bulwark
Capstan
Careen
Cat-o'-nine tails
Caulk
Come about
Commission
Convoy
Coxswain
Cutlass
Deadlights
Deckhand
Doldrums
Fathom
Flagship
Flog
Fore
Forecastle
Foremast
Frigate
Furl
Galley
Gangplank
Gangway
Gundeck
Gun port
Gunwale
Halyard
Haul wind
Heading
Heave to
Helmsman
Hold
Holystone
Hull
Keel
Keelhaul
Knots
Landlubber
Leeward
Lieutenant
List
Longboat
Admiral
n. /ˈadm(ə)rəl/ one of the highest ranking naval officers, typically the commander of a fleet or naval squadron.
Admiralty
n. /ˈadmərəltē/ a name for both the offices where the high admirals conducted their business as well as the board of admirals themselves, an organisation given the highest authority on maritime law.
Adrift
adj. /əˈdrɪft/ (of a boat) not fastened and moving with the sea and wind.
aft
adv. /'aft/ at, near, or toward the stern of a ship.
adj. rearward.
Ahoy
exc. /əˈhoi/ an interjection used to hail a ship or a person, or to attract attention.
Aloft
adv. /əˈlôft/ at, in, or toward the upper rigging.
Amidships
adv. /əˈmidˌSHips/ in the middle, the part of a ship midway between the bow and the stern.
Avast
exc. /əˈvast/ a command meaning stop or desist, hold still, or pay attention.
aye aye
exc. /ˈīī/ a response acknowledging an order, different in meaning from a singular "aye" which simply denotes assent. A second "aye" indicates prompt action to carry out the order.
ballast
n. /ˈbaləst/ heavy material, such as gravel, sand, iron, or lead, placed low in a vessel to improve its stability.
v. give stability to (a ship) by putting a heavy substance in its bilge.
barnacle
n. /ˈbärnək(ə)l/ a small marine crustacean that becomes attached (as to rocks or the bottoms of boats) with a sharp outer shell.
batten
v. /ˈbatn/ to secure by or as if by fastening (oneself or an object).
becalmed
adj. /bɪ-ˈkɑmd/ the state of a sailing vessel which cannot move due to a lack of wind.
belay
v. /bəˈlā/ to secure or make fast (a rope, for example) by winding on a cleat or pin. Or to stop, most often used as a command.
bilboes
n. /ˈbilbōz/ (always plural) an iron bar with sliding shackles, formerly used for confining a prisoner's ankles.
bilge
n. /bilj/ (often bilge deck) the parts of a vessel between the lowermost floorboards and the bottom, also a name for the water that collects there.
Blunderbuss
n. /ˈbləndərˌbəs/ a short, wide bore shotgun flared at the muzzle that could be devastating at short range, scattering lead balls in a wide arc at the enemy.
boatswain
n. /ˈbōs(ə)n/ (pronounced bo-sun) the officer in charge of keeping the ship in shape for travel and battle, looking after the wood, canvas, and ropes that were vital to swift and safe sailing. Also often led shore parties to restock supplies or find material for repairs when needed and oversaw activities such as dropping and weighing the anchor, setting the sails, and making sure the deck was swabbed.
boatwright
n. /ˈboʊtˌraɪt/ a craftsman who built wooden boats and ships.
boom
n. /boom/ prominent horizontal spar (or pole) extending from the base of the mast to which the base of the sail attaches at a right angle to the vessel, which may be pivoted and swung from side to side over a deck. "Boom about" may be shouted to warn others the boom is about to move.
Bow
n. /bou/ the front end of a ship. Opposite of stern.
Bow chaser
n. /bouˈCHāsər/ (also chase gun) a gun or cannon placed at the bow of an armed vessel, and used when pursuing an enemy, or in defending the vessel when pursued.
broadside
n. /ˈbrôdˌsīd/ the most vulnerable angle of a ship that runs the length of the boat, or a simultaneous firing of all the guns from a particular side of the ship.
adv. with the side facing a given point or object.
bulwark
n. /ˈboolˌwərk/ (usually plural) a protective extension of planking on a ship's sides above the level of the deck, atop which a railing may be attached.
capstan
n. /ˈkapstən/ a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to multiply the pulling force of seamen when hauling ropes, cables, and hawsers. "Man the captsan" was called when hauling up the anchor to set sail.
careen
v. /kəˈrēn/ to take a ship into shallower waters or out of the water altogether and remove barnacles and pests such as mollusks, shells and plant growth from the bottom to restore it to proper speed.
cat o' nine tails
n. /ˌkadəˈnīnˌtālz/ (also shortened to "cat") a rope whip with nine knotted cords, formerly used (especially at sea) to flog offenders.
caulk
v. /kôk/ to pack (the seams) between the planks of the bottom of (a vessel) with waterproof material to prevent leakage.
come about
v. /kəm əˈbout/ to bring the ship full way around in the wind. Used in general while sailing into the wind, but also used to indicate a swing back into the enemy in combat.
Commission
n. /kəˈmiSHən/ a certificate that gives military or naval rank and authority on active duty or the rank and authority given.
convoy
n. /ˈkänˌvoi/ a group of ships or vehicles traveling together, typically accompanied by armed troops, warships, or other vehicles for protection.
Coxswain
n. /ˈkɒksən/ (pronounced cox-sun) the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The coxswain was responsible for directing the rowboat, knowing proper rowing technique and running drills to improve the crew.
cutlass
n. /ˈkətləs/ a short sword with a blade length of about two feet that was slightly curved with a single edge, commonly used by pirates.
deadlights
n. /ˈdedlīts/ the thick windows set in a ship's side or on the deck, also the strong shutters or plates fastened over the porthole or cabin window in stormy weather. Sometimes used to refer to eyes.
deckhand
n. /ˈdekˌhand/ (also simplified to "hand” or “hands") a member of the ship's crew responsible for physical tasks such as maintenance of the hull, decks, and superstructure and mooring and cargo handling.
doldrums
n. /ˈdōldrəmz/ (usually plural) equatorial regions of light ocean currents and converging trade winds which often produced clusters of convective thunderstorms. They were feared by sailors who frequently were becalmed there.
fathom
n. /ˈfaTHəm/ a unit of length equal to six feet (approximately 1.8 m), chiefly used in reference to the depth of water.
flagship
n. /ˈflaɡˌSHip/ the ship in a fleet which carries the commanding admiral.
flog
v. /fläɡ/ severely beat (someone) with a whip or stick as punishment or torture.
fore
adv. /fôr/ at, near, or toward the bow of a ship.
adj. forward.
forecastle
n. /ˈfōksəl/ (pronounced foke-sul) a raised deck at the bow of the ship used as a shelter for stores, machinery, etc., or as quarters for sailors.
foremast
n. /ˈfôrmast/ the mast of a ship nearest the bow.
frigate
n. /ˈfriɡit/ a three-masted, square-rigged war vessel intermediate in size between a corvette and a ship of the line generally having a lofty ship rig and heavily armed on one or two decks with at least 28 guns.
furl
v. /fərl/ to roll up and secure, especially a ship’s sail.
galley
n. /ˈɡalē/ the ship's kitchen, also used to refer to a seagoing vessel propelled mainly by oars, used in ancient times sometimes with the aid of sails.
gangplank
n. /ˈɡaNGˌplaNGk/ a removable ramp between the pier and ship used to board or disembark.
gangway
n. /ˈɡaNGwā/ a passage along either side of a ship's upper deck that was to be kept clear to move on at all times.
exc. an exclamation to warn others to move out of the way.
gundeck
n. /ɡən dek/ the deck aboard a ship that was primarily used for the mounting of cannons ("guns") to be fired in broadsides.
gun port
n. /ˈɡən pôrt/ a porthole in the side of a ship's hull through which a cannon's muzzle is run out for firing.
gunwale
n. /ˈɡənl/ (pronounced gunnel) the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship.
halyard
n. /ˈhalyərd/ a rope used for raising and lowering a sail, spar, flag, or yard on a sailing ship.
haul wind
v. /hôl wind/ to turn a ship into the direction the wind is blowing from, generally not the fastest point of travel on a sailing vessel.
heading
n. /ˈhediNG/ the direction in which a vessel is pointed at any given moment, often used erroneously to refer to a course, or direction of travel.
heave to
v. /hēv too/ (past tense "hove to") (of a ship) to come to a stop and maintain position at sea, especially by turning across the wind and trimming the sails in opposing directions to prevent forward movement. It was a useful tactic to ride out storms.
helmsman
n. /ˈhelmzmən/ the person who steers a ship or boat, typically with a wheel or rudder. In the Treasure universe this was most often the duty of an officer who had additional responsibilities.
hold
n. /hōld/ a general name for the spaces below the main deck designated for stowage of general cargo.
holystone
v. /ˈhōlēˌstōn/ to scrub and whiten a wooden deck with a holystone, soft sandstone routinely used to keep decks clear and give crews something to keep them busy.
hull
n. /həl/ the main body of a ship or other vessel, including the bottom, sides, and deck but not the masts, superstructure, rigging, and other fittings.
keel
n. /kēl/ the longitudinal structure along the centerline at the bottom of a vessel's hull, on which the rest of the hull is built, in some vessels extended downward as a blade or ridge to increase stability.
v. (of a boat or ship) turn over on its side; capsize.
keelhaul
v. /ˈkēlˌhôl/ to tie (an offender) to a rope looped beneath a ship, throw them overboard, and drag them under/across the keel of a ship and up the other side, subjecting them to lacerations from barnacles and potential drowning as punishment or torture. Keelhauling across the length of a ship was always fatal, while keelhauling under the width was significantly painful but survivable if lucky.
knots
n. /nät/ a unit of speed used of ships equivalent to one nautical mile per hour.
landlubber
n. /ˈlan(d)ˌləbər/ an inexperienced or clumsy person who doesn't have any sailing skills.
leeward
n. /ˈlēwərd orˈlooərd/ the direction opposite to the way the wind is currently blowing (windward).
adj. situated on or near the direction opposite to the way the wind is blowing.
lieutenant
n. /looˈtenənt/ a commissioned naval officer of high rank, below captain and/or admiral but superior to midshipmen and other crew. On a large ship they were typically numbered "first lieutenant," "second lieutenant," etc. to indicate rank.
list
v. /list/ (of a vessel) to take on water and tilt to one side.
n. a measure of the ship's leaning to port or starboard side measured in degrees.
longboat
n. /ˈlôNGˌbōt/ a large oared boat that was launched by a larger sailing ship.
mainmast
n. /ˈmānmast/ the principal mast of a ship, typically the second and middle mast in a sailing ship of three or more masts.
man-of-war
n. /ˈˌman ə(v) ˈwô(ə)r/ the general terminology used by the Royal Navy for a naval battle ship, including the class of frigate, ship of the line, etc.
marooned
adj. /məˈruːnd/ to be stranded, particularly on a deserted isle with no supplies or provisions.
master-at-arms
n. /ˌmastərədˈärmz/ an officer responsible for training and exercising the crew in hand-to-hand combat, handling and distributing portable firearms and weaponry, taking charge of prisoners, and maintaining discipline aboard a vessel.
master gunner
n. /ˈmastər ˈɡənər/ an officer skilled in the complicated task of aiming and firing cannons, responsible for maintaining the quality of gunpowder, shot, the cannons themselves, other ammunitions, etc. both in battle and the peaceful times in between.
master rigger
n. /ˈmastər ˈriɡər/ an officer assigned aloft to work the running rigging and to furl or unfurl sails with the other riggers, given an authoritative role to divide the work and minimize risks.
midshipman
n. /midˈSHipmən/ the lowest ranked commissioned naval officer, a typically teenaged cadet in training to take the exam to become a lieutenant. Midshipmen were under the direct authority of the lieutenants themselves and assigned a variety of assistant duties.
mizzenmast
n. /ˈmizənmast/ (often shortened to "mizzen") the mast aft of a ship's mainmast, typically the third in a sailing ship of three or more masts, also used to refer to the lowest sail on a mizzenmast.
moor
v. /moor/ to make fast (a boat) by attaching it by cable or rope to the shore or to an anchor.
mutiny
v. /ˈmyootnē/ to refuse to obey the orders of a person in authority, especially the captain.
n. a rebellion by sailors or crew against their officers.
Old salt
n. /ōld sôlt/ a seasoned sailor, especially one who is hardy and forthright in manner and often a storyteller.
Overhaul
v. /ˌōvərˈhôl/ to repair or refit a vessel. Also the action of the crew going aloft to adjust and replace ropes or lines to avoid chafing while sailing. Or to overtake another ship at sea.
Port
n. /pôrt/ the left side of the boat when facing forward; originally called larboard. The opposite of starboard. Also the name for a harbour.
Porthole
n. /ˈpôrtˌhōl/n an opening in the side of a vessel, especially a window, usually round or with rounded corners.
pressgang
n. /pres 'ɡaNG/ a detachment of men under command of an officer empowered to force civilians into military or naval service
v. to force a person into naval service
privateer
n. /ˌprīvəˈtir/ a government appointed private individual commissioned to commit acts of piracy; also, the armed ship itself.
prow
n. /prou/ the portion of a ship's bow above water, also used as a synonym for bow sometimes.
quarter
n. /ˈkwôrdər/ derived from the idea of "shelter", quarter is given when mercy is offered by pirates. Quarter is often the prize given to an honorable loser in a fight. Used in the phrase "give no quarter."
quartermaster
n. /ˈkwôrdərˌmastər/ an officer with the second most authority aboard the ship. He was in charge of relaying the captain’s orders and seeing that they were carried out, handling the day-to-day operations of the ship. Also responsible for dividing up plunder among the crew according to the number of shares each man received as his due. In charge of discipline with regard to minor matters such as fighting or casual dereliction of duty, often inflicting punishments such as floggings. The quartermaster also boarded prize vessels and determined what to take and what to leave behind. Generally, the quartermaster received a double share, the same as the captain.
rake
v. /rāk/ to sweep or traverse with a volley of gunfire; specifically to send shot along (a ship) from fore to aft, crippling it severely.
n. the angle at which the prow rises from the water.
riptide
n. /ˈriptīd/ a narrow jetlike stream of water that flows sporadically seaward for several minutes, the cause of many beach drowning incidents as people may become caught in it and disoriented. The term is a misnomer, as it is a current and not related to the tide.
rigging
n. /ˈriɡiNG/ the system of ropes, cables, or chains employed to support a ship's masts (standing rigging) and to control or set the yards and sails (running rigging).
reef
v. /rēf/ to shorten the sails by partially tying them up, either to slow the ship or to keep a strong wind from putting too much strain on the masts.
n. each of the several strips across a sail which can be taken in or rolled up to reduce the area exposed to the wind. Also, a ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea.
run a shot across the bow
v. a command to fire a warning shot at the approaching bow of another ship to alert its captain, intended to force it to stop or alter course.
sail ho
exc. /sāl hō/ an exclamation meaning another ship is in view. The sail, of course, is the first part of a ship visible over the horizon. Any exclamation ending in -ho was typically used to draw attention to something seen at sea.
sailing master
n. /ˈsāliNG ˈmastər/ an officer in charge of navigation and piloting. It was a very hard job because charts in those days were usually inaccurate or nonexistent. Education was required and on non-pirate ships, it was a well-paid job. Many sailing masters were kidnapped and forced to join the pirates.
schooner
n. /ˈskoonər/ a fore-to-aft rigged sailing ship with two masts, typically with the foremast smaller than the mainmast.
scupper
n. a hole in a ship's side to drain water overboard from the deck.
exc. an expression of derision.
scurvy
n. /ˈskərvē/ a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by swollen bleeding gums and the opening of previously healed wounds, which particularly affected poorly nourished sailors until it was discovered that it could be prevented by ingestion of the citrus juice of oranges and lemons.
scuttle
v. /ˈskədl/ to cause (a vessel) to sink, in battle by blasting holes in the bottom.
sea legs
n. /ˈsē ˌleɡz/ the ability to adjust one's balance to the motion of a ship and not become seasick, especially in rough seas. After walking on a ship for long periods of time, sailors became accustomed to the rocking of the ship in the water. Early in a voyage a sailor was said to be lacking his "sea legs" when the ship motion was still foreign to him. After a cruise, a sailor would often have trouble regaining his "land legs" and would swagger on land.
sink me
exc. /siNGk mē/ an expression of surprise. Short for "sink me to the devil!"
sloop
n. /sloop/ a one-masted square-rigged sailboat or warship with a fore-and-aft mainsail and a jib.
spyglass
n. /ˈspīˌɡlas/ a small handheld telescope.
starboard
n. the right side of the boat when facing forward. The opposite of port or larboard.
stern
n. /stərn/ the back end of a ship. Opposite of bow.
stern chaser
n. /stərn ˈCHāsər/ (also chase gun) a gun or cannon placed at the stern of an armed vessel, so as to be able to fire astern in defending the vessel when pursued.
sutler
n. /ˈsətlər/ a merchant in port, selling the various things that a ship needs for supplies and repairs.
swab
v. /swäb/ to mop or clean the ship’s deck and floorboards.
n. a disparaging term frequently used by non-sailors to address a sailor. Also the name of the mop used in swabbing, made from rope-yarn.
Tiller
n. /ˈtilər/ a horizontal bar fitted to the head of a boat's rudder post and used as a lever for steering.
Wardroom
n. /ˈwôrdˌro͞om/ the mess cabin or compartment on a warship or other military ship for commissioned naval officers above the rank of midshipman.
warp
v. /wôrp/ to move (a vessel) by hauling on a line that is fastened to or around a piling, anchor, or pier.
watch
n. /wäCH/ a period of time on duty, usually four hours in length, during which the officers or crew must keep guard and oversee the workings of the vessel. They were signalled by bells rung every half hour, with the number of rings being increased by one each time. Also a name for the group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty.Afternoon Watch: Noon to 16:00 (4 p.m.)
First Dog Watch (2 hours): 16:00 (4 p.m. to 18:00 (6 p.m.)
Last Dog Watch (2 hours): 18:00 (6 p.m.) to 20:00 (8 p.m.)
First Watch: 20:00 (8 p.m.) to midnight
Middle Watch: Midnight to 04:00 (4 a.m.)
Morning Watch: 04:00 (4 a.m.) to 08:00 (8 a.m.)
Forenoon Watch: 08:00 (8 a.m.) to noon
windward
n. /ˈwin(d)wərd/ the direction from which the wind is currently blowing. Opposite of leeward.
adj. facing the wind or situated on or near the direction from which the wind is blowing.
yardarm
n. /ˈyärdˌärm/ the outer extremety of the ship's yard, the horizontal spar of timbre on a mast from which the sail hangs.