Experienced pirates may remember Duke, whose days as the local Bilge Rat representative took a lamentable turn when he fell into the company of the Dark Brethren. Nowadays his post is filled by the much more grounded Larinna, who you’ll find stationed outside the nearest tavern, keeping an eye on the horizon and an ear to the ground.

Historically, the Bilge Rats were a group of thrill-seekers on a quest to prove that the real pirate life involves danger, bravado and the ever-present possibility of an exciting death, which they did by dreaming up wild schemes to test the mettle of their fellow buccaneers. Their challenges involved everything from daring crews to seek out and sit in the lofty Skeleton Thrones hidden across the Sea of Thieves, to the Reaper’s Run Voyages that encouraged pirates to complete dangerous journeys while marked as a target.

On Larinna’s watch, the Bilge Rats are more likely to be embroiled in the day-to-day drama of the Outposts and the world beyond, acting as an essential source of info on all the latest developments. However, they’re still game for the occasional Event and will still accept leftover loot from previous escapades, such as Ritual Skulls, Ashen Keys and Ashen Chests. Rather than gold, they award Doubloons for completing their challenges and earning Commendations.

Among other places, these Doubloons can be used in the Bilge Rats’ very own Black Market. Through Larinna, pirates can get their hands on exclusive goods or trade their Doubloons for shiny, regular gold, but there’s something a lot more valuable on offer too: as masters of whispering the right things in the right ears, the Bilge Rats are happy to put in a good word for you with the Trading Companies (for a price, of course). Picking up a Letter of Recommendation from the Black Market will automatically raise your reputation with the Company in question, without you ever having to lift a finger. Handy, eh?