Duke

Duke
Details
Type	NPC
Location	Taverns
Voice Actor	Valentine Kozin

Duke is a Bilge Rats NPC who was introduced in The Hungering Deep event, and can be found in every Tavern. Duke keeps a close eye on current events on the Sea of Thieves, and enlists Players to investigate and take part through Bilge Rat Adventures or Mercenary Voyages. Players can also spend either Doubloons or Gold for various Time-Limited Items.

Due to recent increase in Skeleton activities, Duke has entrusted his duties to Stitcher Jim while he seeks help from the leader of the Bilge Rats.

Duke's Black Market

Main article: Black Market

Beginning during Smuggler’s Fortune, Duke took the fortunes he found from inside all the Reaper’s Chests that had been sold to him and set up a Black Market to sell Items to the Players. The Black Market mainly offers new exclusive Cosmetic Sets, a selection of pieces to fill out previous sets, and new offerings of alternate colour schemes to already existing cosmetics.

The Black Market offers various a variety of options for Players to spend their Gold or Doubloons whether it be purchasing cosmetics, Mercenary Voyages, Letters of Recommendation, or Currency Exchanges.

Dialogue

Current Event

Legends of the Sea

Duke has returned, covered in bandages, with no knowledge of the note supposedly written by him explaining his absence.

Yes, yes, don’t fuss. ‘Tis but a scratch. Buy a grog for a weary sailor, won’t you?’

You’re back! Your note had us worried.

Um… what note?
I’m fine, anyway...
More or less.

Things have been chaotic as ever around here!

So I hear… Pendragon appearing, all these Tomes and rituals… and talk of the return of the dreaded Flameheart! Things are bad, mark my words.
But don’t despair, we’re still pirates! In fact, I have a free Gilded Voyage for everyone! These lucrative Voyages will please the Trading Companies.
Or… you could make twice the gold if you take your loot to The Reaper’s Hideout. The masked lady will pay you… you know, Jim’s beloved.
The same goes for any more of those strange gifts you find, or even Reaper’s Chests - you’ll get more Doubloons.
Oh, I hear Umbra’s camping at the Lagoon of Whispers. I once shared an adventure with that great woman! When that chapter closed, I got a tattoo to remember her.

Did you manage to find Larinna?

The head Bilge Rat? Not a bad idea, I suppose, but I haven’t seen her in years. What gave you that idea.
But I think I did find the Heart of Fire! The very place where Flameheart resides… but I wasn’t up to the task.
Look what happened to me! Don’t go there, my friend. I’m not even sure I could remember the way.
Hey, at least my Black Market is still open! I knew I could trust Jim. Take a look at my newest stock, or go back through my older items.

Previous Events

Duke remained absent during the Festival of Giving.

Duke was no where to be found, leaving Stitcher Jim to tend Bilge Rat duties, and only a note hinting to Duke's whereabouts.

To All My Friends and Customers! I have left on a vital errand - you may notice that the tavern has a grog surplus!

The skellies are getting too big for their bones! I've gone to ask Larinna, leader of the Bilge Rats, for help.

Jim has kindly agreed to run the Black Market for now and take over my Bilge Rat duties. Back before you know it - DUKE

Cheers! The Black Market's a success, thanks to pirates like yourself! And you'll want to look good while you're braving that twisted Fort...

Twisted Fort? What's Going on, Duke?

Seriously, go and scout out Old Boot Fort! Someone's worked an evil ritual there... I fear we didn't retrieve the Dark Relics in time.
I'm hearing reports of dangerous Shadow skeletons there which can't even be hurt in daylight. Only a matching Flame of Fate will do!
We're calling them Shadows of Fate. The best person to ask about it is Stitcher Jim, out on Castaway Isle. He's had many brushes with the beyond.
He mentioned that Ritual Skulls are the key, so take a Bounty Voyage from me and I'll send you to find one.
If you're in a hurry to meet your fate, I can also point you to some stashes of Ritual Skulls that us Bilge Rats hid on the Outpost.

So, how's the Black Market going?

Good, very good! I was a little worried about competition from those new Emprium folks, but they're only interested in Ancient Coins.
Oh, fair warning: you should be aware that I can only sell a single Letter of Recommendation per Trading Company each month, now.
The Pirate Lord made some kind of ruling about it. Bah! He hasn't had to earn a living since... since... he died!

Duke's back on top and I'm launching a brand-new Black Market! Only shh, because it's a Black Market. I've got some unusual new jobs for you, too!

What's this Black Market of yours, Duke?

Remember how I had everyone collect all those Reaper's Chests? Well, many of them contained old, but quite rare and valuable equipment!
And with investment from the Trading Companies - thanks to everyone who helped me rebuild few bridges - I think this could be a new kind of shop!
The Black Market lets you trade Doubloons for rare, special items, some of which might have slipped through your hooks in the past.
I can pay yo with Doubloons for certain Voyages, too, so you'll have plenty of spending money. This is my chance to make a name for myself
Oh, I'm still a Bilge Rat at heart, of course. But this is a chance to make it big! You'll help me find more Reaper's Chests, right?

What's this work you have to offer?

Oh, yes! When I opened all those Reapers Chests, there was some fascinating old equipment. There was also a load of waste rubbish!
Rags, dust and plenty of old bones. Worthless! Well I buried them in Rag and Bone Crates on Shipwreck Bay until I could figure out what to do.
But wait! I had a spot of luck. Stitcher Jim is back and he's turned over a new leaf. No, seriously! That wretched old fool is wracked by guilt.
Jim has buyers on the Seaposts for those Rag and Bone Crates. 'One pirate's trash is another's treasure'... so grab a shovel and get digging!

Who are the Bilge Rats?

We're more of a club than a Trading Company, but we do reward pirates who chase adventure and follow their noses even if they get broken now and then...
Bilge Rats love adventure, rumours, and challenges. Whenever something new is happening on the Sea of Thieves, you can count on me to know about it!

Fancy earning some gold from the Order of Souls... and making me look good to boot?

More money to be made, Duke?

The Order of Souls has entrusted me with an important task - retrieving stolen property! I know, it's not typical pirate work...
The skellies made off with several of their Dark Relics; powerful, mystical objects. Who knows what strange rituals they're attempting?!
But, I have Dark Relic Voyages from the Order, based on their visions of where the items might be. Find as many as you can, pirate. Do it for Duke!
Also... these Reaper's Chests have started showing up all over the place. Beware, they're cursed with the Reaper's Mark, so they invite trouble!
I don't know what's inside the bizarre things, but I smell an opportunity! I'll pay you in Doubloons; which will soon be even more valuable...

Grab a grog while the taverns are still open! Have you seen the banners?

What's going on with these banners?

We’re being called out! It seems a skeleton captain calling herself Warsmith has united crews of skellies against the outposts!
Have a look and you’ll see where they intend to do battle. Good luck to you! As for us Bilge Rats, we’re itching to know what caused all this.
Something’s not right. Even I’ve never seen skeletons amass like this! But, I heard the shipwright at Golden Sands knows something about it.
When you aren’t busy blasting holes in skelly ships, go see if you can find out the truth! Trust me, us Bilge Rats can smell a story.

Ah, you look like the sort who isn’t scared of a little light drowning…

So, what's new around here?

The Bilge Rats, as always, have been first to catch wind of local weirdness! How d’you feel about swimming? And malevolent curses?
See, these strange mer artefacts have been sighted lately. You’ll find them underwater, but they harm whoever gets near!
If you’re brave enough, you can swim down and destroy them. Just a warm-up for us, naturally. But you might struggle!
I think a real pirate would have no trouble finding and destroying the artefacts. I did it before my morning grog!

Keep your wits about you! The adventures are coming to us now, armed with explosives.

So, what's new around here?

You’ll need to speak up, my ears are ringing! The skellies have started using gunpowder barrels to catch out unwary pirates.
Here’s a tip from the Bilge Rats, though- shoot the barrels and blow them up before they reach you. Child’s play for us, obviously."
We’re challenging you to use the gunpowder skellies against the others. Have you got the skill to blow up three skellies at once by shooting the barrels?
Don’t stop there, get creative with it! A few stunts like that and everyone will know your name!

Here's to the open sea! You ready to test your mettle with the Bilge Rats?

So, what's new around here?

We Bilge Rats have cooked up a challenge for pirates who love to explore. I doubt you’ve got what it takes to handle this, but you’re free to try.
We’ve scavenged parts from across the Sea of Thieves and built ten skeleton thrones in truly tricky places. Easy for us to reach, but for you… ha!
It’s a real thrill to sit atop the world and survey the seas from our thrones- if you can work out how to reach them…
We challenge you to find and sit in all of them. Some are so big that you’ll need to sit with a pirate from another crew. So, put your heads together!

Here's to the open sea! You ready to test your mettle with the Bilge Rats?

So, what's new around here?

You noticed the sharks getting excitable lately? Great fun trying to outswim them if you ask me!
Bit of a mystery, really. If you're feeling curious, there's a fella called 'merry' Merrick who seems to know something about it.
He might tell you, if he's sober. Last I heard, he was camped on the South-West side of Shark Bait Cove. Adventure calls, mate!

• Never seen a Bilge Rat before, mate? Come share a grog and let's toast to freedom, adventure and the open sea!

• • Who are the Bilge Rats?
    • You know the trading companies? Like those stuffy Merchant Alliance fools? Well, a pox on them!
    • Chase commendations and approval from your masters if you like, but the love of adventure, discovery, of the sea itself... that's what we're about.
    • Get out there, get in trouble, get a few scars! We love pirates who chase rumours and follow their noses. Even if the get broken from time to time...
    • Bilge Rats love adventure, rumours and challenges. Whenever something new is happening on the Sea of Thieves, you can count on me to know about it!
  • What's with your outfit?
    • Bilge Rats live like true pirates! There's always a new challenge on the horizon, if you keep your ear to the ground.
    • I'd rather have a few tears in my trousers and the tales that go with them, than look like some kind of... preening pirate pretty boy!
  • What can the Bilge Rats offer?
    • The trading companies offer you goodies for voyaging? Well, so can we! So, get out there, get in trouble and live free!
    • If you can rise to our challenges, you'll get the respect and rewards you deserve. But that's a big "if". Bilge Rats don't do things by halves.

Trivia

• Duke is voiced by Valentine Kozin, who is Principal Technical Artist at Rare

Patch History

• 2.0.11 : Returned to Taverns.
• 2.0.9 : Replaced by Stitcher Jim in Taverns.
• 2.0.7 : Duke's Black Market opens for business.
• 1.1.2 : Begins selling items for Doubloons.
• 1.1.0 : First introduced.