The Ashen Age
Reapers Set Up Camp
The eastern island of the small duo of uncharted islands at I-12/J-11 began to show activity, as someone was digging what appeared to be a pit.
The Masked Stranger appeared here for the first time, making strange sketches.
It was at this time that the Masked Stranger and Flameheart Jr were working together to construct the Reaper's Hideout and Reaper's Lair, with Jr staying out of sight.
Dark Relics Stolen
A collection of 'Dark Relics' are stolen from The Order of Souls. Seeking help from Duke, he and the Order had pirates hunt down Skeleton Captains and search for the whereabouts of the lost Dark Relics.
During this time Reaper's Chests began appearing. These cursed boxes send out a beam of red light until picked up, but will stay marked on all ship's map tables until handed over.
Rag and Bone Crates
Whilst some Reaper Chests contained rare items that Duke had already started selling, others were full of old rags and bones. Duke put these all in crates and hid them on Shipwreck Bay.
Stitcher Jim returned and offered a solution to what can be done with these Rag and Bone Crates so that he could prove he had turned over a new leaf. This led Duke to organising the Rag and Bone Crate Bilge Rat Adventure, which saw crews digging up the Crates on Shipwreck Bay and ferrying them to various Seaposts.
Fort of the Damned
Old Boot Fort becomes corrupted due to a ritual involving the Dark Relics and becomes the Fort of the Damned.
Stitcher Jim observed the Fort of the Damned from Castaway Isle, informing pirates how to tackle the Fort.
When the Fort of the Damned is 'activated' by placing the corresponding Flames of Fate in the statues and a Ritual Skull is placed in the altar, Shadows of Fate swarm the island. The Ghost of Lord Graymarrow appears during the final wave of Shadows.
Sir Arthur Pendragon Returns
Released from his portrait by the power of a ritual involving the Dark Relics, Sir Arthur Pendragon returns. He was made aware of three Captains who are bound to their remains, and sought help from pirates to aid him in his quest to rescue these lost souls.
Source
Tall Tale: The Seabound Soul
Stitcher Jim Steps in for Duke
Having gained Duke's trust, Stitcher Jim becomes a fully fledged member of the Bilge Rats, taking over Duke's duties. Duke left a 'note' behind explaining that he has gone to find the informal leader of the Bilge Rats, Larinna.
Ashen Chests and Ashen Tomes
Stitcher Jim informed pirates about a set of mysterious Tomes named the Ashen Tomes which contained secrets on the Ashen Lords. Knowing that skeletons had recently began moving these artefacts around in Ashen Chests, he sold maps and gave information on the whereabouts of the Ashen Chests and the Ashen Keys needed to open them.
The Return of Captain Flameheart
Pendragon was tricked into releasing Flameheart Senior from his own skull, unleashing this infamous pirate upon the Sea of Thieves. Flameheart declared the pirates who now dwelled in the Sea of Thieves as unworthy to sail its waters while proclaiming himself to be the rightful ruler.
Source
Tall Tale: The Seabound Soul
Festival of Giving
Stitcher Jim prepared a new voyage that focused on collecting Humble Gifts and Generous Gifts and then giving those to the Masked Stranger. Pirates were encouraged to swap Gifts with other crews to earn more Doubloons.
The Reaper's Bounty chest first started appearing at this time.
New Skeleton Lords Defend the Forts
Three previously unseen Skeleton Lords started to appear at active Forts, they were The Duchess, The Mutinous Helmsman, and The Two-Faced Scoundrel.
Umbra Returns to the Sea of Thieves
Once again kidnapped, Umbra finds herself returned to the Sea of Thieves. After escaping her captors, she sets up camp on the Lagoon of Whispers and began chronicling the stories of legendary pirates and recent events.
Duke Returns to the Taverns
After an extended period of being gone, Duke took back his place from Stitcher Jim. He appeared worse for wear; much more timid than usual and wrapped up head to toe in bandages.
Crews of Rage
The recent return of Captain Flameheart — a hot-headed Skeleton Lord — is having fiery repercussions around the Sea of Thieves. Hordes of Ashen Skeletons are rising on Molten Sands Fortress while a new kind of Cursed Chest, the Chest of Rage, is heating things up when it blows its lid. Duke sent pirates to stop this menace from spreading.
The Heart of Fire
Rumours spread of a ritual intended to rebuild Captain Flameheart’s forces at his stronghold The Heart of Fire.
Pirates were recruited by Tallulah, the Tavernkeep at the Charred Parrot on Morrow's Peak Outpost, to join the fight to stop Flameheart. For many, what occurred was a desperate plea from Pendragon to save the souls of his crew and put a stop to a ritual that would summon the Ashen Lords.
Those who managed to find their way through the Heart of Fire bore witness to Stitcher Jim attempting the ritual but burning his arm in the process.
Emissaries are Established
The original Trading Companies of the Sea of Thieves had long maintained a working balance, but danger lurks on the horizon and each Company decided that a show of strength is needed! They started to seek out Emissaries to act as their representatives on the waves
The Founding of the Reaper's Bones
The Reapers finished the construction of their camp and launched their new Trading Company, the Reaper's Bones. For this occasion, the shipwrights have charted the island on the ship maps and named it The Reaper's Hideout.
Reapers claim to be true to the spirit of piracy and revel in causing chaos and disruption to the other Trading Companies. Their representative is the Servant of the Flame, a mysterious figure who is completely cloaked and wears a golden mask.
The Return of the Ashen Lords
Having amassed the tools he needed in the form of the Ashen Tomes, Ashen Jewels and other ritual ingredients, Flameheart brought back his elite warriors the Ashen Lords to the Sea of Thieves.
Red, fiery tornados can be seen descending on islands where these rituals took place.
Four Ashen Lords returned; Captain Haphaestus Grimm, Old Horatio, Red Ruth, and Warden Chi.
Flameheart Summons Ghost Ships
With his dark powers growing, Flameheart now summoned the damned souls of lost ships to pursue his goals and regain supremacy of the seas. Fleets of spectral vessels are attacking vulnerable islands.