Pirate
Yar har, fiddle di dee, Being a pirate is all right with me, Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, You are a pirate! - LazyTown
Oi! You'z lot! You'z part of my crew now. Any problemz with dat, you talk to da complaintz department. Dat'z me gun, by da way. - Kaptain Bluddflag
Pirates are scavenging sea bandits that raid and loot anyone on their sight. Despite being the seaborn equivalent of muggers, they are a far more glamorous cultural icon. They were known to be pretty cool for having a ship with black skeleton flag, as well as being badass as fuck for fighting heavily armed navy on daily basis (or so the legend goes; while there were a number of impressive battles, pirates preferred easier marks like unprotected merchant convoys). Sadly, it isn't a profession with the best long-term benefits since they would most likely be hanged by the navy or died of scurvy. But if they did succeed, like hell they will be famous and feared by everyone as soon as anybody saw their pirate flag and run the fuck away.
Pirates, despite being a band of misfits, were quite varied. In real life they were cutthroats and bandits with ships, while during later ages in fiction they were romanticized as something of a concept of freedom despite their infamy. In all cases, pirates are well known thanks to modern pop-culture depictions as anarchistic and anti-governmental. They opposed the oftentimes brutal authoritarian life in the navy and wanted to live out their own lives without anyone bugging in. The reasons were many and this resulted in pirates to be (ironically) closer to the modern establishment. While in Europe kings and queens ruled through an absolutist system of rule, pirates had something akin to modern democracy (the crew choose a new captain from among themselves by voting). While slavery was normal and nations fought each-other, pirates did not care about any of this since a pirate crew could be multi-national and include slaves among their ranks. In fact, equality was normal among pirates and slaves saw this as one of the few ways to feel free and equal. Pirates did not discriminate. They took in everyone who wanted to join (or not).
This kind of lifestyle is what attracted writers who presented pirates in a romanticized way, as misfits who seek out a life of freedom. On the other hand they were portrayed in a more favorable light as anti-heroes. This has some basis in truth, as some pirates began their careers as legitimate privateers in the service of their king until political winds changed. Others were genuine legends whose stories impress readers to this day.
Famous Pirates
- Edward Teach- Better known as Blackbeard, one of the original Golden Age pirates known for his intimidation tactics. His nomme de geurre came from the fact that he used to put gunpowder in his beard and set it off to give himself a terrifying appearance.
- Henry Avery- The most successful (and mysterious) pirate in history. How successful? He was named the king of pirates after looting the Mughal Emperor's treasure fleet, which was worth £52 million today. Shortly after, though, he vanished. Neither he nor his treasure was seen again. Some vidya speculate that he went on to found the pirate utopia of Libertalia in Madagascar.
Types of Pirate
Caribbean pirate - The classic, the archetype, the most iconic of all pirates that feature in almost in every media. During 1650 to 1720, empires like France and England wants to develop their own colonial empires in the Carribean. Problem was, the Spanish got their first, and at the time they were the most powerful navy at the time. However, they also had massive treasure fleets. So the English began paying privateers to raid the Spanish whenever they were at war; but as soon as the war ended, there was now a surplus of heavily armed ships that decided to turn pirate to stay in business. And with the ever-growing sea trade, piracy was the norm. The pirate captain is known for wearing eye patches, having a pet parrot with hook for arm and peg leg, which you should know that guy is badass when he lost most of his limb and is still able to fight. They are also known having a black skeleton flag (see above) while sailing a ship with a fuck load of cannon(if they are rich). The most successful pirate likes to hide their loot with a map point to its location, further promoting more people to become pirates.
Vikings - Scandinavian pirate with badass beard and horn helmet. Existed long before the Caribbean pirates, and they sure made themselves famous all over the Europe. They are also responsible for being the ancestors of 90% of the Caucasians thanks to their continent wide rape-demic.
Modern Pirate - Mostly just poor 3rd world uneducated Somalians that got themselves in a life of crime just to survive. They armed with many modern weapon from assault rifle to rocket launcher. Most of them looks like they are ghouls probably due to the lack of nutrients from food and health care. They are not fun and games like the badasses above.
Internet Pirate - Hackers who "illegally" download foreign internet goods like manga scan, anime, books or newly released video games for free. As technology advanced and the invention of 3D printer came along, the "pirate" is able to download miniature blue prints for 3D printers. TAKE THAT GAMES WORKSHOP.
Fictional Pirates
Swashbucklers - The Noblebright side of the Fantasy pirate coin. These guys are basically Carribean pirates who seek adventure and right wrongs. They may be exiled princes or other political fugitives forced into a life of outlawry. They are also masters of swordplay and trickery; so basically they're more akin to musketeers or Zorro, but with a ship. Think of Dread Pirate Roberts from the Princess Bride.
Dread Pirates - The Grimdark side of the Fantasy Pirate coin. Not to be confused with the legend that Dread Pirate Roberts cooked up for himself; these guys are the real deal. Take a Carribean Pirate and mix in the supernatural or even eldritch. This type of Pirate frequently appears as the antagonist in the Pirates of the Carribean movies. See Ghost Pirates for a specific subset below.
Space Pirates - You know pirates, BUT IN SPACE! A seemly possible concept where ships have solar sails with FTL engine and they sails in void of space instead of ocean. Since space has no oxygen, pirates had to wear concealed power armor to board ships in order to loot and plunder. In some indie games like FTL, the crew can use teleportation device to board enemy ship without space suit, the same goes to the lighting strike ability in battlefleet gothic armada.
Ghost Pirates - it is said if some pirates are too badass to die, they become ghost and continue to terrorize ships for fun. Some said it was the caused of some voodoo curses, other thinks they are just too tough to stay in hell. These dead pirate sail in their seemly broken pirate ship crawling with Moses and maggots and it is seemly indestructible from any cannon fire. SPOOOOOKYYY.
Warhammer Fantasy pirates - Most famously Varg and Skaeling, norse chaos pirates living in the north that likes to wreck Empire's shit by raiding their border. There's also vampire pirates like Luthor Harkon, one of Abhorash's student.
Warhammer 40k pirates - Ranging from chaos worshiper, sadistic spiky ear slave trader, cunning spiky ear glass cannon and the fucking orks, they are all badasses.
One Piece - Pirate king Gold D Roger hide a big treasure on an islad Raftel and everyone is going to find it! Some using this chance to be free from their dictators government that oppress them while the evil one just want to be more powerful and rich by collection fruits that gives you superpower. The world is big and there are sea monsters bigger than your ships, have fun.
space pirate from metroid - while not being human and lacking the Caribbean pirate stereotype, they are aliens that likes to raid and destroy vessal while being as big of dick to every other species, especially the federation. They are led by mother brains with Ridley, a species of cyborg/gargoyle/dragon alien being their military commander. They all got shit on by Samus unfortunatly lol.