"Whether they have nobles backing them is usually obvious from the type of ship. If it's a military design with lots of cannons, you can be absolutely certain some human noble is the boss behind it.
"If not, you'll see all sorts of ships. Pirates like that generally don't do very well. I suspect the Bloodsail Buccaneers are a pirate alliance formed by nobles from the Human Kingdoms.
"The Blackwater Raiders aren't like that. They're genuine pirates, ruled by the goblin baron Vigaz and backed by a goblin trade cartel. They're both pirates and a major cartel that does legitimate business. So if we attack in an official capacity, whichever side we hit, the other will definitely come after us.
"But flying a pirate flag changes things. Pirates robbing pirates doesn't break their rules. They won't join forces against us, and the other side might very well help us," Fourteen explained.
"Then does everyone have to change clothes? We can't wear Quel'Danil's standard uniforms, is that it?" Yu Lin Bloodhawk asked.
"There's no real need for that. Out at sea, it's cannons against cannons and ships against ships. Most of the time, all you can see is the other side's flag. At that distance, by the time you can make out their clothes, the fight is basically over. Either one side surrenders or its ships sink.
"The people aboard the sinking ships might be rescued and taken prisoner, then sold to the Arena. Or nobody bothers saving them, and they sink into the sea to feed the fish!" Fourteen said with a laugh.
"That makes things simple. We'll fly a pirate flag and rob the Bloodsail Buccaneers. Their galleons will be our targets. Go arrange for some capable people to scout them again and verify all the details.
"I'm not