The Skirmish on Skeleton Island was one of the final engagements of the Pirate-Maroon War. Furious over John Silver's betrayal, Flint absconded with the cache of gems, prompting Silver to pursue.
History[]
Background[]
After the Rogers-backed Spanish Sack of Nassau, the pirate and Maroon forces returned to the Maroon Island, which had become a rallying point for New World pirates and Maroons after they learned of the Fall of Nassau. However, their planning for first strikes was interrupted by Woodes Rogers sending word that he was holding Madi captive (she had been believed killed in the Sack), and was demanding that the cache of gems from the Urca de Lima in exchange for her release. Silver immediately agreed, but Flint and the Maroon Queen advised against it, saying it would only divide their fragile alliance. Flint and Silver sailed back to Nassau with the Walrus to free her, but Silver secretly brought the cache along. After their rescue plan was foiled, Silver had the cache brought up, and Rogers led the pirates to Skeleton Island.
Believing that Silver was going down the wrong path, Flint recruited Dooley to help him kill the Pirate Treasure Guardian and abscond with the chest, swimming ashore. Upon realizing what happened, Silver sent his best men: Israel Hands, Joji, Adams, Colin and two other pirates to find and kill Flint and recover the cache. Silver then relayed all this to Woodes Rogers, who agreed to give the pirates until sunrise the next day to recover the chest to complete the deal.
The Battle[]
The Hunt Begins[]
Hands and his men laid eyes on Flint an Dooley as they entered the forest, but they were far away. Hands sent the rest of the men to pursue while he waited on the beach for Silver to arrive, upon which the two entered the forest. At that moment, they hear a gunshot, and rush to its source.
When Silver and Hands arrive, they find their men standing at a crossroads. Adams explains that the path splits off into two sets of track, and they were hoping Silver would be able to discern which way Flint went. Silver angrily tells them he has no way of knowing which way Flint went, and orders Adams, Colin and a pirate to go one way, and for Joji and the other to follow the other. After they leave, Hands remarks that Flint probably wants to divide them to gain an advantage, and that one of those two groups will likely die. Silver coldly replies that it doesn't matter as long as they expose Flint's position.
The Paths Diverge[]
Adams', Colin and the pirate follow the path and find Flint digging in a clearing. Ignoring Colin's advice to fetch Hands, the three try to sneak up on Flint, but when they reach the clearing he is nowhere to be found. Flint then bursts from the trees, and quickly kills the pirate and Colin. Adams is able to tackle him and the two briefly wrestle before Flint bludgeons him with a rock.
Hands and Silver later survey the scene with disappointment, but Silver realizes that Flint never dragged the chest with him, he and Dooley left it behind.
As Dooley and Flint carry the chest through the jungle, they find their path blocked by Joji and the second pirate. The two put down the chest and draw their swords and meet their foes. Flint is able to make short work of the pirate he was fighting, but Joji gets the upper hand on Dooley and pins his hand to the ground with his dagger.
Flint and Joji then face off. Initially, it seems like Joji has the upper hand. However, Flint is able to lure him into close quarters where he is then able to push both of them down a hill. There, Flint is able to disarm Joji and run him through, but is spotted by Hands and Silver.
The Pursuit Ends[]
Flint and Dooley adjourn to a cave, where the two bury the chest. Flint leaves Dooley to finish digging as he doubles back to confront Silver and Hands. As Silver struggles to keep up, he orders Hands to go ahead of him. Hands and Flint face off by a lake, and Flint tries to talk Hands out of fighting him, still hoping that he can reconcile with Silver in order to take down Rogers and rescue Madi. Hands has none of it however, and charges Flint. Hands is outmatched by Flint, and is first disarmed of his hammer and then his sword. As Silver arrives, Flint knocks Hands out with a knee to the face.
Flint tries to reason with Silver, who ignores Flint's words and demands to know where the chest is. Dooley then comes up behind Silver, preparing to shoot him, but Flint quickly shoots Dooley to prevent him from killing Silver. Silver then draws his sword, and rushes Flint. The two are evenly matched, but are surprised by the sound of explosions coming from the river. Flint, Silver and Hands rush to the shore, where they find the Walrus burning, and their men being picked off by Rogers and his soldiers. They then sadly watch as the Walrus explodes.
Aftermath[]
Flint, Silver and Hands put aside their conflict to rush to the shore and try and help men off the beach. They are saved from Rogers' forces when Jack Rackham arrives aboard the Lion, prompting Rogers to retreat. Flint and Silver then lead their men to Jack's ship, where they resolve to confront Rogers and free Madi.