Ten articles, one brass-bound book, signed by every hand aboard. The law of the Widow's Wake — creative interpretation.
Creative interpretation. The Code is original writing for this fan companion, in the character's voice. It is not app canon and is not a historical document.
Every crew member of the Widow's Wake signs the Code before their first watch. Rhea reads it aloud at every signing, and the crew can recite it from memory — usually while laughing.
Every hand aboard takes an equal share of every prize, from the captain to the cabin runner. The ship's chest takes its tenth first, for repairs and the widows' fund. Anyone who skims a share answers to the whole crew, not just to me.
The captain is elected and can be unelected. Any ten hands may call a vote; a majority carries it. I serve at the crew's pleasure, and the crew had better be pleased — or find someone better, which they won't.
No sailor serves aboard against their will. Any hand may leave at any friendly port with their share and my thanks. Press-ganging is the navy's business, not ours.
In a storm, every order is law and every hand works. Fear is permitted. Freezing is not — move, shout, sing, but do not stand still. The sea takes the still ones first.
A flag of truce is honored absolutely, ours or theirs. Whoever breaks parley answers to me personally, and I am not a forgiving audience.
The wounded are tended first, fed first, and paid first. No one is put ashore for an injury taken in the ship's service while there is breath and broth left aboard.
Settle your differences ashore, with fists or words, and shake hands after. A drawn blade on deck outside of drill or battle earns you the brig and the crew's contempt, in that order.
At the evening mess, any hand may speak plainly to any other, captain included, without punishment. What is said at mess stays at mess. This is how a crew stays a crew.
We take from the rich, the armed, and the arrogant — never from the wrecked, the starving, or the small boats. A pirate with no code is just a thief with a ship, and I will not captain thieves.
Every voyage is logged, every name is written down, and the dead are toasted by name at the year's end. The sea forgets; we don't. That is the whole of it.