Charles Vane

"Aha! Burn you Bastards!"

- Charles Vanes after his successful escape from Nassau

Charles Van​e (c.1680 – 1721) was an English pirate captain who sailed the West Indies on his brigantine, the Ranger. He made a name for himself by targeting English, Spanish and French industry ships from 1716 until 1719, and was notorious for his harsh treatment of merchant seamen and soldiers alike.

After arriving in Nassau in 1717, where he and Jack Rackham informed Edward Kenway of a large prize in a nearby fort, Vane became a leading member of Nassau's pirate community.

He was present when Woodes Rogers arrived in Nassau to offer its residents the King's pardon, absolving them of their crimes if they chose to give up piracy. Unlike Benjamin Hornigold, Vane was not keen on accepting the pardon, and worked with Kenway to orchestrate an escape from the barricaded Nassau.

When Edward Thatch announced his retirement, Vane attempted to dissuade him, but failed in his attempt; after Thatch's death, Vane decided to help Edward find the Observatory.

The pair tailed the Royal African Pearl, a slave ship belonging to the Royal African Company, in the hopes of finding information on the Sage Bartholomew Roberts. However, the Ranger was demasted and left to drift.

Following the Royal African Pearl's eventual capture, Rackham and the surviving crewmembers mutinied against Vane and Kenway, commandeering the Jackdaw and marooning both of them on Isla Providencia.

During their time on the island, Vane's behavior became increasingly erratic. He took to hiding in the jungle, only emerging to steal food that Edward had gathered. Growing frustrated with Vane's actions, Edward pursued the man, and Vane fiercely retaliated with an arsenal of recovered weaponry. Kenway managed to neutralize Vane but avoided killing him. Instead, he abandoned the man on the island and made his own escape.

Vane was later found by British soldiers and taken to Port Royal, where he was imprisoned and eventually executed in 1721.

Trivia

 * Vane, Woodes Rogers and Rodrigo Borgia were the only assassination targets to say their final words in the Memory Corridor, then ultimately survive their wounds.

Reference

 * Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag