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The Battle For Treasure Island is probably the biggest playset in the entire Pyrates toyline. And also one of the coolest! Battle For Treasure Island released at the tail end of the first wave of Pyrates. Not counting the bundles, it was the last to release before Wave 2 came along. The set was released as a Toys R Us exclsuive.
This set is #3681 and features 210 pieces. Including a large island baseplate, a unique boat, a shark, and several other goodies! It also includes five micro action figures.
The set is built upon a large and unique island sculpt. The island is really detailed and has all kinds of nooks and crannies to play in and explore. It has a waterfall, a cave, some stairs around the back, a hidden tomb area, spikes.... Its really a masterpiece of an island to play with.
The island features two primary buildings. The smaller of the two is a ruined house like structure on the left side of the island. It features a Skeleton Crew Banner hanging from its roof. It also has a little basement area to play in.
The bigger building is featured on the right side of the island, and is a towering fort of sorts. The fort has three levels. The ground floor features a trapdoor, which can drop characters into the basement dungeon!
The mountain in the middle of the island is host to a play feature as well. It has a lifting hatch with a button behind it. Pressing the button will cause the hatch to swing open! Revealing the treasure that was hidden with!
The set also comes with three little boulders that can be balanced at the top of the waterfall and then knocked down to simulate an avalanche of sorts!
A cool ropebridge also connects the two halves of the island. It allows figures to walk over the perilous running rapids!
The island features two docks as well. A large dock, that can be used with proper pirate ships. And a smaller one that's more suited for rowboats and the like. A zipline connects the large fortress building to the larger docks. Allowing for characters to have quick travel between them.
The set is also host to many fun accessories and extras for play. A lot of them are unique to this very set.
The coolest of them all is the special rowboat that comes with the set. Its modified so that it can have a sail! This one in particular bears the flag of the Sea Marauders. Though, you could probably switch out the sail with the little sails that come in Pyrate's Cove or the two spyglass sets. To customize the boat and make it suitable for other factions. (Sorry Buccaneers, Lost Souls, and Castaways. None for you!)
The set also comes with a special treasure chest too. Its a maroon red color, with gold accents. And it also features the insignia of The Skeleton Crew on the side. It contains a golden skull as well as a special, rare golden dagger!
The last accessory of note is the shark the playset comes with. This shark is pitch black, with bright blue eyes. It certainly paints a striking and spectacular image. This shark variant only ever came in this set, unlike the blue and gray ones, its exclusive!
This set comes with five figures. All of them exclusive! It features two Privateers, two Skeleton Crew members, and one Sea Marauder.
Included in this set are two Privateers. One of them is the very leader of the faction himself!
Admiral Bluebeard is an incredible figure. And is the leader of The Privateers. He features a fancy red coat, with a golden shirt underneath. He wears gray pants, but sports a wooden pegleg. His tricorn hat is gray with a golden trim as well. And of course, he has his titular blue beard! Bluebeard has one of the most unique molds in the entire series. As it was only used for one other figure, being the Lost Soul known as Ghoullugger.
In this set he wields a cutlass with a bronze hilt. He also has one of the special golden spyglasses that can be found in the Lord of The Pyrates' Tomb.
The second Privateer is Scabby Buckbeard. A less unique figure. He dons the usual Privateer clothes. Red jacket and black pants. He shares a head mold with Lockpick Cabot, Silverback Surrez, and Braggart T. Doyle. Although his beard is black instead of brown or gray. He wields a brown rifle (even though the picture above shows him with Bluebeard's cutlass). He also has a lantern for some reason.
The Skeleton Crew has two figures that come in this set. Both of them unique as well.
Bilge Treader is another shameless naked skeleton.... He wears gray boots and is distinguishable by the light gray strap he wears around his head. He also has a black pistol tucked into his belt. In this set he wields a skeleton spear.
The other Skeleton is Seadaemon. ALSO NAKED. He has a.... Well, to be honest I can't really tell what color that is. Its like a.... Milky brown? Light brown? Light maroon???? I can't really tell. You can see for yourself in the picture above. He wields a skeleton sickle.
I appreciate that the two skeletons in this set at least have unique colorings. But man. The Skeleton Crew really suffers from all looking so samey. I wish we had at least a little more variety in them.
The last faction present in this set is The Sea Marauders. Only one figure is here to represent their faction, however.
Musket Monroe is a figure I really like for some reason. Even though he's not all that unique. Though he is set exclusive. He wears a gray undershirt with a black vest and black pants to match. As well as light gray boots. He shares a head mold with characters such as Spar Foreman, Murk Mariner, and Oliver Lugsail. Although he wears a black bandana around his forehead and has blonde hair. In this set he wields a really cool looking black rifle.
The ultimate battle among PRIVATEERS, SKELETON CREW, and SEA MARAUDERS erupts at TREASURE ISLAND - the resting place of the LORD PYRATE and the rumored location of his secret treasure.
-From the Battle For Treasure Island instruction manual
Treasure Island is the biggest island on the Pyrates map. Its located in the dead center of the sea and is quite possible one of the most important locations in those waters. The island itself is also home to Skull Haven. Which is the name of the cove that most people use to gain entrance to the island.
Treasure Island has been host to many historic events in the Pyrates timeline. Most important of all, is the Lord Pyrate's Tomb. He was buried on this very island, at its center atop one of its tallest peaks. Here he was buried with his most sacred and personal treasures, along with clues to where the rest of his fortune is hidden.
It was there that he rested for many years. Forgotten by the world. Until the daring crews came to these waters in search of his cursed treasure.
Treasure Island is well defended however. Its not only hard to land at, but also guarded by the defenses of Skull Haven itself. After the bloody Battle At Skull Haven died down, the factions had learned of the secrets of Treasure Island. Thanks to the hidden clues left behind in Smuggler's Fort.
The Privateers had learned of this secret first when they had captured Smuggler's Fort. But they'd been attacked by the Sea Marauders and Skeleton Crew before they had a chance to act upon it. All crews were left to lick their wounds and rest for the time being.
Admiral Bluebeard, however, wasn't one to wait around. He knew that it was only a matter of time before The Sea Marauders and Skeleton Crew made their way to the interior of Treasure Island themselves. And he wanted to beat them to it.
Admiral Bluebeard took a landing party of some of his most trusted men, including those like Scabby Buckbeard, Theodore Twosails, Spar Foreman, and a few others. Bluebeard took a longboat and sailed up the river from Skull Haven. He opted to leave Carl Carbunkles behind with The Avenger to guard Skull Haven and ward off anyone who might try to sail up Treasure Island's river.
Bluebeard was right to do so, as it wasn't long after that the Sea Marauders were spotted in the area. The Battle At Skull Haven was still fresh on everyone's minds, and nobody had quite recovered yet. So The Sea Marauders weren't looking to start another war just yet.
Though they couldn't risk a full scale battle, Captain Cutlass wasn't willing to wait around. Under the cover of night, he sent a small stealth team through Skull Haven. It was a very small group of only three individuals. They were led by Musket Munroe, the spymaster for the Sea Marauders. Accompanying him was Blackteeth McBaine and Shifty Merchant as backup.
The Privateers arrived in the area first. The tomb had been marked with an X on the Lord Pyrate's map. And it was there that they began to search. The island was treacherous, and adventuring into it was not easy. Made even less so, when Bluebeard was ambushed by awaiting skeletons.
Captain Dread Eye was no fool. He knew it was only a matter of time till the Lord Pyrate's tomb was discovered. And as such, he left behind two of his most skilled combatants to guard it. Bilge Treader and Seadaemon. They began to attack the Privateers, using the island's natural fortifications.
Bluebeard and his Privateers fought back. Driving the skeletons deeper into the mountain as they raced inward.
It wasn't long before The Sea Marauders arrived as well. By now, all hell had broken loose. Treasure Island had turned into another fullscale battle. Though not quite as big as The Battle for Skull Haven was. This fight would continue for a day and a half. Gunshots and cannonfire rung the air, and the clash of steel echoed in everyones ears.
The battle would later become known as "The Battle For Treasure Island". In the end, The Privateers and Sea Marauders would raid the Lord Pyrate's Tomb at the same time. Each one stealing a golded spyglass that held another clue to the Lord Pyrate's Treasure.
The Skeleton Crew would come away defeated. Although Bilge Treader and Seadaemon brought back Captain Dread Eye a peaceoffering from the tomb. A golden skull, said to contain immense spiritual power....
Musket Munroe would, unfortunately, not make it out of this fight alive. Admiral Bluebeard stabbed him through the chest as they were fighting over the Lord Pyrate's possessions. It was his death however, that distracted Bluebeard and allowed Shifty Merchant to steal the second spyglass and escape.
