SPACER
SPACER
The Stormstalker is one of three Pirate ships released for the original Pyrates toyline. This set released in wave 1 of the original line as set #3620. It features 95 pieces and four figures.
Stormstalker is a sloop class ship. This is determined by its single mast structure with two fore sails and one aft sail. The ship's main colors are brown and tan. The hull itself being a dark brown, while the sails and canvas are colored tan. The ship also features a shark figurehead and two forward facing spears for ramming other ships.
At the top of the mast is a large crow's nest with a smaller sail, as well as the flag of the Sea Marauders displayed proudly upon its flagpole. The edges of the crow's nest can be grabbed onto by figures. There's also a hook beneath the crow's nest that allows the attached zipline to be connected to it.
The instruction manual for the ship also demonstrates that the ship's sails can be furled and unfurled by raising and lowering the clips that hold them in place. Its a pretty neat little feature that I never knew about before now.
The hull features two spots for storing goods. A single space one near the bow with a wooden trap door. And a double space one near the stern with two metal grate style doors. The middle of the ship is also covered by a large canvas tarp.
The ship comes equipped with two cannons (but features space to add two more if the owner desires). The set also features a harpoon piece as alternate ammo for the cannons.
Off the stern of the ship is a small hanger from which a cage hangs. The cage can be used to entrap captured skeletons or pirates. This piece is unique to the Stormstalker and doesn't come in any other set. Even though it was planned to come in two other sets.
Another notable feature of The Stormstalker is the vault of transformation which sits at the bow of the ship. The vault features an ingenius spinning mechanism that allows you to switch out the two figures inside. To mimic curing skeletons of their curse. As a kid I was always scared that my figure would get lost in there when I spun it around LoL.
Attached is the demonstration given in The Stormstalker's instruction manual. In the images it shows Marcus Mutiny being turned into Lockjaw and then back again.
The set features four micro action figures. The first, and most prominent, is Captain Cutlass himself. Captain Cutlass was the first named captain of the Sea Marauders. He wears a black coat with gray pants and a proud black hat. He has a curly brownbeard with a golden ring in it, a golden eyepatch, and a hook for a hand. Captain Cutlass is one of the main characters of the Pyrates franchise alongside Captain Dread Eye.
The set also features two other Sea Marauders. Nicholas Nautilus (first mate) and Marcus Mutiny. As well as a single member of the Skeleton Crew named Lockjaw. Nautilus wields a pistol, Marcus wields a cutlass (though the manual shows him with a crossbow), and Lockjaw a skeleton spear.
The set comes with plenty of extra accessories for play. An anchor, some barrels, decorative skulls, lanterns, a chest full of gold and jewels, a zipline, a map, and a rat.
The Stormstalker is a ship belonging to the Sea Marauders faction. This vessel is captained by Captain Cutlass, one of the most feared captains of the Marauders. The Stormstalker started out life as a simple navy vessel from England. It served the royal crown and was used for combating pirates off the coasts of the royal kingdom. The vessel one day came into combat with a pirate group led by a man named Cutlass. The group was ruthless and unrelenting. Through sheer willpower they were able to slaughter the soldiers aboard and commandeer the ship for themselves. The man known as Cutlass renamed the ship to The Stormstalker and used it to kickstart his pirate career.
Over time, The Stormstalker would change appearances drastically. As Cutlass continued to ravage the seas and make a name for himself as a ruthless pirate, his ship would change to match. The Stormstalker grew more and more deadly with each modification. More cannons, ramming spears, and cages for torturing captives. The Stormstalker would become known as one of the most deadly ships on the water. Any who saw the flag of The Sea Marauders waving above this murderous ship, knew it meant death.
The Stormstalker would be the first ship of The Sea Marauders faction. Though many would follow later on, it all started here.
The Sea Marauders would use The Stormstalker to venture into the unknown waters that were said to hold the Lord Pyrate's Lost Treasure. It was on this voyage that the Sea Marauders first came across The Skeleton Crew. Their ghastly bodies horrified the marauders, and they knew they would need a way to combat the curse.
The exact manner is unknown, but somehow Captain Cutlass found something known as The Vault of Transformation. Which can be used to undo curses of the sea. It is believed that Captain Cutlass traded his right hand and eye to a sea hag for this treasure. The Vault would then be installed directly into The Stormstalker.
The Stormstalker sailed through many battles in its time as the Sea Marauders flagship. Most notable was its presence in The Battle at Skull Haven, where the Sea Marauders used it to combat Dread Eye and The Skeleton Crew. Though she was badly damaged in this fight, the Sea Marauders managed to make their getaway on her. Her smaller size allowed the ship to outrun The Phantom with ease.
Unfortunately, not all would end well for The Stormstalker. Though the full scale of the fight is unknown, The Stormstalker would meet her end in a battle against Admiral Scathe and his Predator. Admiral Scathe would thoroughly demolish and sink The Stormstalker leaving Cutlass and her crew to only survive on a raft made from her remains.
The Stormstalker would be later rebuilt by Captain Cutlass and his remaining crew. Using the pieces salvaged from her first wreck she would be reborn as a brand new vessel.
Not to be confused with the second Stormstalker that was built in the canon of the main timeline, after her destruction.
Captain Cutlass' Stormstalker recieved a re-release in the 2.0 line of Pyrates. This version of the set features 158 pieces, four figures, and is set #95523.
The Stormstalker recieved a MASSIVE change in the 2.0 Line. I would probably argue that its the set that changed the most between its mainline and 2.0 releases. And it absolutely was for the worst.
In 2.0, The Stormstalker has had its entire hull redesigned. Instead of using the unique hull piece that was used in the original, its now essentially a duplicate of The Black Pearl from their Pirates of The Carribean line. The ship loses much of what made it unique in the first place. It no longer has the Vault of Transformation, the cage, the shark figurehead, or its spears. I've heard people call this set "The Brown Pearl" and I have to say its fitting for multiple reasons.
The ship's sails have also changed. Instead of tan, they're now red with a white logo on it. The red sails remind me of The Predator. I guess the sails aren't the worst. I wouldn't mind seeing someone do a mock up of the original Stormstalker with these newer red sails on it.
I can't even begin to imagine why this change was made. I guess maybe it was cheaper? The hull is a lot less special than the original was, as most of its unique features have been removed. So maybt that's why. Since 2.0 was definetly a budget line.
The set features four figures. Captain Cutlass, Nicholas Nautilus, and Lockjaw remain the same. However Marcus Mutiny has been replaced with a pirate that I believe is Musket Monroe, who originally came in the Battle for Treasure Island playset. Though without the instructions I can't be 100% sure.
