The Cheapside Lawyer
Edward Kenway's journey to becoming a true pirate captain begins with a fateful encounter with Stede Bonnet, a man more accustomed to legal briefs than cutlasses. This mission serves as an excellent introduction to the game's core mechanics: stealth, parkour, and the art of the pickpocket. Mastering these early will set you up for success throughout your adventures in the Caribbean.
100% Synchronization Objective: Pickpocket all three targets without being detected.
Achieving 100% synchronization in "The Cheapside Lawyer" hinges entirely on your stealth and pickpocketing prowess. This objective is not just a bonus; it's a crucial training exercise for later, more complex missions where undetected theft can yield valuable items, maps, and even mission-critical intelligence. Take your time, observe, and execute with precision.
Mission Walkthrough
Phase 1: The Initial Chase - Pursuing Stede Bonnet
The mission kicks off with a dynamic chase sequence through the bustling streets of Havana. Your primary goal is to keep Stede Bonnet in sight, but more importantly, to learn the ropes of parkour and environmental navigation.
- Follow Bonnet: Immediately after the cutscene, begin your pursuit. Bonnet isn't particularly fast, but he's adept at navigating the urban environment.
- Master Parkour Basics:
- Free-Running Up: Hold the High Profile button (R2/RT) and the Forward movement button to automatically vault over obstacles and climb walls.
- Free-Running Down: While holding High Profile, press the Down movement button to descend quickly and safely.
- Cornering: Edward will automatically round corners if you hold the High Profile button.
- Recommended Route & Shortcuts:
- Rooftops are Your Friend: While Bonnet sticks to the ground for the most part, don't hesitate to use rooftops for a clearer line of sight and to bypass crowded streets. Look for crates, market stalls, or low walls to initiate climbs.
- Avoid Crowds (Initially): Early in the chase, Bonnet will lead you through dense crowds. While you can push through, it slows you down. If you fall too far behind, look for parallel paths on the sides of buildings or over low structures.
- Key Shortcut (Approx. 30 seconds in): After Bonnet turns sharply right into a narrow alleyway, immediately look to your left. There's a low wall you can vault over into a small courtyard. This allows you to cut a corner and potentially gain ground.
- Maintaining Distance: Don't get too close too early. The game wants you to experience the chase. Keep him within your mini-map's white circle.
- Losing Pursuers (If Applicable): While Bonnet isn't actively trying to lose you, you might encounter patrolling guards who will become hostile if you run into them. If this happens:
- Blend: Duck into crowds or hide in haystacks/bushes if you need to break line of sight.
- Parkour Evasion: Use complex parkour routes (e.g., climbing over multiple buildings) to create distance.
- Smoke Bombs (Later Missions): Keep in mind for future chases, smoke bombs are invaluable for creating an escape window.
Phase 2: The Stealth and Pickpocketing Challenge
After the chase, Bonnet leads you to a bustling market area where you'll need to discreetly relieve three targets of their possessions. This is where the 100% Sync objective comes into play.
Key Principles for 100% Sync:
- Observation is Paramount: Before making any move, watch the target's patrol route and the routes of nearby guards.
- Use Cover: Blend into crowds, hide behind market stalls, or use bushes to break line of sight.
- Approach from Behind: Always try to pickpocket from directly behind the target.
- Timing is Everything: Wait for the target to be isolated or for guards to be looking away.
Target 1: The Merchant near the Fountain
- Initial Position: Bonnet will point out the first target, who is usually near a small fountain or market stall, often conversing with another NPC or examining goods.
- Guard Patrol: There's typically one guard who patrols a short loop near this merchant, often walking past him and then turning around.
- Optimal Approach:
- From your starting position, move into the crowd to your right.
- Wait for the patrolling guard to walk past the merchant and turn his back, or move away from the immediate vicinity.
- While still in the crowd, slowly approach the merchant from behind.
- When you are close enough and the "Pickpocket" prompt appears (Circle/B), execute the action.
- Immediately after, blend back into the crowd or duck behind a nearby stall to avoid detection if the guard is returning.
- Common Pitfall: Rushing the pickpocket while the guard is looking in the merchant's direction.
Target 2: The Guard by the Archway
- Location: This target is often a stationary guard or one with a very short patrol, usually positioned near an archway or the entrance to a building.
- Guard Patrol: There might be another guard patrolling a wider area, or this guard might simply turn his head periodically.
- Optimal Approach:
- After pickpocketing the first target, use the market stalls and crowds to move towards the second target's location.
- Observe their head turns and any nearby patrolling guards.
- Wait for the moment when the target's back is to you, and no other guards have a direct line of sight.
- Approach swiftly but carefully from behind and pickpocket.
- If there's a nearby hiding spot (e.g., a bush or a group of blending NPCs), use it immediately after.
- Common Pitfall: Being seen by the target as they turn their head, or by a secondary patrolling guard.
Target 3: The Wealthy Citizen near the Docks/Waterfront
- Location: The final target is often found closer to the docks or a more open area, sometimes near a small group of people or a cart.
- Guard Patrol: This area can sometimes have slightly more complex guard patrols, with one or two guards moving in overlapping patterns.
- Optimal Approach:
- Move towards the docks, again using available cover.
- Identify the target and their specific patrol route. This target might walk a slightly longer path than the previous two.
- Crucially, identify the patrol routes of any nearby guards. You need a window where both the target's back is to you AND no guards are looking.
- Often, there's a moment when the target walks past a stack of crates or a large market stall, providing a perfect opportunity to duck out, pickpocket, and duck back into cover.
- If the area is very open, you might need to wait for the target to walk into a crowd or near a blending opportunity.
- Common Pitfall: Underestimating the line of sight of guards in more open areas. Be patient.
Rewards
Successfully completing "The Cheapside Lawyer" will advance the story and grant you access to the next sequence. While there are no direct monetary rewards for this specific mission, the experience gained in stealth and parkour is invaluable.
- Story Progression: Unlocks "Mister Stede Bonnet."
- XP: Standard mission XP.
- 100% Sync Bonus: Satisfaction and a step closer to overall game completion.
Mastering this early mission's stealth and chase mechanics will pay dividends throughout your pirate career. Practice makes perfect, and "The Cheapside Lawyer" is your first real test of becoming a true Assassin and pirate.