The Free Captains of the Shackles have long threatened the sea routes of the Arcadian Ocean off the west coast of Garund, instilling fear in the trade captains of the Inner Sea. But no people have felt the sting of the pirate lords' whip more than Cheliax. House Thrune still seeks revenge against the pirates after its fleet suffered a heavy defeat long ago. It has suppressed its rage for many years, but the showdown with the Free Captains remained a dream for a long time, as the Hurricane King Kerdak Redfist expanded the reach and power of the pirate fleet more than anyone else in his own history. Now, however, House Thrune has a means to ensure the destruction of the pirate lords and put an end to the Confederation of Shackles' dominance over the seas once and for all, perhaps subjugating these wild and notorious islands to its own domain forever.

The Skulls and Shackles Saga includes:

• The Saga Handbook, featuring rules for character creation that are suitable for the adventure's storyline thanks to specific backgrounds and gameplay suggestions.
• All six chapters of the original saga.
• A detailed excursion into life aboard a pirate ship, naval combat, and the assembly of ships and fleets.
• An in-depth study of Porto Periglio, the pirate lords who plague the tribes, and the secrets lurking on the infamous islands and in the depths of the oceans and seas of Golarion.
• Revelations about the mysterious and half-forgotten civilization of the cyclopes and about Besmara, the goddess worshipped by most pirate crews.
• A rich bestiary featuring many new deep-sea monsters, such as the Faceless Whale, the Incutilis, the mutated Sahuagin, and the Voidthorn Zombie.