As a child, Antonio was enamored with nature and would often wander the tropical forests for hours after his daily work was completed. He developed a natural affinity for communing with animals and reading the language of nature. When not working or wandering, he could be found at the local monastery or the port, seeking whatever books the priests or travelers could provide.
Through years of farm work his body became accustomed to rigorous physical strain. His work required him to climb banana and coconut trees, and he was no stranger to wielding a machete to hack the sugar cane stalks with lethal efficiency. Through his fascination with books, he became enamored with languages, philosophy, metaphysics, and the sciences of the day.
When he turned 18, he decided to leave his life of tedious island labor behind in search of his adventure. He enlisted with the Royal Spanish Marines, and set sail for Spain aboard the galleon, Bendita Luna.
For five years, he served as a crewman, navigator, medic, and amphibious raider aboard La Estrella Azul, fighting for the Spanish crown in multiple campaigns against the Moors. After becoming disillusioned with the vanity of “glory for the Empire” and the incompetence and corruption of his superiors, the Boatswain left the service of Spain to seek his fortunes elsewhere. He returned to Cuba to find that his family’s farm had been taken by the Spanish crown after his mother had died of consumption and his sister vacated the farm, getting lost in string of failed marriages.
Captain Redbeard and the Boatswain met in 1596 in a crossroads tavern during a local festival in the Bay of Quiet Waters, just off the coast of Cuba. They quickly became acquainted through mutual friends they had met along their respective journeys. After recovering from the shock of realizing how many mutual compatriots they’d had without ever having met previously, the Captain offered the Boatswain a place aboard The Damned Promise as a crewman and raider.
Years later, after many adventures and misadventures, the Captain promoted Antonio to Boatswain aboard The Damned Promise in the same place they had first met.
