Companion Promotion – Old Scratch

Old Scratch

Old Scratch – Witchdoctor Companion

During your travels through Skull Island and your initial quests in the Flotsam Skyway you’ll find a dangerous cave near the Ruined Lighthouse. Within the cave you’d do battle with Old Scratch and his minions. But he’s not so bad after all and asks if he can join your crew.

You can visit our Companion Guide to find a list of all the companions available to each Pirate class within the game. Or return to our Epic Promotion guides for Pirate101 Companions.

When you first meet Old Scratch he is an Undead Witchdoctor. You can learn much more about his abilities and skills from Pirate101 Central.

As you level up your companions they will occasionally reach epic promotion opportunities. Old Scratch will reach his first epic promotion when he is promoted to Level 23.

After you applied training points and he reaches this level, he’ll tell you he needs to speak with you. Let’s go to a nearby Tavern so you can talk.

In the Tavern he’ll tell you “Captain my Captain, my spirit be very troubled. A chill touched my heart, the shadow of dark mojo.” And thus begins your quest “The Serpent and The Raven”. He’ll explain that his teacher Papa Legbones is in danger and Old Scratch must go to him. Your initial journey to seek him out will take you back to the land of the Scurvy Dogs.

This quest will require you to have access to Cool Ranch.

The Tradewinds Skyway
Back near Scrimshaw you’ll find the Scurvy Dogs Hideout. You’ve been here before so it shouldn’t be too hard to find. Find the small cave across the water to your right of the docks. Scratch will be worried when he enters, letting you know something isn’t right here. Right about then, you’ll discover Papa Legbones home has been overtaken by evil spirits.

When you’ve completed defeating these guys, Scratch will suggest a visit to Vadima “I an’ I must learn the fate of my Master. Madame Vadima – she will know what we must do“. Off to Skull Island you go. If you haven’t visited your Pirate Class Trainer lately, this would be a good opportunity to stop in and see what you can learn from them as well.

When you visit Vadima, she’ll tell you she’s had bad feelings for days and after hearing of your visit to Papa Legbones cave she can see what’s happening. “..it is Skreech! Raven Sorcerer killed your master, and is building powerful magic“. She’ll use her magic to call on Papa Legbones to learn more about what has happened and what you need to do next.

Papa Legbones spirit will show up; that Vadima is a pretty good witch ya know. He will explain how Skreech took his magical eye and tell you that you must head off to the Bison Village to gather more information for how to get it back. So board your ship and head back to Cool Ranch and the Big Sky Skyway.

In the Bison Village, Raven Eyes will tell you that the spirits are restless and he can no longer speak to them. But there maybe a way for you to call upon them. “Go to Santo Pollo and hunt the Sky Snakes that fill the skies there, until you find a Perfect Sky Snake Rattle“. Head back to your ship and go take out a few sky snakes to acquire a rattle. Once you have it, you’ll come back here to the Bison Village to bury the rattle under a bush on the ledge behind the village. Once you do, Sister Snake will appear near the large gate to the docks.

She explains to Scratch that if he wants to avenge his teacher, he must go to Boot Hill and seek Skreech in a Dark Cave. On the opposite side of the Big Sky Skyway you’ll find Boot Hill and up the pathway from the docks you’ll see the entrance to the Dark Cave.

If you focus your attacks on one enemy at a time, you’ll have no problem defeating these guys.

When you succeed you’ll be sent back to speak with Sister Snake. She will tell you “Your master is avenged, Dead Walker, and you have recovered my Eye. You may keep the Eye for yourself, if you wish. But there’s a price.” Uh oh. It doesn’t sound too bad when she tells you she wants your hand and service. But then she tells you to “Beware – you had another Patron before me, and he will not be pleased..”

Well now what does that mean? I think this is going to come back to haunt you and your companion in the future. With the message given Old Scratch says it is done and “You look thirsty my Captain. Let’s go to a tavern..”

Scratch enters the tavern as an Undead Witchdoctor. He’ll tell you “I have passed through the ordeal, my Captain, and I have been transformed.” He then pledges his new power with the Eye of the Serpent to you and your destiny.

He never really says thanks for all the fighting and traveling all over the Spiral for him. How rude! But what do you expect for a dead witchdoctor.

With that he gains his promotion and becomes an Undead Bokor. Congratulations to you and your promoted Crewman!