Sea Princes
| Hold of the Sea Princes | |
|---|---|
 The arms of the Sea Princes, as depicted in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000). | |
| General information | |
| Region: | Sheldomar Valley |
| Government | |
| Ruler: | Elder Brother Hammandaturian controls the eastern isles and cities; various local warlords, tribal clerics, and foreign armies hold the remainder |
| Government: | Chaotic |
| Alignments: | CN*, CE, N, NE, LE |
| Established: | 444 CY |
| Demographics | |
| Capital: | Monmurg |
| Population: | 420,000 |
| Races: | Human 79% (Sofz), Halfling 8%, Elf 4%, Dwarf 3%, Gnome 2%, Half-elf 1%, Half-orc 1%, Other 2% |
| Languages: | Common, Olman, Amedi, Keolandish, Halfling |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Osprem, Xerbo, Procan, Norebo, Green Man, Kelanen, Kurell (native Holders); Syrul, Bralm, Tharizdun? (Scarlet Brotherhood); Olman pantheon, especially Chitza-Atlan (Olman) |
| Allies: | None |
| Enemies: | Amedio Jungle natives, Keoland, Yeomanry (minor) |
The Hold of the Sea Princes is a realm south of Keoland.
History
The region that would become the Hold of the Sea Princes was heavily settled by Suel during the Great Migrations. Eventually it came under the control of the Kingdom of Keoland. In the mid-fifth century CY, a pirate captain of noble Keoish blood led a rebellion against the Throne of the Lion. Distracted as they were by their northern wars, the Keoish could do little to prevent them from conquering the isles off the coast. In 453 CY, King Tavish III of Keoland led an army through the hot, diseased Hool Marsh and to the city of Westkeep, where they lay siege. In the short conflict that followed, Tavish III died, and his legendary family sword, Vilharian, was lost.
After the pirates lost (somewhat indecisively) the Battle of Jetsom Island to Keoland in 464 CY, the pirate captains decided to settle down and be princes rather than brigands. The Hold of the Sea Princes began to flourish, with an economy based on vast plantations and the trade of slaves captured from the Amedio Jungle to the south.
In 573 CY, Jeon II became the ruling prince of the land. In 577 CY, Jeon II, along with the rulers of the Duchy of Berghof and Sybarate, began campaigning for slavery to be outlawed within the land. Perhaps their efforts would have met with some success if the Hold of the Sea Princes were not invaded by the Scarlet Brotherhood shortly thereafter.
Around 583 or 584 CY, an ambassador from the "Kingdom of Shar", resplendent in his red-hooded robe, arrived at the court of Jeon II, demanding the Sea Princes submit to his government or be destroyed. When the assembled lords mocked him, he presented them with a list of 30 petty nobles, who were all (save three) assassinated before the following morning. Within a fortnight, the Hold of the Sea Princes belonged to the Great and Hidden Empire of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
Only recently has there been any kind of reversal in the Hold's fortunes. In 589 CY, several junior members of the Scarlet Brotherhood revealed themselves to be members of a Tharizdun-worshiping dissident sect known as the Black Brotherhood. They triggered a revolt in the name of the entropy they revered, leading soldiers of Hepmonaland through the streets of Monmurg. Though that uprising was quelled within a day, revolution spread throughout the land.
As of 591 CY, the Hold of the Sea Princes is in chaos, suffering from violent upheavals and bitter conflict. It is ruled by a number of petty warlords and savage tribal leaders drawn from the ranks of escaped slaves. The Scarlet Brotherhood still controls Monmurg, as well as the islands of Flotsom, Jetsom, and Fairwind.
External links
- "The Fraternity of the Brazen Blade." World of Greyhawk Discussion, Canonfire!. Jan 26, 2007. Available online: http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2389
- Woesinger. "A Geographical and Historical Survey of the Duchy of Berghof." Canonfire!. 2006. Available online: http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=814
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Browne, Dave J., Tom Kirby, and Graeme Morris. Beyond the Crystal Cave. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." Wars. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Available online: http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html
- Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- -----. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary. "Silent Sorcery." Living Greyhawk Journal #4. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Looby, Paul and Stuart Kerrigan. "The Duchy of Berghof." Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lgmp/20051213a
- Moore, Roger E. Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Morris, Graeme. The Sentinel. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- -----. The Gauntlet. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.
- Pickens, Jon, ed. Treasures of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- Reynolds, Sean K. The Scarlet Brotherhood. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999.
- Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
Zavoda Index Entry
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index page has a list of sources, abbreviations, and a link to the full index.
Sea Princes (Country/Kingdom)
C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan 2
City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 67
Dragon Magazine #052 20
Dragon Magazine #090 26
Dragon Magazine #230 13
Dragon Magazine #263 51
Dragon Magazine #264 47
Dragon Magazine #270 60
Dragon Magazine #292 98
Dragon Magazine #299 102, 103
Dungeon Magazine #041 50
From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 36
Ghosts of Saltmarsh 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 26, 28, 30, 32, 120
Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book 29, 32
Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins 15, 16, 19, 32, 34, 35, 86
Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 16, 66, 100, 101, 102, 121, 135, 147, 152, Inside Back Cover
Living Greyhawk Journal #1 18, 19
Living Greyhawk Journal #2 29, 30
Living Greyhawk Journal #3 12
Living Greyhawk Journal #4 16
Living Onnwal Gazetteer 13, 15, 98
PHBR2 - The Complete Thiefs Handbook 85
Players Guide to Greyhawk 5, 8, 11, 16, 34, 59
Polyhedron Magazine #043 30
Slavers 87, 92
The Scarlet Brotherhood 5-7, 9, 18, 24, 63
U3 The Final Enemy 16
WG6 Isle of the Ape 22
World of Greyhawk Boxed Set: A Guide to The World of Greyhawk 8, 34
World of Greyhawk Boxed Set: Glossography 5, 17
World of Greyhawk Gazetteer (Folio, 1980) 5, 15, 25
Sea Princes (People/Organization)
City of Greyhawk: Adventure Card #05
City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 67
Dragon Magazine #052 19, 20
Dragon Magazine #055 18
Dragon Magazine #057 13
Dragon Magazine #090 26
Dragon Magazine #230 13
Dragon Magazine #263 51
Dragon Magazine #264 47
Dragon Magazine #270 60
Dragon Magazine #292 98
Dragon Magazine #297 93
Dragon Magazine #299 102, 103
Dragon Magazine #348 69, 70
Dragon Magazine Annual #3 102
Dungeon Magazine #019 5
Dungeon Magazine #041 50
From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 9, 10, 17, 29, 31, 36, 37, 52, 61, 63
From the Ashes: Campaign Book 60, 87
From the Ashes: Reference Card #02
From the Ashes: Reference Card #09
Greyhawk Adventures 87, 90, 91
Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book 16, 23, 29
Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins 19, 32, 33
Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 6, 12, 16, 63, 66, 72, 96, 98, 100, 101, 102, 121, 134, 135, 136, 140, 147, 148, 149, 150, 152, 153, Inside Back Cover
Living Greyhawk Journal #0 12
Living Greyhawk Journal #1 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 30, 33
Living Greyhawk Journal #2 29, 30
Living Greyhawk Journal #3 12, 22, 29
Living Greyhawk Journal #4 16, 30
Living Onnwal Gazetteer 13, 15, 98
PHBR2 - The Complete Thiefs Handbook 85, 86
Players Guide to Greyhawk 10
Polyhedron Magazine #043 30
The Scarlet Brotherhood 5, 6, 9, 14, 18, 63, 71
U3 The Final Enemy 16
UK2 Sentinel 3, 31
UK3 Gauntlet 1, 3, 31
WG8 Fate of Istus 25
WGR2 Treasures of Greyhawk 41, 42, 45
WGR4 The Marklands 10
World of Greyhawk Boxed Set: A Guide to The World of Greyhawk 9, 14, 28, 34, 39, 46, 47, 51, 54, 56, 57, 61, Inside Back Cover
World of Greyhawk Boxed Set: Glossography 11, 28
World of Greyhawk Gazetteer (Folio, 1980) Inside Front Cover, 2, 5, 7, 12, 15, 17, 20, 21, 23, 25