Pirate Isles
The Pirate Isles are an island chain in the Pearl Sea.
Description
Named by the Explorer-Kings of Keoland,[1] the Pirate isles are a large archipelago southeast of the Amedio peninsula in the Vohoun Ocean. They are known for their population of pirates, buccaneers, and corsairs who range across the Densac Gulf and the Pearl Sea. There's numerous bands and gangs of pirates in the region, and none control the region as a whole.
History
Nolzur visited the Pirate Isles early in his career.[2]
Geography
People
The resdent population of the Isles include degenerate descendents of Suel invaders,[1] Olman natives,[1][3] Flan,[3] and a few more exotic races[1] as well. Many are fiend-worshippers, cannibals, and worse. The pirates roam the Vohoun Ocean and the Densac Gulf, raiding all settlements they can.
The worst of the pirate gangs was the infamous Crimson Fleet,[1] who were based in the hidden port of Scuttlecove until their defeat in 597 CY.[4]
Population
Religion
Languages
The common language of the archipelago is a mix of Olman and Flan not found in other realms. The only words in it are nautical terms (and presumably other basic grammar).[3]
Government
There is no government of any unified form in the Pirate Isles. Only those who can take and hold any power locally are recognized, at all. They are more like crime bosses than governmental leaders. The entire region of the Isles are inherently lawless—even if someone took some modicum of power, they likely would not enforce anything which could be called "laws".
Economy
The booty from the pirate ships coming here is the root of the economy. All manners of criminal enterprise is the foundation of the economy in the Pirate Isles. Smuggling
Resources
Rumors and legends
Publishing history
Though the Pirate Isles weren't detailed therein, the WoG folio had a small interior map of Oerik showing regions beyond the Flanaess (especially Central Oerik).[5] The island group on this map was illustrated very small and appeared as a minor detail but depicted a group of islands with a notable single hourglass-shaped island in the middle of the group which was much larger than the others. Islands in the same location would eventually become known as the "Pirate Isles" but were unnamed here. The same map was used in the Glossography in the WoG boxed set[6] and remained without description. [See maps in Gallery.]
Similarly, the same "large" island is shown on the Dragon magazine Annual #1 (1996) map, based on the earlier WoG boxed set map.
The Pirate Isles were first detailed in The Scarlet Brotherhood (1998).[7] This supplement set in 591 CY gave the first comprehensive look at the islands, along with a map dedicated specifically to them, and the geography was slightly different, omitting the singular large island in favor of several smaller islands. They were later detailed a more in the Savage Tide adventure path (2006-2007).
Nearly the same map from the WoG folio and boxed set was used for the interior art in the LGG (2000), despite the earlier The Scarlet Brotherhood (1998) detailing the Pirate Isles. The poster map from the LGG did not include any lands south of the Amedio Jungle and therefore did not depict the islands.
See also
See also: Scuttlecove for discussion of the primary settlement on the Pirate Isles.
External Links
Gallery
Maps
-
1980 WoG folio. -
1996 Dragon Annual #1 -
2000 LGG
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ a b c d e Dragon #350 (Dec 2006), p.65.
- ↑ WGR2 Treasures of Greyhawk (1992).
- ↑ a b c The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999), p.68.
- ↑ Dungeon #146 (May 2007), p.74
- ↑ The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (1980), p.7.
- ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.18, Glossography.
- ↑ The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999), p.68, and poster map.
Bibliography
- Greer, Stephen S. and Gary Holian. "Journey to the Isle of Dread." Dragon #350. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
- Holian, Gary, and Rick Miller. "Treasures of Greyhawk: Magic of the Company of Seven." Dragon #359. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
- Reynolds, Sean K. The Scarlet Brotherhood. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirate Isles | Geographical feature | Island, | Dragon magazine #350 | 65 |
| Pirate Isles | Geographical feature | Island, | Dragon magazine #359 | 74 |
| Pirate Isles | Geographical feature | Island, | The Scarlet Brotherhood | 68, Map |