History of the Archipelago
B.A. = Before Adeodatus, A.E.D. = After Elder Drakes
Defiance of the Elder Drakes [??? B.A.]
Early History [22 B.A. - 191 A.E.D.]
Era of the Pirate Queens [199 - 467 A.E.D.]
Modern Day [503 A.E.D. Onwards]
Early History [22 B.A. - 191 A.E.D.]
Era of the Pirate Queens [199 - 467 A.E.D.]
Modern Day [503 A.E.D. Onwards]
Defiance of the Elder Drakes [??? B.A.]
The shipwreckers were, like most of the Realm, once under the thumb of the Elder Drakes. At the time they had lived further inland, in the saltwater lakes of Cyr, and were used as servants and labourers for generations. While it was not an ideal life, the shipwreckers tolerated the rule of the Drakes until Queen Midas rose to power; she was a cruel, vain leader, who thought little of her subjects and even less of the shipwreckers.
One night, twelve servants attempted to assassinate her, sneaking into her quarters in the dead of night. They brutally wounded her and left her to die, but, after weeks of careful treatment, Midas recovered. She ordered that all the shipwrecker servants in the palace be imprisoned and the culprits killed; though more than twelve died in her investigation. Midas ordered attacks on shipwrecker villages, determined to stomp out resistance to her - though she only succeeded in driving them away.
The shipwreckers fled in two directions; one, to the cold Moonglow Sea, and the others to the southern Whaletooth Archipelago, where they might hide from the Drake Queen’s wrath.
One night, twelve servants attempted to assassinate her, sneaking into her quarters in the dead of night. They brutally wounded her and left her to die, but, after weeks of careful treatment, Midas recovered. She ordered that all the shipwrecker servants in the palace be imprisoned and the culprits killed; though more than twelve died in her investigation. Midas ordered attacks on shipwrecker villages, determined to stomp out resistance to her - though she only succeeded in driving them away.
The shipwreckers fled in two directions; one, to the cold Moonglow Sea, and the others to the southern Whaletooth Archipelago, where they might hide from the Drake Queen’s wrath.
Early History [22 B.A. - 191 A.E.D.]
Early events in the history of the Archipelago. The establishment of the role of Pirate Queen and the Sirens.
The First Pirate Queen [22 B.A. - 74 A.E.D.]
The dragon who would become the first Pirate Queen was not born a hero; rather, Aleutian was a criminal, a pirate captain long before Queen Midas was nearly assassinated. She explored the islands of the Whaletooth Archipelago, then considered unnavigable, while searching for a good place to hide the goods she stole. She set up a small, discreet village that would become the Drifting City and used it for years; when Midas almost died, she planned to use the chaos to her advantage.
Her perspective changed after she witnessed the Queen order the annihilation of a number of largely shipwrecker-inhabited villages. Aleutian rescued those she could and spread the word of the hidden places of the Archipelago, becoming known as the ‘Pirate Queen of the shipwreckers’ for her work.
Once the southerners had settled into their new home, Aleutian became the obvious choice for leader. Under her guidance, they began to recover and form their own identity. When Aleutian passed away in 74 A.E.D., the southerners had no idea what to do in her absence.
Her perspective changed after she witnessed the Queen order the annihilation of a number of largely shipwrecker-inhabited villages. Aleutian rescued those she could and spread the word of the hidden places of the Archipelago, becoming known as the ‘Pirate Queen of the shipwreckers’ for her work.
Once the southerners had settled into their new home, Aleutian became the obvious choice for leader. Under her guidance, they began to recover and form their own identity. When Aleutian passed away in 74 A.E.D., the southerners had no idea what to do in her absence.
Thirty-Year Struggle [74 - 104 A.E.D.]
Following the death of the first Pirate Queen, the Whaletooth Archipelago fell into a period of complete lawlessness and anarchy. Local leaders and warlords emerged, some just trying to get by while others wanted to take up Aleutian's mantle. Pirates raided not only the shores of other nations, but shipwrecker homes as well.
Records of this time are very poor, leaving the exact events of it shrouded in mystery. All that is known for certain is that at the end of the Thirty-Year-Struggle, a new Pirate Queen emerged; Mindanao.
Records of this time are very poor, leaving the exact events of it shrouded in mystery. All that is known for certain is that at the end of the Thirty-Year-Struggle, a new Pirate Queen emerged; Mindanao.
The Second Pirate Queen [104 - 191 A.E.D.]
Mindanao’s first action as Pirate Queen was to create the Sirens, a group of assassins and highly-trained guards designed to keep her in power, and, during periods without a Pirate Queen, to rule over and maintain order in the Archipelago. Their first use was to kill off any remaining rivals from the Thirty-Year Struggle, something they accomplished within two years.
Their first Muse was Mindanao’s brother, Benguela. He worked closely with his sister for many years, but as she aged, she began to grow more and more paranoid and started to push her brother away. Eventually, Mindanao orchestrated an uprising from the newer members of the Sirens, killing off the majority of the old leadership; Benguela himself barely avoided this fate, faking his death and going into hiding. The new Sirens were content for a decade or so but then began to realize that the fast-aging Mindanao might do the same thing to them. They wouldn’t actually be the ones to kill her, though, but they were involved in her death. After Mindanao died, he returned to his role as the Muse until his death.
Mindanao’s paranoia would lead to her death, and although she was not killed by her Sirens, they had a direct hand in how her rule ended. She was was recorded as being a poor mother, who imprisoned her children in an isolated palace in the Hotrock Hollow and left their care to hired help. Those who seemed too ambitious, too talented, or anything that she decided was a challenge to her authority, ‘disappeared’ from the palace, never to be seen again. Benguela and the younger generation of the Sirens managed to smooth things over, and worked together in secret to free Mindanao’s remaining children: Okhtosk, Azores, and Agulhas. Okhtosk was the eldest (surviving) child, Azores the youngest but by far the brightest, and Agulhas a... well, a big loveable dummy, who wanted only to protect his siblings.
The Sirens’ plan was successful, and a few years later, Okhotsk snuck into her aging mother’s ship and killed her. Most Sirens expected her to claim her mother’s title for herself, instead she supported her younger sister for the role. After a few years they were successfully about to secure the title of the third Pirate Queen for Azores, and Okhotsk joined the Lionfish with the approval of her uncle, Benguela. When he died, she was chosen as his replacement, and became the second Muse.
Ever since then, the pattern of life has been set in the Whaletooth Archipelago; a Pirate Queen dies, there are decades of chaos, and a new Pirate Queen rises. Repeat.
Their first Muse was Mindanao’s brother, Benguela. He worked closely with his sister for many years, but as she aged, she began to grow more and more paranoid and started to push her brother away. Eventually, Mindanao orchestrated an uprising from the newer members of the Sirens, killing off the majority of the old leadership; Benguela himself barely avoided this fate, faking his death and going into hiding. The new Sirens were content for a decade or so but then began to realize that the fast-aging Mindanao might do the same thing to them. They wouldn’t actually be the ones to kill her, though, but they were involved in her death. After Mindanao died, he returned to his role as the Muse until his death.
Mindanao’s paranoia would lead to her death, and although she was not killed by her Sirens, they had a direct hand in how her rule ended. She was was recorded as being a poor mother, who imprisoned her children in an isolated palace in the Hotrock Hollow and left their care to hired help. Those who seemed too ambitious, too talented, or anything that she decided was a challenge to her authority, ‘disappeared’ from the palace, never to be seen again. Benguela and the younger generation of the Sirens managed to smooth things over, and worked together in secret to free Mindanao’s remaining children: Okhtosk, Azores, and Agulhas. Okhtosk was the eldest (surviving) child, Azores the youngest but by far the brightest, and Agulhas a... well, a big loveable dummy, who wanted only to protect his siblings.
The Sirens’ plan was successful, and a few years later, Okhotsk snuck into her aging mother’s ship and killed her. Most Sirens expected her to claim her mother’s title for herself, instead she supported her younger sister for the role. After a few years they were successfully about to secure the title of the third Pirate Queen for Azores, and Okhotsk joined the Lionfish with the approval of her uncle, Benguela. When he died, she was chosen as his replacement, and became the second Muse.
Ever since then, the pattern of life has been set in the Whaletooth Archipelago; a Pirate Queen dies, there are decades of chaos, and a new Pirate Queen rises. Repeat.
Era of the Pirate Queens [199 - 467 A.E.D.]
This section details the past Pirate Queens who have ruled the Archipelago and the achievements they have gone down in history for.
Pirate Queen Azores [199 - 242 A.E.D.]
Daughter of Mindanao, Azores became the next Pirate Queen with the help of her uncle, Benguela, the Muse of the Sirens. She was remembered as a strict, but fair, ruler, who was willing to forgive provided that dragons did not take advantage of her. She ruled for forty-three years and died in 242 due to an infection from a poorly-treated wound.
Pirate Queen Darien [273 - 310 A.E.D.]
The fourth Pirate Queen was Darien, the only human to hold the title. He was a successful Captain before taking up the position and ruled for thirty-seven years. He died after robbing a Brookian vessel - carrying a shipment of skyship runes engraved into large blocks of gold - due to poison in 310. The stolen runes were returned to the capital and used to create a pair of skyships, the Azores and the Darien that are still in use in the Archipelago today. Darien ruled the Archipelago for a total of thirty-seven years.
Pirate Queen Oresund [317 - 353 A.E.D.]
The fifth Pirate Queen, Oresund is widely considered to be the most eccentric dragon to hold the title. Despite her wide collection of strange hobbies, Oresund was accepted due to her talent for leadership. She talked often about establishing a proper monarchy, named her eldest son, Surigao, as ‘heir’ and insisted that all her children be referred to as ‘princes’ and ‘princesses’. Everyone assumed it was just some absurd joke until, after she passed in 353, her son actually tried to claim the title of Pirate Queen as his birthright.
The Sirens intervened and he was found dead a few days later. Oresund ruled the Archipelago for a total of thirty-six years.
The Sirens intervened and he was found dead a few days later. Oresund ruled the Archipelago for a total of thirty-six years.
Pirate Queen Baikal [379 - 409 A.E.D.]
The sixth Pirate Queen, Baikal is most well known for starting a war with Meros that lasted from 384 to 409 A.E.D, ending only when she was killed in battle by the Merosian captain, Marius Hidaka. She had been determined to prove that Shipwreckers were the better sailors, but… that didn’t turn out in her favour. Read more about the war between Meros and Pirate Queen Baikal in more detail here, under the "Shipwrecker Conflict" heading. Baikal ruled the Archipelago for a total of thirty years.
Pirate Queen Reef [436 - 467 A.E.D.]
The seventh and most recent Pirate Queen to come to power. Reef emerged as the dominant force in the Archipelago in 436, twenty-seven years following the death of Baikal in battle. The Archipelago remembers Reef as somewhat boring, with her achievements and attitudes no different than any ordinary pirate Captain. No weird hobbies or starting wars or trying to have her descendants named Princes and Princesses.
After ruling the Archipelago for a period of thirty-one years, Reef and her crew were killed in a bad storm in 467. There has not been a Pirate Queen since, and competition among the Captains for who will eventually replace her has been fierce.
(The next Pirate Queen will be selected based on the outcome of future RoS events!)
After ruling the Archipelago for a period of thirty-one years, Reef and her crew were killed in a bad storm in 467. There has not been a Pirate Queen since, and competition among the Captains for who will eventually replace her has been fierce.
(The next Pirate Queen will be selected based on the outcome of future RoS events!)
Modern Day [503 A.E.D. Onwards]
There has been no Pirate Queen for the past thirty-eight years, since Pirate Queen Reef died in a storm in 467 A.E.D. Since then, rival Captains have been clashing and raiding across the Realm to prove their mettle and capabilities as her potential replacement.
In recent times there are four widely-accepted candidates for the position of Pirate Queen; the current favourite, clever Captain Meridian, the ruthless Captain Oarfish, the wild Captain Hurricane, and the charismatic but frightening Captain Chomper. Though Captain Hurricane met a mysterious end after the Captain's Carnivale of 506, the others remain real contenders for power.
In recent times there are four widely-accepted candidates for the position of Pirate Queen; the current favourite, clever Captain Meridian, the ruthless Captain Oarfish, the wild Captain Hurricane, and the charismatic but frightening Captain Chomper. Though Captain Hurricane met a mysterious end after the Captain's Carnivale of 506, the others remain real contenders for power.
The Captains’ Carnivale [506 A.E.D.]
Each year hundreds of people flock to the Drifting City to celebrate the supposed birthday of Captain Aleutian, the first Pirate Queen. Credited with guiding the southerners to safety in the Whaletooth Archipelago centuries ago and founding the role of Pirate Queen, Aleutian is one of the most significant figures in the Archipelago’s history. The day that she came into the world is marked with appropriate gusto, and the ensuing party can last for over a month.
During times when no Pirate Queen rules the Archipelago, it is customary for those who wish to follow in Aleutian’s footsteps to try to win support by hosting their own event at the Carnivale.
The four commonly-accepted candidates for Pirate Queen were all in attendance at the Carnivale of 506. With the aid of their crews, each organized a set of challenges for party-goers in the Drifting City.
Captain Chomper hosted the “Trial of Faces”, a bombastic beauty pageant where contestants must sell a persona as well as wow the audience with their fashion; Captain Meridian hosted the “Trial of Tongues”, a test of wit where contestants had to earn the favour of the crowd through words alone; Captain Hurricane hosted the “Trial of Storms” where contestants had to - much to the concern of the local firefighters - shatter explosive potions to try to trigger a chain reaction; and lastly, Captain Oarfish hosted the “Trial of Blood”, where contestants fought to first blood using the knives that she provided. Each Captain obtained a set of small tokens to award those who achieve victory in their trial.
Between attempts at the Captain’s Trials, the Moon-and-Star Inn became a popular place for Carnivale attendees to relax with a drink. The Moon-and-Star’s owner, Clementia Memento Componere Aequus, accommodated all comers, no matter their history or attitude; all were welcome in their inn.
Weeks of partying passed in a cacophony of colour and noise, but when the Carnivale’s energy eventually wanes, a clear winner emerges from amongst the competing Captains; Captain Meridian and her Trial of Tongues.
Charmed by the wit that she and her contestants commanded, many who come away from the Carnivale begin to think of Meridian as a natural successor to the last Pirate Queen. Meridian responded to the crowd’s attention eagerly, and made several winning speeches before it was time for The Dirty Pearl to depart the Drifting City; a pirate’s life is rarely a restful one, after all. Meridian’s success at the Carnivale makes her many new allies, and her fleet and coffers swell in size as months pass afterward as other pirates seek to get in with a future Pirate Queen.
After Meridian, it was Captain Chomper who found the most success at the Carnivale. Long held in a place between terror and adoration in the eyes of the Archipelago as a whole, perhaps it was their unnerving reputation that kept the crowd from fully embracing them. Still, second place was by no means a poor achievement, and Chomper ate up the attention with the same enthusiasm that they approached every meal. When they left to continue their work as a pirate, The Bloody Butcher had gained several new crew members eager to throw off the expectations of common society.
Captain Oarfish was irate to be outdone by Captain Meridian and Chomper, and took her third-place status with little excitement. Though she managed to make a few new connections while at the Carnivale, Oarfish’s anger followed her like a thundercloud when she and The Iron Freighter departed the Drifting City. It is of little surprise to anyone when Oarfish begins a spree of violent raids, aiming to buy through blood what her Trial failed to win her at the Carnivale.
The Captain who performed by far the worst at the Carnivale was Hurricane, and he shut himself away in his ship, mortified. Days passed, then a week, after the others had departed the city, but the Skywatcher did not move.
Gossip circulated about what have kept him in the city - embarrassment over his poor performance at the Carnivale? - before his crew finally announced what happened: Captain Hurricane is dead, slain in his own cabin by an unknown assailant.
Everyone in the Archipelago has their own theory about who killed him. A rival Captain - Oarfish had certainly looked ready to kill when she’d left the city - or perhaps an agent of the Sirens - there had been whisperings of the Muse being sighted in the city, and Lionfish gathering like vultures to the Carnivale - or perhaps some nameless, unknown victim of his raids that had finally gotten their revenge.
Whatever the cause of Hurricane’s death, the aftermath of it was far more important. While the Skywatcher found a new Captain in former first-mate Deadeye, without Hurricane’s force of personality in command, many of the crew and ships that sailed under his banner scattered to the winds. Some ally with other Captains, while others pursue their own ambitions in the Archipelago.
With Hurricane’s death, three major candidates for the role of Pirate Queen remain; Captain Meridian, with a major advantage thanks to her performance at the Carnivale, Captain Chomper, and Captain Oarfish. They are all hellbent on achieving power, and each knows in their heart that they will either reach that goal… or perish, like so many ambitious Captains before them.
During times when no Pirate Queen rules the Archipelago, it is customary for those who wish to follow in Aleutian’s footsteps to try to win support by hosting their own event at the Carnivale.
The four commonly-accepted candidates for Pirate Queen were all in attendance at the Carnivale of 506. With the aid of their crews, each organized a set of challenges for party-goers in the Drifting City.
Captain Chomper hosted the “Trial of Faces”, a bombastic beauty pageant where contestants must sell a persona as well as wow the audience with their fashion; Captain Meridian hosted the “Trial of Tongues”, a test of wit where contestants had to earn the favour of the crowd through words alone; Captain Hurricane hosted the “Trial of Storms” where contestants had to - much to the concern of the local firefighters - shatter explosive potions to try to trigger a chain reaction; and lastly, Captain Oarfish hosted the “Trial of Blood”, where contestants fought to first blood using the knives that she provided. Each Captain obtained a set of small tokens to award those who achieve victory in their trial.
Between attempts at the Captain’s Trials, the Moon-and-Star Inn became a popular place for Carnivale attendees to relax with a drink. The Moon-and-Star’s owner, Clementia Memento Componere Aequus, accommodated all comers, no matter their history or attitude; all were welcome in their inn.
Weeks of partying passed in a cacophony of colour and noise, but when the Carnivale’s energy eventually wanes, a clear winner emerges from amongst the competing Captains; Captain Meridian and her Trial of Tongues.
Charmed by the wit that she and her contestants commanded, many who come away from the Carnivale begin to think of Meridian as a natural successor to the last Pirate Queen. Meridian responded to the crowd’s attention eagerly, and made several winning speeches before it was time for The Dirty Pearl to depart the Drifting City; a pirate’s life is rarely a restful one, after all. Meridian’s success at the Carnivale makes her many new allies, and her fleet and coffers swell in size as months pass afterward as other pirates seek to get in with a future Pirate Queen.
After Meridian, it was Captain Chomper who found the most success at the Carnivale. Long held in a place between terror and adoration in the eyes of the Archipelago as a whole, perhaps it was their unnerving reputation that kept the crowd from fully embracing them. Still, second place was by no means a poor achievement, and Chomper ate up the attention with the same enthusiasm that they approached every meal. When they left to continue their work as a pirate, The Bloody Butcher had gained several new crew members eager to throw off the expectations of common society.
Captain Oarfish was irate to be outdone by Captain Meridian and Chomper, and took her third-place status with little excitement. Though she managed to make a few new connections while at the Carnivale, Oarfish’s anger followed her like a thundercloud when she and The Iron Freighter departed the Drifting City. It is of little surprise to anyone when Oarfish begins a spree of violent raids, aiming to buy through blood what her Trial failed to win her at the Carnivale.
The Captain who performed by far the worst at the Carnivale was Hurricane, and he shut himself away in his ship, mortified. Days passed, then a week, after the others had departed the city, but the Skywatcher did not move.
Gossip circulated about what have kept him in the city - embarrassment over his poor performance at the Carnivale? - before his crew finally announced what happened: Captain Hurricane is dead, slain in his own cabin by an unknown assailant.
Everyone in the Archipelago has their own theory about who killed him. A rival Captain - Oarfish had certainly looked ready to kill when she’d left the city - or perhaps an agent of the Sirens - there had been whisperings of the Muse being sighted in the city, and Lionfish gathering like vultures to the Carnivale - or perhaps some nameless, unknown victim of his raids that had finally gotten their revenge.
Whatever the cause of Hurricane’s death, the aftermath of it was far more important. While the Skywatcher found a new Captain in former first-mate Deadeye, without Hurricane’s force of personality in command, many of the crew and ships that sailed under his banner scattered to the winds. Some ally with other Captains, while others pursue their own ambitions in the Archipelago.
With Hurricane’s death, three major candidates for the role of Pirate Queen remain; Captain Meridian, with a major advantage thanks to her performance at the Carnivale, Captain Chomper, and Captain Oarfish. They are all hellbent on achieving power, and each knows in their heart that they will either reach that goal… or perish, like so many ambitious Captains before them.