Tales of the Sovereign Seas

[Kirikami]

"Tales of the Sovereign Seas"

The known world is covered in a vast ocean which wraps the land in her briney caress. Oarth has yet to be fully explored, filled by the frontier of vast oceans and mists beyond them. Many islands, archipelagos and lands are yet to be mapped or claimed . Monarchy, oligarchy and warlords rule their own claims with fierce determination. Trade bustles in civilized centers, factions make and break ties and effect economies; while adventurers, privateers and pirates take to the sea for glory, knowledge and gold. They are but some of the denizens of the Soveriegn Seas, the oceans claimed by those who are considered the most powerful free leaders in the known seas: the Pirate Sovereigns.

Within this world the flash of steel and the smell of salt air and gunpowder are common sensations experienced by seafarers in Oarth's Age of Piracy. In civilized parts one finds the onset of black powder and mad science, romance and bravado tempered by intrigue and power struggles. In the frontier one finds monsters, ancient enigmas, fantastic natural wonders and the (sometimes dark) mysteries of the waters. Many keep to their towns, ports, and villages to live a simple and relatively safe life- but many also decide to leave it behind for something more.

There are four sovereign seas known to civilized societies. The Crystal, The Crimson, The Golden and the Onyx. Between them is the Divide, where the waters of the rest meet making the last of the known seas. The Pirate Sovereigns claim territory in each of the sovereign seas, and are believed to have resources and manpower enough to even keep nations wary of them.

The known nations, and their whereabouts, as well as what they are generally known for:

Queendom of Arkania - Crystal Sea
The queendom ruled by her grace Cassandra and her husband the king Horus Lightbringer. Their lands are known to be peaceful and diplomatic, protected by Barons and the mysterious group known as the Queen's Rangers. This culture values loyalty, peace and understanding. The population tends to consist of mostly humans with elves, dwarves, halflings and gnomes making uo most of the rest. Though other species can and do make their home here.


The Bloodcrest Empire - The Crimson Sea
An empired ruled with an iron fist that consistently seeks to expand it's reach. A culture which values strength of arms and guile, where might makes right. That and the Emperor's rule is law. Has a more open and diverse population ruled by demi-humans like goblinoids and the krynn (smaller cousin to minotaurs), since they have conquered many islands containing different people. Ruled by Emporer Shokai, rumored to be half Krynn, half giant.


The Alavesse Confederacy - The Golden Sea
A chain of lands governed by many city states, though three of them hold the most power and rule mainly:

Valencia: A city-state known as the city of beauty and inspiration. Many artists wish to travel here for the chance to learn the various arts and hopefully make their name in history. Home to the most prestigious bardic college and the study of musical magic.

Forvacio: A city-state known for it's military rule. They embrace technology and utilize it in highly diciplined group-formation strategies. Somewhat Spartan-like in their world view, they see themselves as the pinnacle of arms and strategy.

Zelavese: A city-state known for it's dark rumors: urban legends of assassin guilds and shadow-walkers. They maintain trade with many parts of the known world and it is said one can find almost anything in their bazaars.

The Confederacy only acts as one in times of great need, when agreed upon by the Golden Council. Otherwise they tend to compete with each other, or get into squabbles.


The Curtish Isles- The Divide
These are lands ruled by the Curtish Merchant Council, which are a group of wealthy and influential entrepreneurs. Their capital is the largest port trade metropolis in the Divide, with a stock market for the various merchant companies. Known also as the "city that never sleeps" because of it's thriving night life. Brothels, gambling halls, taverns of all kinds. If there is coin to be made there is likely a service to be offered here.


? - The Onyx Sea
Little notion of nations or societies has become common knowledge about the Onyx Sea. Some old seafarers and adventurers make fantastic claims of cities of the dead, or freightening abominations from nightmares. As of yet no trade or connection has been varified to the public eye. Most sailors avoid it if they can.


Other Known Organizations
The Sanctoria Arcanum is the most widely known school of magic and mage's guild. Located in the Crystal Sea. They have diplomatic ties with other organizations and factions acting as magic consultants, magical engineers and occasionally battle mages for hire.

Valnecia's Bardic College is the most prestigious college of the arts and music, as well as Bardic magic. They accept the talented and the rich, but occassionally the headmaster will find a diamond in the rough and give thrm a chance. Graduating from this college virtually guarantees you a basic amount of respect with other artists in the civilized world. But only the very best can earn a title of their own.

The Shuffle Alliance
The most notorious, fears, awed and respected Pirates which give the Sovereign Seas their name. The shuffle alliance is a loose compact made between the four Pirate Sovereigns, an uneasy treaty which creates rules of engagement between them, and a precedence for working together should the need arise. Even with this alliance relations are often awkward, tense or even hostile in some cases as each one vies for their goals. The four pirate soveriegns and their groups are known by most only by name in civilized parts:

o The King of Hearts Garu, leader of the Brotherhood of the Fire Fist.
o The Queen of Diamonds Trishula, leader of the Crystal Corsairs
o The Jack of Spades Skypio, leader of the Golden Fleet.
o Black Joker, leader of the Necrohand.

Each has their own goals, ideals, and way of the sea and often attract like minded people to join them in their ventures.



The Age of Piracy
The Sovereign Seas have been in an age of piracy for roughly two hundred years, when international trade became wide spread and sailing technology reached the hands of people of power. This is also known as The Secong Age, making the current date 200 SA. The common calander of Oarth is similar to ours:

360 days in a year
12 months in a year
30 days in a month
7 days in a week, the seventh often being a rest day

Months
(Each 30 Days)
1. Froststar
2. Coolwave
3. Springsong
4. Rainfall
5. Flowermarch
6. Summersong
7. Heatheart
8. Flamerest
9. Autumnsong
10. Hallowind
11. Spiritfeast
12. Wintersong

Days
1. Mastday
2. Tillerday
3. Winday
4. Tholeday.
5. Frapday
6. Stormday
7. Shroudsday

[Kirikami]

Pantheon of the Sovereign Seas

There are many different stories passed around between the various people who live in the Sovereign Seas about how their world began. Perhaps the most common belief involves an absolute void at the very beginning, nothingness; an ocean of black. From this black came great massive serpents whose breath created time and space, whose dying bodies fell apart and created gravity and the spark of world-life. These serpents are often referred to as leviathans. From these components six great forces were compiled and gathered sentience. The first four sources became known as the Four Winds, which swept the rest of their primordial chaos into the barest shape of a world. Boreas the North, Notos the South, Eurus the East and Phyros the West. The other two world sources, Aurora the beginning, her counterpart Astaroth the end. All six entities collectively are known as Empyreons and shaped the world known as Oarth.

From this beginning it is believed that the Goddesses and Gods arose, with Calypso perhaps being the first. Some are said to have arisen from mortals who found the secret to ascension. Many beliefs exist but very few have been fully proven.

Deities are worshiped differently and for different reasons around the Sovereign seas. Thodin for example could be venerated as an honorable war god in one place, and could be seen as a merciless representation in another. While some God's teachings seem to lean towards favoring an alignment, they are not set into a niche. The truest nature of the deities is still a mystery.

This is a list of prominently known deities, but others are believed to exist.


Mordred, God of Magic (Arcana, Knowledge)
Sign: Eight interlocked rings.

Mordred is believed to have been the most powerful mage to have existed in history, finding the secret to ascension and ruling over the forces of magic. His faithful believe in the preservation and evolution of magic, magical knowledge and magical items. His temples often double as areas of magical study, where they perform experiments and catalogue newly discovered magic items. For a fee they will render magical services, especially if it might lead to interesting magical results.

Example teachings

o Magic is a noble art to be learned by those with the will or the potential to learn.
o Magic should always be respected and it's power should be used for discovery and progress.
o Magic items are sacred gifts to the mundane world and should be protected.
o Magic is neither evil or good, morality is the mark of the wielder not of the tool.


Halthazar, God of Commerce and Civilization (City, Forge)
Sign: Hammer surrounded by four coins.

Halthazar is often considered the merchant god and the protector of places where sentient creatures gather and live together. His domain lies in the ideas of trade, business, contracts, and civilization itself. Halthazar favors art, society, economics, haggling and is often called upon to bless such dealings in good faith. Halthazar is often thought to be closely related to Brigh; perhaps a lover or a sibling. Both favor development and industry, but the former focuses on their relation to civilization while the latter focuses on the novel ideas of invention which help create progress.

Example teachings:

o It is the right of sentient beings to tame nature to their will, to create a place of their own.
o Keep alive the four civic virtues.
1. Industry is the blood of society.
2. Commerce is the heart of nations.
3. Justice is the supervisor of it's making.
4. Art is the soul of the people. The economy is a piece of art.


o Brigh, Goddess of Invention and Industry (Forge, City)
Sign: Bronze Gear with a feminine visage.

Brigh; known as the Bronze Whisper, The Mother of Invention, and the Lady Gear- is the Goddess of invention and industry. She cares not for why something is made or who makes it, only whether it is a step forward in the progress of technology. She is often called upon by tinkerers, craftsmen, and engineers to bring them guidance. She is thought to be close to Halthazar, perhaps a lover or a sibling. But she does not often concern herself with what progress means to people or society, they are merely the means to an end. What mortals do with the knowledge and technology they gain is only her concern if it could become a threat. In these cases she often calls upon her faithful to work towards removing that knowledge and keeping it safe, or destroying it if necessary.

Example teachings:

o Inspiration is the true purpose of living, for it bares new fruit.
o New ideas are the natural progress of the world.
o Study technology, learn how it works. Knowing how things work will help you learn how you work.
o Technological progress is a noble pursuit.
o Technology can become power. Keep sensible in the face of such temptation, or may stymie future progress.
o All inventions live on in me.


o The Raven Queen, Goddess of the Dead and Guider of Souls (Grave, Life, Death)
Sign: A Raven.

The Raven Queen is often considered the guardian of life and death, or the gatekeeper. It is said that she comes for all that would pass on from the mortal realm, guiding them to their afterlife. Her concerns lay in the natural occurrence of death, and anything that might obstruct that cycle of life and death. Sentient undead who try to escape mortality are her mortal foes (heh), as are any magics or creatures that might misguide, harm or steal a creature's soul.

Example teachings:
o Do not fear death, for it is a natural part of life.
o Yet never recklessly walk into death. All living things have their time to die. No sense in wasting that time.
o Never try to escape your mortality, live it as fully as you can.
o Respect and honor the dead. Learn from their lives to better live your own.


o Hyurmora, God of Lore and Secrets (Knowledge, Trickery)
Sign: Tome etched with six different eyes.

Hyurmora is the mysterious god of knowledge and secrets. His followers can vary between royal librarians to codex priests in library temples, and is often respected and revered by scholars, academics and even mages. The more pressing, powerful, secretive or controversial the knowledge the more important it is to gather and contain. In this respect even spies are often counted among it's patronage.

Hyurmora's teachings are described by each of his eyes of knowledge:

o Priori: Reason is a tool for the wise and willing.
o Posteriori: Induction is a tool for the intellectual and observant.
o Explicit: Knowledge must be preserved and cared for to be passed on and survive. Seek out mediums to contain the world's knowledge and keep them safe. One book can be a precious treasure.
o Tacit: Much knowledge is implicit in how it is learned. Sentient creatures are life's professors, learn by observing and listening to them. One must be an apprentice before they can be a master.
o Proposition: Much knowledge is not confirmed truth. Seek out ways to test this knowledge to find it's real face. True knowledge is coveted. False knowledge can still have some value.
o Procedure: Put your knowledge to use. Whatever your pursuits, use your knowledge to whatever ends you follow. Honor your experience and the experience of others.


o Lumina, Goddess of the Moonlight and Fertility (Light, Nature)
Sign: Crescent moon crossed with a chalice.

Lumina is known as a lesser goddess of light and nature. She is often portrayed as Aurora's sister or daughter, but her connection with the tides creates stories with relation to Calypso. However she is seen, her domain is one of love, fertility, moonlight and nature's cyclical patterns.

Example teachings:
o The ability to produce offspring is a divine blessing.
o Love is sacred, and should not be used for foul purposes.
o Be a beacon in the night for the lost as I am for the world.
o Honor nature and protect it from corruptions such as dark magic.


o Calypso, Goddess of the Ocean and Weather (Nature, Tempest)
Sign: A whirlpool shape with a black pearl at the center.

It is believed that the work of the Empyreons started with the creation of the vast oceans of the world. Calypso, she who embodies the ocean and the weather, is thus considered one of the oldest and most powerful of the deities. Some say it was from her that many other deities were born. Most all who sail the seas venerate her, many offer prayers and tribute for good sailing weather.

In-land societies may also venerate her as the goddess of lakes and rivers.

Example teachings:
o Honor the sea for she is the blood of the world.
o Curse not the temperament of the sea, but your foolishness for not listening to her whispers.
o Cherish the rain for your drink, the waves for your food and the wind for your sails.


o Faelyn, Goddess of Luck and Travel (Trickery, Nature)
Sign: Most widespread symbol is a bird silhouette with wings spread, however any good luck symbol can be associated with her. Horseshoe. four leaf clover etc.

Faelyn, known commonly as Lady Luck is the goddess of journeys, luck and traveling in general. She is said to be traveling the world to this day, blessing the bold, encouraging the meek and exploring every corner of the known seas and beyond. "Faelyn's blessing" is a common form of wishing luck for someone.

Example teachings:
o Blessed are the adventurous, no matter the scale of their pursuit.
o Blessed are the resolute, who experience life in the toss of a coin or in the strength of their conviction.
o Blessed are the roads, trails, streets and shelters along one's journey. As are the woods, mountains and oceans we must cross.
o Hospitality is an honor to give and recieve.
o To follow one's heart is to walk the main road of life. Be authentic and receive my favor.


o Sigurd, God of Protection and Ancestry (Protection, War)
Sign: Shield with sword centered behind it

Sigurd is often considered the guardian of the material plane, representing the desire and need to protect what we care about or have become invested in. Sigurd is also seen as the keeper of ancestries, who represents the ties of families and clans. He is invoked whenever there is a need to protect or defend something, and especially when that something involves family.

Example teachings
o Learn from your ancestors, they made mistakes so you don't have to.
o Your family is your home, no matter who they are.
o Protect what's important to you and you shall have my blessing.



o Thodin, God of Storms and Battle (Tempest, War)
Sign: Mjolldyr, (hammer/spear)

Whenever a battle rages, whenever a storm gathers force, Thodin often comes to mind. While only a minor deity of weather, Thodin is a major deity of conflict through battle. War can be fought openly without much guile or strategy, and it is in these battlefields where Thodin's influence is said to take shape. A popular story tells Thodin as Calypso's son, but this has never been confirmed by scholars or even the faithful.

Example tenants
o War is an inevitable truth of the world.
o Battle is the proving ground of warriors and survivors.
o Show no mercy when none is shown in return.
o Prove yourself on the battlefield and you will have proven yourself to me.


o Aeolus, God of Deception and Thieves (Trickery, City)
Sign: Goblet beneath a hand.

Aeolus was said to have been the greatest thief in the world. So great, on fact, he somehow managed to steal divinity. He is invoked by charlatans and criminal sorts alike to request his favor in their schemes. While most would associate such a deity with mainly wrong-doing, sometimes thievery is a last resort for people- making Aeolus a god of the desperate and unfortunate.

Example tenants
o Thievery is a craft, and art and a practice. The minstrel minstrates, the warrior fights, but the true thief takes without a struggle.
o Not all marks are easy, the true thief should look to challenge themselves.
o The world is filled with grey, a child can steal to feed his sick mother while a politician can skim from taxes. What is the difference? What are the similarities? What does it matter? Answering these questions will tell you who you are as a thief.


o Halmyr, God of War and Strategy (War, Knowledge)
Sign: Full Helmet

Halmyr is the other side to the coin of war. Where Thodin is the god of outright battle, Halmyr represents strategy, planning and the logistic side of such conflicts. Often invoked by those seeking inspiration for their plans and strategies, whether war related or not.

Example Tenants
o Choose your battles: "He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight." 
o Timing is essential: "The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim." 
o Know yourself, know thy enemies: "It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle."
o Have a unique plan: "All warfare is based on deception."
o The best way to win is to not fight at all: "To win 100 battles is not the height of skill, to subdue the enemy without fighting is."


The Six Empyreons
Worship of the Four Winds is like worshiping old gods. They are more often seen as forces of nature rather than overtly personified dieties, and as such don't have official temples or churches. However, the last two Empyreons have been carried into contemporary cultures with personifications. Reasons for this are not entirely clear, though scholars have several theories.

o Boreas the North, Empyreon of Ice
Traditional notions of ice and water are attributed to Boreas.

o Notos the South, Empyreon of Fire
Traditional notions of fire are attributed to Notos.

o Eurus the East, Empyreon of Earth
Traditional notions of Earth are associated with Eurus.

o Phyros the West, Empyreon of Air
Traditional notions of Air are associated with Phyros.


o Astaroth, God of Darkness and Endings (Death, Tempest)
Sign: A menacing skull with a circular brand on it's forehead.

Astaroth is known by many names. Dusk Father, the Ender, World's Bane to name a few. It is believed that when the Empyreons came to be and the world was born, it's time allowed to exist was calculated and agreed upon. The story tells that the world was allowed to exist because Astaroth was promised it would eventually fade. No one is sure of Astaroth's deepest nature, only that his power can often be found in the hands of the mad and those desperate for the power to destroy.

Astaroth doesn't have a formal set of tenants known to most. Each believer comes to understand His meaning in different ways.


o Aurora, Goddess of Sunlight and Beginnings (Life, Light)
Sign: A sun rising on a curved horizon.

Aurora is often seen as the opposite of Astaroth, either a sibling or a dichotomous force. She is said to be the conception of existence, or was there from the very beginning- being one of the Empyreons. Stories differ whether she was the first Empyreon and made the others, or is just a sibling to the rest. She embodies sentient life's beginnings, birth, developmental milestones and all things that bring life nourishment. She also represents forgiveness and redemption.

Example teachings:
o Respect life for it is sacred. Only take it as a last resort.
o Forgive tresspasses so they hold no power over you. But learn from them so you can teach their lessons.
o Those who can see error in their ways can be redeemed. Those who truly seek redemption deserve the chance.
o Undeath is the mockery of life.
o Seek out a fulfilling life, and encourage others in their living pursuits.