Since their
Archipelagobeing was annexed into the
Kingdom of Eloir, some
Loti sailors have taken to piracy towards the kingdom's ships as a form of rebellion from their rule.
The Conflict
Prelude
While the joining of the Lotus Archipelago was decided democratically amongst tribal leaders of the islands, not all were pleased by the decision. These ill feelings grew further as taxation and governing from the mainland became more apparent.
The practice of piracy as it is currently known in the islands is thought to have begun with the raiding of the Elorite merchant vessel, the Maplewood, which saw over half the cargo either stolen or dumped overboard. Despite all investigations into the event, the culprits were never found.
In lieu of the guilty party for the raid, taxes were imposed on the archipelago to compensate for the lost cargo.
Predictably, the islanders were outraged over the punishment, with many engaging in further acts of piracy against Eloir and its ships.
Pirate attacks are known to happen in most areas in and around the archipelago.
While multiple separate ships have been identified as being used by the pirates, it is unknown if these are all independent crews or if they are individual vessels under a single leadership.
Loti pirates have been sighted all across the waters in and around the archipelago. Some of the more daring, better equipped vessels have ventured into the sea separating Lotus from the mainland, but most crews stay close to the Loti shores they know.
Having grown up and sailed the waters around their islands for most of their lives, Loti pirates typically possess intimate knowledge of the archipelago.
However, they do not possess nearly the same funds nor resources as the Elorite merchants or navy.
Loti pirates typically operate using hit-and-run tactics given their smaller fighting capabilities. They will often use smaller boats to sneak aboard merchant ships in the night, seeking either to raid the vessel's cargo, sabotage the ship, or both.
Some crews have gone so far as to try and commandeer the entire ship and claim it for their own, though this is an exceedingly rare occurrence given the risks and manpower involved with such a scheme.
Historical Significance
The repeated acts of piracy have lead to severe social and economic tensions between the Lotus Archipelago and the kingdom of Eloir. Taxes and other forms of reprisal have become strict towards the islanders while the piracy has lead to the creation of a black market trade of goods seized during the raids along with legitimate goods produced by islanders in need of the added income to offset the steep taxes.
Even outside of mercantile affairs, the Loti population still suffers as stories of the pirates around their islands has lead to the the archipelago in general to be painted as den of thieves and scoundrels. While demand from the mainland for their crops and goods remains, many Loti who venture to the mainland can usually expect a frigid or even hostile welcome from Elorites.
Conversely, Elorites aren't exactly thought well of on the islands either. It is not uncommon for islanders to view their mainland counterparts as incompetent and greedy, trying throwing their weight around to keep the Loti under heel.
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