The Bakhoury Coast

Proper Name: Emirates of the Bakhoury Shoals

Heraldry: Golden Seahorse Recumbent on a Red Field

Ruler(s): Bakhoury Coastal Emirs (Odabashi-Zug-bu)

Government: Tributary Vassals (Zeif )

Rulership: Oum al-Ghayar (Low Elsewhere (Very Low)

Capital: Oum al-Ghayar (5,200)

Major Towns: Fortress of Perversion (Ruins)

Coinage: As Zeif

Population: 35,600 (Human 99% (B), Others 1%)

Languages: Baklunish

Alignments: CN, NE, CE, CG

Religions: Baklunish Pantheon

Resources: Slaves, Salvage, Caravan Tolls, Privateer Licenses Cost Multiplier: 200%

Allies: Zeif (sometimes), Janasibs (sometimes)

Enemies: Caliphate of Eternal Darkness, Ekbir (sometimes), Komal (sometimes), Janasibs (sometimes), Zeif (sometimes)

Emirates Fleet: Coastal Xebec, Coastal Coracle (fishing boats)

The Bakhoury Coast lies further south of Beit Castan, comprising the coastline on the eastern side of the Gulf of Ghayar. It is composed today of over a half dozen petty emirates who only recently came under control of the Sultanate. The coast is a hub of piracy, shady dealings, and unlawfulness, traits the Sultan would like to rectify. However, he is finding more and more than the Bakhoury Coast is a place of instability, and Zeif's hold on the region is waning.

Come visit the Bakhoury Coast; chastised by the mainland nations, huddled around the Salakesh Cove, encases a sunbaked coastline and assorted islands within the Ikayal Strait.

Notorious for its treacherous sandbars and illicit slave auctions. Slovenly slingers and spearmen, seem reluctant to constrain the coastal citizens. Highwaymen, lance and shield, bolstered by paynim renegades, composite short bow and scimitar, stalk the coastal caravans. Previously, a nuisance, these brigands, have rehabilitated themselves as “freedom fighters”. Shamefully, the Orta, orcish heavy infantry, sent a request for the intervention of the Zeifan spahis, chain mail, lance and composite short bows.

Moreover, Dusk Lash, with the coastal smugglers, control the local rackets. Lady of Perfection, Xan Yae, overshadows religious veneration, and condones criminal activities to supplement the meager incomes.

Its crushing poverty, blamed on the sea routes, that suppress the coastal caravan route. Nonetheless, a trickle of trade, still crawls between Oum al-Ghayar and Beit Castan. Restricted to coastal xebecs, rather than seafaring galleys. Thus, the endless cycle of Zeifan intervention and withdrawal continues…

Locations and Settlements within the Bakhoury Coast:

Ataphad Islands

Bureis, Bazaar of

Fortress of Perversion

Ikayal Strait

Iko Island

Isra Corsairs

Janasib Islands

Komal

Mur

Murenshi Island

Oum al-Ghayar

Azor’alq, The Pinnacles of

Point Harrow

Risay

Salakesh Cove

Yif Qayah, Port of

History:

In 2237 BH (-422 CY), aftermath the Twin Cataclysms, Ghayar Khan, promptly claimed a small settlement, that evolved into his coastal capital, Oum al-Ghayar.

Ultimately, the boundaries of his coastal empire, entrenched a geographical namesake, Gulf of Ghayar. Installed comrades-in-arms, Human Satraps and Orcish Maliks.

Ozef the Warrior instigated a paynim resistance to overthrow the Imperial Pretenders. In the Battle of Nafiq, Ghayar Khan, was slain. Orcish Maliks, were then removed, and the coastal region, reinvented as Emirates. Several satraps, refused to bow down, and instead colonized the Janasib Islands.

In 3095 BH (436 CY), Battle Beneath the Waves, wherein the Komali-Merfolk decimated the Zeifan fleet. Emboldened; these Bakhoury Emirs, declared independence. Moreover, a propitious partnership with the Janasibs, ensured the maritime muscle to receive begrudging respect.

Consequently, Sultan Muktar enacted the Corsair Consignment Edict of 3114 BH (455 CY), which prohibited the transportation of slaves to the Janasibs. Revenues plummeted, as the island slave trade upheld the coastal economy.

By 3158 BH (499 CY), Mouqollad Consortium, financed a seafaring revival to restore the sea lanes. Regardless, the coastal towns and fishing villages continued to support the corsairs. In response, Sultan Kamuran ordered its subjugation. Resentment remains but its residents lack the resources to successfully resist.

Sultan’s Uruzary Corps; aka Ojak, symbolize the intervention. An Orta, an orcish warband, tours its settlements to terrorize the inhabitants; Consequently; the coastal highwaymen, have been lauded as folk heroes.

Political tensions will continue to escalate as expansionists in the Zeifan Diwan, recommend annexation. Whereas the Grand Vizier, counsels the continued ambiguity of the current situation.

3158 BH (499 CY): The Bakhoury Subjugation

With the weakening of Zeifan naval power more than sixty years prior, the pirate princes along the Bakhoury Coast had grown in strength and daring. Not only were they able to gather more ships to their cause, but several settlements became openly supportive of the pirates. By 3158 BH (499 CY), the Bakhoury Coast was a lawless and dangerous place, where few legitimate trading ships would dare to travel.

However, Zeif had not been idle during this time. The previous Sultan Muktar the Crafty had brokered a peace agreement with the Merfolk of the Dramidj Ocean. The Zeif navy was no longer facing merfolk raids that continued to cripple their ships, allowing the Zeif navy to sail surrounding waters with greater safety and focus on protecting trade vessels from piracy and other threats.

In addition, the Zeif navy had spent the time steadily rebuilding and improving its naval fleet. Though the total fleet size was still smaller than it had been before the Battle Beneath the Waves, it almost matched the previous fleet in fighting power due to several changes in ship design and construction. Zeif was also able to consolidate its fleet by pulling out of many of its holdings in western lands, freeing many of its existing ships from their duties of protecting Zeif Khedivates in places like Mur. The Zeifan Navy was slowly regaining its reputation as the most powerful navy in the Dramidj Ocean.

It was a desire to firmly reestablish this reputation that led Sultan Kamuran (“the Fortunate”) to order the subjugation of the Bakhoury Coast in 3158 BH (499 CY). He declared his intent to “liberate a people too long removed from the light of Zeifan order.” Kamuran mobilized a sizable force of warships and troop transports, and ordered the fleet to sail for the Bakhoury Coast.

The subjugation began successfully. The Zeifan forces were able to retake and garrison several towns and villages long held by various pirate princes. The Navy also succeeded in creating forward shipyards and supply depots, eliminating the need for ships to make a long journey back to a safe port for repairs or maintenance. Indeed, great spans of coastline were brought back into “the light of Zeifan order” in a relatively short time. The Sultan was pleased, but the navy was not.

The navy was yet unable to strike a decisive blow against the pirates. Utilizing information provided by the Dusk Lash (a secret smuggling ring), the pirate captains continued to stymie the Zeif navy using hidden bases along the Bakhoury Coast to elude their captors. The pirate captains were so successful in avoiding the Zeif navy that it would take more than fifty years before Zeif naval forces were able to reduce piracy along the Bakhoury Coast to an acceptable level.

Beyond the Capital Its coastal towns and fishing villages, are tasked with capturing corsairs. Illicit activities still supplement their meager incomes.

Crag. Beyond the Flanaess: Gulf of Ghayar Gazetteer, 2023

The Gulf of Ghayar

The Gulf of Ghayar is a large point of water dipping south from the Dramidj, dividing Zeif and the Bakhoury Coast from some other nations which form a region that is largely uncharted and undocumented. The gulf has long been a place of violence and activity. Brave merchants sail from these rogue states to Zeif with gold in their eyes, praying to Istus for safe passage and general avoidance of the piracy which operates here. The fleets of Komal, the Jansibs, and Zeif patrol these waters, often at odds with each other.

Some of the most important activity, however, happens underneath the waves. Many aquatic races are found on the bottom of the Gulf, great cities of merfolk and locathahs. Historically, Zeif had been enemies with these people, and they were involved in the infamous Battle Beneath the Waves, which happened in the Gulf. However, today, thanks to the efforts of some diplomatic past Sultans, the merfolk are at peace with Zeif, and often make visits to the coastal towns, such as Beit Castan and Nafiq. Many have turned to the worship of Mouqol, and are even becoming involved with the Consortium.