Penchrie (pen-kree)

Penchrie is a pirate stronghold built on and around Torringley mountain in the middle of the sea.

Government

Penchrie is nearly a direct democracy. It is fairly lawless, but remains overall peaceful. Power lies in the council, which at any time has 16-50+ members, but everyone of age in Penchrie is entitled to a vote. The council enacts policy and endevours to keep the population safe. The system has broken down twice, but has been restored with better structure each time.

Defences

Penchrie has strong natural defenses due to its location. Torringley is far from anywhere else, in the middle of the ocean. It is hard to locate and difficult to access. Torringley forms a cove and is surrounded by dangerous waters and rocks. Many ships have gone aground trying to reach Penchrie, making the waters even more deadly with the shipwrecks. There are no docks on the outside of Torringley cove, so boats must make it through the rocks into the cove before being able to access the walkways and caves of Penchrie. Some caves and tunnels open to the sea, but they are usually blocked off with wood or stone.

History

Penchrie had a long history as a pirate refuel site, as it has freshwater pools and a small population of sheep and cows to replenish food stores. It was also so far from any other civilization that it was unlikely to be found or raided by any enemies. At some point, a ship of refugees crashed into Torringley. Unlike most shipwrecks on the rocks, many of the passengers survived. This group was able to climb into some of the caves and established Penchrie. Around the same time, pirate hunters began to become more prevalent in the waters and many pirate ships were captured or wrecked. Torringley was visited by pirates far less frequently, and then not at all. By the time Penchrie was properly established, there were only a few pirate ships still active, and none risked the rocks around Torringley for water. The isolation of Torringley was no longer a strength for a pirate refuge, but a weakness. It wasn't worth the time and risk to find the mountain in the vast oceans.
A few years after the establishment of Penchrie, the last known pirate ship, the Shrike, set a desperate course for Torringley, hoping that the surrounding rocks would catch the deeper-hulled ships of the pirate hunters but allow the Shrike to pass though the narrow pass safely. Their gamble paid off, and the Shrike made it into the safety of Torringley's shadow as her pursuers either crashed or turned away. The crew disembarked, expecting to find Torringley empty as ever, but were met with wary and untrusting eyes from the current inhabitants.
The pirates, worn and weary from the long chase, called a peace and asked to speak with the leader, whoever that might be. Penchrie sent their council down, and an agreement was reached. The pirates could move into Penchrie, as long as they kept the peace and pulled their weight.
For a time, the pirates were somewhat separate, taking on jobs and working to their strengths, but retreating back to the Shrike in their downtime, first to repair it and then to sleep there. Eventually, however, some of the people of Penchrie began asking the pirates to teach them skills, like shipbuilding and repairing for their fishing boats. As the pirates became more familiar, some brave folk began to join their fighting drills on the Shrike's deck. Over time, the pirates were truly assimilated into Penchrie, bringing with them metalworking techniques, dice games, and sword fighting. They also began the tradition of the Penchrie Boat Races, which would persist as an annual event.

Architecture

Homes in Penchrie are built either into the mountain or on ledges. They are built out of wood or stone, both harvested from Torringley. Tapestries and rugs are common to keep the houses warm. Wooden bridges connect various ledges, and are used to create walkways along the mountain walls.

Geography

Penchrie is in and on Torringley mountain, in the middle of the sea. It has freshwater pools in some caves and on the surface, and access to the sea through the narrow pass. Though the pass is very dangerous for large ships, fishing boats can pass through with relative safety. Parts of the mountain are ideal for farming, though the erosion of soil can pose a problem.

Natural Resources

Fish from the sea, crops grown on the slopes, metals and stone from caves, freshwater from various pools, cows, and sheep. Pigs and chickens were also introduced when the Shrike arrived.

Type

Large city