Banary Isles
Banary Isles is an archipelago of islands off the southern coast of the Empire of Kyrnia. There are three main islands where most of the population lives, as well as hundreds of smaller islands that are generally unpopulated. The Banary Isles have a reputation as the place that unsavory characters gather to escape the law, or to seek their ill-gotten fortunes. While a part of the Empire of Kyrnia and the Duchy of Damargann, the March of the Banary Isles, is not considered an exemplary vassal state.
Structure
The Marchon rules by his own decree and whim, often contradicting himself from day to day as his state of sobriety changes. He has several hundred sea captains who make up his Council of War, but they do not participate in the day to day running of the March, except to put forward their own petty plans and whims, which the Marchon may or may not go along with. His favorite woman, which typically changes every couple of months, often serves with the title of Marchoness, but since she will not have the title or job for long, she is mostly ignored, but this favorite often is the last voice the Marchon hears before making a decision, so she can influence him.
Culture
While some former pirate havens have turned to law and order, and are striving to make something of themselves, most of the inhabitants of the Banaries are still pirates. When the Marchon is not fulfilling his duties of protecting the coast of the Empire, his ships sail under false flags and target vessels that look like they are valuable.
Life on shore, involves splitting up and selling the cargo, often to the same merchants it was stolen from, or those it was meant for, followed by drinking, frolicking, and trying to find a way to make more money from the next ship they plunder.
Assets
Over one hundred ships of war, plus dozens of merchant vessels. Several thousand men / sailors. Large amounts of portable wealth. The fortifications at Tazion, that make it one of the most protected harbors in Kyrnia.
History
The great grandfather of the Marchon, the notorious pirate king, Lyrzar Unnter roamed the seas for many years striking fear into the hearts of sailors and port towns around the world. When he sailed into the Banary Isles and captured the town of Tazion, he decided to stay and take over the place. He continued raiding the shipping for many more years, until the Empire decided to offer him a title, if he would focus his attacks elsewhere. Lyrzar took the offer, as he was getting on in years and decided that not having the Empire as an enemy was a good idea. This arrangement lasted for many years and several generations, but under the current Marchon, the piracy against the Empire has slowly started to return.
Military
The Banary Isles do not have any land forces to speak of, even the town guards are usually just the soberest sailors for that watch. But they do have an extensive navy, and plenty of sailors to fight on those ships.
Sail Onward to Victory!
Maps
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Banary
Type
Geopolitical, County / March
Capital
Demonym
Banari
Leader
Leader Title
Government System
Despotism
Economic System
Market economy
Major Exports
Ships, squid, cheap cargos.
Major Imports
Just about everything
Judicial Body
Since there is little in the way of established law, outside of the changing decrees of the Marchon, most legal disputes are settled by knife fights. People are allowed to choose a champion for these fights, and the best knife fighters are highly sought after. If a dispute arises among the crew of a ship, the Captain of that ship takes responsibility for seeing justice served, again, often through a knife fight. While in town, the matter could be referred to the Marchon, or to the mayor of the smaller towns and villages, but often this ends up in a knife fight as well, as that is the right of everyone in the Banaries to demand.
Parent Organization
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