Crisdua
The Pirate Barony
Crisdua is a small, lightly populated barony on the far western end of the Empire of Kyrnia. Founded just 23 years ago by a brotherhood of pirates calling themselves the Sons of the Sunset Sea, they were granted entrance into the Empire after agreeing to stop attacking vessels from the Empire. While technically, a feudal state owing allegiance to the Dutchy of Ysward, and the Empire of Kyrnia, the Sons of the Sunset Seas follow their own rules and earn the displeasure of their overlords as often as they please them. Many times over the past two and a half decades, the barony has come close to starting wars with it's neighbors over their piratical attacks on the high seas.
Structure
The Baroness of Crisdua rules only as long as the other captains do not take offense to her rules, so she is constantly playing one off against the other, and making sure her enemies always come out on the bottom, or better yet, dead. Many captains publicly support her, but mutter under their breath about her, heeding their time to overthrow her and claim the position for themselves.
Culture
Since gaining entry into the Empire, the leaders of Crisdua have tried to work both the legal and illegal side of their trade. The Sons of the Sunset Sea still raid ships of the Kingdom of Nionenorete and the Kingdom of Camroria, but they do so carefully so as not to draw too much attention. They also continue to raid the southern coast below Sernas. But to balance that criminality, they also have turned to ship building. First, because they are always in need of new ships for their raids, and second to sell the ships to others. The forests around Northton are full of great trees for making strong and fast ships, and as such Northton has a thriving ship-building industry.
All of this leads to a very rough lifestyle for those in Northton. Working all day to build or repair ships, is followed by nights of drinking and debauchery. When a ship returns with a good prize, almost the whole town takes the day off to celebrate. There are several villages, really like large camps, in the forest where loggers work to supply the materials to the ship building industry, but they are not very different.
Public Agenda
Under Baroness Damyara Tirula, Crisdua is trying to become more respectable by showing off it's ship making capabilities, but visitors to Northton quickly recognize it as a hive of piracy.
History
Crisdua is one of the youngest members of the Empire of Kyrnia. The capital, Northton, was once a pirate haven occupied for many years by the Sons of the Sunset Sea who used it as a base of operations to conduct raids along the coast and out to the Kingdom of Nionenorete and the Kingdom of Camroria. When those two kingdoms became serious about the threats the Sons of the Sunset Sea posed, the brotherhood began losing many ships. In order to prevent being completely destroyed, the Sons, approached the Barony of Westvale and promised to stop attacking their ships, if Westvale would help it against Nionenorete and Camoria. The Baron of Westvale agreed, and eventually that agreement led to the Basony of Crisdua being formed under the pirate leader, Dunya Crisdua.
After Baron Crisdua died under mysterious circumstances, 7 years into his rule, another pirate captain assumed the title, Karim Tirula. He ruled for seven years as well, before dying at sea in a storm. Many captains fought and schemed to take his place, but eventually support fell to Tirula's daughter, Damyara, also a captain in her own right, who still rules to this day, having successfully lived past her first seven years as Baroness.
Demography and Population
Northton is the only town in Crisdua, and it has the majority of the population. There are several large logging camps, and scattered villages that farm the land, especially more inland towards the mountains. The population is mostly human, but inland there is a smattering of halflings, gnomes and some dwarves in the mountainous region.
Territories
The western third of Crisdua is covered in old growth forest that fuels it's ship-building industry, while the central third is good grasslands that attracts many small farmers. The eastern third consists of the northern edge of the Khaziram Mountains. The northern border is formed by Atbuton River and it's eastern border goes to Zelcel, while Westvale lies to the south.
Military
Crisdua doesn't have a standing military. It's armed forces are made up of sailors onboard the pirate ships each captain maintains, as well as militias that can be rounded up from the logging camps and small farms. A typical ship has between 20 and 120 sailors onboard, most of which have experience in naval combat. The militias are much more inexperienced, and are not regularly trained or out-fitted. The Baroness has several ships under her command, and her most loyal sailors make up whatever police or protection force she needs at any time.
Foreign Relations
Crisdua is constantly under threat from the Kingdom of Nionenorete and the Kingdom of Camroria on the seas, due to the piracy that Crisdua inflicts on them. relations with Westvale and Sernas are generally good, but Crisdua does suffer in it's relationship with the Empire as a whole, again due to it's reputation.
Agriculture & Industry
The farmers of the middle region are able to grow many good crops, and grains and vegetables as well as herds of sheep and cows are raised. The lumber from the forest goes almost entirely into ship building, but some of it does get exported to other locations, but not enough to make any significant impact.
Trade & Transport
Due to Northton's location on the Atbuton River, many small river boats use the town as a place to switch to larger ocean going vessels, and of course Northton collects a tax on these goods. The taxes vary considerably based on the needs of the Captains of Northton, and the Baroness, but they are not generally unreasonable, and the river merchants grumble, but pay them, as the other alternatives for moving their goods are not realistic.
From Great Trees, Come Greater Ships!
Maps
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Crisdua
Type
Geopolitical, Barony
Capital
Demonym
Crisduans; Seahawks (informally)
Leader
Leader Title
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Major Exports
Except for the occasional lumber shipment, and the goods brought down river from other areas, Crisdua does not export much.
Major Imports
Crisdua imports mort everything except wood and grain, sometimes legitimately, but often times as stolen cargo.
Legislative Body
Each Captain, after having proven himself, is allowed a voice at the Allmeet, the meeting of Captains, that can be called by the Baroness to discuss issues. While each Captain has one vote, the Baroness has veto power over anything decided, but it hardly ever comes to that as Baroness Damyara Tirula makes sure that any vote that is called she already has it backed the way she wants it to go, and ay new business is tabled until the next Allmeet.
Judicial Body
Each Captain is able to decide matters within his crew on his own, while matters between different crews are often decided at the Allmeet, or by the Baroness directly, if it is a smaller matter. Issues with people not on a crew, such as the ship-builders and the lumbermen, is decided by the foreman, or if it is of greater significance by the Baroness, or her appointee. Often matters are decided by knife-fight, but only with the permission of the Baroness, Captain, or foreperson. But knife-fights are popular ways to solve the issue, and make sure tat the lower doesn't have anything to complain about afterwards. There is also the opportunity to drink and gamble on the outcome, which keeps the event popular.
Parent Organization
Controlled Territories
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