The Nassa Archipelago (nuh SAH)

A pirate's life for me

CobaltDM - August 24, 2022

Nassa is an archipelago in the southeastern region of Mytkora.

Demographics

Nassa is home to any and all who can tolerate the lawless, tumultuous lifestyle that its inhabitants live in. The primary races found in Nassa are Humans, Genasi, Orcs, Halflings, Goblins, Hobgoblins, and a collection of others. Most make their livings working on or near the water, though functioning towns have sprung up that feature some more traditional occupations. Like many other places, gold determines status in Nassa. Whoever holds the most gold has the most influence, and whoever has the most influence wields the msot power. These individuals are among the most cunning criminals in Mytkora and they have seized their power by force. They are commonly referred to as Dreadlords, named for the sea they so often plunder.

Government

Government is dictated by the Dreadlord for that region. They often have a gang or faction surrounding them that execute the Dreadlord's authority and collects taxes from all residents or passing ships. There has never been a central governing system in Nassa, and it does not appear that one will ever form.

Industry & Trade

The primary industry in Nassa centers around the various facets of maritime trade. Pirating, sailing, ship building, working the docks, smuggling, caravanning, carpentry, and many other professions have arisen from this necessity. Put simply, hard work is mandatory if one wants to survive in Nassa. The region exports and imports whatever it can get its hands on, causing large markets to be spread throughout the cities full of all kinds of oddities.

Infrastructure

Quality of life in Nassa is abysmally low compared to the other regions of the world. No central government means no public works, so families make do with what they can build or buy. Some ramshackle cities have formed in Nassa, though they are not much more than a large collection of shacks with some stores littered throughout.
The exception to this rule is the territories under control of The Black Reapers. This faction has maintained control of the northeastern corner of Nassa and has steadily extended their reach over the last thirty years. Imports from Tekoril have helped modernize the area, especially the city of Griffik. Other Dreadlords have noticed the Black Reapers' control strengthening over the area as locals have begun to support the Reaper himself as the de facto governor of the area. Thus, despite a rather unfortunate current state, Nassa's infrastructure is on an upward trend.

Guilds and Factions

There are eight primary factions in Nassa. Each faction is headed by a Dreadlord. Some are well-known, others are shrouded in mystery. Whatever the case, the eight Dreadlords are the most feared individuals in Nassa, and their word means law. It is critical for anyone traveling through Nassa to know who is in command wherever they find themselves. One misstep could cost a life. For more detailed information, see The Factions of Nassa.

History

Nassa has a long history of power struggles and bloodshed that dates back to the creation of mortalkind. Control changed hands often, and almost no Dreadlord lasted more than ten years as the head of their faction. Chaotic gang wars waged on the streets of the small cities kept the less daring of the craftsmen away for centuries.
In the last hundred years, however, things have begun to stabilize. Rather than a new governing faction every five years, territories became more solidly under the control of a few of the prominent factions, such as the first iterations of the Black Reapers, the Crowns, and the Three Peaks Gang. Newfound stability led to population growth and technological progress, though the region still considerably lags behind the rest of the world. By the time the Silence came, five of the eight factions currently in charge had established control over the regions they now hold.
Decades passed and the region continued to be a lawless collection of towns. Ambitions grew amid the stalemate between the large factions, and war once again broke out. After years of skirmishes on the seas and stabbings in the streets, the Black Reapers emerged as the clear, primary power in Nassa. In 84 YS, they stole the first airship, The Winds of Tomorrow, from the city of Edshana and have been using it to establish naval superiority over the Dread Sea. In 89 YS, they uncovered the first Remnant of Itherea, sending the world into a frenzy unlike any other that had come before. Details on what exactly the Remnant does are hazy, and rumors run rampantly. Other factions fear their immediate destruction, and Nassa has once again been hurled into instability.

Founding Date

N/A

Population

Estimated around 1.5 million

Inhabitant Demonym

Nassan