Deaths in the Dead Sea

Revolution

Magic turns the balance of power in the Dead Sea Collective on its head. The old warlords are superseded by a cadre of young ferocious mage warriors who hold nothing sacred, and will go to any length in pursuit of power.

Magic may have had dramatic effect everywhere in the world. But nowhere was it more fatal than in the Dead Sea Collective. While the Collective was never at peace as the other nations of the world understood it there existed a certain equlibrium. Captains ruled their ships, and were in turn loyal to powerful warlords, whom all swore some form of allegiance to Khalesar The Waterwalker . Every so often a powerful captain would assassinate his warlord and take his place, or die horribly in the attempt. In a way the introduction of magic did not change this, only accelerate the process beyond all precedent.   The first indication of what was to happen came in 2011 when Janus "Talkybo" the Crimson Dread assassinated the Warlord known as Irontusk and seized control of his vessel. This he did with stunning ease through his command of magic. In the years that followed many would follow his example.   Soon the Dead Sea Collective was embroiled in a silent but bloody civil war as young mages slaughtered their way through the old guard. Captains and Warlords fell like wheat for the scythe. During one notorious mutiny in 2032 fifteen captains and seven warlords along with many followers were killed when the ship they were meeting on was destroyed by magic. Another incident in 2037 saw a full on battle between a coalition of older warlords and several of the newer magelords. Some went even further and attacked Khalesar The Waterwalker himself. This attempt failed, but showed that the old order in the Collective had broken down. By 2052 nearly all warlords were either mages, or had been brought to power through magical means.   Not only did the new captains slaughter the old. They had little patience for the old ways. Honour and glory on the battlefield gave way for a relentless pursuit of power and wealth. For some in the outside world this was something of a blessing. Many arks could now simply be bought off. For the poorer coastal communities it was a curse. Whereas the Collective seldom used to raid the same place often, or demand regular tribute this now became the norm. The most valuable commodity became magically gifted people who were of great value to captains and warlords in the ever more bitter struggle for power.   The Collective have not yet unleashed the full force of their new power on Renata. Perhaps they never will, for they are as ever far more concerned with internal struggles than external ones.