Ramshackle

"No razor claw nor fiery maw
can plunder so complete
with hoard of gold and treasures old
as our fine Ramshackle fleet!"
~ Popular tavern song

Demographics

The population of Ramshackle is primarily made up of the crews of ships and their families, along with various crafters and traders who make their living providing services to the crews. As such, the makeup of the population is an ever shifting tapestry of the folk of the old Empire and even a few from beyond its borders.

Government

Ramshackle is nominally ruled by the Sea King who has official command of the Ramshackle Fleet, but as the fleet rarely has cause to act in concert this job is mostly ceremonial. The most important function of the Sea King is settling disputes among various captains and crews. The Sea King is chosen by acclaim at the Fleetmoot held annually at Midwinter, as this is the time most of the crews are in port. While the Commanders of Mordâd and the folk of the Free Cities would call the people of Ramshackle anarchists, the crewmembers can be seen to be generally savvy and self-interested. As such the Sea King chosen for their wisdom and caution. In a tradition whose origin is unknown, but practical, the title Sea King is used regardless of the gender of the holder. When asked about this, citizens will claim it saves having to change the words in their songs.

Defences

Ramshackle grew up around a fort that once overlooked an Imperial naval base. The wrecked hulks of some of these ancient ships can still be seen in a few places around the islands. The fortress is partially ruinous and had a patchwork appearance. It is armed with a motley assortment of catapults, ballistae, and bombards. The upper floors and topmost battlement are largely abandoned and show much sign of dragonfire.

Industry & Trade

While Ramshackle is known for piracy, legitimate traders come here as well to exchange goods for the ill-gotten gains of the pirates. The crews of Ramshackle know better than to bite the hand that feeds them and leave merchant vessels near to their waters in peace.

Guilds and Factions

Each crew comprises its own faction and makes decisions jointly on most matters. The exception to this is the Fleetmoot. It is considered entirely unacceptable for captains to attempt to influence their crew's voting.

History

Ramshackle does not maintain and archive or records as Mordâd, and any records that the Empire kept here were lost when the Sea Wards fell. Once the archipelago known as the Shattered Isles were one great island, but in the tumult after the fall of the Sea Wards the island was broken in to pieces by storms and earthquakes. Even before this, dragons had burned the towns and farms and plundered what could be taken.

What survived was a remnant of the Imperial naval base, and around this fortress the town of Ramshackle grew. The people of the town say that they were refugees at first, but banded together to make their fortune. No one knows when the first Sea King was chosen and their name is not remembered even in the songs that the town loves. But since that time Ramshackle has been known only for piracy. Ramshackle Pirates have been the scourge of the Free Cities and are a danger to any who ply the coastal waters. Occasionally an enterprising and bold captain will sail east into the ocean, to see what lands still remain beyond it, but few ever return, and none of the 'discoveries' reported can  be confirmed.

The Free Cities have long threatened to form a navy and take on the Ramshackle Fleet at sea, but so far infighting as kept these threats from coming true. If the Free Cities could ever unify, there would be war.

by Midjourney

Ramshackle's fort and seat of its lords sits on bluffs overlooking the harbor.

Type

Town

Population

Constantly varying

Related Ethnicities

• Istragan