Nelanther Isles

The Nelanther Isles

The Nelanther Isles, also just called the Nelanther, are a widely scattered chain of nearly one thousand islands west of Amn and Tethyr in the Trackless Sea. More than half the islands lack potable water and are an unfit place to live. The hundreds of islands that can support life are fought over by ruthless pirates who tend to prey upon the shipping lines of Amn, Tethyr, Calimshan, the Sword Coast, and the Moonshae Isles.

Geography

Among the hundreds of islands, only the largest of the islands are named. Only a handful of these names are known to mainlanders, while the pirate captains know them like the back of their hands. The bulk of the Nelanther pirates have never been captured due to the multitude of hiding places among the islands. Mainlander maps show many of the main islands and many of the minor islands, but not the shoals, currents, small exposed or submerged islets, and other hazards among the inner Nelanther. Most of the islands are surrounded by perilous reefs. The known islands among the pirate captains are:

• Carcathen
• Ioma
• Irphong
• Nemessor
• The Rookery
• Thordentor

The channel between the Nelanther Isles and the Tethyr Peninsula is known as Asavir's Channel (presumably named after the pirate Asavir). It is a well-traveled sea lane but treacherous because of the many pirates

History

By 1369 DR, the Twisted Rune placed a magical gate on the islands to allow for instantaneous movement to other locations. 

Demographics

Aside from their shared acts of violence and larceny, the Nelanthers have surprisingly little in common with the Pirate Isles of the Dragon Coast. The Nelanthers' pirates are nonhumans such as orcs, lizardfolk, ogres, and minotaurs. These various races and factions wage war on each other as often as they do with outsiders.

Life & Society

The reavers of the Nelanther Isles are entirely honorless pirates that torture their victims, leaving them to horrible deaths. The Nelanther youth are born into the society's violence and their only escape is death, typically while still young. Nearly all fit adults fight aboard ships, while weak and crippled children who somehow survive are left ashore to repair ships or salvage wrecks.

Notable Locations

Except for a couple of smaller settlements, the pirates of the Nelanther Isles live in their ships or in huts that can be abandoned at a moment's notice. An important port is named Skaug. While The Sea Towers are also notable, being magically warded hard stone towers that are located on some of the islands and in the sea of the region

Type

Archipelago