Across the southern reaches of Mythea lies a vast and treacherous expanse known as the Blood Seas.
Named for the crimson-colored waters created by immense seasonal blooms of red seaweed and algae, the region is feared by sailors throughout the world.
Beneath those crimson waters lurk reefs, storms, sea monsters, hidden islands, and perhaps most dangerous of all:
The Pirate Clans.
Unlike ordinary pirates, the Clans are not a single organization.
They are a loose confederation of captains, smugglers, raiders, privateers, exiles, and sea kings who acknowledge no nation and obey no law beyond their own.
To many coastal communities, they are villains.
To others, they are folk heroes.
To the Pirate Clans themselves, they are simply free.
Though fiercely independent, the Pirate Clans maintain an ancient code known as the Crimson Covenant.
No one knows who first established it.
The Covenant governs:
Territory
Ransom
Captives
Treasure claims
Clan disputes
Violating the Covenant is one of the few crimes punishable by death among the Clans.
Even the most ruthless captains respect its authority.
Scattered throughout the Blood Seas are hidden settlements known as Free Harbors.
These ports appear on no official map.
Within them, pirates, smugglers, merchants, mercenaries, and adventurers mingle freely.
Common features include:
Black markets
Shipyards
Taverns
Fighting pits
Auction houses
Relic dealers
Many Free Harbors are protected by natural defenses and carefully guarded secrets.
Finding one is difficult.
Leaving one alive is usually easier if you've behaved yourself.
Every generation produces a handful of captains whose influence extends far beyond their own ships.
These legendary figures are known as Sea Kings regardless of gender.
Sea Kings command loyalty through reputation rather than authority.
Their names become legend.
Some build empires.
Others vanish mysteriously.
Very few die peacefully.
Perhaps the most feared pirate coalition in the Blood Seas.
The Crimson Tide Fleet consists of multiple pirate clans that unite during major campaigns.
When assembled, their combined strength rivals the navies of smaller kingdoms.
Fortunately for the mainland, they rarely agree on anything.
Among the oldest pirate lineages.
Blackwake captains specialize in:
Smuggling
Intelligence gathering
Night raids
Their ships are painted dark enough to vanish into moonless seas.
Many sailors claim they can appear and disappear at will.
Known for reckless courage and terrifying boarding actions.
Stormcrow crews often favor speed over caution.
Their captains believe fortune favors boldness.
The clan's ships are frequently decorated with black feathers, carved ravens, and storm motifs.
A brutal and infamous clan operating deep within the Blood Seas.
The Red Maw cultivate fear deliberately.
Their banners are recognized throughout the southern oceans.
Many stories about them are undoubtedly exaggerated.
Not all of them.
Unlike many pirate clans, the Sapphire Wind often acts as smugglers and traders first, raiders second.
They maintain extensive contacts throughout the Velvet Sultanate and beyond.
Many coastal merchants secretly conduct business with them.
Officially, of course, no one admits this.
Perhaps the most infamous pirate legend.
Somewhere within the Blood Seas lies a hidden island known as the Isle of Bones.
According to rumor it serves as neutral ground for pirate captains.
Treasure disputes are settled there.
Sea Kings are chosen there.
The Crimson Covenant is maintained there.
No reliable map exists.
Yet every pirate seems convinced they know how to find it.
Throughout the region lie hundreds of wrecks from forgotten centuries.
Some contain:
Lost treasure
Ancient relics
Starfire artifacts
Forbidden knowledge
Entire pirate clans make their living salvaging these underwater graveyards.
Many never return.
Pirates are among the most superstitious people in Mythea.
Common beliefs include:
Never whistle during a storm.
Never count your coin at sea.
Never speak of the Black Star after sunset.
Never sail toward singing heard from open water.
Leave an offering before crossing crimson waters.
Many dismiss these beliefs.
Most pirates do not.
No pirate legend is more famous than the Red Queen.
According to myth, she was the first true Sea King.
Some stories describe her as a conqueror.
Others as a liberator.
Others claim she still rules from somewhere within the Blood Seas.
No one agrees on the truth.
Yet her banner still occasionally appears where no ship should be.
The kingdoms of Mythea officially condemn piracy.
Yet many rulers secretly employ pirate captains as:
Informants
Smugglers
Privateers
Scouts
The relationship between the mainland and the Pirate Clans is complicated.
Trade, politics, and crime often blur together at sea.
Among the Pirate Clans, one saying is known above all others:
"Kings rule the land. Gods rule the heavens. The sea belongs to those brave enough to take it."
For centuries that belief has drawn dreamers, outlaws, adventurers, and fools into the Blood Seas.
Some return wealthy.
Some return famous.
Most do not return at all.