Oceanus Pirates and Bucaneers

How does a society built around barter support piracy? Delicately.

Varying in nobility through time, the pirates and buccaneers of Oceanus and the northern waters of Levis have for the most part been a cultural constant - even if they surged in size with the exodus of the trolls and the immigration of the demons after the Siege of Nightmares. Sticking to a strict code of conduct, the personalities that have been seen in the waters of the realm make for some of the best stories and songs - and the best villains.

Oceanus Seafarers

Privateers

While the sigil under which the following names is obscured by time and subterfuge - these seafaring personalities worked under the eye of a particular port or city in exchange for greater leniency in their behaviour - as long as they worked the politics the patron city wanted. It is best to think of these people as the bards of the seas.

Trolls

Wu Zhang: Known for tales of mermaids and hidden treasures. Often at docks along Levis coast sharing tales from deeper Oceanus. Oral histories have become important to the culture and blending between Oceanus and the Foliad cities deeper into the continent.

Ling Xin Longbeard: Eccentric female scholar-troll who charter unexplored coastlines for ancient artifacts hidden within old Foliad and human ruins within Oceanus. Turned mercanary for Natare after falling on hard times. Sees her relationship with Natare as a game, where one misstep could see her thrown out from Foliad society. Keeps a low profile when within coastline docks.

Xiao Qi Ironfist: Burly fisherman turned courier, was wronged in port. Uses two chains ending in 'anchors' as weapons. In a relationship with a reclusive Foliad.

Mao Mei Moonwhisper: Navigator born under a lunar eclipse. Has an advanced knowledge of celestial signs.

Foliads

Privateer fleets exist within Oceanus, acting as state sanctioned mercenaries. They are sent out to raid rival powers or recover goods from pirate strongholds. Each possesses a letter of mark, authorising aggression. Foliads generally man smaller vessels when not tied to a specific military power.

Nocturne

TBC nomadic 'fleets' for trading. Connected to the undersea cities.

Pirates/Buccaneers

A mix of Infernal raiders, Shunned Troll captains, and waywards Foliads. Pirates encorperate arcane weapons and armor as standard issue equipment.

Balmuth Sunblaze: With crimson skin, and fiery dreadlocks made of stone that are constantly ablaze with demonic runes, the captain of the Inferno's Fury is a sight to behold. Wielding a falchion scarred with battles through Infernus, Balmuth was leutenant to Xylos all through his exile and into the siege around Natare. He pledged himself to the lust demon with a blood oath after a catastrophic battle with armies from the Hsithborn Demonarchy after they both lost so many allies and compatriots. When Xylos deemed the battle with Natare done, and began to focus on his wife and camp, Balmuth deemed the pact done and dissolved and sought out his own path in the untamed waters of Oceanus.

Balmuth's crew contains trolls armed with steel gauntlets and massive warhammers brought over during the invasion. Iron demons are the majority of the rest of the crew, rough and worn. Balmuth is a hard taskmaster, but keeps the crew well fed and in good spirits. Whisperlings run maintenance on the lower levels of the Fury.

Cheng Hai Blackheart: Feared captain of an all female crew. Her ship is said to be the fastest on the seas due to an enchanted hull.

Those from Lamiacae Bay

Captain Maranos: A bidee foliad and scourge of the courier class - his ship was mean and lean and his patrols more like ambush than things of tall tales and soaring fame.

Navies

Natare

While not connected to the coast, Natare hosts a navy out of lands just south of the Mangrove forests. A branch of the Natare city council, this grouping of ships is dedicated to maintaining the shipping lanes that bring resources from Oceanus to the markets of Natare and to the Foliad heartlands of Levis in general. Natare military ships usually include cutting edge equipment - practical tests for research ideas and augmentations.

Solaris

Solaris despite having issues with the Nocturne Empire, and having a large coast adjacent to the shipping lanes and a claim on Avani does not hold an official navy. Their use of hired help ensures they are seen as 'neutral', in the hope of not inciting further issues between themselves and the Empire. If Natare sometimes acts in their favour, or if a privateer could be seen as blatantly working in Solaris interests - that is still not official support or action.