Wind Pirates of Orlanth - Boldhome

Boldhome, the former capital of the old Orlanthi kingdom of Sartar has been transformed.  A rocky fortress for the most part there is little arable land so the Orlanthi population that survived the end of the Third Age was quite small.  When the Royal Lunar Navy found the island they decided to appropriate it for their own use.  The island has been transformed into the administrative centre for the Highlands and as the main naval base for the Royal Navy's Blue Squadron.  The top of the island and all of the existing buildings have been converted to suit either the Duke of the Highland or the Admiralty of the Blue Squadron.  Wharves and dry docks extend from all sides of the island.  All of this material had to be either be brought to the island at great expense or taken from the hulks of ruined ships.  Sheds and storage, chandlers, brothels, etc. cover the top of the island as does a dry dock and a long rope shed.  At the very peak of the island where once the temple to Sartar stood is the temple to Shargash the Destroyer.  A much more modest Lunar temple and a somewhat more elaborate Solar temple are just below the Shargashi temple.  Every building is built or faced with the native stone with the exceptions of the palace of the Duke of the Highlands which is faced with a marble veneer brought at incredible expense from elsewhere in the Empire and the temple of Shargash which is entirely constructed of obsidian and covered with trophies.  

There are soaring tenements built of stone where the administrators of the Duke's administration and the Navy alike live.  Taverns and gaming clubs that bustle with activity whether a new ship is in harbour or not.  Markets where the rare fresh produce brought in from another island is snatched up by the wealthier bureaucrats or more senior officers.  Warehouses burst with the supplies needed to support the Blue Navy, the battalions of marines on the island and the army of clerks and bureaucrats needed for the Duke's administration.  Marines stand sentry at important buildings and petty theft is virtually unheard of.  This is part of the island that is known as Topside.

Below the island is another world known as Belowdecks.  Belowdecks is a dark and dank maze of walkways and prizes.  Captured ships too damaged to be put into use by the Royal Navy are suspended below the island on bronze chains.  Rope walkways connect ship to ship.  Other strange dwellings built of navy cast-offs hang there as well/  These all sway in the wind and are the closest to the sense of really being at sea that a sailor can experience.  While the region atop the island is ruled by law and patrolled by Shargashi marines Belowdecks, is while not completely lawless, less closely supervised.  This allows the Orlanthi sailors some illusion of freedom to help them blow off steam when they are feeling frustrated and impotent.  No one really has any illusions that the Shargashi marines wouldn't descend on the Belowdecks like Shargash's own bolt if the need presented itself.  

Even here there are wharves attached but only the most insignificant ships are moored here.  Here also is where the vast horde of unemployed sailors live.  They hang their hammocks wherever they can find space.  In order to find service on a ship they have to align themselves with one of the four Orlanthi overlords of the Belowdecks who determine who does and who doesn't get berths on ships setting out.  The four bossess, Hamish Carr, Alisadair MacWind, Malcolm Bone, and Tavish Hardbreeze (in declining order of influence) are all former naval midshipmen or warrant officers (as high in rank as an Orlanthi can aspire to) who have made bases in one of the suspended hulks.  They arrange for berths for sailors and distribute the bread and beef the Navy provides to keep the men in line.  They function very much like Roman republican politicians and sailors who are seeking a berth or any other favour must petition the boss they follow for a berth or favour.

Belowdecks is also noteworthy for the huge number of trollkin who can be found living there.  These trollkin are despised and poorly treated by everyone as no one places any value on them.  A benevolent movement has gained some momentum Topside but has had no real influence in Belowdecks

Last updated November 23, 2009