King of the Sea
Amongst the Pirates of Aland, there is no higher honour than winning the title of King of the Sea. It is the goal and ambition of every Pirate, all working to win the greatest battles and amass the largest treasure. All Pirates, both young and old, know the stories about the King of the Sea, of the great deeds that they have performed and the power that they wielded amongst their fellow Pirates.
The only way to become the King of the Seas is to have the support of a majority of the Pirates and lead them to a great victory. This can be either against rival Pirates, sea monsters or the fleets of the major nations. Discovering hidden treasures and lost relics are also valid means of earning the title, however, it is much harder to do this while also maintaining the support of so many Pirates.
Once one holds the title of King of the Sea, they are given a great deal of power and influence over the other Pirates. They are able to give orders on when and where to attack and raid, whether that be a poorly defended coastal village, or a fort swarming with Dublean soldiers. They can decide on how to distribute the spoils of any successful raid, splitting it evenly between those who participated or even taking a cut for themselves. The King is also often called upon to settle any arguments or disputes that are brought before them in their courtroom and, should it be necessary, dole out a fitting punishment.
One of the more limited benefits of being King of the Sea is that the current holder of the title is able to implement new laws that must be followed. The reason that this is so limited is due to the fact that the laws will only remain as long as that King sits on the throne. Strictly speaking, the current King is able to implement any new law that they wish and can do so as many times as they want, this rule has curbed many a King from enacting too many laws as they might find that their reign will be cut unnaturally short.
Many have held the title of King of the Sea over the years, and only a handful of those Kings have died of natural causes. Once a new King of the Sea is crowned, their life expectancy can be counted in months rather than years as many of the Pirates in rival factions, and some within the King's own followers will plot to kill them and take the crown for themselves. The Kings are also eager to continue proving their worth to their followers and detractors, which means that they are always putting themselves in harm's way to go on grander adventures and raids.
In the entire history of the Kings of the Sea, there has only ever been a single Pirate who has not only held the title for several years but also decided to abdicate their throne. Admiral Bloodwrath, was one of the most infamous Pirates ever to have sailed the seas and the inspiration for a lot of younger Pirates. However, one day after successfully ruling over the Pirates for many years, and being one of the few Kings to completely unify them, Bloodwrath vanished. There are many stories about where he could have disappeared, but one of the more firmly held rumours is that only by gaining the title of King of the Sea will one really learn the truth.
Type
Nobility, Non-hereditary
Form of Address
His/Her/Their Highness
Source of Authority
The Pirates that choose to follow them
Length of Term
The King reigns until their death or until they choose to abdicate their throne
Past Holders
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