Providence is an island in the
Lucayans. From 1706, the island's largest port of
Nassau became a haven for
pirates. A few legitimate plantation owners, such as Underhill, remain in the interior of the island.
Geography
Nassau is the largest port on the island, situated on the northern side of the island.
Fort Nassau, an imposing stone fortress, guards the western end of the harbour. Hog Island is just off the coast of Nassau to the northeast of the harbour. Nassau’s harbour is shallow, meaning larger vessels need to anchor farther out.
People
Nassau's beach is home to at least a thousand pirates. Legitimate merchants ply their trades in town, such as butchers, appraisers, and blacksmiths. Pirates pay for their services just like any other person. Farmers in the interior look down upon the pirates and those who associate with them, eagerly awaiting the day Avalon decides to reassert her rule on the island.
The pirates, townsfolk, and interior farmers are largely
Avalonian. The interior estates are home to hundreds of
Tabaxi slaves, with well over two hundred on the Underhill Estate alone. Nassau Town is also home to many Tabaxi, many of them freed slaves who joined pirate crews.
History
The island was originally under
Espérian control following
Victorino Marcos Aureli's discovery of the New World, but the Espérian government showed little interest in developing the island. Nassau, the island's largest town, originally known as Charles Town, was burnt to the ground by the Espérians in 1684. It was rebuilt and renamed Nassau in 1695 by Governor Sir Nicholas Trott, in honour of the Prince of Orange-Nassau who later became William III of Avalon.
Because Providence's harbour was close to the Strait of Pascau, it became a nest for pirates preying on mainly Espérian shipping returning to Espéria with gold, silver, and other riches. The pirates swore off attacking Espérian ships after Espéria launched the
the Rosario Raid, where 200 Espérian soldiers invaded and sacked the island. This resulted in the near extermination of the populace of the island, and a complete absence of Adronian government presence. This would lead to the island being almost completely taken over by Adronian privateers, who became completely lawless pirates over time.
The Governor of Lucaya stated that there were over 1,000 pirates in Nassau and that they outnumbered the mere hundred inhabitants of the town. They proclaimed Nassau a Pirate Republic, establishing themselves as "governors".
