White Cloud Republic

A collection of islands and fleets of the western coast, the White Cloud Republic values freedom the open ocean, having recently won their independance.

The White Cloud Republic consists of a Fleet of admirals, whose territories once belonged to the Kingdom of Il Paraonde. They hail from a cluster of islands not far off the western coast from Il Paraonde. Some of the best sailors and ship builders come from White Cloud. The population of the isles is predominantly Human, having originated as sailors and pirates from local villages of Il Paraonde. Though the Admirals and their subordinate Captains may take on crew as they see fit, making each ship’s individual populations quite unique. As such each ship could contain its own set of codes or morals with which it honor and lives by.
Once a territory of Il Paraonde, the White Cloud Islands became a valuable set of settlements and berths for the powerful trade vessels that saled along the western coast. Eventually, increasing taxes, along with limited autonomy caused the various tradesmen, sailors, and pirates that dwelt in the White Cloud Islands to rise up in rebellion against Il Paraonde, called the White Cloud Rebellion. After several years of intense naval combat and coastal raids, a peace was brokered between both sides by Admiral Porthos of the White Cloud Islands. A human sailor of some renown, he spearheaded the White Cloud Accords, which legitimized the disparate fleets of the White Cloud Islands and brokered peace with the mainlands. His expert diplomacy led to the quick rise in demand of the White Cloud Republics services by other nations who sought competitors to Il Paraonde's maritime services. So Admiral Porthos helped found the White Cloud Republic. Each Admiral had equal say in affairs of state, and majority vote ruled the day. Each Admiral would have final say over his own fleet, and the crew upon them.
The various islands of the White Cloud Republic are currently governed by the Admiralty Council. The Admiralty Council is made up of all the Admirals of the “recognized” fleets in the region. Fleets can be recognized by vote of the current Council, adding valuable political and military power by doing so, in exchange for agreements and diplomatic agreements. For instance, Admiral Norgond, a Dokkalfar of the Black Hawks, made a name for himself and his fleet as expert monster hunters, keeping the western trade routes clear of the heinous leviathans that are so common in that region. Similarly, the human Admiral Deriah, of the Sleepless, quickly made her way up the ranks of the Admiralty Council, is known for her smooth diplomacy, and brutal naval efficiency. In an act that saw her first rise to power a few years ago, she slew ten mutinous sailors single handedly, giving her then Captain a chance slay the leader of the rebellion, and save the ship.
The various fleets quickly replenished their crews and vessels in the decades since the rebellion. They have made quick strides economically by being paid as armed escorts for merchant vessels, and surprisingly, for cartography. The White Cloud Republic has a growing supply of gems, mined from the inner islands, as well as exotic fruits and furs traded with the indigenous tribes that make secluded homes on the isles. They are slowing becoming a competitive trade power in the western waters, much to the displeasure of Il Paronde competitors.
The population of the White Cloud Republic are a diverse lot. Many sailors looking for strength on the seas worship Pith, but a good number pay homage to Trance, hoping to gain his touch for luck. Meanwhile, many say a prayer to Fleet in hopes for good weather, or for quick victory in combat. The faith of a citizen of the White Cloud Republic is their own business.
Being such a young sovereignty has its hardships. In the political scene, the White Cloud Republic can sometime be met with disdain, for those who may have once been the victims of pirate raids before the Accords were signed. However, the value of a battle hardened and skilled navy has not gone unappreciated. The Admiralty Council has quickly begun to replenish its coffers, and squeeze its way into a niche of nautical necessity. No other navy has the capability to so swiftly clear the seas of threats, and transports explorers and settlers to the western lands. So, day by day, the White Cloud Republic begins to climb the political ladder.
Oritega is the largest village on the White Cloud Islands, and would be considered the capital, if the Republic did any of its governing in buildings. However, Oritega does represent the largest population of homes, markets, and docks of the White Cloud Republic, and is where most people land when arriving for the first time, taking ferries to other islands in the chain. Taurina is a small village that lies inland from Oritega, on the same island. Taurina is mostly a farming community, who specialize in cows and pigs, which represent some of the only other sources of protein on the islands that isn’t fish. A small wave of Bobbin immigrants arrived on the island some years ago, and most of them ended up in the relaxing village of Taurina. Bauroga is a semi-militant village on the second island in the chain, and the village is responsible for training some the Republic’s most famous sailors. Bauroga is also one of the favored berths of the Sleepless, the fleet of Admiral Deriah. Her flagship, the Last Sunset, can often be seen at rest from the docks, as she selects new recruits from the trainees in the village.
As one of the concessions of the White Cloud Accords, the Admirals of the council are allowed to have final say over the individual laws of their own fleets, while any matter that concerns more than a single fleet must be decided by the Admiralty council as a whole. This results in their being several different sets of laws, dependant on which fleet you are a member of, while civilians who live ashore follow the laws set by the Admiralty Council as a whole. While the laws of the fleets vary quite dramatically depending on the disposition of the Admiral in questions, the Laws of the Republic have been decided upon by the majority of the council, and represent the day to day law of the land. Minor crimes like theft are punishable by repayal of stolen goods along with lashes and time in the stocks, while more severe crimes ranging from assault, kidnapping, to murder, can be punishable by dismemberment, imprisonment, indentured servitude, and execution.
In the early weeks of the Spring of 1024, the isle of the White Cloud were gripped by a strange plague. It was hard to tell where it began, but the effect seemed most prevalent in the major port towns, the people there beginning to speak in multiple differing languages. The languages they speak seem unknown to them, and the inability to communicate has caused immediate disruption. Before long, apothecaries and healers deduced that the plague was spreading along the ports and trade routes, and the plague was tied to small trinkets found in the possession of the infected.
According to what little information they could gather from the victims and those near them, as well as information gathered by Il Paraonde, the objects were purchased from the same traveling merchant. Now the hunt is on to locate this man and his cursed goods, as well as working day and night to fix the disruptions caused by this strange curse, dubbed by apothecaries and healers as “the Gibbering Plague”.
The White Cloud Republic has also received word that the Kingdom of Pheia is in desperate need of aid, and is attempting to gather naval and humanitarian support, with efforts being disrupted by this plague. All this compounded with a sudden increase with attacks from sea faring monstrosities, making any progress towards sending aid to their neighbors a painfully slow process.
9/1024 - With aid from the Magocracy of Valsan, a cure for the Gibbering Plague that sickens the western coast has been discovered. Requiring several rare magical ingredients, it is an intensive process and slow to deploy to the afflicted masses, but progress is being made. With this, the Admiralty Republic has focused on re-establishing trade contact lost through the Gibbering Plague.
The White Cloud Republic began early in its efforts of aiding the Kingdom of Pheia to the south, spearheading efforts to collect military and material aid to send along the coast. The Sultanate signed on quickly to assist their valuable trade partner, but it took some stern negotiating to convince Il Paraonde to work alongside their one time vassal. Once the negotiations were set, the joint western armada sailed south. Several stable routes have been cut through the territory of the shark-fae of She-who-drowns, allowing for desperately needed supplies to get to the Pheians. The White Clouds expert Captains and Admirals now patrol the seas, putting their skills at slaying the beasts of the Invium Ocean to the test.

Cultural Dress
They dress not to unlike people do in Il Paraonde except with a tad more flair with feathered hats and heavily buttoned coats and vests.

Kingdom Skills
Hiding the Goods: Once per day, hide a small item up to 12” on self