Pirates of Tartassos

The pirates of  Tartassos are the descendants of those who survived the fall of Old Imperial Tolenstra. The peninsula where Tartassos was built was shattered by a violent cataclysm which left dozens of islands. The Tartassosians originally dwarven mingled with both humans and orcs from other parts of the peninsula. Now the Tartassosians are unique for their heritage. They  are of average human height, though stockier and more muscular.  They pride themselves on growing elaborate beards and braiding them with trinkets of their sailing adventures. Women are beardless and grow their hair in long braids reaching to their knees.
With the peninsula shattered, most of the former mines lost and flooded, the dwarves and orcs turned to the humans who were mostly sailors to provide a living. From this the pirating life was born. At first the new pirates raided other nearby survivors. Then they ranged further afield. This done simply to survive. But they soon came to realize that the other naval powers would not stand for them being pirates so they turned to trade and offering their services mainly in the far eastern region of the Sea of Spilled Wine as privateers. 
Lacking an aristocracy the people of Tartassos formed a government composed of the ship captains which are elected by their crews and the guild leaders whom are chosen by guild members. This group of people governs and collectively runs Tartassos and the islands it controls. When at sea the ship captains rule, though,  sometimes several ships will combine arms to form a fleet. Then an admiral is elected to lead. Being a popular captain is a goal to strive for and is highly respected when earned.
The Tartassosians are a free and open minded people. Yet they have kept to their pirate origins. They will take slaves and their slave market is known across the world, however, slaves are only taken on sanctioned privateering adventures. Ships of other countries are free to make land at any  Tartassosian port, however, they are assigned docks in what is referred to as the ambassadorial docks.