Baba Zophyr

Zophyr (fl. late 16th century AE) was a visionary sailor, philosopher, and revolutionary credited as the ideological founder of the Free Fleet in the Red Isles. Originally an Athezian-born merchant-captain, Zophyr was blown off course during a voyage and made landfall on the then-uninhabited Red Isles. A dissenter of the Emirates and a vocal critic of imperial rule, he saw in the wild, unclaimed archipelago an opportunity to create a new kind of society—one free from kings, crowns, and coin-lords. In the years following his arrival, Zophyr recruited people not just from his homeland of Athezia but from all across the Bastion Realms—Gaelndor, Kalisandria, Marcastria, Soramyre, and the Skeggs—into a culture group known as the freebooters. These individuals, often outcasts or dissenters, were drawn to Zophyr’s ideals of freedom and self-determination. Through his leadership, Zophyr established the cultural and philosophical foundation of the Free Fleet, which would later grow into a dominant force in the Red Isles. As a symbol of respect, admiration, and affection, Zophyr is often referred to as Baba Zophyr by members of the Free Fleet and the people of the Red Isles. "Baba" is a term of endearment and reverence, reflecting his status as a father figure and spiritual leader of the Free Fleet. His legacy lives on as a foundational influence in the politics and identity of the Free Fleet and its ongoing struggle against imperialism and monarchic rule.