Shimmer'baag

Shimmer'baag is a small island settlement in the Abyssal Sea that went by largely unnoticed until one of the Legion's vessels stumbled upon it. Ever since, it has become the first and only orcish settlement under human control, with some (minor, really) objections from the residents.
The Emberhand Empire has spared no expenses on the island's defenses, especially once other orcs learned about its existence, but many subjects believe it to be a waste of money, mostly because they don't like seeing money being spent on non-human settlements.

Demographics

A great majority of the populace is orcish, with a human and halfling minority that grows steadily every day. Needless to say, humans are generally put in charge of the island's defense, while orcs and halflings do tasks that don't make rebellions more likely to be successful.

Government

Before its discovery, the people of Shimmer'baag were savagely ruled by a male chieftain, merely because he was the strongest in the village.
Now, however, they are ruled in a civilized way, obeying an Emperor, merely because he is the strongest in the world. Of course, since the Emperor is leagues away in Fortressia, this isn't entirely accurate. Instead, the island is ruled by a council of 5 members, four of which are human and represent the empire's interests, and one of which is an orc, who probably treats his own interests as the island's.

Defences

Taking the island by sea is almost as difficult as successfully invading Fortressia thanks to years upon years of reinforcements. What the island lacks in size, it makes up for in the shape of serious-looking scorpions on serious-looking walls, unreasonably heavy cannons, and properly concealed fireships that can make a tragic pyre out of any fleet.

Infrastructure

And Theseus I saw, as he feasted on Legate Caius's newest shipment, how lovely it would be to bring such exotic goods to all his loyal subjects.

The Emberhand Bloodline and Conquests, sidestepping a somewhat obvious implication

Most of the island's space that isn't used for defenses is used instead for the growth of pineapples, coffee and tobacco. Of course, those are meant to be exported, and the populace technically needs to eat something. For that, the council has reluctantly agreed to build fishing wharves.

Assets

Apart from the perfect weather for growing the exotic crops mentioned above, Shimmer'baag earned its name thanks to the many treasures its chieftain had somehow amassed in his vaults. Needless to say, they are no longer there, nor did they belong to the orcs in the first place.

Guilds and Factions

A faction of Baag revolutionaries has risen during Ragmar's rebellion. While most of them are currently locked up, many upstanding members of society actually sympathize with their cause (shocking, we know). Additionally, each member of the council represents his own interests, meaning the power is disputed between 5 different sides: the coffee prince, the pineapple prince, the tobacco prince, the new orcish dynasty and the crown representative. Each side often cares about how much money goes into its purse and little else.

History

Acquiring the Island

The Baag chieftain gave away his island to legate Caius once it was discovered. How willingly he did it remains a mystery to this very day, one that is best not looked into. Of course, king Theseus I was delighted with the products brought from Shimmer'baag, so much that he quickly sent forth men to civilize the savages in the civilized ways of indentured servitude and bureaucracy in exchange for all their produce. This was how Fortressia's nobles first experienced the joys of pineapple and coffee, and, much to the goblins' dismay, how it got its foot in the market for cigars.

Parcus's Treason

While Caius was a proper governor, his successor, Parcus, was a nasty piece of work who had the gall to think of himself before his empire! This was obviously a problem when he took many orcish concubines, executed every legionary on the island and declared himself Shimmer'baag's newest chieftain. King Theseus I led the Tiberian Fleet himself to put Parcus back in his place; in this case, the bottom of the sea. In the end, Parcus was murdered by his concubines before the Legion arrived, but they still had to fight past the orcish guards that believed him to be still alive. To prevent any further madness, Theseus Emberhand created a council to rule the island instead of a single governor.

Ragmar's Rebellion

Even if the times remained peaceful for very long after Parcus's betrayal, even the little colony failed to escape the civil war's consequences. As soon as Baag orcs learned of their kinsmen rising up against the Emperor, they quickly figured that maybe things weren't fine as they were, and that maybe they should get to enjoy the crops they grow themselves. These foolish notions were only fueled by the many attempts of outsider orcs to resteal the island. Luckily, the Legion's efforts had been so thorough and efficient that the island was effectively unconquerable. Still, many held on to the frankly obsolete ideas of freedom and independence, and have grown overly critical of the empire that rules them. It might mean trouble soon enough.

Alternative Name(s)

Braaz'baag, formerly. Orcs have taken to calling the place Baag just to renounce the human half.

Type

Large town

Population

Around 4000 people

Inhabitant Demonym

Baag

Owner/Ruler

Verusius Emberhand II

Owning Organization

Emberhand Legion

"... the weather is warmer than it is back home, and the fish could not be finer. Yet the people do not love me, and my men are restless. The orcs look at us in frank astonishment and do not truly understand most of what we say. They can work just like they did before, though, and for now that is enough. Still, I cannot say I mind my finite mandate."

Journal of Governor Caius