Ryker Island

Geography

Ryker Island is a very hazardous island, witch jagged rocks dotting the coastline, and the countless shipwrecks of many unlucky captains. there are a select few areas where safe port can be made, and as such have the most traffic of ships docking and setting sail from these large bustling ports. Deeper inland reveals a very mountainous area with some patches of fields allowing for some wealthy pirate lords to set up expensive villas much like the mansions of the aristocracy of the wider world.
Rykers Island lies within the Leanan Sea

Ecosystem

Around the island are countless deadly sharks that will rip apart those unlucky to find themselves in the water in seconds. It is also said deadly krakens and giant squids sometimes patrol the coast looking for prey to drag down to a watery grave. Inland lies mostly cattle brought from foreign locations and many times of flying creatures.

Localized Phenomena

Large arcane storms and whirlpools are common, and so are always a concern for the inhabitants.

History

No one entirely knows when Ryker Island housed its first inhabitants. However what is known is that sometime around 1300EC, the first pirates would establish themselves, with Captain Whitbeck "Whale" Morrow declaring himself the greatest pirate in the world. He would rule with an iron fist, having the city built on the backs of slaves and his crew. However he was overthrown once a raid by the Sea Elves of the Xubia Enclaves struck, stealing much wealth and leading to people angry that Whitbeck didn't protect them enough. After he was overthrown, a power vacuum was formed as while normally pirates elect who will be captain, by this time several different captains and crews were present and so all vied for control.
This was an age of blood and death as the island become more and more lawless. However, eventually 5 captains would reign supreme: Lewis 'The Cruel' Zero, Rutley 'Wrathful' Stratford, Maggie 'Boatswain' Morton, Elna 'The Journey' Lincoln, Hazlewood 'Hooked' Drake. They would sit together in a meeting and discuss how they will go about ruling the land. It was, after much debate, decided that since none can agree, to simply not have a government, and simply have a commonly understood code of conduct, forming the pirate code. Rykers Island was declared a neutral zone for all captains, and if one were to cause trouble in the port, they could be forced to leave or simply killed. Thus the city would be built up more and more as many pirates sought to operate out of the island, and eventually retire there to build expensive villas to live off of. These elite and highly skilled captains would be known as Pirate Lords and Ladies, the criminal aristocracy of the pirating world.
After this not much of note truly happens, save for raids from the Xubia Enclaves, and the dreaded events of the Pirate Wars, that saw the nautical world explode into all out world. To this day it remains however, a lawless place full of the most vile cutthroats and criminals, but also the promise of wealth and treasure.

Tourism

Typically the island only really attracts pirates, outlaws on the run, or people looking to disappear. Sellswords also sometimes get sent there on contracts, but by and large if you are found in Ryker Island, chances are you aren't an entirely innocent person.

Alternative Name(s)

Port Ryker, The Island of Shipwrecks, The Pirate Haven, Pirate Island

Type

Island