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| - Although it is rumoured in the north that all Tileans are pirates, this is only literally true of Sartosans - the city is known more usually as the Pirate City for that reason. Pirate ships of every shape and size anchor at the great harbour, whilst the city bulges with the plunder of the sea - gold from the south, silk from Araby, jewels from the New World, and fine wines from Bretonnia. The whole city thrives upon plunder, secure in its natural defences and the fighting reputation of its citizens.
- The Decadent Pirate Principality of Sartosa, known more politely by its swashbuckling inhabitants as The Free City of Sartosa or simply the City of Pirates[2a], is an anarchic pirate island-stronghold located within the southern reaches of war-torn Tilea, off the coast of the Tilean city-state of Luccini.[1b] This island is a notorious haven for criminals, harbouring all manner of pirates, brigands, lawless mercenaries and anyone wanting to avoid the various legitimate powers of the Old World.[2a]
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| abstract
| - Although it is rumoured in the north that all Tileans are pirates, this is only literally true of Sartosans - the city is known more usually as the Pirate City for that reason. Pirate ships of every shape and size anchor at the great harbour, whilst the city bulges with the plunder of the sea - gold from the south, silk from Araby, jewels from the New World, and fine wines from Bretonnia. The whole city thrives upon plunder, secure in its natural defences and the fighting reputation of its citizens. Unlike Brionne (a city which openly welcomes pirates and turns a blind eye to their dealings), Sartosa is actually run by pirates. It is administered far more harshly and much more efficiently than any other city in the Old World. Within the bounds of the harbour, Pirate Law applies, forbidding theft and offering frequently terminal punishments for murderers, thieves, swindlers, and traitors. Disputes between captains are settled by the Master of Sartosa - the king of the Pirates elected annually from and by the pirate captains then in port. The city lies behind solid walls, protected from sea-borne assault by huge engines of war sheltered within the city and sunk inside heavy bunkers carved into the surrounding cliffs. The sea itself offers the city its most potent defence, for the straight between Sartosa and the mainland is subject to a deadly current, the so-called Pirate's Current, which makes it impossible for any ship to land on the north side of the island. The island can only be approached from the south via the perilous Skull Sands - an ever-shifting sandbank where careless ships easily run aground. Only pirates are taught how to navigate the sands and to reveal its secret is an act of treachery, punishable in the most heinous manner imaginable. Even pirate ships occasionally fall foul of the sands, in which case the Pirate Law maintains that the ship becomes salvage and free for the taking before the wind and tide break it apart. Vicious fights break out between rivals, not to mention the crew of the wrecked ship who usually resent their hard-won cargo being snatched from them while within sight of home.
- The Decadent Pirate Principality of Sartosa, known more politely by its swashbuckling inhabitants as The Free City of Sartosa or simply the City of Pirates[2a], is an anarchic pirate island-stronghold located within the southern reaches of war-torn Tilea, off the coast of the Tilean city-state of Luccini.[1b] This island is a notorious haven for criminals, harbouring all manner of pirates, brigands, lawless mercenaries and anyone wanting to avoid the various legitimate powers of the Old World.[2a] It is a tremendously dangerous place, where drunken pirates press-gang unsuspecting individuals, brawls and duels are an hourly occurrence, and thieves ply the dirty, crowded docks looking for easy marks. Despite the risks, however, it is a place where someone with the toughness and willpower to survive can not only live but thrive, far from the yoke of unfair taxes, overbearing noblemen, and stringent laws. From Sartosa to Araby in the south, the Border Princes to the East, and the mainland past the Great Ocean, exotic lands await. In short, Sartosa is a perfect place for finding fame, plunder and endless adventure.[2a]
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