![[brethren.png|250]] *Zbn al-Bahhar, The Pirate King of the Dramidj, Human (B) Rogue 14 (swashbuckler)* **Government:** Democracy (all active crew members have equal vote) **Capital:** Jananos (pop. 7,876) **Major Towns:** Bounty Bay (pop.3,225) **Provinces:** None **Resources:** Booty, sugar, ==slaves== **Coinage:** None. Most foreign coins accepted **Population:** 18,798 (Human (Bm) 86%, Hobgoblin 3%, Genasi, 3%, Other 8% **[[Languages for Genies & Giants|Languages.]]** Baklunish (low), Goblin, Primordial, Murian **Allies:** None **Enemies:** Bakhoury Coast, Risay, Murian city-states, Zeif ___ [[Brethren Characters]] ___ The Brethren of the Coast are a coalition of pirates and buccaneers based out of the *Jannasib Islands* and active throughout the Dramidj Bight and Gulf of Ghayar. They are a syndicate of captains based primarily on the island of Zirat at the head of the Gulf of Ghayar. The original Brethren were mostly Baklunish human, but their ranks were joined by other adventurers of various ethnicities including many Murians, Genasi and even Hobgoblin sailors, as well as escaped slaves and outlaws of various nations. While it is not a republic in a formal sense, it is governed by an informal pirate code, which dictates that the crews of the Brethren would vote on the leadership of their ships and treat other pirate crews with civility. The activities of the pirates causes havoc with trade and shipping between the Baklunish near west and nations like Risay, Komal and the Murian city-states. The Brethren are governed by codes of conduct that favour legislative decision-making, hierarchical command authority, individual rights, and equitable division of revenues. The first set of the “Pirate’s Code” was written by the Zeifan buccaneer Ziban al’Jiran sometime in the early 460s and was later adopted by a number of other captains. In 475 CY, 16 captains, all following al’Jiran’s original code entered into a formal alliance, officially establishing the Brethren of the Coast. The “[[Brethren of the Coast Articles of Agreement|articles of agreement]]” became authority independent of any nation, and are variously called the Pirate’s Charter, the Custom of the Coast, or the Ghayar Discipline. All ships operating under the banner of the Brethren agree to the terms of this agreement. Individual ship articles might vary from one captain to another, and sometimes even from one voyage to another, but all ships’ codes have al’Ziran’s original rules as a base. The articles of agreement made the old Murian trading colony of Jananos their capital and established 2 terrestrial offices of state: the Admiral who acted as *Captain of Captains* for the nation as a whole; and the *Quartermaster General*, who administered internal security and collected taxes from the businesses and ships of the Brethren and also ensured retired sailors received their pensions. Anyone with a command of their own can challenge a sitting Admiral for the position. An election is held of all ships’ crews currently in Jannasib ports with a simple majority deciding the victor. The same process is used to determine the Quartermaster General but this position is open only to retired seaman living anywhere on the Jannasibs. Each crew member on Brethren ships is asked to sign or make his mark on the articles, then swear an oath of allegiance or honour. This act formally inducts the signer as a full member of the Brethren of the Coast, generally entitling him to vote for officers and on other “affairs of moment”, to bear arms, and to his share of the plunder. The articles having been signed, are then posted on a public board outside the admiral’s residence but also in other prominent places, often to the doors of local pubs, taverns and inns scattered across the Jannasibs. Only retired seaman who have previous service on Brethren vessels are permitted to own property and operate businesses on the Jannasib Islands and many old or injured pirates go on to establish themselves as successful sugar growers, shipbuilders, artisans, fences, slave traders and keepers of inns, taverns and gambling dens.