The Island of Sybarate and Sybar
by
Sage Wastrich Tychris
of Port Toli
542 CY
Question: How far south can a person travel before tumbling into the savage Amedio jungle? The answer is the island of Sybarate. Hidden to the south of Fairwind Isle, spaced evenly between the former pirate stronghold and jungle beaches is a little known idyllic pastoral pocket. When looking at Sybarate you wonder why the pirates of Flotsom, Jetsom, and Fairwind Isles didn't also take Sybarate early on. There are many suggestions put forth by other historical specialists some of which I doubt.
Some say it was Sybarate's smooth coastlines, extensive beaches and lack of harbors that kept the pirates away. I don't know about you, but if I know pirates, and I think I do, it seems that one thing they most certainly do is take advantage of any opportunity and work out or live with the rough edges that often accompany any easy gain. Pirates passing up free land? Not likely.
Others say that the Amedian peoples considered the Isle of Sybarate to be cursed by angry gods with poisoned waters and man-eating plants. That Amedian pirates shared these legends with their comrades is certain, but it doesn't seem a likely deterrent either since pirates generally don't pay much attention to legends unless there is gold involved. This is why it is usually bumbling pirates that anger the gods in most stories about how terrible curses begin. With its close proximity to the Amedio lands, however, this makes sense why the island was not previously inhabited by Olman peoples. It is uncharacteristic for a burgeoning people to not expand their territory where possible. Olman peoples are not stopped by maritime travel as they have colonized the Olman Isles and we know they still do journey to Hepmonaland, but not one smidgen of evidence of Olman occupation has been found on Sybarate. Why not? They might have feared a curse, but then why would they not have ventured further to Fairwind and colonized that island? I believe Sybarate was a symbol of Olman peoples representing the rest of the non-jungled world. It is the furthest southern representative of land that still, though it has some tropical flora, has mostly temperate plants. More specifically the stories tell of a band of warriors who went to Sybarate and discovered life on the island to be easier and more comfortable. The gods grew angry at their laziness and made the island a trap for the unwary. In a way, the story says that the temperate zones of the world are evil. They cause you to forget the proper Olman life. But this is an Olman superstition surely not given credence by pirates.
The moment pirates went there and discovered it to be safe they would have made it their base of operations, as the island is so difficult to attack being tucked away south of Fairwind. There are peoples living on Sybarate now and there was never any mention of vicious plants and the water couldn't be purer. The island is small and easily explored, except for Porpherio's Garden, and there is nothing of a dangerous nature to be discovered. So, then, why did the pirates not colonize the island when it was first found?
The answer is simple really. It was way too close to the Amedio and its peoples. In the early years of the pirate organization they were not as unified and there were not as many. The most threatening nation-state, albeit uncivilized, was that of the Amedian Empire. It was well beyond decline when the pirates arrived around 350, but they did not know that, and what they saw was a highly structured hierarchy of priests and warriors controlling a highly aggressive and violent military state. When the groups first met there was, as expected, an uneasy trade relationship established as each tried to understand the other. It is known that many Olmans served as pirates on the ships and they often acted as translators and emissaries between the pirates and Amedians, but these men and women were mostly cast-outs of their own culture, being outlaws and disrespectful of custom and authority. They shared the language and race, but there was no love between them. Eventually, ego took prevalence over wisdom and some pirates exploited and killed Amedians callously as they were "not unlike the monkeys we hunt." After just a couple unfortunate incidents the Amedians declared war on all of the pirates and attacked their ships whenever near to their shores. The pirates were no longer welcome.
You would think that the pirates would have taken advantage of the legendary curse of Sybarate to colonize the island anyway, but in the early days the stupid pirate leaders were still being winnowed out. They did not believe the curse, so its efficacy in all senses was null. All they saw was that Sybarate was too close to an enemy that could kick their asses so instead they used the island as a buffer.
The island's first residents were a wizard and a princess. Through a fortuitous set of circumstances they were brought to the island in 386 and for some reason never left. The story is long and bittersweet and I have fully researched the events surrounding Porpherio's Garden. They are described in another of my works. What matters here is that the wizard, Porpherio, became a major player in the region and in the development of our pirate nation. Porpherio wasn't a pirate, but he worked out a profitable relationship with them which allowed both to survive in the rough-and-tumble times they lived.
The pirate forces coalesced and organized. Strong men rallied the bandits, and poor leaders were pitched into the sea. Mutinies were staged, throats were cut, and still the Keoish fleet was held back. The best men were sorted through and with the end of internal strife usually considered in 444 rose a strong confederacy of devoted men pulled together by the growing threat of Imperial Keoland. They became known as the Sea Princes.
Though they still made their commons looting the high seas they rationalized their actions under the auspices of opposing the Keoish juggernaut. They were ready to open the doors to international diplomacy. Note that none of this happened on Sybarate. The island still had a population of two. The wizard kept it that way. Sometimes dignitaries who would come to negotiate with the Princes would extend their trip to include Sybarate at the invitation of Porpherio. They would go to speak with a more intelligent, more aristocratic, more trustworthy man … in other words a man more of their ilk to help decide their future relationship with the Princes. It was at this time of growing power that the pirates began looking at Sybarate as an additional land holding. Some more adventurous pirates set up a small village on the north coast, daring not to venture to the interior, which is now known as the town of Sybar.
In 444, there was a spate of increased brigandage on the seas that was quite rapacious and indiscriminate. The increase in piracy has been attributed to Porpherio's desperation, a lengthy story told in another of my works. The pirates traveled much farther north than ever before and their activity alarmed the Keoish into action. Keoland sent a large contingent of naval warships to end the pirate menace once and for all.
Fortunately for the Princes they had negotiated a union with another large pirate group from the east. They had just arrived and their boats filled the waters surrounding the pirate islands. They came from the Tilvanot Peninsula and many were more political dissidents than actual pirates. Primarily of Suel bloodlines, they had blonde hair and blue, grey, or green eyes. They were seeking a new port to call home and the Princes were happy to oblige as they were seeking more boats and soldiers for their navy. The leaders of this group were Giuseppe Chalmberizzi and Antonius Cato.
Chalmberizzi was a bright-eyed, jovial fellow with long blonde hair and a sweeping waxed mustache, which he kept impeccably trimmed. He was a master swordsman and despite his jolly temperament he ended disagreements and judicial issues with the tip of his sword if discussions lasted longer than an hour. His people knew that their leader, who was the seafaring pirate leader of the two, demanded results and the party would never end as long as results were regularly obtained. He was a most charismatic leader. Even in times of trouble he would wear a smile and with a few encouraging words lead the effort to reverse their fortunes. It was hard to make him angry, but if you were the dithering idiot who did it, you would be on your own and most likely would not survive the day. His people kept him happy and so for him, and then therefore for his people, life was a miracle of wonders by day and a celebration by night.
In stark contrast was Antonius Cato. Despite his light complexion, he was a very dark individual. He did not brood, but he was calculating and always aware, taking in whatever useful information he could to benefit his position. His people had been forcibly moved from their communities due to a schism in ideology with the majority population. Cato was not angered by his exile, but he did seem peeved that he had to start over in building his power structure again. His followers believed in his ability, so they worked hard to support him. Today over the west gate of Port Toli is the slogan in Suel: "By any means necessary." It is the spirit of Cato and Toli even today.
Both of these light skinned heroes were there to greet the Keoish fleet when they arrived. Fighting was short and the Keoish warships fled before they were completely surrounded. Chalmberizzi and Cato were celebrated as champions and warmly welcomed. Shortly thereafter, the two leaders demanded princely titles with the power and equality on the council guaranteed by the position. The other Princes hesitated because they feared so much distribution of power. With minimal discussion the positions were granted of necessity and two more Princes entered the council, Cato and Chalm (he shortened his name to distance himself from his origins).
The three isles, Flotsom, Jetsom, and Fairwind, were getting crowded and even worse the constant presence of so many ruling authorities and their soldiers and thugs was becoming oppressive. The council became places of lengthy debate—Chalm would have to be restrained at every session—with disagreements leading to personal offense. What happened in the council would later be hashed out in a street fight that sometimes would roil all across the islands. The Princes had to space themselves out to keep their government together. In 446 they began their policy of conquering the mainland for the Hold.
Next began the race and strategizing for valuable land. Some Princes realized the value of getting off the islands to the mainland. Such a move would allow for unrestrained growth including resources such as food, timber, and population. A move inland, though, required an initial expenditure of money to hire soldiers to take the land along with time and a lot of luck. For some the starting cost for such a move was too great or they were just not motivated by growth or power.
The first to act were Princes Tarrick and Cato and they took the most beneficial tracts of land along the coastline of the mainland. It required little money and effort as it was a short hop plus any opposition had been removed by the pirates' presence years ago. Where was Sybarate in all of this? Once Toli was settled, Cato tried to buy Sybarate from Porpherio. Cato was taking as much land as he could get immediately by any means available to him. When Cato was denied purchase by the wizard, it did not deter him for he knew the wizard would be gone soon and he could take it without struggle or expense.
In the interim he considered some other options. During this frantic land grab the Princes often provided support via troops and supplies to aid weaker Princes in obtaining a state. Cato did this for Kael for certain land concessions in Berghof, which failed. Dukaque did this as part of his deal for Prince status. For Cato this was a way to get a piece of every Prince's pie under the guise of being a good statesman and neighbor. When Porpherio's castle vanished, Cato had taken plenty of time to reconsider his method of obtaining Sybarate. He considered a more backhanded approach.
Prince Chalm was not interested in racing about carving up the mainland and the pirate isles had all been claimed, so he was doing nothing but loitering about Fairwind. Cato decided, as an offering of good will among brethren, to give Sybarate to Chalm uncontested. Chalm was grateful and Cato had located an ally in a neighboring state. Cato also successfully hamstrung Chalm for further expansion. In Cato's mind that was one down.
Chalm didn't notice his being played by Cato. He had a state to call his home and he was still by his beloved sea. He and his men explored the island and found no dangerous denizens. They discovered the strange barrier around Porpherio's Garden and left it alone. They went to the village of Sybar and brought growth and fun. Chalm was happy as a sea elf in a sahuagin-less sea.
From this time on, Sybar has remained a pleasant little rural state. The generations of Princes have rolled on from one Chalm to the next with one marked change, a more tolerant even-tempered personality. Through the years they have also become quite friendly with the Amedio peoples and the Amedians have learned the difference between Sybarans and the other Holders. Cato's former ally, his one down, has turned into a bitter enemy harassing trade routes to Port Toli.
Prince Chalm now resides in Fairwind leaving a mayor to govern Sybar day to day. The move occurred after Giuseppe's death when his son decided that Sybar was not a strong enough state to protect his life, plus Fairwind is a more active place for a young man of means to enjoy. The Prince of Fairwind, Balachan, has been a willing host despite their differences politically.
On my latest journey to research the mysterious Porpherio's Garden I became familiar with Sybarate. Let me tell you of my experience there as it is today.
It is a quite small island with one large town, Sybar, on its northern coast. Getting off the boat I immediately noticed that for a large town it is quite rustic. This, I assumed, is the reason why the Prince rules his state from Fairwind Isle nearby. And as any Holder knows, Sybar is a free state; there is no slave trade there which, as we all know, is a huge sticking point in the Council of Princes, particularly given the island's location near major shipping lanes. Like the state of Berghof in the Hellfurnace mountains, Sybar law grants freedom to any being that enters its borders. This agreement on policy has created a solidarity between Prince Chalm and Prince Morgen and without their unity it has been said there would be fewer members of the council. Many times ships that "suffer difficulties" near Sybarate find their Amedian cargoes safely transplanted to the shore and often the crew doesn't fare so well. Sybar marines claim that in inclement weather the crew is often blown or washed overboard while the slaves remain safely below decks. It's a strange irony Chalm often refers to as either poetic or comical and that Cato, Dukaque, and Kael call questionable. Cato, Kael and Dukaque dislike the irony so much that they feel inclined to blame Chalm for the "inclement weather" and have made threats upon his personal safety. Morgen has publicly stated that if Chalm experiences any "inclement weather" then all privately owned lands of non-Berghof residents will be forfeited to the state and Berghof will separate itself from the "sham confederacy." He has reminded the council that to back his position he has "friends in high places" (which everyone concludes means that he has made alliances in the mountains.) All the other council members maintain that Chalm's vote is soft (he votes the cushion) and that he is hopelessly out voted by more reasonable members. Chalm is of no concern to them.
Sybarate is a wonderful place. The population is about one quarter grateful Olmans and the rest Suel-Oerid mix. These people work the available land to grow oranges, olives, lemons, grapes, and a variety of vegetables. Their livestock is primarily sheep and goats, which are generally tended further to the south. Of course, fish is on the table at every meal.
I spent two months living in Sybar collecting information and getting to know the people. The Amedians were quiet but friendly while the paler skinned peoples tended to be more hot-headed, easily offended and always yelling and shaking their fists about. It took a while for me to warm up to this extreme behavior but after a couple of weeks there I realized I hadn't seen one person struck in anger despite all the raised voices and arm waving. It's just the way they are. It is a behavior of bravado and loose threats commonly used by pirates on the docks of large coastal cities. While this is usually seen as low born behavior by most it is really a social defense strategy used by more violent communities to establish a pecking order in relationships where it has not yet been defined. On Sybarate it is the remains of a piratical heritage that has not been forced to change due to relative isolation even though the people themselves have adopted a more agrarian lifestyle. In fact, conversations with the Sybar constabulary revealed that there are no hostile peoples, beastly threats, banditry, or political corruption of any kind. The people will not allow it. All of these things were eliminated forcefully many years ago.
Be warned. These people put up with no foolishness. They do not usually have a place to hold prisoners and most often have little inclination to do so. If you misbehave and you aren't killed on the spot they perform what is known as Porpherio's Solution, a method used against interlopers by the former owner of the island. The criminal's feet and hands are bound and he or she is thrown into a leaky rowboat and set adrift in the sea. The people on Sybarate are a tightly knit community and foreigners suspected of criminal behavior are always found guilty. If you want to go to Sybarate, be good.
It's funny how things happen. The pirates used Sybarate originally as a bulwark against the Amedians. Now it is protecting the Amedians from the Hold slavers. The island was given as a gift by Cato to place a friend guarding his front door. Now the friend has turned into an enemy blocking his port. And Giuseppe Chalmberizzi's ancestors have become respectable, patient statesmen. Maybe someday a Cato will smile or maybe even laugh. Stranger things have happened.
Istus still spins her thread and the smallest things sometimes make the biggest difference. If Sybarate was not there or if Chalm had different politics, The Hold would be quite different than we know it today. The ongoing political struggles between states are the result of Istus' indomitable power to make tremendous amounts of random crap influence our lives above and beyond our will. When things run amok around us and we lose our precious control, the wise among us can set back and say, "Well, at least she's keeping it interesting."
~*~