The location of the Isles of the Sirens and of the Fool's Point Rocks in eastern Estalia, as shown on a map of the region from ca. 2276 IC.[6a]
The Isles of the Sirens, or Isle of the Siren,[6a] also called the Siren's Rocks, the Carvorna Archipelago, the Fool's Rocks, or the Fool's Point Rocks, are an archipelago made up of countless small islands that line the coast around the Principality of Tobaro in the Tilean Sea. They are named for the Sirens who make their home upon them.[1a][5a]
To be more precise, Fools Point Rocks specifically refers to the southern cluster of islands in this archipelago, while the Isles of the Sirens designate the northernmost group.[6a]
This great chain of islands and atolls peppers the eastern seaboard of Estalia. In that dense, half-mapped archipelago lay the real pirate waters. Few pirates could afford an ocean-going ship. Forming the backbone of the piratical fraternity were the island-hoppers and the atoll-skulkers, who sallied out in longboats from their small, isolated communities to prey on those passing merchants foolish enough to water in the islands after the long crossings from the western Great Ocean.[7a]
The individual islands have many names, but the Tobarans usually refer to them collectively as the "Fool's Rocks," as they are treacherous and exceedingly difficult to navigate. Following the coast can be dangerous due to the presence of pirates but it is undeniably lucrative for those who desire to trade or buy supplies from the city-state of Tobaro, and from there travel onwards to the mainland of Tilea, including the city-states of Miragliano, Remas and Luccini.[1a][2a][3a]
A map of the Tilean Sea as depicted in Man O' War: Corsair. Each location's name matches those used in the game. The symbols depicting which faction is patrolling each area represents their positions in 2517 IC but are subject to minor changes as the game's campaign progresses.[8a]
The Tobaran huffers who know the few safe routes through the Isles of the Sirens have risen to such prominence over the centuries that they are, effectively, regarded as minor nobles and referred to as the "Navigator Families."[1a] They hold a monopoly on sea trade to and from Tobaro's great harbour, for only they and they alone know the safe channels between the deadly rocks.[4a]
A map of the southern regions of the Southern Sea as depicted in Man O' War: Corsair.[8a]
The throne of Tobaro is also sometimes referred to as the "Fool's Rock," since more than one noble house has been broken upon it, and the turbulent political eddies surrounding it are said to be more dangerous than those surrounding the real Fool's Rocks in the bay south of the city. This being Tilea, where political assassination is practically the national pastime, it is rare that a powerful noble house has the patience to wait until the current prince has succumbed to natural causes.[4a]
The Temple of Mathlan took an interest in the isles after rumours surfaced that the Cult of Stromfalo maintained a presence there.[4b]
History[]
Long ago, the gunships and hunters of the Luccinian Navy had despaired of chasing pirates through the archipelago. There were so many coves and inlets to hide in, so many places where a flank pursuit could turn, at the spin of a coin, into a bloody ambush. Just twenty years earlier, a flotilla of Luccini warships had harried the famous pirate and explorer Jeremiah Tusk into the island chain, and found themselves prey to the merciless guns of a corsair's welcome.[7a]
[]
During the 24th century IC in the naval battle of the Siren's Rocks, the Reman Navy, aided by the mercenary High Elf Asarnil the Dragonlord and his Dragon mount Deathfang, destroyed Miragliano's entire fleet, and ended that city-state's supremacy at sea.[5a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: The Imperial Zoo (RPG)
- 1a: pp. 86-87
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Rulebook (RPG)
- 2a: pg. 272
- 3: Blood Bowl (Blood Bowl Novel) by Matt Forbeck
- 3a: Ch. 19
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: The Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Companion (RPG)
- 5: Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (5th Edition)
- 5a: pg. 42
- 6:www.theoldworld.com
- 6a: Explore the Old World (Interactive map)
- 7: Fell Cargo (Novel) by Dan Abnett
- 7a: Ch. 6
- 8: Man O' War: Corsair (PC Game)
- 8a: Campaign map