# ### **Basic Information** - **Name:** The River Kings' Compact (often shortened to "The Compact") - **Alias/Nicknames:** The Captains' Council, The Waterway Alliance, The Flow - **Type:** Trade Alliance/River Captains' Confederation - **Symbol/Emblem:** A stylized river current in silver, wrapped around a captain's wheel in blue - **Headquarters/Base of Operations:** No permanent headquarters; leadership meets on the flagship "Sovereign Current" that travels the Sellen River - **Scale & Reach:** Regional influence throughout the Sellen River system and its major tributaries ### **Purpose & Goals** - **Primary Objective:** Protect the interests of independent river captains and traders; maintain navigable waterways; ensure fair passage rights for all members - **Core Ideology:** The rivers belong to those who navigate them; collective security through mutual support; independence from land-based authorities - **Methods & Operations:** Coordinated defense against river threats; standardized toll collection and distribution; dispute resolution between captains; information sharing about river conditions - **Notable Activities:** - Seasonal "River Meets" where captains gather to resolve disputes and share information - Maintaining navigational markers and clearing hazards from shipping channels - Providing mutual defense against pirate attacks or excessive taxation - Coordinating emergency response during floods or other river disasters - Negotiating with landside authorities for favorable treatment of river trade ### **Structure & Leadership** - **Leader(s):** A council of seven "River Kings" (despite the name, these are simply elected captains of any gender) who serve two-year terms - **Hierarchy & Ranks:** - The Seven Kings: Elected regional representatives who form the governing council - River Wardens: Captains assigned to oversee specific stretches of waterway - Full Members: Independent captains who have signed the Compact - River Hands: Crews and small operators under the protection of full members - **Recruitment & Membership:** - Open to any captain who owns their vessel and regularly plies the rivers for trade - Requires sponsorship from two existing members and payment of annual dues - Must agree to abide by the decisions of the council regarding dispute resolution - Expected to contribute to mutual defense when called upon - **Key Figures:** - Captain Hrollen Stormwind: Current Head King, a grizzled Ulfen veteran of river trade - Captain Mera Silvertide: Elven navigator who represents the eastern tributaries - Captain Dravin "Two Rivers" Korrel: Half-orc whose vessels navigate both the Sellen and Erastil rivers - [[Marina Voren]]: While not officially a member, serves as an important liaison with the [[Merchants' Consortium]] - Captain Nikolai Korshev: The oldest active River King, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of river law ### **Influence & Power** - **Allies & Affiliations:** - [[Merchants' Consortium]]: Maintains a working relationship while preserving independence - Various riverside communities that depend on river trade - Select River Kingdom rulers who recognize the value of stable river commerce - Fishing communities who share information about river conditions - **Enemies & Rivalries:** - [[Lords of the Black Sails]]: Ongoing conflict with river pirates who prey on trade - Overly aggressive local authorities who attempt to extract excessive tolls - [[Mosswater Syndicate]]: Criminal organization that attempts to control certain river ports - The "Line Lords": Landowners who string chains across rivers to force toll payments - **Reputation & Public Perception:** - Respected by river communities as a stabilizing force - Viewed with some suspicion by land-based authorities who resent their independence - Seen as essential partners by merchants who rely on river transport - Considered honorable but sometimes stubborn by competing trade organizations - **Military/Magical Strength:** - No standing military but can quickly gather a substantial flotilla when needed - Most member vessels are armed for self-defense - The "River Guard": A rotating duty where members patrol troubled areas - Limited magical resources, though some captains employ weather witches or river druids ### **History & Lore** - **Founding & Origins:** - Formed approximately 70 years ago when river piracy reached crisis levels - Originally a simple mutual defense pact between six influential captains - Formalized into the current structure about 45 years ago with the signing of the actual Compact - Gradually expanded from security concerns to broader trade regulation - **Major Historical Events:** - The First River Meet where the original compact was signed by thirty-three captains - The Pirate Wars that saw the first coordinated action against river pirates - The Great Flood of 4698, when Compact members organized rescue operations - Recent conflict with the [[Merchants' Consortium]] over standardized shipping practices that ended in compromise - **Scandals & Secrets:** - Rumors that certain River Kings have secretly dealt with pirates in the past - The controversial "Deep Channel Incident" where members allegedly sank a rival trading company's vessels - Hidden caches of emergency supplies maintained along the rivers - Some suspect the Compact maintains a secret fleet to deal with problems "unofficially" - **Current Struggles:** - Increasing pressure from the [[Merchants' Consortium]] to standardize practices - Rising river piracy despite security measures - Internal division over how to handle the River Kingdoms' political instability - Competition from overland trade routes being developed through the Stolen Lands ### **Culture & Traditions** - **Core Values & Ethics:** - Independence and self-reliance - Mutual support among river folk - Fair dealing in all transactions - Respect for the river's power and bounty - **Rituals & Initiations:** - The "First Sail" ceremony when new captains join the Compact - Seasonal River Meets held at the changing of seasons - The Remembrance of the Drowned, honoring those lost to the rivers - The Cup of Waters, shared during important negotiations and agreements - **Notable Sayings/Mottos:** - "The river flows for all, but favors the prepared" - "One hand on the wheel, one for your fellow captain" - "No king rules the current" - **Symbols of Authority:** - The Captain's Pennant flown by member vessels - River Kings carry ceremonial river-steel daggers - The Compact Scroll, an ornate copy of the original agreement - Signal horns used to identify member vessels ### **Additional Notes** - **Vibe & Inspirations:** - Hanseatic League meets riverboat culture - Fiercely independent but community-minded - Practical approach to solving common problems - The tension between freedom and the need for structure - **Adventure Hooks:** - Defend a Compact vessel against pirate attack - Investigate sabotage of navigational markers - Mediate a dispute between rival captains at a River Meet - Locate a missing vessel carrying important cargo - Help clear a dangerous blockage threatening river traffic