While pirates are known for their freedom and lack of laws, they are bound somewhat by what is known as the Pirate Code. The Pirate Court, based in Shipwreck City, used to be a unifying force of pirates across the Blood Sea and beyond led by seven pirate lords. After 3E452, the role of the court has decreased as the lords were abolished. However, the code persists. A subset of the Pirate Court acting in the Lunar Sea and the Ashfall Sea is known as the Lunar Pirate Federation.
When the Abyssgate opened five hundred years ago, seven pirate lords came under the leadership of Xaniv the Whisperer to form the Pirate Court at Shipwreck City in the Blood Sea. They were branded as the Seven Lords of Sin, each representing one of the negative sins as well as their positives. The first of the ruling Seven Pirate Lords were:
Xaniv the Whisperer - Illithilich Lord of Pride
Karuhazumi Kaori - Human Lady of Greed
Anahita Dibdi - Minotaur Lady of Gluttony
Zerasi - Owlin Lady of Envy
Samuel Regal - Halfling Lord of Lust
Syrgaul - Half-Elf Lord of Wrath
Daesko of Pagethon - Triton Lord of Sloth
The original seven lords attuned their essences into seven objects when sealing away the Abyssgate. Over time, ownership of these Pieces of Seven had become the defining factor for the Pirate Lords, and the pieces have been passed down from successor to successor. These legendary objects contained in them the essences of the first lords’ sins, and each of the seven lords was assumed to have their piece somewhere on their person at all times. They succeeded in fighting off the demon horde led by the Demon Lord Demogorgon, sealing away the gate for another five hundred years. The titles were passed on for generations. They claimed control over entire seas, often finding themselves into position of power.
In 3E452, during the events of Curse of the Blood Sea, the pirate lords were gathered one last time to fend off against the reopening Abyssgate. Two members of the Phoenix Nebula claimed the titles of the lords who would not answer the call, Wrath and Greed.
After the pieces of seven were used up to close the Abyssgate forever, the organized Pirate Court came to an end, even if some still call themselves P
irate Lords. The last of the ruling Seven Pirate Lords were:
Xaniv the Whisperer - Illithilich Lord of Pride
Belanar 'Skull-Taxes' Gullis - Half-Orc Lord of Greed (Later replaced by Sif)
Zhang Baoshi - Earth-Genasi Baron of Gluttony
Xiphalia 'Locked-Treasure' Sitarro - Sea-Elf Lady of Envy
Lyn 'Sea's Embrace' Anguillath - Triton Lady of Lust
Anila Khai - Gharid-Saurian Ashlord of Wrath (Later replaced by Fek)
Fenya Cetrovna - Human Countess of Sloth (Informally succeeded by Roonan Deeprose)
Three of the pirate lords, Lady Lyn, Shri Kunala Qrozk (Later Anila Khai), and Countess Fenya Cetrovna combined forces in the Lunar Sea to form the Lunar Pirate Federation, a coalition that serves to legitimize piracy to some degree and appear more like businessmen and less like bandits. The LPF has good communication with the Lunar Collective, and limits actual piracy in the region. They appear to reduce traditional piracy in order to gain the freedom for other illicit operations sanctioned unofficially by the Collective, such as slavery.
Baron Zhang Baoshi owns and operates the Tangerine Bank, a legitimate bank that has a great influence over the eastern hemisphere of Abmarah. Due to his former status as a pirate lord, the bank's merchant vessels are given immunity from pirate raids.