Background - The Sea Kings

The Tiphrates River is the large river that flows into the Sea of Strife in the northern part of the eastern shoreline.

In the dawn of time a thriving, agrarian civilization of humans arose along the fertile banks of the Tiphrates River. As their population swelled many extended family groups began to migrate along the river valley. Some followed the Tiphrates upstream and were lost to the people of the valley. Many more went downstream until they arrived on the shores of a large inland sea, the Sea of Strife.

These people began building boats, first for fishing, and then later for exploration and finally to trade along the other shores of the sea. As the first merchant venturers in the region, the wealth they were able to amass  was staggering. With this wealth they began to build war ships to "protect" the trade lanes. This was quickly followed by great forts constructed at important trading locations and the wealth of the great sea captains was poured into rich palaces and cities on every shore of the Sea of Strife. 

The reach and power of the great captains was such that they began to be called the Sea Kings by the other dwellers in the region. The captains themselves are rulers of the polities and are styled as Tyrant of their city. At times the Tyrants will issue some edict or proclamation jointly. When they do so they issue it from The Sea Kings to reinforce their combined power in the region.