Qirarden
A southern strait kingdom where safe passage matters more than the size of the fleet.
Between two shores
Small Qirarden occupies the southeastern peninsula between the farm country and the strait. Highby sits above a river bend, while Nettlepond works the exposed southern shore. Their pilots guide grain ships through Sound of Yalea into Valarea Strait. A fleet can conquer the piers and still founder without a local pilot.
Tidekeeper Neris Damar must host any captain who surrenders a weapon at the harbor gate. That law protects exiles, spies and debtors as readily as merchants. Aranestel calls it a haven for wreckers; the recovered passenger lists suggest the accusation is convenient.
The price of an open door
Qirarden has accepted people made homeless by both winter and artificial thaw. Neris's niece wants them represented on the keel council. Established pilots fear losing the only vote that prevents foreign nobles from owning the harbor.
Neris receives foreign captains in a warehouse whose doors remain open during council meetings.
A steep river town turned capital by controlling the last safe crossing before the strait.
The Damars became tidekeepers by turning a toll pier into a rescue station.
House Oss is an extended ferry family whose rescue sheds span rival jurisdictions.
A brackish southern pilot village where refugees learn the language of shallow water.
Southern farmers who won a republic and inherited a failing source of warmth.