PGtE
The Principalities have existed for centuries. They were the first lands settled by the human migrants from Sarlona, and though the famed pioneer Lhazaar led her expedition to these shores three thousand years ago, scattered groups of refugees arrived even before her, some as early as five thousand years ago. These bands were too small and weak to challenge the goblinoids for control of Khorvaire, so they remained on the islands off the continent’s northeast shore. Similarly, waves of migrants arrived after Lhazaar, adding to the population of this area. At the time of these expeditions, Sarlona was composed of a dozen distinct kingdoms, each constantly at war with the others. Some people, looking at the history and the current state of the Principalities, would argue that here, at least, little has changed.
ECG
Though typically thought of as a single sovereign nation, the Lhazaar Principalities are a loose affiliation of separate island states, each ruled by a so-called sea prince. The Principalities were once part of the kingdom of Galifar, but they broke away at the start of the Last War. Historically, the islands have been havens for pirates, privateers, and merchants of questionable morals. Although their political legitimacy was established at Thronehold, the Principalities remain a largely lawless land, and travelers in the islands must be wary.
Though the Principalities existed as a loose alliance of territories under Galifar, the Last War saw those alliances—and the princes’ allegiance to Galifar—break apart. After a period of fighting among themselves for control of the islands, the sea princes looked to turn the chaos of war into financial gain. Whether by engaging in open piracy or hiring out as privateers to the warring Five Nations, the princes established themselves as independent powers.
As the Last War drew to a close, the Principalities perceived the need for a unified front if they were to keep their hard-won freedom. By allowing the powerful Ryger ir’Wynarn to represent them as high prince, the sea princes saw the Lhazaar Principalities recognized as an independent nation at Thronehold.
In the centuries preceding the Last War, the Principalities were an autonomous region within the kingdom of Galifar. The pirates and plunderers of the islands won their limited self-rule during the long-ago Lhazaar–Galifar War, a conflict little remembered by the Five Nations but celebrated as a major victory by the folk of the isles. In the aftermath of the conflict with Galifar, the privateers of the Principalities began shifting their focus from piracy to legitimate trade and exploration. By virtue of their skill, they also began to supply a significant percentage of the ships and officers in Galifar’s navy.
The Lhazaar Principalities were the site of the first human settlements in Khorvaire, established by migrants from Sarlona. From the beginning, the isles were a wild and turbulent place, and they have maintained that quality despite long centuries of pressure from the civilized mainland.
ECS
The Principalities developed during the same period when the Five Nations were formed, more than a thousand years before the birth of Galifar. By the time King Galifar I was uniting the Five Nations, the Principalities were well established, as was their inhabitants’ well-deserved reputation as raiders and pirates. When Galifar proclaimed that his kingdom “stretched across the width and breadth of Khorvaire,” the Lhazaar princes ignored him. Their domains were far from the great cities of the Five Nations, separated by a formidable mountain range and the endless seas over which the princes ruled supreme.
By 28 YK, King Galifar had fortified his hold over the Five Nations and turned his attention to the threat from the east. The Lhazaar princes and sea barons were wreaking havoc among the coastal communities, interfering with shipping and refusing to bend to the will of the crown. Thus began the Galifar–Lhazaar War, a series of naval engagements that lasted nearly a decade. The sea barons knew the currents better and started out with better vessels, but Galifar dedicated his efforts to building a powerful navy. Aided by magic and the help of some of the dragonmarked houses, Galifar was able to garner enough victories to force the Lhazaar princes to meet to discuss terms. In the end, the Principalities became part of Galifar’s kingdom but remained autonomous, the Lhazaar princes more or less independent within their own domains yet agreeing to pay tribute to Galifar and recognize him as the legitimate ruler of the mainland kingdom.
For the next eight hundred years, the Lhazaar princes continued to live in relative harmony with the Five Nations. Lhazaar pirates slowly developed into traders and explorers, keeping their illicit activities to a minimum so as not to attract the attention of Galifar’s ever-improving navy. When the Last War broke out, the Lhazaar princes initially stayed out of the fray. As the months of conflict and unresolved issues of rulership wore on, the princes decided that their longstanding agreement was with the united Galifar, not the individual successor kingdoms. With the kingdom shattered, the princes felt no obligation to honor the ancient pact.
During the century of conflict, the Lhazaar princes one by one reverted to their ancient ways. First, the princes (and their subjects) fought against each other for dominance in the Principalities. Then they turned their sights toward more lucrative prey. Throughout the war, Lhazaar ships engaged in piracy, hired out as privateers, and began to carve out their own pieces from the corpse of the oncegreat kingdom. Under the leadership of Prince Ryger ir’Wynarn, who claims that the royal blood of Galifar flows through his veins, the Principalities settled their own differences long enough to present a united front at the peace treaty talks on Thronehold.
Now, with the Principalities recognized as a legitimate confederacy by the rest of Khorvaire, the princes have once again traded their pirate flags for the colors of merchants—at least outwardly (what may be a merchant vessel today can switch its flag and sail as a pirate or raiding vessel tomorrow). Prince Ryger is determined to unite the Principalities and create a naval force the likes of which Khorvaire has never seen before. Then, whatever happens on the mainland, the Principalities will be safe, secure, and powerful beyond imagining. Unfortunately, none of the other princes are quite ready to bend their knees to Ryger, and so his dream remains unfulfilled.
Dragonshard
The Lhazaar Principalities stretch across the eastern coast of Khorvaire. The islands northeast of the Hoarfrost Mountains are dark and cold, while the winters are long and the sun a rare visitor. These isles are the source of many sinister tales; living in the long shadow, one can easily imagine ghost ships prowling the waters and lich-lords hiding in the mountains. To the south, steaming jungles cover the Lhazaar islands; the land is home to deadly dinosaurs, and colossal sea serpents are said to lurk beneath the waves. From the frigid north to the southern tropics, these are hard lands that produce hard people.
The Lhazaar region draws its name from the Sarlonan explorer and pirate who colonized Greentarn, Orgalos, and Cape Far. Despite her fame, Lhazaar was neither the first nor last pioneer to settler along the eastern coast of Khorvaire. Over two dozen large islands are in the Principalities, and a remarkable range of people have found their way to the eastern shore. Gnome explorers from Zilargo claimed the isle of Lorghalen long before Lhazaar made her crossing. Elf refugees from the Aereni civil war found solace in the icy solitude of Farlnen. Dwarves and orcs from the Ironroot Mountains migrated to the eastern shore, laying the foundations of Tantamar and Cliffscrape. And dozens of human expeditions followed in the wake of Lhazaar, with most being Sarlonan explorers and fugitives from nations since destroyed by the Riedran Empire. The islanders have come together over the centuries, forming cosmopolitan communities and common traditions.
Despite the blend of races and cultures that have come together to form the Principalities, Lhazaar's influence can still be felt. It was Lhazaar who organized the first raider fleets, leading expeditions against Zil merchants and the ships of the dying Dhakaani Empire. Lhazaar granted her best captains the rank of praelas -- a Riedran rank translated as "prince" in the Common tongue -- proclaiming herself to be the prince among princes. She established the few laws that are universal throughout the realm, notably the fact that the title of prince is not hereditary. By the edicts, a Lhazaar noble holds his post through the power of his fleet and ability to command. Should he slip on either count, a more capable leader can lay claim to his title and his lands. Over the centuries, a number of principalities have adapted this custom to their own traditions; the gnomes of Lorghalen allow would-be princes to challenge a ruler to games of wit and tests of strategy, while the Farlnen elves expect a prince to possess arcane skill in addition to naval power.
The Lhazaar princes have always been willful and independent, and the history of the region is filled with feuds between princes. Powerful alliances have risen and fallen, but the islands have never been fully united under one prince. There has always been at least one lord who has claimed the title of high prince. This claim usually reflects the power of the lord's fleet, and as a result the high prince usually has the respect of the other princes -- but this doesn't make his word law. He can make requests of the other princes, but unless he intends to use force, he cannot make demands.
In the present day, the high prince is Rygar ir'Wynarn, the lord of Greentarn. A clever diplomat and brilliant captain, Rygar has earned the loyalty of a host of warriors and the respect of most of the princes; those who oppose him do so quietly. Rygar called together the delegation that represented the Principalities in the Treaty of Thronehold, and he hopes to one day rule as the true king of the seas.