Thatchbeard Pirates

One of the three families controlling the City of Targen.

Era of Disunity
Before the City of Targen was united under the rule of Tancred Calponn, the Thatchbeard Pirates existed as the Tortue Raiding Fleet, based in the town of Tortue, located on the modern-day Thatchbeard Island. By the time Tancred Calponn had begun his conquest of all of Targen, the town of Tortue was one of his allies, led by Mayor Admiral Leif Thatchbeard, who had been a personal childhood friend of Tancred.

Admirals of Targen
Following the conquest of all of Targen, the newly crowned King Tancred handed over Thatchbeard Island and the Targen Fleet for Leif to rule over. Over the many centuries, Thatchbeard island would fully turn into a naval district for Targen, as the many ports and dockyards were improved to allow for function as both a military shipyard and a trading port.

Overtime however, the Thatchbeard Pirates  became ever independent of their Calponn rulers and sought to expand their influence and might on new shores by establishing Targen colonies. Attempts were also made to conquer the locals in these new lands, of which varied in success, often due to the Thatchbeard Pirates being occupied with matters in Targen. Their current name, the Thatchbeard Pirates, is based off the tenancies of the Thatchbeard Navy to steal supplies and wealth from lands they have raided and merchants who do not pay protection funds to the Thatchbeard families.

Draivros was one of the continents most favored for raiding, due to the richness of the Royallian Kingdoms, and later their successors. Such was the land favored for raiding that the colony of Purtis Orbe was established in the Dark Forest.

Becoming Rulers of Targen
After the death of Edward Calponn in 92 BCE, a civil war erupted between the three Targen families, of which the Thatchbeards claimed victory by utilizing their superior navy, crowning themselves the rulers and kings of Targen. Upon taking the throne, Erik Dane-Thatchbeard, the new ruler of Targen, established a senate as both a means to reduce dissent against the crown by offering the other two families a say in the rule of Targen, and a means to keep a close eye upon the two families should they decide to rebel against the Thatchbeard families.

Decline
Over the next 90 years, the Thatchbeard Pirates would continue to raid Draivros, but several devastating wars with the Dominion of Storia reduced their influence and their large naval fleets until 2 BCE, in which the particularly devastating naval battle at Davy Jone's Locker saw the death or capture of most of the Thatchbeard royal family, thus allowing the Langobar Mafia to launch a successful coup and declare their Family Head, Rozen Venez-Langobar, the ruler of Targen with the assistance of the Storian navy.

Today the Thatchbeard Pirates exist in servitude to their new Langobar rulers, commanding the Targen Fleet under strict rules established by the Langobar family to limit Thatchbeard power.

Branches
The Thatchbeard Family currently has three distinct branches in the family.
 * The Dane Branch, who descend from Dane Thatchbeard, first son of Leif Thatchbeard. The main branch of the Thatchbeard family, the Dane Branch is famous for their fierceness in combat and their natural authority. In recent times however, the Dane-Thatchbeards face possible extinction, as most of the family members had died in the battle of Davy Jone's Locker. The current head of the Thatchbeard family, Eric Dane-Thatchbeard, hails from this branch.
 * The Swede Branch, who descend from Swede Thatchbeard, second son of Leif Thatchbeard. Unlike their Dane Branch cousins, most members of the Swede Branch are administrators and bureaucrats instead of warriors and commanders. Though not as famous, many argue that the famous Thatchbeard Navy was not possible without the great skill of the Swede Branch at maintaining the paperwork behind the fleet.
 * The Nord Branch, who descend from Nord Thatchbeard, third son of Leif Thatchbeard. The Nord Branch are said to be born sailors, and one of their traditions is to have their children born upon a boat and learn sailing from a young age. Many Targen colonies were supposedly founded by a Nord family member and it is often said that a Nord is never happy unless aboard a ship at sea.

Philosophies
The Thatchbeard Pirates are focused on gathering glory and honor for their family. Considering themselves the true ruling class and defenders of Targen, many members of the Thatchbeard family are focused on ensuring they are dignified, noble, and honorable. Of course, their honor does not extend to those they consider enemies, whenever those enemies are fellow Targens or foreign alien foe.