Most of the vessels which use the bay are commercial types. Cogs, junks, and larger freighters carry all measure of cargo, most of it bound for the Tamaran islands. To protect their future interests, the Tamarans send war ships to watch over the crowded shipping lanes, occasionally boarind suspicious-looking craft and making certain all papers are in order. These black-sailed corsairs are the bay's new namesake. Fast, sleek, and expertly-crewed, they make short work of enemy vessels with incindiary catapults and mass-arrow launchers. The so-called blacksails each carry thirty-six Tamaran soldiers and three elite officers, including the captain. The majority (85%) are female.
The Tethys Delta
The Tethys is the most important shipping route in all of Erdanis, and the Tamaran empire keeps a close eye on those who make use of it. The delta is guarded by four corsairs at all times, along with a compliment of six lighter, slave-rowed river vessels further upriver. They subject one out of every three vessels to a random search, checking for anything undeclared. Anything they don't like (or take a liking to) can be 'commandeered' without notice. Most merchants, especially the gorgs, are always grumbling about the growing problem, though nobody wishes to cross the Decider. Resistance is met with wicked force, and total confiscation, often ending with the troublesome crew working off their 'troublesomeness' chained to an oar.
Seagoing vessels must relay their cargo to smaller, oar-driven barges in order to move up the river. Shallow and slow moving at its end, the Tethys is easy to navigate and relatively free of perils. Barges going downstream from the various riverside communities are far more common, as no rowing is required. Most of these stop at the city of Daen to trade their wares and goods, though larger guilds have huge cargo and slave barges moving down the river three seasons out of the year. The banks of the delta are lined with small fishing villages and a number of old, ruined Solinar keeps.