Some of the common archetypes found in the Alliance are:
The captains of the various Crews in the archipelago are as much politicians as they are leaders, wrangling the most rambunctious members of their crews into something resembling organization, giving purpose and direction to the disparate peoples that make up the nation. Many are true ship captains, whatever the purpose their Crew pursues (hunting sea monsters, diving for Amethran treasures, moving and trading cargo, or pursuing passing ships in search of loot). Others are “captains” of land-bound enterprises, in charge of managing ports or businesses, leading mercenary bands or hunting parties, and many other pursuits.
The jungles of the Archipelago are rich in natural resources, and many Corsairs make a living hunting and gathering within them. The Cazadores are a breed apart, however. Devotees of Vallaros (and particularly of Aragh, patron Saint of the Hunt, with their own peculiarly Jadeite take on the Wolf’s teachings), they pursue prey as much for fame, glory, and exaltation as they do for the coin to be made by retrieving a hide or tooth. They view the process of hunting dangerous prey as being a prayer to Aragh and Vallaros, and are constantly searching for new specimens that might prove enough of a worthy challenge. Those who die in the hunt are toasted by their fellows, as they view perishing in the process of a worthy hunt as being just as glorious as coming back with the beast’s head.
Amethran ruins litter the islands and reefs of the archipelago, and those brave (or mad, depending on who you ask) enough to venture into them and make it back out with treasure are referred to as Ruin-Divers, or just Divers for short. They are a rare breed, in modern times, as the few remaining Amethran ruins that haven’t been picked clean are either inaccessible or filled with deadly traps, but enough folk remain in the business of treasure-hunting that there’s always a constant influx of interesting finds into Jadefang marketplaces and new Divers replacing retiring (or, more often, dead) ones.
The mystics of Druathos are held in high regard by the Corsairs, especially those who follow Druanna, Anselt, and Selenir. They are called Greensingers due to a popular tale of a druid who sang the fish and reef of a dying fishing village back to health; however, while spellsinging is a common means of performing magic amongst the Corsairs, not all Greensingers actually use that magical tradition. They are viewed as saviors and holy folk by most Corsairs, and also figures of dread to be placated should they decide that a Crew has violated the Druathan edicts of Balance with the natural world.
Greensingers take on the task of ensuring that the waters of the archipelago are healthy and rich in fish, that the farms the Portsmiths carve out of the jungle are bountiful, and that the jungle they harvest for lumber is replanted and has the opportunity to regrow. They also investigate the causes of any kind of disturbance or collapse in the natural order among the isles, summoning Druathos’ wrath upon any who would overharvest or despoil the natural world that supports the nation’s food supply and economy. They act as Druathos’ hand on the scale, doing what they can to maintain the fragile balance between mortal and nature in the archipelago, to keep the Corsairs from harming the environment they depend upon while also ensuring they have enough food and resources to continue to thrive.
Corsairs, rarely short on ambition, usually don’t need the encouragement of Bakharan teachings to strive and attempt great deeds. Instead, the clerics of Bakharos in Jadeite culture tend to focus on celebrating those who have passed, singing songs of their lives, their great accomplishments and failures, so that others might know and celebrate them and their deeds — and perhaps learn from them and strive to accomplish other great things.
Locker Priests act as story-tellers and celebrants, taking the role of master of ceremonies for funerals that often resemble parties more than burials. To be a Locker Priest is to celebrate the lives of those who have passed, to learn about their deeds, their loves and hates, the tales they left behind, and all the things that the living should remember about them, and then share that with the world.
The Portsmiths are the Corsairs who work in the background, whose toil and sweat keeps the ships afloat, the taverns stocked with booze, and the cities of the Archipelago from turning into disgusting pigsties. The Portsmith Crews are given much more respect than one might expect in a society so focused on great deeds — the Captains and adventurous types have learned from experience just how dangerous it can be to get on the bad side of the people who maintain your ship and serve your rum.
The bards and singers of the Alliance are known as Shantymen, and are made welcome at practically any gathering of Corsairs, for the folk of the Alliance love their music and sea shanties. Every Crew above a certain size has at least one singer of songs among their members to entertain them, and particularly large Crews will often have a small band of them. Many Shantymen take up the study of magic, either as Arcanists or as Mystics of Bakharos, using Spellsinging to infuse magic into their performances and drive their Crews to even greater feats of daring and ambition. These folk are known as Shantymages, and are accorded even more respect and welcome than the average Shantyman already receives.
Full of swagger, with quick tempers and endless bravado, the swashbuckler is the archetypal folk hero of the archipelago, the character in the story who slays the monster and leads the charge in a boarding party. Swashbucklers are warriors who are out to take on the world and carve their name into the legends through great feats and a glorious death. Most are followers of Vallaros and/or Bakharos, favoring some combination of intense training in their chosen martial disciplines and a flare for the dramatic and desire to keep their names on everyone’s lips. Many wield a one-handed blade and a buckler, though some choose to deviate from the stereotype in order to make themselves more notable in the tales told about them.