The Princess Alicia, is the hereditary ruler of the city of Porter's Bar. Now in her early thirties, Alicia has proved an able ruler over the 8 years of her reign.

The ancestry of the Porter's Bar Royal Family is complex and fairly unique. It all starts many hundred years ago when a young girl, called Bwanga, was shipwrecked on a distant island. She had been sold as a slave, and was being transported to a new land, but when astorm sprang up Bwanga was the only survivor, left alone on a dessert island with Yokai, the spirit of the islands lagoon, [note for DM - Oriental Adventures. Race: Lesser Nature Spirit (p126)] .

Time passed and Bwanga bore a daughter, Kalli, who carried a number of unusual traits. Her darker shin (from her mother) made her stand out, but from her father she got wildness and a love of the sea. And from the both she got a great strength of spirit and determination - but the slavers came again and both women were taken captive again.

But our story skips a generation and continues with Kalli's daughter, Lei. Lei was slave, like her mother and grandmother before her, and like her mother - she inherited a wildness and strength of character, and a fondness and bond with the sea. But Lei had a chance to escape, and she took it with both hands.

See the story about the founding fathers of Porter's Bar

Lei met up with a Spirit Dragon [Oriental Adventures P28 (Pan Lung)], called Han Shay, and with a little help the pair of them founded Porters Bar. It is the coupling of these two that created the Shay Dynasty and these are the ancestors who are worshipped most specifically in the Faith of the Royal Ancestors.

Han and Lei's children combined the Blood of the Sea Spirit Folk and the Oriental Dragon - to give an almost unique combination. Since then the blood has become dilute, but it still emerges strongly in some individuals.

Members of the Royal Family are all encouraged to follow the family's own deific ancestors - Royal Ancestor Worship. Those who qualify for the priesthood, are seen as faithful members of the family, and are given positions in the Royal Administration. Some powerful people in the administration might only have a single level of Adept, bit three or four levels of other classes, such as Aristocrat, or Expert.

Those priests who are also blessed with Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer levels, will be considered as a potential heir to the throne.

Members of the Shay dynasty who develop as sorcerers always have the draconic bloodline, which accounted for by having Han Shay as an ancestor. Sorcerers are respected members of the family and are encouraged to train for the priesthood, as a second vocation. Sorcerer / Priests will be considered as a potential heir to the throne.

When the time comes, all the eligible candidates are considered, and a Royal Successor chosen by the senior members of the family. Often there is one 'stand out' candidate who is stronger, more resilient and more powerful that the others - who just gets the nod from everyone involved. Very occasionally, there are two matched candidates - then it can get messy, with political (and actual) infighting and assassination attempts.