The Shackles is a chaotic region, there is no consistent law, no elections and no outright leader. Just various power groups who have found ways to tolerate each other - most of the time. However …

The Shackles Pirates operate like a massive rogues guild on steroids. They are, by far, the largest, most influential and feared of all the power groups, and control many of the ‘best’ islands. However, they are a collection of smaller, often ambitious, power groups. They have a simple hierarchy, and few rules and often vie with each other for prestige and position.

• The Hurricane King – Top Pirate who rules Port Peril.
• Pirate Lords – The Hurricane King’s Council of Advisors. The more powerful Pirate Lords rule independent cities and have the loyalty of quite large fleets - and are almost as powerful as the Hurricane King. Other might just control a town or a few ships in their fleet.
• Free Captains – Many associate themselves with Pirate Lords, forming the cliques and internal power groups withing the Shackles Pirate organisation (If you can call it that). Other lead an independent life, travelling for port to port as they make their name and fortune. Influential Free Captains might command a small fleet of pirate vessels, other might just have a single vessel. However, all are ‘protected’ by the Shackles Flag.

Other Pirates can live in some sort of harmony with the Shackles Pirates, but you need to be strong to Compete. Some Pirate Lordships exist independently of the Hurricane King’s tentative control. For example, the Sublime Shogunate of Ushinawa on The Ushinawa Isles, Queen Bes on the Island of Besmara’s Throne, and the Shenchu Bay settlements all control significant fleets of their own.

The Bandu Fleet, a group of exiled hobgoblins who roam the high seas and offer their services as naval mercenaries to those who can afford them. They functions as a mercenary navy for hire, willing to work for or with anyone who can pay them,

Independent Pirate Vessels, and their Captains, without the protection of one of the larger players, can be seen as fair game by other pirates in the area – unless they are strong enough to hold their own. The is no ‘Brotherhood of the Sea’.

Other Lords, who aren’t necessarily pirates, rule islands as well. These include: The elven port of Alendruan Harbor ruled by “Queen Kaala of the Veil” and Sai Riang's Refuge where a monastery hosts pirates who have grown weary of their pirate lives,

Other powerful groups and indivuals exist as well. The Viridian Cartel is a group of unscrupulous merchants based out of Port Peril in the pirate islands of the Shackles. Led by the Katapeshi merchant Zeru Faizel, the Viridian Cartel are powerful enough to be able to negotiate directly with the Hurricane King. The great wyrm red dragon1 Aashaq is a priestess of the draconic god Dahak, and makes her home on the island of Dahak's Teeth in the Shackles.

Humanoids, such as Goblins, Cyclopes, Cannibals and Harpies control many 'uninhabited' islands.