Umbari

Other Names
Mistakenly: Corsairs of Umbar for the population of Umbar as a whole

Origins
Predominantly descendants of Black Númenóreans or King’s Men, later joined by Haradrim, other Gondorians, as well as a number of slaves and volunteers from other parts of Middle Earth

Location
Umbar, an independent city-state in the South of Gondor

Language
Westron, dialects of Harad, Chirp or Cant (the secret language of thieves and travelers), remnants of Adûnaic

History
During the early years of the Second Age Númenórean influence began to spread all over Middle Earth, first along the coasts. Among other footholds, the large natural harbor of Umbar became crucial to their expansion.

After the Fall of Númenor it was here the surviving King’s Men landed; those who had turned to worshipping Melkor during the last days of their kingdom. Other than their brethren in Gondor and Arnor, they were hostile towards elves and their fellow survivors who weren’t. They later became known as the Black Númenoreans. Many of their members rose to power among their Haradrim neighbors. To this day Umbar maintains great influence in Haradwaith and many Umbari have Haradrim blood in their veins.

At the beginning of the Third Age king Eärnil I. of Gondor at great cost managed to capture Umbar and thus began a 500 year period during which it became the kingdom’s most important seaport and, with the submission of Sauron to king Ar-Pharazôn, a powerful symbol of the might of the Dúnedain of old.

Yet, Umbar’s Golden Age is largely attributed to the rule of the four Ship-Kings, the sons of Castamir the Usurper, the captain of Gondor’s royal fleet who refused the throne to the foreign-born Eldacar and during a short but bloody civil war, the Kin-strife, drove him into exile and for a time ruled himself. In part Castamir's actions might also have been motivated by a hunger for revenge after Eldacar had executed Castamir's eldest son.

Castamir was defeated when Eldacar returned from exile with an army of allies, but he and his sons fled to Umbar and took the fleet with them. They were the first to become known as Corsairs of Umbar.

From there on Corsairs often raided the coasts of Belfalas and Anfalas. Castamir’s great-grandsons Angamaitë and Sangahyando raided Pelargir, killing King Minardil of Gondor. An action in retaliation of which Umbar was briefly retaken by Gondor 78 years later. Though Gondor could not hold it. Their close relation to Haradwaith allowed its former inhabitants to once again establish themselves in what they considered their rightful home, outside Gondor’s rule, despite the end of Castamir’s line.

Perhaps it was their rivalry with Gondor or their inseparable connection to Haradwaith which eventually made them ally themselves with Sauron and deny the fact that it had been men from Umbar who had so crushingly defeated him in the past once already.

Culture and Daily Life
Just like not all Khandrim are Variags not all Umbari are Corsairs, and while some Corsairs serve the Umbari crown, not all do. Some are feared and distrusted even among their own people, unwelcome but begrudgingly accepted guests in their ports, periodically threatening to upset the balance of power even on land. They are considered brutes, but coveted for their seafaring skills and the goods they bring. Umbar, despite its highly developed Númenórean urban planning and still largely functional infrastructure; including houses and garden terraces built into cliffsides, leaving room for fields and non-residential buildings below, as well as elaborate drainage and water supply systems; attempts little in form of agriculture, animal husbandry or goods production in general. Its inhabitants instead depend to a large degree on piracy and raids, occasional trade and what the ocean provides.

Corsairs, even those serving the crown, are ruthless thieves and slavers, with the slight exception that those serving the crown do not raid their own people and allies, and may even defend them from outside attackers. In stark contrast the Umbari nobility is, perhaps due to their Haradrim influence, known for their cleanliness, their negotiation skills and their almost chivalrous fighters. They tend to value the right to hospitality, facing one’s accuser and trial by fair combat. Ideals that are often emulated to some degree by their subjects, but not enforced. In general any form of governmental oversight is slim in Umbar. It is largely ruled by the law of the strongest and an unwritten honor code of respect for family and those stronger or richer and more successful than oneself. Accordingly especially feuds between families often end in blood and deadly circles of revenge.

Land and sea can be equally treacherous and Umbari do not tend to reach old age. If they do, their past deeds may provide them with high enough standing and lingering respect for others to continue obeying and providing for them. Some may choose death in battle or by drowning to escape from old age, lingering illness or great shame.

Traditionally Umbar is a diumvirate, two rulers, one for land and one for sea, forces constantly colliding like wave and cliff. They are the ones who decide and organize joined raids and attacks of all loyal ship captains, but are, in general, more concerned with foreign than domestic politics. In theory anyone could reach the rank of nobility and become king through skill, strength and the right allies, luck or fate. However, even in Umbar battles are not fought alone and the existing elite of noble families has long established their power, hoarded their riches, secured their alliances and trained their descendants, those by blood and those adopted into their families for different reasons.

Luxury items as well as daily necessities and living space are shared like bounty: the highest in rank takes first pick, followed by the second and the third until only scraps are left for the lowest to fight over. Those are usually slaves, servants or children. The latter are expected to grow stronger through it all. In a similar manner swimming is taught to them by simply throwing them into the ocean. A member of Umbari society with higher standing may at any time approach one of lower standing to take or ask whatever they desire from them. On the other hand, a slave may turn against their master and thereby win whatever they desire, including their own legitimate place in Umbari society, possibly even among nobility.

“Anyone can become anything in Umbar, where fate does not decide but is decided”, it is said, and there is, despite everything, some truth to it. Anyone can indeed become anything, win or lose everything. A slave or beggar may become nobility, Corsair, slave, corpse, depending on skill, luck and the mistakes and misfortune of others. Yet, it is easier to fall than to rise. Trust is rare, respect hard won and life fleeting.

Only animals are, perhaps surprisingly, treated with almost childish excitement and loving care. Most popular among them are cats and fighting cocks. The former for their hunting skills and in remembrance of legendary queen Berúthiel, the latter for massively popular staged fights during which participants gamble for huge sums. Even a high ranking Umbari will never demand another’s animal from them and rather starve than not to feet their own priced creature.

A woman, on the other hand, is taken when a man desires her, no matter the standing. She or her family may, however, retaliate. Unsurprisingly most Umbari noble women are as feared and respected as their male counterparts. Many are suspected to have the ability to read minds, curse or kill with a hateful glance and conjure up storms that can sink whole fleets with their rage alone.

Umbari wear their scars or even lack of certain body parts as a badge of honor, if caused by the hand of someone worthy of respect. They do not write down history, weave tapestries or construct statues in memory. Instead they maintain that everything that is being worthy of being remembered will be remembered. All the more important legends and the pursuit of glory are for them.

Crafts and Warfare
Umbari, including a number of their women, are skilled sailors, sea-raiders and shipwrights. Their greatest strength lies in their fleet and skills at sea. Their preferred tactic are quick and overpowering direct attacks. While they are fierce fighters and excel in single combat, they do not fight well in formation, have little patience for complicated strategies and do not use horses in battle.

Their economy is largely based on piracy and trade.

Art has barely any place in Umbar. Exceptions are the art of story telling and the composition of drinking songs and sea shanties. The latter are especially terrifying if used by a female crew to lure unsuspecting victims towards hidden reefs or shallows with their beauty, to then turn into the triumphant howling of an oncoming attack. Like most crafts that are unrelated to ships most other art forms are seldom practiced and during raids gold, silver and slaves are preferred; artworks, scrolls or books are either destroyed or ignored.

Appearance
Due to a tendency to rather hide their riches than to display them too openly where they could attract the interest of another of higher standing or the glance of an evil eye, the majority of Umbari men and women will wear little to no visible jewellery or adornment once they leave their homes. They often appear far poorer than they are, with only their hair and beard groomed and braided elaborately, while at the same time carrying a large part of their coin and jewellery with them, underneath their clothes or in hidden pockets. Dark colors and practical, wider cut clothes are generally preferred. Only high nobility and celebrated ship captains wear bright colors and jewellery openly to demonstrate their confidence and power.

Physically Umbari society is diverse, even though darker coloring is predominant, due to various influences from Númenor, Gondor and Haradwaith, as well as through slave trade in general.

Relations
Umbar has declared its allegiance to Sauron. It is allied to Haradwaith, over parts of which its rulers maintain a strong influence.
They are known to raid the coastlands of Gondor.

Notable Members
In the past:
- Castamir the Usurper, first Ship-king of Umbar, as well as his heirs.
- Queen Berúthiel of Gondor.