During the times of the United Republic, port Maren-Veg stood here, and countless ships embarked on journeys to ever-green islands and exotic lands through the Eastern Seas. There was plenty of fish for the fishermen, unique plants and animals on the uncharted islands for the scientists, and faraway lands waiting for exotic goods for merchants. In order to ensure safety of its naval routes, Republic created the Azure Armada, a force of one thousand ships that was second to none in the entire world. Armada's heyday was during the wars with Torling northerners and pirates of the Eastern Seas. However, when the United Republic was about to collapse, there were barely three hundred ships left.

The fall of the Republic and the dark times that followed took their toll on both the military fleet and private ship owners. An entire flotilla of vessels abandoned by bankrupt merchants filled the docks, collecting seashells and decaying with the environment. Some sailors swore loyalty to lords who fought for control over the Empire's eastern regions. Others left Tartu with their ships and became pirates. But the biggest calamity that befell people whose lives were connected with the sea was the Great Fire that destroyed dozens of ships and most of Maren-Veg along with them. Rumors have it that the Great Fire was intentional and the smugglers, who raised their prices manifold immediately after the accident, had a hand in it.

The coals were still warm when the Black Albatross, a galeor under command of the famous "noble pirate" Veron Dan-Riyad, glided into the port. It had been twenty years since Veron last saw Tartu. Conscripted into the navy as a young man, he ended up a slave for pirates for eight years until a mutiny he orchestrated brought him the coveted freedom. Dan-Riyad and his brothers-in-arms themselves became pirates but they followed their own code: never attack Republican vessels; battle ends when the enemy surrenders; be merciful to prisoners; don't hesitate to rob and sink other pirates' vessels. During his years of piracy, Veron put together quite a fortune and was thinking of retiring when the sight of a destroyed port and the news of Republic's collapse made him reconsider his decision.

Dan-Riyad rebuilt the port with his own money. He built new quays, dockyards and warehouses. He hired guards and had the lowest tolls in entire Adan, attracting merchants of all stripes. Gold and fame made Dan-Riyad a lot of powerful allies. Two years after his return to Tartu, he proclaimed himself the Emperor of Vaalor, a new country in the eastern part of the continent. Thanks to Dan-Riyad's (in)famous stern character and the tales of his army's strength, not even a single noble lord in the eastern lands dared to object. All to a lord swore an oath of loyalty to the new Emperor.

With the foundation of the Empire, the eastern port was named Vaalor Harbor. Naval trade was the base for the Empire's prosperity, and Dan-Riyad used the revenues to fund the construction of a new fleet. It only took Vaalor a couple of years to build an enormous flotilla consisting of fast brigs, long-range frigates and galeors, the famous "floating fortresses". And even though this fleet isn't quite strong enough to match the legendary Azure Armada, it is still enough to earn Vaalor the title of the Master of the Seas. And the heart of the Empire of Storms, as many say, beats in Vaalor Harbor.