Lord of the North Sea Pirates
Group Alignment: neutral evil
Leader: Captain Draskos
Headquarters: Draskos sails on the “Merry Dog,”
a great galleon armed with dwarven cannonshot.
The so-called
North Sea Pirates are actually an informal coalition of senior captains and
scurvy dogs of vile repute, who earned their fame and fortune by plundering the
sea lanes of the Middle Kingdoms, either for the realms, or against. There are
believed to be two dozen such captains, all in league with one another in their
solemn “code of the north.” They recognize one among them, Abelman Draskos, as
their nominal leader.
In the region
of Octzel the North Sea Pirates have a special relationship, for over
two-thirds of their lineage descend from the kingdom and still recognize it as
their nominal homeland. Furthermore, many of them, such as Captain Draskos,
have sworn fealty to the kingdom and pursue treacherous piracy in Hyrkanian of
Jhaknian seas on behalf of Octzel as privateers. As a result, it is very likely
that roving adventurers who get involved with famous, independent-minded
captains might in fact be dealing with members of the North Sea Pirates.
When meeting
a pirate, especially in the North Sea (along the northwest coast of Autrengard
and the Northern Wilderness) or the Baldaric Sea (from Hyrkania’s shores to
Zarn and Hettanar) there is a reasonable (20%) chance he or she swears fealty
to this order of salty northern sea dogs.
Captain Abelman Draskos
(Human Level 7 rogue, NE). Draskos
is a scurvy dog, a worshipper of Set and Haro, and consorts with the Black
Society (through he, in fact, is not in any known way supernatural). He is a
principal supplier of the Pirate Coves in the Northern wilderness coastlands,
and knows more about the coasts of the northern Baldaric and Endless Ocean on
up to Autrengard than anyone. He is a daring, chivalrous sort of fellow, until
you get to know him real well or find yourself on the opposite side of a conflict.
Spend too much time with him and you will see a drunken madman armed with
dwarven pistols and explosives.
Draskos
maintains a manor house and small amount of land in which his wife, Lady
Estrela
Huvirian-Draskos resides (Human Level 7 sorceress, CE), just north of capitol Octzel. She
was a famous pirate who wooed him into marriage and retired after a conflict
with Hyrkanian bounty hunters left her crippled. Her reputation preceded her,
and the Curatorium of Hella refused aid. She is a minor practitioner of
divination and necromancy through the worship of Set.
Captain Abelman
Draskos
Level 7 human
(offensive skirmisher)
Initiative +14
AC 23 MD 17 PD 21 HP 230
Melee Cutlass +12 vs. AC; 30 damage and on a
16+ on the attack die Draskos can force the target to make a DC 20 Dexterity
check or fall prone.
Ranged Brace of Pistols +13 vs. AC; 25 damage; on even
attack Draskos makes a second pistol attack.
Explosives +11 vs. PD of targets nearby
(close range); each target sustains 30 damage and is knocked prone on a 16+
attack roll.
Entourage Abelman is rarely alone, and usually accompanied by at least half a dozen sea dogs of level 5, or more.
Entourage Abelman is rarely alone, and usually accompanied by at least half a dozen sea dogs of level 5, or more.
Lady Estrela
Huvirian-Draskos
Level 7 human sorceress (defensive damager)
Initiative +13
AC 22 MD 22 PD 16 HP 200
Melee Burning Claw +13 vs. PD; 50 necrotic damage and on a 16+
the target is weakened, taking -4 on further MD attacks (11+ save ends); while
weakened Estrela gains +2 to her MD.
Shield of Wolves On escalation die 2+ Estrela can summon a
horde of spirit wolves to surround her in an ectoplasmic field of force. It has
MD and PD 17 and can absorb up to 300 points of magical damage before
collapsing. Once collapsed she must rest before summoning it again.
Aura Horde of Hummingbirds anyone entering or starting their turn in
the aura of a horde of fiendish ghost hummingbirds is subject to a +13 vs. MD
attack or they take 30 psychic damage and are teleported 30 feet up in to the
air as the hummingbirds lift them away. Falling damage would be 17 from that height.
Divination Estrela can perform complex rituals to divine an aspect of
fortune or love in the near future. In combat, any time she rolls a 2 on a D20,
Estrela can grant an ally a +2 luck bonus to the next D20 roll if they are
within hearing range of her.
Plot Hooks:
1.
Draskos and
several allies have found a passage through the western expanse of the Endless
Ocean to the distant isles of Mataclan. They have heard the stories of these western
lands across the sea, and now that the endless storms of the god Ravanos have
revealed a safe passage he wants to find hardy souls to engage in distant
plunder.
2.
Draskos and
his wife Estrela are in trouble. A Hyrkanian pirate hunter piloted by Captain Aldros
Daremak is seeking them out, and he has conspired with assassins of the Order
of the White Spear, a cult from Jhakn, to hunt the pirate and his wife down at
their estates. The Fire Knives, who are the cult of the Order of the gof of
Murder (Haro) have gotten wind of this…they feel they cannot oppose their
southern kin, but loyalists to Draskos hire the PCs to intervene on their
behalf and stop the White Spears.
3.
Draskos has
many hidden treasures on the northern coast. Recently a thief broke in to his
cabin on the Salty Dog and stole his chest containing the maps and clues to
several of his hidden treasure spots. He may approach the PCs, if they have a
reputation for such (and honor to match) to seek out the thief and return his
box of maps. Alternatively, the thief will seek them out and offer to sell it,
realizing that the potential gain of such treasure is outweighed by the Lord of
the North Sea Pirates desiring his immediate death…
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