System: 4e
Level 11
Stats: 25pt buy.
Race: Any published, refluffed as human, elf, orc, or dwarf (or any combination of two e.g. half orc/elf, half dwarf/human, etc.).
Class: Any published.
Feats: Choice of free expertise feat, and free Improved Defenses feat.
Themes: Allowed.
Background: +2 to a skill or add a language.
Equipment: Free level 10, 11, and 12 magic items. Free basic shit items within reason. 5000gp to spend on other magic items or to have on your person.
Skills: There are no class skill restrictions; any class can train any skill. You still must take the mandatory/bonus skills granted by your class as usual (e.g. Arcana for a wizard).
Rituals: Component costs for all rituals are reduced to ¼ their normal values to encourage ritual use. Also, Raise Dead will not be allowed in this game – dead is dead, though we hope that doesn’t have to be an issue.
Inherent Bonuses: No
Languages: We will not be using the standard 4e languages, but instead the ones listed below. If by (mechanical) race or some other means you are granted a language other than common, pick one language from this list instead, even if you would normally have no choice in the matter (such as elves receiving Elven).
Basic guide to ship roles/ranks
Setting and Lore
You are a pirate, and have been for some time now. Your one of the notorious Blackwood's Dogs, crew of the Salacious Saint under the infamous Captain Blackwood. You and the other members of the Saint have wreaked havoc on the Forelle Sea for years, primarily plundering wealthy trade ships from Imardin.
The Dogs are somewhat of a living legend in maritime circles, and the Captain even more so. Cruel, ruthless, and cunning, you murder and pillage your way throughout the archipelago, hunted by the Imardin navy and other smaller navies wherever you go. You have yet to be caught, though, or even come close, though recently they've begun to inch ever nearer to the justice they seek.
This games takes place on and around the continent of Voreld. Unlike other games that have begun so far, you will have free reign of the entire continent to travel to, though you will begin in the Forelle Sea where your crew has spent most of its time - after all, more ships pass through the region than anywhere else.
Your character is a member of the Saint's crew, and has been for at least a year prior to the start of the game - enough time to be a trusted, established member of the crew. How much time they've been aboard is up to you, though Blackwood has only been in the public eye for a little over a decade, so the span of time is between 1 and 10 years, roughly. How you came to be a member of the crew is entirely your choice, feel free to get as creative as you like with this. The only restriction is that none of you are part of the original crew, you all joined after Blackwood's captaincy was well established
The most up-to-date map of the setting at any given time can be found here.
- Important NPCs
- [SHOW]
- Any NPCs actually encountered in the course of the game will be listed here with their information. However, for a full list of major and minor extant NPCs during the time of the campaign, you can view this post.
- Jean-Claude Olivier (deceased)
- [SHOW]
Jean-Claude is one of the Imardin Navy's most skilled marksmen, which has earned him a comfortable position as the marksmanship instructor at the Fort Ellis Naval Academy. He is a perfectionist and expects the same from his students, which has led to him being viewed as somewhat of a harsh instructor. He is also keenly aware of his own skills, and is ever ready to show just why he is the one teaching and not the one learning should any ambitious child try to mouth off or talk him down.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- Captain Cutthroat Kishar
- [SHOW]
Kishar is another of the more notorious Forellian pirates, infamous for his tendency to put entire crews to the sword on regular occasions. His nickname is a fairly accurate one, as he tends to slit the throats of the captains he encounters personally, before unleashing his crew on theirs. He is the captain of the Silver Sabre, which primarily raids the region between Amkhara and Visha. On occasion he has also been known to extend north towards Dakara and even Nelghet on occasion.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- Captain Jane the Jaguar
- [SHOW]
Jane is a cunning woman and a skilled swordsman. She hails from Gleios, where she was taught to fight by her noble parents. A series of unfortunate events led her to piracy, where she took up with the Seahorse, eventually becoming its captain. With her crew she stalks the sea, primarily the region between Gleois, Akiro, and mainland Ya-Jarang. Many of her fellow pirates have made passes at her in the past, and most have discovered the hard way that she is not to be trifled with as a result.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- Captain Tarou Tengatsu
- [SHOW]
Tarou is known to be an honorable man, one who holds high standards for the conduct of his men both with their prey and with other pirate crews. Captain of the Swordfish, he is fiercely loyal to his homeland and will never attack a Jarangi ship, going so far as to defend them from other pirates. He mostly plagues Imardanian waters and the seas around Cru'un, though sometimes ventures further east to the western coasts of Kurnhuelde as well.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Blackwood and his Dogs
- The Ferocious Fleet
- [SHOW]
- The Salacious Saint
- [SHOW]
The Salacious Saint is a uniquely impressive ship, one-of-a-kind in its construction. Originally called the Saint Sebastian, it was once a prototype design built by the Imardin navy, designed for hunting small, quick ships while still maintaining impressive firepower. Blackwood gained his initial reputation by stealing this ship from the navy and murdering the man who designed it and destroying his plans, thus preventing the design from being replicated. Now, while not the most powerful ship on the sea, it is certainly the one with the greatest combination of speed, range, and firepower all wrapped up into one.
- The Black Bishop
- [SHOW]
- The second ship added to Blackwood's planned fleet, this was once a merchant vessel that the Dogs captured in battle on the seas. It is wider and bulkier than the Saint, making a slower vessel overall, and it has fewer ports for cannons. It makes up for this by having a large cargo hold, making it ideal for transporting prizes - and protecting them, with its sturdier hull - once they've been seized by the Dogs.
- The crew of the Salacious Saint
- [SHOW]
- The Big Dogs
These are the Saint's officers in order of rank. Unlike most pirate crews, the Dogs adhere to a power structure more reminiscent of navy crews. New members are often wary of such a structure initially, but it serves to keep order that would otherwise be much more difficult with a standard setup. Blackwood's reputation and skill at choosing targets is the only thing that allows such a system to stay in place.
- Captain: Blackwood
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Captain Blackwood is one of the most notorious pirates in the Forelle Sea, which says a lot given just how many pirates roam those parts. He has been the captain of Salacious Saint for over a decade now, yet still no member of the crew knows his first name, or even if Blackwood is really his last name. He is a ruthless man towards his prey with an eye ever on the prize, whatever it may be, and when it comes to plunder he often keeps most of it for himself. The sheer amount of plunder brought in by the Dogs is usually enough to keep his men happy despite this tendency, though, and the ever-full barrels of rum go a long way in maintaining loyalty as well. He is strict and very no-nonsense when it comes to business and treasure, but he is friendly to his crew members for the most part. The only time he is prone to hostility towards the crew is when someone tries to offer him advice – Blackwood listens to no opinions that conflict with his own.
Duties:
As Captain, Blackwood holds the highest authority on the ship. In battle his orders are absolute, and outside of battle they are very close to being so as well. While most pirate captains are democratically elected and kept only as long as they serve the crew's best interest, Blackwood has never come close to being removed from his position and most attempts at a change in leadership end before they can gain much traction. That is not to say there aren't men who wish for a new captain, but the ones who do have grown wise enough to keep it to themselves and those they trust unless they can muster enough support to have a real chance.
- First Mate: Mad Marian
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Marian is somewhat of an enigma to most of the crew, due in part to her skeletal left leg. While most assume it is a finely-crafted peg leg made to look like real bone - or, perhaps, even made of bone itself - some claim that it is real. They believe her to be a creature of the night, a unique one that is capable of thought and speech and which does not decay as normal. Whether man or monster, her reputation is the same: Marian is a terrifying figure who is merciless in battle and barely better outside of it.
Duties:
Marian serves as the first mate, a position rarely found among pirate crews. She ranks above all but the captain himself, and serves as a go-between for him and the other officers. While the captain typically keeps to his quarters, except in battle and other select occasions, Marian oversees the general day-to-day operations of the ship. Though she is not particularly skilled in any of the tasks required to keep the ship afloat and sailing, her personality in reputation is perfect for keeping the crew in line.
- Quarter Master: Phil
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Phil is a fairly laid-back man, a lover of the pipe. On days where he has little to do, or after his accounting work has been accomplished for the time being, he can usually be found in the hold, lounging in a chair and smoking his pipe. A few times a day he checks the ship's inventory and makes sure everything is in order, only to go back to lounging around and enjoying his relatively easy position among the crew.
Duties:
Most pirate crews view the quartermaster as equal to, or even greater than, the captain in terms of importance, but the Dogs less so. Phil is still a huge asset to the crew, but his rank is only 3rd in the Saint's hierarchy rather than second or tied for first. Phil's role is in keeping the accounts of the crew and in distributing loot. Generally, officers receive 2 shares to a standard sailor's one, though due to his unique position Phil is awarded 3. The Captain tends to forgo standard shares, instead claiming most of the unique or otherwise highly valuable items. In a normal situation this would likely get him voted out or killed, but the sheer amount of income earned by the Dogs has greatly dampened any animosity that might arise from this practice
- 2nd Mate & Disciplinarian: Orson
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Orson is a large and imposing man, and one of the finest swordsmen on Blackwood's crew. He is probably the officer that the crew finds most relatable, having a fairly stern but overall friendly personality. He has a tendency to spend most of his time performing everyday duties with the sailors, which fosters trust between him and them. This helps with his position, as keeping others in line is much less difficult when those others know and admire you.
Duties:
As the 2nd Mate Orson is primarily tasked with keeping spirits high and conflict at a minimum. This job is typically one of the duties of the quartermaster, but Orson is much more suited to socializing than Phil, but not nearly skilled enough at arithmetic for bookkeeping. In battle Orson is often one of the first into the fray, wielding either one or two swords with ease, and keeping morale of the crew as high as possible.
- Sailing Master: Malik
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Not much is know about Malik, except that he was recently poached from the crew of Cutthroat Kishar, captain of the Silver Sabre. He seems gruff and quiet, and his age and overall demeanor match that over a grizzled sailor, so few question his expertise. Time will tell if it is on par with Alador's.
Duties:
As the ship's navigator, Malik plots courses and maintains the Saint's maps. Not much is yet known about what else he brings to the table, but given that he was poached from a rival crew it seems unlikely that navigating is his only worthwhile skill.
- Bosun: Samuel Gravestaff
- [SHOW]
Despite his somewhat privileged position as Bosun Mate, Sam (as he is known by most) is one of the few crew members who openly speaks out against the Captain on a regular basis. Ever seeking more power, he takes every opportunity he can to make his voice heard. However, his way with words and his penchant for telling entertaining tall tales keeps him well-liked among most of the crew.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Duties:
As Bosun, Samuel's job is in maintaining the Saint and its supply stores. Every morning he is meant to walk the ship and keep an eye out for any issues that need fixing. Unlike Carver, his predecessor, he does not believe it necessary to make a second pass each day, and instead spends the rest of his time telling stories or voicing his complaints as always.
- Master Gunner: Baelgar
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Baelgar is tall for a dwarf, and quite heavyset. He is a highly skilled smith, though, hailing originally from Durduum. He has a love of explosions, which lent naturally to his appointment as the master gunner. His other love is alcohol of any variety, and celebrates every victory with as much as he can get his hands on before Carver or Phil cuts him off.
Duties:
As gun master, Baelgar spends most of his time keep the various cannons in order, keeping the gunpowder dry, and making sure the ammunition stays rust-free. At port he is tasked with procuring and inspecting all related supplies, as his dwarven instincts and smithing knowledge leave him far better equipped to the task than even a seasoned quartermaster. A few of the guns onboard the Saint are even his own work, and when he has the time he occasionally plans out future designs for new weapons and ammunition.
- Carpenter: Grommak
- [SHOW]
- See here.
Duties
The ship's carpenter works closely with the Bosun, making any necessary repairs to the hull or other woodworking as necessary when pointed out by the latter. Grommak has yet to need to do any repairs on his own, so his the first true test of his abilities is still to come.
- Surgeon: M. Villiers
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Aubrey Villiers was once a well-respected surgeon in Ellisport, where his patients ranked among some of the city's wealthiest elite. His good name was tarnished when it came to light that he was involved in a drug smuggling operation linking back to multiple organized crime gangs from Talguta. He managed to evade arrest with the help of a long-time acquaintance, Captain Blackwood, and in return agreed to join the man's crew as surgeon
He is a serious and humorless man, one who values quiet solitude. This is often hard to come by on the Saint, but he does his best to seek out both a time and space to quietly reflect on life or read. When he is not busy tending to the wounded, at least.
Duties:
As surgeon, M. Villiers - as he is known by the crew - is responsible for keeping the men alive and in as best a condition as possible. He is a godsend to the crew given his exceptional talent for medicine, something most surgeons are merely adequate at at best. Though he doesn't always save everyone, the Dogs have a much higher survival rate than most in the business, something that has contributed greatly to their success as a whole.
The Normal Dogs
These are all normal sailors on the crew who are not officers. Some perform extra tasks on the ship besides being sailors/combatants, but they don't have any extra authority as a result. Unless otherwise noted, all of the standard crew members are considered able-bodied sailors in addition to whatever other tasks, if any, they perform.
Most PCs are at this rank and all are part of the vanguard, the group that heads into combat first when boarding a ship, and who are generally among the ship's best fighters. Current PCs are as follows, with exceptions to the 'Normal Dog' rank noted where applicable:
Grommak (GROMkill), Carpenter
Darcell (Namelessjake)
Henri Labelle (Scratcherclaw)
Gaul Imran (Neovenator)
Some notable NPC crew members are listed below:
- Eva Delacroix
- [SHOW]
Eva's is a quiet young woman who is slow to trust others. She tends to keep to herself, brewing potions and poisons in a room below deck in the dim candle light. When forced to socialize she tends to try to scare the other crew members away, and it often works. Her looks tend to attract the men's attention regularly, though her store of different poisons serves as a deterrent for those who think they can take her whenever they please.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- Rhys
- [SHOW]
A rare elven pirate, Rhys is the ship's primary cook. He offers an eclectic set of culinary talents, combining traditional elven methods, skills acquired from various islands in Forelle, and some little known tricks originating in the Cape of the Andor peninsula. There are persistent rumors that Rhys cooks and eats his victims after a battle, and some men claim to have seen him gathering bodies just for such occasions. No one has yet mustered up the courage to confront him with these accusations, however.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- Rusty the Red
- [SHOW]
Rusty is one of the Saint's longest-serving crew members, and his face is well known due to the shaggy red beard that adorns it. He is large, imposing, and one of the finest sailors the crew has to offer, but he is also a notorious coward. When victory is certain, as is often the case, it barely shows. Any time there is any amount of difficulty in a hunt, though, and his cowardice overshadows his tough-looking exterior as he questions every move and tries to convince everyone to reconsider.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- Brent Osoris
- [SHOW]
The world's first pirate, Brent was swashbuckling even in the dinosaur age. He wrecked havoc on seas then, but now all of his friends are dead. Or so he likes to believe. He's really just a small pet lizard that was originally found on one of the more tropical islands in the Forellian Archipelago.
- Wendy Dickens
- [SHOW]
Wendy is only a teenager, and was picked up by the crew about a year or so ago. Some of the men decided to haul her off of a merchant vessel after it was raided, intending to use her to relieve some tension. That plan backfired when she stuck one of her attackers in the neck with a blade she'd had hidden on her person, causing Blackwood himself to intervene.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Seeing some promise in the feisty lass, he offered to let Wendy earn a spot on the crew by working as a deckhand, in exchange for his assurance that his men wouldn't lay a hand on her. She begrudgingly accepted, but over time she has become fond of (some of) the crew and has since grown to enjoy the freedom associated with her new life of piracy.
- Ice Man
- [SHOW]
Briefly your foe, the Ice Man is now the Salacious Saint's newest crew member. He is a man of impressive magical talent, specializing in powers related to the cold and ice. Apart from that, little is known about him so far. He has yet to even reveal his name to you, likely due to lack of trust.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
?? - apprentice navigator
?? - apprentice surgeon
?? - apprentice cook
?? - apprentice gunner
The Little Dogs
These are the low ranking members of the crew, ones who receive only a fraction of a share of the loot and who don't get a vote in elections or when making decisions. Typically this status is reserved for young boys serving as powder monkeys, swabbies, cabin boys, or other menial positions, but such positions are rare on the Saint. Instead, most often this is where new recruits fall in the crew hierarchy, and only once they've proven their worth do they earn a permanent, equal spot among their ranks.
Non-Dogs
Though not a common occurrence, the Saint does occasionally host guests or harbor prisoners. While not part of the crew, they are still often important occupants of the ship nonetheless.
- Daphne
- [SHOW]
Little is known about this mysterious woman found locked in a cage in the hold of the Merchant Vessel the crew recently acquired. One of the merchant vessel's crew claimed she was a seer of some sort, and she appears to be the sister of Jean-Claude Olivier - the recently deceased master-marksman of the Imardanian Navy. Shortly after her capture, or rescue depending on one's perspective, she was whisked away to the Captain's quarters and has remained there since. She only speaks Imardanian as far as anyone can tell.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- The Crew of the Black Bishop
- [SHOW]
- The Big Dogs
These are the Bishop's officers in order of rank. Unlike most pirate crews, the Dogs adhere to a power structure more reminiscent of navy crews. New members are often wary of such a structure initially, but it serves to keep order that would otherwise be much more difficult with a standard setup. Blackwood's reputation and skill at choosing targets is the only thing that allows such a system to stay in place, but Alador is untested as a Captain so only time will tell if the system can be effectively extended to other ships in the fleet.
- Captain: Alador
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Alador is an arrogant and condescending man, not well-liked by most of the Dogs despite being one of their most valuable assets. He is one of the only members skilled in magic, and his particular expertise is in the weather-altering sort. He is very well-read, a self-educated man who escaped a life of poverty to become what he is now - a seasoned navigator and spellcaster. He and Blackwood often conversed at length in private, and have a mutual respect - something not common for Alador. Now that he is a Captain in his own right he is glad to have developed such a relationship with the man.
- First Mate: Big John
- [SHOW]
John, standing at a solid 7' 5", is an incredibly large man, lending to his apt nickname. He is very quiet and rarely talks about himself, or at all, except when necessary. It's said that he was once a feared bandit in Volberg, where he hails from, though so few are close to him that it's hard to tell whether this is true or not. He only opens up to a select few that he deems worthy, among them being some other members of the vanguard, though even then he still only talks on occasion.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Regardless of how sociable he is, everyone recognizes John's prowess in battle, which has earned him a spot among the crew's vanguard. He carries on his person a staff and sword, but these are more distraction than anything - backup for if he ever loses hold of his primary weapon. In a large leather sack that he keeps on him at all times there is a long length of fine chain that the man whips through the air, sending enemy crew members flying into the sea before they can even reach him to fight back. Despite its length, he wields it with such skill that he can avoid damaging the ship in the process.
- Sailing Master: Yvan Bellamy
- [SHOW]
Henri's best friend since childhood, from a family of equal societal standing. As children, they were inseparable and that didn't fade when they were both sent to the Academy. While Henri used money and charm to get ahead, Yvan simply used his skills, which were slightly lesser than those of Henri. As Henri prospered, though, Yvan failed and was removed from the Naval school. Not wanting to return home to a disappointed family, he clung to Henri and eventually followed him into piracy. A man only slightly less handsome than Henri, Yvan is one of the few people respected and admired by him.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- Bosun: Crooked Carver
- [SHOW]
Bio:- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Carver is an unpleasant man to be around, so most people tend to leave him alone. He has a vaguely unpleasant odor and a permanent scowl, and rarely has anything nice to say about the other crew members. Despite this he has been bosun for years and is quite good at the job due to his perfectionist nature. He tends to spit as he talks, though he rarely speaks to anyone except his Bosun Mate, Marian, and Blackwood himself.
- Master Gunner: Old Lefty
- [SHOW]
Real name Todd Jenkins, Lefty is something of a career criminal. He's been at it since he was a boy, and a pirate since his 30s, and in all that time he's honed his skills to become one of the best at crafting traps and bombs. He lost his right hand years ago, and ever since he was known by his nickname, though the 'old' part came with age. He's fairly eccentric, but level-headed in crisis and a well-liked fellow by his fellow crewmen.- Appearance
- [SHOW]
- Carpenter: Bargetze
- [SHOW]
Bio- Appearance
- [SHOW]
Bargetze is an orcish woman hailing from the forests south of Terrak. She puts on a tough exterior, something necessary to survive in a pirate crew, but she is known to open up and have a good time with the crew. Many are intimidated by her large, imposing stature, though some of the men have taken her physique as a challenge. While most are content to try to beat her in physical feats, such as arm wrestling and boxing, some have taken it upon themselves to try to bed the woman. She rarely allows it.
- Surgeon: TBD
- [SHOW]
- None at the moment, to be recruited in the Wastrel's Wharf.
The Normal Dogs
These are all normal sailors on the crew who are not officers. Some perform extra tasks on the ship besides being sailors/combatants, but they don't have any extra authority as a result. Unless otherwise noted, all of the standard crew members are considered able-bodied sailors in addition to whatever other tasks, if any, they perform.
The Little Dogs
These are the low ranking members of the crew, ones who receive only a fraction of a share of the loot and who don't get a vote in elections or when making decisions. Typically this status is reserved for young boys serving as powder monkeys, swabbies, cabin boys, or other menial positions, but such positions are rare on the Bishop. Instead, most often this is where new recruits fall in the crew hierarchy, and only once they've proven their worth do they earn a permanent, equal spot among their ranks.
Non-Dogs
Though not a common occurrence, the Bishop does occasionally host guests or harbor prisoners. While not part of the crew, they are still often important occupants of the ship nonetheless.
- Idle Chatter and Wild Rumors
- [SHOW]
- In this section I'll keep a running list of potential leads for quests, heists, hunts, and other prospects that you come across during the game.
- Cargo
- [SHOW]
- This will be a listing of the Saint's current cargo, for example the undistributed loot from a recent hunt or perhaps a cache of goods being smuggled somewhere. If it is on the ship and more than mundane necessities, and not claimed by an individual, it will be listed here.
Any item in this list is free game for party members to 'buy' for half the value of the item until the items are sold at port. This is typically done at the Wastrel's Wharf, though there are also fences in other cities that will buy the party's goods as well. Once landfall is made and the items are offloaded, they will be removed from this list and no longer able to be 'bought.'
- Selling/Haggling
- [SHOW]
- By default everything you sell will start at 40% its value, and everything you buy will start at 110% its value. You can try to get a better deal by doing a social skill check (bluff/diplomacy/intimidate) with appropriate fluff text, or other methods you can devise. You would be countering a DC to be determined by the individual merchants you encounter, some being easier to haggle with than others. Keep this in mind when going about your business buying and selling things, both in the Wharf and elsewhere.
- Captains Log
- [SHOW]
- As the game progresses I will keep rough running list of important events, just so it is easier to keep track of what's happened without digging through old posts.
* Encounter 1 - the crew fights on the deck of a merchant vessel, easily win
* Encounter 2 - the crew fights below deck of the merchant vessel, killing the captain, rescuing a prisoner named Daphne and recruiting a magister calling himself 'Ice Man' to the crew
* merchant crewman claims Daphne is a seer, and was being taken to Wastrel's Wharf
* Blackwood sends Alador with the capture merchant vessel to sail ahead of the Saint.
* days later, a navy ship is seen pursuing the merchant vessel. The Saint chases, flanking it as it tries to sink the vessel.
* Encounter 3 - the crew fights on the deck of the navy ship, slaying its captain and encountering a high ranking officer claiming to be Daphne's brother
* Encounter 4 - the crew fights Jean-Claude (the officer) and the remaining navymen below deck, which culminates in him setting the ship on fire, killing himself in the process.
* the crew manages to escape the inferno intact, some loot is salvaged from the ship before it sinks
* the Saint makes it to Wastrel's Wharf...
Location Info
- Gangs of (New) Talguta
- [SHOW]
- stuff