Captain Tabran Tain

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Captain Tabran Tain of the *Scoundrel’s Hope*

Human Rog5/Pirate5

*Skills and Feats:* Appraise +7, Balance +10, Bluff +13, Diplomacy +15, Disable Device +9, Escape Artist +12, Listen +13, Move Silently +13, Open Lock +13, Profession (sailor) +13, Search +7, Spot +13, Swim +16, Tumble +16, Use Rope +16; Dodge, Weapon Finesse, Quick Draw, Mobility, Leadership.

*Possessions:* *+1 rapier*, *+1 short sword*, ''Scoundrel’s Hope'', *Rogue’s Glory*, *+1 studded leather*, composite shortbow (Str +3), 60 arrows, masterwork thieves’ tools, Huge *+2 trident of water breathing* (bolted to hull of *Scoundrel’s Hope* as a ram)

*Cohort:* Kami, 9th-level female telekinetic.

*Modified Dread Pirate class:* At 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th level, Captain Tain gains sneak attack +1d6 rather than reputation +2.

*"Take what you can; give nothing back!”*

Born in a rough part of the coastal village of Cove in Danaspree, Tabran ran away to sea at a young age. He learned the art of seamanship from many skilled sailors, and aged eighteen signed on with the crew of the two-masted brig *Alzinath*, a mid-range hauler. However, after getting the ship’s master throughly drunk, Tabran learned that the ship’s owners planned to scuttle her off the coast of Danaspree and blame pirates, hoping to cash in on the insurance.

Rather than seek official assistance, Tabran hatched his own plan. Recruited a number of his fellow sailors, Tabran simply sailed away from the dock that same night, leaving the traitorous master high and dry.

Changing the name of the *Alzinath* to the *Scoundrel’s Hope*, Tain became a pirate, robbing merchantmen at swordpoint and making a name for himself on the high seas. The reputation of this young upstart spread quickly, due to his adoption of his own Pirate Code, which he required all of his crew to abide by.

The Pirate Code

Article the First: The authority and dignity of the captain is not to be questioned under any circumstances whatsoever.

Article the Second: All ships of non-allied nations, whether warships, merchantmen or otherwise, are to be considered targets and enemies.

Article the Third: Any ship taken in honourable combat is not to be sunk, nor her crew killed, unless they refuse to surrender and offer impertinence to the crew.

Article the Fourth: Any treasure, plunder, loot, gold or other precious metals, gems, art objects, magical items, enchanted weapons or armour, artifacts or other items of value are to be divided according to this Code.

Article the Fifth: On the division of treasure: one quarter to be held in trust for the poor and needy; one eighth for the captain; one sixteenth for each mate; the remaining half to be equally distributed amongst the men.

Article the Sixth: Should a ship surrender and her crew and passengers captured, they are not to be harmed or impertinence offered: they are to be kept and guarded until landfall is reached, at which point they shall be put ashore. Any man found to offer injury or harm to a prisoner without cause shall receive ten lashes and forfeit his share of the treasure from the prisoner’s vessel.

Article the Seventh: Any man found guilty by his captain of cowardice, mutiny or betrayal of the Code shall be punished at his captain’s discretion; such punishment may include death or marooning.

Article the Eighth: Any lady or maiden captured from a vessel, regardless of the circumstances of combat or the attitude of the vessel’s crew, shall be treated with respect and courtesy. Any violation of this Article will be punished most fiercely.

Article the Ninth: Any individual may request the right of parley with the captain of a pirate vessel. That individual shall be considered under the captain’s personal protection until the parley is concluded. Hostilities may, at the captain’s discretion, be suspended against the individual’s vessel or town until the conclusion of parley.

Article the Tenth: These be more like guidelines than actual rules.

Article the Eleventh: Regarding the quarter of the treasure that is dedicated to the poor – remember, it’s rob from the rich, give 25% to the poor after reasonable expenses.

Article the Twelfth: The singing of pirate songs is actively encouraged: all hands are expected to know Mitch Benn’s “Pirate Song” and the Muppets’ “Professional Pirate”. A knowledge of the complete score to “Meet Me In St Louis” can also be valuable.

Article the Thirteenth: Under no circumstances whatsoever is the vessel to be taken within one (1) nautical mile of any whirlpools; malestroms; waterspouts; water gods; water gods’ sacred places; mysterious vanishing islands; mysterious materialising islands; islands with mountains shaped like skulls; islands with a name including the words “spooky”, “creepy”, “haunted”, “dead man’s”, “death” or “hydrocolonic”; islands which look just like a giant turtle; islands from which no man returns; islands reputed to have dragons on them; anywhere where the map says “Here be dragons”; or any line on the map marked as “Edge of the World”. The world may indeed be round, but we are not experimenting with my ship.

Article the Fourteenth: Any man making snide comments about discretion practised in the face of Article the Thirteenth to be punished with a swift kick in the chops.

Article the Fifteenth: When in combat with a pirate’s most deadly enemy, no quarter shall be asked or given. Death to the ninjas!

Article the Sixteenth: If the captain should leave the ship in the face of an obvious trap, trusting to luck and courage to rescue his crew or his friends, the first mate shall wait no longer than one hour before taking the ship and going to rescue the captain.

Article the Seventeenth: When boarding a ship aboard which your captain is being held, remember: If it moves, shoot it. Unless it’s the captain.

Article the Eighteenth: Should you come across your captain locked in mortal combat with a rival or opponent, the correct response is not “This is something the captain has to do for himself.” It is to provide flanking benefit and start making sneak attacks.

Article the Nineteenth: “Stand by to repel boarders” does not mean going down to the passenger berths, hiding under the bed and leaping out as the captain gives them the tour, thus reducing our potential rental income.

Article the Twentieth: Anyone speaking in a gratiutious West Country accent, making a lot of eyepatch jokes and saying “Arr!” a lot will be punished with extra pay and his very own parrot.