“Captain” Baggs Degrin's page

Baggs Degrin
Baggs was born on the streets of Riddleport. His mother was a priestess of Calistria, his father a known pirate who visited there often. His childhood was not harsh but the streets of Riddleport were not easy by any means. His father wanted little to do with him, but he dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps non-the-less. When he was 12 he ran away and hopped on the first vessel that would let him come aboard, a pirate ship named The Shrew. He found out that his father’s name (Edward the Black) did have some use as this crew of murderous scum treated Baggs with some respect. He found out he had a knack talking with the crew and he became well liked by most of them. Several years later he was a full member of the crew and would fight with the rest to get his share of the spoils. It was just a few years later though when Bagg’s luck went sour.
*
The mist was thick, you could taste the salt water in the night air. It was a night for killing, a night for mutiny Baggs thought. “What say ye lads, ye ready to get even with the skipper for what e dun to us?” Captain Velos was a cruel taskmaster. We had been raiding the coast for months with little luck and the boys were done with him. His bad luck had cost us several of the mates, including me good friend, Gibly when we attached a schooner that was particularly well defended and they fought us off.
*
After Baggs got agreement from the lads they went up to Velos’ cabin and barged in. Velos stood there half naked about to enjoy his slave girl. He turned to us looking uncertain, “What you boys about? Get back to your stations before I have Hemar give you some lashes.” Hemar lay in his bunk with his throat slashed, I had already taken care of him. Hemar enjoyed his first mates position and particularly the whip a little too much. “I’m afraid Capin that Hemar won’t be handing out any more lashes or any more of ye orders. Your time is up, get im boys.”
*
We grabbed Velos, took him to the deck and threw him into the water. “To the sharks with ye Capin! Well boys, things are about to look up me thinks.” After a quick vote, I was named Captain of the Shrew, the 3rd since I had boarded her those 6 years ago. My first order solidified my position, “The Capin’s girl is to be shared among the crew tonight boys!” I was young, probably too young to be Captain but there was no one else who was as popular to oppose me, especially after that order. “Now none of ye be breakin the girl or else I’ll ave your guts, ye hears me?” We would need to head to port to get more men, the crew was light. We changed course that night for port in the Shackles. Our luck in fact did not look up though, in fact it was about to go very bad. I would be the Captain with the shortest length of service ever for the Shrew.
*
That morning we were ourselves attacked by a pirate frigate. As the ship was boarded I knew we were finished. The Silver Sword was a known pirate ship with an experienced and larger crew that made short work of most of the boys. Smart enough to know we were done for I dived overboard with a barrel and swam away as me mates were brought to their end. It was shear luck that a vessel, the Sassy Lady, would run across me in the water almost a week later. Barely alive, but mostly intact I began my journey with that ship going were it would take me, which happened to be Port Peril. He ends up at the Formidably Maid down on his luck and with little coin in his pocket. He figures he can find work on another ship and start again here!
Personality – Baggs is a sociable sort that uses people to get what he wants. On the flip of a dime though he can get very serious and appear very dangerous. He is not above doing anything needed to get it done. He is loyal to those who becomes his friends, but he is not foolish enough to throw his life away on a hopeless cause though. He is also very opportunistic.