The current crew consists of:
-Fafnir Novaddr, Half-Giant Psychic Warrior (Thunderjarl)
-Stedaniel, Human Fighter (Aquanaut)
-Smash, Goblin Alchemist (Winged Marauder)
-Turli Smash-Smash, Goblin Unchained Barbarian (Primal Hunter/Invulnerable Rager)
-Maarin, Undine Alchemist (Gun Chemist/Mind Chemist)/Investigator (Empiricist)
-Hakkar Ivarrson, Human Hunter (Forester)
They lost a few characters so far.
DEAD:
-Kith, Ratfolk Inquisitor - chewed to death by a giant moray eel.
-Tabansi, Human Swashbuckler - died during the mutiny at the hands of Captain Plugg
RETIRED (Semi or Fully)
-Chance, Half-Orc Bard (Archaologist)/Swashbuckler/Oracle (Got a better offer working for Cheliax)
-Kin, Ratfolk Fighter (Still the ship's quartermaster, but after his brother's death he's desperately trying to find a way to bring him back)
My group is decent at optimization, so I've ramped up just about every combat by adding the Advanced template and maximizing HP per HD for monsters/enemies. Plugg was 11th level, Scourge was 8th, and there were tons of additional threats they needed to face down along the way. They are just getting the ship squibbed at the moment, but they're already pushing 6th level. Which I'm okay with- considering the entire AP finishes at like 15th or 16th, and I want to stretch it as close to 20th as possible.
They voted (and made amazing speeches), and the entire crew (Rahadoumi press-ganged included) voted Fafnir into temporary captainship- until the ship is squibbed. Then a second, more intense debate will occur, but it's been almost unanimously decided that Hakkar will become captain.
I've developed an intricate NPC generator to randomize what kinds of crewmembers they can hire at various ports. They can spend their time hiring 1d4+1 nameless 1st level ship hands, or they can spend multiple days tracking down and convincing capable members of the crew to join in- but each one alters the political atmosphere on the ship. So far, their biggest detractors are Aretta and Narwhal. They killed/lost quite a few along the way, and are slowly rebuilding their skeleton crew by doing favors for Rickety and impressing the few locals around his establishment.
MOTIVATIONS:
I love the characters my players made, and how they've allowed me to tie it into an ongoing storm of storylines that has been growing since their first day in Port Peril.
Fafnir believes he was born of a storm, and he and his little brother (psicrystal) are trying to work their way to the Eye of Abendego to see if they're related.
Smash is Turli's son. Smash-Smash is a title that Turli hopes his son will someday take over for him- thus why he named his son Smash (so he'd someday become Smash Smash-Smash). Unfortunately, his son has taken to reading and writing and has learned some tricks of alchemy. Their tribe was slaughtered.
Stedaniel was inside a sealed, stasis-lined crate in the wreck of the Infernus. There he slept for over a dozen years. Upon rescuing him, they discovered he was the son of an important man- and was kidnapped for it. After the wreck of the Infernus, all thought he was dead. Now he can return and claim his rightful place as heir.
Maarin was a siege engineer and tinker working for Rickety Hake, and was sent with the party to rescue the workers taken by the wasps. She is DEADLY with her gun, and promises to design and build cannons for her new crew.
Hakkar was a captain from years before, but retired after being cursed with a wasting disease. It was a curse enacted by his brother, who gained the power that he himself lost. Then, one day, the edge of the weakness dissipated. Soon his energy began to return, and with it his age. He realized his brother had finally died. He now is returning to the sea to dominate it once again as the dreaded Captain Bloodbather.
