Fleshing out the crew and Passengers on the Sea wyverns

[Delfedd]

My players are considering hiring the crew individually, interviewing them and whatnot. I can see them being interested in the stories of the random passengers. Perhaps we could put up stories of our passengers.

The Liothims

The Liothims are a family of three. Marcus is a bower and Olivia is a weaver, but the child is constantly wrapped in a tight cloak and rarely leaves their quarters. The parents do not give a name for the child when asked, and are aggressive when asked the child's name. Occassionally, pale blue flesh is seen under the child's cloak.

The truth about the Liothims is that they are a family of Doppelgangers. The child is an undeveloped youngling, and has not yet developed long term changing abilities. The Liothims hope to start a new life in Farshore, because in Sassarine their identities where discovered. Assuming new identities and hiding, they can only hope that the guilds do not have a prescience on the Sea Wyvern.

[MrFish]

Damn shapeshifters...that sounds fun. Could be innocuous, could be trouble depending on how things go. You could do a whole 'the thing' subplot during the Evil Sargasso episode.

I'd add a useful but very superstitious crewman--say a sailmaker or carpenter or someone else important--who can get people stirred up now and then a la "Master and Commander".

[Jaatu Bronzescale]

my backup character concept is a Tibbit from the Dragon Compedium who has tagged along in cat form on the wyvern or nixie until such time as I actually need to use him :)

since they normally adopt big folk as a family and protect them, it makes sense that he'd follow along on this grand adventure, inspite of all the water

[Brian McDaniel]

I haven't implemented this yet, but my plan is to prepare a bunch of index cards with pictures and brief descriptions of possible crew and passengers. The players will get to interview and select who they want to take with them, which could affect which encounters occur in SWW. Also, I'm hoping it will make them resent Avner being forced on them all the more.

BMM

[Delfedd]

Awesome! Do you think you could post the cards, or at least some of them?

[Richard Pett]

Niiiiiiiiice:)

[Guy Humual]

Here are my notes from SWW, feel free to use whatever, including turning the PCs into NPCs if you'd like:

Sea Wyvern Passenger list

01 Tristan Lidu *: (PC) Captain and conjuror of the Sea Wyvern. She’s known to mutter to herself and occationally talk in strange tongues. Has a toad familiar that she often talks to.

02 Kale Silverthumb *: (PC) Captain at Arms. Kale seems to revere oriental philosophy, clothing, and swordsmanship . . . even though he doesn’t seem to fully understand them.

03 Kiki *: (PC) Quartermaster. Kiki is quick of mind and body. Unfortunately she doesn’t take the time to think most things through. She is quite rash.

04 Buffy *: (DM PC) Ship medic. Priestess of Pelor. Very agreeable. Always seems to agree with the majority.

05 James Kidd *: (PC) Officer and Pilot. Seems cursed with bad luck. Quite clumsy. Seems to be a natural leader. Extremely good liar.

06 Orlani *: (NPC cohort) leading seaman and boatswain. James’ girlfriend and right hand. Seems far more competent then her boyfriend.

07 Fredrick Norrington *: (PC) Ship navigator and diplomat. Somewhat quite and reserved, only really comes alive during battles and difficult negotiations.

08 Churtle *: (NPC) ship cook. Churtle was rescued from the lotus dragons by the PCs and has agreed to stay on as their cook for the long journey. Churtle is also an expert poison maker. She almost never confuses her two professions.

09 Amella Venkalie *: (NPC) First Mate. Perhaps the most knowledgeable sailor aboard the Sea Wyvern. She is quick to voice her opinion and doesn’t shy away from a fight. She has a quick temper.

10 Father Feres (AKA Conrad Horst)*: (NPC) former priest, now lowly deckhand. Conrad is a con man who pretended to be a priest to escape justice. Claims to be a changed man after a near death experience . . . time will tell if this is true or if it’s another elaborate ruse.

11 Avner Meravanchi: (NPC) Passenger. Avner’s father is funding part of this expedition, claims that he’s sending Avner along to oversee his investment, in actuality he may have funded the expedition as a reason to get rid of Avner for a while. Avner is a clueless, spoiled, liar, and cheat. Is practically expected to throw a tantrum if he doesn’t get his own way.

12 Banaby Chisk: (NPC) Passenger. One of Avner’s valets. Quite, doesn’t socialize.

13 Quenge Asper: (NPC) Passenger. One of Avner’s valets. Quite, doesn’t socialize.

14 Lirith Veldirose *: (NPC) leading seaman. A flamboyant tomboy that loves to be the center of attention (good or bad).

15 Tavey Nesk *: (NPC) cabin boy. Eager to please and a hard worker. Has taken a shine to Kale for some reason.

16 Skald *: (NPC) leading seaman. Quite and mysterious. Skald acts like someone guilty of something. Actually on the run from dangerious individuals in Styes.

17 Urol Forol *: (NPC) ship’s science officer, secondary navigator, and expedition guide at Farshore. Urol loves bugs and nature. He also loves ancient ruins and danger. Quite possibly insane. Always cheerful.

18 Dorent Migter*: (NPC) Artillerist. Dwarven engineer. Clams to be the older brother.

19 Morlond Migter*: (NPC) Artillerist. Dwarven engineer. Clams to be the taller brother.

20 Davey Jones *: (NPC) ordinary seaman and deckhand. Davey can’t swim despite being at sea most of his life. Wants to marry an Olman girl and settle down somewhere.

21 John silver *: (NPC) ordinary seaman and deckhand. Always looking to drink and gamble. Perhaps the most superstitious member of the crew.

22 Rodger Jolly *: (NPC) ordinary seaman and deckhand. Despite his last name Rodger is almost always in a bad mood about something. Often can be found gambling with John.

23 Anne Bonney *: (NPC) ordinary seaman and deckhand. Big and quite, easily as strong as most men aboard ship, is best friends with Mary.

24 Mary Read *: (NPC) ordinary seaman and deckhand. Mary is loud and obnoxious. As bad as anyone for starting fights. She is often the one to throw the first punch.

25 Mitch Tailor: (NPC) passenger. Farmer and father. Enjoys smoking a pipe but can’t bellow deck. Often can be found topside at night smoking.

26 Wynona Tailor: (NPC) passenger. Mother and wife. Actual head of the Tailor family, Mitch quietly looks to his wife before making any decisions. Was a seamstress and weaver before marrying Mitch.

27 Will Tailor: (NPC) passenger. Middle son of the Tailor family. The eldest daughter and youngest son remained behind in Sasserine. Will is hoping to find a wife and help his father build a new farm at Farshore.

28 Mike Carpenter: (NPC) passenger. Mike is actually a carpenter by trade (like his last name suggests) but he’s also good at a large verity of odds and ends including smithy, masonry, and fishing. He hopes that he’ll be able to practice his wide verity of skills in Farshore away from the controlling influence of the trade guilds.

29 Lane Carpenter: (NPC) passenger. Like her husband Lane is also a master of many trades, including weaving, sewing, apothecary, and midwifery. She’d prefer to practice the latter two skills at Farshore so she’ll have something to pass down to her daughter.

30 Merriam Carpenter: (NPC) passenger. Only child of Mike and Lane. Merriam is almost sixteen and not happy about having to leave friends and family to journey to Farshore. Recently she has taken a liking to Will Tailor.

(* indicates crew member)

9 - 17 are named NPCs from the adventure.

[Sben]

I've listed the ones who aren't PCs, or NPCs named in the scenario, below. I stole some of the names from various posts on this forum, to make my life easier. I didn't do anything nearly as cool as a family of doppelgangers.

Most have been nonentities, aside from Adarion.

• Trade Nydal: First mate, solid and quiet.
  
• Arundel Adarion: Passenger, engineer bound for Farshore, pureblood Suel. The players were very suspicious that he was a member of the Scarlet Brotherhood and/or the cause of the various mishaps, until they finally found the real culprit. 100% red herring.
  
• Markos Black: Passenger, carpenter bound for Farshore.
  
• Churtle!
  
• Alain Karakos: Passenger, farmer bound for Farshore.
  
• Seth Lillane: Passenger, miner bound for Farshore.
  
• Ramon and Ana Swanger: Passengers, farmers bound for Farshore. They are either married or cousins (their story changes).
  

[Hired Sword]

Thanks for the great ideas. Here is my little contribution

Fenton Harcourt - a marginally successful merchant but full of bragadoccio and bombast. Boards the Sea Wyvern with 3 beautiful female companions.

Fenton's companions

• Eve Steele - beautiful woman with a dark secret
  
• Ruth Thrett - beautiful woman trying to escape her ilicit past.
  
• Magda Denbrek - scheming and beautiful widow wanting someone to fulfill her (financial) needs.
  

Fenton is looking to make a profit brokering these 3 women as wives to lonely and potentially bachelors at the colony. Not exactly slavery or prostitution, all Fenton wants is his finders fee.

I am sure many of you will recognize basis for these character(s). Play up that angle making it more or less sinister as fits your (or your groups) style.

[MrFish]

Nice--the nasty pimp!

BTW kudos on the post regarding Blackbeard's crew--hope they don't try to steal the ship.