Captain Hiram Smith (3.5e NPC)
Captain Hiram Smith is among the most infamous pirates along the coast, captaining his ship, the Cold Dead Fish. His first mate is Velvet Tea, a half-elf of considerable abilities and questionable loyalty. There is a 15,000 gp reward offered for his capture, and a 30,000 gp reward offered for his death.
| Male Villainous Fighter 8 | |
| LE M Humanoid (human) | |
| Init/Senses | +3/Listen +0, Spot +0 |
| Aura | evil alignment |
| Languages | common, orc |
| AC | 27, touch 15, flat-footed 20 (Masterwork Coat, Mithral Chain Shirt, Armor Enhancement +2, Swashbuckling Shield ability +3, Deflection +2, Natural Armor +2, Dexterity +3) |
| hp | 96 (8d10+16 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +8/+5/+2 |
| Speed | 30 ft. (6 squares) |
| Melee | Crystal Rapier +13/+8 (1d6+4/18-20 x2) *favored weapon +2 or |
| Melee | Crystal Dagger +11/+6 (1d4+2/x2) |
| Ranged | Masterwork Black Powder Pistol +12 (2d4+1/x3 + ranged trip, strength=10) *Two pistols, one shot each, second favored weapon +1 |
| Base Atk/Grp | +8/+10 |
| Atk Options | Intimidate +12 (swift) Rule of the Strong |
| Special Actions | Not So Easily Foiled (1/encounter), Lead by Example (1/encounter) |
| Combat Gear | potion of cure critical wounds |
| Abilities | Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8 |
| SQ | Villain, favored weapon (rapier), second favored weapon (black-powder pistol) |
| Feats | Combat Expertise, Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting |
| Skills | Balance +13, Bluff +9, Climb +12, Intimidate +12, Swim +12, Survival (sea) +10, Profession (ship captain) +10, Use Rope +13, Tumble +13 |
| Advancement | — |
| Possessions | combat gear plus 150 gp |
| Favored Weapon (Ex) | A favored weapon is treated as a magic weapon in most respects, including resisting sunder and bypassing DR/magic. |
| Extra Minions | This villain has four minions (the Bully Boys). He also has eight extra minions who are his pirate crew. |
| Lieutenant | Disloyal Lieutenant (Ex): This villain has a disloyal lieutenant named Velvet Tea. |
| Villain Role | Pirate Captain: This villain is a pirate captain. He replaces his skills with the following list: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Intimidate, Swim, Survival (sea), Profession (sea captain), Use Rope, and Tumble with ranks equal to the villain’s ECL. He gains the ability Swashbuckle (he gains a shield enhancement bonus while using a light weapon). |
| Villain Abilities | Swashbuckle (Ex): When using a light weapon, this villain gains his shield bonus to his armor class. He gains the Improved Combat Expertise, and Two Weapon Fighting feats. At 8th ECL, this becomes Improved Two-Weapon Fighting. The villain may use his BAB or his Use Rope score (whichever is better) when swinging on ropes.
Tough Ass (Ex): The villain gain a natural armor bonus equal to his deflection bonus. Evil Pact (Su): Once per battle, as a move action, this villain is healed and has all negative effects removed. This ability does not trigger an attack of opportunity. Lead by Example (Ex): Once per battle, when this villain damages any PC, his minions are heartened. They gain a +4 morale bonus to their Strength until the villain's next turn. Rule of the Strong (Ex): This villain may use his Strength bonus in place of his Charisma bonus when making Intimidate skill checks. In addition, if the villain is wearing a frightening mask, has a frightening visage, is dressed in spiked armor, or is otherwise arrayed in some obviously intimidating fashion, he may intimidate (demoralize opponent) opponents as a swift action. A humanoid race with a negative Charisma modifier counts as an intimidating visage, as well as most non-humanoid creatures types. Not So Easily Foiled (Ex): Once per encounter, the villain automatically makes his Will saving throw. This ability may be used after the villain has already missed his saving throw. This ability allows the villain to avoid all of the effects of the avoided spell, even those that affect the target on a successful save. |
Captain Smith makes his money by pirating and transporting human cargo to foreign lands. His current customer is the necromancer Worm Eater who is preparing an undead hoard and he needs living people to build his fiendish magical constructions and to feed his undead. The necromancer is desperate to get "better samples" from his suppliers. He needs powerful souls to create powerful lieutenants. Captain Smith has no trouble selling off people, but if he thinks that he can use you in his operation, he will offer you an officer's position aboard his ship, provided that you can eliminate the person who currently holds that job.
Captain Smith "inherited" the ship off its former owner, a notorious pirate captain. This former captain is now an undead minion of the Worm Eater.
Captain Smith usually gets his slaves from raiders that live along the coast. Among his favorite suppliers is his former Bully Boy, Black Pete.
Captain Smith by himself is CR8. With his bully boys, the encounter is CR10.
First Officer Velvet Tea
| Female Villainous Sneak 6 | |
| NE M Humanoid (Half-Elf) | |
| Init/Senses | +6/Listen +6, Spot +6 |
| Aura | Evil Aura |
| Languages | Common, Elven, Orcish |
| AC | 18, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+1 armor enhancement, +2 shield, +2 deflection, +3 dex) |
| hp | 30 (6d6+6 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +3/+8/+2 |
| Speed | 30 feet (6 squares) |
| Melee | Masterwork Rapier +8 (1d6) or |
| Melee | Masterwork Dagger +8 (1d4) |
| Ranged | Masterwork Pistols +7 (1d4, + ranged trip, Str=10) *two pistols |
| Base Atk/Grp | +4/+3 |
| Atk Options | +2d6 Sneak Attack, Feint (Bluff as a swift action) |
| Combat Gear | Potion of invisibility |
| Abilities | Str 8, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 14 |
| Feats | Favored Weapon Rapier +1, Evasive (Evasion, Improved Evasion, Uncanny Dodge), Swashbuckle (Combat Expertise, Two-Weapon Fighting), Con Artist (Appraise, Bluff and Skill Focus (Bluff)) |
| Skills | The villainous sneak's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise +7, Balance +9, Bluff +14, Climb +5, Diplomacy +8, Disable Device +7, Disguise +8, Hide +9, Intimidate |
| Advancement | — |
| Minions | She commands four pirate minions from Captain Smith's crew. |
| Villain Role | Con Artist: Con artists may use the Bluff skill in combat as a swift action. They have the Orator villainous ability. |
| Orator | He gains the class skills Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate with ranks equal to his ECL. |
- Immunity to sleep spells and similar magical effects, and a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects.
- Low-Light Vision: A half-elf can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
- +1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
- +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks.
- Elven Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf.
- Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic).
- Favored Class: Any. When determining whether a multiclass half-elf takes an experience point penalty, her highest-level class does not count.
Velvet Tea is the first mate of Captain Hiram Smith aboard the Cold Dead Fish. She handles most of his trading and other shore actions. Her ambition is to kill Hiram and seize the ship for herself. She has two big problems: she hasn't found anyone gullible enough to help her, and she hasn't found a way to avoid the retaliations of the necromancer Worm Eater who has already demonstrated that any slaver who dares to interrupt his slave supply is guaranteed to live a long and unhappy unlife. In the best of all possible worlds, those who help her get blamed by Worm Eater while she gets off Scott free.
Minions
Velvet Tea commands four pirates as her own minions. See Captain Smith's Pirate Crew.
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Captain Smith's Bully Boys (Minions)
| Male Villainous Fighter 4 | |
| CE M Humanoid (half-orc) | |
| Init/Senses | +1/Listen -2, Spot -2 |
| Aura | evil alignment |
| Languages | common, orc |
| AC | 21, touch 12, flat-footed 20 (+5 Breast Plate, +1 Villain Armor Enhancement, +2 Large Steel Shield, +1 Villain Shield Enhancment, +1 Dexterity, +1 Deflection) |
| hp | 34 (4d10+8 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +6/+2/+1 |
| Speed | 20 ft. (4 squares) in breastplate, base 30 ft. |
| Melee | battleaxe +9 (1d8+5/x3) *favored weapon +1 or |
| Melee | whip +8 (1d3+4/x2 nonlethal) |
| Ranged | javelin +5 (1d6+4/x2, 30 ft., carries three) |
| Base Atk/Grp | +4/+8 |
| Atk Options | Power Attack |
| Combat Gear | potion of cure critical wounds |
| Abilities | Str 18, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6 |
| SQ | darkvision, favored weapon (Battleaxe), orc blood |
| Feats | Balance, Power Attack |
| Skills | Balance +5, Intimidate +8, Use Rope +5, Swim +8. |
| Advancement | — |
| Possessions | combat gear plus 150 gp |
| Favored Weapon (Ex) | A favored weapon is treated as a magic weapon in most respects, including resisting sunder and bypassing DR/magic. |
| Minion Role | ‘’Galley Slave Driver:’’ Galley slave drivers gain skill ranks equal to their ECL in the following skills: Balance, Intimidate, Rope Use, Swim. They gain proficiency in Whip. They gain the Row Faster ability. |
| Villainous Abilities | Row Faster (Ex): Bully Boys apply the lash with glee. By cruel application of the whip, they cause the poor slaves who man their galley to row faster. During that time, the ship moves an additional ten feet (two squares) per turn. At the end of the row or forty minutes, the slaves become exhausted. |
The "bully boys" are the four crew members that Captain Hiram Smith trusts the most. He sends them on special tasks, and he uses them as his personal bodyguards in dangerous situations. Their favorite job is to whip the slaves who row for their galley.
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Captain Smith's Pirate Crew (Minions)
| Male Villainous Sneak 2 | |
| CE M Humanoid (Human) | |
| Init/Senses | +2/Listen +2, Spot +2 |
| Languages | Common, Orcish |
| AC | 13, touch 11, flat-footed 10 (Shield Enhancement +1 Dex +2) |
| hp | 9 (2d6+2 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +1/+5/+0 |
| Speed | 30 feet (6 squares) |
| Melee | club +3 (1d6+2) |
| Ranged | throwing knife +4 (1d4+2/x2), +1 to hit if within 30 feet of target or |
| Ranged | harpoon +4 (1d6+2/x2), +1 to hit if within 30 feet of target |
| Base Atk/Grp | +1/+2 |
| Atk Options | Sneak Attack +1d6, no penalty firing into melee |
| Combat Gear | None |
| Abilities | Str 14, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8 |
| Feats | Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot |
| Skills | Balance +4, Climb +3, Disable Device +3, Disguise +1, Hide +4, Jump +4, Knowledge (local, sea lore) +3, Listen +2, Move Silently +4, Profession (sailor) +2, Open Lock +4, Search +3, Sleight of Hand +4, Spot +2, Swim +4 , Tumble +4, and Use Rope +4 |
| Advancement | — |
| Possessions | combat gear plus 15 gp and gold teeth worth 1 gp. |
| Minion Role | Pirate Crewman |
These are Captain Hiram Smith's Pirate Crew.
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The Cold Dead Fish
The Cold Dead Fish is the pirate ship belonging to Captain Hiram Smith. She is a moderately fast ship, able to overtake most merchant vessels and outrun heavier military vessels. She is a galley powered by 140 to 200 slaves, whipped by the Bully Boys into fear and obedience. She has a sail which allows her to sail at slow speeds without the oars. If the wind is with her, the sail and oars together give this ship a speed to be reckoned with. The ship is equipped with a bridge that allows it to pull alongside an opposing ship, drop the bridge, and allow her crew to cross over easily.
References
- Captain Smith's Bully Boys (3.5e NPC)
- Captain Smith's Pirate Crew (3.5e NPC)
- Velvet Tea (3.5e NPC)
- Villainous Fighter (3.5e NPC Class)
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