You were once a proud member of Captain Mad Dog’s infamous pirate crew, feared across the seas for your daring raids and ruthless tactics. Under Captain Mad Dog’s command, you plundered ships and coastal villages alike, building a reputation as one of the most dangerous pirate fleets to ever sail the high seas. That all came to a bloody end when the dread vampire pirate, Captain Burnhart, ambushed your crew in a brutal night attack. The slaughter was swift and merciless—your comrades fell one by one, drained of life or torn apart, while you were left to witness the carnage. For reasons unknown, Captain Burnhart spared your life, marking you as the only survivor of that doomed battle.
Now haunted by the memories of your fallen crew and the mystery of why you were kept alive, you sail the seas with vengeance in your heart. Some say you’re cursed; others whisper that you were marked by Burnhart himself. Regardless, the sea calls to you once more, and your thirst for revenge has made you more dangerous than ever.
- Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Navigator's Tools, Vehicle Proficiency (Water)
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A bloodstained pirate flag from Mad Dog’s ship, a weapon/keepsake from a fallen crew member, a set of tattered clothes from your Mad Dog pirate days, and a pouch containing 10 gold.
As a survivor of the infamous slaughter by Captain Burnhart, your past as a Mad Dog Pirate has left you with both scars and strengths. This table captures the lingering effects of that horrific night, the unique skills you honed under Captain Mad Dog’s ruthless command, and the dark, supernatural influence that now follows you. Roll on this table during moments of high tension or pivotal decisions to determine how your traumatic past or Burnhart’s mysterious mark might affect your actions, encounters, or relationships.
| d6 | Tides of Blood and Shadow |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bloodlust Flashback: The memories of your crew’s slaughter surge to the surface. You become reckless and aggressive, gaining advantage on attack rolls for 1 minute, but suffer disadvantage on Wisdom and Charisma saving throws for the same duration. |
| 2 | Burnhart’s Influence: The dark mark left by Captain Burnhart makes its presence felt. You sense nearby undead or vampire-related activity within 60 feet for 10 minutes. However, undead creatures are also drawn to you during this time. |
| 3 | Survivor's Instinct: Your harrowing experience has heightened your instincts. For the next hour, you gain advantage on Perception and Survival checks. However, you feel constantly on edge, making it difficult to rest or relax during this time. |
| 4 | Echoes of the Past: A ghostly whisper or fleeting image of your fallen crew haunts you. For the next hour, you are distracted and suffer disadvantage on all Intelligence and Wisdom checks. However, you gain advantage on saving throws against fear effects. |
| 5 | Pirate's Luck: Despite the horrors you’ve endured, the seas seem to favor you today. You gain inspiration and can reroll one failed skill check or saving throw of your choice within the next 24 hours. |
| 6 | Mad Dog’s Fury: The spirit of Captain Mad Dog seems to ignite within you, fueling your desire for revenge. Once during the next combat, you can deal extra damage equal to your level to a single target, but you suffer one level of exhaustion afterward. |
Burnhart’s decision to spare your life has left a mark on you, one that other pirates and supernatural beings can sense. While some may fear or respect you for surviving such an encounter, others view you with suspicion or see you as a target. You gain advantage on Intimidation checks against pirates and undead creatures, but your reputation precedes you. Wherever you go, rumors of your connection to Captain Burnhart and the massacre may cause doors to close—or open—in unexpected ways.
Suggested Characteristics
Pirates who survive the destruction of their crew often carry deep scars, both mental and physical. You may be driven by revenge, haunted by guilt, or strangely fascinated by your encounter with Captain Burnhart.
Personality Traits:
- I never back down from a fight, no matter how outnumbered I am.
- The sea is my home, and I feel more at ease there than on land.
- I hide my fear behind bravado and dark humor.
- I keep mementos from every ship I plunder, a reminder of past victories.
Ideals:
- Vengeance. I will hunt down Captain Burnhart and make him pay for what he did to my crew. (Chaotic)
- Freedom. No one can chain me again—not man, beast, or vampire. (Chaotic)
- Survival. I’ll do whatever it takes to stay alive. (Neutral)
- Redemption. I seek to atone for the lives I took while serving under Mad Dog. (Good)
Bonds:
- I carry a keepsake from a fallen crew member and swear to honor their memory.
- I owe my life to Captain Mad Dog, and I won’t rest until I avenge them.
- Captain Burnhart left me alive for a reason, and I must uncover why.
- The sea is my true love, and I’ll do anything to protect it.
Flaws:
- I can’t shake the nightmares of that fateful night.
- My temper often gets the better of me, leading to reckless decisions.
- I’m obsessed with finding Captain Burnhart, to the point of ignoring other dangers.
- I don’t trust easily, fearing betrayal at every turn.
| d4 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I never back down from a fight, no matter how outnumbered I am. |
| 2 | The sea is my home, and I feel more at ease there than on land. |
| 3 | I hide my fear behind bravado and dark humor. |
| 4 | I keep mementos from every ship I plunder, a reminder of past victories. |
| d4 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Vengeance. I will hunt down Captain Burnhart and make him pay for what he did to my crew. (Chaotic) |
| 2 | Freedom. No one can chain me again—not man, beast, or vampire. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Survival. I’ll do whatever it takes to stay alive. (Neutral) |
| 4 | Redemption. I seek to atone for the lives I took while serving under Mad Dog. (Good) |
| d4 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I carry a keepsake from a fallen crew member and swear to honor their memory. |
| 2 | I owe my life to Captain Mad Dog, and I won’t rest until I avenge them. |
| 3 | Captain Burnhart left me alive for a reason, and I must uncover why. |
| 4 | The sea is my true love, and I’ll do anything to protect it. |
| d4 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I can’t shake the nightmares of that fateful night. |
| 2 | My temper often gets the better of me, leading to reckless decisions. |
| 3 | I’m obsessed with finding Captain Burnhart, to the point of ignoring other dangers. |
| 4 | I don’t trust easily, fearing betrayal at every turn. |
Contacts
As a former member of Captain Mad Dog’s crew, you’ve sailed with all manner of cutthroats, rogues, and seafaring folk. Some of these connections still linger, though your reputation as the sole survivor of the massacre at Captain Burnhart’s hands makes many wary of associating with you. However, there are those who see your survival as a sign of strength, or perhaps even destiny, and will offer aid or information—provided it serves their own interests. Pirates, smugglers, tavern owners, and even supernatural entities may cross your path, either as allies or enemies, depending on how your reputation has spread.
The mark left by Burnhart means you may also attract the attention of other vampires or those who hunt them, seeking to exploit or unravel the mystery of why you were spared.
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