The Vesten Raiders

The Vesten Raiders haunt the waters of Théah, attacking any merchant ships that cross their paths. Often rowing their longships out of chilly fog banks to surprise unwary merchants, the Raiders have the powers of Vestenmennavenjar Skalds and stout Eisen mercenaries at their disposal. There is little merchants fear more than the steady thrumming of their heavy drums, beating time for the oars as the wind spills from the sails of their chosen victims.
When they first appear, the Vesten Raiders blow a ram’s horn three times. Their victim then has a choice: lower sails and surrender…or fight to the last hand. The Vesten are not interested in taking prisoners, as their own crew work the oars more reliably than any chained slave. However, in spite of this “no prisoners” policy, the Vesten are careful to leave one person alive from each crew who fights them, to spread the word of their deeds far and wide.
Hysterical stories have begun to circulate about ships with rune-covered figureheads that can spit lightning and battle-maddened Raiders wearing horned helmets, shrugging off blows that should have killed them. Sensible merchants ignore these rum-induced tales, but there’s no mistaking that the Vesten Raiders are a serious threat to all non-Vendel League merchant vessels.