Greymantle Raiders

Reports

It surprises some people to hear that in Greymantle Marsh--a region famously treacherous and full of deadly creatures and individuals--the occurrence of bandits is actually far below that of the rest of the kingdom. With a distinct shortage of roads and commonly-trafficked routes of travel outside of the main rivers, bandits have a hard time establishing themselves and evading the watchful eye of rangers. The merchants and travelers of Greymantle typically have more to fear from giant crocodiles, hags, and other outlandish threats that the rest of the kingdom would only have to fear in their wildest dreams.
However, this trend may be changing, as a complaint that the rangers have been hearing more often lately is that of at least one group of plunderers who seem to have successfully figured out how to make Greymantle's uniquely-challenging landscape work for them. These raiders are well-versed in the power of stealth and surprise, with numerous reports of them launching attacks from seemingly nowhere, striking loud and fast, and then disappearing in a flurry of speed that leaves their victims reeling.
When combining reports, the most successful ones all involve several small riders on deerback, often described as some combination of goblin, kobold, and sometimes a horned individual assumed to be a small Tiefling. Some attacks have involved rafts or small boats built to move quickly, perhaps pulled by crocodile for the speed with which they are able to maneuver and escape. These watercraft have either been used to wrangle and overthrow other vessels, or have waited in the mists to function as escape vehicles.
All that is known for sure by their victims and the rangers now hunting them down, is that the raiders are experts not only of traversing the swamp in general, but also in being familiar with the individual dangers and layout of the specific environments in which they launch their attacks.

Members

The core group of members is comprised of: a con artist, an expert marshland navigator, and a strike team trio. They have been shrewdly adding recruits as their success has afforded them better supplies and more creative equipment, slowly enlarging their operation.
Pearl Halftree: Halfling, female, con artist. Pearl is the face of the party, though she is never seen with them. She excels at running grifts and using disguises to pose most often as either a traveler of some sort when arriving at a settlement to gather information, or as a swamp guide or hired guard for groups wanting to travel the swamp. She also does most of the hiring.
Willan Desimni: Half-elf, male, navigator. Main getaway driver and source of knowledge about the marshy wilderness. There is speculation that he was once either a ranger or a scout, but he has never confirmed this.
Vurly Onioneater, Grin, Shellbells: Goblin, male; Kobold, nonbinary; Satyr, female. The strike team work very well together, and are more or less unshakable as a team. They're fast, strong, and smart.
Trample, Prongs, Slush, Bad-Feet: Marsh Deer
Fishbelly, Lightning: Three-Twins Back crocodiles

Tactics

The raiders attack both merchant and civilian targets, causing ample fear and destruction in the course of their work. Through various methods, they use disorientation to smash, loot, and run.
The group isn't above roughing people up and potentially leaving them without supplies or defenses that they may need in the middle of the swamp, but they try not to hurt anyone too badly or sink vessels. They avoid directly killing at all costs. The individuals of the group may not all have the same reasons for these guidelines, but they have all at least agreed to them without argument.
New recruits may feel differently about their methods or guidelines, but anyone who isn't going to uphold the raiders' code is not invited back. If the core group feels that anyone is in danger of betraying them, Pearl is especially talented at finding ways to get them in trouble first. Luckily, this has not often become a problem for them. Almost all of the lucky few invited to join the group have remained with them loyally--much to the annoyance of those trying to learn more about and combat the group.

Questions

Lockinge City: Do they have any ties to Lockhinge? Theoretically, they're staying away from the city even though they seem skilled enough to have a lucrative career in the thieves guild. Perhaps most of the members are either unwelcome in Lockhinge because of bridges they've burned, (such as the navigator potentially being an ex-ranger and the con artist maybehaving enemies in the guilds,) or had only ever been part of groups that aren't allowed in Lockhinge City as a general rule, such as the Karakatan's Fists. Do they risk resting in Lockhinge, do they avoid it entirely, or do they plan on stepping up their game there once they have enough clout? They at least have to be extremely careful whenever they operate anywhere near the big city.
History: How did the members initially meet? Was it a gradual thing, finding members that had commonalities and complimenting skills, or did their association with each other go deeper or further back than that? Have they always been involved in criminal activity (like a career con artist), or did they start out on one path and turn to a life of crime later (such as once serving with the rangers)? Did they perform other, less-successful crimes as a group before perfecting their methods of raiding?
Goals: Are they planning on always pirates, simply perfecting what they have now, or do they want to grow into a more formidable band? If so, do their plans involve strengthening and upholding an independent, swamp-based empire, or do they want to eventually turn their sites on Lockhinge City or another large settlement? Maybe get into swamp (or other) heists? Do they have any connection to groups and activities that have presences in the Silver Strand? Do they (or some of them) have any other idealogical goals or tenants, or is it just piracy? (Freedom? Anarchy? Anticapitalism?)
Members: What are all of their backstories? Aside from crocodile and deer, do they have any other animals under their employ? Is there any truth to the rumor that one of their members is a druid with wild shape to help with their recon? Are there any current stressors within or without the group that is putting a strain on them? Are their relationships all still strong, at least among the core group? Do they have a leader, or does the core group share the leadership, and are all of them actually on the same page about this?
Status: Do they have a base of operations, or are they entirely nomadic? What do they do with their bounty? Do they sell their loot in lockhinge and/or other settlements when they pose as merchants? Do they have contacts and fences that they trust, and do those individuals know who they are? Do they have some other means of profiting off of their plundered goods?