Serpent's Head Cartel

The Serpents Head Cartel is said to have been founded at the start of the Third Era but only became known to the public in more recent years. The Serpents Head Cartel has always been headed by the strongest and or sneakiest pirate captain of the time and under them are 5 other captains that assist in making sure Bilgewater stays in one piece. The founder of the Serpents Head Cartel is lost to time but some notable captains that found a seat at the table whether it be the Head or not have found themselves immortalized in The Book of Thieves; A ledger that keeps the tales of the most skilled pirates that called Bilgewater home alive and to be learned from. The current leader of the Cartel is one Captain Rhirk "The Swiftclaw"; a notorious Aarakocran pirate known for his skill and cold heartedness and unlike most stories connected to Cartel leaders in the past the 5 captains that serve under Rhirk in the Cartel either Respect or Fear him too much to attempt a mutiny against him

Current Cartel Members

Rhirk The Swiftclaw, Leader of The Serpent's Head Cartel
Race: Aarakocra (Peregrine Falcon)
Summary: Rhirk has been a resident of Bilgewater for as long as he can remember and even his earliest memories had him wanting to be the head of the Cartel. Rhirk spent a decade training himself and gathering a crew he believed strong enough to take what he wanted. When Rhirk was 26 he found himself invited to join the table he accepted and put his years of planning into motion. Within the first week of him joining Rhirk had already killed three of the other members because they refused to mutiny against the current head; One Horace Bloodfinger an older Half-Orc; the only one who joined Rhirk was a Satyr named Thaddeus Bloomsong who had no intention of dying yet. Within 3 days Rhirk killed Horace; earning him the moniker of "The Swiftclaw"; and took his place as Head of the Cartel and Thaddeus relinquished his chair to serve as Rhirk's first mate and advisor
Petara Heart Eater
Race: Gith/Subrace: Githyanki
Summary: Petara is a brutal Githyanki Pirate that has sailed multiple seas and made them run red with the blood of those she killed. Before Petara found herself near Bilgewater she already had a Continental reputation as "The Heart Eater" as most most of her victims were found with their heart ripped out and with bite marks taken out of it. When Petara landed at Bilgewater most expected for her to be killed on the spot as they believed she was too dangerous for even Rhirk to handle. Instead Rhirk almost immaediately offered her a position at The Cartel's table as he believed the Cartel could use someone like her and Petara offered her alleigance to him because she saw strength in him like none she'd ever seen. It is only known to those Petara truly trusts that she is not a rogue Githyanki and still worships Vlaakith
Tink Sparklehand, Father of Death
Race: Fairy
Summary: Even before Rhirk took over as Captain of the Cartel he had the intention of offering Tink Sparklehand a seat at the table. Tink Sparklehand earned the moniker of "Father of Death" after he invented multiple killer chemical weapons that could be fired from a ship cannon and the only reason he was never offered a seat at the table was because he was not a Pirate Captain but just an insane artificer. When Rhirk killed Horace he took his body straight to Tink, offered him a seat at the table and asked him to turn Horace's body into a chemical trap for the bounty hunter ships that were making their way to Bilgewater to take as many bounties as they could dead or alive. Tink completed the task with vigor and used the bodies of random pirates that Rhirk and his crew killed during the mutiny to make more body bombs. Tink watched with glee as puff of green gas appeared over horizon after Bounty Hunters boarded the trapped ship. After it was done Rhirk sent some of his crew to check out the damage and found the casualties to be more than 100 Bounty Hunters killed by Tink's Death Gas.
Lashar, King of the Swamps
Race: Aligotarian (https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Aligotarian_(5e_Race))
Summary: When Lashar was a young Aligotarian he always feared the outsiders that would enter the swamp and either hunt the monsters or his people so he vowed he would become strong enough to scare those away from his home; Lashar didn't have to wait long to do that. At the young age of 15, Lashar managed to overpower and tame The Twin Albinos; A pair of massive Albino Crocodiles that had terrorized his home for years. Lashar then used the Albino Twins to raid various bandit encampments in the swamp and with the help of various Aligotarians, Lizardfolk and Troglodytes by the age of 22 Lashar had built an empire in the swamp and even had a ship to raid settlements outside the swamp. Lashar quickly became known to pirate society as the King of the Swamps and no pirate or bandit dared enter his territory. Except one, after Rhirk took over Bilgewater he wanted Lashar to have a seat at the table so he entered the swamp to search for him. Rhirk was quickly captured and brought before Lashar's massive 8ft+ form but rather than kill him Lashar was rather suprised at Rhirk's boldness and accepted the offer.
Ruggon, Betrayer of Faith
Race: Bugbear
Summary: Ruggon was once the greatest Paladin of Galu before he was persuaded by an unknown being to betray his god, break his oath and live as a dread pirate on the open sea. This being granted Ruggon dark powers and rage that would match the strength of the ocean. Ruggon quickly grew in notoriety as many who sailed the seas already knew who he was. Ruggon attempted to take over Bilgewater on the orders of his new Master but was beaten soundly by Rhirk who made a deal with the Being that he would grant Ruggon a ship, crew and a chair at the table and Rhirk would then own half of Ruggon soul as collateral. The Being accepted not wanting to lose it's greatest asset
Mara Lastimen, The Shanty Maestro
Race: Human
Summary: The Immortal known as Mara Lastimen has gone by many names and worked in many jobs on the high seas but her most recent identity of that is a pirate captain. The thing about this actual nameless Immortal is that no one knows she's immortal even though stories of her can be found in many a child's storybook; one such tale is her true story and that is the tale of Galu's Demigod daughter who despite the guidance of her father only wants to have fun and go on adventures. The facade of Mara Lastimen is a sadist who finds fun in the violence of a pirate life and a true talent who's songs give her crew the encouragement to do anything for the captain. Mara earned her seat at the table by boldly killing "Rifleman" Jack Gallan; A Half-Elf Ranger/Fighter; during Rhirk's negotiations with him. Rhirk rather than be upset was more than happy to offer the seat to someone so willing to kill to impress him

Type

Illicit, Cartel