Buccaneer was a term used to refer to rogues who dedicated their lives to piracy and the high seas. When legally sanctioned by a nation to perform their piracy, they were known as privateers.[1]
Culture[]
The behaviors and attitudes of buccaneers often overlapped with the bandits of land, such as desperation, cruelty, fiendish cunning, and a likelihood for internal squabbling.[1]
Sometimes buccaneer ships made alliances and cooperated to raid richly-laden mercantile vessels. Rivalries sometimes developed between buccaneer groups, especially when one carried a wealthy cargo of treasure. They tended to have secret sanctuaries where they would rest, store their provisions and treasure, and plan further acts of piracy.[1]
In interior Faerûn, buccaneers could be found in the Sea of Fallen Stars, particularly in the Pirate Isles[2][3][4] but occasionally showing up in the Dalelands[5] and the port city of Ravens Bluff.[6] In south Faerûn, there were a great deal of Dambrai half-drow buccaneers plying the Great Sea.[7]
In west Faerûn, buccaneers could be found in much of the Trackless Sea,[8][9] with many silver elves using this way of life to benefit Evermeet.[8] Buccaneers of the Trackless Sea often made port at the city of Skullport's Port district to take leave from their prolonged stays at sea,[10] frequenting establishments such as the Broken Pike, the Crock and the Helm, and Skin-Deep Tattoos.[11]
Abilities[]
Buccaneers eschewed many of the typical skills of thieves in favor of those befitting a sailor, such as navigating, swimming, and general seamanship. They often favored being able to decipher the secret codes that sometimes adorned maps. And they were particularly known for being adept at climbing and fighting on the ropes or rigging of ships.[1]
Possessions[]
Buccaneers typically dressed in a manner befitting sailors, eschewing any sort of armor as they preferred to to be light on their feet and because it would prove troublesome in water. Their choice of weaponry was also typical of sailors, such as cutlasses.[1]
History[]
In the mid–14th century DR, buccaneers of the Pirate Isles were one of the main threats facing the isle of Snowdown.[12]
In 1370 DR, in the month of Ches, a great deal of buccaneer crews in Skullport mutinied or nearly mutinied after not having leave for months.[13]
Notable Buccaneers[]
- Akbet-Khrul.
- Briney Valesaris, a half-elf buccaneer.[14]
- Carreigh Macumail, captain of the privateer vessel Mist-Walker.[15]
- Lanyard O' the Sail.[16]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 John Nephew, Carl Sargent and Douglas Niles (1989). The Complete Thief's Handbook. Edited by Scott Haring. (TSR), pp. 31–32. ISBN 0-88038-780-7.
- ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Tim Beach (1992). Gold & Glory. (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 1-56076-334-5.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 86. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Richard Baker (1993). The Dalelands. (TSR, Inc), p. 63. ISBN 978-1560766674.
- ↑ Jeff Quick ed. (January 1999). “Living City: Character Creation Guidelines”. Polyhedron #134 (TSR, Inc.), p. 27.
- ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 58. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Anne Gray McCready et al. (March 1994). Elves of Evermeet. (TSR, Inc), p. 112. ISBN 1-5607-6829-0.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 178. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
- ↑ Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), pp. 7, 24. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
- ↑ Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), pp. 34, 41, 48. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 43. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
- ↑ David Wise (1992). AD&D Trading Cards 1992 series, #193. TSR, Inc..
- ↑ John Nephew, Carl Sargent and Douglas Niles (1989). The Complete Thief's Handbook. Edited by Scott Haring. (TSR), p. 95. ISBN 0-88038-780-7.
- ↑ Mike Breault, David "Zeb" Cook, Jim Ward, Steve Winter (August 1988). Ruins of Adventure. (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 978-0880385886.