Shackles Pirates

From PathfinderWiki
Shackles Pirates
The symbol of the Shackles Pirates: a skull atop crossed shackles on a red and black quartered field
(Organization)

Leader
4715 AR—: Tessa Fairwind
4674–4715 AR: Kerdak Bonefist
Alignment
Headquarters
Goals
Plunder
Scope
National
Structure
Loose organisation of pirate fleets
Members
Pirates
Source: Faction Guide, pg(s). 46
See also: Shackles pirate

The Shackles Pirates are a loose collection of pirates, thieves, smugglers, extortionists, sailors, freedom-fighters, and other n'er-do-wells based in the archipelago of the Shackles off the western coast of Garund, south of the Eye of Abendego. Once a collection of independent pirate lords, they joined together as a single fleet in 4674 AR under then-Hurricane King Kerdak Bonefist to prey on the shipping channels to the north.123

History

As of 4708 AR, the nation of Nidal had recently allowed vessels of the Shackles Pirates to dock in Nisroch. By so doing they managed to simultaneously annoy both Cheliax and Andoran, which is no mean feat.4 The Nidalese bought slaves from the pirates, which they then transported through the Shadow Caverns and sold to denizens of the Darklands.5

Organization

They have no true headquarters, operating instead out of the numerous coves and settlements of the Shackles. In theory, anyone is welcome to join the organisation—including the crews of captured ships. They value their freedom above all else, and as a result are very loosely organised. Individual crews serve a Free Captain, most Free Captains band together in the service of a pirate lord, and the lords serve on the Pirate Council under the leadership of the Hurricane King or Queen.6

Operations

The Shackles Pirates attack shipping in the region of the Eye of Abendego, relying on local knowledge and superior seamanship to outsail enemy warships—typically those of Cheliax and Rahadoum—but raid as far north as the Arch of Aroden. They also raided the shipping of Sargava until negotiating a hefty tribute from the former colony in return for protecting it from Cheliax,7 and hostilities resumed after the Vidric Revolution resulted in the nation becoming Vidrian and ceasing its protection payments.8

Members

Current and past Shackles Pirates include:

Squadrons

Vessels

Shackles pirates prefer ships that balance size with range and capacity, though a definition any more precise than that is open to fervent debate. The recent arrival of Free Captain Satekai's Tian-made Red Fortune, which exemplifies this balance, has set up a growing demand for similar Tian ships among other Shackles pirates.14

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. James Jacobs, et al. “The Shackles” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 170. Paizo Inc., 2011
  2. Amber E. Scott. “Dangerous Waters” in Pirates of the Inner Sea, 3. Paizo Inc., 2012
  3. Jason Nelson. “NPC Gallery” in From Hell's Heart, 48. Paizo Inc., 2012
  4. Tim Hitchcock. Nisroch” in Cities of Golarion, 39. Paizo Inc., 2009
  5. James Jacobs & Greg A. Vaughan. “Exploring the Darklands” in Into the Darklands, 8. Paizo Inc., 2008
  6. Joshua J. Frost, et al. Shackles Pirates” in Faction Guide, 46. Paizo Inc., 2010
  7. James Jacobs, et al. “The Shackles” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 170–171. Paizo Inc., 2011
  8. Laura-Shay Adams, et al. Vidrian” in The Mwangi Expanse, 276–278. Paizo Inc., 2021
  9. 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 Amber E. Scott. “Dangerous Waters” in Pirates of the Inner Sea, 14. Paizo Inc., 2012
  10. James Jacobs, et al. “The Shackles” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 171. Paizo Inc., 2011
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Mike Shel. “Shackles Gazetteer” in Isles of the Shackles, 6. Paizo Inc., 2012
  12. Michael Sayre, et al. “5: The Rotating Gear” in Guns & Gears, 218. Paizo Inc., 2021
  13. Amber E. Scott. “Dangerous Waters” in Pirates of the Inner Sea, 14. Paizo Inc., 2012 Month and year estimated from publication date.
  14. Amber E. Scott. “Dangerous Waters” in Pirates of the Inner Sea, 15. Paizo Inc., 2012