Pirate Borg Crew #1 - Tower of the Black Pearl

 

Crew #1

Session 6: Tower of the Black Pearl - run 5/23/26

The crew # 1:

Zacharay - Francisco Morgan, Angler

Blakeley - Desiree "Schitzo" Junour, Rapscallion (possesseed by Raphe & Philippes)

Adrian - Klaas "Papa" Lutton, Swasbuckler sword master

Mark - Phineas "Bits" O'Donnel, Swashbuckler black powder poet

Selina - Tobias "ole tobi" Barrow - the Mess

Deborah - Scallion, the ship's Cat

Chris - Bartholomew Santiago, the Tattooed

Campaign Effect:

[ The climate has shifted. The skies have darkened, storms seem more powerful, and a foul mist is omnipresent upon the sea every dawn and dusk for a few hours.]

[ Port Royal has been devastated by an earthquake from a volcanic eruption.]

News spreads quickly through Nassau after the "Cry of the Murderer" docks. Her captain Hendrick "Gunpowder" Martin relays the tale to all who will listen at the Red herring Tavern. 

Knowing the "Blood Moon" happens tonight at midnight the crew set about getting their ships and crews ready for a quick departure. Santiago takes a pair of crewman over to Hog Isle to catch pigs for the galley on both ships.

Santiago goes hunting

Just after noon it is discovered that the "pig" hunters have not yet returned. Captain Desiree, Scallion, "ole tobi", and "Bits" O'Donnel go to check up the wayward fellows. Co-captain "Papa" stays behind to get everything ready for tonight with the aid of Louis "Red Shark" Jansen, while Francisco goes to catch a batch of freshwater fish with Doya at lake Killarney.

Santiago is rescued from a Necro-swine by the Captain and the others. He relates how a crazed Ash-dealer passing himself off as a tottering old Doctor tried to feed him to his "zom-pig!"

Just after midnight the crew guided by "Red Shark" arrive at the Tower as it peeks out above the surface of the calm waters. Another longboat is spied already moored to the tower and the crew sneak up on a trio of drunken Wretched sailors. The cultists are dispatched with ease and it is presumed that "Bloody Vane" has a head start on them for the Black Pearl. "Red Shark" stays with their longboat as his infirmity would only slow them down, and he asks only that they don't let "Vane" get the Pearl!

Braving many dangers, traps, and an ambush by some wretched cultists the crew soon find themselves face to face with "Bloody Vane". 

didn't stand a chance

The Wretched Captain doesn't get a chance to utter a word before the crew lay in with a surprise attack upon him and his remaining crew! Even the brutish Sharkman are laid low before they do barely a scratch or two upon our crew!

"Bloody Vane" reels under the relentless assault and dive into the black undersea grotto waters to escape the players. Thinking he's got away the crew relax only to be attacked by a giant crab that bursts from below the surface.

The crab thrashes Francisco and "ole tobi" then moves on to thrash "Bits" and "Papa"! At first it seems "Bits" is dead but his Charon's Obol brings him back from the brink of death! Things are looking grim when finally in a combined effort Santiago, "Papa", and Scallion are able to inflict enough damage to kill the crustacean!!! Upon death the creature magically transforms into the shredded form of "Bloody Vane".

Escaping a flooding room trap and after great effort crossing a brittle rope bridge the party finally enter the chamber of the Black pearl! A room filled with a pool of a thousand three foot long poisonous obsidian sea snakes between them and the Pearl. "ole tobi" suggests they use his bucket along with Francisco's fishing rod and have the boy cast the bucket over to the pearl and bring it to them.

Breathes are held, a die is rolled, they need an 18 for this to work and no one has any Devil's luck left at this point. 

The die comes up a "19"!!!  

As they get the Pearl the chamber shakes and cracks, seawater sprays into the room! The party runs back the way they came only to reach the rope bridge! Santiago says "we gotta swim out've here any way!" and jumps into the water churning waters below. Good rolls on their side the party are able to get back to the winding stairs and ascend the tower heading back to the surface as the floodwaters chase them and the realization that the tide is rising in the outside world! "Bits" almost loses his life again when he falls from the stairs as the crew escape the tower.

Returning to Nassau a few hours after dawn the crew head straight into town and carouse to celebrate their successful endeavor.

And the rumor spreads through Nassau....

The infamous Black Pearl of Atlantis has been found.

Stay tuned for more adventures coming soon. 

Buried in the Bahamas again! - Pirate Borg - Crew #3

 

Crew #3

Session #1 Buried in the Bahamas "Again" - run 5/22/26

Crew#3:

Steven: Moros the Deck Sorcerer

James: Max "the tentacle" Lyndby, Rapscallion

Selina: Erin Grom, Reaper

Deborah: Ramon "Bunny Wigglesworth" de la Vega, Swashbuckler

Sara: Doctor Daas "mutilator" Foston

Dan: Julian De Groot, Buccaneer

Campaign Effect:

[ The crew have taken note that while searching the Bahamas, the climate has shifted. The skies have darkened, storms seem more powerful, and a foul mist is omnipresent upon the sea every dawn and dusk for a few hours. ]

The Pirate ship Tarantula under Captain "Bloodwhip" has been prowling the Bahamas searching for a landmark on a map the captain has been keeping from view of the crew.

Caught in a terrible gale the crew battles to get some rest as the ship rocks back and forth in the howling winds. A cry of alarm from the cabin boy rouses the crew to action for the ship is being boarded! As they rush onto the deck they see in a flash of lightning that a Bone ship has come alongside the Tarantula and the terrifying skeletal crew are cutting down their crewmates in bloody swathes of violence.

The crew defend Captain Bloodwhip from the skeletons, as Julian De Groot & Moros dispatch the Hulking "Brute" skeleton that had been dispatching a majority of their crewmates. In a flash of lightning they all see the rocks too late as the Tarantula is smashed to bits in the powerful waves.

The crew awaken on an unkown shoreline about mid-morning the following day. Finding only shattered debris and a few severed body parts from their ship and crewmates. Doctor Daas spies the tip os a stone column sticking out of the jungle canopy just a few miles inland. After collecting a few scant supplies they group decides to head to the stone column in the hope it may be a clue to the treasure Bloodwhip had been searching for.

The column turn out to be part of an ancient Mesoan ruin and Moros is able to determine that it can be activated and will teleport them to a different location! Then the jungle comes to life and attacks them! Vines moving like tentacles grab and whip them! After a brief battle and a near disatrous Arcane Ritual casting the crew are deposited on a moonlit beach about half a mile from a silent and dark shoreside village. 

Deciding to wait till sunrise to enter the village the crew make a cold camp in the jungle just off the beach. An hour into the first watch "Bunny Wigglesworth" and Julian De Groot are surprised by zombies and De Groot quickly finds himself "broken". The screams of the Buccaneer having roused the rest of the sleeping crew the trio of undead are dispatched by the knife throws of Doctor Foston, the slicing tails of Erin Grom's cat o' nine tails and the sword play of "Bunny"! Max realizes there are more zombies prowling the jungle and leads the crew to an outbuilding at the edge of the village, only to see a group of zombies eating someone or something inside the fisherman's hovel. The continue on in silence and soon find a solid looking shed with an open door. Once inside the crew barricade the entrance and light a torch. 

They minister to De groots wounds seeing he was only badly clawed but bears no bitemarks and take stock of their dire situation. They see they are in a storage shed filled with food supplies and also note the windows are already covered in boards nailed up from the inside. They presume the village has been attacked/overrun with the dead so they eat, drink and fill thier own containers with rations for later.

Come dawn the crew realize they are in Deadman's Key on the Isle of Yuma. From their hideaway they can see a lone sloop tied to the docks some hundred yards away or so. All is quiet and there is no sign of the Dead to be seen, so the crew leave the shed and make towards the docks. Another solid building is discovered and Max tries the door and finds it barred from within. He calls out to anyone inside to come and escape to the boat with them. "Bunny" peers inside between the boards over the windows and sees a lone figure swaying back and forth inside. Max shoots the figure inside through the window and the report of his pistol rouses a hoard of zombies from all over the village!

The crew run down the dock and jump abaord the Sloop, only to dicover it is in shambles and will take some time get seaworthy... perhaps more time than they have as the undead are already shambling towards the dock and beach. Julian de Groot begins prepping one of the cannons on deck and Moros finds a crate a grapeshot. The rest of the crew set about fixing the rigging and restting the sail as the dead come closer and closer. Max calls out that they need more time and that just cutting the mooring won't save them from this many zombies.

"BOOM!" De Groot fires the cannon and wipes out about two dozen undead on the dock. With the wave of undead pushed back the crew are able to set sail away from the now aptly named Deadman's Cove.

"We should probably make sure there aren't any zombies below deck." says Erin pointing at the smears of blood on the doorway to the lower deck.

Searching their new boat, the crew discovered the following:

1) A collection of 14 taxidermied 3-headed monkeys in different poses and costumes!?!?!

2) A shrine to a Cthulhu with a glowing idol ( which they promptly loaded in a cannon and shot it out to sea!).

3) A set of 4 Bounty Posters for various criminals, one of which was for "Bunny" wanted for Desertion of the Royal Navy!

4) A french female prisoner locked in a cage. Her name is Louise.

5) A cargo of foodstuff bound for Havana.

Louise through Julian as an interpreter, reveals this boat was in use by a crew she had hired to deliver the food to Cuba but they were waylaid by Pirate Cultists who killed her crew and were going to sacrifice her but the zombies attacked. She works for the French Crown and tells them the food has been poisoned and if they help her make the delivery and get her back safely to any French port she can reward them. Moros is all for this job as he was once imprisoned by the Inquisition and tortured for being a Sorcerer and would very much like to hurt the Spanish.

The crew agree to help Louise but first they are going to stop in Black Coral bay and get supplies before heading to Havana.

Stay tuned for what happens to Crew#3.

Buried in the Bahamas - Pirate Borg - Crew #2

 

Crew # 2

Session 1: Buried in the Bahamas - run 4/25/26

The crew # 2:

Chris - Hockney Cheeks - Swashbuckler

Mark - Brom, the Sorceror - killed by Black Skeleton giant / Tim, the Sorceror - killed by the 7 headed beast

Campaign Effect:

[ The crew have taken note that while searching the Bahamas, the climate has shifted. The skies have darkened, storms seem more powerful, and a foul mist is omnipresent upon the sea every dawn and dusk for a few hours. ]

The Pirate ship Tarantula under Captain "Bloodwhip" has been prowling the Bahamas searching for a landmark on a map the captain has been keeping from view of the crew.

Caught in a terrible gale the crew battles to keep the Tarantula from smashing into rocky shoals. A flash of lightning reveals a Bone ship bearing down upon them. Soon the terrifying skeletal crew board and begin cutting down the crew in bloody swathes of violence. 

A handful of the crew survive the attack and awaken the following morning marooned on a small island somewhere in the Bahamas. 

Hockney, Tim and a half dozen npc crew find themselves marooned on a small islet and set to finding food and shelter. After losing an crewman in a night encounter with some shoal spiders they decide getting out of here as quick as possible is in their best interest.

A raft is contructed from debris and they head for what they have determined is Rum cay nearby.

Sharks and zombies are battled and eventually they arrive on Rum cay. 

Food and supplies are gathered and soon the crew discover the location Capt. Bloodwhip south may be on the northern side of Rum cay. They set out and locate the landmark shown on the treasure map.

Descending into the sea caves the party encounter an ancient native spirit, a stone door with a riddle that has to be solved to open it, (which after much consternation, they do). Searching the ruins they find many strange things as well as a deadly encounter with an ancient stone guardian!!

Hockney and a handful of npc crew return to Port Nelson and are able to purchase a sloop with the treasure they gained from the secret tomb.

Stay tuned for more from Hockney and crew.

Pirate Borg campaign update 2026 - Pirates of the Cursed Seas - Crew #1

 

Crew # 1

This is a recap of the first five sessions of our Pirate Borg campaign following Crew #1. We have been playing once a month since starting in December of 2025. Eventually there will be an open table game run at my Local Game shop either monthly or bi-monthly as well that will take place in this same Campaign timeline. 

Session 1: Battle of Dead Man's Cove - run 12/6/26

The crew # 1:

Zachary - Christopher "Apex" Brokett, anchor wielding Brute

Blakeley - Raphe "squidlips" Breerton, Sorceress  ( killed by Redwolf)

Blakeley - Philippes "Cascade" Bolron, Sorceror (possessed by Raphe)

Adrian - Klaas "Papa" Lutton, Swasbuckler sword master

The crew sailing on the Golden Medusa under Captain "Meathook" Magoo had located the secret hideaway of the infamous Pirate Lord - Redwolf! 

Approaching the isle the crew are attacked by a Skeletal ship guarding the cove and in the ensuing battle Captain "Meathook" is slain. Raphe, Christopher & Klaas take over and lead the crew to plunder the secrets of Deadman's cove.

The cave inside the cove is filled with the treasures of Redwolf and the crew are overjoyed at thier luck in actually finding this place. Until the Skeleton of Redwolf himself and his vile crew rise from the dark water and attack those who take his booty!!

Raphe is slain by the Skeleton of Redwolf and Klaas is "broken" by a skeleton lookout. The remaining npc crew led Christopher "Apex" Brokett are able to smash the skeletons and watch as their spirits flee the cave as the sun rises. Returning to the Golden Medusa with some treasure and  the wounded Klaas it is discovered that the spirit of Raphe has possessed a crewman named Phillipes. It is decided to load some more treasure on board and flee the area before sunset.

However a French fluyt, the pirate hunter "La Richelieu" has finally caught up with the Golden Medusa. The ship makes to attack and sink the Medusa!! Our crew are quick and outmaneuver the French ship and soon have it at thier mercy. A few of the french crew join the pirates but the rest are killed. Klaas takes command of the fluyt with "Apex" as first mate. The group decides to make for Black Coral bay as quickly as possible for repairs and resupply.

The skies darken on the Horizon.

 Session 2: Curse of Skeleton Point part 1 - run 1/10/26

The crew # 1:

Zachary - Christopher "Apex" Brokett, anchor wielding Brute

Blakeley - Philippes "Cascade" Bolron, Sorceror (possessed by Raphe) - killed by a jaguar

Blakeley - Desiree "Schitzo" Junour, Rapscallion (possesseed by Raphe & Philippes)

Adrian - Klaas "Papa" Lutton, Swasbuckler sword master

Mark - Phineas "Bits" O'Donnel, Swashbuckler black powder poet

Campaign Effect:

[ The crew have taken note that since they left Deadman's cove, the climate has shifted. The skies have darkened, storms seem more powerful, and a foul mist is omnipresent upon the sea every dawn and dusk for a few hours. ]

Having arrived at Black Coral bay the crew make a deal with the local Govenor Claude Barlette. In exchange for a discount on ship repairs and re-naming the captured french fluyt to the "Cracked Cobbler". They will attempt to locate and rescue if needed, his daughter Veronique who has gone missing a few days prior. They also discover that anything killed on Black Coral bay will rise from the dead at sunset. So they have to be aware that anything they kill here, must be killed again after dark!

They meet a Captain Davies (a fellow Pirate) at the Green Kraken Tavern and relate the death of Captain "Meathhook" and the taking of the french fluyt, while leaving out any mention of Deadman's cove. He and his crew in turn relate recent news and rumours as well as noting the weird change in the weather.

During a foray to visit a witch living somewhere on the eastern side of the island. The crew are set upon by a pair of rabid jaguar in the jungle. During the fight, Philippes is killed by a jaguar! And now Desiree finds herself beset by the voices in her head of her former living crewmates!!

A pile of hidden cargo is discovered in the jungle, and the crew get their men to transfer it on board thier ships.

Poking around town the crew befriend Father Wallace and follow him to the ruined castle at Skeleton Point, along the northern edge of the island. Here they learn that the priest has been tirelessly keeping his ritual of containment going because he believes the ghost of the Spanish Baron that dwells in the castle is responsible for the curse lain upon Black Coral bay.

Session 3: Curse of Skeleton Point part 2 - run 2/21/26

The crew # 1:

Zachary - Christopher "Apex" Brokett, anchor wielding Brute - slain by Fossil Sharks

Zacharay - Patches, Rapscallion Burgler - former crewman of Capt. Davies

Blakeley - Desiree "Schitzo" Junour, Rapscallion (possesseed by Raphe & Philippes)

Adrian - Klaas "Papa" Lutton, Swasbuckler sword master

Deborah - Mabel "Checkmate" van Hoof, Swashbuckler sword mistress

Mark - Phineas "Bits" O'Donnel, Swashbuckler black powder poet

While searching the castle of Skeleton Point, the crew find themselves within it's walls as night falls with supernatural speed! They discover clues that Veronique is likely here however before they can locate her they are set upon by a giant Skeleton Conquistador!! In their escape from the castle "Apex" is slain by a pair of Fossil sharks set upon the crew by the Baron! In the dungeon they find a prisoner named "Patches" and set him free. The group escape the castle by a hidden sea cave on a dinghy that was moored within.

"Patches" tells his tale of how Capt. Davies sent him and a handful of crew to look for Veronique and they all fell afoul of the Spanish Skeleton! He confirms that the daughter is indeed within the castle and also in league with the Conquistador. They both tortured and murdered his fellow shipmates and he was next and is greatly appreciative that the party rescued him. He asks to join their crew as he now knows Davies left him to his fate. 

Back at the Green Kraken, the crew discover the cargo they found hidden in the jungle belongs to Davies. Patches tells them that Davies has a lair on the western side of the island where he moors his ship and has treasure as well. They also learn that Davies has just set out to sea the day before.

They let the Governor know his daughter is trapped in the castle and set sail themselves. Heading around to the western shore they sneak attack Davies hidden base led by Patches. They take all the loot they can and leave the killed once bodies of his men in a trap for when the pirate captain returns.

The group set course for Tortuga.

Along the way they waylay a French Merchantman, no quarter is given and after taking everything they can the ship is scuttled.

Session 4: Tortuga & Rum - run 3/14/26

The crew # 1:

Zacharay - Patches, Rapscallion Burgler / Franciso Morgan, Angler

Blakeley - Desiree "Schitzo" Junour, Rapscallion (possesseed by Raphe & Philippes)

Adrian - Klaas "Papa" Lutton, Swasbuckler sword master

Mark - Phineas "Bits" O'Donnel, Swashbuckler black powder poet

Selina - Tobias "Ole' Tobi" Barrow, The Mess (ships cook)

Shortly after arriving in Tortuga, "Bits" starts a brawl with a rival pirate crew. Desiree lights a guy on fire, "Papa" shoots another dead, and "Patches" groin shots a guy. The opposing Captian and crew surrender and buy two rounds for our crew.

A few days are spent carousing in Tortuga and getting upgrades for the Golden medusa & the Cracked Cobbler. 

The crew decide to sail back to Dead man's cove to pick up more treasure and then head to Nassau to link up with the Bretheren of the Coast.

 During the journey Francisco fishes up a great blight shark that almost eats him after being dragged overboard. Luckily "Bits" destroys the shark with a critical hit from an Iron grenade!! They navigate a great amny shoals and encounter a lone tartane adrift at sea. The small ship is filled with a group of zombies that are fought and then they rig the ship to explode and set if adrift again.

A Spanish Galleon and four sloops are sighted heading west, most likely to Havanna. They are noted but ignored.

Francisco reels in a Runic Flintlock pistol while fishing. A pirate sloop is sighted but ignored.

Reaching Dead Man's cove the crew fill up on treasure again. Just as they are about to set sail, a Ghost ship appears and attacks!!  The ghost ship belongs to REDWOLF who has come for revenge! as the battle shifts in favor of the Ghostly Pirate Lord and it seems all is lost, "Ole' Toby" whacks Redwolf with a salted albacore getting a CRITICAL HIT and sending the ghost Redwolf to his final rest in Davy Jones Locker!!!

The battered crew finally arrive in Nassau.

Session 5: Secrets in Nassau - run 4/18/26

The crew # 1:

Zacharay - Patches, Rapscallion Burgler

Blakeley - Desiree "Schitzo" Junour, Rapscallion (possesseed by Raphe & Philippes)

Adrian - Klaas "Papa" Lutton, Swasbuckler sword master

Mark - Phineas "Bits" O'Donnel, Swashbuckler black powder poet

Arriving in Nassau, the crew run rampant. They learn of an old fisherman ex-pirate whom they meet and learn some sword techniques from, as well as befriending his dog "poop deck". 

"Papa" shoots a mouthy pirate in the face further solidifying his intimidating reputation.

The crew encounter "Bloody Vane" a rumored cultist leader of the Wretched. They discover he is up to some sort of conducting a lenghty Arcane ritual in a hidden glen deep in the pine forest. They set about booby-trapping the area so when he returns it will hopefully dirupt whatever he is up to.

"Papa" makes a bargain with a Siren that lairs in Bonefish bay and seemingly gain her as an ally.

The "Red Tide" a brothel ship arrives in six days, they eagerly await.

"Patches" breaks in to a mausoleum in the abandoned graveyard and almost gets Desiree killed by a ghost!

The party visit the deserted Lighthouse and learn an arcane ritual from a lost spirit.

The crew meet Louis "Red Shark" Jansen, who recently escaped captivity by "Bloody Vane". He relates that the Wretched cultists are looking to get a hold of an ancient relic known as the "Black Pearl of Atlantis". 

What they mean to do with it he doesn't know, but it can't be good.  He can lead the crew to the location of the relic which is revealed on the night of the Blood Moon at midnight when ocean tides are at thier lowest ebb. This info is verified by the Siren.

The end for now.....