The Black Veil

“They come with the storm, their ships like shadows. Pray you never see their sails, for their mercy is as dead as the crew.”

Overview

The Black Veil is a feared and reviled organization of pirates, necromancers, and death cultists who haunt the Axe Coast. Known for their unmatched cruelty, they are loathed even by other pirates for their unholy practices and disregard for any semblance of honor. They worship **Nerull**, the Suel god of death, murder, and the underworld, and weave necromancy into their lives, replacing lost limbs with animated skeletal replacements and creating undead thralls to serve aboard their ships. Operating under the cover of darkness or stormy seas, the Black Veil strikes with calculated malice, leaving behind only whispers of dread. Their vessels are infamous for their black sails and grotesque decorations, often adorned with skeletal remains and symbols of death. When not terrorizing the seas, they sometimes anchor at **Lenor’s Watch**, the forsaken ruins of Galan Lenora, a former elf city now shrouded in mystery.

“The Black Veil doesn’t just take your life—they take your soul, twist it, and make it their slave. There’s no escape once their sails are on the horizon.”

Pirate Flags

The Black Veil’s ships are instantly recognizable by their terrifying flags, which strike fear into all who see them. Each ship has its own unique flag, but all fly the **standard Black Veil flag** as well: The Black Veil Flag: A tattered black flag depicting a skeletal hand gripping a bleeding heart, surrounded by wisps of ghostly blue smoke. This flag represents the grip of death and the unyielding power of Nerull over both the living and the dead. Notable Ship Flags:

Wraithspire: A skeletal dragon coiled around a spire, its tail wreathed in ethereal flames. This flag reflects Captain Drazar Vyneth’s mastery of necromantic power and his dominion over death.
Ebon Maw: A gaping skeletal jaw outlined in shadow, with ghostly tendrils leaking from its maw. It symbolizes the ship’s speed and the inevitability of its strike.
Nightbinder: A skeletal raven perched atop a shattered helm, its wings spread wide. This flag represents death’s dominion and the ominous presence of the ship’s defenses.
Phantom Tide: A pair of skeletal oars crossed over a spectral wave. This flag symbolizes the silent, relentless approach of this ghostly vessel.

“Their flag alone is enough to make even the bravest sailor abandon ship. Death sails with them, and you’d be a fool to stay.”

Goals and Practices

The Black Veil seeks power through the mastery of necromantic magic and the accumulation of wealth and artifacts of death. They see themselves as chosen servants of Nerull, spreading his influence through terror and the desecration of life itself. Their cruel practices include:

Animating the bodies of slain enemies to crew their ships or fight for them.
Replacing lost limbs with skeletal constructs animated by necromantic energy.
Sacrificing captives to Nerull in ritualistic displays of devotion.
Plundering coastal settlements for gold, magical relics, and new bodies for their necromantic experiments.

Prominent Members

Captain Drazar Vyneth: The enigmatic leader of the Black Veil, Drazar is a powerful necromancer with a skeletal right arm and an eyeless visage covered by a black iron mask. He claims to have been personally chosen by Nerull to guide the organization.

First Mate Solris Morgayne: A former priestess of Nerull, Solris wields both blade and spell with equal proficiency. Her skeletal left leg and ghastly beauty make her a terrifying presence on the deck of the flagship.

Bosun “Grin” Harvick: A hulking brute who lost most of his flesh in a fire, Harvick’s body is a patchwork of skeletal constructs, giving him an unnatural appearance. Despite his monstrous form, he is fiercely loyal to Drazar.

Quartermaster Ylvena Kaelthorn: The ship’s treasurer and keeper of necromantic lore. Ylvena is rumored to be centuries old, her body sustained by foul magic.

Helmsman Rynar “Rotwind” Vael: A gaunt, shadowy figure whose bony fingers seem to fuse with the ship’s wheel as he steers through the mist. His unnaturally accurate navigation has led many to believe he communes directly with the dead.

Notable Ships

The Black Veil’s fleet strikes terror into all who sail the Axe Coast. Some of their most infamous ships include:

Wraithspire: The flagship of the Black Veil, captained by Drazar Vyneth. Its hull is adorned with the bones of its victims, and its figurehead is a skeletal dragon.
Ebon Maw: Known for its speed and deadliness, this ship is used for rapid strikes and escape.
Nightbinder: A lumbering vessel outfitted with necromantic wards and defenses, often carrying the organization’s most precious cargo.
Phantom Tide: Said to glide silently over the waves, its crew is entirely made up of animated skeletons.

Base of Operations

When not prowling the seas, the Black Veil often pulls into **Lenor’s Watch**, the ruins of Galan Lenora. Once a thriving elven city, Lenor’s Watch has become a place of darkness and decay, perfect for the Veil’s vile practices. The ruins provide shelter and secrecy, their labyrinthine tunnels and shadowed harbors making it nearly impossible for outsiders to track them.

Legends and Rumors

It is whispered that Captain Drazar’s skeletal arm is not just a replacement but a relic imbued with the power to summon storms and spirits at will.
Some believe that the Veil is searching for an ancient artifact of Nerull hidden within the ruins of Lenor’s Watch, a key to mastering life and death itself.
Sailors claim that the Wraithspire has never been seen entering or leaving a harbor, leading to speculation that it sails directly from the Plane of Shadow.
The Veil is rumored to leave “tokens” of their wrath—skeletal effigies placed in the ruins of villages they destroy as a warning to others.