Marad Vesrek

Captain (a.k.a. The Crimson Trader)

Marad Vesrek, a calculating and ruthless pirate captain, commands the slaver ship The Crimson Trader. Operating under the guise of a simple merchant along the waterways of Greyhawk, Vesrek is a key player in the Temple of Elemental Evil’s covert operations. With deep ties to the Slave Lords and rumored Scarlet Brotherhood connections, Vesrek navigates a treacherous web of alliances and rivalries to expand his influence.

Physical Description

Captain Vesrek is an imposing figure, his presence amplified by his sharp, predatory features. His most distinguishing trait is his heavily scarred right hand, which he often flaunts as a badge of his survival against betrayal. Vesrek’s attire mixes practicality with intimidation, featuring crimson-dyed leather armor adorned with silver accents.

Typical Attire: Crimson leather armor, a weathered black tricorn hat, and an ornate rapier with a shark-tooth hilt.

Personality

Vesrek is a manipulative opportunist, guided by an unquenchable thirst for power. He operates with a cold pragmatism, viewing every relationship and deal as a means to an end. While capable of charm when needed, Vesrek’s true nature is merciless, and he has little patience for weakness or incompetence.

Manipulative, cunning, ruthless.
Charismatic when necessary, but primarily intimidating.
Speaks with precision and authority.
Has no patience for weakness or sentimentality.
Frequently sharpens his weapons, even during conversations, as a subtle intimidation tactic.
Quirks: Often uses Narwell slang, blending his rough origins with his polished image as a pirate captain.

Background

Born in the slums of Narwell on The Wild Coast, Vesrek rose from a life of destitution by sheer will and brutality. His early years as a dockside enforcer taught him the value of leveraging fear and alliances. A fateful encounter aboard the Iron Tide, where he saved his captain from mutiny, marked the beginning of his rise in the ranks. After years of service, Vesrek commandeered his first ship, the Crimson Reaver, which became his ticket to wealth and infamy.

Early Life in Narwell

Marad Vesrek was born in the port city of Narwell, a bastion of lawlessness along the Wild Coast. The son of a dockworker and a washerwoman, Vesrek grew up in squalor, learning early the value of wit and ruthlessness.

Spent his childhood in Narwell’s dangerous docks, running errands for smugglers and thieves.
Learned to fight and survive in back-alley brawls.
As a teenager, Vesrek joined a smuggler’s crew, impressing them with his quick thinking and ambition.
During a botched deal, Vesrek saved his captain’s life, earning his first command aboard a captured sloop.

Piracy Beginnings

Moved from petty smuggling to full-scale piracy, plundering trade routes along the Selintan River and Wooly Bay.
Gained notoriety for his cunning ambushes and willingness to take high risks.

Slaver Connection

Forged ties with the Slave Lords, offering them a steady supply of captives from his raids.
Established trade routes from Narwell up the Selintan River to the Nyr Dyv, then westward to Verbobonc.

The Crimson Reaver

Captured the Crimson Reaver, a sleek galley equipped for both speed and brutality, during a daring raid.
Modified the ship for slaving operations, outfitting its holds to transport captives in secrecy.

Motivations

Captain Vesrek is driven by power, wealth, and loyalty to his devil patron. While he serves the Slave Lords and the Temple of Elemental Evil, he harbors ambitions to expand his influence further. The discovery of a powerful artifact like the Yellowskull could become an obsession if he learns of its existence. Vesrek’s ambitions extend beyond Nulb and the Slave Lords. His ultimate goal is to establish his own dominion, using his connections to the Temple and the Scarlet Brotherhood to secure power.

Primary Goals

Maintain and expand the Slave Lords’ operations.
Amass wealth and power to serve his devil lord.
Establish a base of operations beyond the reach of the Viscounty of Verbobonc.

Potential Obsessions

Retrieving powerful artifacts like the Yellowskull.
Usurping rivals in Nulb or the Slave Lords.

Role in Nulb

Captain Vesrek’s operations are critical to Nulb’s economy and the Temple of Elemental Evil’s logistics. His ability to navigate the waterways and procure slaves from distant regions makes him an invaluable asset to the cult’s ambitions.

Primary Role: Supplier of slaves and illicit goods for the Temple of Elemental Evil.
Operations Base: Regularly docks at Nulb to offload cargo and gather resources.
Connections: Maintains alliances with the temple’s priests, pirates, and other criminal factions.

Relationships

Lady Nysera Krivaltis: Respects Nysera’s ambition but keeps her at arm’s length, wary of her political maneuvers.
Nature of Relationship

Mutual respect for shared influence over Nulb’s economy.
Avoids direct conflict while leveraging each other’s strengths.

Lady Iron Talons: The Men of the Baroness: Captain Vesrek views Lady Nysera’s Men as tools to ensure his operations run smoothly. He maintains their neutrality through bribes and intimidation, though he distrusts them as potential obstacles.
Relationship Dynamics

Ensures neutrality with bribes and subtle threats.
Avoids relying on them while keeping them in check.

Captain Vesrek maintains a working relationship with Captain Tolub and Grud Squinteye, occasionally employing Grud for covert smuggling operations. Despite their cooperation, there is an underlying tension, as Marad sees Tolub as a rival for control over the waterways.

With Captain Tolub: Cooperation tempered by rivalry for dominance over the rivers.
With Grud: Occasional collaborations in smuggling operations. Distrust due to Varg’s ambition and unpredictability.

Leaders of the Temple of Elemental Evil

Captain Vesrek supplies Barkinar of the Greater Temple with slaves for sacrifices, forming a critical part of the Temple’s operations. While this relationship is lucrative, Prelos remains wary of the cult’s growing power.
Key Relationships

Barkinar: Supplies slaves to the Greater Temple to ensure sacrifices continue.
Caution: Views the Temple’s zealotry as dangerous but tolerates it for profit.

Economy of Nulb

Captain Vesrek is a central figure in Nulb’s dark economy, bringing slaves and contraband into the village with each visit. His dealings enrich Lady Nysera, Captain Marik, and other criminals, cementing Nulb’s role as a hub of illegal trade.
Contributions

Supplies slaves and illicit goods to Nulb.
Boosts local commerce through high-value transactions.

Economic Impact

Reinforces Nulb’s dependence on criminal enterprises.
Strengthens alliances among Nulb’s power players.

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Secrets

Scarlet Brotherhood Agent: Vesrek uses his position in Nulb to funnel resources and intelligence back to the Brotherhood.
Temple Leverage: Keeps detailed records of his dealings with the Temple, planning to use them as blackmail if the cult turns on him.
Narwell Network: Maintains a web of contacts in Narwell, allowing him to smuggle contraband and slaves through the Wild Coast undetected.
Artifact Obsession: If Vesrek learns of the Yellowskull, he will stop at nothing to claim it, viewing it as a path to greater power.
Zombies Aboard: Vesrek keeps four female zombies in his quarters as grotesque trophies and servants, revealing his depravity.
Trapped Treasure: His chest contains 1,000 gp, 1,000 ep, and 1,000 sp, protected by a poison needle trap and wizard locks.

Hidden Weaknesses

Ambition blinds him to risks.
His reliance on Barkinar ties him to the Temple’s fate.
Rivalries: His alliances in Nulb are tenuous at best, with Captain Tolub and Lady Nysera both vying for dominance.

Adventure Hooks

Yellowskull Pursuit: Vesrek becomes a major threat after learning of the artifact’s existence.
Slave Liberation: PCs infiltrate the Crimson Reaver to free slaves, disrupting both Vesrek and Barkinar’s operations.
Exploiting Rivalries: PCs manipulate tensions between Vesrek, Captain Tolub, and Lady Nysera Krivaltis to destabilize Nulb’s power structure.
Zombie Revelation: Discovering Vesrek’ zombie servants could turn Nulb’s factions against him.
Rescue Mission: The adventurers learn that a friend or ally has been taken aboard the Crimson Reaver. Can they intercept Vesrek and free the captives before they vanish into the Temple’s clutches?
Scarlet Ties: Evidence emerges linking Vesrek to the Scarlet Brotherhood, drawing the adventurers into a broader conspiracy.
Undermining Power: Lady Nysera hires the adventurers to sabotage Vesrek’s operations, tipping the scales in her favor.
Artifact Smuggling: Vesrek is rumored to have obtained a powerful artifact from the Scarlet Brotherhood, sparking a race to claim it.

Connections Between Captain Prelos and Gininbog

The Slave Trade Nexus

Captain Vesrek of the Sister Mercy maintains a lucrative and secretive relationship with the 'Broker' at the 23. The Iron Lash: Slave Dungeon, Gladiator Pit, and Brothel. This partnership forms one of the darkest aspects of Nulb’s economy, fueling the slave trade that supports the Pit, the brothel, and the broader criminal enterprises in the region. Their collaboration underscores the grim and seedy reputation of Nulb, tying the village's factions together in a web of cruelty and profit.

Vesrek’ Role in the Slave Trade

Captain Vesrek uses the Crimson Reaver to capture and transport slaves from distant regions to Nulb. His ship serves as a mobile holding pen, with captives shackled in the lower decks until they are offloaded at Nulb's docks under the cover of darkness. Vesrek carefully selects his cargo based on the demands communicated by Gininbog, often targeting merchants, wanderers, and isolated riverfolk who will not be immediately missed.

Primary Responsibilities

Capturing slaves during river raids and ambushes.
Ensuring captives remain alive and relatively intact for sale.
Negotiating terms of payment and slave quality with Gininbog.

Preferred Targets

Wealthy merchants who could serve as ransom opportunities.
Skilled laborers and entertainers who may have additional value.
Desperate villagers coerced into slavery under false pretenses.

Gininbog’s Role in Distribution

Once delivered to Nulb, the captives are handed over to the 'Broker' who handles their sale and allocation. His operations at the The Pit ensure that every captive finds their place, whether in the brothel, the Pit, or as manual laborers serving other factions in Nulb or the wider region.

Slave Assignments

The Brothel: Younger, attractive captives are sent here, often drugged with perma leaves to subdue resistance.
The Pit: Physically capable slaves are sent to fight, with minimal training.
External Sales: Some slaves are sold to other bandit factions, river pirates, or even Temple factions for a steep profit.

Business Practices

Uses his serpentine owl familiar to spy on potential buyers and sellers.
Keeps detailed, encrypted ledgers of sales hidden in his secret chamber.
Negotiates harsh payment plans with clients, leveraging blackmail when needed.

Shared Interests and Tensions

While Vesrek and the 'Broker' profit immensely from their partnership, their relationship is not without strain. Both men are ambitious and distrustful, always seeking to maintain leverage over the other. Vesrek views the Broker as overly cautious, while the Broker sees Vesrek’ reckless raids as a liability that could draw unwanted attention.

Points of Cooperation

Mutual profit from the slave trade strengthens their alliance.
Shared disdain for moral authority, such as the Church of St. Cuthbert.
Coordinated efforts to undermine rival factions, including Temple cultists.

Points of Conflict

Disputes over pricing and the condition of delivered slaves.
The Broker’s fear that Vesrek might attract Verbobonc's Mounted Borderers.
Vesrek’ growing frustration with The Broker's refusal to share details about his dealings with the Temple of Elemental Evil.
Vesrek keeps a hidden ledger in his cabin aboard the Crimson Reaver detailing every slave sale made to The Broker. This ledger could incriminate both parties if found.
The Broker plans to eventually replace Vesrek with another pirate willing to accept lower cuts, but he needs time to identify a trustworthy candidate.
The Temple of Elemental Evil is aware of the partnership and has been quietly monitoring The Brokers operations, with plans to leverage his influence when the time is right.

Adventure Hooks for Dungeon Masters

Rescue Mission: The adventurers discover that a loved one or ally has been captured by Vesrek and sold to the Broker. Can they infiltrate the Pit to free the captive?
Blackmail Opportunity: The party obtains evidence of the slave trade and must decide whether to expose it to Verbobonc authorities or use it to manipulate the Broker and Vesrek.
Double Cross: Vesrek grows tired of The Brokers perceived arrogance and hires the adventurers to sabotage the The Pit, setting the stage for a violent showdown.

Captain Vesrek (Half-Elf)

Vesrek is a highly adaptable enemy, combining magic, martial skill, and cunning strategies.

Role: Captain of the Crimson Trader, an integral vessel in the Slave Lords’ network.
Location: Frequently in Nulb to trade slaves and goods.
Connection: Serves the Temple of Elemental Evil, working closely with its leaders.
Influence: Commands respect and fear among Nulb’s criminals and power players.

Captain Vesrek (Half-Elf Fighter/Magic-User)

Medium humanoid (half-elf), Lawful Evil

Armor Class: -1 (Elfin Chainmail, Ring of Protection +2)
Hit Points: 34 (5d8 + 6)
Speed: 30 ft.
STR: 15 | DEX: 18 | CON: 10 | INT: 12 | WIS: 13 | CHA: 15
Skills: Arcana: +3, Insight: +3, Persuasion: +4, Stealth: +6
Senses: Darkvision: 60 ft. Passive Perception: 14
Languages: Common, Elvish, Infernal

Traits

Fey Ancestry: Prelos has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put him to sleep.
Innate Spellcasting (Half-Elf): Can cast Light at will.

Attack

Multiattack: Prelos can attack twice per turn, using his Daggers of Venom or one dagger and a spell.
Dagger of Venom (2): Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take an additional 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Cleric Spellcasting

Spell Save DC: 13
Spell Attack Bonus: +5

Magic-User Spellcasting

Spell Save DC: 13
Spell Attack Bonus: +5
Prelos is a 6th-level Magic-User with the following spells prepared:

1st Level (5 slots): Charm Person, Enlarge, Push, Sleep
2nd Level (4 slots): Mirror Image, Strength
3rd Level (2 slots): Protection from Normal Missiles, Water Breathing

Equipment

Ring of Elemental Command (Air): Grants the following:
- Resistance to lightning damage.
- Cast Levitate or Fly (self only).
Eyes of the Eagle
Longbow (not included in attacks)
50 gp

Familiar

Weasel (Stella): AC 7, HP 2, superior hearing & smell.

Alignment

Lawful evil

Current Location

Nulb

Species

Humans of Greyhawk

Ethnicity

Half-Elves

Other Ethnicities/Cultures

Suloise Suel

Year of Birth

538 38 Years old

Children

Sex

male

Presentation

Tattoos of sea serpents winding around his forearms

Eyes

Piercing amber eyes

Hair

Wild black hair

Height

6'1"

Aligned Organization

The Crimson Trader

Other Affiliations

The River Pirates

Scene: Docks of Nulb — Twilight, as fog rolls in from the river

The Crimson Trader rocks gently at anchor. The smell of tar, brine, and something less wholesome wafts from her hull. From the mist steps a tall half-elf in a dark captain’s coat trimmed in crimson braid, silver chains glinting at his chest. A rapier, elegant and coiled like a viper, rides his hip.

He walks toward you with the gait of a man who owns the dock beneath his boots. His dark eyes flick over your gear, your posture—calculating.

Marad pauses a short distance away, hands clasped behind his back.

“Ah. New faces in Nulb. And so few know the way here by accident.”
His voice is calm, rich, and polished, each word deliberately chosen.

He takes a slow step closer, the butt of his dagger tapping against his thigh.

“I am Captain Marad Vesrek. I command The Crimson Trader—and oversee certain… delicate exchanges in this harbor.”
A faint smile plays on his lips, unreadable and practiced.

His gaze sharpens, head tilting slightly as if studying a rare coin for imperfections.

“You wear steel, but not like river guards. You’ve coin enough for gear, but no trade tokens. And you walk like people used to trouble. So…”
He gestures with a gloved hand toward you.

“Who, precisely, are you? What stirs your boots through Nulb’s mud—and whose cause do you march for?”

He lets the silence linger just a little too long, watching who meets his eyes and who flinches.

“Is it coin you seek? Revenge? Or some deluded crusade wrapped in good intentions and bad maps?”

He steps to your side and gazes down the misted docks toward the inland path.

“Nulb is no place for the uninvited. The Talons, the Crimson Reapers, the Temple’s errand-men… they all keep watch, in one form or another. And I assure you—so do I.”

He turns back, that faint smirk returning.

“Now. Impress me.”
His voice hardens just enough to chill the air.
“Tell me your names. Or lie. But either way, I’ll know which it is.”