Fantasy NPC: Pirate Captain Yarrow

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Pirate Captain Yarrow

A hairy man wearing rather skimpy sailor's grab, with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

CR 7; 3,200 XP

CE Large Monstrous Humanoid (augmented humanoid, shapechanger)

Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +15

Defense
AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+5 Dex, +5 natural)
hp 85 (9d10+36)
Fort +7, Ref +11, Will +11

Defensive Abilities full recovery

Offense
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

Melee 2 claws +13 (1d8+5), bite +13 (1d8+5)

Ranged big harpoon +13 (2d6+7, ×3)

Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d8+7)

Statistics
Str 20, Dex 20, Con 18, Int 15, Wis 17, Cha 15

Base Atk +9; CMB +15; CMD 30
Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Nimble Moves, Skill Focus (Profession [sailor])

Skills Climb +13, Intimidate +14, Knowledge (geography) +11, Knowledge (nature) +11, Perception +15, Profession (sailor) +13, Swim +17

Language Aquan, Common, Sylvan

SQ change shape (human, alter self), master of the wild ship, wild empathy (primates only) +11

Change Shape (Su) Pirate Captain Yarrow can switch between human form and one of a giant carnivorous ape as a swift action.

Full Recovery (Su) After eight hours of rest, Yarrow heals all of his wounds, ability damage, and regrows lost limbs. He can survive for a week without fresh water, and for a month without food without ill effects, though he is voracious eater otherwise, and will happily feed on his crew if there are no other sources of food.

Master Of The Wild Ship (Su) Primates swayed to follow Yarrow with his wild empathy can use his total Profession (sailor) bonus when manning a ship under his command.

Many years ago, a motley and unsavory bunch of sailors from a wrecked ship found an abandoned temple in a jungle on the seashores. The temple held ape-like idols, and some treasure—fine for a small party, but too meager for a full crew. The pirates fought over the spoils, blood was spilled over the idols, the quarrel turned into a slaughter. The Pirate Captain Yarrow was born on that night when a single man emerged alive of the ruins, bloodied, mad, and ecstatic, imbued with the power of forgotten apish gods, or maybe demons.

Now, the Pirate Captain Yarrow roams the seas in stolen ships, often supplementing his crew with apes and monkeys, preying on merchants and seaside towns. Occasionally he even takes a honest job—carrying passengers and cargo, though those who would sail with him risk being there when an opportunity for plunder presents itself.

He has a tendency to wreck ships often, always blaming it on his primate crew, and yet always getting new apes and monkeys to fill in vacancies.