Alignment: Any non-lawful
Symbol: A silver circle, part of which is a blue crescent
Discipline: Surging Shark
Oath: Though the Moonpearl oath is simple, taking it also means taking on the mark of the Moonpearl. The oath is taken underneath a full moon, and goes as follows.
“I swear by the moon in the sky, I shall take the fight to those who view people as objects to be owned. Though the sea may swallow me, though spears may rain down on me, though I may be drawn limb from limb, I will never renege on this oath.”
Allegiance Benefit: A Moonpearl Pirate gains a +4 bonus to any rolls made to shatter bonds, break locks, or break down barriers, so long as they are doing so in service of freeing someone being held against their will, whether in slavery or imprisonment. As well, they may hold their breath for a number of minutes equal to twice their Constitution score.
Should a Moonpearl Pirate violate their oath, such as by helping a known slaver, they immediately lose all allegiance benefits and their Moonpearl mark painfully burns away to reveal a traitor’s brand. A Moonpearl Pirate who has broken their oath can never rejoin, and all Moonpearl Pirates will treat them with hostility upon seeing the traitor’s brand.
Description: The first Moonpearl Pirates were a group of escaped slaves. After gaining their freedom, they vowed to always fight for freedom, no matter the cost. They were branded as slaves, and so covered the slave brand with a new mark. New recruits, even those who were not slaves, take on the mark to protect and obfuscate those who were.
They have grown immensely since then, and often work in tandem with other freedom-focused organizations wherever they can. Though the Moonpearls now operate on both sea and land, the sea is their true home. They run supplies through blockades, transport any freed slaves who do not wish to join them, and target pirates, merchants, and military vessels who do business with countries that deal in slaves.
Their organization is loose and decentralized, owing to their piratical roots. Though all fly the same flag, they can be found almost anywhere, taking part in most any kind of scheme or racket. The one thing they have in common is that they would rather fight to the death than be captured.
Word spreads quickly among the ranks of the Moonpearls, and things like rebellions, attacks on blockades, and the identities of traitors is often known to all members before the moon has risen.
Common Tasks: As stated above, Moonpearls can be found doing almost anything, though the most common tasks are freeing slaves, attacking the supply lines of despotic regimes, and raiding merchant ships. Though no member is required to attend every single outing, they may find cold shoulders if they ignore the call too much without good reason.
Available Services: The Moonpearls can provide armed forces, a substantial navy, a connected spy network and more… if the price or job is right. Often attacks on acceptable targets, such as slavers, will require a percentage of any loot to be offered to the assisting crew. Missions unrelated to the Moonpearl’s mission statements may require payment upfront, or a favor to be rendered in turn. If attempting to gain their services as a non-member, the price may be higher than normal, or much lower, depending on the circumstances.