Elliwin Heatherlark was not the type of gnome one would expect. She didn’t fancy the baubles and trinkets her people were known for, she preferred simpler things… like gold and cold steel. 

Leaving home at a young age, she fell in with many groups as she learned her adventurer trade… but now was the time to move forward with her plan. 

All her life, she dreamt of the open seas, the loot that’s out and about across the vast shores.

She’s seen trinkets and baubles and shiny things all her life. Her uncle was part of the tinkerer’s guild and often tried to guide her to the ways of a bauble… but her aptitude for bauble craft fells short, and so she turned to a life of crime. 

Her first job as a barmaid went as well as could be expected. Having her fill of harassment, her mind and fingers turned to revenge.

Petty theft was what she excelled at. It’s amazing how distracting a wink and smile can be to drunk adventurers and pirates. She’d ply them with drink and overcharge them while stealing spare coin.

No one ever expects a coy, quiet, clumsy gnome to be a master pickpocket. 

Unfortunately, she became overzealous and was spotted

She made it out of the tavern… barely alive. Having enough sense to stash her loot beforehand, she set off to recover her savings and move to the next town.

Someone must have followed her to her hideout at some point, as it was ransacked, and her treasures stolen. 

Luckily, she never stores her eggs in one basket and was able to recover a third of her earnings… enough to move on and start over. 

She knew what she had to do, as she’s done it in every town she’s been in. 

Get hired on somewhere, and rob everyone blind. 

Securing her lightened fortune, she stowed away inside some apple barrels and smuggled herself to the next seaport. 

She was tired of waiting and tired of hiding in apple barrels. A decision was made!

Tonight, she was going to steal herself a ship.

The port town was a small tight nit community. She didn’t bother with the name, as she’d be gone by morning. 

The plan was simple: 

Hang out in the tavern and listen. 

She tossed a few gold coins to the patron and took her tray. It contained a full pitcher of mead, some hot food, and a quiet table for her to watch the room. 

It didn’t take her long to find what she was looking for. 

A loud-mouthed sea-captain trying to charm a tavern maid. His men looking none too pleased with him. 

It’s something she’s seen a thousand times… mutiny is on their minds. 

He ordered them to the ship while he stumbled off to the brothel.

She finished her drink and grinned. 

Looks like it’s time for a new captain.

Elliwyn waited till the moon was at its apex before she executed her plan. 

The vessel was a fine schooner, had probably thirty hands on deck, all were passed out, smelling of rum, and sleeping soundly. She moved silently into the captain’s quarters and came out banging two pots, rousing the slumbering crew.

“Wake up ya good for nothing pieces of Dragon Dung!” She shouted, kicking the closest person she could find. She knelt down and whispered in his ear, the color drained from his face and he scrambled into the captain’s quarters. 

“Raise the sails and anchor! We’re pushing off.” She said and took the spot next to the sleeping navigator. She gave him a nudge with her sword. He was taken aback by the situation.

“Where’d Captain go?” One said groggily, not sure what was going on. She strolled over to the protester and grabbed his face with both of her hands turning him to look her in the eyes. 

“He’s at a brothel with a handful of wenches, while you sleep out here in the cold!” She said coolly but raised her voice at the end. “Are you going to take that sleeping? Who wants revenge?” 

Already crewmembers were sitting from the uncomfortable ship deck, swearing, and drawing swords menacingly...

The crewmate whom she sent off, burst through the door leading to the captain’s room. 

“The gold is gone!” he said frantically “It was next to the Captain’s bed… now it’s gone! He must have taken it on shore with him! That Bastard stole it!” 

She chuckled. Her plan went off without a hitch. Already mutiny was on everyone’s lips, vows for the captain’s head on a pike, walking the plank, or keelhauling the traitor. 

She hid the gold in a barrel when everyone was asleep, something she can just claim the captain did if they come across it. 

“Listen up you lily-livered landlubbers!” She shouted, banging her pots again.”You need a captain, and I need a crew… and a ship… You’re all drafted, so let’s get this boat moving!”   

“What makes you think you can captain us!” Someone shouted. “You come in here after the old captain robs us and you want to just take our ship and tell us where to go?” 

“I’m sorry, I failed to introduce myself.” She said with a bow. “Captain Heatherlark, of the Heatherlark Pirates, you all owe me your lives…” 

The crew, not taking kindly to her tactics surged forward, fighting off the rum haze, and all stumbled over each other, unable to get up. 

While they were sleeping, she had tied all their shoelaces together and cut all of their belts, no one has actually stood up until then, as they were too hungover to fully stand.

The men sleeping on the deck were a mass of tangled limbs, all shouting and arguing with each other. 

The rum didn’t help the situation.

Elliwin casually strolled to them, swinging her sword close to their faces. 

“I could have slit each one of your throats,” she said coyly. “Your lives are mine… now get off your asses and get this ship moving!” 

That morning, a very hungover ship captain came back to the port… to find himself missing a ship.