Pirates

Your lookout calls out a warning - a ship on the horizon, flying the skull and crossbones!

d4	The pirates...
1	are completely green and inept, visibly nervous and easily frightened by force
2	are successful privateers, carrying letters of marque from several nations for plausible deniability
3	fly a flag of maritime truce... but can it be trusted?
4	are an exotic native race, not usually known for piracy

d6	At this very moment...
1	they have yet to sight your ship for some reason
2	they have just finished ransoming a valuable captive, and are making for open waters to put distance between themselves and their victims
3	their vessel has set full sail toward your ship to give chase
4	they are fleeing a disastrous boarding attempt with a skeleton crew
5	the threat may not be from them, but the small fleet following them
6	it was seem they have mistaken the cut of your jib for an allied vessel

d8	Their captain...
1	is a jovial giant, susceptible to flattery and bribery
2	has her eyes on bigger prizes, so you may be able to negotiate a toll
3	is intensely disliked by the crew, who may use this as an opportunity for mutiny
4	has a tattoo on their chest of a nearby atoll, with a prominent X drawn on one island
5	is the dreaded Kelp-Haired Dryad, who hails from the Sargasso
6	fancies himself a gentleman/highwayman of the sea, polite and courteous
7	uses their spoils to fund a guerilla war against a despotic tyrant, always hiring
8	is actually an Aboleth latched on to the keel, dominating the crew in order to seek out other ships to spawn