Undersea PrivateerSource Hellfire Dispatches pg. 32In past naval battles, azarketi communities found themselves outnumbered and overpowered by foes who can bring a country's worth of resources to bear against them. In response, they perfected a method of fighting that plays to their strengths while capitalizing on their opponents' weaknesses. Most azarketis prefer to fight while submerged, but elite undersea privateers are adept both on land and underwater, though some choose to specialize. They're dangerous not only because they're experts at their chosen style of fighting, but also because they have ways to force enemies to face them in their arena of choice.
Azarketi warriors have honed their techniques by studying other creatures of the sea. A trained azarketi privateer might claim to be as slippery as an eel and as stealthy as an octopus. While these assertions are best understood as boasts, they're based in truth.
The originators of this marine combat style took on few disciples. However, as azarketis made treaties and agreements with their neighbors, and memories of alghollthu control faded further into the past, the masters of their unique combat style became less and less guarded.
Today, those who prove themselves friends to azarketis may be welcomed into their underwater training halls. Athamarus, undines, merfolk, and other underwater humanoids have even started to adapt azarketi fighting styles to work with their own strengths and physical advantages.
The prowess of these privateers has gotten the attention of many coastal nations, including those that border the Inner Sea. Azarketi warriors refuse to participate in training exercises with any national navies; while their skill is known, their tactics can still surprise and overwhelm a ship of highly trained combatants. Knowing this, both Andoran and Cheliax seek to hire mercenaries to join their cause and disrupt their enemy's naval maneuvers.