Background Mariner

Mariner

You've spent years navigating the vast oceans, wrestling with the elements, and facing dangers from deadly sea creatures to ruthless pirates. You know the language of the sea, the knots, the tides, and the stars that guide you. Whether you served on a merchant vessel, a navy ship, or a pirate crew, the call of the sea is ingrained in your soul.

Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Survival

Tool Proficiencies: Navigator’s Tools and one from Gaming Set or Musical Instrument

Languages: 1 of your choice.

Equipment: A small trinket from a far-off land, a set of common clothes, navigational tools, a belaying pin (club), 50 feet of hempen rope, and a pouch containing 10 gp.

Starting Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your class:

  • clothes, common
  • navigator's tools
  • club
  • rope, hempen (50 feet)

Feature: Sea Legs

You are at home on a ship. When you and your party secure passage on a sailing vessel, you can offer your maritime skills to the crew. In return, the cost of your group’s passage is halved. Additionally, your extensive experience at sea helps you to predict weather changes and sense approaching storms, giving you and your party time to prepare.

Suggested Characteristics

Mariners have seen many wonders and faced countless perils. The sea shapes their beliefs, their personality, and their fears.

d8Personality Trait
d1I hum or sing sea shanties quietly to myself when idle or bored.
d2I find solace in the sound of crashing waves and gulls.
d3I am deeply superstitious and consider bad luck a serious omen.
d4I speak in nautical terms even when on land.
d5I have endless tales of high-seas adventure and love sharing them.
d6I always want to be the one at the helm, steering and in control.
d7I get restless and irritable when I'm away from the sea for too long.
d8I value teamwork and know that every role on a ship is important.
d6Ideal
d1Freedom: The open sea represents ultimate freedom. (Chaotic)
d2Duty: Every crewmember has a role and a responsibility. (Lawful)
d3Adventure: The sea promises new horizons and untold stories. (Any)
d4Wealth: I sail to amass riches, either through trade or other means. (Neutral)
d5Protection: It’s our duty to protect the waters from threats. (Good)
d6Mystery: The sea holds deep secrets, and I aim to uncover them. (Neutral)
d6Bond
d1My ship is my most treasured possession.
d2I owe my life to a fellow sailor who once saved me from drowning.
d3I left behind a loved one to pursue a life at sea.
d4I was once betrayed by a crewmate, and seek to find and confront them.
d5An ancestral artifact was lost at sea, and I aim to recover it.
d6My ultimate goal is to find a legendary hidden treasure.
d6Flaw
d1I am overly proud and refuse to back down, even when I should.
d2I can't resist the allure of a risky wager or bet.
d3I am secretly terrified of a particular sea creature after a near-death experience.
d4I hold grudges and have a hard time forgiving slights.
d5I can be too trusting when I hear tales of treasure and wealth.
d6I have a debilitating fear of storms, which I keep secret from others.

Credits: Game Squire