The sea and the military has been your life since you were a youth. You trained as a cadet under the watchful gaze of your seniors, studied the use of weapons and armor, learned basic survival techniques, including how to stay alive on the Great Blue, navigate and make maps. After you graduated, you have led them into battle, or even captained your own ship. You might have been part of a standing national navy or a coast guard, or perhaps a member of a private vessel who rose to prominence during a recent war.
When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine which military organization you were a part of, how far through its ranks you progressed, and what kind of experiences you had during your military career. Was it a standing navy or a local coast guard? Or it might have been a noble’s or merchant’s private navy, or a mercenary company.
- Skill Proficiencies: Chose two from the following list: Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Vehicles (water), Navigator's Tools
- Languages: Choose one from the following list: Draconic, Elvish, Giant, Gith, Gnomish, Loxodon, Nordmaarian, Undercommon, Vedalken
- Equipment: An insignia of rank, a set of navigator's tools, a compass, a set of bone dice or deck of cards, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 25 gp
During your time as an officer, you had a specific role to play in your crew or fleet. Roll a d12 or choose from the options in the table below to determine your role:
| d12 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Captain |
| 2 | Commander |
| 3 | Lieutenant-Commander |
| 4 | Lieutenant |
| 5 | Ensign |
| 6 | Quartermaster |
| 7 | Midshipman |
| 8 | Cadet |
| 9 | Sailing Master |
| 10 | Surgeon |
| 11 | Marine |
| 12 | Master-At-Arms |
You have a military rank from your career as an officer. Soldiers loyal to your former military organization still recognize your authority and influence, and they defer to you if they are of a lower rank. You can invoke your rank to exert influence over other soldiers and requisition simple equipment or horses for temporary use. You can also usually gain access to friendly military encampments and fortresses where your rank is recognized.
Suggested Characteristics
The horrors of war and the rhytms of the seas combined with the rigid discipline of military service leave their mark on all sailors, shaping their ideals, creating strong bonds, and often leaving them scarred and vulnerable to fear, shame, and hatred.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m always polite and respectful. |
| 2 | I’m haunted by memories of war. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind. |
| 3 | I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones. |
| 4 | I know the rhythm of the ocean. It taught me patience. |
| 5 | I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 6 | I enjoy sailing into new ports and making new friends over a flagon of ale. |
| 7 | I have a crude sense of humor. |
| 8 | I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Respect. The thing that keeps a ship together is mutual respect between captain and crew. (Good) |
| 2 | Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins. (Evil) |
| 5 | People. I’m committed to my crew mates, not to ideals. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Nation. My city, nation, or people are all that matter. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would still lay down my life for the people I served with. |
| 2 | I’m loyal to my captain/crew first, everything else second. |
| 3 | My honor is my life. |
| 4 | I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it. |
| 5 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| 6 | I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I follow orders, even if I think they’re wrong. |
| 2 | I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior. |
| 3 | Once someone questions my courage, I never back down no matter how dangerous the situation. |
| 4 | My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. |
| 5 | I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. |
| 6 | I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong. |
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