Life at sea is brutal, and survival often depends on the skill of the ship’s doctor. Whether aboard a merchant vessel, a naval warship, or a pirate crew, you were responsible for tending to the sick and injured with limited supplies and no room for error. You’ve treated scurvy-stricken sailors, amputated shattered limbs after cannon fire, and stitched up wounds while the deck pitched beneath you. The sea is unforgiving, and so is your work—you’ve seen firsthand how quickly an untreated wound can fester or how a single illness can spread through a cramped crew like wildfire.
Perhaps you were formally trained in a port city before signing on with a crew, or maybe you learned through necessity, patching up your comrades with whatever was on hand. Whether driven by duty, debt, or desperation, your medical skills made you invaluable on the open water. Now, your journey continues beyond the confines of your last ship—whether you lost your crew, deserted for your own reasons, or simply found a new calling, your hands remain steady, and your mind sharp. The sea is still in your blood, but so is the instinct to heal, no matter where the winds take you.
- Skill Proficiencies: Medicine (Expertise)
- Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism Kit
- Languages: One of your choice (to communicate with diverse patients)
- Equipment: A healer’s kit, a set of common clothes, a journal filled with medical notes, a vial of antiseptic alcohol, and a belt pouch with 10 gp.
Your extensive medical knowledge earns you respect in most civilized areas. Healers, apothecaries, and academics are more likely to assist you, and common folk often seek your aid in times of need. You can usually secure free room and board at temples, hospices, or settlements where your skills are valued, provided you offer your services in return.
Suggested Characteristics
Doctors dedicate their lives to preserving others', often facing grim realities. Their experiences shape their personalities—some remain compassionate healers, while others become hardened pragmatists.
Comments