You are tied to the Nettlemere family, by choice or by force. Originating from the mist-choked swamps and waterways of the same name, the Nettlemere clan built their empire on spirit-hunting, monster trapping, and the trade of forbidden things — whispers, poisons, fetishes, and souls.
Whether you were born into the family, adopted for your skills, or brought in through blood-debt, you’ve earned your place on the water. Your branch of the operation deals in smuggling — contraband relics, exiled mages, stolen gods, venom-brewing beasts — whatever the market demands. You know the swamps and docks better than city streets, and you never meet a client without knowing their fears, debts, and secrets.
- Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, or, Deception
- Tool Proficiencies: Vehicles (water)
- Languages: You learn Pirate's Cant.
- Equipment: A small boat charm carved from driftwood or bone, a vial of unknown liquid that glows faintly in moonlight, a set of tattered but waterproof travel gear, and 10 gp in assorted foreign coinage.
The Nettlemere name opens (and closes) doors in the underworld. Within the shadowy sprawl of the Quay — you know the routes, the codes, and the people.
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You can always find secret passages, passage aboard illicit vessels, or access to forbidden goods via Nettlemere contacts.
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You have advantage on checks to gather information from smugglers, black market dealers, or haunted places.
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When invoking the Nettlemere name in criminal circles, you may gain favors — or provoke dangerous recognition.
Suggested Characteristics
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I love being on the water but hate fishing. |
| 2 | I think of everything in terms of monetary value. |
| 3 | I never stop smiling. |
| 4 | Nothing rattles me; I have a lie for every occasion. |
| 5 | I love gold but won’t cheat a friend. |
| 6 | I enjoy doing things others believe to be impossible. |
| 7 | I become wistful when I see the sun rise over the ocean. |
| 8 | I am no common criminal; I am a mastermind. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Wealth. Heaps of coins in a secure vault is all I dream of. (Any) |
| 2 | Smuggler’s Code. I uphold the unwritten rules of the smugglers, who do not cheat one another or directly harm innocents. (Lawful) |
| 3 | All for a Coin. I’ll do nearly anything if it means I turn a profit. (Evil) |
| 4 | Peace and Prosperity. I smuggle only to achieve a greater goal that benefits my community. (Good) |
| 5 | People. For all my many lies, I place a high value on friendship. (Any) |
| 6 | Daring. I am most happy when risking everything. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My vessel was stolen from me, and I burn with the desire to recover it. |
| 2 | I intend to become the leader of the network of smugglers that I belong to. |
| 3 | I owe a debt that cannot be repaid in gold. |
| 4 | After one last job, I will retire from the business. |
| 5 | I was tricked by a fellow smuggler who stole something precious from me. I will find that thief. |
| 6 | I give most of my profits to a charitable cause, and I don’t like to brag about it. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lying is reflexive, and I sometimes engage in it without realizing. |
| 2 | I tend to assess my relationships in terms of profit and loss. |
| 3 | I believe everyone has a price and am cynical toward those who present themselves as virtuous. |
| 4 | I struggle to trust the words of others. |
| 5 | Few people know the real me. |
| 6 | Though I act charming, I feel nothing for others and don’t know what friendship is. |
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