Cartographers are wanderers, exploring the world to discover and map out the forests, mountains, rivers and seas, hidden hamlets and migrating herds, returning to cities to draw up their discoveries and sell their notes to map makers and booksellers, or illustrate and sell themselves. They belong to an international network of guilds, offering shelter, support and access to local mercantile networks.

You learned your trade by apprenticing to another wandering cartographer, picking up a variety of survival skills, including basic weapons skills for self defense in the wilds. Some choose to develop their weapons skills further, while others develop arcane talents to support their exploration and survival. 

Skill Proficiencies: Proficiency in survival; choice of proficiency in history, investigation, animal handling, nature or perception

Tool Proficiencies: Cartographer's Tools and Navigator’s Tools

Equipment: Your basic equipment includes simple weapons, a kit consisting of cartography and navigation toolkits, map cases, blank parchment, inks and a pen. You also possess a set of maps of variable quality and detail, and an unfinished map of the region that you’re currently working on. Work with your DM to determine the usefulness of these maps to your current quest. 

Suggested Characteristics

Cartographers are often loners, wandering the world and staying away from civilisation for months at a time. They travel alone or in small groups for protection, and occasionally fall in with adventuring groups or hire bands of guards. They delight in visiting wild and undiscovered places, and in bringing new information about the world to light.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I believe the world is full of hidden places and undiscovered lands - and I’m going to be the one to find them
2	The journey is more important than the destination
3	Precision is vital - my reputation depends on it
4	I’m a scholar, but I’m happy to join the fight when local biology interferes with my geological research
5	I’m oblivious to the expectations and emotions of people around me - let’s see how deep that cave is!
6	I’m driven by wanderlust - I can’t abide staying in one place too long
7	It’s not about who gets there first - it’s about who manages to get back with the prize
8	Artistry is just as important to me as veracity - my work should be beautiful as well as functional

d6	Ideal
1	Adventure: Undiscovered lands are full of excitement, danger and challenge, and that’s what I’m looking for! (Chaotic)
2	Knowledge: It is through understanding the world that we understand our place in it (Good)
3	Money: People will pay through the nose for exclusive, secret news of a new gold vein, and I’m happy to provide (Neutral)
4	Aspiration: I’ve worked hard to establish my reputation, but there’s still room for improvement in my work (Good)
5	Power: I aim for high office, and my guild is going to get me there (Lawful)
6	Friendship: For all that I focus on the world around me, I place a higher value on people (Any)

d6	Bond
1	The lessons my mentor taught me made me who I am - I would do anything for them
2	I have a ‘friendly’ rival. Only one of us can be the best, and I aim to prove it’s me
3	A loved one disappeared on an expedition some years ago - I need to find out what happened to them
4	I inherited my tools from a relative or guild leader, and I would be devastated to lose them
5	My reputation was destroyed by a competitor - I will get my revenge, prove my innocence and their guilt
6	A disaster destroyed my homeland. I must discover what happened and who still survives

d6	Flaw
1	I’ve spent so long in the wild places that I’ve become dependent on guild representatives and teammates to negotiate civilisation for me
2	I’m never wrong - that mountain must have been moved
3	Every time I come back to the city, my weakness for intoxicants overcomes me
4	I get travel sick easily on just about every kind of vehicle
5	I neglect my friends and family in favour of obsessing over my maps
6	My need for accuracy is all-consuming - I’d rather spend a week retracing my steps to make sure, than allow my group to continue toward their goal