Homebrew Deep Sea Triton Species Details

Within the deepest, darkest trenches of the ocean, far from other civilizations, the deep sea tritons thrive. Greeted by mistrust and hate, these individuals are often seen as a monstrous, selfish group of people. Often facing scrutiny on the surface and around typical triton settlements, it is incredibly rare to see a deep sea triton outside of the trenches or outside the Underdark. However, where others see selfishness, the deep sea tritons see it as allowing others to become self-reliant, individualism being a trait highly valued. And where others see a monstrous, disturbing appearance akin to other creatures found in the depths, the deep sea tritons find a certain beauty in the long, needle-like teeth and deep black eyes.

Life of Self-Reliance

Within these societies, experience is seen as the greatest teacher of all. Tragedy is seen as a way to learn to overcome difficulties. To this extent, it is a high insult to offer aid to those seemingly in need of it for nothing in return, where this would typically be seen in other cultures as a generous act. In deep sea triton societies, it is not only an insult to the individual's strength and will, but also depriving them of the chance to learn from the tragedy. When starving, each individual will learn how to fish. When homeless, they will learn to build homes. This is how these tritons see hardship.

Because of this, deep sea tritons view other cultures as a cesspool of fools who haven't learned how to take care of themselves. Kings will never learn to cook because they will never struggle, the homeless will never learn to find food because they are given it, and the average person would be completely unable to survive on their own if they had to. They see generosity as the deprivation of experience.

A Selfish Society

""The first step to corruption is a willingness to put others above yourself." -a commonly quoted line by deep sea triton philosophers. Within these societies, there is complete equality among people, with any social hierarchy absent. They see no need for a hierarchy as everyone should simply be looking after themselves. As soon as you put another above yourself, you are giving them a certain power over you that is undeserved. To them, only the most foolish consider themselves below another, including below royalty in other cultures.

The tribes are typically very sophisticated, despite the lack of social structure. The resulting society is incredibly self-governing. The deep sea triton tribes are technically lawless, but the set of social laws keep chaos from ensuing. In very few cases of social disturbance or a broken social law, all tribe members decide on the course of action. Branding them as banished and death being the most typical punishments, though both instances are rare.  

Freedom Idealists

To the deep sea tritons, imprisonment is seen as a fate worse than death. As such, you will never find slaves or prisons in a deep sea triton settlement. Slavery and imprisonment are seen as horrendously barbaric and inhumane, stripping the individual of the only enjoyment of life: experience. When left unable to do anything, these tritons view that outcome as much worse than death. This act is seen as truly evil, and while these tritons refrain from giving pity to others, those in servitude are given the rare sympathy of the deep sea tritons. Some even go out of their way to sink slave ships, attempting to free those unable to free themselves.

Patrons of the Arts

Despite deep sea tritons not typically being very materialistic, art is something highly valued. While these tritons rarely specialize in a sort of profession, most specialize in a specific art form. All triton homes are typically adorned with their friends' artwork, paintings and sculptures, and writings. This is a gift shared among friends and their people.

Moving through these settlements, it is not uncommon to hear songs or poetry or to see dancing within the streets. Deep sea tritons find beauty in all art forms.

To onlookers, the music may take on an eerie, haunting quality but is unmistakably beautiful in its own way. Most of the art forms are slightly different from other culture's art ideas, but they often take an entrancing quality that is sought after on the surface by those who know of the Deep Sea Tritons.

LEGENDS OF DEEP SEA TRITONS

Deep sea tritons are more often known through rumor than through truth. Sailor's tales often tell of grotesque monsters with hauntingly beautiful voices deep in the ocean, telling (often untrue) stories. These monsters lure sailors to their deaths, drawing them in with their haunting melody and sinking their ship, eating the sailors alive. They are often dubbed "sirens" in the stories and are rarely referred to as any form of triton.

The stories triton tells are not much better, often scary stories told to children that speak of hideously disfigured Tritons, cursed by the gods to only roam at night, stalking young children who don't return to bed on time. They snatch up these troublesome children and drag them deep into their trenches, where they tear the children limb from limb for their own enjoyment.

Most of the stories are untrue, but sightings of these kinds of tritons are so rare that they can rarely be disproved.

Outside the Trench

While it is very rare for a deep sea triton to be found outside the deep trenches they normally reside in, it is not impossible. Typically, this results from them being branded as banished, marked with a burn mark on the side of their neck, the shape of a broken trident. This signals to all deep sea triton colonies that they are not to be welcome or trusted.

Many of these tritons end up in the Underdark, which is the second safest place to inhabit. Their cultures are not as shunned, and the constant darkness is as close to the familiarity of the darkness of the trenches as possible. Many societies of deep sea triton have started in the Underdark from older generations of these tritons having been branded and banished. These tritons banded together and formed their own space, leaving some of these deep sea tritons to be raised in the Underdark, having never known the home they are from.

Even more uncommon is for deep sea triton to be found above ground, but still not impossible. These tritons typically end up as hermits deep in the woods, far from the scrutiny of the other societies.

Deep Sea Triton Names

Deep sea tritons typically have similar names to the tritons that are closer to the surface. However, deep sea tritons commonly have nicknames depending on the emotion their artwork portrays.

Deep sea triton nicknames: Serenity, Sorrow, Panic, Passion, Dismay, Hope, Rage

DEEP SEA TRITON BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for deep sea triton include the outlander, the hermit, and the entertainer.

Within their own settlements, magic is a common occurrence. Bards and sorcerers are very commonly found in these settlements, but fighters, rangers, and druids are also often found deep in these societies.

 

Deep Sea Triton Traits

As a deep sea triton, you have the abilities required of you to be able to survive the crushing underwater depths of the trenches

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2, and choose 1 from Wisdom or Constitution to increase by 1.

Age

Deep sea tritons reach maturity around age 15 and can live up to 200 years, much like other tritons

Alignment

Most deep sea triton lean towards the neutral alignment, though vary between law and chaos. Most tend to be more chaotic in nature for their ideals of freedom.

Size

deep sea tritons are slighter larger than other tritons, averaging around 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Extended Darkvision

Acclimated to the darkest parts of the ocean, you are able to see incredibly well in the dark at the cost of the ability to see in the light. You are able to see darkness and dim light as if it were bright light, but you are only able to see within 30 feet in bright light.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Swim Speed

You have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Amphibious

You are able to breathe both air and water

Grotesque Artisan

As a deep sea triton, your monstrous appearance gives you a slight edge in scaring others, but your art is often described as otherworldly. You gain proficiency in the intimidation skill and one artisan tool or instrument of your choice

Denizen of the Deep

Having survived deep in the darkest parts of the ocean, you have adapted to the crushing depths and freezing temperatures. You are immune to cold damage, and you ignore any drawbacks caused by a deep, underwater environment

Haunting Melody

The melodies sang by the deep sea tritons have been described as eerie, but entrancing. It is very difficult to stop listening. Once per long rest as an action you may sing one of these melodies for 1 minute. All creatures within 30 ft of you that can hear you must make a wisdom saving throw of DC 8 plus your charisma modifier plus proficiency. Each creature that failed the save is charmed, and can not take their eyes off of you until the melody ends or until they take damage. On a successful save the creature does not know that you attempted to charm them. While singing this melody you can not take actions, bonus actions, and your movement is reduced to 5 ft.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Primordial, and Deep Speech