# Sailor (or Pirate) > *You sailed on a seagoing vessel for years. In that time, you faced down mighty storms, battled monsters from the deep, and made friends with people across the seas.* **Feature — Ship's Passage:** When you need to, you can secure free passage on a sailing ship for yourself and your companions. You might sail on the ship you served on, or another ship you have good relations with. Because you're calling in a favor, you can't be certain of a schedule or route that will meet your every need. Your DM will determine how long it takes to get where you need to go. > [!note] Variant — Pirate > A Pirate replaces *Ship's Passage* with **Bad Reputation**: anywhere that you are known, you can get away with minor criminal offenses such as refusing to pay for food at a tavern or breaking down doors at a local shop. People are afraid of you. **Variant Feature — Bad Reputation:** If your character has a sailor background, you may select this background feature instead of Ship’s Passage. No matter where you go, people are afraid of you due to your reputation. When you are in a settlement, you can get away with minor criminal offenses, such as refusing to pay for food at a tavern or breaking down doors at a local shop, since most people will not report your activity to the authorities. | | | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Equipment** | - A belaying pin (club), <br>- 50 feet of silk rope, <br>- a lucky charm such as a rabbit foot or a small stone with a hole in the center, <br>- a set of common clothes, <br>- 10 🅖 | | **Languages** | - None | | **Skills** | - [[Athletics]]<br>- [[Perception]] | | **Tools** | - [[Navigator's Tools]]<br>- [[Vehicles\|Vehicles (Water)]] | > [!note] Roleplay Hooks > - What ship did you serve on, and what was its business? > - Did you lose your crew, your ship, or something else at sea? > - What lies beneath the waves that still haunts you? **Optional Characteristics** | **d6** | **[[Bonds]]** | | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | I’m loyal to my captain first, everything else second. | | 2 | The ship is most important—crewmates and captains come and go. | | 3 | I’ll always remember my first ship. | | 4 | In a harbor town, I have a paramour whose eyes nearly stole me from the sea. | | 5 | I was cheated out of my fair share of the profits, and I want to get my due. | | 6 | Ruthless pirates murdered my captain and crewmates, plundered our ship, and left me to die. Vengeance will be mine. | | **d6** | **[[Flaws]]** | | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | I follow orders, even if I think they’re wrong. | | 2 | I’ll say anything to avoid having to do extra work. | | 3 | Once someone questions my courage, I never back down no matter how dangerous the situation. | | 4 | Once I start drinking, it’s hard for me to stop. | | 5 | I can’t help but pocket loose coins and other trinkets I come across. | | 6 | My pride will probably lead to my destruction. | | **d6** | **[[Ideals]]** | | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 1 | Respect. The thing that keeps a ship together is mutual respect between captain and crew. (Good) | | 2 | Fairness. We all do the work, so we all share in the rewards. (Lawful) | | 3 | Freedom. The sea is freedom—the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. (Chaotic) | | 4 | Mastery. I’m a predator, and the other ships on the sea are my prey. (Evil) | | 5 | People. I’m committed to my crewmates, not to ideals. (Neutral) | | 6 | Aspiration. Someday I’ll own my own ship and chart my own destiny. (Any) | | **d8** | **[[Personality Traits]]** | | ------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what. | | 2 | I work hard so that I can play hard when the work is done. | | 3 | I enjoy sailing into new ports and making new friends over a flagon of ale. | | 4 | I stretch the truth for the sake of a good story. | | 5 | To me, a tavern brawl is a nice way to get to know a new city. | | 6 | I never pass up a friendly wager. | | 7 | My language is as foul as an otyugh nest. | | 8 | I like a job well done, especially if I can convince someone else to do it. | *– Player’s Handbook (2014)*