Brave New Vardia

Antiquarians are highly educated explorers and treasure hunters. Aboard a ship they are essentially a passenger, although they might be expected to contribute to the running of the ship financially. On land they are to be found in local markets bartering for ancient treasure sold by unwitting shopkeepers or following local legends to uncover ancient artifacts that may or may not belong in a museum.

Cannoneers are obsessed with iron and smokepowder and often covered in soot and gun oil. They proudly carry their portable cannon with them everywhere they go, so that they always have the ability to propel balls of iron into the faces of their enemies.

Clerics who dabble in the domain of the sea will be sought after crew members. Although the whims of the sea are not entirely controllable, they can be appeased through ritual and superstition. Just like the sea, Clerics of this domain are sometimes found in dark moods, and explode in storms of violent rage.

Cooks are essential to the running of a ship, ensuring bellies are full for the busy day ahead. At sea they keep track of supplies, allocate rations, and prepare communal meals. On land they are always on the lookout for new ingredients and recipes to keep the crew happy.

Engineers are always keen to inspect machinery and mechanisms of every kind, maybe even to adjust them with a wrench. They try to solve all of their problems by engineering a mechanical solution, and often struggle with social interaction, preferring instead the cold mechanical logic of their contraptions.

An experienced and respected sailor, The First Mate has been at sea so long they feel more at home there than on the land. They are experts in maritime affairs, able to understand ships and the sea better than anybody else. They respect the whims of the sea and are very superstitious.

Flintlocks are firearms addicts, absolutely obsessed with maintaining and polishing their little tools of destruction. Some Flintlocks don’t even bother with reloading, they just grab another loaded pistol from their belt and keep blasting. Their firearms are their most treasured possessions.

Expert in navigation and the natural world, the guide is a well-traveled explorer, never content to sit in one place for long and most at home under an open sky. Relying on instinct and experience, the guide will find the best route to any destination, and work to get everybody there alive.

Masters at arms are experts in the art of combat and war strategy, trained in maritime warfare. At sea they draw up battle plans and enforce discipline, ensuring each of the crew perform to the best of their abilities. On land they would be on the lookout for recruits for the ship, particularly those handy in a battle.

Shrewd and materialistic, merchants will turn any situation into a business opportunity that benefits them. Obsessed with the accumulation of funds, morals go out of the window when it comes to making money. Merchants are often found enjoying the luxurious side of life and can have expensive tastes.

Minstrels are charismatic performers who inspire and entertain. At sea they keep morale on the ship high through good times, music, and camaraderie. On land, the Minstrel serves as a social facilitator, knowing where to find the right people and how to bring them around to their own way of thinking.

Old timers often appear to be frail, but they can be surprisingly effective in a fight, relying on wisdom accumulated through their long and no doubt interesting lives, rather than raw strength. Often to be found telling a story of dubious origin, they are well respected veterans of the sea.

Rocketeers are singularly focused on developing reliable rocket propulsion, convinced it is the future of transportation. However, they often injure themselves in their pursuit of this unreliable method of getting around.

Starseers are divinely blessed navigators able to harness astral magic, granting them an innate connection to the stars and the astral plane. They are often aloof and introspective, constantly musing on the strands of fate that guide them.

Trying to find a better life, the stowaway is an evasive scoundrel used to a life on the road. Valuing their freedom above all else, they will do anything to avoid captivity. Easily bored, they are often to be found exploring hidden corners and hiding in strange and unlikely places.

Surgeons are responsible for preserving the life (but not necessarily the health and happiness) of the crew. On a ship the surgeon is responsible for amputations, triage, and generally keeping the crew alive. On land the surgeon will be gathering supplies, making contact with other healers, or experimenting with new concoctions and ingredients.

A Tourist is often completely oblivious to danger, consumed by excitement and optimism. They wander through hostile lands getting by unscathed through a combination of impossible luck and being well prepared for any eventuality.

Dirty, smelly, and skittish, the vermin has spent so long living among rats that their connection with humanity has faded. Although they have lost their access to polite society they truly feel at home with their rat colony, thriving in the dark filthy corners of the world.

A scarred, cranky, evil-looking bird with a small repertoire of curse words that they squawk at inopportune moments. Woe betide anybody who slays such a menacing creature, for they shall surely be cursed.

It appears that somebody thought it was a good idea to give a monkey access to explosives, which is an act they might have lived to regret. Chaotic, mischievous, and quick to anger, the powder monkey could be a useful but unpredictable ally.

Taking on the attitude and personality of its crew, a ship cat spends most of its time sleeping or catching rats. Although it is naturally inclined to avoid danger, when given no choice a ship cat can make any creature regret getting in it’s way.

Although humanoid in appearance, sirens are of Fey origins, and are instinctively able to manipulate others, especially those of the opposite sex. Sirens are social chameleons, able to act in ways that others find appealing, and prone to getting what they want.

Bound to a ship, a spirit is sometimes created from the essence of a long-dead sailor who served and died aboard. In other cases, a ship spirit can be the manifestation of the personality of the ship itself, an amalgam of all who have sailed aboard it.

A construct whose programmed purpose is to be the most stereotypical pirate that ever pirated, the steelbeard ruthlessly pursues any opportunity to loot and plunder. The eyepatch is purely cosmetic.