Introduction
Defenders of the depths, expert navigators, and pious to a fault, the Triton are the people of the ocean depths. Originally hailing from the elemental plane of water, the Triton opened a portal to the calm waters of Thinia in an effort to escape the endless battle with the evil denizens of the elemental plane. Unofrtunately the Triton were not the only ones to travel to Thinia and the evil creatures they were attempting to evade followed the Triton through. Now Triton stand as a the defenders of the oceans and offer a counter balance to the wicked actions of the sahuagin, kraken, kua-toa, aboleth, and other creatures that stalk the depths. Tritons believe they are the primary reason that humanoids are able to navigate the oceans at all, and they will be vocal about this belief. Despite their pride, Triton are often true and capable allies.
Triton have the following features;
- Ability Score Increase. Your Strength, Constitution, and Charisma are increased by 1.
- Size. Your size is Medium.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet and your swim speed is 30 feet.
- Amphibious: You can breath air and water.
- Darkvision: Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
- Control Air and Water: A child of the sea, you can call on the magic of elemental air and water. You can cast Fog Cloud with this trait. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast Gust of Wind with it, and starting at 5th level, you can also cast Wall of Water with it. Once you cast a spell with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
- Emissary of the Sea: Aquatic beasts have an extraordinary affinity with your people. You can communicate simple ideas with beasts that can breathe water. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return.
- Guardians of the Depths: Adapted to even the most extreme ocean depths, you have resistance to cold damage.
Culture:
Proud, faithful, and vigilant the Triton are a people defined by duty and to a lesser extent guilt. Triton lore holds that when the Triton travelled to the material plane they also unleashed the horrors of the elemental plane of water upon Thinia. As a result it is deeply engrained in Triton to battle monsters from the elemental plane of water and aid those attacked by these creatures. When the Triton first came to Thinia humanoids were only begining to understand seafaring. Triton would often intervene to aid Elves and Men who were thrown into the water while attempting to master the waves. Early on Triton were viewed as creatures akin to celestials. Overtime humanoids learned more about the Triton and realized they were more similar than not to the humanoids that live on land.
Subcultures:
There are five major cultures, also known as clans, of Triton;
- Abyssal Crest: The Triton of the waters between Lokkheimer and Utican. The Abyssal Crest are a clan that broke off from the Eternal Waves Clan. The Abyssal Crest venerate Umberlee and focus entirely on the elimination of the Kraken and their humanoid servants. The Abyssal Crest are hated by seafarers because they will happily destroy a ship if it would also harm their kraken enemies.
- Tide Whisperers: The Triton living in the waters between Totecum, Hartha, and Kulono. The Tide Whisperers have long battled the Kua-Toa and their chaotic god.
- Moon Reef: The Triton of the northern waters in between Fensalar, the Heartlands, and Penglai.
- Saphire Depths: The Triton of the Free Tides. These Triton reside in the ocean between Kulono and Utican. The Triton of the Saphire Depths have built their society around battling the Aboleth and resisting their mind control abilities. It is common for psionics to be born amongst the Saphire Depths clan and the psionics are highly valued in their society.
- Eternal Waves: The Triton living in the waters between the Heartlands, Lokkheimer, and Utican. These Triton built a substantial empire during the Age of Discovery. The Empire began to decline during the Age of Magic and has never recovered. Many of the cities that once constituted the Triton Empire have been abandoned or worse, claimed by the enemies of the Triton.
Religion:
Triton worship the Thinian gods associated with the ocean including Persana, Umberlee, Valkur, and Deep Shashelas. Persana is the chief diety among the Triton and he is believed to be their progenitor. Triton view each of these gods as essential allies in combating their eternal enemies in the kraken, kuo-toa, sahuagin, and aboleth, among other wicked creatures. For example, Umberlee, a diety feared by land dwellers, is venerated for the destructive power she provides to her acolytes that they use to smite their foes.
