Riverboat Captain

The marine gnome picked himself off the deck of his riverboat. A layer of soot covered his face and clothing, and he brushed himself off, coughing. Then he bounded across the deck, grabbed the rigging, and hauled himself onto the gunwale. He removed his feathered hat and waved it at the ship opposite his. “Ahoy, there!” he called. “Don't reckon you wanna surrender now, eh?”

Around him, his crew laughed and shouted insults.

The other ship's captain bellowed at his crew, directing them to prepare for another attack.

The marine gnome sighed and clucked his tongue. “Didn't think so.” He leaped back onto the deck. “Ready the cannons! Let's show these landlubbin' pirates how it's done.”

Explosions echoed up and down the river and through the surrounding forest as thick smoke erupted from the cannons of both ships. With the fall of the Wizards' Veil and the influx of settlers to Praetoria, cities and settlements sprang up along the coast and soon spread inland. Many were established along lakes and rivers to facilitate trade, and riverboat captains play a vital role in transporting goods and services from one point to another.

Most riverboat captains are skilled artificers, empowering their sails, anchors, sextants, compasses, and other nautical devices with magic to navigate, speed their travels, and defend against pirates, brigands, and the wild beasts that populate Praetoria.