Galleys are long vessels that rely on sails and sizable rowing crews to move. These ships can carry siege weapons and soldiers to war or transport large amounts of cargo for merchants. No matter the ship's purpose, the crew almost always hires extra protection, since galleys make large, cargo-rich targets for pirates.
The ceiling of the galley's lower deck is 8 feet high. Hanging
lanterns cast bright light over the deck. Rigging on the ship can be climbed without an ability check. The galley has one 120-foot-tall mast with sails to catch the wind and oars on the lower deck for rowing the vessel.
Four
ballistas are attached to the fore of the main deck. Ten ballista arrows are stacked and secured near each. Two
mangonels are attached to the aft of the main deck. Ten mangonel stones are stacked and secured near each catapult. The galley's stern features an iron naval ram used for attacking other ships. A 10-foot-wide, 80-foot-long open space in the middle of the main deck stretches fore to aft and leads down to the lower deck. A 3-foot-high rail is built around the main deck's perimeter, providing half cover for Medium creatures and three-quarters cover for Small creatures behind it. Eight
rowboats are stacked in two groups of four on the main deck. Ropes and pulleys can hoist these boats in and out of the water. A
drum with two attached mallets sits on the aft of the main deck just before the opening to the lower deck. A crew member plays this instrument while the sailors on the lower deck row, the beat helping to synchronize the rowers' strokes. The ship's wheel stands at the aft of the main deck.
Cargo holds at the fore and aft of the lower deck hold
crates,
barrels, and ammunition secured with
hempen rope. Thirty-two benches are built into the lower deck, each with a 20-foot-long oar. When the ship is rowed, crew members sit on these benches to work the oars. Ten spare oars hang on the walls.
A galley requires a crew of eighty to properly sail or row the vessel and might carry extra passengers or soldiers. A typical crew consists of a captain (
bandit captain), first mate, bosun, quartermaster, surgeon, and cook (
scouts), forty-two sailors (
commoners), twelve siege engineers, and twenty soldiers (
guards).
Gargantuan vehicle (130 feet by 20 feet), unaligned
Armor Class: 15 (hull), 16 (helm), 12 (oars), 12 (sails), and 20 (naval ram)
Hit Points: 500 (hull, damage threshold 20), 50 (helm), 100 (oars, -5 feet speed per 25 damage taken), 100 (sails, -10 feet speed per 25 damage taken), 100 (naval ram, damage threshold 10)
Speed:
35 ft
Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities: Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Exhausted, Frightened, Incapacitated, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Stunned, Unconscious
Creature Capacity. 80 crew, 40 passengers
Cargo Capacity. 150 tons
Travel Pace. 4 miles per hour (96 miles per day)
Naval Ram. The galley has advantage on all saving throws relating to crashing when it crashes into a creature or an object. Any damage it takes from the crash is applied to the naval ram rather than to the ship. These benefits dont apply if another vessel crashes into the galley.
Actions
On its turn, the galley can take 3 actions, choosing from the options below. It can take only 2 actions if it has fewer than forty crew and only 1 action if it has fewer than twenty. It can't take these actions if it has fewer than three crew.
Fire Ballistas. The galley can fire its ballistas.
Fire Mangonels. The galley can fire its mangonels.
Move. The galley can use its helm to move up to the ship's speed, with one 90-degree turn. If the helm is destroyed, the galley can't turn. As part of this move, it can use its naval ram. If the galley uses its oars, it can move 30 feet as long as there is at least 40 crew. If the galley uses its sails, it can move 15 feet while sailing into the wind, 35 feet with no wind, or 50 feet while sailing with the wind.
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