Triton
Ugly, arrogant bastards and they smell of fish. A triton will tell you they've held back the hordes of the deep from us land dwellers, but where's the proof? Personally, I think they're just trying to weasel a drink out of us."
Tritons patrol the ocean depths, erecting tiny colonies next to deep tunnels and other perilous locations hidden from the gaze of land dwellers. The noble tritons, long-established protectors of the deep ocean below, have become more active in the world above in recent years.
From their first colonies, the tritons have expanded their guardianship over the sea floor and erected outposts to facilitate commerce with other races. Despite their growth, few people are aware of them. Even Merfolk and aquatic elves seldom come to their settlements since they are so far away. Few individuals have ever encountered a triton, but those who have will never forget their encounter.
Tritons might come out as haughty and arrogant as a result of their solitude and little comprehension of land-based races. They see themselves as stewards of the sea, and they want others to treat them with reverence, if not utter obedience. This approach may irritate some people, but it is based on reality. Few people are aware of the tritons' incredible successes over terrifying underwater dangers. The tritons are unfazed by such ignorance and revel in expounding on the enormous amount that others owe them.
Tritons also have a propensity to emerge from their seclusion with the expectation that they would be welcomed as trusted allies and mentors by others. Again, distance is at the root of a lot of this mindset. The tritons' narrow vision of the universe keeps them unaware of the surface world's kingdoms, wars, and other conflicts. Tritons regard such concerns as insignificant occurrences, a byproduct of their duty as the world's actual defenders.
Despite their unappealing appearances, tritons are good-hearted beings that believe that other civilized races are deserving of their care. Although their attitude irritates them, they are among the first to take up arms to protect others when pirate fleets prowl the seas or a Kraken rises from its slumber.
Tritons are willing to put themselves in harm's way for the greater good. They will battle and die without hesitation for human, Merfolk, and other species. Their self-absorbed attitude causes them to disregard the past of other beings, but they also feel guilty for failing to fully safeguard the surface world from the deep's occupants and enabling them to periodically harm its people. The tritons think they owe the world an honor debt, and they are willing to fight and die to repay it.
Their zeal and ignorance of the world might sometimes lead them wrong. When tritons first meet other species, they may underestimate them, leaving them open to trickery. Tritons, with their strong martial culture, can be a little too eager to get into a battle.
Most tritons have never visited the surface world due to their solitude. They have trouble accepting the fact that they can't readily move up and down out of the water, and the seasons perplex them.
Tritons are likewise perplexed by the diversity of social organizations, kingdoms, and other habits. Despite their proud culture, they are unaffected by the outside world. The typical triton protectorate is highly disciplined, structured, and cohesive in its pursuit of a single goal. The complex assortment of alliances, rivalries, and petty grievances that keep the surface dwellers from genuinely merging might easily perplex a triton on the surface.
At its worst, a triton's hubris exacerbates the triton's inability to comprehend the ways of the surface world. A triton can easily blame perplexing social activities on what the triton regards as surface folk's savagery, weakness, or cowardice.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Most triton names have two or three syllables. Male names typically end with a vowel and the letter s, and female names traditionally end with an n. Tritons use their home protectorate as a surname, with the name formed by adding a vowel followed by a "th" to the end of the protectorate's name.
Female Triton Names: Aryn, Belthyn, Duthyn, Feloren, Otanyn, Shalryn, Vlaryn, Wolyn
Male Triton Names: Corus, Delnis, Jhimas, Keros, Molos, Nalos, Vodos, Zunis
Triton Surnames: Ahlorsath, Pumanath, Vuuvaxath
Most folks up here on the land don't know how much we owe the tritons, and they don't ask much in return. Just a bit of respect, which they rarely get. Would serve us all right if we got devoured by a leviathan. But that's the thing about tritons. Even without a thank you, they won't ever let that happen.
by Rob Taylor
Triton Guard
Lifespan
Tritons reach maturity around age 15 and can live up to 200 years.
Average Height
5' tall.
Triton
Ability Score Increase +1 Str, +1 Con, +1 Cha
Size Medium
Speed 30 ft. (walking), 30 ft. (swimming)
Triton Traits
You can breathe air and water. 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 again with it 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, and you ignore any of the drawbacks caused by a deep, underwater environment.
Languages. You can read and write Common and Primordial.
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