I’ve been reading through Ghosts of Saltmarsh this week! The book presents seven adventures, among them The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh. You can run these adventures independent of one another, or you can string them all together in a campaign centering on the nautical town of Saltmarsh. To that end, the book offers information on how to work the Player’s Handbook backgrounds into the setting as well as four new backgrounds players can take.

This post presents four character sketches you can use for your Saltmarsh campaign. Each character has one of the four new backgrounds from Ghosts of Saltmarsh. You can use these as character inspiration or as NPCs.

Fisher background: Belina Broadchurch, human fighter

She is boisterous and friendly. Belina loves telling the tale of how she almost caught a massive fish the size of her boat, that almost pulled her and her team into the water, but that ultimately got away.

Belina is a human from a tiny village north of Saltmarsh. A terrible storm hit her village and caused massive damages, so she traveled to Saltmarsh to make some money to send home for the rebuilding efforts.

Personality traits: Luck favors me, and I take risks others might not. I laugh heartily, feel deeply, and fear nothing.

Ideal: Balance. Do not fish the same spot twice in a row; suppress your greed, and nature will reward you.

Bond: I must repay my village’s debt.

Flaw: I work hard, but I play harder.

Belina is lawful good.

She would probably take the Champion martial archetype at level 3.

Marine background: Shay Liakiir, half-elf paladin

Shay is a half-elf native to Saltmarsh. He prefers to listen more than to speak, and that lends a certain weight to his words. He is a serious-minded individual with an industrious side.

Shay was honorably discharged from the force he belonged to. Though his last mission went awry, he stayed behind to let his companions escape. When he was surrounded by enemies with no way out, a deity intervened and saved him. He now serves that deity and adventures under their guidance.

Personality traits: I speak rarely but mean every word I say. I am always working on some project or other.

Ideal: Bravery. To act when others quake in fear—this is the essence of the warrior.

Bond: I must set an example of hope for those who have given up.

Flaw: My intensity can drive others away.

Shay is neutral good.

He would probably take the Oath of Devotion at level 3.

Shipwright background: Kathra Ironkeel, dwarf wizard

Kathra is a dwarf who recently arrived in Saltmarsh. She is developing a schematic for an extremely fast but durable ship, so she came here to observe the various shipworking techniques used here in a fishing town.

She is affable and keen-minded. Kathra studies magic to incorporate it into her craft, so her spellbook and sketchbook are one and the same.

Personality traits: I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. I love sketching and designing objects, especially boats.

Ideals: Invention. Make what you need out of whatever is at hand.

Bond: I will craft a boat capable of sailing through the most dangerous of storms.

Flaw: I don’t know when to throw something away. You never know when it might be useful again.

Kathra is chaotic neutral.

She would take the School of Transmutation subclass at level 2.

Smuggler background: Milo Wellfiddler, halfling rogue

Milo is a halfling who recently came to Saltmarsh for business. During his last job, he stumbled into the Shadowfell, where he not only escaped harm but also turned a profit by selling to those he met in the other plane. He came home with a newfound confidence and is ready to strike out as an adventurer.

Milo chooses his words carefully, and he take most things in stride. He’s quick-witted and fast on his feet under pressure. He is always trying to expand his knowledge of the world, so he’s often carrying a book with him on one subject or another.

Personality traits: I become wistful when I see the sun rise over the ocean. I love being on the water but hate fishing.

Ideals: Smuggler’s Code. I uphold the unwritten rules of the smugglers, who do not cheat one another or directly harm innocents.

Bond: I was tricked by a fellow smuggler who stole something precious from me. I will find that thief.

Flaw: Lying is reflexive, and I sometimes engage in it without realizing.

Milo is lawful neutral.

He would take the Arcane Trickster subclass at level 3.

Are you playing (or planning) a Saltmarsh campaign? Is this sort of content useful? Let me know in the comments!