Seafaring
With the advent of ships and transoceanic exploration, the skill of Seafaring was unveiled to give adventurers abilities with which to truly excel and prosper whilst navigating the extensive oceans and seas surrounding the continent of Sapience. It is unique among all skills through a number of respects.
Firstly, access to Seafaring is acquired only by obtaining a Fully Attested Marque of Unquestioned Seaworthiness. Secondly, training in Seafaring involves specialisation in various vocational paths - Deckhand, Weapons, Helm, Watch, and Command - each of which is given a set of unique abilities. Finally, abilities in Seafaring are not gained through simple progression of skill ranks via lessons but rather by the usage of accumulated Seafaring Promotion Points (SPPs) received from advancement through the aforementioned skill ranks.
Within each of the five Seafaring specialisations are assigned ranks I, II, III, IV, and V. It is by reaching these ranks that abilities within each specialisation (as well as the four general Seafaring abilities) are gained. Each following rank requires an additional number of SPPs equal to the value of that rank number to be utilised in order for the rank to be achieved, such that rank I requires one SPP, while reaching rank II from rank I requires two more SPPs, and so on, totalling 15 SPPs needed to reach rank V. Two noteworthy facts regarding Seafaring ranks: 1) Transcendence in Seafaring bestows about 32 SPPs, which may be used in any manner, whether that be two rank V specialisations and two SPPs used elsewhere, or eight SPPs spread out equally in four specialisations, and 2) one each of the four general Seafaring abilities is attained by reaching ranks II, III, IV, and V, respectively, in any specialisation.
Abilities in Seafaring
General Ability | Description |
Deepseafishing | Fish for the biggest there be. |
Deepseadiving | Dive deep for the sea's hidden treasures. |
Shipreturn | Return to your ship from afar (captains/owners only). |
Seaprayer | Return to your ship after death. |
Deckhand Ability | Description |
Sealegs | Walk with confidence aboard ship. |
Cooking | Improve crew morale and performance culinarily. |
Sailmaintenance | Repair and maintain the ship's sails. |
Hullmaintenance | Repair and maintain the ship's deck and hull. |
Sounding | Using the leadline to see if deep sea diving is feasible. |
Forceboarding | Lead a party onto another ship, uninvited. |
Salvageops | Recover sunken ships. |
Ship Weapons Ability | Description |
Fireweapon | Basic use of shipboard weapons. |
Harpooning | The ship's harpoon. |
Weaponmaintenance | Ship's weapons repair and upkeep. |
Weaponaiming | Greater accuracy when firing. |
Weaponenhancement | Improvements to ship's weapons. |
Ship Helm Ability | Description |
Helm | Basic directional control for ships. |
Sighting | Determining longitude with a sextant. |
Steadygoing | Maximising steadiness while under weigh. |
Stationhold | Holding (almost) perfectly still at sea. |
Evasives | Manoeuvres to avoid enemies and enemy weapons. |
Bearings | Finding the right way to go. |
Mapscribe | Create a map to where you are. |
Jink | Slide around obstructing ships. |
Whirlpool | Creating a watery inconvenience. |
Emergencies | Manoeuvres to get you out of the worst situations. |
Ship Watch Ability | Description |
Watch | Climb the ship's mast to the crow's nest. |
Bearings | Finding the right way to go. |
Shipscan | Check all ships within range. |
Tidalwave | Summon a tidal wave to attack enemy ships. |
Shipcloak | Conceal your ship from detection for a time. |
Shipwarning | Notice movement nearby, at cost. |
Displace | Instant movement, at great personal cost. |
Barrier | Summon a prismatic barrier for all allies aboard. |
Anticipate | Know when a ship changes course or manoeuvre. |
Ship Command Ability | Description |
Command | Basic command ability. Crew works better/faster! |
Keelhaul | Special treatment for one special persona aboard. |
Fleetsense | Details on ships of the same ownership or fleet. |
Shipmeld | Summon the ship's sea spirit and share in its powers. |
Commscreen | Screen communications from the mainland. |
Sailsgird | Shipmeld power to protect your ship's sails. |
Hullgird | Shipmeld power to protect your ship's hull. |
Rainsong | Shipmeld power to extinguish shipboard conflagrations. |
Windsong | Shipmeld power to direct nearby winds. |
Etch | Etch a Token of Charybdis for emergency mainland returns. |
Windshield | Shipmeld power to protect ship from some attacks. |
Wavehammer | Shipmeld power to break a ship's shield. |