(l-r) Ioz (Half-Elf-Fighter-Champion), Tula (Human-Rogue/Druid-Circle of the High Seas), Ren (Human-Ranger-Beastmaster Conclave), Zoolie (Dwarf-Barbarian-Path of the Berserker)
IN THE REALMS
The Sea of Golden Water in the Shining South is being devoured by a dark curse. Only Ren, a young Durpari Prince can stop it by finding the 13 treasures of Rool.
At his side is an unlikely but loyal crew of misfits. Ioz, the hard-nosed half-elven fighter is the most experienced seaman. The rogue Tula has learned in their voyages the secrets of Druidic magic. Able sea-dwarf Zoolie, a friend of Ioz’ has joined their crew. And Ren’s mystical link to the sea allows him to befriend all manner of sea beast, bird, or monkey.
At his back the evil pirate lord Bloth who will stop at nothing to get the treasures for himself.
It’s high adventure with the Pirates of Dark Water!
SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS
The number of fantasy and science fiction cartoons of the 1980s and early 1990s has proven good fodder for both my Motley Crew series and now my Pop Culture Parties. I always loved the fantastic designs of this show and think it ports quite easily into D&D. Ren’s dark skin made me want to draw him as a South Asian (Durpar seeming the right Forgotten Realms equivalent), sadly lacking in fantasy settings, but other than that (and turning Zoolie into a dwarf) I did very little other than draw the characters as they are.
And I left out Nibbler.
Get to Class
Ren’s connection to the sea made a ranger make the most sense to me (besides, aren’t most lost scions of ancient kingdoms rangers?). Beastmaster would allow you to bring in things like a monkey Birds. At one point I was thinking Horizon Walker, and I’m not sure why.
Ioz is obviously the more experienced sailor, but you can handle that with the sailor background.
Tula’s dip into “Ecomancer” in the series might translate into any number of spellcaster roles, but I chose Druid – even though she doesn’t actually transform into anything. Nature Cleric might also do. Definitely give her the Street Ray Background.
Zoolie is a barbarian mainly because he doesn’t wear armour. Storm Herald would work for flavour, or berserker if you want to cleave closer to the source material. Also Sailor background.
Campaign Notes
There are a number of maritime modules that could provide grist for a DMs mill (The War Rafts of Kron are a famous one). Tying them together with a curse like the dark water is a good way to create the overarching narrative that makes a good campaign.
The Pop Culture Party Series follows a similar line to my Motley Crew series. Only while that nerdly rotogravure imagined sci-fi motley crews in Firefly’s ‘Verse, this will imagine various casts of adventure media as D&D characters.
Thanks to pinterest for the Disney background.
HyperboreanComics 