"Cursed and Tied to the Sea."
The Story Of Bannvik: My Creative Dungeons and Dragons Character
I wanted to write a quick post showing off my most recent Dungeons and Dragons character! I have a specific way I enjoy going about creating them. With this character specifically, I decided to base it on my greatest fear.
I absolutely HATE structures or "things" underwater; they creep me out. So, making a D&D character who specifically has "submechanophobia" for supernatural or magical reasons is amazing to me. In this post, I'll make sure to shout out the resources I've used to create this character and expand his usefulness.
This character was written to be used in Silver Canon's newest and first-ever paid homebrew campaign, "The Seas of Mystery." I call Bannvik "creative Dungeons and Dragons" because his entire character stemmed from Submechanophobia and almost nothing else haha!
But first, some lore and background info!
My king, "Bannvik Sjøraven" is a Skal (or Viking) sailor of the StormRaven Clan. He inherited visions and Raven lycanthropy from his father. Bannvik is a fun character because he absolutely wants no part in his divine fate. The simple fun of piracy, plunder, and fishing is more than enough for him.
The Skal are fierce seafarers who thrive in the icy waters of the northern seas, living by the oar and the axe. Born into clans that value strength, cunning, and loyalty, you’ve spent your life raiding, trading, and surviving the harsh northern wilderness. Whether a seasoned raider or a young warrior seeking to prove yourself, you carry the proud traditions of your people. The Skal believe that every life is a saga, and you are determined to write your own in the blood of your enemies and the treasures of distant lands.
Bannvik's clan, Clan Stormraven, are raiders who are masters of the skies and the seas, famed for their ability to navigate treacherous Arctic storms. Their raven banners strike fear into their enemies, and their leaders are often said to possess prophetic visions from the storm gods.
Bannvik is a Martyr, a class taken from Velda's Spire of Secrets.
His Mortal Burden:
Bannvik is fated to perish in the name of a great ideal, cementing his name alongside others who have done similar.
"The gods have seen a great cataclysm on the horizon and tasked their martyr (Bannvik) with protecting the world from catastrophe." - Velda's Spire of Secrets
Bannvik's Background:
Bannvik Sjøraven [bawn-vick], whose first name means “a cursed one tied to the sea,” and his last meaning “SeaRaven”.
Bannvik grew up in a small coastal village overshadowed by the tales of Aegir’s Maw, a bottomless trench believed to be a gateway to another world, where many believed ancient, dark forces lay dormant.As a child, Bannvik marveled at how his father commanded his ship during the few times he witnessed him at sea. His father, however, was plagued by night terrors and visions, as if haunted by the very waters he sailed. The elder Sjøraven’s mastery over storm and ice was no small feat, demanding sharp wits and unyielding resolve from his crew.
In his early teen years, Bannvik often hitched rides on the boats that came and went around the harbor, eager to dance with the sea as his father did. Despite the dangers, he was drawn to the ocean’s call, each voyage marked by the presence of a familiar raven that seemed to watch over him. The raven’s timely caws warned of incoming threats, a silent guardian during his formative years in piracy. But at fifteen, his father vanished overnight, leaving Bannvik to ponder his legacy alone.
At seventeen, Bannvik joined his first official crew, no longer a mere guest but a seafarer in his own right. The eldest crew members spoke of treacherous waters, particularly the Arctic Sea, filled with insane storms and the deadly allure of underwater death pits like Aegir’s Maw. These tales haunted Bannvik’s nights, giving rise to nightmares and visions he initially dismissed as mere remnants of fear.
During a seemingly simple supply run, Bannvik fell ill, vomiting over the docks. The captain, an old friend of his father, revealed a secret that would change Bannvik’s life: his father had been a WereRaven, passing this transformative gift onto his son. Bannvik struggled to comprehend why such a curse was necessary, but the captain warned that this gift was not a choice but a legacy tied to their family’s fate.
“Your father baits his hook with filthy lies, but I knew this tale was true.”
As Bannvik’s powers awakened, he learned to harness his new form, finding freedom in the skies. Yet, his fate took a darker turn when the crew’s ship drifted perilously close to Aegir’s Maw. Despite desperate attempts to stop, the ship seemed drawn toward the chasm by an unseen force. Bannvik, plagued by the same sickening dread his father once felt, knew this was no ordinary journey.
In a vision granted by the gods, Bannvik saw the evil that stirred in Aegir’s Maw, an ancient malevolence threatening to rise. A being that would be easily recognized as a Kraken by any outsider of this fantasy.
The gods had chosen him as a martyr, destined to confront and destroy the growing darkness in the abyss. The weight of this divine mission crushed Bannvik’s spirit; he didn’t want to be a martyr, nor did he want to face the horrors lurking beneath the waves. He found himself alone on the ship, the Captain's wooden tooth being the only thing to remain of the former crew.
Over time, Bannvik developed a profound fear of submerged structures as the sunken ruins and man-made remnants within Aegir’s Maw haunted his dreams. Yet, bound by duty and fate, Bannvik Sjøraven remains on the precipice of his destiny, torn between the fear of what lies below and the resolve to fulfill his cursed legacy.
The Arctic Sea, where Bannvik is from, is one of the most dangerous regions in Merine, with shifting icebergs, sudden snowstorms, and freezing waters that can kill the unprepared. The relentless cold tests even the hardiest sailors, and supplies are scarce for those who venture far from their clans or tribes. The Arctic Sea is steeped in legend, its waters home to spirits and ancient beings. Selkie shamans speak of Aegir’s Maw, a bottomless trench said to be a gateway to another world, while Skal raiders tell of ghost ships trapped forever in the ice. The Skal clans frequently raid one another and the Selkie tribes for resources, honor, or revenge. Despite this, moments of uneasy alliance occur when larger threats, such as sea monsters or rival factions, endanger the region. For both the Skal and the Selkies, life in the Arctic Sea revolves around survival and respect for the forces of nature. The Skal honor their gods and ancestors through feasts, battles, and songs, while the Selkies find harmony with the sea and its creatures. While their values and methods often clash, both groups share a deep connection to the sea and its unforgiving beauty. In the Arctic Sea, the only certainty is the cold embrace of the water and the strength of those who call it home.
Well, there you have it! The character, his background, and his unfortunate curse(s). I'm excited to see Bannvik grow as a character as the campaign goes on. If you're interested in joining a new or existing campaign, consider joining our Discord and checking out our groups!
Creating this character, I utilized Velda's Spire of Secrets primarily, as well as the official WOTC DM's Guide/Player's Handbook, etc.
More specifically for WOTC Material: The Player's Handbook "PHB'24, page 194. Available in the Free Rules (2024)." for the Human Species. "PHB'24, page 313. Available in the Free Rules (2024)." For Spells (Sacred Flame)
Thank you so much to our wonderful DMs who make this possible for all of us! Watch out for the next Blog Post, I can't wait to tell you all about Eurytheos- a Necromancer Mousling turned Rat King!
If you're interested in hosting your own D&D Campaign at Silver Canon, please email us at silvercanonllc@gmail.com
#dungeonsanddragons #dungeonsdragons #dnd #dnd5e #dungeonsanddragonsforbeginners #ttrpg #SilverCanon #dungeonsanddragonslore #spelljammer5e #dungeonsanddragons5e #pirates
Comments