Vedalken characters in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition bring a unique blend of intellect and precision to the game.
Here are five top backgrounds tailored for Vedalken adventurers, each offering a distinct blend of skills, tools, and flavor to enrich your gaming journey.
What Are Backgrounds in D&D 5e?
Backgrounds are more than simple stat boosts in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. They reveal where your character came from, why you became an adventurer, and your place in the world.
Before choosing your Background, ask yourself a few questions:
- What was I before I became an adventurer?
- Why did I stop doing what my Background explains and become an adventurer?
- Where did I get the money to buy my starting equipment?
- Where did I learn the skills used in my class?
- What’s different about me compared to others with the same Background?
Best Backgrounds for Vedalken
5. Simic Scientist
Skill Proficiencies – Medicine, Arcana
Languages – Choose two
Equipment – A set of common clothes, a glass bottle of unidentified slime, a vial of jellyfish stingers, a vial of seaweed, a vial of fish scales, a vial of acid (derived from digestive juices), a flask of oil (made from blubber), a bottle of squid ink, a book of research notes, a Simic insignia, and a pouch with 10GP (Azorius 1-zino coins).
Why the Simic Scientist?
Simic Scientists have the Clades and Projects, Researcher, and Simic Guild Spells features.
Clades and Projects tells you which clade you belong to, which is a group of other researchers working toward a common goal.
Researcher allows you to recall or learn information regarding magical and scientific facts. You also know where to find information if you don’t know it, but that might come at a cost.
You also have various spells (up to 5th-level spells) added to your spell list, most of which cause physical alterations to others or yourself, like displaying characteristics of amphibians, fish, or other water-dwelling creatures.
| Spell Level | Spell |
| Cantrip | Druidcraft, Acid Splash |
| 1st | Jump, Expeditious Retreat, Detect Poison and Disease |
| 2nd | Enlarge/Reduce, Enhance Ability, Alter Self |
| 3rd | Wind Wall, Water Breathing, Gaseous Form |
| 4th | Polymorph, Freedom of Movement |
| 5th | Creation |
Some Vedalken have chosen to become Simic Scientists because of their link to the water, understanding the creatures that dwell in it and which are best to combine with other races.
4. Sailor
Skill Proficiencies – Perception, Athletics
Tool Proficiencies – Vehicles (water), Navigator’s tools
Languages – None
Equipment – A set of common clothes, a lucky charm such as a small stone with a hole in the center or a rabbit foot (or you may also roll for a random trinket on the Trinkets table, which is in chapter 5 of the Player’s Handbook), 50 feet of silk rope, a belaying pin (club), and a pouch with 10GP.
Why the Background?
Sailors have the Ship’s Passage feature, allowing free passage on a sailing ship for you and your companions. The reasons you are allowed on the ship vary, but the route the ship takes will not meet your every need, as it is a favor.
Furthermore, your DM will determine how long it takes you to get to your destination. You and your companions are also expected to assist the crew throughout the voyage.
Vedalken are already partially amphibious, but with their knowledge of the waters, they can easily help sail ships to the most profitable places and maintain control of the vessels better than most seasoned captains.
3. Cloistered Scholar
Skill Proficiencies – History, plus one among Religion, Nature, and Arcana
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Choose two
Equipment – The scholar’s robes of your cloister, a borrowed book on the subject of your current study, a writing kit (a pouch with a small penknife, folded parchment, a bottle of ink, and a quill), and a pouch with 10GP.
Why the Cloistered Scholar?
Cloistered Scholar gives your Vedalken Library Access, granting you entry to libraries of vast knowledge and ways to navigate through bureaucratic connections.
Vedalken might not look it, but their long lifespan and lawfulness have pushed many to become scholars, studying everything there is to know about their homes to improve their civilization and eventually broadening their studies.
2. Izzet Engineer
Skill Proficiencies – Investigation, Arcana
Tool Proficiencies – A single type of artisan’s tools
Languages – Choose one of Vedalken, Goblin, or Draconic
Equipment – A set of common clothes, a block and tackle, a hammer, the charred and twisted remains of a failed experiment, an Izzet insignia, one set of artisan’s tools, and a pouch with 5GP (Azorius 1-zino coins).
Why the Izzet Engineer?
Izzet Engineers gain the Urban Infrastructure and Izzet Guild Spells features.
Urban Infrastructure allows you to understand and be able to construct mundane tasks of construction and architecture. Things like running water, levitating platforms, and other technological and magical wonders.
Note: You can even get your hands on blueprints of these constructions.
You can have various spells (up to 5th-level spells) added to your spell list, most of which are unnecessarily explosive, flashy, or loud. See the spells below:
| Spell Level | Spell |
| Cantrip | Shocking Grasp, Produce Flame |
| 1st | Unseen Servant, Create or Destroy Water, Chaos Bolt |
| 2nd | Rope Trick, Heat Metal |
| 3rd | Glyph of Warding, Elemental Weapon, Call Lightning |
| 4th | Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere, Divination, Conjure Minor Elementals |
| 5th | Conjure Elemental, Animate Objects |
Vedalken are very intelligent creatures, making them perfect candidates for becoming Izzet Engineers. Their thirst for knowledge and tireless precision make them masters of this craft.
1. Acolyte
Skill Proficiencies – Religion, Insight
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Choose two
Equipment – One holy symbol (gift to you when you entered the priesthood), a set of common clothes, a prayer book or prayer wheel, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, and a pouch with 15GP.
Why the Acolyte?
Acolytes receive the Shelter of the Faithful feature, granting you access to resources of temples and sanctuaries sharing your faith.
This allows you to receive free healing, food, and stay, though you’ll have to compensate them for any materials used in spells.
Many Vedalken live in harmony with the ocean, lakes, and rivers, at times serving aquatic deities that are neutral or have good intentions.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, when selecting backgrounds for your Vedalken in D&D 5e, look for options that accentuate their logical and analytical nature.
Backgrounds such as Sailor, Acolyte, or Cloistered Scholar can provide rich roleplaying opportunities, while the Izzet Engineer or Simic Scientist backgrounds offer unique perspectives and skills.