You come from an island—be it one from the cold north or from the tropics. Your lifestyle is largely informed by the caprice of the sea, which may bless you or withhold from you the rejuvenating rains and bounteous reefs on which your people rely. Suffice it to say, growing up there were times of want and times of plenty. Putting food on the table might mean attending to the crops, but everyone on the island must know their way around boats and fishing nets for the sake of survival.
Islander religion is frequently complex, as their deep connection with nature is not always a happy one. Some islanders recognize the gods of their ancestors who brought them to the island in conjunction with the island's spiritual guardians. That may or may not be considered “worship;” some islanders blame the gods for the difficulty of island life, others praise them for every tiny blessing (real or imagined).
Religion on the islands can also go horribly awry. A bloodthirsty island god (or religious leader) may demand human sacrifices to keep the seas stocked and the land fertile… Other times these very blood sacrifices blight the crops and poison the waters. There are also times when sahuagin and Deep Ones arise from the depths to evangelize in the name of their alien masters.
Characters raised in the islander culture share a variety of traits in common with one another.
Climate Adjusted. You are acclimated to the extreme weather common to your home. Choose one:
Diver. Double the length of time you can hold your breath. (You can hold your breath a number of minutes equal to twice your Constitution modifier, minimum of 1, unless you double the benefits of another trait.)
Frugal Cooking. As part of a long rest, you can opt to do the cooking for yourself and up to 5 other creatures. The total amount of Supply consumed by these creatures is halved.
Islander Weapon Training. You are proficient with javelins, nets, spears, and tridents.
Seafarer. You are proficient with water vehicles. You are also proficient with either navigator’s tools, sewing kit, or woodcutter's tools.
Culture Island’s Blessing. You carry with you some of your island’s magic, even if you don’t realize it. You know one druid cantrip of your choice. The spellcasting ability of this spell is your choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
Through Wind and Rain. You ignore difficult terrain caused by conditions of intense wind or rain. When you are subject to forced movement caused by air or water effects, you halve that distance.
Languages. You can speak, read, write, and sign Common, plus one other.