Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Religion

Tool Proficiencies: None

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: A holy symbol (a gift to you when you entered the priesthood), a prayer book or prayer wheel, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15gp

Features

Shelter of the Faithful

As an acolyte, you command the respect of those who share your faith, and you can perform the religious ceremonies of your deity. You and your adventuring companions can expect to receive free healing and care at a temple, shrine, or other established presence of your faith, though you must provide any material components needed for spells. Those who share your religion will support you (but only you) at a modest lifestyle.

You might also have ties to a specific temple dedicated to your chosen deity or pantheon, and you have a residence there. This could be the temple where you used to serve, if you remain on good terms with it, or a temple where you have found a new home. While near your temple, you can call upon the priests for assistance, provided the assistance you ask for is not hazardous and you remain in good standing with your temple.

Suggested Characteristics

Acolytes are shaped by their experience in temples or other religious communities. Their study of the history and tenets of their faith and their relationships to temples, shrines, or hierarchies affect their mannerisms and ideals. Their flaws might be some hidden hypocrisy or heretical idea, or an ideal or bond taken to an extreme.

Personality Traits

d8. Personality Trait

1. I idolize a particular hero of my faith, and constantly refer to that person's deeds and example.

2. I can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace.

3. I see omens in every event and action. The gods try to speak to us, we just need to listen.

4. Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude.

5. I quote (or misquote) sacred texts and proverbs in almost every situation.

6. I am tolerant (or intolerant) of other faiths and respect (or condemn) the worship of other gods.

7. I've enjoyed fine food, drink, and high society among my temple's elite. Rough living grates on me.

8. I've spent so long in the temple that I have little practical experience dealing with people in the outside world.

Ideals

d6. Ideal

1. Tradition. The ancient traditions of worship and sacrifice must be preserved and upheld. (Lawful)

2. Charity. I always try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good)

3. Change. We must help bring about the changes the gods are constantly working in the world. (Chaotic)

4. Power. I hope to one day rise to the top of my faith's religious hierarchy. (Lawful)

5. Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well. (Lawful)

6. Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of my god's favor by matching my actions against their teachings. (Any)

Bonds

d6. Bond

1. I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago.

2. I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic.

3. I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my parents died.

4. Everything I do is for the common people.

5. I will do anything to protect the temple where I served.

6. I seek to preserve a sacred text that my enemies consider heretical and seek to destroy.

Flaws

d6. Flaw

1. I judge others harshly, and myself even more severely.

2. I put too much trust in those who wield power within my temple's hierarchy.

3. My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god.

4. I am inflexible in my thinking.

5. I am suspicious of strangers and expect the worst of them.

6. Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Religion

Tool Proficiencies: None

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: A leather-bound diary, a bottle of ink, an ink pen, a set of traveler's clothes, one trinket of special significance, and a pouch containing 10gp

Features

Cultural Chameleon

Before becoming an adventurer, you spent much of your adult life away from your homeland, living among people different from your kin. You came to understand these foreign cultures and the ways of their people, who eventually treated you as one of their own. One culture had more of an influence on you than any other, shaping your beliefs and customs. Choose a race whose culture you've adopted.

Adept Linguist

You can communicate with humanoids who don't speak any language you know. You must observe the humanoids interacting with one another for at least 1 day, after which you learn a handful of important words, expressions, and gestures – enough to communicate on a rudimentary level.

Suggested Characteristics

Anthropologists leave behind the societies into which they were born to discover what life ls like in other parts of the world. They seek to see how other races and civilizations survive – or why they did not. Some anthropologists are driven by intellectual curiosity, while others want the fame and recognition that comes with being the first to discover a new people, a lost tribe, or the truth about an ancient empire's downfall.

Personality Traits

d6. Personality Trait

1. I prefer the company of those who aren't like me, including people of other races.

2. I'm a stickler when it comes to observing proper etiquette and local customs.

3. I would rather observe than meddle.

4. By living among violent people, I have become desensitized to violence.

5. I would risk life and limb to discover a new culture or unravel the secrets of a dead one.

6. When I arrive at a new settlement for the first time, I must learn all its customs.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1. Discovery. I want to be the first person to discover a lost culture. (Any)

2. Distance. One must not interfere with the affairs of another culture – even one in need of aid. (Lawful)

3. Knowledge. By understanding other races and cultures, we learn to understand ourselves. (Any)

4. Power. Common people crave strong leadership, and I do my utmost to provide it. (Lawful)

5. Protection. I must do everything possible to save a society facing extinction. (Good)

6. Indifferent. Life is cruel. What's the point in saving people if they're going to die anyway? (Chaotic)

Bonds

d6. Bond

1. My mentor gave me a journal filled with lore and wisdom. Losing it would devastate me.

2. Having lived among the people of a primeval tribe or clan, I long to return and see how they are faring.

3. Years ago, tragedy struck the members of an isolated society I befriended, and I will honor them.

4. I want to learn more about a particular humanoid culture that fascinates me.

5. I seek to avenge a clan, tribe, kingdom, or empire that was wiped out.

6. I have a trinket that I believe is the key to finding a long-lost society.

Flaws

d6. Flaw

1. Boats make me seasick.

2. I talk to myself, and I don't make friends easily.

3. I believe that I'm intellectually superior to people from other cultures and have much to teach them.

4. I've picked up some unpleasant habits living among races such as goblins, lizardfolk, or orcs.

5. I complain about everything.

6. I wear a tribal mask and never take it off.

Skill Proficiencies: History, Survival

Tool Proficiencies: Cartographer's tools or navigator's tools

Languages: One of your choice

Equipment: A wooden case containing a map to a ruin or dungeon, a bullseye lantern, a miner's pick, a set of traveler's clothes, a shovel, a two-person tent, a trinket recovered from a dig site, and a pouch containing 25gp

Features

Dust Digger

Prior to becoming an adventurer, you spent most of your young life crawling around in the dust, pilfering relics of questionable value from crypts and ruins. Though you managed to sell a few of your discoveries and earn enough coin to buy proper adventuring gear, you have held onto an item that has great emotional value to you. Roll on the Signature Item table to see what you have, or choose an item from the table.

d8. Signature Item

1. 10-foot pole

2. Medallion

3. Crowbar

4. Shovel

5. Hat

6. Sledgehammer

7. Hooded lantern

8. Whip

Historical Knowledge

When you enter a ruin or dungeon, you can correctly ascertain its original purpose and determine its builders, whether those were dwarves, elves, humans, yuan-ti, or some other known race. In addition, you can determine the monetary value of art objects more than a century old.

Suggested Characteristics

Few archaeologists can resist the lure of an unexplored ruin or dungeon, particularly if such a site is the source of legends or is rumored to contain the treasures and relics of wizards, warlords, or royalty. Some archaeologists plunder for wealth or fame, while others consider it their calling to illuminate the past or keep the world's greatest treasures from falling into the wrong hands. Whatever their motivations, archaeologists combine the qualities of a scrappy historian with the self-made heroism of a treasure-hunting scoundrel.

Personality Traits

d8. Personality Trait

1. I love a good puzzle or mystery.

2. I'm a pack rat who never throws anything away.

3. Fame is more important to me than money.

4. I have no qualms about stealing from the dead.

5. I'm happier in a dusty old tomb than I am in the centers of civilization.

6. Traps don't make me nervous. Idiots who trigger traps make me nervous.

7. I might fail, but I will never give up.

8. You might think I'm a scholar, but I love a good brawl. These fists were made for punching.

Ideals

d6. Ideal

1. Preservation. That artifact belongs in a museum. (Good)

2. Greed. I won't risk my life for nothing. I expect some kind of payment. (Any)

3. Death Wish. Nothing is more exhilarating than a narrow escape from the jaws of death. (Chaotic)

4. Dignity. The dead and their belongings deserve to be treated with respect. (Lawful)

5. Immortality. All my exploring is part of a plan to find the secret of everlasting life. (Any)

6. Danger. With every great discovery comes grave danger. The two walk hand in hand. (Any)

Bonds

d6. Bond

1. Ever since I was a child, I've heard stories about a lost city. I aim to find it, learn its secrets, and earn my place in the history books.

2. I want to find my mentor, who disappeared on an expedition some time ago.

3. I have a friendly rival. Only one of us can be the best, and I aim to prove it's me.

4. I won't sell an art object or other treasure that has historical significance or is one of a kind.

5. I'm secretly in love with the wealthy patron who sponsors my archaeological exploits.

6. I hope to bring prestige to a library, a museum, or a university.

Flaws

d6. Flaw

1. I have a secret fear of some common wild animal – and in my work, I see them everywhere.

2. I can't leave a room without searching it for secret doors.

3. When I'm not exploring dungeons or ruins, I get jittery and impatient.

4. I have no time for friends or family. I spend every waking moment thinking about and preparing for my next expedition.

5. When given the choice of going left or right, I always go left.

6. I can't sleep except in total darkness.

You grew up in a tight-knit society, bound to a leader who successfully returned from the traditional journey to the Elemental Planes known as an Aramante. By contrast, you might well have never traveled more than a few days from your home, and thus have closer bonds with your family and neighbors than many people of Tal’Dorei.

In your early life, you likely took up one of the many roles that make up your society, whether homemaker, hunter, explorer, or protector. If you have the ability to use elemental magic, you might have had one of the most important duties of all: protecting and soothing the elemental rift at the heart of your home. And even as an adventurer now traveling far beyond that home, your loyalties still lie with the continued safety of your order. Whatever else you do as you learn about the new world around you, you’re conscious of the need to gather allies to your cause.

Each Ashari is tethered to one of the four elemental orders and their settlements. You must select Pyrah (fire), Vesrah (water), Terrah (earth), or Zephrah (wind). The rifts of earth and air are both in Tal’Dorei. If you live or lived among your people, then you are familiar with the remarkable sights of Air Ashari on Skysails above the Summit Peaks, or Earth Ashari erupting from the solid stone of the Cliffkeep Mountains on their Earthboards

Proficiencies

Skill Proficiencies: Nature, plus your choice of Arcana or Survival
Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit
Languages: Primordial (Aquan, Auran, Ignan, or Terran, depending on the elemental affinity of your tribe)
Equipment: A set of traveler's clothes, a staff carved with symbols of your tribe, an herbalism kit, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp.

Features

Elemental Harmony

Growing up surrounded by wild elemental magics has attuned your senses to those chaotic forces, enabling you to subtly bend them to your will. As an action, you channel minor magic involving the element of your chosen Ashari order, giving you one of the following abilities:

• Pyrah. You instantaneously create and control a burst of flame small enough to light a candle, a torch, or a small campfire. Alternatively, you snuff out a flame of the same size.

• Terrah. You instantaneously create a small rock no larger than a gold coin. The rock appears in your hand, then turns to dust after 1 minute.

• Vesrah. You instantaneously create enough hot or cold water to fill a small drinking vessel.

• Zephrah. You create an instantaneous puff of wind strong enough to blow papers off a desk or mess up someone’s hair.

Suggested Characteristics

The Ashari hold themselves removed from the rest of Tal’Dorei by their own choice. This makes many Ashari naive to the ways of the world beyond their homes — but it can also make them determined, steadfast, and tightly focused on their goals. Ever since Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest and leader of the Zephrah, became a world-renowned hero, the Air Ashari at least have become more familiar to Tal’Dorei’s other peoples. They are known to welcome outsiders to their mountaintop enclave, and to take on quests that force them to leave their isolated home.

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I like to keep my hands busy, no matter where I am.

2 I love to explore new places and meet new people.

3 I meditate at dawn each day — and I can’t stand it when my routine is interrupted.

4 I like noticing patterns in the world around me, whether or not they mean anything.

5 I don’t let anything — or anyone — stand in the way of my mission.

6 I’m a plain talker, even with people who outrank me.

7 I’ve always got some of my native element with me in some form. (This might be modeling clay, pure water, special burning incense, or a bottled cloud.

8 I talk with everyone like I’ve known them all my life. Because most people I know, I have known all my life!

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Destiny. I believe that everyone has a role to play. Now I just have to find mine. (Neutral)

2 Community. It’s important to surround yourself with people you can count on, and who will support you. (Good)

3 Knowledge. I want to learn everything I can about the Elemental Planes — and maybe even visit them myself. (Neutral)

4 Freedom. I don’t care what anyone says. Even if it causes problems, the elements must be free. And so should I. (Chaotic)

5 Structure. The elements are in harmony when they are free to act as they will, within the safe boundaries set by the Ashari. People are much the same. (Lawful)

6 Virtuous Cycle. If I see someone who needs help, I feel compelled to assist them. Surely they’ll return the favor someday! (Good)

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 I have a cousin in another Ashari tribe whom I’ve never met, but someday I want to visit my extended family.

2 The leader of my tribe thinks I could be their successor, but I worry that I don’t have enough experience to lead my people.

3 A mysterious person killed a member of my family. I’ve left home to discover who the killer was — and to seek vengeance.

4 My older sibling set out on their Aramante a year ago, and I haven’t seen them since.

5 When I was a baby, a giant eagle brought me to Zephrah. I love my family, but I often wonder who my birth parents are.

6 I trust my animal friends more than any humanoid ally.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 Big cities are overwhelming. I get nervous when surrounded by people I don’t know.

2 I know all too well that elemental power is dangerous — but I like playing around with it anyway.

3 I get surly if I go too long without being in contact with my native element.

4 I think the mission of my people is a fool’s errand. They should abandon isolation, let the elements be, and enjoy the pleasures of the world!

5 I can’t stand it when people say one thing and mean another! Just say what you mean!

6 Ugh, I know it’s not right, but I can’t help but look down on people who can’t manipulate the elements. It’s not like it’s hard!

Favored Event

While many athletes practice various games and events, most excel at a single form of competition. Roll or choose from the options in the Favored Events table to determine the athletic event in which you excel.

d8. Favored Event

1. Marathon

2. Long-distance running

3. Wrestling

4. Boxing

5. Chariot or horse race

6. Pankration (mixed unarmed combat)

7. Hoplite race (racing in full armor with a unit)

8. Pentathlon (running, long jump, discus, javelin, wrestling)

Feature: Echoes of Victory

You have attracted admiration among spectators, fellow athletes, and trainers in the region that hosted your past athletic victories. When visiting any settlement within 100 miles of where you grew up, there is a 50 percent chance you can find someone there who admires you and is willing to provide information and temporary shelter.

Between adventures, you might compete in athletic events sufficient enough to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, as per the "Practicing a Profession" downtime activity in chapter 8 of the Players Handbook.

Suggested Characteristics

Competition can forge strong bonds between teammates and rivals or ignite bitter feuds that burn outside the arena. Athletes often apply lessons from their training to their lives in general.

Personality Trait

d8. Personality Trait

1. I feel most at peace during physical exertion, whether exercise or battle.

2. I don't like to sit idle.

3. I have a daily exercise routine I refuse to break.

4. Obstacles exist to be overcome.

5. When I see others struggling, I offer to help.

6. I love to trade banter and gibes.

7. Anything worth doing is worth doing best.

8. I get irritated if people praise someone else and not me.

Ideals

d6. Ideal

1. Competition. I strive to test myself in all things. (Chaotic)

2. Triumph. The best part of winning is seeing my rivals brought low. (Evil)

3. Camaraderie. The strongest bonds are forged through struggle. (Good)

4. People. I strive to inspire my spectators. (Neutral)

5. Tradition. Every game has rules, and the playing field must be level. (Lawful)

6. Growth. Lessons hide in victory and defeat. (Any)

Bonds

d6. Bond

1. My teammates are my family.

2. I will overcome a rival and prove myself their better.

3. My mistake got someone hurt. Ill never make that mistake again.

4. I will be the best for the honor and glory of my home.

5. The person who trained me is the most important person in my world.

6. I strive to live up to a specific hero's example.

Flaws

d6. Flaw

1. I indulge in a habit that threatens my reputation or health.

2. I'll do absolutely anything to win.

3. I ignore anyone who doesn't compete and anyone who loses to me.

4. I have lingering pain of old injuries.

5. Any defeat or failure on my part is because my opponents cheated.

6. I must be the captain of any group I join.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of Hand

Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, forgery kit

Languages: None

Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a disguise kit, tools of the con of your choice (ten stoppered bottles filled with colored liquid, a set of weighted dice, a deck of marked cards, or a signet ring of an imaginary duke), and a pouch containing 15gp

Features

Favorite Schemes

Every charlatan has an angle they use in preference to other schemes. Choose a favorite scam or roll on the table below.

d6. Scam

1. I cheat at games of chance.

2. I shave coins or forge documents.

3. I insinuate myself into people's lives to prey on their weakness and secure their fortunes.

4. I put on new identities like clothes.

5. I run sleight-of-hand cons on street corners.

6. I convince people that worthless junk is worth their hard-earned money.

False Identity

You have created a second identity that includes documentation, established acquaintances, and disguises that allow you to assume that persona. Additionally, you can forge documents including official papers and personal letters, as long as you have seen an example of the kind of document or the handwriting you are trying to copy.

Suggested Characteristics

Charlatans are colorful characters who conceal their true selves behind the masks they construct. They reflect what people want to see, what they want to believe, and how they see the world. But their true selves are sometimes plagued by an uneasy conscience, an old enemy, or deep-seated trust issues.

Personality Traits

d8. Personality Trait

1. I fall in and out of love easily, and am always pursuing someone.

2. I have a joke for every occasion, especially occasions where humor is inappropriate.

3. Flattery is my preferred trick for getting what I want.

4. I'm a born gambler who can't resist taking a risk for a potential payoff.

5. I lie about almost everything, even when there's no good reason to.

6. Sarcasm and insults are my weapons of choice.

7. I keep multiple holy symbols on me and invoke whatever deity might come in useful at any given moment.

8. I pocket anything I see that might have some value.

Ideals

d6. Ideal

1. Independence. I am a free spirit – no one tells me what to do. (Chaotic)

2. Fairness. I never target people who can't afford to lose a few coins. (Lawful)

3. Charity. I distribute the money I acquire to the people who really need it. (Good)

4. Creativity. I never run the same con twice. (Chaotic)

5. Friendship. Material goods come and go. Bonds of friendship last forever. (Good)

6. Aspiration. I'm determined to make something of myself. (Any)

Bonds

d6. Bond

1. I fleeced the wrong person and must work to ensure that this individual never crosses paths with me or those I care about.

2. I owe everything to my mentor – a horrible person who's probably rotting in jail somewhere.

3. Somewhere out there, I have a child who doesn't know me. I'm making the world better for him or her.

4. I come from a noble family, and one day I'll reclaim my lands and title from those who stole them from me.

5. A powerful person killed someone I love. Some day soon, I'll have my revenge.

6. I swindled and ruined a person who didn't deserve it. I seek to atone for my misdeeds but might never be able to forgive myself.

Flaws

d6. Flaw

1. I can't resist a pretty face.

2. I'm always in debt. I spend my ill-gotten gains on decadent luxuries faster than I bring them in.

3. I'm convinced that no one could ever fool me the way I fool others.

4. I'm too greedy for my own good. I can't resist taking a risk if there's money involved.

5. I can't resist swindling people who are more powerful than me.

6. I hate to admit it and will hate myself for it, but I'll run and preserve my own hide if the going gets tough.

You might have been part of the City Watch of Waterdeep, the baton-wielding police force of the City of Splendors, protecting the common folk from thieves and rowdy nobility alike. Or you might have been one of the valiant defenders of Silverymoon, a member of the Silverwatch or even one of the magic-wielding Spellguard.

Perhaps you hail from Neverwinter and have served as one of its Wintershield watchmen, the newly founded branch of guards who vow to keep safe the City of Skilled Hands.

Even if you're not city-born or city-bred, this background can describe your early years as a member of law enforcement. Most settlements of any size have their own constables and police forces, and even smaller communities have sheriffs and bailiffs who stand ready to protect their community.

Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Insight

Tool Proficiencies: None

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: A uniform in the style of your unit and indicative of your rank, a horn with which to summon help, a set of manacles, and a pouch containing 10gp

Features

Watcher's Eye

Your experience in enforcing the law, and dealing with lawbreakers, gives you a feel for local laws and criminals. You can easily find the local outpost of the watch or a similar organization, and just as easily pick out the dens of criminal activity in a community, although you're more likely to be welcome in the former locations rather than the latter.

Variants - Investigator

Rarer than watch or patrol members are a community's investigators, who are responsible for solving crimes after the fact. Though such folk are seldom found in rural areas, nearly every settlement of decent size has at least one or two watch members who have the skill to investigate crime scenes and track down criminals. If your prior experience is as an investigator, you have proficiency in Investigation rather than Athletics.

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the soldier background as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity.

Your bond is likely associated with your fellow watch members or the watch organization itself and almost certainly concerns your community. Your ideal probably involves the fostering of peace and safety. An investigator is likely to have an ideal connected to achieving justice by successfully solving crimes.

Skill Proficiencies: History, Insight

Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan's tools

Languages: Dwarvish or one other of your choice if you already speak Dwarvish

Equipment: A set of artisan's tools with which you are proficient, a maker's mark chisel used to mark your handiwork with the symbol of the clan of crafters you learned your skill from, a set of traveler's clothes, and a pouch containing 5gp and a gem worth 10gp

Features

Respect of the Stout Folk

As well respected as clan crafters are among outsiders, no one esteems them quite so highly as dwarves do. You always have free room and board in any place where shield dwarves or gold dwarves dwell, and the individuals in such a settlement might vie among themselves to determine who can offer you (and possibly your compatriots) the finest accommodations and assistance.

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the guild artisan background as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity. (For instance, consider the words "guild" and "clan" to be interchangeable.)

Your bond is almost certainly related to the master or the clan that taught you, or else to the work that you produce. Your ideal might have to do with maintaining the high quality of your work or preserving the dwarven traditions of craftsmanship.

The most well known of Faerûn's fonts of knowledge is Candlekeep. The great library is always in need of workers and attendants, some of whom rise through the ranks to assume roles of greater responsibility and prominence. You might be one of Candlekeep's own, dedicated to the curatorship of what is likely the most complete body of lore and history in all the world.

Perhaps instead you were taken in by the scholars of the Vault of the Sages or the Map House in Silverymoon, and now you have struck out to increase your knowledge and to make yourself available to help those in other places who seek your expertise. You might be one of the few who aid Herald's Holdfast, helping to catalogue and maintain records of the information that arrives daily from across Faerûn.

Skill Proficiencies: History, plus your choice of one from among Arcana, Nature, and Religion

Tool Proficiencies: None

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: The scholar's robes of your cloister, a writing kit (small pouch with a quill, a bottle of ink, folded parchment, and a small penknife), a borrowed book on the subject of your current study, and a pouch containing 10gp

Features

Library Access

Though others must often endure extensive interviews and significant fees to gain access to even the most common archives in your library, you have free and easy access to the majority of the library, though it might also have repositories of lore that are too valuable, magical, or secret to permit anyone immediate access.

You have a working knowledge of your cloister's personnel and bureaucracy, and you know how to navigate those connections with some ease.

Additionally, you are likely to gain preferential treatment at other libraries across the Realms, as professional courtesy shown to a fellow scholar.

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the sage background as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity.

Your bond is almost certainly associated either with the place where you grew up or with the knowledge you hope to acquire through adventuring. Your ideal is no doubt related to how you view the quest for knowledge and truth – perhaps as a worthy goal in itself, or maybe as a means to a desirable end.

You might have been one of the many functionaries, attendants, and other hangers-on in the Court of Silverymoon, or perhaps you traveled in Waterdeep's baroque and sometimes cutthroat conglomeration of guilds, nobles, adventurers, and secret societies. You might have been one of the behind-the-scenes law-keepers or functionaries in Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter, or you might have grown up in and around the castle of Daggerford.

Even if you are no longer a full-fledged member of the group that gave you your start in life, your relationships with your former fellows can be an advantage for you and your adventuring comrades. You might undertake missions with your new companions that further the interest of the organization that gave you your start in life. In any event, the abilities that you honed while serving as a courtier will stand you in good stead as an adventurer.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion

Tool Proficiencies: None

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: A set of fine clothes, and a pouch containing 5gp 

Features

Court Functionary

Your knowledge of how bureaucracies function lets you gain access to the records and inner workings of any noble court or government you encounter. You know who the movers and shakers are, whom to go to for the favors you seek, and what the current intrigues of interest in the group are.

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the guild artisan background as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity.

The noble court or bureaucratic organization where you got your start is directly or indirectly associated with your bond (which could pertain to certain individuals in the group, such as your sponsor or mentor). Your ideal might be concerned with the prevailing philosophy of your court or organization.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth

Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, thieves' tools

Languages: None

Equipment: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15gp 

Variants

Spy

Although your capabilities are not much different from those of a burglar or smuggler, you learned and practiced them in a very different context: as an espionage agent. You might have been an officially sanctioned agent of the crown, or perhaps you sold the secrets you uncovered to the highest bidder.

Features

Criminal Specialty

There are many kinds of criminals, and within a thieves' guild or similar criminal organization, individual members have particular specialties. Even criminals who operate outside of such organizations have strong preferences for certain kinds of crimes over others. 

Choose the role you played in your criminal life, or roll on the table below.

D8 Specialty

1 Blackmailer

2 Burglar

3 Enforcer

4 Fence

5 Highway robber

6 Hired killer

7 Pickpocket

8 Smuggler

Criminal Contact

You have a reliable and trustworthy contact who acts as your liaison to a network of other criminals. You know how to get messages to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you.

Suggested Characteristics

Criminals might seem like villains on the surface, and many of them are villainous to the core. But some have an abundance of endearing, if not redeeming, characteristics. There might be honor among thieves, but criminals rarely show any respect for law or authority.

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong.

2 I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me.

3 The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuable – or where such things could be hidden.

4 I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy.

5 I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide.

6 I don't pay attention to the risks in a situation. Never tell me the odds.

7 The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can't do it.

8 I blow up at the slightest insult.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Honor. I don't steal from others in the trade. (Lawful)

2 Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic)

3 Charity. I steal from the wealthy so that I can help people in need. (Good)

4 Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. (Evil)

5 People. I'm loyal to my friends, not to any ideals, and everyone else can take a trip down the Styx for all I care. (Neutral)

6 Redemption. There's a spark of good in everyone. (Good)

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 I'm trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous benefactor.

2 My ill-gotten gains go to support my family.

3 Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back.

4 I will become the greatest thief that ever lived.

5 I'm guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it.

6 Someone I loved died because of I mistake I made. That will never happen again.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 When I see something valuable, I can't think about anything but how to steal it.

2 When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money.

3 If there's a plan, I'll forget it. If I don't forget it, I'll ignore it.

4 I have a "tell" that reveals when I'm lying.

5 I turn tail and run when things look bad.

6 An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I'm okay with that.

Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance

Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, one type of musical instrument

Languages: None

Equipment: A musical instrument (one of your choice), the favor of an admirer (love letter, lock of hair, or trinket), a costume, and a pouch containing 15gp 

Variants

Gladiator

A gladiator is as much an entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer trained to make the arts of combat into a spectacle the crowd can enjoy. This kind of flashy combat is your entertainer routine, though you might also have some skills as a tumbler or actor. Using your By Popular Demand feature, you can find a place to perform in any place that features combat for entertainment-perhaps a gladiatorial arena or secret pit fighting club. You can replace the musical instrument in your equipment package with an inexpensive but unusual weapon, such as a trident or net.

Features

Entertainer Routines

A good entertainer is versatile, spicing up every performance with a variety of different routines. Choose one to three routines or roll on the table below to define your expertise as an entertainer.

D10 Entertainer Routine

1 Actor

2 Dancer

3 Fire-eater

4 Jester

5 Juggler

6 Instrumentalist

7 Poet

8 Singer

9 Storyteller

10 Tumbler

By Popular Demand

You can always find a place to perform, usually in an inn or tavern but possibly with a circus, at a theater, or even in a noble's court. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your performance makes you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you.

Suggested Characteristics

Successful entertainers have to be able to capture and hold an audience's attention, so they tend to have flamboyant or forceful personalities. They're inclined toward the romantic and often cling to high-minded ideals about the practice of art and the appreciation of beauty.

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I know a story relevant to almost every situation.

2 Whenever I come to a new place, I collect local rumors and spread gossip.

3 I'm a hopeless romantic, always searching for that "special someone."

4 Nobody stays angry at me or around me for long, since I can defuse any amount of tension.

5 I love a good insult, even one directed at me.

6 I get bitter if I'm not the center of attention.

7 I'll settle for nothing less than perfection.

8 I change my mood or my mind as quickly as I change key in a song.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Beauty. When I perform, I make the world better than it was. (Good)

2 Tradition. The stories, legends, and songs of the past must never be forgotten, for they teach us who we are. (Lawful)

3 Creativity. The world is in need of new ideas and bold action. (Chaotic)

4 Greed. I'm only in it for the money and fame. (Evil)

5 People. I like seeing the smiles on people's faces when I perform. That's all that matters. (Neutral)

6 Honesty. Art should reflect the soul; it should come from within and reveal who we really are. (Any)

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 My instrument is my most treasured possession, and it reminds me of someone I love.

2 Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I'll get it back.

3 I want to be famous, whatever it takes.

4 I idolize a hero of the old tales and measure my deeds against that person's.

5 I will do anything to prove myself superior to my hated rival.

6 I would do anything for the other members of my old troupe.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 I'll do anything to win fame and renown.

2 I'm a sucker for a pretty face.

3 A scandal prevents me from ever going home again. That kind of trouble seems to follow me around.

4 I once satirized a noble who still wants my head. It was a mistake that I will likely repeat.

5 I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble.

6 Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends.

Characters with the faceless background don a disguise—literally or otherwise—as they adventure. This persona might be dramatic or subtle. In a way, though, many characters have such larger than life personalities. Therefore, this background largely focuses on detailing the hero behind the mask.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Intimidation
Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A disguise kit, a costume, and a pouch containing 10gp

Features

Faceless Persona

A faceless character adventures behind a mask of a public persona. This persona is as natural to them as their hidden, true face, but it disguises their identity. Roll on the Faceless Persona table to determine your persona, or work with the DM to create a persona that's unique to your character and suits the tone of your game.

d6 Faceless Persona

1 A flamboyant spy or brigand

2 The incarnation of a nation or people

3 A scoundrel with a masked guise

4 A vengeful spirit

5 The manifestation of a deity or your faith

6 One whose beauty is greatly accented using makeup

7 An impersonation of another hero

8 The embodiment of a school of magic

9 A warrior with distinctive armor

10 A disguise with animalistic or monstrous characteristics, meant to inspire fear

Dual Personalities

Most of your fellow adventurers and the world know you as your persona. Those who seek to learn more about you—your weakness, your origins, your purpose—find themselves stymied by your disguise. Upon donning a disguise and behaving as your persona, you are unidentifiable as your true self. By removing your disguise and revealing your true face, you are no longer identifiable as your persona. This allows you to change appearances between your two personalities as often as you wish, using one to hide the other or serve as convenient camouflage. However, should someone realize the connection between your persona and your true self, your deception might lose its effectiveness.

Suggested Characteristics

A faceless character usually plays their persona—the hero or extraordinary person they are every day. That's all a façade, though, or a part of them expressed to an extreme. To define a persona, feel free to choose characteristics from other backgrounds, particularly folk hero, hermit, or noble. For the person behind the persona, the one who truly strives to be faceless, consider a distinct set of faceless characteristics. As a result, those with this background have two sets of characteristics, one for their persona, and one for their faceless selves.

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I'm earnest and uncommonly direct.

2 I strive to have no personality—it's easier to forget what's hardly there.

3 I treasure a memento of a person or instance that set me upon my path.

4 I sleep just as much as I need to and on an unusual schedule.

5 I think far ahead, a detachedness often mistaken for daydreaming.

6 I cultivate a single obscure hobby or study and eagerly discuss it at length.

7 I am ever learning how to be among others—when to stay quiet, when to laugh.

8 I behave like an extreme opposite of my persona.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Justice. Place in society shouldn't determine one's access to what is right. (Good)

2 Security. Doing what must be done can't bring the innocent to harm. (Lawful)

3 Confusion. Deception is a weapon. Strike from where your foes won't expect. (Chaotic)

4 Infamy. My name will be a malediction, a curse that fulfills my will. (Evil)

5 Incorruptibility. Be a symbol, and leave your flawed being behind. (Any)

6 Anonymity. It's my deeds that should be remembered, not their instrument. (Any)

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 I do everything for my family. My first thought is keeping them safe.

2 What I do, I do for the world. The people don't realize how much they need me.

3 I've seen too many in need. I must not fail them as everyone else has.

4 I stand in opposition, lest the wicked go unopposed.

5 I am exceptional. I do this because no one else can, and no one can stop me.

6 I do everything for those who were taken from me.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 I an callous about death. It comes to us all eventually.

2 I never make eye contact or hold it unflinchingly.

3 I have no sense of humor. Laughing is uncomfortable and embarrassing.

4 I overexert myself, sometimes needing to recuperate for a day or more.

5 I think far ahead, a detachedness often mistaken for daydreaming.

6 I see morality entirely in black and white.

As a prelude to your adventuring career (and in preparation for it), you served as an agent of a particular faction in Faerûn. You might have operated openly or secretly, depending on the faction and its goals, as well as how those goals mesh with your own. Becoming an adventurer doesn't necessarily require you to relinquish membership in your faction (though you can choose to do so), and it might enhance your status in the faction.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight and one Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma skill of your choice, as appropriate to your faction

Tool Proficiencies: None

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: The badge or emblem of your faction, a copy of a seminal faction text (or a code-book for a covert faction), a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15gp 

Features

Factions of the Sword Coast

The lack of large, centralized governments in the North and along the Sword Coast is likely directly responsible for the proliferation of secret societies and conspiracies in those lands. If your background is as an agent for one of the main factions of the North and Sword Coast, here are some possibilities.

The Harpers

Founded more than a millennium ago, disbanded and reorganized several times, the Harpers remain a powerful, behind-the-scenes agency, which acts to thwart evil and promote fairness through knowledge, rather than brute force. Harper agents are often proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and innkeepers, rangers, and the clergy of gods that are aligned with the Harpers' ideals.

The Order of the Gauntlet

One of the newest power groups in Faerûn, the Order of the Gauntlet has an agenda similar to that of the Harpers. Its methods are vastly different, however: bearers of the gauntlet are holy warriors on a righteous quest to crush evil and promote justice, and they never hide in the shadows. Order agents tend to be proficient in Religion, and frequently seek aid from law enforcement friendly to the order's ideals, and the clergy of the order's patron gods.

The Emerald Enclave

Maintaining balance in the natural order and combating the forces that threaten that balance is the twofold goal of the Emerald Enclave. Those who serve the faction are masters of survival and living off the land. They are often proficient in Nature, and can seek assistance from woodsmen, hunters, rangers, barbarian tribes, druid circles, and priests who revere the gods of nature.

The Lords' Alliance

On one level, the agents of the Lords' Alliance are representatives of the cities and other governments that constitute the alliance. But, as a faction with interests and concerns that transcend local politics and geography, the Alliance has its own cadre of individuals who work on behalf of the organizations, wider agenda. Alliance agents are required to be knowledgeable in History, and can always rely on the aid of the governments that are part of the Alliance, plus other leaders and groups who uphold the Alliance's ideals.

The Zhentarim

In recent years, the Zhentarim have become more visible in the world at large, as the group works to improve its reputation among the common people. The faction draws employees and associates from many walks of life, setting them to tasks that serve the goals of the Black Network but aren't necessarily criminal in nature. Agents of the Black Network must often work in secret, and are frequently proficient in Deception. They seek aid from the wizards, mercenaries, merchants and priesthoods allied with the Zhentarim.

Safe Haven

As a faction agent, you have access to a secret network of supporters and operatives who can provide assistance on your adventures. You know a set of secret signs and passwords you can use to identify such operatives, who can provide you with access to a hidden safe house, free room and board, or assistance in finding information. These agents never risk their lives for you or risk revealing their true identities.

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the Acolyte background as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity. (For instance, consider the words "faith" and "faction" to be interchangeable.)

Your bond might be associated with other members of your faction, or a location or an object that is important to your faction. The ideal you strive for is probably in keeping with the tenets and principles of your faction, but might be more personal in nature.

You are from a distant place, one so remote that few of the common folk in the North realize that it exists, and chances are good that even if some people you meet have heard of your homeland, they know merely the name and perhaps a few outrageous stories. You have come to this part of Faerûn for your own reasons, which you might or might not choose to share.

Although you will undoubtedly find some of this land's ways to be strange and discomfiting, you can also be sure that some things its people take for granted will be to you new wonders that you've never laid eyes on before. By the same token, you're a person of interest, for good or ill, to those around you almost anywhere you go.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Perception

Tool Proficiencies: Any one musical instrument or gaming set of your choice, likely something native to your homeland

Languages: Any one of your choice

Equipment: One set of traveler's clothes, any one musical instrument or gaming set you are proficient with, poorly wrought maps from your homeland that depict where you are in Faerûn, a small piece of jewelry worth 10gp in the style of your homeland's craftsmanship, and a pouch containing 5gp 

Features

Why Are You Here?

A far traveler might have set out on a journey for one of a number of reasons, and the departure from his or her homeland could have been voluntary or involuntary. To determine why you are so far from home, roll on the table below or choose from the options provided. The following section, discussing possible homelands, includes some suggested reasons that are appropriate for each location.

d6 Reason

1 Emissary

2 Exile

3 Fugitive

4 Pilgrim

5 Sightseer

6 Wanderer

Where Are You From?

The most important decision in creating a far traveler background is determining your homeland. The places discussed here are all sufficiently distant from the North and the Sword Coast to justify the use of this background.

Evermeet. The fabled elven islands far to the west are home to elves who have never been to Faerun. They often find it a harsher place than they expected when they do make the trip. If you are an elf, Evermeet is a logical (though not mandatory) choice for your homeland.

Most of those who emigrate from Evermeet are either exiles, forced out for committing some infraction of elven law, or emissaries who come to Faerun for a purpose that benefits elven culture or society.

Halruaa. Located on the southern edges of the Shining South, and hemmed in by mountains all around, the magocracy of Halruaa is a bizarre land to most in Faerun who know about it. Many folk have heard of the strange skyships the Halruaans sail, and a few know of the tales that even the least of their people can work magic.

Halruaans usually make their journeys into Faerun for personal reasons, since their government has a strict stance against unauthorized involvement with other nations and organizations. You might have been exiled for breaking one of Halruaa's many byzantine laws, or you could be a pilgrim who seeks the shrines of the gods of magic.

Kara-Tur. The continent of Kara-Tur, far to the east of Faerûn, is home to people whose customs are unfamiliar to the folk of the Sword Coast. If you come from Kara-Tur, the people of Faerûn likely refer to you as Shou, even if that isn't your true ethnicity, because that's the blanket term they use for everyone who shares your origin.

The folk of Kara-Tur occasionally travel to Faerûn as diplomats or to forge trade relations with prosperous merchant cartels. You might have come here as part of some such delegation, then decided to stay when the mission was over.

Mulhorand. From the terrain to the architecture to the god-kings who rule over these lands, nearly everything about Mulhorand is a lien to someone from the Sword Coast. You likely experienced the same sort of culture shock when you left your desert home and traveled to the unfamiliar climes of northern Faerûn. Recent events in your homeland have led to the abolition of slavery, and a corresponding increase in the traffic between Mulhorand and the distant parts of Faerûn.

Those who leave behind Mulhorand's sweltering deserts and ancient pyramids for a glimpse at a different life do so for many reasons. You might be in the North simply to see the strangeness this wet land has to offer, or because you have made too many enemies among the desert communities of your home.

Sossal. Few have heard of your homeland, but many have questions about it upon seeing you. Humans from Sossal seem crafted from snow, with alabaster skin and white hair, and typically dressed in white.

Sossal exists far to the northeast, hard up against the endless ice to the north and bounded on its other sides by hundreds of miles of the Great Glacier and the Great Ice Sea. No one from your nation makes the effort to cross such colossal barriers without a convincing reason. You must fear something truly terrible or seek something incredibly important.

Zakhara. As the saying goes among those in Faerûn who know of the place, "To get to Zakhara, go south. Then go south some more." Of course, you followed an equally long route when you came north from your place of birth. Though it isn't unusual for Zakharans to visit the southern extremes of Faerûn for trading purposes, few of them stray as far from home as you have.

You might be traveling to discover what wonders are to be found outside the deserts and sword-like mountains of your homeland, or perhaps you are on a pilgrimage to understand the gods that others worship, so that you might better appreciate your own deities.

The Underdark. Though your home is physically closer to the Sword Coast than the other locations discussed here, it is far more unnatural. You hail from one of the settlements in the Underdark, each of which has its own strange customs and laws. If you are a native of one of the great subterranean cities or settlements, you are probably a member of the race that occupies the place but you might also have grown up there after being captured and brought below when you were a child.

If you are a true Underdark native, you might have come to the surface as an emissary of your people, or perhaps to escape accusations of criminal behavior (whether warranted or not). If you aren't a native, your reason for leaving "home" probably has something to do with getting away from a bad situation.

All Eyes on You

Your accent, mannerisms, figures of speech, and perhaps even your appearance all mark you as foreign. Curious glances are directed your way wherever you go, which can be a nuisance, but you also gain the friendly interest of scholars and others intrigued by far-off lands, to say nothing of everyday folk who are eager to hear stories of your homeland.

You can parley this attention into access to people and places you might not otherwise have, for you and your traveling companions. Noble lords, scholars, and merchant princes, to name a few, might be interested in hearing about your distant homeland and people.

Suggested Characteristics

Personality Traits

d6 Personality Trait

1 I have different assumptions from those around me concerning personal space, blithely invading others' space in innocence, or reacting to ignorant invasion of my own.

2 I have my own ideas about what is and is not food, and I find the eating habits of those around me fascinating, confusing, or revolting.

3 I have a strong code of honor or sense of propriety that others don't comprehend.

4 I express affection or contempt in ways that are unfamiliar to others.

5 I honor my deities through practices that are foreign to this land.

6 I begin or end my day with small traditional rituals that are unfamiliar to those around me.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Open. I have much to learn from the kindly folk I meet along my way. (Good)

2 Reserved. As someone new to these strange lands, I am cautious and respectful in my dealings. (Lawful)

3 Adventure. I'm far from home, and everything is strange and wonderful! (Chaotic)

4 Cunning. Though I may not know their ways, neither do they know mine, which can be to my advantage. (Evil)

5 Inquisitive. Everything is new, but I have a thirst to learn. (Neutral)

6 Suspicious. I must be careful, for I have no way of telling friend from foe here. (Any)

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 So long as I have this token from my homeland, I can face any adversity in this strange land.

2 The gods of my people are a comfort to me so far from home.

3 I hold no greater cause than my service to my people.

4 My freedom is my most precious possession. I'll never let anyone take it from me again.

5 I'm fascinated by the beauty and wonder of this new land.

6 Though I had no choice, I lament having to leave my loved ones behind. I hope to see them again one day.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 I am secretly (or not so secretly) convinced of the superiority of my own culture over that of this foreign land.

2 I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have.

3 I have a weakness for the new intoxicants and other pleasures of this land.

4 I don't take kindly to some of the actions and motivations of the people of this land, because these folk are different from me.

5 I consider the adherents of other gods to be deluded innocents at best, or ignorant fools at worst.

6 I have a weakness for the exotic beauty of the people of these lands.

When you finally returned to your home plane, you did not come back unchanged. You are haunted by the fact the Feywild-a mirror world hidden behind a mere twist of perception-is only a hair's breadth away. Although your memories of the Feywild grow fainter with each passing day, your heart swells with a mixture of fear and joy at the prospect of one day venturing back to the Plane of Faerie-your home away from home.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Survival

Tool Proficiencies: One type of musical instrument

Languages: One of your choice of Elvish, Gnomish, Goblin, or Sylvan.

Equipment: A musical instrument (one of your choice), a set of traveler's clothes, three trinkets (each determined by rolling on the Feywild Trinkets table), and a pouch containing 8gp 

Features

Fey Mark

You were transformed in some small way by your stay in the Feywild and gained a fey mark, determined by rolling on the Fey Mark table.

d8 Fey Mark

1 Your eyes swirl with iridescent colors.

2 You have a sweet scent, like that of nectar or honey

3 You have long whiskers like those of a cat.

4 Your ears are covered with soft tufts of fur.

5 Your skin sparkles in moonlight.

6 Flowers either bloom or wilt (your choice) in your presence.

7 Your hair is made of vines or brambles and grows back to normal length within 1 hour of being cut

8 You have a tail like that of a dog or another animal.

Feywild Visitor

Whenever you're sound asleep or in a deep trance during a long rest, a spirit of the Feywild might pay you a visit, if the DM wishes it. Determine the spirit's form by rolling on the Feywild Visitor table. No harm ever comes to you as a result of such visits, which can last for minutes or hours, and you remember each visit when you wake up. Conversations that occur with a visitor can contain any number of things, from messages and insights to nonsense and red herrings, at the DM's discretion. Such conversations are always conducted in a language you can understand, even if the Feywild visitor can't speaking that language normally.

d8 Visitor

1 Awakened creature (a Beast or an ordinary plant that has had the Awaken spell cast on it)

2 Centaur

3 Dryad

4 Faerie Dragon

5 Pixie

6 Satyr

7 Sprite

8 Unicorn

Feywild Connection

Your mannerisms and knowledge of fey customs are recognized by natives of the Feywild, who see you as one of their own. Because of this, friendly Fey creatures are inclined to come to your aid if you are lost or need help in the Feywild.

Suggested Characteristics

These tables, while optional, are well suited to Feywild-themed adventurers and are ideal for any character who has the Feylost background.

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I'm haunted by fey laughter that only I can hear, though I know it's just my mind playing tricks on me.

2 Like a nomad, I can't settle down in one place for very long.

3 Good music makes me weep like a baby.

4 Wherever I go, I try to bring a little of the warmth and tranquility of home with me.

5 I have never lost my childlike sense of wonder.

6 When I have a new idea, I get wildly excited about it until I come up with another, better idea.

7 I live by my own set of weird and wonderful rules.

8 I can't bring myself to trust most adults.

Ideals

d8 Ideal

1 Friendship. I never leave a friend behind. (Good)

2 Empathy. No creature should be made to suffer. (Good)

3 Wanderlust. I prefer to take the less traveled path. (Chaotic)

4 Changeability. Change is good, which is why I live by an ever-changing set of rules. (Chaotic)

5 Honor. A deal is a deal, and I would never break one. (Lawful)

6 Rule of Three. Everything in the multiverse happens in threes. I see the "rule of three" everywhere. (Lawful)

7 Obsession. I won't let go of a grudge. (Evil)

8 Greed. I will do whatever it takes to get what I want, regardless of the harm it might cause. (Evil)

Bonds

d8 Bond

1 I would never break my word.

2 I find magic in all its forms to be compelling. The more magical a place, the more I am drawn to it.

3 I do what I can to protect the natural world.

4 A trusted friend is the most important thing in the multiverse to me.

5 I can't bring myself to harm a Fey creature, either because I consider myself one or because I fear the repercussions.

6 The Witchlight Carnival feels like home to me.

7 I'm drawn to the Feywild and long to return there, if only for a short while.

8 I feel indebted to Mister Witch and Mister Light for giving me a home and a purpose.

Flaws

d8 Flaw

1 I easily lose track of time. My poor sense of time means I'm always late.

2 I think the whole multiverse is out to get me.

3 I'm always operating under a tight timeline, and I'm obsessed with keeping everything on schedule.

4 I'm a kleptomaniac who covets shiny, sparkling treasure.

5 I'm forgetful. Sometimes I can't remember even the simplest things.

6 I never give away anything for free and always expect something in return.

7 I have many vices and tend to indulge them.

8 I'm always changing my mind-well, almost always.

Skill Proficiencies: History, Survival
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: Fishing tackle, a net, a favorite fishing lure or oiled leather wading boots, a set of traveler's clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp

Harvest the Water

You gain advantage on ability checks made using fishing tackle. If you have access to a body of water that sustains marine life, you can maintain a moderate lifestyle while working as a fisher, and you can catch enough food to feed yourself and up to ten other people each day.

Fishing Tale

You can tell a compelling tale, whether tall or true, to impress and entertain others. Once a day, you can tell your story to willing listeners. At the DM's discretion, a number of those listeners become friendly toward you; this is not a magical effect, and continued amicability on their part depends on your actions. You can roll on the following table to help determine the theme of your tale or choose one that best fits your character. Alternatively, work with your DM to create your own fishing tale.

d8 Tale

1 Lobster Wrestling. You fought in hand-to-hand combat with an immense lobster.

2 It Dragged the Boat. You nearly caught a fish of monstrous size that pulled your boat for miles.

3 Fins of Pure Gold. You caught a sea animal whose fins were made of pure gold, but another fisher stole it.

4 Ghost Fish. You are haunted by a ghostly fish that only you can see.

5 Nemesis Clam. A large clam containing a pearl the size of your head claimed one of your fingers before jetting away; one day, you'll find that clam.

6 It Swallowed the Sun. You once saw a fish leap from the water and turn day into night.

7 Dive into the Abyss. You found yourself in an underwater cave leading to the Abyss, and your luck has been sour ever since.

8 Love Story. You fell in love with a creature of pure water, but your brief romance ended tragically.

Suggested Characteristics

Fishers succeed only if they spend time at their jobs. As such, most fishers have a strong work ethic, and they admire others who earn their living honestly. Fishers tend to be superstitious, forming attachments to particular fishing lures or special fishing spots. They have a connection to the bodies of water in which they fish, and they think poorly of those whose actions adversely affect their livelihood.

Fisher Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I am unmoved by the wrath of nature.

2 My friends are my crew; we sink or float together.

3 I need long stretches of quiet to clear my head.

4 Rich folk don't know the satisfaction of hard work.

5 I laugh heartily, feel deeply, and fear nothing.

6 I work hard; nature offers no handouts.

7 I dislike bargaining; state your price and mean it.

8 Luck favors me, and I take risks others might not.

Fisher Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Camaraderie. Good people make even the longest voyage bearable. (Good)

2 Luck. Our luck depends on respecting its rules—now throw this salt over your shoulder. (Lawful)

3 Daring. The richest bounty goes to those who risk everything. (Chaotic)

4 Plunder. Take all that you can and leave nothing for the scavengers. (Evil)

5 Balance. Do not fish the same spot twice in a row; suppress your greed, and nature will reward you. (Neutral)

6 Hard Work. No wave can move a soul hard at work. (Any)

Fisher Bonds

d6 Bond

1 I lost something important in the deep sea, and I intend to find it.

2 Someone else's greed destroyed my livelihood, and I will be compensated.

3 I will fish the many famous waters of this land.

4 The gods saved me during a terrible storm, and I will honor their gift.

5 My destiny awaits me at the bottom of a particular pond in the Feywild.

6 I must repay my village's debt.

Fisher Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 I am judgmental, especially of those I deem homebodies or otherwise lazy.

2 I become depressed and anxious if I'm away from the sea too long.

3 I have lived a hard life and find it difficult to empathize with others.

4 I am inclined to tell long-winded stories at inopportune times.

5 I work hard, but I play harder.

6 I am obsessed with catching an elusive aquatic beast, often to the detriment of other pursuits.

Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival
Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan's tools, vehicles (land)
Languages: None
Equipment: A set of artisan's tools (one of your choice), a shovel, an iron pot, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp

Features

Defining Event

You previously pursued a simple profession among the peasantry, perhaps as a farmer, miner, servant, shepherd, woodcutter, or gravedigger. But something happened that set you on a different path and marked you for greater things. Choose or randomly determine a defining event that marked you as a hero of the people.

d10 Defining Event

1 I stood up to a tyrant's agents.

2 I saved people during a natural disaster.

3 I stood alone against a terrible monster.

4 I stole from a corrupt merchant to help the poor.

5 I led a militia to fight off an invading army.

6 I broke into a tyrant's castle and stole weapons to arm the people.

7 I trained the peasantry to use farm implements as weapons against a tyrant's soldiers.

8 A lord rescinded an unpopular decree after I led a symbolic act of protest against it.

9 A celestial, fey, or similar creature gave me a blessing or revealed my secret origin.

10 Recruited into a lord's army, I rose to leadership and was commended for my heroism.

Rustic Hospitality

Since you come from the ranks of the common folk, you fit in among them with ease. You can find a place to hide, rest, or recuperate among other commoners, unless you have shown yourself to be a danger to them. They will shield you from the law or anyone else searching for you, though they will not risk their lives for you.

Suggested Characteristics

A folk hero is one of the common people, for better or for worse. Most folk heroes look on their humble origins as a virtue, not a shortcoming, and their home communities remain very important to them.

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I judge people by their actions, not their words.

2 If someone is in trouble, I'm always ready to lend help.

3 When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way.

4 I have a strong sense of fair play and always try to find the most equitable solution to arguments.

5 I'm confident in my own abilities and do what I can to instill confidence in others.

6 Thinking is for other people. I prefer action.

7 I misuse long words in an attempt to sound smarter.

8 I get bored easily. When am I going to get on with my destiny?

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Respect. People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. (Good)

2 Fairness. No one should get preferential treatment before the law, and no one is above the law. (Lawful)

3 Freedom. Tyrants must not be allowed to oppress the people. (Chaotic)

4 Might. If I become strong, I can take what I want – what I deserve. (Evil)

5 Sincerity. There's no good in pretending to be something I'm not. (Neutral)

6 Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling. (Any)

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again.

2 I worked the land, I love the land, and I will protect the land.

3 A proud noble once gave me a horrible beating, and I will take my revenge on any bully I encounter.

4 My tools are symbols of my past life, and I carry them so that I will never forget my roots.

5 I protect those who cannot protect themselves.

6 I wish my childhood sweetheart had come with me to pursue my destiny.

Flaw

d6 Flaw

1 The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.

2 I'm convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of failure.

3 The people who knew me when I was young know my shameful secret, so I can never go home again.

4 I have a weakness for the vices of the city, especially hard drink.

5 Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land.

6 I have trouble trusting in my allies.

Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Survival
Languages: Giant and one other language of your choice
Equipment: A backpack, a set of traveler’s clothes, a small stone or sprig that reminds you of home, and a pouch containing 10 gp.

Origin Stories

How you came to live among colossal creatures is up to you to determine, but the Foundling Origin table suggests a variety of possibilities.

Foundling Origin

d6 Origin

1 You were found as a baby by a family of nomadic giants who raised you as one of their own.

2 A family of stone giants rescued you when you fell into a mountain chasm, and you have lived with them underground ever since.

3 You were lost or abandoned as a child in a jungle that teemed with ravenous dinosaurs. There, you found an equally lost frost giant; together, you survived.

4 Your farm was crushed and your family killed in a battle between warring groups of giants. Racked with guilt over the destruction, a sympathetic giant soldier promised to care for you.

5 After you had a series of strange dreams as a child, your superstitious parents sent you to study with a powerful but aloof storm giant oracle.

6 While playing hide-and-seek with your friends, you stumbled into the castle of a cloud giant, who immediately adopted you.

Feature

Strike of the Giants

You gain the Strike of the Giants feat.

Building a Giant Foundling Character

Your life among giants has given you a unique perspective. Though you are unusually large for your kind, you’re no larger than a giant child, so you might be very mindful of your size.

Suggested Characteristics. The Giant Foundling Personality Traits table suggests a variety of traits you might adopt for your character.

Giant Foundling Personality Traits

d6 Personality Trait

1 What I lack in stature, I make up for with sheer spite.

2 I insist on being taken seriously as a full-grown adult. Nobody talks down to me!

3 Crowded spaces make me uncomfortable. I’d much rather be in a wide-open field than a bustling tavern.

4 I embrace my shorter stature. It helps me stay unnoticed—and underestimated.

5 Every avalanche begins as a single pebble.

6 The world always feels too big, and I’m afraid I’ll never find my place in it.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan's tools
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A set of artisan's tools (one of your choice), a letter of introduction from your guild, a set of traveler's clothes, and a pouch containing 15gp

Variants

Guild Merchant

Instead of an artisans' guild, you might belong to a guild of traders, caravan masters, or shopkeepers. You don't craft items yourself but earn a living by buying and selling the works of others (or the raw materials artisans need to practice their craft). Your guild might be a large merchant consortium (or family) with interests across the region. Perhaps you transported goods from one place to another, by ship, wagon, or caravan, or bought them from traveling traders and sold them in your own little shop. In some ways, the traveling merchant's life lends itself to adventure far more than the life of an artisan.

Rather than proficiency with artisan's tools, you might be proficient with navigator's tools or an additional language. And instead of artisan's tools, you can start with a mule and a cart.

Guild Business

Guilds are generally found in cities large enough to support several artisans practicing the same trade. However, your guild might instead be a loose network of artisans who each work in a different village within a larger realm. Work with your DM to determine the nature of your guild. You can select your guild business from the Guild Business table or roll randomly.

d20 Guild Business

1 Alchemists and apothecaries

2 Armorers, locksmiths, and finesmiths

3 Brewers, distillers, and vintners

4 Calligraphers, scribes, and scriveners

5 Carpenters, roofers, and plasterers

6 Cartographers, surveyors, and chart-makers

7 Cobblers and shoemakers

8 Cooks and bakers

9 Glassblowers and glaziers

10 Jewelers and gemcutters

11 Leatherworkers, skinners, and tanners

12 Masons and stonecutters

13 Painters, limners, and sign-makers

14 Potters and tile-makers

15 Shipwrights and sailmakers

16 Smiths and metal-forgers

17 Tinkers, pewterers, and casters

18 Wagon-makers and wheelwrights

19 Weavers and dyers

20 Woodcarvers, coopers, and bowyers

As a member of your guild, you know the skills needed to create finished items from raw materials (reflected in your proficiency with a certain kind of artisan's tools), as well as the principles of trade and good business practices. The question now is whether you abandon your trade for adventure, or take on the extra effort to weave adventuring and trade together.

Guild Membership

As an established and respected member of a guild, you can rely on certain benefits that membership provides. Your fellow guild members will provide you with lodging and food if necessary, and pay for your funeral if needed. In some cities and towns, a guildhall offers a central place to meet other members of your profession, which can be a good place to meet potential patrons, allies, or hirelings.

Guilds often wield tremendous political power. If you are accused of a crime, your guild will support you if a good case can be made for your innocence or the crime is justifiable. You can also gain access to powerful political figures through the guild, if you are a member in good standing. Such connections might require the donation of money or magic items to the guild's coffers.

You must pay dues of 5 gp per month to the guild. If you miss payments, you must make up back dues to remain in the guild's good graces.

Suggested Characteristics

Guild artisans are among the most ordinary people in the world until they set down their tools and take up an adventuring career. They understand the value of hard work and the importance of community, but they're vulnerable to sins of greed and covetousness.

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I can't help it – I'm a perfectionist.

2 I'm a snob who looks down on those who can't appreciate fine art.

3 I always want to know how things work and what makes people tick.

4 I'm full of witty aphorisms and have a proverb for every occasion.

5 I'm rude to people who lack my commitment to hard work and fair play.

6 I like to talk at length about my profession.

7 I don't part with my money easily and will haggle tirelessly to get the best deal possible.

8 I'm well known for my work, and I want to make sure everyone appreciates it. I'm always taken aback when people haven't heard of me.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Community. It is the duty of all civilized people to strengthen the bonds of community and the security of civilization. (Lawful)

2 Generosity. My talents were given to me so that I could use them to benefit the world. (Good)

3 Freedom. Everyone should be free to pursue his or her own livelihood. (Chaotic)

4 Greed. I'm only in it for the money. (Evil)

5 People. I'm committed to the people I care about, not to ideals. (Neutral)

6 Aspiration. I work hard to be the best there is at my craft.

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 The workshop where I learned my trade is the most important place in the world to me.

2 I created a great work for someone, and then found them unworthy to receive it. I'm still looking for someone worthy.

3 I owe my guild a great debt for forging me into the person I am today.

4 I pursue wealth to secure someone's love.

5 One day I will return to my guild and prove that I am the greatest artisan of them all.

6 I will get revenge on the evil forces that destroyed my place of business and ruined my livelihood.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 I'll do anything to get my hands on something rare or priceless.

2 I'm quick to assume that someone is trying to cheat me.

3 No one must ever learn that I once stole money from guild coffers.

4 I'm never satisfied with what I have – I always want more.

5 I would kill to acquire a noble title.

6 I'm horribly jealous of anyone who can outshine my handiwork. Everywhere I go, I'm surrounded by rivals.

Skill Proficiencies: Choose two of Arcana, Investigation, Religion, or Survival
Tool Proficiencies: None
Languages: Choose two languages, one of which being an exotic language (Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, or Undercommon)
Equipment: A monster hunter’s pack, and one trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Gothic Trinkets table). Also gain a set of set of common clothes and 1sp.

Features

Harrowing Event

Prior to becoming an adventurer, your path in life was defined by one dark moment, one fateful decision, or one tragedy. Now you feel a darkness threatening to consume you, and you fear there may be no hope of escape. Choose a harrowing event that haunts you, or roll one on the Harrowing Events table.

d10 Harrowing Event

1 A monster that slaughtered dozens of innocent people spared your life, and you don’t know why.

2 You were born under a dark star. You can feel it watching you, coldly and distantly. Sometimes it beckons you in the dead of night.

3 An apparition that has haunted your family for generations now haunts you. You don’t know what it wants, and it won’t leave you alone.

4 Your family has a history of practicing the dark arts. You dabbled once and felt something horrible clutch at your soul, whereupon you fled in terror.

5 An oni took your sibling one cold, dark night, and you were unable to stop it.

6 You were cursed with lycanthropy and later cured. You are now haunted by the innocents you slaughtered.

7 A hag kidnapped and raised you. You escaped, but the hag still has a magical hold over you and fills your mind with evil thoughts.

8 You opened an eldritch tome and saw things unfit for a sane mind. You burned the book, but its words and images are burned into your psyche.

9 A fiend possessed you as a child. You were locked away but escaped. The fiend is still inside you, but now you try to keep it locked away.

10 You did terrible things to avenge the murder of someone you loved. You became a monster, and it haunts your waking dreams.

Heart of Darkness

Those who look into your eyes can see that you have faced unimaginable horror and that you are no stranger to darkness. Though they might fear you, commoners will extend you every courtesy and do their utmost to help you. Unless you have shown yourself to be a danger to them, they will even take up arms to fight alongside you, should you find yourself facing an enemy alone.

Suggested Characteristics

You have learned to live with the terror that haunts you. You are a survivor, who can be very protective of those who bring light into your darkened life.

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 I don't run from evil. Evil runs from me.

2 I like to read and memorize poetry. It keeps me calm and brings me fleeting moments of happiness.

3 I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die.

4 I live for the thrill of the hunt.

5 I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse.

6 I expect danger around every corner.

7 I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized.

8 I put no trust in divine beings.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Selflessness. I try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good)

2 Determination. I’ll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying. (Any)

3 Greater Good. I kill monsters to make the world a safer place, and to exorcise my own demons. (Good)

4 Freedom. I have a dark calling that puts me above the law. (Chaotic)

5 Logic. I like to know my enemy’s capabilities and weaknesses before rushing into battle. (Lawful)

6 Destruction. I’m a monster that destroys other monsters, and anything else that gets in my way. (Evil)

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy.

2 I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent.

3 My torment drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I’ve lost.

4 A terrible guilt consumes me. I hope that I can find redemption through my actions.

5 There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free.

6 I have a child to protect. I must make the world a safer place for them.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 I have certain rituals that I must follow every day. I can never break them.

2 I assume the worst in people.

3 I feel no compassion for the dead. They’re the lucky ones.

4 I have an addiction.

5 I am a purveyor of doom and gloom who lives in a world without hope.

6 I talk to spirits that no one else can see.

Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Religion

Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit

Languages: One of your choice

Equipment: A scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, an herbalism kit, and 5gp

Features

Life of Seclusion

What was the reason for your isolation, and what changed to allow you to end your solitude? You can work with your DM to determine the exact nature of your seclusion, or you can choose to roll on the table below to determine the reason behind your seclusion.

d8. Life of Seclusion

1. I was searching for spiritual enlightenment.

2. I was partaking of communal living in accordance with the dictates of a religious order.

3. I was exiled for a crime I didn't commit.

4. I retreated from society after a life-altering event.

5. I needed a quiet place to work on my art, literature, music, or manifesto.

6. I needed to commune with nature, far from civilization.

7. I was the caretaker of an ancient ruin or relic.

8. I was a pilgrim in search of a person, place, or relic of spiritual significance.

Discovery

The quiet seclusion of your extended hermitage gave you access to a unique and powerful discovery. The exact nature of this revelation depends on the nature of your seclusion. It might be a great truth about the cosmos, the deities, the powerful beings of the outer planes, or the forces of nature. It could be a site that no one else has ever seen. You might have uncovered a fact that has long been forgotten, or unearthed some relic of the past that could rewrite history. It might be information that would be damaging to the people who or consigned you to exile, and hence the reason for your return to society.

Work with your DM to determine the details of your discovery and its impact on the campaign.

Suggested Characteristics

Some hermits are well suited to a life of seclusion, whereas others chafe against it and long for company. Whether they embrace solitude or long to escape it, the solitary life shapes their attitudes and ideals. A few are driven slightly mad by their years apart from society.

Personality Traits

d8. Personality Trait

1. I've been isolated for so long that I rarely speak, preferring gestures and the occasional grunt.

2. I am utterly serene, even in the face of disaster.

3. The leader of my community had something wise to say on every topic, and I am eager to share that wisdom.

4. I feel tremendous empathy for all who suffer.

5. I'm oblivious to etiquette and social expectations.

6. I connect everything that happens to me to a grand, cosmic plan.

7. I often get lost in my own thoughts and contemplation, becoming oblivious to my surroundings.

8. I am working on a grand philosophical theory and love sharing my ideas.

Ideals

d6. Ideal

1. Greater Good. My gifts are meant to be shared with all, not used for my own benefit. (Good)

2. Logic. Emotions must not cloud our sense of what is right and true, or our logical thinking. (Lawful)

3. Free Thinking. Inquiry and curiosity are the pillars of progress. (Chaotic)

4. Power. Solitude and contemplation are paths toward mystical or magical power. (Evil)

5. Live and Let Live. Meddling in the affairs of others only causes trouble. (Neutral)

6. Self-Knowledge. If you know yourself, there's nothing left to know. (Any)

Bonds

d6. Bond

1. Nothing is more important than the other members of my hermitage, order, or association.

2. I entered seclusion to hide from the ones who might still be hunting me. I must someday confront them.

3. I'm still seeking the enlightenment I pursued in my seclusion, and it still eludes me.

4. I entered seclusion because I loved someone I could not have.

5. Should my discovery come to light, it could bring ruin to the world.

6. My isolation gave me great insight into a great evil that only I can destroy.

Flaws

d6. Flaw

1. Now that I've returned to the world, I enjoy its delights a little too much.

2. I harbor dark, bloodthirsty thoughts that my isolation and meditation failed to quell.

3. I am dogmatic in my thoughts and philosophy.

4. I let my need to win arguments overshadow friendships and harmony.

5. I'd risk too much to uncover a lost bit of knowledge.

6. I like keeping secrets and won't share them with anyone.

Other Hermits

This hermit background assumes a contemplative sort of seclusion that allows room for study and prayer. If you want to play a rugged wilderness recluse who lives off the land while shunning the company of other people, look at the Outlander background. On the other hand, if you want to go in a more religious direction, the Acolyte might be what you're looking for. Or you could even be a Charlatan, posing as a wise and holy person and letting pious fools support you.

Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Persuasion

Tool Proficiencies: Two proficiencies from the House Tool Proficiencies table

Languages: None

Equipment: A set of fine clothes, the signet ring of your house, identification papers, and a purse containing 20gp 

Your House House Tool Proficiencies

Cannith Alchemist's supplies and tinker's tools

Deneith One gaming set and vehicles (land)

Ghallanda Brewer's supplies and cook's utensils

Jorasco Alchemist's supplies and herbalism kit

Kundarak Thieves' tools and tinker's tools

Lyrandar Navigator's tools and vehicles (air and sea)

Medani Disguise kit and thieves' tools

Orien One gaming set and vehicles (land)

Phiarlan Disguise kit and one musical instrument

Sivis Calligrapher's tools and forgery kit

Tharashk One gaming set and thieves' tools

Thuranni One musical instrument and poisoner's kit

Vadalis Herbalism kit and vehicles (land)

Features

Role

You always gather information for your house, but when a baron gives you a specific mission, what sort of work do you do? The House Agent Role table gives possibilities.

d8 House Agent Role

1 Acquisition

2 Investigation

3 Research & Development

4 Security

5 Intimidation

6 Exploration

7 Negotiation

8 Covert Operations

House Connection

As an agent of your house, you can always get food and lodging for yourself and your friends at a house enclave. When the house assigns you a mission, it will usually provide you with the necessary supplies and transportation. Beyond this, you have many old friends, mentors, and rivals in your house, and you may encounter one of them when you interact with a house business. The degree to which such acquaintances are willing to help you depends on your current standing in your house.

Suggested Characteristics

House agents are diverse. Consider the house you serve and the work you do when choosing characteristics.

Personality Traits

d6 Personality Trait

1 I'm always looking to improve efficiency.

2 I love to share trivia about my house's business.

3 I never forget an insult against me or my house.

4 I'm enthusiastic about everything my house does.

5 I represent my house and take pride in my looks.

6 I'm critical of monarchies and limits on the houses.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 Common Good. My house serves a vital function, and its prosperity will help everyone. (Good)

2 Tradition. I uphold traditions of my house and bring honor to my family. (Lawful)

3 Innovation. Abandon old traditions and find better ways to do things. (Chaotic)

4 Power. I want to ensure the prosperity of my house and wield its power myself. (Evil)

5 Discovery. I want to learn all I can, both for my house and for my own curiosity. (Any)

6 Comfort. I want to ensure that me and mine enjoy the best things in life. (Any)

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 My house is my family. I would do anything for it.

2 I love someone from another house, but the relationship is forbidden.

3 Someone I love was killed by a rival faction within my house, and I will have revenge.

4 I don't care about the house as a whole, but I would do anything for my old mentor.

5 My house must evolve, and I'll lead the evolution.

6 I'm determined to impress the leaders of my house, and to become a leader myself.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 I'm fixated on following official protocols.

2 I'm obsessed with conspiracy theories and worried about secret societies and hidden demons.

3 My house and blood line make me the best!

4 My secret could get me expelled from my house.

5 My religious beliefs aren't widespread in my house.

6 I'm working for a hidden faction in my house that gives me secret assignments.

Skill Proficiencies: Survival, plus one from among Arcana, History, and Religion
Tool Proficiencies: Your choice of a gaming set or a musical instrument
Languages: Any one of your choice
Equipment: Your inheritance, a set of traveler's clothes, the tool you choose for this background’s tool proficiency, and a pouch containing 15gp

Features

Inheritance

Choose or randomly determine your inheritance from among the possibilities in the table below. Work with your DM to come up with details: Why is your inheritance so important, and what is its full story? You might prefer for the DM to invent these details as part of the game, allowing you to learn more about your inheritance as your character does.

The DM is free to use your inheritance as a story hook, sending you on quests to learn more about its history or true nature, or confronting you with foes who want to claim it for themselves or prevent you from learning what you seek. The DM also determines the properties of your inheritance and how they figure into the item's history and importance. For instance, the object might be a minor magic item, or one that begins with a modest ability and increases in potency with the passage of time. Or, the true nature of your inheritance might not be apparent at first and is revealed only when certain conditions are met.

When you begin your adventuring career, you can decide whether to tell your companions about your inheritance right away. Rather than attracting attention to yourself, you might want to keep your inheritance a secret until you learn more about what it means to you and what it can do for you.

d8 Object or Item

1 A document such as a map, a letter, or a journal

2-3 A trinket

4 An article of clothing

5 A piece of jewelry

6 An arcane book or formulary

7 A written story, song, poem, or secret

8 A tattoo or other body marking

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the Folk Hero background as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity.

Your bond might be directly related to your inheritance, or to the person from whom you received it. Your ideal might be influenced by what you know about your inheritance, or by what you intend to do with your gift once you realize what it is capable of.

Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from among Insight, Investigation, or Perception
Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, thieves' tools
Equipment: A magnifying glass, evidence from a past case (choose one or roll for a trinket from the Horror Trinkets table) a set of common clothes, and 10gp.

Path to Mystery

Your first case influenced the types of mysteries you're interested in. Why was this case so impactful, personal, or traumatic? Whom did it affect besides you? Why and how did you get involved? Was it solved? How did it set you on the path to investigating other mysteries? Roll on or choose details from the First Case table below to develop the mystery that started your career as an investigator.

d8 Case

1 A friend was wrongfully accused of murder. You tracked down the actual killer, proving your friend's innocence and starting your career as a detective.

2 You're told you went missing for weeks. When you were found, you had no memory of being gone. Now you search to discover what happened to you.

3 You helped a spirit find peace by finding its missing corpse. Ever since, other spectral clients have sought you out to help them find rest.

4 You revealed that the monsters terrorizing your home were illusions created by a cruel mage. The magic-user escaped, but you've continued to uncover magical hoaxes.

5 You were wrongfully accused and convicted of a crime. You managed to escape and seek to help others avoid the experience you suffered, even while still being pursued by the law.

6 You survived the destructive use of a magic device that wiped out your home. Members of a secret organization found you. You now work with them, tracking down dangerous supernatural phenomena and preventing them from doing harm.

7 You found evidence of a conspiracy underpinning society. You tried to expose this mysterious cabal, but no one believed you. You're still trying to prove what you know is true.

8 You got a job with an agency that investigates crimes that local law enforcement can't solve. You often wonder which you value more, the truth or your pay.

Features

Official Inquiry

You're experienced at gaining access to people and places to get the information you need. Through a combination of fast-talking, determination, and official-looking documentation, you can gain access to a place or an individual related to a crime you're investigating. Those who aren't involved in your investigation avoid impeding you or pass along your requests. Additionally, local law enforcement has firm opinions about you, viewing you as either a nuisance or one of their own.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Intimidation.
Tool Proficiencies: Torture Tools.
Language Proficiency: One language of your choice.
Equipment: Set of Traveler's clothes, a hooded cloak, a leather bound journal, ink pen, bottle of ink, Torture Tools, a trophy of a victim, and a pouch containing 10 gold.

Features

Interrogator's Insight

When you engage in conversations or interrogations to extract information, you have advantage on Insight checks to determine if someone is lying or withholding information.

Suggested Characteristics

Inquisitors are often driven by a strong sense of duty, righteousness, and unwavering conviction. However, they may also be haunted by the darkness they confront, struggling with ethical dilemmas and the toll of their relentless pursuit of justice. Here are some characteristics you might consider for your Inquisitor:

Personality Traits

d8 Personality Trait

1 Once I set my sights on a target, nothing can divert me from my pursuit.

2 I trust no one until they have proven themselves beyond doubt.

3 I am utterly devoted to my cause, willing to sacrifice anything to achieve it.

4 I approach every investigation with meticulous attention to detail and procedure.

5 My presence alone is often enough to make even the most hardened criminals tremble.

6 I keep my true thoughts and intentions hidden, revealing only what is necessary to achieve my goals.

7 I never back down from a challenge, no matter how daunting or dangerous it may be.

8 I question everything and everyone, refusing to accept anything at face value until I have verified it myself.

Ideals

d6 Ideal

1 I will stop at nothing to see the guilty punished and the innocent protected.

2 I believe in upholding the laws and traditions that maintain stability and civilization.

3 I am dedicated to rooting out corruption and heresy wherever it may lurk.

4 Those who have wronged me or my cause will face swift and merciless retribution.

5 I place my trust in the divine or my organization's principles to guide me in all things.

6 I fight to protect the freedom of all beings from tyranny and oppression.

Bonds

d6 Bond

1 I have sworn a solemn oath to my organization or deity, and I will honor it no matter the cost.

2 I trust and rely on my fellow Inquisitors to watch my back and support me in my mission.

3 I am driven by a desire to protect the innocent from harm and ensure their safety.

4 I seek vengeance against those who have wronged me or my loved ones.

5 I am searching for a hidden truth or ancient secret that could change the course of history.

6 I believe that even the most corrupt souls can be redeemed, and I will do whatever it takes to save them.

Flaws

d6 Flaw

1 I am so consumed by my cause that I am blind to any other perspective.

2 I have little regard for collateral damage or the well-being of those who stand in my way.

3 I see enemies and conspiracies everywhere, even where none exist.

4 I believe that I alone have the right to judge and mete out punishment to the wicked.

5 I am tormented by the memories of my past failures and the lives I have taken in the name of justice.

6 I am obsessed with uncovering a particular secret or solving a particular case, to the exclusion of all else.

Skill Proficiencies: History, Insight
Tool Proficiencies: One gaming set or artisan's tools of your choice
Languages: One exotic language (DM's approval)
Equipment: A trinket from your original world (e.g., a smartphone with no signal, a pocket watch, or a piece of modern jewelry), a set of common clothes, a journal with half-filled pages, and a pouch containing 15 gp.

Feature: System Menu

Through mysterious means, you have access to an ethereal interface resembling a system menu. This menu allows you to:

1. View Stats: At any time, you can perceive your current HP, AC, spell slots, and other relevant stats. These appear in a visual or auditory format that only you can sense.

2. Track Progress: You instinctively know your level, experience points (if applicable), and general growth trajectory.

3. Analyze: As an action, you can "scan" a creature or object within 30 feet, gaining basic insights such as creature type, approximate power level compared to yours, or magical properties of an object. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Hero Abilities

As an Isekai character, you start your journey with three Hero Abilities, chosen from a vast pool of unique talents, powers, and skills. These abilities represent your "chosen hero" status and can give you an edge in various situations.

• Starting Abilities: At 1st level, select 3 Hero Abilities from the Hero Ability Pool (examples provided below).

• Gaining More Abilities: Whenever you gain an Ability Score Improvement (ASI), you may choose an additional Hero Ability along with increasing your ability scores.

The Hero Abilities

Combat Abilities

1. Blade Dancer: Gain +1 AC while wielding a melee weapon and not using a shield.

2. Precision Strike: Once per turn, you can add +1d6 to the damage of a melee or ranged weapon attack.

3. Enhanced Critical: Your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.

4. Reactive Guard: When a creature within 5 feet of you attacks a target other than you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll.

5. Twin Shot: When you take the Attack action with a ranged weapon, you can make one additional attack as part of the same action. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

6. Combat Reflexes: You can make an additional opportunity attack per round.

7. Arcane Edge: Your weapon attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity.

8. Adrenaline Rush: As a bonus action, you can take the Dash or Disengage action. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

9. Executioner’s Precision: Once per turn, when you hit with a melee attack, you can reroll one damage die and must use the new result.

10. Battle Surge: As a bonus action, you can make one additional weapon attack. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

11. Defensive Strike: When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against them.

12. Piercing Blow: When you critically hit with a weapon attack, the target's AC is reduced by 2 until the end of your next turn.

13. Berserker's Fury: When your HP is below half your maximum, you deal an additional 1d4 damage on weapon attacks.

14. Cleaving Swing: When you reduce a creature to 0 HP with a melee weapon attack, you can deal half the damage to another creature within 5 feet of the target.

15. Ricochet Shot: When you miss with a ranged attack, you can reroll the attack against another target within 10 feet of the original target.

16. War Cry: As an action, you let out a mighty cry. Allies within 30 feet gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. You can use this ability once per long rest.