Part of a select few deemed from birth to be the best of the best of what society had to offer, you grew up isolated from the rest of the world. From the moment of your birth, everything you have been exposed to was specifically chosen to help groom you and your peers to become the wise and just leaders that your land needed. You were taught everything from ethics to acrobatics, music to mathematics, and have a deep understanding of your responsibilities as a part of of your community's 'chosen ones.'
Everything you do is for the benefit of the state.
- Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Insight.
- Tool Proficiencies: None.
- Languages: As a leader and diplomat for your land of origin, knowing a multitude of languages was one of the many things you studied. You may choose an additional two languages to be proficient in.
- Equipment: You have never been one to live in excess or luxury, such things could easily lead you astray from your duties. As such, you only carry with you the bare minimum, if you find that you need more, then you shall find a means with which to acquire it along the way.
Discuss with your DM whether or not you have any knowledge of who your birth family is. Address the rank and status of your birth family and the possibilities that may arise from this. Do you come from a long line of nobles and have some sort of inheritance? Was one of your parents a high ranking official in the government? Were your parents indebted to a noble and have still not paid their dues?
Make sure to inform your DM of any possible bloodline curses placed on your family or if one of your ancestors was a ruler or legendary hero of some sort- any details that may be vital information to come into play during your campaign.
You can also use the table below to randomly assign your family background.
| d8 | Family Knowledge |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nobility. One of your parents is/was a high ranking official in the government. |
| 2 | Middle Class. A member of your family holds/held a high-ranking position in the military. |
| 3 | Lower Class. One of your family members is indebted to someone and has yet to pay their dues. |
| 4 | Noble Outcasts. Your family was ousted from the ranks of nobility due to the heinous actions of one of your ancestors and its members are all looked poorly upon by the rest of society no matter their achievements after the fact. |
| 5 | Cursed. Due to the actions of one of your ancestors, your bloodline contains a great and terrible curse. Discuss with you DM to decide what this curse is. |
| 6 | Legendary Hero. You stem from a hero of legendary status, your parents or grandparents having accomplished something great and are revered by society. Discuss with your DM to determine what these heroes are legendary for. |
| 7 | Merchant. A subset of middle-class, you stem from a merchant family who specialize in a selling a particular good. |
| 8 | Artisan. You stem from a family which holds great skill in a particular craft or technique. |
Trained from birth to be a leader, you naturally inspire loyalty from those who you meet. Your wisdom and courage are clear to see, and your unerring sense of justice- a willingness to fight corruption and immorality in all of its forms- curries you favor among the common folk. They look up to and admire you, and would be willing to fight in your name should you ask, some even to the death. +1 to any persuasion roles involving leadership.
Suggested Characteristics
Philosopher kings represent the greatest of what the world has to offer. Intelligent and brave, temperate and fair-minded, everything rests upon their shoulders. With this comes great glory and power, surely, but it is a terrible burden which they are forced to bear. Should they falter, their enemies will strike them down, should they fail, their lands may crumble. Should they stray from the path, even just for a moment, their is no telling the havoc which may occur. There is no rest for the weary, and for philosopher kings there is no exception.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I often get lost in my own thoughts and contemplation, becoming oblivious to my surroundings. |
| 2 | I love discussing my ideas with others, whether they want to hear them or not. |
| 3 | Despite my status as a philosopher king, I do not place myself above others or look down on them. Having an inflated sense of self can never lead anywhere good. |
| 4 | I treat all of my problems like mathematical equations, trying to solve them as logically and orderly as possible. |
| 5 | I would rather live in a small hut in the middle of the woods than in a mansion surrounded by riches. |
| 6 | I don't understand the appeal of poetry or folk tales, they just sound like nonsense to me. |
| 7 | I am always one for a witty comment or two, especially if I'm the one making them. |
| 8 | I like to get up early every day to train my body. I need to make sure that i am not just mentally in tune, but physically fit as well. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Just. I strive to always allow my rational side to rule over my desires and emotions, no matter the situation I find myself in. |
| 2 | Good. I am always trying to gain a better understanding of the true nature of the world around me and will follow down any path which may help me to become knowledgeable of the 'good.' |
| 3 | Courage. I am willing to face any hardships or struggles that may cross my path, for they are not things which I should fear, but tools to use to help myself grow. |
| 4 | Equality. In my eyes, men and women should be treated as equals among society, for in excluding them, the state loses so much that it could be benefiting from. |
| 5 | Stickler. Tyranny is epitome of what it means to be an unjust state and tyrants must not be allowed to rule the people. |
| 6 | Altruism. My gifts are meant to be shared with my state, not used for my own benefit. |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I grew up with only my peers and teachers as company. These are the people who deserve my loyalty, these are the people who I call my family. Blood and genetics have nothing to do with it. |
| 2 | I will do anything required of me if it is to protect my state. |
| 3 | One of my beloved peers left without a word. In everything I do, I am always searching for them. |
| 4 | I found out what my land does with the children they deem unworthy and it is something I will never forgive. |
| 5 | I tamed a wild beast once as a child and have held a special place for them in my heart ever since. |
| 6 | Everything that I do is for the good of the people. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | Uselessness of the Artist. If there are any bards in my party, I will ask they to leave at least once during any interaction. Their presence just makes the party worse and is of no benefit to anyone. |
| 2 | Shield Your Eyes. Riches and shiny objects of any sort frighten me. I am fearful that their immoral aura will pull me in and turn me away from the just path. -1 dexterity to any roll involving the acquiring or protection of shiny items. |
| 3 | Noble Lie. I will lie to my fellow party members if I think that it will benefit the overall greater good, despite any later effects this might have on their trust in me if found out. |
| 4 | Foolish Mortal. I don't think that there is anything to fear from death and would rather face such a fate than be dishonored or shamed. -1 to any constitution rolls in situations where my life is at risk. |
| 5 | Definition Not Found. If asked to define or explain something by my fellow party members, I will give them a long winded metaphor or thought experiment rather than any straightforward explanation- no matter the time, no matter the place. |
| 6 | No Filter. If I feel that there is something that needs to be said, I will speak my mind no matter the consequences- even if it is in my better interest to stay silent. |
Comments