Since childhood you were part of the ranks of a massive and totalitarian military organization dedicated to conquest and control of all it could reach. You were taught what it was to live shoulder to shoulder with others as part of a big military machine, where management and maintenance were as important to survival as combat skills. Your daily life, everything you learned, and everything you had was a function of this organization's great war against any that opposed its will.
Well, that's all gone now. The war is over and your side, for as much or little as you believed in it, lost. You're free to find a new life, but the scars of your former one may remain, haunting you with memories, fears, and resentments. Maybe you'll find forgiveness and healing in a new life... or maybe you'll be the bearer of remaining pain and loss.
When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine that nature of your service in this military organization, how far through its ranks you progressed, and what kind of experiences you had during your military career. Were you successful or disappointing? Did you believe in the cause or were you just in it because you had nothing else? Did you rush to the fight or try to avoid battle? Where were you when it all ended and what did you do when the fighting stopped?
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from Athletics, Acrobatics, Deception, Intimidation, Medicine, or Perception.
- Tool Proficiencies: A type of vehicle, and a set of maintenance tools or another vehicle
- Equipment: A personal trinket (a dagger, a memento picture, a trophy, a focus, a small game), a set of tools, a garrison or combat uniform, and a pouch containing 10 gp
During your time as a soldier, you had a specific assigned role you served in. Roll a d10 or choose from the options in the table below to determine your role:
| d10 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Officer |
| 2 | Scout |
| 3 | Infantry |
| 4 | Cavalry |
| 5 | Artillery |
| 6 | Sailor |
| 7 | Engineer |
| 8 | Medic |
| 9 | Quartermaster |
| 10 | Support staff (cook, scribe, or the like) |
You still have a connection to those you've served with, a sense of kinship that came from being part of a large organized force. You have a military rank from your that time, and soldiers that were part of that former military organization still recognize your authority and influence, and they defer to you if of a lower rank. You can invoke that kinship or your rank to influence those former compatriots for small favors, such as use of simple equipment, arrangement of temporary transportation, concealment from pursuers, or a gift of food. You can also usually gain access to friendly shelters, encampments, and fortresses where those of your former organization have established themselves.
Suggested Characteristics
The horrors of war combined with the rigid discipline of military service leave their mark on all soldiers, shaping their ideals, creating strong bonds, and often leaving them scarred and vulnerable to fear, shame, and hatred. For those that have been a part of war since childhood, and have never known life without it, seeking a new life can seem insurmountable.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m always adhere to strict military decorum. |
| 2 | I’m haunted by memories of war. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind. |
| 3 | I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones. |
| 4 | I’m full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every situation. |
| 5 | I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 6 | I enjoy being strong and like breaking things. |
| 7 | I have a crude or ridiculous sense of humor. |
| 8 | I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Good. I honestly believe my actions are for the benefit of others. (Good) |
| 2 | Responsibility. I do what I must and obey established authority. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence. Blindly following rules and orders leads to ruin. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins, so I'll be that stronger force. (Evil) |
| 5 | Live and Let Live. Ideals aren’t worth death and suffering. Not anymore. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Organization. My people are all that matter. It's us against the world. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would still lay down my life for the people I served with. |
| 2 | Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind. |
| 3 | My honor is my life and without it I can't make sense of the world. |
| 4 | I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it. |
| 5 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| 6 | I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear. |
| 2 | I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior. |
| 3 | I made a terrible and costly mistake in battle—and I am haunted by that failure. |
| 4 | My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. |
| 5 | I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. |
| 6 | I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong. |
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