A soldiers life is all you've known, trained as a youth, studying weapons and combat, quickly rising within the ranks of your school and gained the attention of the higher ups, you were groomed to become a Royal Gaurd. You might have served a king or emperor, or perhaps the prince/princess of that nation. While doing so you were caught in a scandal or your nation was destroyed and with no where to go, you fled.
When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine which nation you were a part of, how close a relationhip to your ruling body were you, or how far through the ranks you had progressed, and what kind of experiences you had within your Branch of the Royal Guard. Have you stopped asassinations, did you view your ruling body with reverence or did you look down upon them for leading a spoilt life.
- Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Investigation, Perception
- Tool Proficiencies: One set of tools (artisan), One Vehicle that was commonly used by the Nation
- Languages: While you were a guard you were expected to also work as a translator if needed and have been taught in a language of your choosing (from the material plane)
- Equipment: An insignia of rank, a trophy taken from a fallen enemy (a dagger, broken blade, or piece of a banner), set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15 gp
During your time as a guard, you had a specific role/rank you achieved. Doing so led to a relationship formed to your ruling body. Roll a d20 or choose from the options in the table below to determine your role:
| d2 | Relationship and Role |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1-10 Spymaster - trained to protect your ruling body from the shadows you've learnt your way around court, and how to gather information, whther it's to protct your ruling body or disgrace them |
| 2 | (11-20) Combat Specialist, still a soldier you are a body guard, and do the task of guarding the ruling body when they enter combat or stand as obvious protection to the ruler (you yourself are the deterrant for attacking head on) |
Feature Based on role/relationship.
Spymaster - Navigating court for years has taught you to discern the body of a ruling court. Looking at someone within a ruling court you can tell which role each vassal performs, and how to get in contact with that person just by being within a court/castle for 15 minutes.
Combat Specialist - Years of practice and being around soldiers has taught you to command respect, when speaking to a member of an army or guard, your tone carries weight and they will follow most short commands (as long as it isn't against the state or will bring them direct harm) also gains advantage on charisma checks to persuade, intimidate or decieve said member of guard or army.
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.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m always polite and respectful. |
| 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 combat 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 sense of humor. |
| 8 | I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) |
| 2 | Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins. (Evil) |
| 5 | Live and Let Live. Ideals aren’t worth killing over or going to war for. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Nation. My city, nation, or people are all that matter. (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. |
| 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 mistake in battle that cost many lives—and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret. |
| 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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