You dream of seeing the world in its entirety, of fighting monsters, of reading lore, of telling stories, and of seeing the most beautiful sights in the natural world. You have been to many places, and you have met many people. You feel a strong bond with animals and nature, and you let fate guide you the way it wants to.
- Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival, Athletics
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools, vehicles (land)
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A set of artisans tools (your choice), an iron pot, a set of common clothes, a pouch containing 10 gp, a small axe or dagger
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 stood alone against a terrible monster. |
| 3 | I stole from a corrupt merchant to help the poor. |
| 4 | I led a militia to fight off an invading army. |
| 5 | I broke into a tyrant’s castle and stole weapons to arm the people. |
| 6 | I trained the peasantry to use farm implements as weapons against a tyrant’s soldiers. |
| 7 | A lord rescinded an unpopular decree after I led a symbolic act of protest against it. |
| 8 | A celestial, fey, or similar creature gave me a blessing or revealed my secret origin. |
| 9 | Recruited into a lord’s army, I rose to leadership and was commended for my heroism. |
| 10 | My research saved my people from a terrible plague. |
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
An adventurer fits in with any people of any background, though you feel a strong connection to the rustic and the working class. Everything you do is for the good of others, and you let your destiny guide you.
| 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 get bored easily. When am I going to get on with my destiny? |
| 8 | I often let my ideals guide me, regardless of what my conscience says. |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| 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. |
Perhaps you set out on your journey as an apprentice to a greater adventurer. If so, you may be trying to learn something, like the art of spellcasting, or archery. If you choose this variant, you must also choose a focus that you are trying to learn.
If you are an apprentice, you are trying to learn something from someone, and have taken up a life on the road as your course of study. Maybe you are trying to learn spells by collecting lore from the people you meet. Maybe you are trying to learn archery. Or how to handle a great weapon. Or perhaps you are studying a type of beast. Whatever it is, your choices of favored enemy, fighting style, class, etc, should reflect your choice of study.
Comments