At some point in your life, you were held against your will for a long period of time. Whether this was in a dungeon or in luxury, you had endless time and nowhere to go. You developed capabilities that allowed you to survive in your role, whether that was tricking your captors or passing the time. Regardless, your past life has been destroyed and there is no going back.
- Skill Proficiencies: Pick any two from Deception, History, Insight, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, or Survival.
- Tool Proficiencies: You have Proficiency in any two artisans kits, with the exception of Cartography kit, Masonry tools, Smith's tools, or Carpenter's tools.
An instrument of your choice.
One gaming set of your choice.
You do not have any of these items on your person; you will have to procure them, unless you take the instrument, gaming kit, or one artisan kit as your personal artifact (see Equipment).
- Languages: No languages included with this background, unless you forgo potential proficiency in artisans tools and instrument. (See Tool Proficiencies). If so, you may choose one language of your choice, having some relation to your captor.
- Equipment: One important personal artifact.
This background comes with no coin, no supplies, no kits, tools, armor or weapons. No equipment of any kind. Any equipment will have to be procured after the end of this phase of the characters life- they left with nothing. (Any equipment given by class or race is still provided/available at start.)
D6
1 I was a prisoner of war, and survived due to my strength of will
2 I was a captive due to political and/or economic reasons, and survived/escaped solely because of my silver tongue.
3 I was kidnapped and do not remember my previous life.
4 I was taken hostage as leverage against my family, and must show gratitude (or at least civility) to my captors.
5 I was sent to a very strict monastery or temple as a child, and no longer follow their narrow path.
6 I was taken early in life and became a part of my captor's family. I have a modicum of freedom now but they still exercise a form of control over me and my life (this choice comes with all proficient equipment).
When you are backed into a literal or figurative corner by any intelligent creature or humanoid and are at your most desperate, you can make one persuasion roll AND one deception roll at advantage. Whether you try to convince the adversary you're actually on their side, or that you're not a threat, or whatever it may be, you can try to talk your way out of a situation. This feature is at the discretion of the DM.
You can only use this feature once a day, one roll of persuasion AND one roll of deception, in any order and at any time as the situation calls for it.
Suggested Characteristics
D10
1 I am pessimistic and mistrustful of others. I have an irrational fear of unfamiliar people.
2 I have developed the ability to read others easily, though sometimes my interpretation is warped by my past.
3 I have a nervous twitch which is triggered by a specific sight or sound, which renders me useless for a short period of time
4 I am incredibly naive of the world, due to limited or controlled experience, though I may specialize heavily in specific fields.
5 I am easily enraged and do not like others in my personal space.
6 I cannot tolerate any kind of authority, and fight anything I percieve as a limit or on my personal freedom.
7 I am overly trusting and make my way through life in an idealized world.
8 I have a delusion about who I am and what the world I am living in actually is.
9 I want to return to my captor, who I perceive as the main source of truth and light in my world. Everyone attempting to keep me away or persuade me is misinformed.
10 I have a habit of overly immersing myself in what I find comfort in, whether that is my religion, fiction, or study.
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