Many adventurers possess tragic, dramatic backstories. Dead loved ones, personal betrayal, heartbreak, poverty, orphanage, a criminal history, divine/fiendish intervention, anything goes in a profession that takes one anywhere, and a few drinks can bring out truly terrible anecdotes from all manner of warriors. Many people have experienced such horrors...
You are not one of those people. Contrary to what your profession typically implies, your upbringing has been bereft of exceptional tragedy for the most part. You have loving parents, perhaps some siblings, maybe even grandparents! You've perhaps had moments of personal pain, sure - a broken limb from a scuffle with an older brother, an argument with a parent that got a bit too heated, something like that - but nothing particularly devastating, nothing irreparable. You've known the wholesome pleasure of a warm home-cooked meal, a toasty hearth, and the comforting embrace of a doting mother for all your life.
Yet in spite of all that you have, you wish to set out on your own. Perhaps you're taking after a loved one who went on their own journey, perhaps you're seeking to find yourself, perhaps you or your parents want you to become independent. Whatever the reason, you've decided to take up a weapon, be it sword or sorcery, and go off on your own adventure. Whatever it is you seek - money, fame, power, self-discovery, perhaps even love - you're certain you'll not find it if you're stuck at home all your life.
- Skill Proficiencies: There are a variety of talents one can develop or be taught during childhood. Choose any three skills that make sense for your character and his/her family.
- Tool Proficiencies: Your parents likely taught you the ways of their trade, whatever their professions were. Choose any two tools that make sense for your character's family.
- Languages: Maybe a parent or grandparent taught you a language while you were little, though you were likely never put through rigorous study. Choose any one language.
- Equipment: Your parents would never send you out unprepared! You have a set of common clothes, a week's worth of rations, a bedroll, a pouch containing 10 gp, and a trinket to remind you of home.
To determine what professions your parents held before settling down, roll 2d12 or choose two from the table below.
| d12 | Parental Occupations |
|---|---|
| 1 | Soldier |
| 2 | Cook |
| 3 | Mage |
| 4 | Farmer |
| 5 | Hunter |
| 6 | Builder |
| 7 | Tailor |
| 8 | Blacksmith |
| 9 | Jeweler |
| 10 | Alchemist |
| 11 | Adventurer |
| 12 | Entertainer |
No matter what horrors you face out in the wide open world, whether they be natural, man-made, or something else entirely, you'll always have a home to come back to for a much-needed reprieve. Your family waits patiently to welcome you back with a big smile and a bigger hug, no matter how bad things get out there. You can retreat there when you're overwhelmed and need some guidance or comfort, or you can stop by to check in whenever you're in the area, let everyone know you're doing alright, stay for dinner perhaps, give everyone a quick hug and a kiss before going back on the road again. And don't forget to write, you know your mother worries about you when she doesn't hear from you!
Suggested Characteristics
Blood is thicker than water as they say, and people can feel a variety of different ways about their own. Some feel loved and do what they can for their folks, others feel smothered and would like to become independent.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have a mouth like a sailor, got it from my dad. |
| 2 | My mother taught me patience and kindness. |
| 3 | I have a thousand and one stories to tell about my siblings. |
| 4 | My dad could beat up anyone else's dad, and I'm happy to tell any enemies that. |
| 5 | Whenever I'm nervous, I hum an old lullaby my mother sang to me when I was little. |
| 6 | Whenever I'm in a tight spot, I wonder what my big brother would do, and I do it. |
| 7 | Whenever I'm in a tight spot, I wonder what my big brother would do, and I do the exact opposite and he knows exactly why. |
| 8 | If there's one thing I learned from my dad, it's how to make terrible jokes that everyone groans at! |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tradition. I want to follow in my family's footsteps. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Independence. I want to be free to go my own way, to be my own person. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Hospitality. Everyone deserves a home, and I'm happy to provide. (Good) |
| 4 | Tough Love. Sometimes we have to go through hell to forge unbreakable bonds. (Neutral) |
| 5 | Warmth. I want to make others feel how my family makes me feel. (Good) |
| 6 | Family. You should always stick by your loved ones no matter what. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm a mama's boy/girl, nobody is more important to me than her. |
| 2 | I've always admired my big brother/sister, and I want to follow their example. |
| 3 | I want to set a good example for my younger siblings. |
| 4 | My father expects me to be the head of the house one day. I need to be ready. |
| 5 | I do what I can to support my aging parents. |
| 6 | I want to start my own family someday, give my parents some grandchildren. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I will fight to the death for my mother's honor, so help me! |
| 2 | Growing up in a soft, loving home has made me a bit... naive. |
| 3 | I suffer from homesickness almost constantly. |
| 4 | My siblings and I were always a bit too rough with each other, and I never really grew out of it. |
| 5 | The world is scary and I wanna go home. |
| 6 | My parents may have spoiled me a bit, so this is all pretty rough for me, not gonna lie. |
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