You have always had a way with people. You know what makes them tick, you can tease out their hearts' desires after a few minutes of conversation, and with a few leading questions, you can read them like they were children's books. It's a useful talent and one that you're perfectly willing to use for your advantage.
You know what people want, and you deliver, or rather, you promise to deliver. Common sense should steer people away from things that sound too good to be true, but common sense seems to be in short supply when you're around. The bottle of pink-coloured liquid will surely cure that unseemly rash, this ointment – nothing more than a bit of fat with a sprinkle of silver dust can restore youth and vigour, and there's a bridge in the city that happens to be for sale. These marvels sound implausible, but you make them sound like the real deal.
- Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of Hand
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of kit, Instrument
- Languages: None
- Equipment: A [Tooltip Not Found], a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15 gp
I cheat at games of chance. I shave coins or forge documents.
| d1 | Scam |
|---|---|
| 1 | I cheat at games of chance. |
You have a reliable and trustworthy contact who acts as your liaison to a network of other criminals. You know how to get messages to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you.
Suggested Characteristics
Criminals might seem like villains on the surface, and many of them are villainous to the core. But some have an abundance of endearing, if not redeeming, characteristics. There might be honor among thieves, but criminals rarely show any respect for law or authority.
| d2 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sarcasm and persuasion are my weapons of choice. |
| 2 | I lie about "almost" everything, even when there's no good reason to. |
| d7 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Honor. I don’t steal from others in the trade. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Charity. I steal from the wealthy so that I can help people in need. (Good) |
| 4 | Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. (Evil) |
| 5 | People. I’m loyal to my friends, not to any ideals, and everyone else can take a trip down the Styx for all I care. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Redemption. There’s a spark of good in everyone. (Good) |
| 7 | Friendship. Material goods come and go. Bonds of friendship last forever. (Good) |
| d7 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous benefactor. |
| 2 | My ill-gotten gains go to support my family. |
| 3 | Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back. |
| 4 | I will become the greatest thief that ever lived. |
| 5 | I’m guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it. |
| 6 | Someone I loved died because of a mistake I made. That will never happen again. |
| 7 | I owe everything to my mentor – a horrible person who's probably rotting in jail somewhere. |
| d7 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | When I see something valuable, I can’t think about anything but how to steal it. |
| 2 | When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money. |
| 3 | If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it. |
| 4 | I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. |
| 5 | I turn tail and run when things look bad. |
| 6 | An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that. |
| 7 | I'm always in debt. I spend my ill-gotten gains on decadent luxuries faster than I bring them in. Or pinch them when I cant afford them. |
Although your capabilities are not much different from those of a burglar or smuggler, you learned and practiced them in a very different context: as an espionage agent. You might have been an officially sanctioned agent of the crown, or perhaps you sold the secrets you uncovered to the highest bidder.