In the underworld there are those that revel in the limelight of a job well done. Those who gladly tell tales of botched jobs and successful picks; Who can get drinks free for life on their silver tongues and quick fingers. You are not one of those people.
From a young age you were trained in the shadows. Learning in hushed whispers the best way to cut a throat without getting any blood on yourself, how to mimic your quarry's steps to tail them. Your blades became extensions of your arms, and yourself as a whole. A creature that became a hidden weapon. You are an assassin of the highest order, and a spy of considerable talent. As a Hidden Blade you have spent many of your formative years learning an endless amount of ways to kill man, woman, and child. Your teachers have imparted onto you the ability to sit in a pub and glean information from everyone in the room while remaining invisible. Your training has made you cat-like in your battle grace and quiet movement, and you have a reputation in certain circles as someone who will get the job done regardless of difficulty. You are an expensive contract to take, and those that stiff you often meet tragic ends.
Consult your DM on who you were taught by, and if they were part of a larger network of Hidden Blades or a sole inheritor of a specialized set of assassin skills.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two skills from the following: Insight, Persuasion, Stealth, Perception, Intimidation
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose two: Thieves' Tools, Forgery Tools, Disguise Kit, Gaming Set
- Languages: Choose Two in addition to Thieves' Cant (written)
- Equipment: A dark colored cloak with a wide hood, black gloves, half face mask, ledger, ink, pen, 20 gp.
There are many sects of Hidden Blades in the world, and they all include different schools of their trade. Each Order has their own methods of killing, and while most will teach their students all of these skills, they will sometimes hone in on one set of skills in particular. Some students excel at these skills.
| d6 | Hidden Blade Trade |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blades |
| 2 | Poisoning |
| 3 | Traps |
| 4 | Blackmail/Social Death |
| 5 | Projectiles |
| 6 | Hand to Hand |
You are a person of many talents, but one of the finest is your ability to be linchpin in many different circles of influence. People come to you with secrets and information and you are well connected enough to know who to pass it on to or where to put the information to use. As such, you are able to use information about powerful or influence people in many areas to your advantage. This could be a fatal flaw, a weakness in battle, or maybe just an embarrassing childhood story. Regardless, you know many things. This can sometimes come back to bite you, but in general allows you to move through the world with enough information to barter for other information and merchandise.
Suggested Characteristics
Choose at least Two of each, except Hidden Blade School.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I tend to stay quiet in conversations, but soak up all the information for later use. |
| 2 | I delight in finding unique solutions to difficult problems |
| 3 | I never show my emotional weaknesses, even around friends, due to past betrayals. |
| 4 | I never get too attached to partners/friends, knowing that I may have to turn on them at any point. |
| 5 | I have a running list of my successes and failures, and count them against each other. |
| 6 | I worry that my soul has been changed by my actions. |
| 7 | I find humor in dark places, and it can sometimes be unnerving. |
| 8 | Good people have paid for my crimes and I feel immense guilt over it. |
| d8 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am Judgement. No one stands above me. |
| 2 | The contract comes before all else. |
| 3 | I only take work that benefits the greater good. |
| 4 | I am a tool, I am to be used for a task. |
| 5 | Any information I receive is categorized and I never forget a good secret. |
| 6 | There's beauty in everything, even terrible events. |
| 7 | I won't let my past stop me from living my best life. |
| 8 | Those who betray me meet terrible ends. |
| d8 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My teacher is my closest confidant and I would be lost without their help. |
| 2 | My Order raised me, and so I am indebted to them. |
| 3 | There was a job I could never complete, because I let my feelings for the target or someone close to the target get in the way. |
| 4 | I got out of the life so I could prove I'm more than a killer to someone I treasure. |
| 5 | I could never tell those closest to me what I truly do for a living-they would hate me. |
| 6 | I rebelled against my Order and so broke the camaraderie of many of my brothers and sisters in the Order. |
| 7 | I have a fellow Blade who is like a sibling to me, and I would do anything to protect them. |
| 8 | I support a child that I orphaned out of guilt, and pray they will never find out that I am the reason they have no family. |
| d8 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I take slights very personally, and it can get in the way of my work. |
| 2 | I can't leave a job without taking a trophy, even if it's risky. |
| 3 | People fear me and I use that to my advantage to threaten others. |
| 4 | I've framed many men and women for my crimes and I don't care that they paid for it. |
| 5 | I can sometimes get too possessive over money and rewards. |
| 6 | Despite my profession I am uncomfortable at the sight of blood, mine or others. |
| 7 | I have a taste for expensive and conspicuous living, which runs contrary to my work. |
| 8 | I'm not above cheating in any sense. |
At one point you were destined to be something more than you are. You were chosen, trained, and showed promise. But sadly, something changed. You were not chosen to continue, or maybe you left, or saw something you shouldn't have. You are a half finished Blade, still powerful, but more liable to snap in half.
From a young age you were trained in the shadows. Your training was incomplete however, and so the final secrets of your order of Hidden Blades, and the true secrets to becoming a true weapon are lost to you now.
Consult your DM on who you were taught by, and if they were part of a larger network of Hidden Blades or a sole inheritor of a specialized set of assassin skills.
You were trained well, however you left your order before completing your training. As such, you lack the contacts that fellow trainees gained at the end of their training. You have other skills that you kept though. You're aware of the different syndicates of crime in the world, and can identify their signatures in crimes and hideouts around the country. When you come across a dead body you can tell whether this was a professional job or random violence. With enough thought, you may even be able to remember which order taught that particular set of skills.
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