You lived in seclusion in a sheltered community such as a monastery or convent, following it's rules and schedules of training, work and worship for a formative part of your life. You might have been an orphan or child-prodigy of some kind the monastery took in, or a later-born or even illegitimate child of a noble that had little to no chance to inherit the title or a piece of land. Or you might have retreated as an adult from your former life for various reasons. In your time apart from the clamor of society, you found quiet, solitude, and perhaps some spiritual insight.
Most monasteries are tucked away in the wilderness - self sufficient or in the outer vincinity of a small settlement or tradepost at most, that provided what the monastery can't generate, trading for one of the goods the monastery produces. Numerous monasteries are known far and wide for wares like fine parchment, cloth, porcelain, herbs and medicine, wine, beer or even cheese. You might have learned one of those trades or focused solely on working in a scriptorium, copying and illuminating books and scrolls.
- Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Religion
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose one from: Brewer's Supplies, Calligrapher's Supplies, Cook's Utensils, Glassblower's Tools, Weaver's Tools, Woodcarver's Tools
You are also proficient with the Herbalism Kit.
- Languages: Celestial
- Equipment: A set of Artisan's Tools, a Herbalism Kit, a Set of Common Clothes or Vestments, a Holy Symbol and a pouch containing 10 gp
Besides pilgrimages and monastic matters, there are few other reasons for the ordinary member to leave the tranquil life inside a convent or monastery. A stroke of fate, family business, or maybe even a divine calling.
| d10 | Defining Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | Returning from a pilgrimage you find your monastery burned and razed to the ground. An air of evil lingers over it. |
| 2 | You've been wrongly accused of conspiring with foes of your faith and have been expelled from your congregation. |
| 3 | A relative died and you are their only heir. Returning home, you find your heritage seized by a powerful villain. |
| 4 | Your monastery is old and in disrepair. You've been assigned to collect donations and find benefactors to save your home. |
| 5 | You serve as an envoy of your monastery, assignments taking you near and far. |
| 6 | At some point, the walls and schedules that were so comforting for a long time felt imprisoning. You left to find a new way to serve your deity. |
| 7 | You decided to search for a long lost relic of your faith to bring glory to your small monastery. You just... forgot to inform any of your superiors. |
| 8 | You've had reoccuring dreams of great evil rising in secret. Your prior/prioress sent you on a mission to find the meaning of those dreams. |
| 9 | A member of your congregation "disappeared" together with a relic of your faith, you've been asked to follow the leads on this mystery. |
| 10 | You found clues that a secret cult is slowly infiltrating the places of worship of your faith and went on a "pilgrimage" to find the means to bring them down. |
You can reroll on Persuasion (and Deception) rolls when interacting with very pious (DM decides) NPCs, but have to take the second result if you do.
Suggested Characteristics
Some members of a monastic congregation are well suited to a life of seclusion, whereas others chafe against it and long for company. Whether they embrace it or long to escape it, the cloistered life shapes their attitudes and ideals.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'd rather teach a man fishing, than just giving him a fish. |
| 2 | I have little practical experience dealing with people in the outside world. |
| 3 | I'm really taken aback by the display of extravagance and pomposity. |
| 4 | I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me. |
| 5 | I know a fable or proverb relevant to almost every situation. |
| 6 | I prefer fighting with words instead of fists, but I'm well trained with both. |
| 7 | I always keep a diary of my travels, so i can reminiscene about them when i'm back to my monastic normality. |
| 8 | I have trouble acknowledging any other authority than my monastic superiors. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tradition. The ancient traditions of worship and sacrifice must be preserved and upheld. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Charity. I will help where i'm needed, even at a personal cost. (Good) |
| 3 | Free Thinking. Inquiry and curiosity are the pillars of progress. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. Unraveling the secrets of existence is the path to power and domination. (Evil) |
| 5 | Seclusion. Just taking care of your own affairs is hard enough. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Ascendancy. I strive to become the leader of a monastry. (any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | The matters of my monastry will always come first. |
| 2 | I was a terrible disciple to my mentors and now i'm trying to make up for it. |
| 3 | I defend the virtues of my convent/order with my life. |
| 4 | I've been entrusted with secret knowledge of my convent/order, i will keep it at all costs. |
| 5 | I was brought to the monastery when i was very young, maybe one day i will learn something about my origin. |
| 6 | I am a shining light in the darkness of ignorance. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I tend to feign obedience and then do what i please. |
| 2 | I'm pretty bad at handling money. |
| 3 | I have a weakness for the vices of the city. |
| 4 | The long time i spent with so little excitement has made me incredibly nosey. |
| 5 | I don't get subtleties. |
| 6 | I snuck into the library and have read forbidden books. Nobody must ever know of this. |
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