As a child, you have spent a considerable amount of time studying, while others might have spent their time at work or play. Not only does this mean you have greater knowledge in certain fields than others, but just as important, you know where to look, should you need access to more obscure lore.
As an adult, you are, or were, a professional assassin or hitman. Your job, possibly even your purpose in life, was to kill people without getting caught. By luck or talent, you must have been fairly successful. A famous assassin is a dead assassin after all.
- Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Stealth
- Tool Proficiencies: thieves’ tools, poisoner's kit
- Languages: You gain Thieves Cant and two languages of your choice.
Note: Rouge's get three languages of your choice.
- Equipment: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15 gp
Should you ever need rare or hard to come by knowledge, you know exactly where to gain access to such learning. Depending on how you came by this knowledge, this might be a library, a temple, a mentor or guru, or just a wise old man or woman in your community. While you will have to travel to the location of this source of knowledge, any intelligence-based skill checks you make while there, you can make with advantage. Also, should you choose the path of a solo assassin, instead of belonging to a guild, you have acquired acquaintances that will provide a suitable alibi should you fall under suspicion after you have completed a job. You must pay 100 GP to the person who covers for you to use this feature, or they will turn a blind eye. You may use this feature again after 1d4 weeks of not committing murder. You may use this feature again after 1d4 weeks of not committing murder. If you want to use this feature again before then, the cost doubles for each consecutive use and you must add an additional 1d2 weeks to your original wait period after each use. At your DM's discretion, excessive use of this feature before the waiting period is over will accrue suspicion of yourself and your acquaintance, and you may be investigated, kept under surveillance, or abandoned by your acquaintance as they break ties with you. also, choose a cover (choose from the other backgrounds) as an assassin works best when not known as an assassin.
Suggested Characteristics
Assassins 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.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong. |
| 2 | I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me. |
| 3 | The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuable—or where such things could be hidden. Especially information. |
| 4 | I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy. |
| 5 | I never take anything seriously and I'm always willing to joke around. |
| 6 | I don’t pay attention to the risks in a situation. Never tell me the odds. |
| 7 | The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it. |
| 8 | I've read every book in the world's greatest libraries – or I like to boast that I have. |
| d6 | 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 | Knowledge. The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. (Neutral) |
| 4 | Power. Knowledge is the path to power and domination. (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) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do great deeds and win it back. |
| 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've been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question. |
| 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. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am easily distracted by the promise of information. |
| 2 | I speak without really thinking through my words, invariably insulting others. |
| 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. |
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