This background is made particularly for the race of Firbolgs, but other races certainly might prefer a group of Protectors over a line of soldiers.
Some cultures don't consider military should be a focus of their community. None the less, they do need to be prepared in case of outside attackers, something their way of life makes seem an unlikely event. As a Firbolg, there are no official soldiers. They are nature protectors, gardeners, and mystical caregivers. This is true of Firbolgs in general, but a Protector is raised with special training in specific cultivation of defensive/offensive plants and practical munitions. They use the subtlety dangerous—and sometimes chaotic—aspects of nature to defend their tribe. They also learn various modes of defensive fighting with and without “true” weapons. They use the environment around them believing Nature will provide.
- Skill Proficiencies:
Medicine: Basic knowledge of healing, assessing wounds, salves, and poisons is part of training for all Protectors. When you have completed training, you are able to solo patrol, assisting injured animals, travelers, and comrades.
Nature: You spend most of your time living and learning in nature. You are trained to use all its gifts to defend, assault, and protect.
Improvised Weapons: The ability to take anything around you and use it as a weapon. You will never be unable to defend yourself or others, regardless of owning a weapon. You can pick up and prepare an improvised weapon as a free action. You can improvise any ammunition in your sling as long as it fits without disadvantage, the same range (30/120) and damage (1d4 bludgeoning) applies. Your improvised weapon uses the same stat block for range and damage as the weapon it most closely resembles at the DM's discretion.
- Tool Proficiencies:
Herbalism and Poisoner's Kits: Use of plants for healing and harming are a major part of your education. Learning which plants not to eat easily teaches you how to weaponize nature in return.
The world around you is full of tools to defend and protect. Nature itself holds everything you need to heal, build, destroy, bludgeon, poison, restore, and succeed. All that is required is awareness of your surroundings. You are adept at mixing poisons and tending wounds without the need of a Healer's kit. Whether in a forest or a metropolis, Nature's Defensive Gifts allows you to turn just about anything into a weapon, gives you proficiency in Medicine, Nature, and with Herbalism and Poisoner's kits. It also adds Practical Munitions (weapons) to your class's weapon proficiencies. This background is an alternative to the Soldier background for races (Firbolgs specifically) that do not have traditional military organizations.
Suggested Characteristics
Protectors, like Sages and Researchers, have spent much of their time learning. Their library, teachers, and books are the wilderness and the mind. Like soldiers, they have seen much that is not scholarly. They are mindful and self aware, rugged and self-sufficient, but also very dedicated to their fellow beings. It is typically a remote life, but that does not mean Protectors are all introverts. They take pride in communing with nature and helping others, always ready to snap to action when nature forces a fight.