Against all odds, you survived what should have been an inescapable death. Whether you awoke on the battlefield surrounded by the corpses of your comrades, or crawled your way out of the ruins of your village, you somehow survived when no one else did. A higher power may have spared your life for a reason, giving you a second chance to earn this blessing and prove yourself, or perhaps you were just extraordinarily lucky.
- Skill Proficiencies: History, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: One instrument or type of artisan's tools
- Equipment: An instrument or set of artisan’s tools of your choice, a memento or keepsake from the place of your miraculous survival, a set of traveler's clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp.
As a survivor, you underwent a traumatic and horrifying event that should have killed you. Discuss with your DM and choose the nature of the event, or roll on the table below.
| d6 | Tragic Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | You survived a natural disaster, such as a volcanic eruption, hurricane, tsunami or earthquake. |
| 2 | You survived a dangerous conflict or a long and bloody war. |
| 3 | The ship you sailed with sank, and you were the only one who escaped a watery grave. |
| 4 | Your hometown was massacred by a horde of bandits, an invading army or an enormous monster, leaving you the only survivor. |
| 5 | You and a group of explorers journeyed into an ancient ruin, and only you came out alive. |
| 6 | A deadly plague swept through your hometown, leaving only you alive. |
Rumours about your miraculous survival travels with you wherever you go, and people always wish to hear the story firsthand. Some people may come to you in search of wisdom or insight, while others may merely seek a harrowing story.
At your DM’s discretion, such individuals may offer you food, drink or shelter. Some may even offer you greater gifts, such as the loan of a boat or horse, or a hiding place from the local guards.
Suggested Characteristics
The harrowing event you went through has left a permanent mark and changed you in a great many ways, though you’ve learnt to live with it.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | The horrors of that day continue to haunt me, and I can’t blot them from my mind. |
| 2 | I’m not foolhardy, but death holds no terror for me. |
| 3 | I don’t run from evil. Evil runs from me. |
| 4 | I loathe talking about the event I survived, and often lash out if pestered about it. |
| 5 | I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized. |
| 6 | I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die. |
| 7 | Everything looks and sounds different now. Either I’ve changed or I now see the world as it truly is. |
| 8 | I expect danger around every corner. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Independence. I refuse to be a puppet or pawn of fate. My life is mine to live as I see fit. (Chaotic) |
| 2 | Redemption. I’ve been given a second chance to prove my worth and atone for my past misdeeds. (Good) |
| 3 | Greed. Life is too short to let any opportunity for personal gain slip through my fingers. (Evil) |
| 4 | Faith. A deity chose me as their instrument. I must now serve that higher calling. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Destiny. The powers that be chose me to survive for a reason. I won’t rest until I learn that reason. (Any) |
| 6 | Selflessness. I try to help those in need, no matter the personal cost. (Good) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I need to know why I survived, and I won’t rest until I learn the truth. |
| 2 | My last family died around me. I will not fail my new family, no matter what it costs. |
| 3 | I have to prove that I’m worthy of surviving when so many others didn’t make it. |
| 4 | Someone or something took everything from me. They will pay for all my suffering and loss. |
| 5 | I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy. |
| 6 | I protect and defend those too weak or poor to defend themselves. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | The guilt of being the only survivor weighs heavily on my soul. |
| 2 | Deep down, I wonder if my being spared was a mistake or even a punishment. |
| 3 | I often take foolish or unnecessary risks, believing I’m too important to die. |
| 4 | I assume the worst in people. |
| 5 | I speak my mind in blunt, forthright language. I have no interest in coddling fools. |
| 6 | I feel no compassion for the dead, they’re the lucky ones. |
Comments