Those who find their way into the Forlorn Hope are varied and nuanced. Those who stay do so for more reasons than stars in the sky: good pay, good company, an hunger for adventure, a touch of madness, or even for the thrill.
They all share one thing in common: in the brotherhood of the Forlorn Hope, one's past becomes irrelevant. Each one seeks to benefit the company, their squad, and themselves by any means possible. Though shared turmoil and triumph, a man is made into a mercenary.
When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine your reason for entering the service and reason for staying. Perhaps you grew tired of nobility and wanted a more exciting life. Perhaps you grew up in the slums of Baldur's Gate and saw it as the only opportunity to escape poverty.
What was your first action like?
Who instructed you in the ways of a mercenary?
Why do you stay as a member of the Forlorn Hope when it seems one breeze away from collapse?
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose Any Two: Animal Handling, Athletics, History , Medicine, Persuasion, Stealth, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, vehicles (land)
- Equipment: A pouch containing 25 gold, a set of common clothes, a dagger stamped with the seal of the Forlorn Hope, and a medium-sized mount or an animal companion.
With your time served in the Forlorn Hope, you hold a myriad of experiences under your belt. No circumstance is too weird or too occult for your understanding.
Once per session, you may automatically succeed on a skill check, or you may recall a past event to influence the narrative.
Suggested Characteristics
The horrors of war combined with the rigid discipline of military service leave their mark on all soldiers, shaping their ideals, creating strong bonds, and often leaving them scarred and vulnerable to fear, shame, and hatred.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m always polite and respectful. |
| 2 | I’m haunted by memories of war. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind. |
| 3 | I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones. |
| 4 | I’m full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every combat situation. |
| 5 | I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 6 | I enjoy being strong and like breaking things. |
| 7 | I have a crude sense of humor. |
| 8 | I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) |
| 2 | Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins. (Evil) |
| 5 | Live and Let Live. Ideals aren’t worth killing over or going to war for. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Nation. My city, nation, or people are all that matter. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would still lay down my life for the people I served with. |
| 2 | Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind. |
| 3 | My honor is my life. |
| 4 | I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it. |
| 5 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| 6 | I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear. |
| 2 | I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior. |
| 3 | I made a terrible mistake in battle that cost many lives—and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret. |
| 4 | My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. |
| 5 | I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. |
| 6 | I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong. |
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