Lowlife

You grew up in a poor neighbourhood with very little hope of ever bettering yourself. Whereas most of your peers chose to just keep their heads down and eke out an honest living, you railed against the unfair system and decided to take whatever you could. You may have begged, been a petty thief, a minor swindler or just scrounged what you could from the streets, but however you did it you learned to keep your eyes open and grab whatever opportunity came your way, regardless of the legality.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Perception

Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, tinkers' tools.

Equipment: A crowbar, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15 gp

Suggested Characteristics

Lowlives may be dishonest and opportunistic thieves and habitual liars, but they usually have loyalty to someone or something. It may be their old sainted mother, their estranged child, or to their religion. They may also have a particular line that they just won't cross (they may be happy to take money from the rich, but won't touch the poor, for example). Think carefully about what redeeming qualities your character has.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong.
2	I seldom know when it's time to stop lying.
3	The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuable—or where such things could be hidden.
4	I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy.
5	I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide.
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 may not have much, but I have my pride. And woe betide anyone who insults me.

d6	Ideal
1	Honor. I don’t take food from the mouths of the common folks. (Lawful)
2	Opportunistic. I take what the universe provides, the law be damned. (Chaotic)
3	Community. Life is tough, but if we all pull together we can make it through. (Good)
4	Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. (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’m trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous benefactor.
2	My ill-gotten gains go to support my family.
3	A person's worth can be counted in coin, and I aim to increase mine.
4	I've come from nothing, but one day people will know my name.
5	One day I'll but all of this dishonesty behind me. As soon as I'm secure.
6	Someone I loved died because of I mistake I made. That will never happen again.

d6	Flaw
1	When I see something valuable, I can’t think about anything but how to steal it.
2	When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money.
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.