Investigator/Artifact Hunter

You lived a dangerous and uncertain life of exploration and acquisition. From exploring dungeons and hunting down rumors of rare and/or powerful artifacts, you've done it all. For you, life isn't a matter of good or evil; it's matter of getting the job done before valuable items find themselves in the wrong hands.

Over the years, you've gained a reputation in certain circles as either a reliable hire, or a notorious failure. Either way, you have gained valuable knowledge and pull within the communities from which you derive your work. People know to point you in the direction of interesting rumors or new clients; and you are more than happy for the recognition.

Your skills allow you to survive in environments that no other individual would dare find themselves in unless their lives depended on it. As such, you might find yourself employed as a guide, body guard, or a caravan scout. Either way, your curiosity can never be sated, and the pursuit of a better future remains your main priority.

 

Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from among Insight, Investigation, History, or Stealth

Tool Proficiencies: Tinker's tools, thieves’ tools

Languages: Primordial 

Equipment: A magnifying glass, a set of common clothes, and 10 gp

Suggested Characteristics

Characters in a discovery or mystery-focused campaign might have distinct motivations and characteristics. Use the following tables to supplement your background’s suggested characteristics or to inspire those of your own design.

d10	Personality Trait
1	I had an encounter that I believe gives me a special affinity with a supernatural creature or event.
2	A signature piece of clothing or distinct weapon serves as an emblem of who I work for.
3	I never accept that I’m out of my depth.
4	I must know the answer to every secret. No door remains unopened in my presence.
5	I let people underestimate me, revealing my full competency only to those close to me.
6	I compulsively seek to collect trophies of my travels.
7	It doesn’t matter if the whole world’s against me. I’ll always get the job done.
8	I have a personal ritual, mantra, or relaxation method I use to deal with stress.
9	I’m quick to jump to extreme solutions. Why risk a lesser option not working?
10	I’m not easily startled, I am accustomed to the strange and unusual.

d12	Ideal
1	Adrenaline. I’ve experienced such strangeness that now I feel alive only in extreme situations.
2	Balance. I strive to counter the deeds of someone for whom I feel responsible.
3	Bound. I’ve wronged someone and must work their will to avoid their curse.
4	Escape. I believe there is something beyond the world I know, and I need to find it.
5	Legacy. I must do something great so that I’m remembered, and my time is running out.
6	Misdirection. I work vigorously to keep others from realizing my flaws or misdeeds.
7	Obsession. I’ve lived this way for so long that I can’t imagine another way.
8	Obligation. I owe it to my people, faith, family, or teacher to continue a legacy.
9	Promise. My life is no longer my own. I must fulfill the dream of someone who’s gone.
10	Revelation. I need to know what lies beyond the mysteries of death, the world, or the Veil.
11	Sanctuary. I know the forces at work in the world and strive to create islands apart from them.
12	Truth. I care about the truth above all else, even if it doesn’t benefit anyone.

d12	Bond
1	I desperately need to get back to someone or someplace, but I lost them in the Veil.
2	Everything I do is in the service of a powerful master, one I must keep a secret from everyone.
3	I owe much to my vanished mentor. I seek to continue their work even as I search to find them.
4	I’ve seen great darkness, and I’m committed to being a light against it—the light of all lights.
5	Someone I love has become a monster, murderer, or other threat. It’s up to me to redeem them.
6	The world has been convinced of a terrible lie. It’s up to me to reveal the truth.
7	I deeply miss someone and am quick to adopt people who remind me of them.
8	A great evil dwells within me. I will fight against it and the world’s other evils for as long as I can.
9	I’m desperately seeking a cure to an affliction or a curse, either for someone close to me for myself.
10	Spirits are drawn to me. I do all I can to help them find peace.
11	I use my cunning mind to solve mysteries and find that which has been lost to the ages.
12	I lost someone I care about, but I still see them in guilty visions, recurring dreams, or as a spirit.

d10	Flaw
1	I believe doom follows me and that anyone who gets close to me will face a tragic end.
2	I’m convinced something is after me, appearing in mirrors, dreams, and places where no one could.
3	I’m especially superstitious and live life seeking to avoid bad luck, wicked spirits, or the Veil.
4	I’ve done unspeakable evil and will do anything to prevent others from finding out.
5	I’m a skeptic and don’t believe in the power of rituals, religion, superstition, or spirits.
6	I know my future is written and that anything I do will lead to a prophesied end.
7	I need to find the best in everyone and everything, even when that means denying obvious malice.
8	I’ve seen the evil of a type of place—like forests, cities, or graveyards—and resist going there.
9	I’m exceptionally cautious, planning laboriously and devising countless contingencies.
10	I know the ends always justify the means and am quick to make sacrifices to attain my goals.