Your life is mostly mundane, you have a mother, father, brother, sister, wife, and/or kids; whatever can be considered normal for your age, location, and standing. It's not until you had received something of great value - not mere coin or wealth and sometimes not even a physical object, but something that has been entrusted to you alone. Your inheritance might have come directly to you from a member of your family, by right of birth, it could have been left to you by a friend, a mentor, a teacher, someone else important in your life or you could be the victim of a random set of circumstances leaving this gift in your possession. This gift that you have gained has given you some kind of power that most others can only dream of. It could be the object sealing your pact with an otherworldly patron, a weapon whose growth ties to its owner, or a power that has given you access to sorcery. Whatever the case or circumstance the revelation of your inheritance changed your life, and might have set you on the path to adventure, but it could also come with many dangers, including those who covet your gift and want to take it from you — by force, if need be.
*This item usually, relates to the source of your characters power and skills*
- Skill Proficiencies: You have spent countless hours trying to ascertain the source of your inheritance, to what benefit is up to you. Regardless of your success, the continued research and mental exercise gives you proficiency with one from among Investigation,Arcana,History,Nature,Religion or Performance for related power. In addition you may pick another from any skill that could be relate to your story.
- Tool Proficiencies: Your choice of a tool, gaming set, or instrument related to your research.
- Languages: Any one of your choice
- Equipment: Your inheritance, a set of traveler’s clothes, the tool you choose for this background’s tool proficiency, and a pouch containing 15 gp
When choosing this background, try to have an idea of your inherited item and how it creates your characters power and abilities.
As an example, I wrote this background for my Artificer/Barbarian. The basic of his story is that he is the talented son of an armour smith who had ideas for creating armour that he couldn't power (Artificer Skills). He got a hold of a perpetual motion machine that was able to power his inventions and the energy can be built up into batteries (spell slots) to perform his spells. What he later finds out is that the machine is actually a mechanically trapped entity who's (understandable) anger is slowly leaking into him (Barbarian and Rage). Other examples could be:
- Receiving a scroll which creates and binds a pact with a patron/deity. (Warlock, Paladin, Cleric)
- Experimented on with blood from an animal or magical being (Druid, Sorcerer)
- Given a weapon or weapon part (sheath) which grows as your power grows (Barbarian, Fighter, Ranger)
- Bitten by a Radioactive Spider (Spiderman?)
The Dungeon Master is free to use your inheritance as a story hook, sending you on quests to learn more about its history or true nature, or confronting you with foes who want to claim it for themselves or prevent you from learning what you seek.
When you begin your adventuring career, you can decide whether to tell your companions about your inheritance right away. Rather than attracting attention to yourself, you might want to keep your inheritance a secret until you learn more about what it means to you and what it can do for you.
Suggested Characteristics
Use can use the tables below as the basis for your traits and motivations that directly relate to your inheritance and how its affected your life. I suggest to include some personal characteristics that relate to your story outside of this aspect.
Your bond might be directly related to your inheritance, or to the person from whom you received it.
Your ideal/flaw/trait might be influenced by what you know about your inheritance, by what you intend to do with your gift once you realize what it is capable of, the inheritance itself, or as a result of how others treated your because of your inheritance.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I was given an extraordinary ability, I have to use it to help others. |
| 2 | My gift, my power give me confidence. I use this to inspire others. |
| 3 | I must know what this (gift) is and no one will get in my way. |
| 4 | Someone tried to take my gift from me. I can't trust anyone. |
| 5 | Why was I chosen. I second guess everything I want to do. |
| 6 | You pause for thought; My power takes action, we are not the same. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Secrecy. This inheritance has brought me and/or my loved ones problems/death. No one can know what it is/I am (Any) |
| 2 | Fairness. No one should get preferential treatment before the law, and no one is above the law. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Freedom. Tyrants must not be allowed to oppress the people. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Might. If I become strong, I can take what I want—what I deserve. (Evil) |
| 5 | Sincerity. There’s no good in pretending to be something I’m not. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling. (Any) |
| d4 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again. |
| 2 | I cannot go back to my life until these people after me are gone. |
| 3 | I have no-one I can trust, until now (party) |
| 4 | I protect those who cannot protect themselves. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would sacrifice anything to know what this is or what it means. |
| 2 | I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of failure. |
| 3 | The people who knew me when I was young know my shameful secret, so I can never go home again. |
| 4 | I call for the death of anyone who tries to take this power from me and you wont stop me. |
| 5 | Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a ruler over the land. |
| 6 | My inheritance makes it difficult for me to trust anyone. |
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