Reformed Criminal

You come from a humble social rank, but you are destined for so much more. You have spent your life being pulled toward the service of a specific god or pantheon of gods, but you fought this calling, held it secret, and searched for other means to pursue fame. You could have been a high priest called to serve your god in prominent service. Many choose noble paths, but you were not able to find such channels. Your village was used as a prominent path for criminal activities, and you found this the quickest way to make a name for yourself. You quickly gained experience in many facets of crime and became of some renown in the surrounding territories.

You are an experienced criminal with a history of breaking the law. You’re far closer than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society.  Some flout the law for quite some time without bringing the ire of larger criminal organizations; you are not so lucky. Your activities have gained the focus of a powerful crime boss in a larger city.  Your movements have conflicted with the objectives of this crime organization, and they have decided to end your career by placing a bounty on your head. Somehow a specific god or pantheon of gods took pity on you, and you have finally accepted your lot.

You have spent the last few years cloistered in the service of a temple devoted to your specific god or pantheon of gods. You act as an intermediary between the realm of the holy and the mortal world, performing sacred rites and offering sacrifices in order to conduct worshipers into the presence of the divine. You are not necessarily a cleric—performing sacred rites is not the same thing as channeling divine power. Sadly, your past sometimes leads to inappropriate outbreaks, impure thoughts and actions, and an inclination toward violence. Your past attitudes and actions are slowly being dulled by ordered service to your temple. You must constantly moderate your thoughts and actions to not invite the eye of criminal bodies or the discipline of your temple. Your proclivity for serving your deity has allowed you to enter as a lesser functionary assisting the priest, but throughout the years you have slowly taken on the priestly lot and duties.  The temple has hidden you from your past, but at any time your past could explode.  You have suddenly experienced a call to serve your god in a different way and have left the safety of the cloister to travel.

 

Skill Proficiencies:

(Choose 2) Insight, Religion, Intimidation, Deception 

Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, thieves’ tools

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: A holy symbol (a gift to you when you entered the priesthood), a prayer book or prayer wheel, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, a set of common clothes, a (hidden) gaming set, and a pouch containing 15 gp.

Suggested Characteristics

D8	PERSONALITY TRAIT
1	I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong.
2	I’m haunted by memories of how my enemies tortured me 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 can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace.
5	I can stare down a hell hound without flinching.
6	I misquote sacred texts in almost every situation.
7	I have a crude sense of humor.
8	I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy.

 

D6	IDEAL
1	Redemption. There’s a spark of good in everyone. (Good)
2	Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic)
3	Change. We must help bring about the changes the gods are constantly working in the world. (Chaotic)
4	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)
5	Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well. (Lawful)
6	Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of my god’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings. (Any)

 

D6	BOND
1	I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago.
2	My past connections and criminal activities sometimes catch up to me; I owe them a debt.
3	I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my past caught up to me.
4	Everything I do is for the common people.
5	I will do anything to protect the temple where I served.
6	I seek to preserve a sacred text that my enemies consider heretical and seek to destroy.

 

D6	FLAW
1	When I see something valuable, I can’t think about anything but how to steal it.
2	Most people scream and run when they see a demon. I charge forward without thinking.
3	I speak without really thinking through my words, invariably insulting others.
4	I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying.
5	The monstrous past I faced as a criminal still leaves me quivering with fear.
6	An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong.
2	I’m haunted by memories of how my enemies tortured me 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 can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace.
5	I can stare down a hell hound without flinching.
6	I misquote sacred texts in almost every situation.
7	I have a crude sense of humor and a cruder mouth.
8	I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy.

d6	Ideal
1	Redemption. There’s a spark of good in everyone. (Good)
2	Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic)
3	Change. We must help bring about the changes the gods are constantly working in the world. (Chaotic)
4	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)
5	Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well. (Lawful)
6	Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of my god’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago.
2	My past connections and criminal activities sometimes catch up to me; I owe them a debt.
3	I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my past caught up to me.
4	Everything I do is for the common people.
5	I will do anything to protect the temple where I served.
6	I seek to preserve a sacred text that my enemies consider heretical and seek to destroy.

d6	Flaw
1	When I see something valuable, I can’t think about anything but how to steal it.
2	Most people scream and run when they see a demon. I charge forward without thinking.
3	I speak without really thinking through my words, invariably insulting others.
4	I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying.
5	The monstrous past I faced as a criminal still leaves me quivering with fear.
6	An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.