You are the few, the dedicated, the either drastically overworked, or hilariously underworked; The Public Servant.
You initially took this job in part because of some feeling of dedication to the public good. That in some way you felt your actions could make a difference for everyone, a social benefit that improved society. Then you found out what bureaucracy was, and now you've been toiling away most of your life filling out paperwork that improves transparency to a public that only might be interested in one in every ten thousand pages you put your name to.
Don't despair. The compensation is adequate, not good, or great, but you and your family won't starve. You also have just enough left over to take everyone to a mid-tier attraction once per year. Of course the union got you vacation days, which end up being more or less a stay-cation, with some ales and thrift store board games.
The never ceasing complaints from people you meet about government being too bloated, backing that up with simultaneous misunderstanding of what the jobs entail, and that it's somehow the highschool drop out's path to becoming a millionaire, never get old. They get funnier each time as people demand the service you give, and complain everyone has to share the costs.
Your skin has become thick. Your understanding of spreadsheets is unrivaled. Your ability to defy boredom and monotony has matured into the stuff of legends.
Anytime a companion you can see and hear makes a wisdom or intelligence skill check, you can use a reaction to give a short motivational speech using corporate jargon which allows the individual to add your proficiency bonus on top of the final total of the roll. The speech must actually be articulated to the individual aloud, occur before the DM determines the outcome from the roll, and is subject to the DM's discretion as to whether or not the jargon is appropriate to motivate the individual.
Suggested Characteristics
| d12 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I don't care. |
| 2 | Uh oh, sounds like someone's got a case of the Mondays... |
| 3 | I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life was worse than the day before it. So that means, everyday single you see me, that's on the worst day of my life. |
| 4 | I wanted to make fun of stupid people while I get drunk. My two true passions. |
| 5 | I like saying no. It lowers their enthusiasm. |
| 6 | Guys love it when you can show them you're better than they are at something they love. |
| 7 | Strippers do nothing for me…but I will take a free breakfast buffet anytime, anyplace. |
| 8 | I just slept seven hours, which is twice as long as I usually sleep, so I'm a little disoriented. |
| 9 | I have no idea what I'm doing, but I know I'm doing it well. |
| 10 | Oh, I have a medical condition, alright. It's called CARING TOO MUCH! And it's INCURABLE! |
| 11 | Yesterday, if you would have asked me if I had any money, I would have said no, but thank god my grandfather just died, so I am flushed with cash! |
| 12 | Jogging is the worst! I know it keeps you healthy, but god, at what cost? |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Someday, you're going to walk out of this place, tell everyone off, and and show your boss where they can shove it. Ahh... Someday... (Neutral) |
| 2 | You're dedicated. You're dependable. You're going to be the boss one day. You're probably pretty dull. (Lawful) |
| 3 | I mean... it's not busy. There's nothing to do. Who's going to notice if you cut out an hour early? (Neutral) |
| 4 | It's not okay because if they take my stapler then I'll, I'll, I'll set the building on fire.... (Chaotic) |
| 5 | This year, I'm going to Disney World!!! (Good) |
| 6 | I am the power behind the sovereign. Nothing gets done here without my approval, and it's gonna cost you. (Evil) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | You do your work out of love for your community, society, and the people around you. (Good) |
| 2 | The only thing tying you to your duties is that you can get away with murder. (Evil) |
| 3 | This is just a job to you. It's the people waiting for you at home that gets you through the day. (Neutral) |
| 4 | You understand for a society to function, people have to trust those in charge. Your job provides the clarity, and keeps people honest. You actually look forward to becoming a whistle blower some day. (Lawful) |
| 5 | The job is easy for you, it makes no hard demands, and you like to fill your free time with office hijinks and gossip. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | You fall in love with people in power easily. Bosses and leaders earn your devotion through presence alone. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am so boring, every piece of clothing I own is sorted into shades of beige, and I have a favourite hue. |
| 2 | I am inept at what I do, but it's so hard to get rid of me, I just keep getting promoted so I'm someone else's problem. |
| 3 | I try to get away with doing the least amount possible, but still expect equal recognition and compensation. |
| 4 | I am so good at hiding my inexperience, and cluelessness, that I get other people in trouble for my mistakes all the time. |
| 5 | I am so overstressed and overworked, the removal of even the most menial of conveniences to me (a stapler perhaps?) could be enough to send me over the edge. |
| 6 | I try to be too happy, and helpful, and try to make every project a huge team effort. Everyone resents me. |
Whether or not you came into the job with the intention of it or not, you have found ways to make being a public servant work for your benefit. You gain power, and money from your position.
When you, as an individual (not just any member of your party) sell items of value to shops or local proprietors (not other individuals NPCs), you personally get an extra 10% kick back on top of the amount sold for (a 10gp stone sold will net 11gp, the extra 1gp does not need to be divided among the rest of the party).
Additionally, whenever another character, or NPC, is required to make a skill check, you can use a reaction to subtract 1d4 from the roll. This must be done before the DM determines the outcome of the roll, and can only be used a number of times per day equal to your proficiency bonus, with all uses being regained after a long rest.
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