Whereas some see hooded dark common clothing as an attempt at concealing one's identity, others wear it as a badge of honor and pride. Many wear hooded dark common clothing, either having resorted to crime in order to get by, or to conceal their less desirable features from the general public, whilst others still wear it simply because it looks cool, and that's it. That's the entire reason why you chose this background over all others. You're not a criminal - (you're) just a halfway decent person looking to wear hooded dark common clothing.
Why do you like it though? Do you like it as a fashion statement? Did you grow up believing that those who wore hooded dark common clothing were super heroes who fought the bad guys, only to later become a hero yourself? Or perhaps, did you enjoy being the bad guy when given the chance, but didn't want to take any of the responsibility for your crimes? In closing, this background is simply for those who enjoy the idea of wearing hooded dark common clothing, when going on adventures.
- Skill Proficiencies: Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from Acrobatics, Performance, Nature, Stealth, and/or Survival.
- Tool Proficiencies: Tool Proficiencies: A disguise kit.
- Languages: Languages: One language of your choice.
- Equipment: Equipment: A backpack, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, a disguise kit, a bell, a block and tackle, 20 pieces of chalk, a climber's kit, a grappling hook, a healer's kit, a bottle of ink, an ink pen, a knife, 10 sheets of parchment, a vial of perfume, a 10-foot pole, 10 days worth of rations, sealing wax, a signal whistle, a tinderbox, a waterskin, a whetstone, 50 feet of hempen rope, and a 10-foot chain.
Preferred Natural Environment
As a result of your out-of-town exploits, and due to your extensive knowledge in terrain navigation, you have developed a specific type of natural environment that you prefer navigating above all other natural environments, and have become proficient in navigating that precise type of natural environment. Regardless of which option you choose, you are also proficient in navigating urban environments.
| d6 |
Preferred Natural Environment |
| 1 |
Jungles |
| 2 |
Mountains |
| 3 |
Caverns |
| 4 |
Forests |
| 5 |
Canyons |
| 6 |
Volcanoes |
Feature: Dark Folk Hero
Due to your reputation for being both a hooded figure and a vigilante that also has a unique skillset in urban exploration and espionage, you have gained a notable reputation within cities, both for better and for worse. Common folk who have heard of your good deeds will treat you with praise, and ask for your help with a seemingly random task that they cannot do theirself in exchange for coin, while those who operate within a criminal network will treat you with disdain, and attempt to thwart your plans. If you or your party are in need of food and lodgings, you can receive it within a church or monastery, in exchange for a community service. As an Action, you may attempt to look for work, or do a community service, by rolling a d12, the result of which will determine the type of work you are likely to find, at the discretion of your DM.
| d12 |
Task Variation |
| 1 |
A person or animal is stuck somewhere they shouldn't be, and needs to be rescued. |
| 2 |
A location or person(s) is either getting robbed or terrorized by at least one of the following: an individual, petty criminals, and/or foreign invaders. |
| 3 |
A crime either has been committed, or is suspected of taking place, and is in need of a private investigation. |
| 4 |
Someone is either trying to take their own life, or is being held for ransom, and negotiations are currently failing. |
| 5 |
An arch nemesis of yours is scheming against you, and needs to be stopped, before their plans can come to fruition. |
| 6 |
Either a freak of nature or a supernatural entity is wreaking havoc within town, and needs to either be calmed down, or put down. |
| 7 |
A simple errand is associated with "bad luck" and unexplainable phenomena, such as disappearances. |
| 8 |
A riot has broken out between the people and the authorities, and is in need of mediation between both parties. |
| 9 |
A local church has asked for your assistance in dealing with a supernatural entity that they are currently losing control over. |
| 10 |
A local church, ordinance, and/or organization(s) have asked for your input regarding a certain popular issue. |
| 11 |
Nothing appears to be immediately wrong, and yet something feels "off" about town. |
| 12 |
There is nothing that needs doing at this time, and thus you are able to get food and lodgings for free. |
Suggested Characteristics
Whilst many wear hooded dark common clothing either for criminal or identity-concealing purposes, you do so for reasons that are beyond the comprehension of most commoners, including simply because you think it looks cool. The things that led up to you taking up this hobby or profession are determined by at least one each of the following personality traits, ideals, bonds, and character flaws below, which you may either roll for or take inspiration from to your heart's content.
| d8 |
Personality Trait |
| 1 |
I enjoy nothing more than dressing up as and playing the hero - sometimes, actually getting to be a hero in the process. |
| 2 |
I have learned to write in a secret language, for the sole purpose of writing encrypted messages on any given surface. |
| 3 |
I love nothing more than to put smiles on everyone's faces, which exactly is why I am always in costume. |
| 4 |
Climbing is my favorite activity in the entire world! If there is a surface that I haven't climbed yet, I will do so. |
| 5 |
I am naturally an angry person, and thus frequently take out my anger on unsuspecting criminals and thugs alike. |
| 6 |
I enjoy my personal freedom far too much to be tied down to anything else, and thus prefer to go everything alone. |
| 7 |
I enjoy nothing more than being secretive and sneaky, even if there is not a single point in my being so. |
| 8 |
If someone dares me to do something, I absolutely must do it, no matter the consequences my actions may bring to myself and others. |
| d6 |
Ideal |
| 1 |
Vigilantism. I am against petty crime, and thus try to stop it whenever and wherever I see it happening, by beating up criminals. (Lawful) |
| 2 |
Merriment. I live for the thrill. If there is something that will make me look cooler than wearing this sick hoodie, I will do it. (Chaotic) |
| 3 |
Heroism. I help others wherever I can, including those who are forced to wear hooded dark common clothing for their own personal reasons. (Good) |
| 4 |
Hatred. I see the subversion of this "lifestyle choice" as a means of making the world a better and more interesting place. (Evil) |
| 5 |
Individualism. I simply don't care about anything. Nothing ever satisfies me, except for the way I choose to live my life, because I can. (Neutral) |
| 6 |
Privacy. I have my own reasons for why I do what I do and no one needs to know what they are. People should be allowed to keep their secrets. (All) |
| d6 |
Bond |
| 1 |
I support my lifestyle by doing odd jobs, in order to make ends-meet. Adventuring, by comparison, is a way out for me. |
| 2 |
I actively rebelled against my parents for attempting to control my life, and not letting me do what I want, and so I left them behind. |
| 3 |
I always wanted to fight crime, but then I learned that the best way to solve crimes was to infiltrate them. |
| 4 |
My friends all decided one day to dress up in hooded dark common clothing, and I ended up enjoying it until it became my entire personality. |
| 5 |
I have made a series of rash and impulsive decisions in my life, including this one, that have landed me in serious debt and peonage. |
| 6 |
I have either gained the favor of, or gotten myself in trouble with a notorious crime boss who has since taken a keen interest in me. |
| d6 |
Flaw |
| 1 |
I am always eager to try out new foods, even at my own expense, and thus typically don't bring food with me on my adventures. |
| 2 |
I am paranoid that someone is always looking at me, and/or plotting to reveal all of my darkest secrets to my worst enemies. |
| 3 |
I have a hard time understanding emotions, and thus sometimes come across as insensitive whenever I say or do something. |
| 4 |
I do not consider myself a confrontational person, and thus try to avoid conflict whenever, and wherever I can. |
| 5 |
I often enjoy playing pranks on people, without considering whether or not the prank, itself, is mean-spirited in nature. |
| 6 |
I am a very forgetful person, and thus have a tendency to be underprepared for even the most basic of adventures. |
Variant Feature: Criminal Egdelord
As a result of your petty, borderline criminal antics, and your generally atrocious behavior, you live in infamy, and are generally disliked by the majority of the general public, save for criminals, but you have also gained a cult-like following with a select few, for your "performative acts" while wearing hooded dark common clothing. Random hooded dark commoners in public, and crime bosses alike will provide you with food and/or lodgings if needed, but in exchange, a hooded dark commoner will ask that you make a fool of yourself in public, and a crime boss will ask that you break the law for them, either one in a manner specified by the DM. Those whom consider themselves your sympathizers will defend you from those that would do you harm (with or without your consent), and will shield you from the law, if they are able to do so. Hooded dark commoners, and criminal underlings alike may even accompany you on adventures, if either they or their bosses are persuaded successfully by you to do so, but they will not sacrifice themselves for you, and will flee either back home or to their crime boss if their life is put in danger
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