You have been, and may still be, some kind of slave or indentured servant.

You are or were controlled entirely by another person or group of people. You don’t have to be a slave in the traditional sense; an abused and isolated child, a tortured prisoner, or an underpaid servant or worker all could also take this background.

Were you a field worker, sweating to bring in harvests? Or were you a house slave who took care of the master and his/her household?

Maybe you worked in something similar to a sugar plantation, where the work was highly dangerous and often lethal.

You can choose whether you bought your freedom, were freed by someone else or even your master/mistress, escaped and are on the run, or if you still actually serve them but are travelling on your own for one reason or another.

Skill Proficiencies:  Insight, Stealth

Tool Proficiencies: One toolset that could reasonably have been used to complete your job, or that you could have gotten ahold of and used to escape.

Languages: You can speak, but not write, one language of your choice.

Equipment: A pair of manacles you at one point wore, A simple memento from your family or a fellow slave, a tool or piece of equipment they used as a slave such as a broom, and 5 gp.

Suggested Characteristics

Slaves will have been shaped by the way they were treated, and what kind of work they did.

Their treatment and their relationships to both other slaves as well as their masters/mistresses affect their mannerisms and ideals. Their flaws might be a side effect of the trauma of their slavery.

 

d8	Personality Trait
1	I am shy, rarely speak, and avoid eye contact.
2	My manners are spot on; I’m always polite and respectful.
3	I am purposefully rude to those I dislike.
4	I am rather uncouth, with little understanding of social etiquette.
5	Sometimes I misinterpret requests as orders.
6	I don’t take commands from anyone.
7	I am subservient and servile.
8	I prefer to be in charge.

d6	Ideal
1	Subservient. Just follow the rules and do what you’re told, and everything will be alright. (Lawful)
2	Release. No one should suffer slavery as I have. (Good)
3	Freedom. Everyone should be allowed to do as they please. (Chaotic)
4	Autonomy. I just want to live my life undisturbed. (Neutral)
5	Power. It would be nice to be the one holding the whip for once. (Evil)
6	Wander. I wish to see the world that I’ve never been able to see. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	My master treated me well, and I consider them to be my family.
2	I ran away from my old master; they’re still looking for me.
3	I am still in service to my master.
4	Slavery separated me from my family; perhaps I’ll find them again.
5	Someone I love is still a slave; I want to free them.
6	I owe my life, and my freedom, to the one who freed me.

d6	Flaw
1	I am terrified of authority figures.
2	I often will just do what others tell me to.
3	I refuse to listen to anyone else, or take any advice.
4	My scars, both mental and physical, still cause me great pain.
5	I have little pity for slaves that have accepted their fate.
6	I have an extreme fear of confinement and punishment.