Cook

You've spent your whole life working up through the ranks of the kitchen. From dishwasher, to prepcook, to line-cook, to sous-chef, and finally, Chef. Scores of kitchen workers have been under your command, and you've run them like a General runs a well-trained brigade. Food is not just your passion, it's your life. To you, a meal is not just something eaten for nourishment, it's something to be studied and perfected. With a sharp knife, and even sharper senses, you've worked hard to master your craft. Your repertoire of recipes and honed skills came from years of tutelage under other masters of the culinary arts, until you eventually became a master in your own right. When choosing this back~round, work with your DM to determine what kinds of restaurants you've worked in or owned. Were they small, family owned taverns, or bustling high-end eateries in a major city? Are they still in operation? What kinds of food were they known for? Were there prominent NPCs who frequented the restaurant, and did you become friendly with them? Who is your former master, and what's become of them? Also, what was your reason for leaving the restaurant life behind? Perhaps you became obsessed with a rare ingredient, and set out to find it at any cost. Maybe life inside a fancy kitchen was too stifling, and you've ventured off to see how "real" people prepare and eat meals. Whatever your reason, you're out in the world now. Your knife-roll is packed, your pans are well seasoned, and you have a taste for adventure.

From Joy of Monster Cooking by Chris Boudreau and Lex Mandrake

Skill Proficiencies: Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Survival

Tool Proficiencies: Tool Proficiencies: Cook's Utensils

Equipment: Your Cook's uniform (double breasted jacket, checkered pants, Chef's hat), the first piece of gold you ever made at a restaurant, a tome of your collected recipes, a honing rod, camp dinnerware (a lightweight, stackable set of 4 plates, bowls, forks, and spoons), cook's utensils, a pouch containing 5 Gp (excluding the piece of gold mentioned above).

Suggested Characteristics

The rigorous and demand in~ world of the professional kitchen instills behaviors on cooks and chefs that last Ion~ after their shifts are over. Chefs take the phrase "work hard, play hard," as a personal philosophy. When there's work to be done, a chef will drive themselves and the people around them like a field marshal. But when it's time to unwind, they will feast and drink till the wee hours of the morning, usually to their detriment. With a mind always focused on increasing efficiency, and cutting wastefulness, they can be a boon to an adventuring party, even if it involves dealing with someone who is occasionally strict, loud, and overbearing.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I am an early riser, with work always on my mind.
2	I make a ritual of cleaning and storing my uniform and equipment.
3	I love to haggle, never settling for whatI think is ovepriced.
4	I loudly praise my companions when they are doing a good job, and loudly chastise them when they aren't.
5	I have a crude and sometimes offensive sense of humor.
6	I look down on people who don't respect fine food and drink.
7	I hyperfocus on a task until it's complete, whether its important or menial.
8	I disrespect laziness, and will try to motivate someone that isn't working hard enough. With force if necessary.

d6	Ideal
1	Echelon. Everyone will fall into the weeds if the team doesn't stick to their assigned jobs. Rigid structure is needed to get anything done efficiently. (Lawful)
2	Hospitality. It's my job to make sure everyone is eating well and drinking deep, even if it lightens my coin purse. (Good)
3	Orignality. Creative visions should never be hampered, even if it goes against common sense or the law. (Chaotic)
4	Avarice. I will swindle customers and colleagues alike to make more coin. It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm only looking out for myself. (Evil)
5	Laborer. Keeping people fed is just another part of an operational society. I'm not here to impress anyone. (Neutral)
6	Master. I hone my skills and the skills of those around me so I can become a master of my craft. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	My knives, which were handed down from my old master, are one of a kind. I don't know who forged the knives, but I'd love to meet them one day.
2	There is a dish from my childhood that I can't get quite right. Someday I'll track down the original recipe.
3	Someone, or something burned down my restaurant. I will stop at nothing to find them and make them pay.
4	There is a famous chef who I've always measured my own success against, and have always come up short.
5	A famous critic gave my cuisine a bad review out of spite. I need to confront this person.
6	I am perfecting a certain someone's favorite dish. Hopefully when I present it to them, I can secure their love.

d6	Flaw
1	I have a very short temper, and I lash out when someone doesnt follow my orders.
2	I suffer panic attacks when situations become disorderly beyond my control.
3	I overindulge on food and drink when it comes time to unwind.
4	I'm very critical about food prepared by others. I often judge them based on their food.
5	I'm very possessive about my cooking equipment, and won't let anyone else use them.
6	I'm obsessive about cleanliness.