Basic Description: Your life began in the unforgiving sprawl of the city's underbelly, where you quickly learned that survival hinged on observation and stealth. The streets were your classroom, teaching you to read lips, notice hidden weapons, and remember faces. This acute awareness caught the eye of a secretive guild. Under their tutelage, you became more than a mere survivor; you became a watcher in the shadows, an unseen guardian or a silent enforcer. As a Street Urchin Assassin, you understand the language of the streets, picking up on the subtle cues and hidden messages that others miss.
Reason for Adventuring: Now, you venture into the world of adventuring for reasons known only to you. Perhaps it's the lure of greater challenges or deeper secrets. Maybe it's a personal quest born from your mysterious past. Or it could be a simple thirst for more – wealth, renown, puzzles to unravel. Whatever your reasons, your background as a Street Urchin Assassin and your Urban Awareness will shape your journey, opening doors that remain closed to others and revealing truths hidden in plain sight.
- Skill Proficiencies: Stealth
- Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner's Kit, Disguise Kit
- Languages: None
- Equipment: A pet rat, a a tattered set of basic clothes, consisting of a tunic, breeches and basic shoes with holes, Hidden Thieves Tools, and an Urchin's Cloak
This table can be used by players to determine or choose the nature of a significant contract that greatly influenced their character's development and current standing as an urban assassin. It adds depth and personal backstory elements related to their career in the shadows.
| d6 | Assassin's Contracts |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Betrayed Noble: Your target was a noble who had been betrayed by their own family. The complexity of the job taught you about the intricacies of high society and betrayal. |
| 2 | The Corrupt Official: You were hired to eliminate a corrupt city official. This contract exposed you to the darker side of politics and the extent of corruption in urban life. |
| 3 | The Criminal Rival: A contract against a rival gang leader or a prominent figure in the criminal underworld. This job plunged you deeper into the underbelly of the city and earned you a reputation. |
| 4 | The Escape Artist: Your target was known for their ability to escape any situation. Successfully completing this contract honed your skills in strategy and adaptability. |
| 5 | The Foreign Spy: Tasked with eliminating a spy from a rival land, this contract involved a mix of espionage and combat, enhancing your skills in both. |
| 6 | The Merchant's Revenge: A wealthy merchant hired you for a personal vendetta. This contract taught you about the complexities of trade and the lengths to which people will go for revenge. |
You have an uncanny ability to move stealthily and swiftly through urban environments. When in a city or similar settlement, you can use your knowledge of hidden paths, rooftops, and secret tunnels to travel unnoticed. While not in combat, you (and companions you lead) can move through the city undetected, bypassing crowds, guards, and other obstacles that would impede normal travel. This allows you to reach destinations within the city with remarkable speed and stealth, often arriving or escaping without drawing attention.
Additionally, your knowledge of secret hideouts and safe spots in the city provides you with places to lay low or observe without being detected. This feature is invaluable for gathering information, setting up ambushes, or escaping pursuit within the urban landscape.
Suggested Characteristics
Urchins are shaped by lives of desperate poverty, for good and for ill. They tend to be driven either by a commitment to the people with whom they shared life on the street or by a burning desire to find a better life — and maybe get some payback on all the rich people who treated them badly.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I speak in a cryptic manner, often leaving my sentences half-finished. |
| 2 | I'm always calm, no matter the situation; I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me. |
| 3 | My eyes are always darting around, observing everyone and everything. |
| 4 | I prefer the solitude of night and feel uncomfortable during the day. |
| 5 | I have a dark sense of humor, finding amusement in situations others find grim. |
| 6 | I keep to the shadows, both literally and figuratively, avoiding attention. |
| 7 | I'm meticulous about my appearance and equipment; everything has its specific place and purpose. |
| 8 | My expressions rarely change; I have a poker face that reveals nothing. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Precision: Every action must be calculated and deliberate. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Freedom: I cherish my independence and work alone. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Justice: I seek to balance the scales, one target at a time. (Neutral) |
| 4 | Control: Power lies in the ability to remain unseen and unknown. (Evil) |
| 5 | Redemption: I use my skills to correct past mistakes and wrongs. (Good) |
| 6 | Opportunism: I take jobs that benefit me, regardless of the moral implications. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I owe everything to the mentor who trained me in the deadly arts. |
| 2 | I have a list of targets who wronged me or my loved ones; they will pay. |
| 3 | A significant figure in my past showed me kindness, and I secretly protect them. |
| 4 | I once failed a crucial mission, and I am determined to redeem myself. |
| 5 | I have a soft spot for street urchins and often leave them gifts or coins. |
| 6 | A powerful secret organization or individual holds sway over my actions. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I find it difficult to trust or work with others, preferring to rely on myself. |
| 2 | I am obsessed with perfecting my skills, often at the expense of social connections. |
| 3 | I struggle with a dark past that haunts my dreams and thoughts. |
| 4 | My confidence in my abilities can sometimes lead me into recklessness. |
| 5 | I bear a distinctive mark from my assassin's guild that I must keep hidden. |
| 6 | I sometimes overestimate my stealth and cunning, leading to unexpected complications. |
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