You have been forced into a life on the frontlines of the battlefield by those who call themselves your owner. Whether you were taken at a young age, hand-picked from a prison, or simply the unlucky survivor of a town raid, you found yourself being sold to others as property, only to end up fighting in other men's wars. It could be that your arcane talents were recognized as a weapon to be taken advantage of, or perhaps your sturdy build suggested an effective position in infantry.
You'd receive basic (albeit grueling) military training, and likely be proposed the ostensible chance at freedom should you help to secure victory for your captors. Regardless, serving as the cannon fodder at the forefront of battle means you have seen the worst war has to offer, and have still managed to come through it thus far alive.
- Skill Proficiencies: Survival, plus one from among Athletics, Stealth, and Intimidation
- Tool Proficiencies: Your choice of a gaming set or a musical instrument
- Languages: Any one of your choice
- Equipment: A slave's mark, a set of traveler’s clothes, the tool you choose for this background’s tool proficiency, a length of chain, and a pouch containing 5 gp
Most slaves at the very least carry with them their memories of times before chains, whips, and orders. Sometimes, though, they are able to get away with something a little more. Either from before your time in fetters or during, you may have picked up a meaningful token to take with you throughout your endless battles. Choose a keepsake, or roll on the table below.
| d8 | Keepsake |
|---|---|
| 1 | A letter from a loved one |
| 2 | A childhood toy |
| 3 | A trinket from home |
| 4 | A well-worn scarf, handkerchief, or other small article |
| 5 | A sullied piece of jewelry |
| 6 | An old book |
| 7 | A personally-written poem, memoir, or tale |
| 8 | Nothing; you've left everything behind |
Your mark of slavery proclaims your status as someone else's property. While this may cause you to be faced with derision, those that recognize the mark may try to treat you better in the hopes of getting into your owner's good graces; meanwhile, others may look upon your plight with sympathy and offer you a helping hand when in need. In certain instances, you may be able to use your position to your benefit, such as disguising as a party member's slave-guard to be able to join them in restricted areas without arousing suspicion.
Talk with your DM regarding your character's owner, their level of influence in the setting, and how they treat your kind. Also, talk about whether you are still in their servitude, if you've earned your freedom, or even if you're on the run. If the latter is true, work with your DM to brainstorm what circumstances led to your escape, where your master may still be searching for you, and what individuals you know you can or can't trust.
Suggested Characteristics
Whereas many slaves are tasked with the likes of menial labor or some other less-than-savory undertaking, you have been given the duty of a soldier. While this affords you privileges many of your kin could never hope for, it also demands a much more threatening lifestyle. Think of how your experiences as both a lowly thrall and a hardened warrior have shaped your mentality, as well as the events that may have taken place prior to your enslavement. How would those of your past think of you how you are now?
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I only speak when spoken to. |
| 2 | I believe that those that suffer have to watch out for each other, since nobody else will. |
| 3 | Nothing bothers me anymore, I've seen too much death to care. |
| 4 | I can't stand mistreatment of others in any way. The thought of it makes my blood boil. |
| 5 | I’ve overcome enough odds that I can take punishment just as well as I can dole it out. |
| 6 | I let others do the strategizing for me, and act on their command. |
| 7 | The idea of autonomy is foreign to me. I don't have even a notion of what to do with my downtime. |
| 8 | Each of my scars tell a story, and I've got plenty of space to make more. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hope. No-one should fear the fall of another's boot. (Good) |
| 2 | Obedience. Rules are in place for a reason, and those that break them are punished, for better or worse. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Emancipation. Anyone who subjugates another is a tyrant. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Status. This time, it will be I who owns others. (Evil) |
| 5 | Fate. It isn't anyone's fault that my life has gone this way, it's simply how destiny has ordained it. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Freedom. I am my own master now. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My closest friends are still enslaved. I wish to set them free someday soon. |
| 2 | I'll never stop fighting for the life I've made since my first day in chains. |
| 3 | Any who claim they hold the right to another's life will meet their end at my hand. |
| 4 | I never saw what became of my family after my enslavement, and I hope to return to them someday. |
| 5 | I fought in a war that razed many cities, and I want to atone to the people whose lives I've ruined. |
| 6 | I've seen the worst humanity has to offer, but I've also seen unthinkable acts of kindness come from the most unlikely places. I want to try it too. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I've done something to enrage my master, and they will stop at nothing to see me dead. |
| 2 | I'm haunted by the things I've seen on the battlefield, and often find myself waking from nightmares in a cold sweat. |
| 3 | I was sold into slavery by someone I trusted deeply; I don't know if I'll ever be able to rely on others the same way again. |
| 4 | Now that I've tasted freedom, I won't let anyone or anything take it away from me. |
| 5 | Somewhere deep down, I crave the experience to even just once be the one holding the whip. |
| 6 | In the midst of a fight, the only one I can trust to survive is myself. |
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