As a Relic Hunter, your primary goal is to search for rare or unique items from the past. You might be an archaeologist who studies remains, bones, ruins, masterworks, and tombs of long-lost and fallen cultures. Archaeologists travel to various parts of the world to search for artifacts that tell stories of monarchs, high priests, wars, and cataclysms by digging through crumbled cities and lost dungeons. You find other cultures fascinating, from ancient lost lands to modern civilizations. By studying their customs, philosophies, laws, rituals, religious beliefs, languages, and art, you have gained knowledge about how tribes, empires, and all forms of society shape their own destiny. This knowledge has come not only from books and scrolls but also from your first-hand experience. You have visited far-flung settlements and explored local histories and customs to gain a deeper understanding of other cultures.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose History and two types of Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Insight, Investigation, Perception, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose Cartographer's Tools and two types of Specialty Tools: Carpenter's Tools, Leatherworker's Tools, Woodcarver's Tools, Forgery Kit, Navigator's Tools, Smith's Tools, Thieves' Tools
- Languages: Choose two Languages.
- Equipment: A wooden case containing a map to a ruin, a magnifying glass, a leather-bound diary, a bottle of ink, an ink pen, a bullseye lantern, shovel, a miner's pick, a two-person tent, a trinket recovered from a dig site, (choose one or roll for a trinket from the Trinkets table after this background), a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 25 gp
Prior to becoming an adventurer, you spent most of your young life crawling around in the dust, pilfering relics of questionable value from crypts and ruins. Though you managed to sell a few of your discoveries and earn enough coin to buy proper adventuring gear, you have held onto an item that has great emotional value to you. Roll on the Signature Item table to see what you have or choose an item from the table.
| d8 | Tomb Raider |
|---|---|
| 1 | a medallion |
| 2 | a mini-grappler-crossbow |
| 3 | a fedora |
| 4 | a whip |
| 5 | a utility belt |
| 6 | a pair of fingerless gloves |
| 7 | a well-worn brown leather satchel |
| 8 | a pair of pistols |
As part of your training, when you enter a ruin or dungeon, you can correctly ascertain its original purpose and determine its builders, whether those were dwarves, elves, humans, yuan-ti, or some other known race. In addition, you can determine the monetary value of art objects more than a century old.
Additionally, you can communicate with humanoids who don’t speak any language you know. You must observe the humanoids interacting with one another for at least 1 day, after which you learn a handful of important words, expressions, and gestures—enough to communicate on a rudimentary level.
Suggested Characteristics
Many archaeologists are drawn to the mystery of unexplored ruins or dungeons, especially if they carry legends or rumors of containing treasures and artifacts belonging to wizards, warlords, or royalty. They seek to understand how other civilizations and races lived, or why they vanished. While some archaeologists are motivated by intellectual curiosity, others aim for fame and recognition by being the first to uncover lost tribes, new people, or the truth about the downfall of ancient empires. Some may be driven by their desire for wealth, but there are also those who consider it their duty to preserve the world's most valuable treasures or shed light on the past. Regardless of their motives, archaeologists possess a unique mix of the resourcefulness of a historian and the daring of a treasure hunter.
| d10 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I always make sure to have a plan in place for when things go wrong... and things always go wrong. |
| 2 | I remain calm in all situations and never let my emotions take control. |
| 3 | I am committed to continuous self-improvement and will always strive to better myself. |
| 4 | I feel much more at ease when I'm around animals rather than people. |
| 5 | I feel more at ease in natural surroundings than in urban areas. |
| 6 | I have a low regard for individuals who use titles as a means to disrespect others. |
| 7 | I am very cautious and slow to trust people. Those who appear trustworthy often have the most to conceal. |
| 8 | I make an effort to impart the knowledge and wisdom I have gained from my mentor to those around me. |
| 9 | When I am committed to something, I will persist regardless of obstacles. |
| 10 | The best way to convince me to do something is to challenge me. |
| d12 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Adrenaline. I’ve experienced such strangeness that now I feel alive only in extreme situations. (Chaotic) |
| 2 | Preservation. That artifact belongs in a museum. (Good) |
| 3 | Greed. I am determined to do whatever it takes to succeed and be at the top. (Evil) |
| 4 | Escape. I believe there is something beyond the world I know, and I need to find it. (Any) |
| 5 | Change. Life is akin to the four seasons, as it is constantly changing, and we must learn to adapt accordingly. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Greed. I won’t risk my life for nothing. I expect some kind of payment. (Any) |
| 7 | Obsession. I’ve lived this way for so long that I can’t imagine another way. (Chaotic) |
| 8 | Immortality. All my exploring is part of a plan to find the secret of everlasting life. (Any) |
| 9 | Dignity. The dead and their belongings deserve to be treated with respect. (Lawful) |
| 10 | Revelation. I need to know what lies beyond the mysteries of death, the world, or the Multiverse. (Any) |
| 11 | Danger. With every great discovery comes grave danger. The two walk hand in hand. (Any) |
| 12 | Truth. I care about the truth above all else, even if it doesn’t benefit anyone. (Lawful) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I need to keep practicing and improving the skills I acquired during my apprenticeship. |
| 2 | An act of disrespect towards the natural environment of my dwelling place is an offense to me. |
| 3 | Something valuable was taken from me, and now I intend to retrieve it. |
| 4 | I will seek revenge on the person who killed my mentor someday. |
| 5 | My mentor was like a parent figure to me. They taught me everything I know. |
| 6 | I lost someone I loved due to my mistake. I vow to never let that happen again. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am too enamored of ale, wine, and other intoxicants. |
| 2 | When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money. |
| 3 | I am inflexible in my thinking. |
| 4 | I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. |
| 5 | I am slow to trust others. |
| 6 | Don’t expect me to save those who can’t save themselves. It is nature’s way that the strong thrive and the weak perish. |
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