As a Raid Survivor, you have endured the terror and destruction of a catastrophic raid on your community by a formidable force. Whether it was a marauding band of orcs, a horde of undead, a wrathful dragon, or another devastating enemy, you have seen the depths of cruelty and fought through the flames of destruction to tell the tale. This background marks you as one who has faced death and survived, carrying the scars of your ordeal both inside and out. Your experiences have shaped your outlook on life, granting you unique insights, fears, and strengths.
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose one type of artisan's tools, musical instrument, or gaming set based on your background prior to the raid.
Determine your character's previous profession, shaping their skills and tool proficiencies. Roll a d8 to select an occupation affected by the raid, ranging from Dockworker to Unskilled Laborer, each offering unique tool proficiencies.
| d8 | Occupation (Prior to the Raid) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dockworker/Fisherman: Vehicles (water) |
| 2 | Tradesperson/Merchant: Artisan's Tools |
| 3 | Soldier/Guard: Gaming Set or Vehicles (land) |
| 4 | Adventurer/Visitor: Any one tool of your choice |
| 5 | Entertainer: Musical Instrument |
| 6 | Scholar/Healer: Alchemist's Supplies or Herbalism Kit |
| 7 | Criminal: Thieves' Tools, Forgery Kit, or Disguise Kit |
| 8 | Unskilled Laborer: Gaming Set |
- Skill Proficiencies: Survival and your choice of Intimidation or Stealth.
- Languages: One of your choice, relevant to the raiders.
Equipment: A dagger, a memento from the raid (e.g., a broken weapon, a piece of banner, or a scorched book), worn clothing, and a pouch containing 10 gp of various coins
Roll a d8 to determine the type of force that raided your hometown, shaping your background and character's experiences:
| d8 | Raid Type |
|---|---|
| 1 | Orcs: A brutal horde of orcs, seeking to expand their territory and plunder resources. |
| 2 | Goblinoids: A cunning and numerous force of goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears, driven by greed and the command of a powerful warlord. |
| 3 | Undead: A relentless wave of undead, controlled by a necromancer or unleashed by a cursed artifact, bringing death and desolation. |
| 4 | Dragons: A devastating attack by a dragon, motivated by hunger, greed, or the mere thrill of destruction. |
| 5 | Raiders from the Sea: Pirates or sea monsters, striking swiftly from the water, leaving chaos and devastation in their wake. |
| 6 | Elemental Forces: Beings of fire, ice, earth, or air, unleashed by a powerful mage or a rift to another plane, turning the land into a battleground of elemental fury. |
| 7 | Demonic Invasion: A portal to a demonic realm tears open, and fiends pour out, seeking to corrupt and destroy in the name of their dark patrons. |
| 8 | Enemy Nation: An organized military force from a rival kingdom or empire, launching a surprise attack as part of a larger war or campaign of conquest. |
Your scars mark you as a survivor of a terrible ordeal, granting you a measure of fame or infamy. You can leverage your experience to gain access to people and places, as many are interested in your tale or seek to learn from your experiences. However, your scars also make it difficult to hide your past.
Suggested Characteristics
Raid Survivors are shaped by the harrowing ordeal of surviving a catastrophic attack on their community. These experiences, fraught with loss and trauma, forge them into individuals of remarkable resilience and depth. They may be driven by a newfound appreciation for life, a desire for vengeance against their attackers, or a determination to protect others from similar fates. Their traits reflect the scars of their past, both visible and hidden, influencing their interactions with the world around them.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I instinctively scan for exits in every room, always planning my escape. |
| 2 | My humor is dark, forged in the fire of my experiences. |
| 3 | I keep mementos from my past close, a tangible reminder of what I’ve survived. |
| 4 | Silence unnerves me; I fill it with conversation or noise whenever possible. |
| 5 | I'm fiercely independent, having learned to rely on no one but myself. |
| 6 | My patience for injustice is nonexistent; I act swiftly to correct wrongs. |
| 7 | I find solace in nature, the only place I feel peace after the chaos of the raid. |
| 8 | My experiences have made me unusually calm in the face of danger. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Resilience. I stand strong against all odds. (Any) |
| 2 | Unity. Together, we can overcome any challenge. (Good) |
| 3 | Vengeance. I will repay the suffering inflicted upon me tenfold. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Protection. I will shield others from the horrors I’ve faced. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Freedom. I cherish and defend my freedom and that of others. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Memory. I honor the memory of those lost by living fully. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I owe my life to another survivor who saved me during the raid. |
| 2 | A keepsake from my past is my most treasured possession. |
| 3 | I secretly yearn to find and confront the leader of the raiders. |
| 4 | My heart belongs to the community I lost; I’ll do anything to rebuild it. |
| 5 | I have an unfinished task that was interrupted by the raid. |
| 6 | The person I was before the raid haunts my dreams; I seek closure. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I struggle with trust, seeing potential threats in every shadow. |
| 2 | I’m reckless in my pursuit of vengeance, often endangering myself and others. |
| 3 | My fear of another raid leads me to push people away. |
| 4 | I hoard supplies and resources, fearing I’ll be left with nothing again. |
| 5 | I’m obsessed with finding the cause or conspirators behind the raid. |
| 6 | Nightmares of the raid disrupt my sleep, leaving me irritable and exhausted. |
As an Escapee, you didn't just survive a raid; you actively fled from captivity or certain doom, navigating treacherous landscapes, evading capture, and using your wits to survive. This harrowing journey has honed your senses, sharpened your mind, and instilled in you a profound understanding of escape, evasion, and the psychology of your captors. Whether you escaped from the clutches of orcs, the dungeons of a dark sorcerer, or the cells of an enemy nation, your experiences have taught you not just how to survive, but how to thrive in the face of adversity.
As an Escapee, your harrowing experiences have left you with an acute awareness of your surroundings and a deep understanding of how to avoid capture. While you don't have supernatural abilities to escape any confinement, your keen insights allow you to notice details and opportunities that others might miss.
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