Institutional Orphan Image
Abandoned in one of the largest libraries operated by humans, you were raised by books, librarians, and the colorful group of visiting scholars, arcane practitioners and linguists. The ones who acted as father figures made sure you learned the basics alongside your curiosities. The ones who acted as mentors indulged your curious nature and fed you knowledge not always available in the texts within arms reach. Few saw potential in you as an adventurer and tried to provide the best training without experience, however helpful that may be. To gain experience and self-sufficiency, you copied and translated texts for those who asked. You show aptitudes in most qualities of an adventurer but lacked the interest in pursuing all of them. You are ambitious when interested in the reward and stubborn enough to not stop until you get it.
FEATURE: Wealth of knowledge

Growing up in a library grants you a large recollection of texts, either as recognition of a book by appearance or verbatim recall of the text within. You also know a portion of the scholarly community and can access most libraries and research institutions. Even if you do not recall the knowledge you seek, you know where to find it if it was ever written down. The books you grew up with are not always readily available or even read by others. Your DM may dictate what information can be gathered that you do not specialize in as well as the amount of time necessary to study it or require an Intelligence check of 25 or 30.

 
Skill Proficiencies: Choose Two Research Specialties: <skill>Arcana</skill>, <skill>History</skill>, <skill>Medicine</skill>, <skill>Nature</skill>, <skill>Religion</skill>

Choose One Physical Specialty: <skill>Acrobatics</skill>, <skill>Athletics</skill>, <skill>Performance</skill>, <skill>Sleight of Hand</skill>

Choose One Uninterested Trait from either list. This Proficiency will never be above +1: <skill>Acrobatics</skill>, <skill>Arcana</skill>, <skill>Athletics</skill>, <skill>History</skill>, <skill>Medicine</skill>, <skill>Nature</skill>, <skill>Performance</skill>, <skill>Religion</skill>, <skill>Sleight of Hand</skill>

Languages: Two of your choice
Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, your diary with signatures and notes from most of the father figures and mentors you had, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp
 
Specialty

To determine the nature of your scholarly training, roll a d8 or choose from the options in the table below.

d8 Specialty
1 Alchemist
2 Cartographer
3 Academic
4 Librarian
5 Novelist
6 Researcher
7 Wizard’s apprentice
8 Scribe
 
Feature: Wealth of Knowledge

Growing up in a library grants you a large recollection of texts, either as recognition of a book by appearance or verbatim recall of the text within. You also know a portion of the scholarly community and can access most libraries and research institutions. Even if you do not recall the knowledge you seek, you know where to find it if it was ever written down. The books you grew up with are not always readily available or even read by others. Your DM may dictate what information can be gathered that you do not specialize in as well as the amount of time necessary to study it or require an Intelligence check of 25 or 30.

 
Spell List

With the discretion of the DM, can learn an additional Cantrip or any Spell one level above your current Spell level, but this choice must not have combat uses and intended for information gathering.

Spell Level Spells
 
Suggested Characteristics

Institutional Orphans have no real understanding of family and a lack of experience but can be the primary source of knowledge needed for an adventure.

d8 Personality Trait
1 I use polysyllabic words that convey the impression of great erudition.
2 I’ve read every book in the world’s greatest libraries—or enough to believe I have.
3 I’m used to helping out those who aren’t as smart as I am, and I patiently explain anything and everything to others.
4 There’s nothing I like more than a good mystery.
5 I'm as willing to join an argument as I am to listen and learn from one.
6 I … speak … slowly … when talking … to idiots, … which … almost … everyone … is … compared … to me.
7 I am horribly, horribly awkward in social situations.
8 I trust books more than people.
d6 Ideal
1 Knowledge. The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. (Neutral)
2 Beauty. What is beautiful points us beyond itself toward what is true. (Good)
3 Logic. Emotions must not cloud our logical thinking. (Lawful)
4 No Limits. Nothing should fetter the infinite possibility inherent in all existence. (Chaotic)
5 Power. Knowledge is the path to power and domination. (Evil)
6 Self-Improvement. The goal of a life of study is the betterment of oneself. (Any)
d6 Bond
1 It is my duty to protect my students.
2 I have an ancient text that holds terrible secrets that must not fall into the wrong hands.
3 I work to preserve a library, university, scriptorium, or monastery.
4 My life’s work is a series of tomes related to a specific field of lore.
5 I’ve been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question.
6 I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do great deeds and win it back.
d6 Flaw
1 I am easily distracted by the promise of information.
2 Most people scream and run when they see a demon. I stop and take notes on its anatomy.
3 Unlocking an ancient mystery is worth the price of a civilization.
4 I overlook obvious solutions in favor of complicated ones.
5 I speak without really thinking through my words, invariably insulting others.
6 I can’t keep a secret to save my life, or anyone else’s.
 
Institutional Orphan Image

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