You've been a jester's apprentice working under a jester who has taught you the ropes, pitfalls, and pratfalls necessary to take over their position should they decide to retire or should they get executed for making the wrong joke about the wrong person. But you have other plans. The path of adventure has too strong a pull for you and it's time toove on.
While under the jester's guidance, you've learned how to move a crowd from belly laughs to red hot anger, or just enough anger to keep your head attached to your neck. Your skills with acrobatics, juggling, physical comedy, satire, and performance are at their peak. You can play multiple instruments and you well know the inner workings of courtly life and nobility. You've learned to read people and when You've gone too far.
Whether they help you with what lies ahead on the adventurer's road, only time will tell. But you have a unique set of skills that are worth boasting about.
- Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance, Insight
- Tool Proficiencies: Two types of musical instrument
- Languages: Common, Elvish
- Equipment: Two musical instruments (two of your choice), a costume, a suit of traveler's clothes, and a pouch containing 15 gp
You can always find a place to perform, usually in an inn or tavern but possibly with a circus, at a theater, or even in a noble’s court. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your performance makes you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you.
Suggested Characteristics
Being a jester is about much more than acting the fool although that particular routine has its time. Your weapon of choice is barbs - light to biting jabs about the goings on at court, rumors, politics. It is your goal in life to stay abreast of current events and gossip. Knowing when someone's fifteen minutes of fame is over and knowing when a story has been around a little too long are key elements of your performances.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I know a story relevant to almost every situation. |
| 2 | Whenever I come to a new place, I collect local rumors and spread gossip. |
| 3 | I’m a hopeless romantic, always searching for that “special someone.” |
| 4 | Nobody stays angry at me or around me for long, since I can defuse any amount of tension. |
| 5 | I love a good insult, even one directed at me. |
| 6 | I get bitter if I’m not the center of attention. |
| 7 | I’ll settle for nothing less than perfection. |
| 8 | I change my mood or my mind as quickly as I change key in a song. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Beauty. When I perform, I make the world better than it was. (Good) |
| 2 | Tradition. The stories, legends, and songs of the past must never be forgotten, for they teach us who we are. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Creativity. The world is in need of new ideas and bold action. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Greed. I’m only in it for the money and fame. (Evil) |
| 5 | People. I like seeing the smiles on people’s faces when I perform. That’s all that matters. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Honesty. Art should reflect the soul; it should come from within and reveal who we really are. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My instrument is my most treasured possession, and it reminds me of someone I love. |
| 2 | Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I’ll get it back. |
| 3 | I want to be famous, whatever it takes. |
| 4 | I idolize a hero of the old tales and measure my deeds against that person’s. |
| 5 | I will do anything to prove myself superior to my hated rival. |
| 6 | I would do anything for the other members of my old troupe. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’ll do anything to win fame and renown. |
| 2 | I’m a sucker for a pretty face. |
| 3 | A scandal prevents me from ever going home again. That kind of trouble seems to follow me around. |
| 4 | I once satirized a noble who still wants my head. It was a mistake that I will likely repeat. |
| 5 | I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble. |
| 6 | Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends. |
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