Court mage

You spent years learning the lore of the multiverse. You scoured manuscripts, studied scrolls, and listened to the greatest experts on the subjects that interest you. Your efforts have earned you the recognition of your peers, and especially your employer. You accepted a job as an expert on things arcane, and continued your research with the funding from your employer.

Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Persuasion.

Languages: Three of your choice

Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a court mage's emblem with the seal of your employer on it, a set of formal clothes, and a pouch containing 40 gp

Spell List

Spell Level	Spells
1st	detect magic, identify

As a court mage, you're often asked to identify and study items that may be magical. As such, you know and can cast identify and detect magic as rituals with no material components. You may cast them as a normal spell if you have the spell slots to do so.

Suggested Characteristics

Sages are defined by their extensive studies, and their characteristics reflect this life of study. Devoted to scholarly pursuits, a sage values knowledge highly—sometimes in its own right, sometimes as a means toward other ideals.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I boast about my position to the dismay of my peers.
2	I’ve read every book in the world’s greatest libraries—or I like to boast that 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 willing to listen to every side of an argument before I make my own judgment.
6	I … speak … slowly … when talking … to idiots, … which … almost … everyone … is … compared … to me.
7	I feel horribly awkward speaking about anything besides magic.
8	I’m always worried someone will eventually prove me wrong on arcane matters.

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 and Deception are 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 works on magic.
2	I was fired from my job as an arcane expert after a misunderstanding or mistake of mine, and I will never hear the end of it from my former peers and other arcane scholars.
3	I work to preserve a library, university, scriptorium, or archive.
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 have done terrible things for my employer/previous employer in the past, and I must keep them a secret at all costs.

d6	Flaw
1	I am easily distracted by my research, and often forget to take care of my other responsibilities.
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.

Contacts

Your contact is someone you can communicate with to get help locating information, getting funding, or getting personal help from on research. They may also be able to help you find artifacts or magic items.

d6	Contact
1	Employer
2	Apprentice
3	Former Court Mage
4	Employer's Servant
5	Former Colleague
6	Mentor