Scholar of the Occult

In your formative years, you found a worn book of rites from an obscure cult. You hardly understood what you were reading but it sparked a fascination with hidden knowledge, the occult, conspiracy theories, folklore, and ghost stories. You remain skeptical but deep down you can’t shake the feeling that there may be something to it all.

You may still hold faith with one of the more traditional deities, but you see the accepted religious narratives as one-dimensional or simplistic at best. You may be more drawn to the arcane but seek something more nuanced than the codified traditions often presented in books on the subject.

Skill Proficiencies: History, plus your choice of one from among Arcana, Investigation, and Religion

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: Scholar’s robes embellished with a mix of esoteric symbols, a writing kit (small pouch with a quill, ink, folded parchment, and a small penknife), a book on the subject of your current study, and a pouch containing 10 gp

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the sage background below as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a cloistered scholar.

Your bond is almost certainly associated either with the place where you grew up or with the knowledge you hope to acquire through adventuring. Your ideal is no doubt related to how you view the quest for knowledge and truth—perhaps as a worthy goal in itself, or maybe as a means to a desirable end.

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 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 am horribly, horribly awkward in social situations.
8	I’m convinced that people are always trying to steal my secrets.

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 oppose the darkest elements I have read about.
2	I have an ancient text that holds terrible secrets that must not fall into the wrong hands.
3	I work to preserve the knowledge most people choose to ignore.
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 other people’s perception, invariably convincing others that I am insane.
6	I can’t keep a secret to save my life, or anyone else’s.