In the context of D&D 5th Edition backgrounds, many include a background-specific table that helps define a character's unique experiences or specialties within that background. For the Viking background you've created, an appropriate **Background-Specific Table Name** could be:

### **Viking Specialties**

**1. Raider**

- You participated in raids across distant shores, acquiring wealth and fame.

**2. Explorer**

- You sailed uncharted waters, discovering new lands and forging new paths.

**3. Trader**

- You engaged in commerce with foreign cultures, trading goods and knowledge.

**4. Skald**

- You are a storyteller and poet, preserving history through sagas and songs.

**5. Shipwright**

- You are skilled in shipbuilding and woodworking, crafting vessels that brave the seas.

**6. Berserker**

- You fought in battles with ferocious intensity, feared by foes and revered by allies.

**7. Farmer**

- You cultivated the land, understanding the rhythms of nature and the importance of community sustenance.

**8. Runecaster**

- You have knowledge of ancient runes and mystic practices, bridging the mortal world and the divine.

**How to Use This Information:**

- **Select or Roll:** Choose a specialty that fits your character concept, or roll a d8 to determine it randomly.
- **Role-Playing Opportunities:** Your specialty provides additional context for your skills, proficiencies, and role-playing hooks.

- For example, as a **Shipwright**, your proficiency with Woodcarver's tools reflects your background in shipbuilding.

- As a **Skald**, your knowledge in History and Religion is enhanced by your role as a keeper of stories and traditions.

**Incorporating the Specialty into Your Character:**

- **Background Feature:** Depending on your specialty, you might work with your DM to adjust your background feature or gain minor benefits that reflect your expertise.
- A **Trader** might have an easier time negotiating prices or recognizing valuable goods.
- An **Explorer** could have an innate sense of direction or familiarity with survival in unknown territories.

**Why This Table Enhances the Background:**

- **Depth and Customization:** The **Viking Specialties** table adds depth to your character by specifying their role within Viking society.
- **Cultural Reflection:** It mirrors historical Viking culture, where individuals often had specific roles like explorers, traders, warriors, or storytellers.
- **Role-Playing Hooks:** Each specialty provides unique motivations, ideals, and potential plot hooks for your character's adventures.

**Example of Integrating Specialty with Character Creation:**

- **Character Concept:** You choose the specialty **Berserker**.
- **Skill Emphasis:** Your proficiency in Athletics reflects your physical prowess.
- **Combat Style:** While backgrounds don't grant weapon proficiencies, your class choice (e.g., Barbarian) can provide the martial abilities that align with a berserker.
- **Personality Trait:** "I face every challenge head-on, with little regard for my own safety."
- **Ideal:** **Courage.** Bravery in the face of adversity defines true character.
- **Bond:** "I seek to die gloriously in battle, so I may join the heroes in Valhalla."
- **Flaw:** "I have little control over my rage and can be a danger to both foes and friends."

**Final Notes:**

- **Collaboration with Your DM:** Always discuss with your Dungeon Master how your specialty might influence gameplay to ensure it fits within the campaign setting.
- **Balancing Mechanics and Story:** While adding depth to your character, ensure that any mechanical benefits are balanced and adhere to the game's rules.

By using the **Viking Specialties** table, you add a personalized touch to your character's background, making your Viking not just a generic warrior but someone with a distinct place in their culture and history.

**Feature Name: Saga of the Skald**

In the Viking background, the **Feature Name** is **"Saga of the Skald."**

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**Saga of the Skald**

Your knowledge of Norse myths, legends, and history grants you the ability to recall pertinent lore about local customs, historical events, and legendary figures. People familiar with these tales are more likely to be friendly and open with you, especially if you share stories or songs. Additionally, you can find shelter and basic provisions among Norse communities or sympathetic followers of the old ways, as they recognize you as one of their own.

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**Explanation:**

- **Purpose of the Feature:** In D&D 5th Edition, every background includes a unique feature that provides a non-combat benefit or ability, enhancing role-playing opportunities.

- **Why "Saga of the Skald":** The feature is named **"Saga of the Skald"** to reflect the importance of storytelling, oral history, and cultural knowledge in Viking society. Skalds were poets and historians who preserved the sagas and eddas, playing a crucial role in Norse culture.

- **Benefits of the Feature:**
- **Recall of Lore:** You can remember and recount stories, legends, and historical facts relevant to your adventures.
- **Social Influence:** Sharing these tales makes others more receptive to you, potentially aiding in negotiations or gathering information.
- **Safe Haven:** Norse communities or those who respect the old ways are willing to provide you with shelter and basic necessities, recognizing you as a fellow custodian of their cultural heritage.

**How to Use This Feature:**

- **Role-Playing:** Incorporate your vast knowledge of myths and legends into your interactions. Use storytelling to inspire allies or sway opinions.

- **Problem-Solving:** Leverage your recall of lore to uncover clues, understand symbols, or interpret omens related to Norse mythology.

- **Networking:** Build relationships with NPCs who value tradition and storytelling, gaining allies or resources in Norse or like-minded communities

**Final Notes:**

- **Customization:** If you feel another feature name or effect better suits your character concept, you can discuss alternatives with your DM. Possible alternative feature names might include **"Lore of the North"**, **"Keeper of Sagas"**, or **"Norse Heritage."**

- **Collaboration with Your DM:** Always confirm that the feature's benefits are appropriate for your campaign and adjust as necessary to fit the game's balance.

By using **"Saga of the Skald"** as your feature, you enrich your character's background, providing depth and unique role-playing opportunities that reflect the rich cultural traditions of the Vikings.