Kensei Monastic Initiate (Revised)

You spent a significant portion of your life living as an Initiate in a Kensei Monastery.  Despite the many different and sometimes wild teaching techniques of your superiors, your life was strictly regulated and full of hard work, building a strong sense of solidarity and camaraderie with your fellows.  As you waited to be elevated to the rank of Monk and begin learning from the great Weapon Masters of your order, the resident monks prepared you through rigorous mental and physical training.  You pushed your body to its limits and learned to discipline the mind to make yourself as deadly and precise as a weapon in any task you undertake.  You even learned the trade of smithing in order to increase your intuitive understanding and connection with weapons.  Whether or not you ended up joining, or even liking, the order, this training has given you a head start in life, opening up multitudes of paths in both craftsmanship and war.

Ability Scores: Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom

Feat: Savage Attacker

Skill Proficiencies: Athletics and Perception

Tool Proficiencies: Smith's Tools

Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Quarterstaff, Smith's Tools, Healer's Kit, Bedroll, Lamp, Oil (3 flasks), Traveler’s Clothes, 16 GP; or (B) 50 GP

Suggested Characteristics

(Yes, I know it's not in 5e 2024, but I still use these...)

When creating a character with this background, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help flesh out your character.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I'll settle for nothing less than perfection in anything I do.
2	When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way.
3	I am utterly serene, even in the face of disaster.
4	The leader of my monastery has something wise to say on every topic, and I am eager to share that wisdom.
5	I approach every task with the same degree of military precision.
6	I feel most at peace during physical exertion, whether it be work, exercise, or battle.
7	I bear any injury or indignity with stoic discipline.
8	I idolize a warrior in our ancient histories and measure my all deeds against that person's.

d6	Ideal
1	Order. A society of any kind only functions if people do their duty and respect the chain of command. (Lawful)
2	Skepticism. Structure, respect, and leadership is all fine and good, but when people follow orders blindly they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic)
3	Generosity. My talents were given to me so I could benefit the world. If I work hard and use them well, I can fulfill that noble purpose. (Good)
4	Domination. Those who work to become powerful deserve to rule those who are lazy and weak. (Evil)
5	People. I'm loyal to the people I care about, not to any ideals. Anyone else can take a trip down the Styx for all I care. (Neutral)
6	Self-Knowledge. If you know yourself, there's nothing left to know. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I owe my monastic order a great debt for forging me into the person I am today.
2	I joined my monastery to hide from dangerous people who may still be hunting me. I must someday confront them.
3	I would lay down my life for the initiates I trained with. They're my family.
4	I want to find my mentor, who disappeared on an expedition some time ago.
5	I will be the best warrior ever for the honor and glory of my monastery.
6	I joined the Kensei Order to learn how to fight so I can take vengeance on those who destroyed my life.

d6	Flaw
1	I judge others harshly, and myself even more severely.
2	I put too much trust in those who wield power within my monastery’s hierarchy. I would kill my own mother if they told me to.
3	I'm horribly jealous of anyone who outshines me in my work. Everywhere I go, I'm surrounded by rivals.
4	Violence is my answer to any challenge.
5	I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior.
6	I'm rude to people who lack my commitment to hard work and fair play.