"The wind howls our names, the frost steels our bones, and hardship shapes our fate."
Introduction
Born of relentless hardship, you hail from a lineage that endures where others falter. Whether through ancestry steeped in struggle, an upbringing forged in adversity, or a connection to the forces that temper resilience, you are a Winterborn. Your people revere endurance, sacrifice, and the will to shape a better world, even when faced with overwhelming odds. You have learned to survive through discipline, duty, and an unyielding spirit. The world may see you as distant and hardened, but those who know you understand that the Winterborn are as steadfast as the mountains and as enduring as the storm.
“And in the fury of this darkest hour, we will be your light. You’ve asked me for my sacrifice, and I am Winterborn.”
Background Ability Bonuses
Primary Attribute: Constitution (+2)
Secondary Attribute: Strength or Wisdom (+1)
"And in my dying, I’m more alive than I have ever been. I will make this sacrifice, for I am Winterborn."
- Skill Proficiencies: Your trials have left you with skills and knowledge that set you apart from others. Whether through combat training, survival expertise, or sheer force of will, you have honed abilities that allow you to endure when others would falter. These bonuses reflect the tools and proficiencies you have gained through hardship and perseverance.
Every Winterborn has endured a trial that defined them, shaping their path forward. Whether it was war, loss, or a test of endurance, these experiences forged their resilience. Choose or roll from the table below to determine the defining hardship that has made you who you are.
| d8 | Winterborn Experience |
|---|---|
| 1 | You were raised in a land ravaged by war, learning to fight for survival from a young age. |
| 2 | A dying mentor entrusted you with their final wish, and you have sworn to see it fulfilled. |
| 3 | You endured a disaster—famine, war, or plague—and vowed that others would not suffer the same. |
| 4 | You have trained under the harshest conditions, forging yourself into an instrument of endurance. |
| 5 | You stood your ground against overwhelming odds, refusing to yield when others fled. |
| 6 | You have seen the cost of sacrifice and bear the scars, physical or emotional, of those trials. |
| 7 | A powerful being—deity, spirit, or elder warrior—recognized your resolve and granted you their blessing. |
| 8 | You lost everything but survived, carrying the memories of those who could not endure. |
Hardship shapes strength, and those who are Winterborn learn to endure, adapt, and overcome. Whether through physical resilience, mental fortitude, or unwavering duty, you have developed traits that allow you to withstand adversity and stand as a pillar for those who cannot. These features reflect the unique strengths that hardship has instilled in you.
Endurance of the Tested
Your time in adversity has hardened your body and mind against hardship, allowing you to push beyond normal limits.
- When you complete a short rest, you can choose to remove one level of exhaustion.
- You have advantage on saving throws against exhaustion and environmental hazards (extreme cold, heat, or difficult terrain).
- You can identify safe havens in treacherous landscapes, finding shelter where others see only danger.
- When leading others through treacherous conditions, your group moves at normal speed rather than being slowed by difficult terrain.
Your time in adversity has hardened your body and mind against hardship.
- You have advantage on saving throws against exhaustion and environmental hazards (extreme cold, heat, or difficult terrain).
- You can identify safe havens in treacherous landscapes, finding shelter where others see only danger.
- When leading others through treacherous conditions, your group moves at normal speed rather than being slowed by difficult terrain.
Will of the Winterborn
Your resilience and sense of duty push you beyond normal limits, allowing you to defy the odds and stand strong when others fall.
- You learn the Resistance cantrip, and at 3rd level, you can cast Heroism once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast Aid once per long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
- When you would drop to 0 hit points but are not outright killed, you can make a Constitution saving throw (DC 10 + damage taken). On a success, you drop to 1 hit point instead. You can use this feature once per long rest.
- Whenever you succeed on a death saving throw, you immediately regain hit points equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1).
Your resilience and sense of duty push you beyond normal limits.
- You learn the Resistance cantrip, and at 3rd level, you can cast Heroism once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast Aid once per long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
- When you would drop to 0 hit points but are not outright killed, you can make a Constitution saving throw (DC 10 + damage taken). On a success, you drop to 1 hit point instead. You can use this feature once per long rest.
Suggested Characteristics
The trials and hardships you have faced have shaped your personality, ideals, and motivations. Winterborn are defined by their unwavering resilience, steadfast loyalty, and willingness to endure great personal sacrifice to improve the world around them. Whether hardened by loss, driven by duty, or inspired by an unbreakable will, these characteristics reflect the depth of your convictions.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | "The fire of hardship has tempered me; I do not break." |
| 2 | "I value action over words, for deeds define a person’s worth." |
| 3 | "I endure pain without complaint, for suffering is the forge of strength." |
| 4 | "I stand by my comrades, even when all hope is lost." |
| 5 | "Survival is not enough; I must leave the world stronger than I found it." |
| 6 | "Loyalty is my code, sacrifice my honor, and endurance my creed." |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Resilience. "Survival is not enough. One must stand against the storm and emerge stronger." (Neutral) |
| 2 | Sacrifice. "I will give my life for love, for duty, for those who come after me." (Good) |
| 3 | Honor. "Even in suffering, I hold my word as iron and my heart as steel." (Lawful) |
| 4 | Freedom. "I refuse to be shackled by fate or circumstance—I shape my own path." (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Legacy. "The trials I endure now will pave the way for a better future." (Neutral) |
| 6 | Compassion. "Hardship breeds strength, but it does not excuse cruelty." (Good) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | "I carry the weapon of my ancestor, a symbol of unbroken will." |
| 2 | "The battlefield forged my brothers and sisters in arms—we stand together." |
| 3 | "A single promise binds me, unbroken even in death." |
| 4 | "A great debt binds me to one who saved my life, and I will see it repaid." |
| 5 | "I seek to right a wrong, to undo a failure that haunts me still." |
| 6 | "The sacrifice of my kin shall not be in vain; I will honor them through my deeds." |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | "I find it difficult to trust those untested by hardship." |
| 2 | "I struggle to express warmth and camaraderie outside of battle." |
| 3 | "I push myself beyond my limits, refusing to acknowledge my own exhaustion." |
| 4 | "My resolve is as unyielding as stone—once I set my mind, I cannot be swayed." |
| 5 | "I carry the weight of the past, unable to forgive myself for what I could not prevent." |
| 6 | "Some nights, I hear the voices of those I have lost, urging me forward." |
Contacts
As a Winterborn, your connections reflect your rugged heritage and the values of perseverance and sacrifice.
| d5 | Contact |
|---|---|
| 1 | • A battle-hardened mentor who once taught you the ways of survival. |
| 2 | • A fellow warrior, rival or friend, who shares your cold-forged strength. |
| 3 | • A scholar or priest who records the stories of those who endure. |
| 4 | • A wandering soldier seeking redemption for past failures. |
| 5 | • A distant relative who still resides in the land that forged you. |
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