You are a student of an ancient, elemental sword art passed down through intense physical training, spiritual focus, and breath control. Whether mentored in a hidden monastery, by a wandering master, or through lost scrolls, you have internalized a style that balances martial precision with inner fire.

Now, as a disciple of this lost martial tradition, you travel the world to hunt monsters, uphold justice, and preserve your breathing lineage. Your connection to the art grants you uncommon instincts, spiritual clarity, and — like all who walk this path — a loyal black crow that guides you.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight and Athletics

You gain proficiency in the Insight and Athletics skills, representing your inner awareness and physical mastery gained through breathing ritual and combat training.

Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism Kit

You gain proficiency with the Herbalism Kit, a tradition passed down to care for your body during strenuous breath training.

Languages: You can speak, read, and write one language of your choice — often the dialect of your temple, master, or breathing lineage.

Equipment: A worn training robe, an herbal salve bundle (functions as a component pouch or herbalism kit), a journal of breath forms (blank or partially filled), a symbol of your master or temple (e.g., a woven wristband or cloth), a tame black crow that only you can understand (see below), and a belt pouch containing 15 gp.

Special Equipment – Messenger Crow

You are accompanied by a trained black crow that understands your speech and can relay spoken messages in Common or one language of your choice (usually the one you selected as your bonus language).

The crow is highly intelligent (Int 10) and can speak short phrases in a loud, raspy voice. It cannot fight or carry items but can act as a messenger, scout, or direction guide. The crow has stats equivalent to a Raven familiar (Player's Handbook), but it is not magical and does not require summoning.

Suggested Characteristics

Disciples of the breath train not only to fight, but to become one with the rhythm of life and battle. They often possess fierce internal discipline, spiritual grounding, and a quiet — or at times burning — intensity. Their codes are as varied as their teachers, but all share a respect for form, focus, and forward motion.

Contacts

Your connection to the world of breath grants you recognition from those trained in similar disciplines — monks, elemental warriors, sword sages, or even spirit guardians.

Additionally, your messenger crow has access to secret flight paths, ruins, and breathing temples that only your kind know of. It may act as an indirect contact network, delivering location guidance or even hidden scrolls and encoded messages from distant allies.