You were once a slave, serving your masters for years with no reward and empty promises of freedom. One day enough was enough... through many hardships and careful planning, you were finally able to escape. Although you are always on the run, you understand that freedom is not something you take for granted. You'll do whatever it takes to not be caught.
- Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Deception, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Thieves' Tools, Extra set of artisan's tools, Disguise Kit
- Languages: Former Master's language
- Equipment: You gathered as much as you can carry, including a sack with 10 days worth of supplies, your shackles (a 10 ft. chain with manacles), 50G, a dagger or shortsword, a set of artisan's tools, and an item of personal value.
Before you were a slave, you were just like everyone else...
You may have been captured during a raid or were enslaved because you had a special power... Or perhaps you were born into slavery and had no clue what it was like to be free until now. Maybe you willingly served your master to protect someone close to you.
Whatever your reason was, you know you are free for now...
Choose or randomly determine which event marked you as a slave.
| d10 | The Life Before |
|---|---|
| 1 | I was born into slavery. I knew not what freedom was until I tasted it for myself. |
| 2 | My village was raided, taking many of my people prisoner. I was one of the prisoners, sold immediately afterwards. |
| 3 | My family sold me to slavers so they could be rich. |
| 4 | I was captured while traveling with my family. We were all sold separately. |
| 5 | I was a poor youth who was tricked into servitude to save a dying friend/relative. |
| 6 | I stole goods from merchants, found guilty on trial, and was sentenced to a lifetime of slavery as punishment. |
| 7 | I was abducted from my home when I was a child and sold as a slave on the blackmarket. |
| 8 | I have a unique trait/ability that is considered exotic to slavers. I was enslaved for having such a gift/trait. |
| 9 | An important figurehead threatened to destroy my village if we did not surrender. I was one of many who willingly surrendered and made into a slave. |
| 10 | A corrupt general following a corrupt lord threatened to execute/exile my best friend for treason. I became a willing servant to save him/her from such a fate. |
Although you are free, you are still on the run and still bear the shackles of your former life. Thankfully, you are not the only one. You are able to recognize slaves like yourself whenever you see their mark as they, in turn, recognize yours. They will assist you if you ever need a place to hide or deceive the guards into looking the other way. However, this curtesy will NOT extend to your companions if they do not bear the same shackles you or they do.
Suggested Characteristics
No slave runs from their master for no reason. And reasons for escaping are entirely their own. Whatever they have lost, they have learned to never take any of it for granted again. They seldom trust others, seeing freedom as something worth fighting for...
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I've experienced worse things in my life. Nothing fazes me. |
| 2 | If it relates to my freedom, I'm willing to do whatever to takes to preserve that freedom. |
| 3 | I have a strong sense of justice and will protect people if I feel they've been wronged. |
| 4 | I once led a slave uprising, so I'm pretty confident in my leadership capabilities. |
| 5 | Most people take what they have for granted. I understand personal values more than anyone. |
| 6 | Nobody plans ahead better than me. I'm one step ahead of my enemies! |
| 7 | I get annoyed at people who believe they are above everyone else. |
| 8 | My goals are my own. I don't need to tell anyone about myself if I don't feel like it. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sympathy. No one deserves to be treated with any form of cruelty. (Good) |
| 2 | Justice. People who do evil deeds deserve to be punished! (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Freedom. Nothing should ever be taken for granted for it can be very difficult to obtain again... unless it is forever lost. (Any) |
| 4 | Determination. What one seeks in life is a path worth fighting for. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Strength. Why should I risk my life for a complete stranger? Only the strongest will survive. (Evil) |
| 6 | Peace. There's nothing to gain by trying to control what is relatively outside of it. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I know I have family out there, but I know not where they are or if they were enslaved like me. Hopefully, I'll find them. |
| 2 | Everything I thought I knew had been a lie for years! I'm on a quest to seek the truth. |
| 3 | I carry a keepsake of my former life with me, so I may never forget who I once was. |
| 4 | I owe my life to the one who helped me escape. I hope to return the favor one day. |
| 5 | My master constantly beat me in an attempt to break my spirit. Violence will not be tolerated by me. |
| 6 | I escaped with (a) loved one(s), but we got separated while on the run. My wish is to see us safe and reunited someday. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | My master is constantly on my tail and will not stop until I am captured. |
| 2 | I get paranoid very easily, always looking over my shoulder at the slightest of sounds. |
| 3 | My time as a slave was traumatizing. I suffer from nightmares and am prone to mental breakdowns if triggered. |
| 4 | I trust no one. Not even my 'allies'. |
| 5 | The physical scars I carry are shameful to me. I can never show them to anyone. |
| 6 | I'm gullible when it comes to things I'm not familiar with. I'll believe what anyone tells me about them. |
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