You are a seeker of lost knowledge and buried secrets. Ancient ruins, dusty libraries, and long-forgotten civilizations call to you. Whether working for a university, a museum, or your own interests, you’ve dedicated your life to uncovering the truths buried by time. Driven by a desire for discovery, you are part scholar, part adventurer—and often the only thing standing between history and oblivion.

Ability Scores:

When determining your character’s ability scores, consider increasing your [ability]Intelligence[/ability] to reflect your scholarly training and [ability]Dexterity[/ability] or [ability]Constitution[/ability] to represent the physical challenges of fieldwork and tomb raiding.

Feat: [feat]Historical Knowledge[/feat]

When you enter a ruin or dungeon, you can recall its historical purpose and identify architectural styles, inscriptions, or relics associated with ancient cultures. This ability allows you to determine the origin, age, and function of a structure or object with surprising accuracy, provided it’s mundane and non-magical.

Additionally, you may ask the DM one question about the location's historical context, structure, or purpose. The DM must provide a truthful answer, though it may be vague or incomplete depending on available information.

You also gain access to maps, research materials, and academic contacts when in a major settlement, giving you advantage on Intelligence checks related to ancient history or identifying rare artifacts at the DM’s discretion.

Skill Proficiencies:

You gain proficiency in History and Investigation.
Your time spent researching civilizations and exploring their remains has trained you to piece together the clues left behind by ancient peoples and understand the historical significance of what you find.

Tool Proficiencies:

You gain proficiency with [tool]Cartographer's Tools[/tool] or [tool]Tinker’s Tools[/tool] (your choice).
These tools represent your ability to map unknown regions, repair delicate relics, or improvise on the fly when solving puzzles and traps.

Languages:

You learn one additional [language]language[/language] of your choice.
Most archaeologists gravitate toward ancient or forgotten tongues to better translate runes, inscriptions, and manuscripts found in tombs and ruins.

Equipment:

You begin with the following equipment:

• A battered notebook full of sketches and field notes

• A trinket recovered from a ruin (choose or roll on the Trinkets table)

• A set of Traveler's Clothes

• A set of [tool]Cartographer’s Tools[/tool] or [tool]Tinker’s Tools[/tool] (matching your proficiency)

• A small brush or trowel used for excavation

• A belt pouch containing 10 gp

Suggested Characteristics

Archaeologists are curious, daring, and driven individuals who seek to uncover the forgotten truths of ancient civilizations. While some are academic and methodical, others are reckless adventurers with a shovel in one hand and a whip in the other. Their personalities reflect a balance of scholarly passion and rugged survivalism. Use the following tables to help define your character’s personality, ideals, bonds, and flaws—or roll randomly for inspiration.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I can’t resist poking around old ruins, even when I should be running.
2	I speak in riddles, quotes, or cryptic references to obscure texts.
3	Danger excites me more than it should.
4	I always carry something I shouldn’t have taken.
5	I record everything in my journal—even the boring parts
6	I have a romantic view of ancient civilizations.
7	I treat artifacts like old friends.
8	I prefer dead languages to small talk.

d6	Ideal
1	Preservation. The past must be protected—It belongs in a museum. (Lawful)
2	Discovery. Knowledge is the real treasure. (Neutral)
3	Fame. If I find it first, my name will be remembered. (Chaotic)
4	Truth. Every ruin holds a story worth telling. (Good)
5	Power. Relics of the past hold the keys to dominion over the present. (Evil)
6	Freedom. I follow no master but the thrill of the dig. (Chaotic)

d6	Bond
1	I lost someone important on an expedition, and I still carry their journal with me.
2	There’s one artifact I must recover—my reputation depends on it.
3	I protect ancient places like sacred ground. Tombs are not to be plundered—they’re to be respected.
4	I once saved my rival’s life deep in a ruin; now we’re entangled in a deadly game of favors.
5	A museum funds my expeditions—but they don’t ask where the artifacts come from.
6	I’m being hunted by a collector who believes the relic I carry belongs to him.

d6	Flaw
1	Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?” I freeze up completely when confronted by my greatest fear.
2	I can’t walk away from a dig, no matter how cursed, booby-trapped, or obviously haunted it is.
3	I believe everything belongs in a museum.
4	"God, I hate snakes!" I lose all composure when serpents are involved, no matter how tough I try to act.
5	Even the mention of snakes makes me twitch. I once dove out a window because of a snake-shaped umbrella handle.
6	I once punched a priest for bringing a live snake to a temple blessing. I regret nothing.