Taking this background at Character Creation places you as part of the Guild: The Thieves' Guild. However you start out with a Renown of Zero. And Rank Zero. Therefore you only receive access to Guild Cantrips.
You are a thief. You are fast, agile, and move around undetected. Sneaking around has become second nature to you and you’re always on the lookout for new opportunities to present themselves. As a member of the Thieves Guild, you have spent part of your professional life inside someone else’s residence as an unwelcome guest. You might not always be aware of who your target is, but that’s a part of the job. You have a knack for taking items that do not belong in your pocket, but will wind up there anyway.
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- Skill Proficiencies: Sleight of Hand, Stealth
- Tool Proficiencies: Thieves’ tools
- Languages: Thieves' Cant
- Equipment: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15 gp
There are many kinds of criminals, and within a thieves’ guild or similar criminal organization, individual members have particular specialties. Even criminals who operate outside of such organizations have strong preferences for certain kinds of crimes over others. Choose the role you played in your criminal life, or roll on the table below.
| d8 | Criminal Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blackmailer |
| 2 | Burglar |
| 3 | Enforcer |
| 4 | Fence |
| 5 | Highway robber |
| 6 | Hired killer |
| 7 | Pickpocket |
| 8 | Smuggler |
Your friends at the Thieves Guild know where the action is, where the action is safe, and where it is not. These friends may be part of the guild or they might be unaffiliated informants or allies. You are taught how to spot, read, and write Shadowmarks. These friends will also provide you with a safe place to hide, where you rest in peace or wait for the heat to cool down. The help of friends also includes fences who will buy your stolen goods, and fixers that can restore your standing with the guards for about half the cost of your fines. That's where the 'honor among Thieves' part comes in. Friends stick together, and help each other out.
Suggested Characteristics
Among the thieves from the guild, the best and worst can be found. Some might wish to only take what they need, while there are also those who might quietly bend the rules to grow rich off the wealth of others. A thief might be in it for themselves, for their families, or to help the downtrodden, but any motivation is possible when someone is willing to dedicate their lives to thievery.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I often keep my best ideas to myself. I wouldn't want anyone to steal them. |
| 2 | I find it hard to trust, given my line of work. |
| 3 | Having a good sense of humor helps get through the day. |
| 4 | The shadows always feel like home to me. |
| 5 | I believe in honor among thieves, and live honorably with all my friends. |
| 6 | I love telling and hearing tall tales. |
| 7 | I don't like doing petty thievery; I am in it for the big profits. |
| 8 | I need to be better than the others, or else they'll take what's mine. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Wealth. I want to get filthy rich off of other people's belongings. (Evil) |
| 2 | Adrenaline. It's not just about the valuables, but also about the sensation of stealing something. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Freedom. I want to be self-sufficient, without having to work for others. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Escape. I steal so that one day I can afford to get out of this business. (Any) |
| 5 | Altruism. I steal from the rich, to give to the needy. (Good) |
| 6 | Anarchy. Everything is meant to be stolen, so it might as well be me. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My loyalty is placed in a superior in the guild, rather than the guild itself. |
| 2 | I do what I do for my loved ones. |
| 3 | I've had my eye on a particular piece of treasure and won't stop until it's mine. |
| 4 | My guild mates are the only family that I have. |
| 5 | I need to quickly turn a profit to pay off some old debts. |
| 6 | I will make up for my past deeds, but I need gold first. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am very clumsy at times. |
| 2 | I can't resist even a bit of gold. |
| 3 | I don't really like people, I only like their gold. |
| 4 | I have a very sharp tongue that gets me in trouble. |
| 5 | My own survival is more important than anyone else. |
| 6 | I like to lie and I'm good at it. I might be lying right now. |
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