“Life here isn’t about living—it’s about surviving long enough to forget why you started.”
You were born—or perhaps built, bought, or remade—in the colossal, suffocating sprawl known only as The City. A megastructure of dystopian madness, divided into 26 Districts and dominated by Wings, Fixers, Offices, Associations, and the ever-present fear of Abnormalities, The City is a crucible that forges monsters, martyrs, and mercenaries alike.
Whether you scraped by in the underbelly of one of the Backstreets, served one of the Wings, or stood tall (for a time) as a Fixer, your life has been forged in horror, routine cruelty, and fleeting, radiant moments of connection—or catharsis. You know how to navigate bureaucracy soaked in blood, how to hide from something with too many mouths, and how to smile when your neighbor vanishes overnight
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- Skill Proficiencies: Survival and Persuasion
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose one kind of Gaming Set
- Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Shortsword, [Tooltip Not Found], 20 Arrows, Gaming Set (same as above), Healer's Kit, Quiver, Traveler’s Clothes, 14 GP; or (B) 50 GP
You’ve seen things no human should endure and came out the other side—shaken, but alive. When dealing with effects that cause fear, horror, or confusion, you can remain calm for a critical moment. Once per long rest, you can choose to automatically succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against being frightened or charmed.
Additionally, you can easily identify the hierarchy or affiliation of an individual within The City’s many factions (Wings, Fixers, Syndicates, etc.) by appearance, mannerism, or speech, provided you've had prior contact with that group.
Suggested Characteristics
Life in The City has left its mark on you. Scarred or stoic, hopeful or hollow—what you endured shaped how you walk in a world that doesn’t care if you keep walking.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I keep a locket of someone I lost. I can’t remember their name, but I won’t let go. |
| 2 | I sleep lightly and eat quickly. You don’t survive if you linger. |
| 3 | I talk to machines. Sometimes, they answer. |
| 4 | I hate the sound of humming lights—it means something is watching. |
| 5 | I believe every moment of beauty is a lie. I still chase it. |
| 6 | I study people’s eyes first. They always betray the truth. |
| 7 | I clean my blade like a ritual. One day, it’ll be me on the edge. |
| 8 | I have a Fixer’s smile—charming, empty, and ready to cut a deal. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Survival. Do what you must. Live to see the next cycle. (Neutral) |
| 2 | Order. Without structure, we’re prey to everything. Even ourselves. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Rebellion. Burn the Wings. Unmake the system. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. The strong survive. I’ll become untouchable. (Evil) |
| 5 | Hope. Even in this nightmare, there’s a place for light. (Good) |
| 6 | Detachment. Nothing matters. We’re all going to die anyway. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I made a promise to someone who disappeared. I’ll find out what happened. |
| 2 | I lost a team to a Night in the Backstreets. I still see them in nightmares. |
| 3 | My family is trapped in a deal with a Wing. I have to free them. |
| 4 | A trip to a strange library earned me a book that changed my life. I’m still hunted because of it. |
| 5 | I owe an Office a blood debt. They haven’t collected—yet. |
| 6 | I beat an Abnormality. It spoke my name before it was pacified. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I don’t trust anyone. Everyone lies. Especially friends. |
| 2 | I collect things compulsively—tokens, books, warp train stubs. |
| 3 | I feel nothing unless I’m in danger. |
| 4 | I sabotage myself when things go well. Nothing good lasts here. |
| 5 | I’ve made a deal with something I don’t understand. |
| 6 | I still believe the City can be saved. I’ll die proving it. |
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