You have a drive to research to world around you and develop it. You spent years learning the lore of the multiverse. You spent your formative years traveling between manors and monasteries, performing various odd jobs and services in exchange for access to their libraries. You scoured manuscripts, studied scrolls, and listened to the greatest experts on the subjects that interest you. You whiled away many a long evening studying books and scrolls, learning the rules of magic, but your mind yearns for more. You have spent years of your life studying and writing tomes of lore, and have a desire to find the answers to every question you ask. Your life's work is a collection of manuscripts you have written, and you wish to complete them. However, the existing books on the subject, whether it be history, arcana, or religion, can only provide so much information, and you wish to take to the fields to complete your research, considering whatever dangers you may face, a necessary risk for the knowledge you may collect. Your efforts have made you a master in your field(s) of study.

Ability Scores: Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom

Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, History

Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher's Supplies

Languages: Two of your choice.

Equipment: Choose A, B, or C: (A) Quarterstaff, Calligrapher's Supplies, Book (history), Parchment (8 sheets), Robe, and 8 GP; or (B) Calligrapher's Supplies, Parchment (6 sheets), Book (arcana), a small knife, a set of common clothes, and 10 GP; or (C) 50 GP.

Suggested Characteristics

Sage Researchers embody some combination of chaotic, frenetic energy with intellectual curiosity, in varying proportions. They are defined by their extensive studies, and their characteristics reflect this life of study. Devoted to scholarly pursuits, a sage values knowledge highly—sometimes in its own right, sometimes as a means toward other ideals. 

d20	Personality Trait
1	There’s nothing I like more than a good mystery; life’s an experiment, and I can’t wait to see what happens.
2	I am horribly, horribly awkward in social situations. I act like I don't know, but I do.
3	When I am working I get so caught up in my work I ignore everything around me, including danger. Even when not caught up in my work, I may occasionally stop to examine something seemingly random even if running from danger.
4	I know a lot about everything, and often make remarks about things in the wrong place at the wrong time.
5	I often take things very literally, and will take offense at jokes or not understand them at all.
6	I can be overconfident in my abilities at times, which can lead to a lot of trouble.
7	I communicate through cryptic messages or other languages at times, without realizing it or thinking it's funny to watch others struggle to decipher my words.
8	I have a hard time staying focused on … oh, and my brain tends to jump from one … did I mention focus?
9	I get really excited about my ideas and I can’t wait to talk about them and start putting them into practice and tinkering with them and I want to tell you about how exciting it all is!
10	If you can guess what I’m about to do, that means I’ve run out of imagination.
11	It’s not magic — or anything, really — if you do it only halfway. Whatever I do, I give it all I’ve got.
12	I do what my gut tells me.
13	I use polysyllabic words and pepper my speech with the incomprehensible jargon of my trade, like mizzium droplets inserted into a weird-field suspension to convey the impression of great erudition
14	Great ideas are fine, but great results are what count.
15	I’m convinced that people are always trying to steal my secrets.
16	I’ve read every book in the world’s greatest libraries—or I like to boast that I have.
17	I’m used to helping out those who aren’t as smart as I am, and I patiently explain anything and everything to others.
18	I’m willing to listen to every side of an argument before I make my own judgment.
19	I have little respect for anyone who does not know as much or more than me, but I still must interact with others, so I … speak … slowly … when talking … to idiots, … which … almost … everyone … is … compared … to me.
20	I love teaching others, but get very annoyed when they don't know as much as me.

d12	Ideal
1	Abstination. With lifelong study you can remove yourself from arguments and conflicts and devote your life to your work. Having bonds or associations make you trapped. (Neutral)
2	Knowledge. Knowledge is for the sake of knowledge. Will learn from any source, regardless of whether it is good or evil. (Neutral)
3	Improvement. The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. The goal of a life of study is the betterment of oneself; Everyone else comes after. (Neutral)
4	Change. I will use the knowledge I gain to make the world a better place. (Good)
5	Charity. With knowledge we can find ways to help each other and ourselves. (Good)
6	Science. A rigorous application of logical principles and protocols will lead us toward progress more surely than any belief system. Emotions must not cloud our logical thinking. (Lawful)
7	Prestige. I will use my discoveries to make myself rich and famous. (Evil)
8	Power. The more I know, the more power I have. With power, I can control people. Someday I’ll find or create the magic that will make me the most powerful being in the world. I will stop at nothing and kill anyone who gets in my way. (Evil)
9	Freedom. Half the world’s troubles come from stodgy thinking. We need innovative solutions. With more knowledge comes more freedom, and nothing should fetter the infinite possibilities inherent in all existence. (Chaotic)
10	Fun. I love my job! Despite the dangerous working conditions, there’s nothing I’d rather do. (Chaotic)
11	Discovery. Every experiment has the potential to reveal more secrets of the multiverse. I seek to know the reasoning behind everything. (Any)
12	Wisdom. When you confuse knowledge and wisdom with power, you get neither. (Any)

d16	Bond
1	N/A
2	I’ve been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question.
3	I have dedicated my life to finding a solution to a scientific problem.
4	My life’s work is a series of tomes related to a specific field of lore.
5	The books I devoted my life to are my only bond. Those hold everything I've worked for.
6	My only bond is to myself. I neglected everyone else in my life because I wanted to pursue my work, and they left me. Now I am terrified that will happen again and I don't trust anyone.
7	I work to preserve a library, university, or scriptorium.
8	I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do great deeds and win it back.
9	Someone doubted me and I have spent my whole life trying to prove them wrong.
10	A fellow student and I are racing to solve the same scientific puzzle.
11	A teacher that taught me everything but recently died. My work is to preserve his memory.
12	I have a teacher / role model who I seek to emulate and surpass.
13	My parents have supported me at all stages of my work. I owe them everything.
14	A university, school, scriptorium, archive, monastery, or other organization that supported and funded my work.
15	The devil that I witnessed the summoning of is still out there somewhere, and I am determined to send him back to where it belongs.
16	My bloodline consists of many powerful mages, but I chose to focus on other fields of work and study the nature of my ancestor's abilities.

d20	Flaw
1	I value a new specimen or piece of information more than my friends or allies. I will seek the deepest secrets of the universe, even if I put others in danger as a result. I would do anything for new knowledge
2	I value a new specimen or piece of information more than my friends or allies. Unlocking an ancient mystery is worth the price of a civilization. I would do anything for new knowledge
3	I am easily distracted by the promise of information.
4	Most people scream and run when they see a demon. I stop and take notes on its anatomy.
5	Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything in my life.
6	I tend to ignore sleep for days when I’m conducting research, often at the expense of my own health and safety.
7	I work best when I'm alone, but I am very awkward socially as a result of the isolation that I have induced on myself.
8	I can often offend people by stating my observations because I don't understand that people sometimes don't like to hear frank truths.
9	I speak without really thinking through my words, invariably insulting others.
10	My research is my legacy; if it is lost, my life will have been meaningless.
11	I tend to overthink things. I overlook obvious solutions in favor of complicated ones. Nothing is ever simple, and if it seems simple, I’ll find a way to make it complicated.
12	I don't believe anything anybody says is correct unless I can verify it. Likewise, I have a very hard time accepting that I'm wrong, and won't believe people who say that I am. I’m incapable of admitting a flaw in my logic.
13	I’m convinced there’s not a soul in the world who can match my boundless intellect.
14	I am the greatest strategist alive; nobody alive can come up with a better plan than me.
15	I am convinced that people are going to steal the knowledge I have unlocked, and I have a very hard time trusting others because of it.
16	I will abandon or leave a quest or adventure when my work is completed.
17	I am a coward and will run at the first sign of danger or trouble.
18	I get bored easily, and if nothing is happening, I’ll make something happen.
19	If there’s a plan, I’ll probably forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll probably ignore it.
20	I can’t keep a secret to save my life, or anyone else’s.

Contacts

As Sage Researcher travels, they encounter many people, and their single-minded devotion to knowledge means that people either love or hate them. Roll twice on the table below for an ally and a rival. You may pick which roll corresponds to which.

d6	Contact
1	You have a relative that is currently working on some other type of studies. You two get along pretty well.
2	A sibling is the head of a laboratory doing exotic research.
3	Your local library head owner, that lets you check the forbidden sections when they can.
4	Someone who set you on the course of your life and research.
5	A bounty hunter who specializes in obtaining rare materials.
6	A captain of a guard/army you helped gain some new power/weapon, with your research.

d4	Non-contact
1	An older relative is currently a teacher that is in a school of some form of magic.
2	Another researcher who you compare notes and techniques with over lunch sometimes.
3	A teacher from your school. They reach out every now and then to check up on you.
4	One of your old classmates stole your notes, you two didn't leave on the best terms. But you randomly encounter each other every now and then.