"The pen is mightier than the sword, for the blade only ends a life, but the tongue can erase a legacy."
For you, social interaction is not a courtesy—it is a grand theater of war where you are the director, the lead, and the critic. You were forged in the fires of high-court intrigue and back-alley treachery, trained to dismantle empires before a single banner is raised and to incinerate reputations with nothing more than a well-timed whisper.
Whether you are navigating the gilded halls of royalty as a pristine diplomat or prowling the velvet shadows of the underworld as a master spy, you treat the world as a game of chess played with words. You move through society as a ghost, proving daily that while a sword may draw blood, a perfectly crafted lie can rewrite history itself. In your hands, a signature is more lethal than a dagger, and a promise is the most dangerous trap ever set.
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion
- Tool Proficiencies: Forgery Kit
- Languages: Dwarvish, Elvish
Feature: Master of Nuance
Those with this background can subtly influence social gatherings. By speaking with a crowd or an individual for 10 minutes, the underlying tension, the person in charge, and the topic that would trigger a favorable or hostile reaction can be identified. Non-hostile NPCs will generally treat the character as an equal, regardless of social standing.
Suggested Characteristics
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I fall in and out of love easily, and am always pursuing someone. |
| 2 | Flattery is my preferred trick for getting what I want. |
| 3 | I have a joke for every occasion, especially occasions where humor is inappropriate. |
| 4 | Sarcasm and insults are my weapons of choice. |
| 5 | I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me. |
| 6 | The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it. |
| 7 | I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong. |
| 8 | I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aspiration. I’m determined to make something of myself. (Any) |
| 2 | Creativity. I never run the same con twice. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Friendship. Material goods come and go. Bonds of friendship last forever. (Good) |
| 4 | People. I’m loyal to my friends, not to any ideals, and everyone else can take a trip down the Styx for all I care. (Neutral) |
| 5 | Honor. I don’t steal from others in the trade. (Lawful) |
| 6 | Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. (Evil) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | A powerful person killed someone I love. Some day soon, I’ll have my revenge. |
| 2 | I swindled and ruined a person who didn’t deserve it. I seek to atone for my misdeeds but might never be able to forgive myself. |
| 3 | I fleeced the wrong person and must work to ensure that this individual never crosses paths with me or those I care about. |
| 4 | I’m trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous benefactor. |
| 5 | Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back. |
| 6 | I’m guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m convinced that no one could ever fool me the way I fool others. |
| 2 | I hate to admit it and will hate myself for it, but I’ll run and preserve my own hide if the going gets tough. |
| 3 | I can’t resist a pretty face. |
| 4 | If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it. |
| 5 | I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. |
| 6 | When faced with a choice between money and my friends, greed takes over and I choose both. |
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