You are a Skald—a poet, historian, and performer who preserves the deeds of warriors and kings through verse and song. Your words shape reputations, inspire courage, and shame cowards. In halls of mead or courts of stone, your voice can raise legends… or bury them.
You may have traveled with a warband, served a jarl or chieftain, or wandered from hall to hall trading stories for shelter. Wherever deeds are done, you are there to witness—and remember.
- Skill Proficiencies:
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Performance
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History
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- Tool Proficiencies:
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One musical instrument
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Calligrapher’s Supplies or Cartographer’s Tools
Song and record. Spoken and written. Pick your style.
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- Languages:
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Two of your choice
Skalds travel, listen, and steal stories across borders.
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- Equipment:
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A musical instrument (your voice’s companion)
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A book of sagas, poems, or songs (written or memorized)
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Ink, quill, and parchment or carving tools
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Traveler’s clothes
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A belt pouch containing 10 gp
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Your reputation as a Skald grants you influence through storytelling and record-keeping.
In communities that value history, heroism, or reputation, you can:
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Secure lodging or food by performing or recounting notable deeds
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Gain access to gatherings, halls, or audiences where stories are exchanged
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Learn local legends, recent conflicts, or notable figures with minimal effort
Additionally, when you publicly praise or shame an individual through performance or record, common folk tend to accept your version of events unless compelling evidence contradicts it.
Suggested Characteristics
Skalds are shaped by memory and motion. They travel widely, listen closely, and learn quickly, carrying the weight of stories that are not their own. Their personalities often reflect a balance between performance and observation—quick with words, but sharper with insight. A Skald understands that reputation is forged not only by deeds, but by how those deeds are remembered.
Driven by legacy, truth, or inspiration, Skalds form bonds through the stories they tell and the people they immortalize. Their flaws often stem from curiosity, pride, or the temptation to shape events through narrative rather than action. Whether praised or feared, a Skald knows one truth above all: stories endure long after blades are laid to rest.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I never forget a name—or a deed. |
| 2 | I embellish, but never lie outright. |
| 3 | I’m always listening, even when I seem distracted. |
| 4 | I measure people by the stories they leave behind. |
| 5 | I speak in metaphors and verse when emotional. |
| 6 | I love an audience, large or small. |
| 7 | I ask dangerous questions. |
| 8 | I collect songs like others collect scars. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Legacy – What we leave behind matters more than what we take. |
| 2 | Truth – History deserves honesty, even when it hurts. |
| 3 | Inspiration – Words should move people to action. |
| 4 | Freedom – Stories should never be owned. |
| 5 | Honor – Deeds must be remembered accurately. |
| 6 | Change – Today’s story shapes tomorrow’s world. |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I record the deeds of a specific warrior or group. |
| 2 | A powerful figure wants my words controlled. |
| 3 | A lost saga must be recovered. |
| 4 | I owe my life to someone whose story I carry. |
| 5 | My mentor’s voice still guides me. |
| 6 | A song I wrote caused real consequences. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I can’t resist telling a good story, even when I shouldn’t. |
| 2 | I poke at egos for a reaction. |
| 3 | I value fame too much. |
| 4 | I struggle to keep secrets. |
| 5 | I fear being forgotten. |
| 6 | I’ve twisted a story to protect someone. |
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