You grew up hearing stories of great treasures lost to the ages, civilizations in ruins just waiting to be rediscovered, and you dreamed of plundering them for all they’re worth! Discoveries and fame are nice, but riches are better. From Antiquities and jewels, to relics and artifacts, the rarer and more interesting the story, the better, because the price for the item will increase all the more! Perhaps you are looking for a specific legendary artifact, or history of a specific culture group, or maybe you just like the thrill of exploring, no matter what your reasons are, the pleasure of investigating rumors and ruins is too much for you to pass up.
- Skill Proficiencies: Select two from: Arcana, History, Investigation, Perception, Religion, Survival.
- Tool Proficiencies: Select one from: Cartographer’s Tools, Forgery Kit, Thieves’ Tools
- Languages: Select one from: Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Dwarven, Elvish, Giant, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling, Infernal, Orc, Primordial, Sylvan
- Equipment: You begin play with 50 ft. of Rope (hemp), 5 Pitons, a Dagger, and a Relic of some description. Work with your DM to decide how you came into possession of the relic and why it is important to you. You may come up with the relic on your own or roll on the Relic table.
Relic Table
Through some twist of fate you have come into possession of a strange relic which piques your curiosity. the table below gives some options for what that relic is (though you may choose to come up with one yourself. They are all small trinkets which can be easily stored or carried on your person.
| d10 |
Relic Table |
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1
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A coin made from an unknown metal from an unknown civilization.
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2
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A glass pendant that can’t be shattered, it has a bead inside that dimly glows different colors.
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3
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An ornately carved ring made out of a fossil of an extinct creature.
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4
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A partial map of an unknown area with writing on it in a language you do not know.
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5
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A small statuette that is always warm to the touch no matter the temperature around it.
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6
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A piece of obsidian that is indestructible and occasionally glows a faint purple.
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7
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A piece of an idol that clearly was not broken, but rather taken apart.
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8
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A fossilized egg with intricate patterns etched into the shell.
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9
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A gold and silver orb with many interlocking and movable parts.
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10
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An oddly shaped key with an opalescent stone set into it.
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Feature: Reliable Rumors
You have an uncanny knack for sorting out which rumors hold water and which are simply tosh. It is easy for you to find information pertaining to the whereabouts of items of value, rarities, or illicit goods. You have a network of contacts that can help you sell or acquire rare items (at DMs discretion), or, more importantly, information. If you spread a rumor it is more likely to be taken as truth and spread widely and quickly.
Suggested Characteristics
A Ruin Raider has their reasons for adventuring, what drives them and what inspires them is a large part of their character. They often have colorful personalities and interesting stories to share with those who will listen, or those who wish to hire them. In their line of work they often need to deal with others, and meet all kinds of people, and other things.
| d8 |
Personality Trait |
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1
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I can’t sit still, I am always trying to get to the next job.
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2
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I can’t leave a room without searching for hidden doors.
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3
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I love gambling and setting wagers.
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4
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I enjoy regaling others with stories of my adventures, even if they aren’t true.
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5
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I am very sarcastic.
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6
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As I see it, the higher the risk, the higher the reward.
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7
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I am gregarious and love making new friends at every opportunity.
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8
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I swear colorfully and often.
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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I try to preserve history as much as possible.
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2
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There is nothing more worthwhile than discovery.
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3
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I am willing to set off traps and endanger others if I can get my hands on a rare item.
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4
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I am in this game for the money, not sentimentality.
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5
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I use the knowledge and relics I find to better the world around me as best I can.
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6
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The stories of finding new things are worth more to me than the items themselves.
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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I have a specific item I am looking for and will go to the ends of the earth to get it.
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2
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Riches are great, but meaningless without those to share them with.
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3
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Discovery is more important than wealth.
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4
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The people who help me fulfill my goals are family and I would do anything to help them in return.
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5
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I will do anything to prove a rumor is true or false.
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6
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I will seek retribution against anyone who misuses an artifact or damages history.
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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I am more interested in my relics than I am in other people.
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2
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I get so excited by discovery that I always leap before I look.
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3
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I once sold something to the wrong person and caused an incident I never recovered from.
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4
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I am miserly and refuse to share as much as possible.
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5
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I am clumsy and have difficulty handling fragile artifacts.
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6
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I was caught selling forgeries of an item I didn't find and can no longer return to that part of the world for fear of the consequences.
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Contacts
People with the Ruin Raider background will commonly know rumor mongers, fences, and those talented in securing hard-to-find items. These people need not be criminals per se, but well connected members of society might also fit the bill. They may know thieves of all descriptions, forgers, and con artists to help them move valuable cargo. On the other hand, they may know historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, and other learned members of society; they might know people in religious orders or ancient houses who wish to use their services to reclaim lost relics. Perhaps they know a mixture of these people. Consult with your DM about who your character might have connections with.
| d6 |
Contact |
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1
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Fences, Forgers, and Thieves of all descriptions.
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2
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Scholars, Historians, Anthropologists, and Archaeologists.
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3
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Higher-ups in a Religious Order or two.
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4
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Nobles, or other wealthy Patrons who wish to use your services.
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5
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Two of the above.
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6
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All of the above.
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