You spent your formative years among ancient sanctuaries, forgotten ruins, and places where the mortal world brushes against celestial forces. Under the guidance of wardens, mystics, and keepers of old lore, you learned to recognize supernatural disturbances, safeguard sacred places, and uncover knowledge others had forgotten. Whether your calling came through tradition, curiosity, or a celestial omen, you emerged with a deep respect for the mysteries of the multiverse—and a determination to understand the powers that move through it.
- Ability Scores: Wisdom • Intelligence • Constitution.
- Feat: Magic Initiate (Wizard). Your study of ancient lore and celestial phenomena has taught you the rudiments of arcane magic, allowing you to wield minor spells and a greater spell drawn from the Wizard spell list.
- Skill Proficiencies: Arcana and Perception
- Tool Proficiencies: [tool]Calligrapher's Supplies[/tool]
- Languages: Your travels among ancient sanctuaries and repositories of celestial lore exposed you to many cultures and their writings. Choose your languages as normal during character creation; languages associated with ancient, arcane, or celestial traditions are especially appropriate for a Celestial Warden.
- Equipment: *Choose A or B:* (A) Quarterstaff, Calligrapher's Supplies, Book (celestial lore), Parchment (8 sheets), Robe, 8 GP; or (B) 50 GP
Celestial Calling
| d6 |
Celestial Calling |
| 1 |
Sacred Guardian. You were entrusted with protecting an ancient sanctuary where celestial power touches the mortal world. |
| 2 |
Omen-Seeker. A celestial phenomenon appeared at a pivotal moment in your life, and you have sought to understand its meaning ever since. |
| 3 |
Keeper of Lost Lore. You inherited responsibility for preserving writings and secrets that have survived for generations. |
| 4 |
Wandering Warden. Rather than guarding one sanctuary, you travel between sacred places, investigating disturbances and protecting what remains. |
| 5 |
Relic Custodian. You once guarded—or still guard—a mysterious object believed to contain celestial power or knowledge. |
| 6 |
Chosen by the Heavens. Dreams, visions, or inexplicable signs repeatedly drew you toward the celestial mysteries you now pursue. |
Feature: Celestial Calling
Your path as a Celestial Warden began with a particular calling that drew you toward ancient sanctuaries, celestial mysteries, and forgotten knowledge. Choose a calling from the Celestial Calling table or roll to determine the event or purpose that first set you upon this path. Your calling represents an important part of your history and may influence why you became an adventurer.
Spell List
Your connection to celestial mysteries and your study of supernatural forces grant you access to additional spells. The spells on the Celestial Warden Spells table are added to the spell list of any spellcasting class you have.
Celestial Wardens study magic associated with celestial phenomena, ancient mysteries, supernatural perception, protection, and the forces that bind the planes together. The Celestial Warden Spells table presents additional spells associated with this background. These spells are considered part of your spell list whenever you have the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature. They reflect magical knowledge traditionally preserved, studied, or practiced by Celestial Wardens.
Suggested Characteristics
Celestial Wardens are shaped by long hours of study, vigilant observation, and encounters with forces beyond ordinary understanding. Many are thoughtful and patient, while others become intensely curious, fiercely protective, or restless in their pursuit of hidden truths. Their experiences often instill a deep respect for knowledge and the natural order, though prolonged exposure to ancient mysteries can leave them with unusual habits, convictions, and perspectives. Use the following tables as inspiration when determining your character's personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws.
| d8 |
Personality Trait |
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1
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I instinctively study unusual magic or supernatural phenomena before deciding whether they pose a threat.
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2
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I am most comfortable in quiet places where I can observe, think, and listen.
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3
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I treat ancient ruins and sacred places with the same respect others reserve for temples.
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4
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I constantly record strange creatures, magical events, celestial signs, and discoveries in my notes.
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5
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When confronted with something I don't understand, my curiosity often overcomes my caution.
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6
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I speak patiently and deliberately, even when everyone around me is in a hurry.
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7
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I have a habit of watching the sky for patterns, omens, and changes that others overlook.
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8
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I become remarkably animated whenever someone asks about a subject I've spent years studying.
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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Knowledge. Understanding the mysteries of the world is the first step toward protecting it from forces we do not yet comprehend.
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2
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Guardianship. Power, knowledge, and sacred places must be protected from those who would exploit them for selfish ends.
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3
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Balance. Celestial, natural, and mortal forces must exist in harmony; allowing any one of them to dominate invites catastrophe.
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4
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Discovery. The unknown should be explored rather than feared, for every mystery holds the possibility of revealing a greater truth.
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5
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Responsibility. Those entrusted with rare knowledge or extraordinary power have a duty to use it wisely and for the benefit of others.
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6
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Preservation. The wisdom and wonders of ages past must be preserved so that future generations can learn from what came before.
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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I swore to protect a sacred place whose secrets and power must never fall into the wrong hands.
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2
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An ancient mentor taught me everything I know about celestial mysteries, and I am determined to honor the trust they placed in me.
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3
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I carry the memory of a celestial omen I once witnessed, and I am determined to discover what it truly meant.
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4
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A relic entrusted to my care is more than an artifact to me; I will protect it until I understand its true purpose.
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5
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Somewhere in the world lies a forgotten sanctuary whose fate is tied to my calling, and I have sworn to find it and restore what was lost.
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6
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My fellow wardens are the closest thing I have to family, and I will cross any distance to aid one who calls for my help.
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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My curiosity about forbidden or dangerous knowledge can overwhelm my better judgment, even when every instinct tells me to leave a mystery alone.
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2
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I have spent so long guarding ancient secrets that I find it difficult to trust others with knowledge I consider dangerous.
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3
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I can become so focused on unraveling a mystery that I neglect immediate dangers and the concerns of those around me.
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4
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I am slow to abandon traditions and teachings I have trusted for years, even when evidence suggests they may be wrong.
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5
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I sometimes assume my knowledge and experience make my judgment more reliable than that of those who have not studied the mysteries I guard.
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6
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I struggle to let go of a responsibility once I have accepted it, even when protecting it puts me or my companions in unnecessary danger.
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Contacts
Your duties and travels have brought you into contact with scholars, archivists, mystics, temple keepers, explorers, and guardians of ancient or supernatural sites. You may also know individuals who study celestial phenomena, safeguard magical relics, or investigate disturbances connected to other planes. These contacts might provide information, guidance, or introductions when your travels intersect with their areas of knowledge, though the aid they can offer depends on your relationship and the circumstances.
| d4 |
Contact |
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1
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Sanctuary Keeper. A trusted caretaker of an ancient shrine or sacred site who exchanges information with you about supernatural disturbances and threats to protected places.
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2
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Arcane Archivist. A scholar who maintains a collection of obscure magical writings and occasionally exchanges research, discoveries, and unusual arcane knowledge with you.
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3
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Relic Curator. An expert in identifying, preserving, and safely containing magical artifacts who may exchange information with you concerning unusual or dangerous relics.
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4
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Planar Scholar. A researcher who studies other planes, portals, and extraplanar phenomena and shares knowledge with you when disturbances between realms occur.
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| d2 |
Non-contact |
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1
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Celestial Archive. A secluded repository of ancient writings, star charts, and records of supernatural phenomena that you know how to access and consult when your travels bring you near it.
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2
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Warden Network. A loose network of sanctuaries, coded records, and shared traditions allows Celestial Wardens to leave warnings, discoveries, and information for others who follow the same calling.
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