War has been your life for as long as you care to remember. You trained as a youth, studied the use of weapons and armor, learned basic survival techniques, including how to stay alive on the battlefield. You might have been part of a standing national army or perhaps a member of a local militia who rose to prominence during a recent war.
When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine which military organization you were a part of, how far through its ranks you progressed, and what kind of experiences you had during your military career. Was it a standing army, a town guard, or a village militia? Or it might have been a noble’s or merchant’s private army.
After the war you came back home to see the king, lord or nobles enjoying all the spoils of the war. All you had to show for it was your bloodied weapon, wounds and new scars and not to mention your meager soldiers pay. Meanwhile your family and many others are on the verge of starving while those in power get fat off your blood, sweat and tears. The more you think about this the more it disgusts you. You resign your position and decide that the only to profit from your skills will be you. You now have no official allegiance to any lord or country, but who instead hires out his/her services for payment, usually the highest bidder.
- Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Intimidation, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set.
- Equipment: An insignia of rank, a trophy taken from a fallen enemy (a dagger, broken blade, or piece of a banner), a set of bone dice or deck of cards, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp
During your time as a soldier, you had a specific role to play in your unit or army. Roll a d8 or choose from the options in the table below to determine your role:
| d8 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Officer |
| 2 | Scout |
| 3 | Infantry |
| 4 | Cavalry |
| 5 | Healer |
| 6 | Quartermaster |
| 7 | Special Operations |
| 8 | Support staff (cook, blacksmith, or the like) |
You have a military rank from your career as a soldier. Soldiers loyal to your former military organization still recognize your authority and influence, and they defer to you if they are of a lower rank. You can also usually gain access to friendly military encampments and fortresses where your rank is recognized. You can also use your former rank to influence the price of a certain job or contract.
Suggested Characteristics
The horrors of war combined with the rigid discipline of military service left its mark on you. Even more so the images of all the wealthy nobles, lords and kings get rich off off all the blood and sacrifices you had to endure for them, while they sat there and did nothing. All this has made you more than a little jaded and cynical.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | Loyalty was a price. |
| 2 | The wealthier that are, the more than can afford to spend. |
| 3 | I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones. |
| 4 | Till I get what I'm paid, nothing gets to kill you, you don't get to kill yourself, only I get to kill you. |
| 5 | If I am payed enough I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 6 | I'm not prone to idle chatter, and prefer keeping to myself unless the topic's business. |
| 7 | I have a crude sense of humor. |
| 8 | I'm always looking around for potential clients. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’ll always defend those whom I represent. |
| 2 | Some people have entirely too many riches and I have no problem making them share. |
| 3 | The only path to true freedom is having gold enough to do as you will. |
| 4 | I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. |
| 5 | Professionalism. Ideals? I don't care about those, all I care about is my fee. |
| 6 | Drink until it feels like you did the right thing. |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | Someone promised me power in exchange of treasure. I now have to pay back. |
| 2 | I am a Sellsword. I sell my sword, that's what i do. |
| 3 | I pursue wealth to secure land and a keep to retire. |
| 4 | I never leave a job unfinished, it's just bad business. |
| 5 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for only if the price is right. |
| 6 | I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money. |
| 2 | I will never fully trust anyone other than myself, and I like it that way. |
| 3 | I once insulted a noble who still wants my head. It was a mistake that I will likely repeat. |
| 4 | I'll do anything for coin, damn the consequences. |
| 5 | I cannot resist a drink, or the folk who serve it. |
| 6 | I secretly think that in the end, wealth is all that matters. |