You are well acquainted with the struggles and horrors of war, but not as a soldier of a regular army. You never answered to a king, a noble or a nation. You fought for your own reasons, be they gold, glory or principle, with other like-minded individuals. Instead of barracks, you slept in hidden wilderness camps, lucky to have a bedroll or a blanket. Instead of rations, you hunted and foraged or starved in between engagements.
Your enemies outnumbered you, surrounded you, and had the support of the local government. Capture meant execution, so you and your comrades picked their battles carefully, always ambushing from concealed positions. The bonds that you forged in those desperate times define you today.
- Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Vehicles (land)
- Languages: Elvish
- Equipment: Common Clothes, token from a fallen friend, a pouch with 5 gp
Every war is different, and the spoils and consequences will follow you and haunt you.
| d6 | Your War |
|---|---|
| 1 | I took part in an unsuccessful campaign that saw our insurgent force nearly wiped out. |
| 2 | I was a laborer swept up in a revolutionary movement. The pressure we put on our lord secured better working conditions and a tense, but lasting, peace. |
| 3 | I was recruited by a smooth talking idealist, but the violent tactics of the insurgency left me disillusioned and conflicted. |
| 4 | My comrades and I were paid a great deal of money to repeatedly raid certain trade routes. We never learned our benefactor’s identity. |
| 5 | I took part in a rebellion against a cruel and oppressive lord, but the power vacuum after his defeat and execution destabilized the region. |
| 6 | Our militia’s struggle for freedom bore fruit and my comrades still guard the common folk of my home. |
You are no stranger to long odds and lost causes. From oppressed commoners to scheming lords, the desperate seem to know it by the mere sight of you. Anywhere you go, you’ll find someone with a tough job in need of some muscle and a miracle.
Suggested Characteristics
Although uniformly anti-authoritarian, a guerilla fighter’s views on the struggle of the common man might vary. These men and women are no strangers to brutality and violence, but they are not the kind to bluster and brag. They pick their battles, then pick their approach. Unused to the structures of military rank and wary of those who presume to be their superior, they will be unwilling to follower orders from someone who hasn’t proved themself.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m still not comfortable sleeping in a bed or under a roof. |
| 2 | If I can, I prefer to ambush an enemy rather than attack him head on. |
| 3 | I learned to speak quietly so as not to give away my position, now I find myself unable to break the habit. |
| 4 | I compulsively check fallen foes for supplies I can use before moving on. |
| 5 | I don’t respect guards and soldiers, and will treat them and their requests with contempt. |
| 6 | I know better than to judge someone’s capabilities by the look of them. |
| 7 | I’m never at ease until I’ve scouted out all of my escape routes. |
| 8 | The best way to get me to open up is to share a story of combat. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Freedom. I cannot abide a tyrant. (Chaotic) |
| 2 | Personal Gain. The struggle isn’t as important as where you end up when the dust settles. (Neutral) |
| 3 | Sacrifice. I will always do the right thing, even if it seems impossible (Good) |
| 4 | Killing. I hear a lot of talk about lofty ideals and standing up for the little guy, but the truth is that I just like a target rich environment. (Evil) |
| 5 | Principle. The laws of man are not mine. I serve a higher power. (Lawful) |
| 6 | Friendship. Nothing and no one is more important than the comrade who fights beside you. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’ll always be loyal to my former comrades in arms, living or dead. |
| 2 | The land I fought for and on calls to me. I will improve my skills, gather resources and connections, then rejoin the cause when I am able. |
| 3 | I bear a letter from a fallen comrade addressed to his family. I promised to deliver it, but I don’t know where to find them. |
| 4 | I was born a peasant, and I will always protect the common folk when I can. |
| 5 | I suspect that my comrades and I were used as pawns in a proxy war, and it is my mission to find out why. |
| 6 | I’ve taken so many lives, but now I hope to save as many as I can. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | If a fight isn’t going my way, I may suffer flashbacks to a horrific defeat. |
| 2 | I killed an officer with powerful connections, and the authorities are searching for me across the land. |
| 3 | I have vivid nightmares that disrupt my sleep. |
| 4 | I secretly betrayed my comrades, and keeping that secret is my highest priority. |
| 5 | I would rather die than spend even an hour in a jail cell. |
| 6 | I am a sadist and will take time to mutilate the corpses of my fallen foes. |
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