You have spent your life aboard fishing vessels, exploring and hunting the forests and fields for food or combing the shallows for the bounty of the ocean. Perhaps you were born into a family of hunters or fishers, working with your kin to feed your village, for no help was in sight. Maybe your family has been hunter/fishers for generations and are respected for it or during a famine you were forced to fend for you and your own to achieve a better life. Regardless of how you began, you soon fell in love with nature, the art of fishing and hunting.
- Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: One from [tool]Brewer's Supplies[/tool],[tool]Cook's Utensils[/tool] or [tool]Leatherworker's Tools[/tool].
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: Fishing tackle, a net, a Hunting Trap, a set of traveler’s clothes, A set of Brewer's Supplies, Cook's Utensils, or Leatherworker's Tools and a belt pouch containing 10 gp
Spin a yarn
You can tell a compelling tale, whether tall or true, to impress and entertain others. Once a day, you can tell your story to willing listeners. At the DM’s discretion, a number of those listeners become friendly toward you; this is not a magical effect, and continued amicability on their part depends on your actions. You can roll on the following table to help determine the theme of your tale or choose one that best fits your character. Alternatively, work with your DM to create your own yarn.
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Spin a yarn |
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1
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Animal Wrestling. You fought in hand-to-hand combat with an immense animal.
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2
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It Dragged the Boat. You nearly caught a fish of monstrous size that pulled your boat for miles.
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3
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Antlers of Pure Gold. You saw a massive deer whose antlers were made of pure gold, but was spooked and it ran away. You hope to see it again.
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4
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Ghost animal(s). You are haunted by a ghostly animal(s) that only you can see.
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5
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Nemesis Clam. A large clam containing a pearl the size of your head claimed one of your fingers before jetting away; one day, you’ll find that clam.
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6
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It Swallowed the Sun. You once saw a fish leap from the water and turn day into night.
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7
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Cave to the Abyss. You found yourself in an cave leading to the Abyss, and your luck has been sour ever since.
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8
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Love Story. You fell in love with a Dryad or Nymph, but your brief romance ended tragically.
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Feature: Harvest of the land and water
You have an excellent memory for maps and geography, and you can always recall the general layout of terrain, settlements, and other features around you. You gain advantage on ability checks made using fishing tackle and Stealth when hiding Hunting Trap. In addition, if you have access to a body of water that sustains marine life or land that offers berries, small game, water, and so forth, you can maintain a moderate lifestyle while working as a fisher or hunter, and you can catch enough food to feed up to ten people each day.
Suggested Characteristics
Often considered rude and uncouth among civilized folk, most survivalists have a strong work ethic, and they admire others who earn their living honestly and judge those who don't. Survivalists tend to be superstitious, forming attachments to particular hunting grounds or special fishing spots. They have a connection to these locations, and they think poorly of those whose actions adversely affect their livelihood.
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Personality Trait |
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1
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I am unmoved by the wrath of nature.
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2
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My friends are my clan; we live or die together.
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3
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I need long stretches of quiet to clear my head.
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4
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Rich folk don’t know the satisfaction of hard work.
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5
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I laugh heartily, feel deeply, and fear nothing.
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6
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I work hard; nature offers no handouts.
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7
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I have a lesson for every situation, drawn from observing nature.
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8
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Luck favors me, and I take risks others might not.
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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Camaraderie. Good people make even the longest journey bearable. (Good)
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2
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Luck. Our luck depends on respecting its rules — now throw this salt over your shoulder. (Lawful)
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3
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Change. Life is like the seasons, in constant change, and we must change with it. (Chaotic)
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4
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Plunder. Take all that you can and leave nothing for the scavengers. (Evil)
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5
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Nature. The natural world is most important so don't over hunt the same spot, and nature will reward you restraint. (Neutral)
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6
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Hard Work. Nothing can move a soul hard at work. (Any)
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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I lost something important, in the deep sea or was taken, and I intend to find it.
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2
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An injury to the unspoiled wilderness is an injury to me.
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3
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I will hunt and fish the many famous forests and waters of this land.
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4
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The gods saved me during a terrible time, and I will honor their gift.
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5
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My destiny awaits me in the Feywild.
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6
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I must repay my village’s debt.
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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I am judgmental, especially of those I deem homebodies or otherwise lazy.
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2
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I become depressed and anxious if I spend too much time in cities.
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3
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I have lived a hard life and find it difficult to empathize with others.
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4
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I am inclined to tell long-winded stories at inopportune times.
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5
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I work hard, but I play harder.
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6
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I am obsessed with catching an elusive beast, often to the detriment of other pursuits.
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Posted Apr 29, 2024This has recently become one of my favorite backgrounds. Love having advantage on fishing checks.