Circus troupe

 

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.

- An unknown writer

 

You grew up in the Circus. Perhaps you were an acrobat? or maybe you were a magician, or a strongman? Needless to say, your time in the circus gave you a unique upbringing.

Being in the circus can be challenging, with food not always being plentiful, the animal smell lingering over the grounds, and lots of traveling with little reward. Be that as it may, you can learn a lot at the circus, with many bards starting off as a side show, and many thieves getting their start on the tightrope or as a "Magic" act.

Skill Proficiencies: you are proficient in performance and one other skill from the following list: acrobatics, athletics, sleight of hand, or animal handling.

Tool Proficiencies: You are proficient with either a disguise kit or thieves' tools. you are also proficient with an instrument from the following list: drums, lute, or horn.

Equipment: You have either a disguise kit or a set of thieves' tools. you also own a musical instrument or a deck of cards. Finally, you also possess 2 daggers, a wand, a hammer, or a whip.

Suggested Characteristics

What led you to join the circus? We're you an orphan, or a runaway? Perhaps your whole family ran an act together. Why aren't you at the circus right now?

d8	Personality Trait
1	Now what can I do to make this more interesting...
2	There's nothing I love more than a perfect performance being executed to without a hitch.
3	I enjoy teasing others to just within an inch of their breaking point...
4	I have a thousand weird stories from my days in the circus, and I love to share them whenever I get the chance.
5	I've seen weirder.
6	A magician never reveals their secrets.
7	The show must go on.
8	I love to show off my act, and I love it even more when someone compliments it.

d6	Ideal
1	Community. Aren't we all just one big family. (Any)
2	Fame. What would you do to stay in the spotlight. (Chaotic)
3	Fortune. Who doesn't want money? (Neutral)
4	Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. (Evil)
5	Freedom. All I need is an act, and a stage to perform it on. (Chaotic)
6	Innocence. Why can't we all just have fun? (Good)

d6	Bond
1	I want to revive my old circus troupe.
2	I've never known my real family, and I hope to someday discover who they are.
3	Someone ripped off my act and called it their own, and I want revenge.
4	I will become the greatest circus act in the world.
5	I'm always on the lookout for my best friend who ran away from the circus.
6	Someone died during an act due to my carelessness, and I mean to never let it happen again.

d6	Flaw
1	I love to practice my act ALL THE TIME, including at the most inopportune moments.
2	I was in the freak show as a child, and being reminded of my deformity can send me into a rage.
3	One too many flops has made me critical of the common folk for being the rubes that they are.
4	I absolutely love drama, even to the detriment of the group.
5	I would do anything to be famous.
6	I've been banned from a prominent city after doing an act about their ruler's misdeeds.

Contacts

As a circus member, you have an eclectic group of friends. One might know some fellow circus members, or minor officials and mayors of towns where the troupe performed well. 

d6	Contact
1	The Bearded Lady
2	The Ringleader
3	A Contortionist
4	The "Monster"
5	A Gymnast
6	The Fortuneteller