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 mercenary company, or perhaps a member of a local militia who was disbanded for any reason.
When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine how you learned your skills, how long you've been selling them, and what kind of experiences you had during your mercenary career. Was it a guard's life, composed mainly of caravans and merchants? Or it might have been a noble’s private army, or even a mercenary company.
- Skill Proficiencies: You gain proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, vehicles (land or sea, depending on your background)
- Languages: As a mercenary who works for every kind of employer, you've picked up on some bits and pieces of other languages. Choose one from Elf, Dwarf, Orc, or Undercommon that you know better than the rest.
- Equipment: A trophy taken from a fallen enemy (a dagger, broken blade, or piece of a banner), a dice set or playing card set, and Clothes, Common, and a pouch containing 10 gp
During your time as a mercenary, you've had specific roles to play in every circumstance. Roll a d8 or choose from the options in the table below to determine your role:
| d8 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Commander |
| 2 | Tracker |
| 3 | Guardsman |
| 4 | Cavalry |
| 5 | Sailor |
| 6 | Soldier |
| 7 | Bodyguard |
| 8 | Support staff (cook, blacksmith, or the like) |
You have a military rank from your career as a mercenary working for a noble's private army. Soldiers loyal to your former military organization may still recognize your authority and influence, and they may defer to you if they were of a lower rank. You can invoke your former rank to exert influence over other soldiers and, and you can also usually gain access to friendly military encampments and fortresses where your former rank is recognized.
Suggested Characteristics
The horrors of war combined with the slack lifestyle of mercenary service leave their mark on all men and women, shaping their ideals, creating bonds, and often leaving them scarred and vulnerable to fear, shame, and hatred. It is because of this that many mercenaries turn to raiding and marauding, but it is your choice as to whether or not you have done so as well.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m always/never polite and respectful. |
| 2 | I’m haunted by memories of war. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind. |
| 3 | I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones. |
| 4 | I’m full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every combat situation. |
| 5 | I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 6 | I enjoy being strong and like breaking things. |
| 7 | I have a crude sense of humor. |
| 8 | I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) |
| 2 | Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins. (Evil) |
| 5 | Live and Let Live. Ideals aren’t worth killing over or going to war for. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Nation. My city, nation, or people are all that matter. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would still lay down my life for the people I served with. |
| 2 | Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind. |
| 3 | My honor is my life. |
| 4 | I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it. |
| 5 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| 6 | I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear. |
| 2 | I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior. |
| 3 | I made a terrible mistake in battle that cost many lives—and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret. |
| 4 | My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. |
| 5 | I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. |
| 6 | I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong. |
You have come to make a name for yourself among the common folk of the area you work in. People in villages and small towns have a good chance of knowing your name and what you do, whereas people in cities or metropoleis may not. These folk who know you could react any way towards you, at the DM's discretion.
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