"dawn chorus backrounds"
By robblu (https://pastebin.com/u/robblu)
URL: https://pastebin.com/pQDuzbPE
Created on: Friday 14th of April 2017 12:16:52 AM CDT
Retrieved on: Saturday 31 of October 2020 03:21:45 AM UTC
# Backgrounds
___
> ##### 'The Dawn Chorus' Supplement Content
> This content is part of a homebrew supplement which is planned for full release at the end of 2017.
>
> Content will include a full campaign setting and adventure, as well as additional player options and DM tools.
>
>Some of these options are campaign setting specific, but can be adapated for your own uses.
> ##### A note from the Author
>
>This content is currently undergoing playtesting.
>
>If you have any feedback, please contact me on reddit under /u/Lukemortora01
### Abandoned Experiment
You started your life, or at least the part you can remember in a lab, you were an experiment for a deranged wizard or a clueless alchemist. In his attempt to make a Unique being he made you, and then he left, and you do not know why.
Did he teach you about your origins? Do you still remember flickers of who you were before? Do you embrace your difference or abhore it?
**Skill Proficiencies:** Intimidation and Survival.
**Equipment:** A small stack of incoherent notes about your creation that you cannot decipher, ragged clothes, 5gp.
#### Feature: Unnatural Addition
The experiment that was done on you left you with a strange body part that would not normally be part of your race’s anatomy, the extra or altered part is completely part of you, and each different possibility comes with its own merit.
> ##### Horrifying Appearance
> In addition to this feature, you are visibly disfigured in other ways, either in the form of scars, unnatural swelling or another way. You may often find that children will be afraid of you and some people may treat you differently as a result of your appearance.
To determine which unnatural addition you have, choose one or roll on the table below. If you roll an addition which you already naturally have (ie. claws on a tabaxi), then reroll on the table. At the DMs discretion, you may roll twice on this table. You unnatural addition can look however you like.
| d8.... | Unnatural Addition |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | **Wings -** These wings do not give you a fly speed but you can use them to negate fall damage for the first 20ft you fall. |
| 2 | **Tusks/Horns -** You are never without a weapon, and are able to use your tusks or horns as improvised weapons with proficiency. |
| 3 | **Hooves -** When you take the dash action, you may move an additional 10ft. |
| 4 | **Spines -** Your hair is replaced with spines, you can fire them from your skin as an improvised thrown weapon with proficiency. You may do this once per day until they grow back. |
| 5 | **Gills -** You gain the ability to breathe underwater for three times your normal hold breath duration |
| 6 | **Tail -** You gain +2 to any check made to prevent falling prone |
| 7 | **Tentacle -** You are able to retrieve an item from a container on your person without using an action, but the tentacle is not tactile enough to be able to use the item. |
| 8 | **Reptilian Eyes -** You gain darkvision up to 20 ft |
#### Suggested Characteristics
People who have undergone these horrifying procedures choose to deal with it in a variety of different ways. Where some people embrace who they are, others detest their appearance.
| d8.... |Personality Trait |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | I cannot help but fidget with the unnatural part of my body. |
| 2 | I am haunted by dreams of the experiments done on me. |
| 3 | I fully embrace the alien part of my body as an advantage. |
| 4 | I often forget that I am not ‘normal’ and get confused when people are scared of me. |
| 5 | I have a seemingly unending supply of puns based on my addition. |
| 6 | I am both what I am and what I was, neither part defines me completely. |
| 7 | This is part of who I am. If i am to survive, I must accept it. |
| 8 | I consider the ugly, scared or abused as my brothers and sisters. |
\page
| d6.... | Ideal |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | **Egalitarian -** Everything deserves the right to live, including me. (Good) |
| 2 | **Self-Acceptance -** We are greater than the sum of our parts. (Any) |
| 3 | **Balance -** Life is a narrow road that you must tread along, juggling all parts of yourself. (Neutral) |
| 4 | **Tradition -** It is important that we know our place in the world. (Lawful) |
| 5 | **Duality -** There’s a hidden side to everyone. (Any) |
| 6 | **Self-loathing -** If one is perceived as a monster, then they shall become a monster. (Evil) |
| d6.... | Bond |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I will find the person who made me this way, no matter how far I must travel. |
| 2 | I must recover a part of my memory that has been lost. |
| 3 | I don’t want to be alone, I must discover if there are more like me. |
| 4 | I will find a way to undo what has been done to me. |
| 5 | I have no purpose, so I will find one. |
| 6 | I will find somewhere I belong. |
| d6.... | Flaw |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I delight in scaring or unnerving people with my unusuality. |
| 2 | I refuse to deal with people who speak out in disgust of my addition. |
| 3 | I can’t help but feel animosity for people I perceive as perfect. |
| 4 | I find it difficult to trust in new people. |
| 5 | I am dubious of any scientific institution. |
| 6 | I secretly enjoy the attention my deformity gets. |
\page
### Ashlander
You grew up in the Ashlands, a place of refuge for “outcast” races. You kept the company of any combination of Drow, Tieflings, Duergar or Deep gnomes. (Your DM may decide to include or exclude any races from this list). Because of this, you are familiar with their customs and traditions.
Are you also an Ashland race such as a drow or duergar? Or were you only raised by them? Do you secretly resent growing up where you did? Or are you proud of your heritage?
**Skill Proficiencies:** Perception, Stealth
**Tool Proficiencies:** One type of gaming set native to the Ashlands
**Languages:** Choose one from Dwarven, Elven, Gnomish and Infernal
**Equipment:** Traveller’s clothes, one type of gaming set native to the Ashlands, and a belt pouch containing 10GP
#### Feature: Ashland Lingo
When you speak to another member of an Ashland race, they will recognise that your accent and language use as being from the Ashlands, even if they are not from there themselves. They will immediately be more receptive to your requests and ideas, as they understand that you must have been raised around their kin.
Conversely, anyone who holds a prejudice against an Ashland race will immediately be suspicious of you.
In either case, they will not go to any great lengths to help or hinder you, but it may influence their behavior towards you.
#### Suggested Characteristics
As an Ashlander, you are likely to share the social stigmas of your kin. For example, if you grew up in the company of the Duergar, you may have a dislike of Dwarves.
This wouldn’t prevent you from travelling with them, but those barriers would have to be overcome if they arose for any reason.
| d8.... |Personality Trait |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | I do my very best to interact outside of races of my kin, but I often come off as awkward. |
| 2 | I try not to act in the way that people expect me to. |
| 3 | I constantly ask questions of my friends in an attempt to better understand the world at large. |
| 4 | I feel the weight of an entire people on my shoulders and feel responsible for their perception in the wider world. |
| 5 | I am overly defensive about my heritage. |
| 6 | I tell the stories of my people around the fire to anyone who will listen, in an attempt to feel at home. |
| 7 | When I meet others of my kind I get overly excited. |
| 8 | In confrontational situations I use humor to try and relieve the tension. |
| d6.... | Ideal |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | **Unity -** I am determined to help everyone overcome the prejudices which have plagued my kin. (Good) |
| 2 | **Stand Tall -** The best way to be accepted is to stand where we can be seen and heard even when they don’t want us to. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | **Naivety -** I am blind to the definition between races by choice and treat everyone as my equal. (Any) |
| 4 | **Patience -** The Ashlands may not be popular but we have our place and will do our part when the time comes. (Lawful) |
| 5 | **Bigot -** I have no problem using outsiders’ perception of me as leverage to get what I want. (Evil) |
| 6 | **Advocate -** I have no patience for those who disrespect me or my kin. (Any) |
| d6.... | Bond |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I will make my prejudiced parents (or mentor) see reason, and show them the good of the world. |
| 2 | I must find an ancient artefact my kin considers sacred. |
| 3 | I have sworn to find my people a place to exist in the world, alongside those who once thought us as lesser. |
| 4 | I will bring down the group/person responsible for actively speaking out against my kin. |
| 5 | My lover of a ‘normal’ race was stolen from me by their family, I hope to find them again one day. |
| 6 | I must find a way to have the story of my people told, so that if we die, we will not be forgotten. |
| d6.... | Flaw |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I struggle to drop the prejudices I have against non-ashland races. |
| 2 | I am clueless as to social customs in the world outside my own. |
| 3 | Many of my idioms make no sense to non-ashlanders, and as such, I am often misunderstood or cause offence. |
| 4 | I have a bad habit of physically examining people of other races without first asking permission. |
| 5 | I publicly shame those who slight me, no matter their status. |
| 6 | I believe that my people are the true progenitors of our respective races. |
\page
### Blades Guild Marshal
The blades guild is an establishment dedicated to above-board paid mercenary work. Their representatives are dotted liberally in well established towns and cities. As a Marshal, your job is to keep your representatives in line, and ensure that business operates smoothly. On the occasion that a mercenary breaches a client contract, you are obliged to seek remuneration in any way you see fit, sometimes outside of the law.
**Skill Proficiencies:** Intimidation, Insight
**Tool Proficiencies:** Smith’s Tools
**Equipment:** Any one simple or martial weapon of your choice, a Blade’s Guild Rank Insignia and a belt pouch containing 20GP.
#### Feature: Armory Access
As a Marshal, you will have access to the stores of any blade’s guild armory. Should you require any mundane simple or martial weapon, you can acquire one or two for each member of your party.
Additionally, you are also able to acquire leather armor, chain shirts and chain mail for you and your party as long as the armory is well stocked. Should you require any other mundane weapons or armor, you can purchase them for 50% less than their listed prices.
Finally, you are able to purchase healing potions at any blade’s guild establishment for the prices listed below. These are available at the DM’s discretion. The prices may be adjusted depending on the campaign setting your are playing, but this is the most common pricing structure:
|Potion|Price|
|:----:|:----|
|Potion of Healing| 25g |
|Potion of Greater Healing| 100g |
|Potion of Superior Healing| 350g |
|Potion of Supreme Healing| 1000g |
A Blade’s Guild armory will also contain a Forge and full set of smith’s tools, both of which are available for your use.
##### Duty Calls
When passing through a town with a Blade's Guild establishment of any kind, it is your duty to check in with your local representative to ensure their safety and that business that is being conducted is above-board.
Should you willingly neglect this duty, you will be dismissed of your post and the armory access feature will not be available to you until you prove to your superiors that you are worthy of re-employment.
#### Suggested Characteristics
Blade’s Guild Marshals tend to be either very strong, or very smart, but in either case they are a stickler for laws and rules.
Although they don’t own the guild, they are entrusted with ensuring that the operation of such establishments runs smoothly. They will be eager to check on any representatives in any town they pass through.
| d8.... |Personality Trait |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | I broke a contract long ago which I hope doesn’t come back to haunt me |
| 2 | My combat prowess is only outshined by my dashing good looks. |
| 3 | My word is my bond. |
| 4 | Planning the day is the most efficient way to live, I don’t like it when there is no structure. |
| 5 | I like to prepare for any eventuality. |
| 6 | I am very aware of the cost of all things and always look for the best value. |
| 7 | There isn't a tale of the old heroes that I don’t know. |
| 8 | Regardless of my appearance I adore children and always try and entertain them in towns/cities. |
| d6.... | Ideal |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | **Contracted -** If you are going to do something then do it exactly the way you said you would. (Lawful) |
| 2 | **Honorable -** Winning is worth nothing if it is not just and fair. (Good) |
| 3 | **Iconoclast -** The gods have no place interfering in the world of mortal men, I forge my own path. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | **Dependable -** All things that are started must be finished. (Neutral) |
| 5 | **Fineprint -** Not every agreement is what you assume it to be at first glance. (Any) |
| 6 | **Loopholes -** There are always ways to cut corners when fulfilling an agreement. (Any) |
| d6.... | Bond |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I took on a job many years ago that was never completed, before I die I will see it done. |
| 2 | I must make enough money to provide for my estranged family, despite their indifference to me. |
| 3 | My parents were killed by a mercenary whom I only know the alias of, and am secretly working to track them down. |
| 4 | A contract I signed caused me to do terrible things to see it resolved, I must make amends. |
| 5 | I wish to open my own branch of the guild one day and settle down. |
| 6 | My lover or child signed a contract that took them far away from me. I long to find them and help them complete it.
\page
| d6.... | Flaw |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I am impossible to handle when somebody breaks any kind of contract. |
| 2 | I dislike doing paperwork of any kind, and actively avoid that part of my job. |
| 3 | I get fixated on profit and can be caught thinking quantity is more important than quality |
| 4 | I am fiercely competitive with other mercenary guilds, and constantly want to prove that mine is superior |
| 5 | My attention to detail gets sloppy when I am uninterested in the subject matter. |
| 6 | I refuse to do anything that I am not getting paid for in some respect. |
\page
### Deluded
Some people are born into greatness, some have it thrust upon them. You are not one of those people, but somehow, you are absolutely convinced that you are.
The truly deluded have a sense of self-belief that carries them through life somehow, allowing them to overcome unbelievable odds. The irony of this being that the ones that live tend to find self-actualization in their actions.
Did you experience some traumatic event in your life that caused this delusion? Were you always this way? Did you come from the streets, or are you from noble heritage?
**Skill Proficiencies:** Persuasion, Deception
**Equipment:** Travellers clothes, a letter written by yourself certifying that you are telling the truth, and purse containing 10GP
#### Delusions
Not all delusions are the same, and some can range from the mundane to the truly bizarre. Choose a delusion or roll on the table below to discover what you believe to be true.
| d8.... |Delusion |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | I am a very important person, and everyone should know my name. |
| 2 | Any musical instrument that I pick up is just an extension of myself, including ones I've had no practice with. |
| 3 | I am so intelligent that nobody understands the true scope of my genius. |
| 4 | I can bench press ten Ogres, just… not right now. |
| 5 | I am the reincarnation of an ancient hero or historic figure. |
| 6 | I am my god’s chosen champion, and I exert their will on this world. |
| 7 | I have untold magical powers. |
| 8 | I am a king, and my subjects are everywhere. |
#### Feature: I Demand Tribute!
Your belief in your own ability makes you so convincing that you have advantage on persuasion checks when talking about your delusion. You never make deception checks when talking about your delusion, and this check is always made against Insight. People who believe you will want to avert wronging you in that regard, and will even be inclined to help you if they intially doubted you.
##### Bonus Feature: Happy-go-lucky
This background grants no language or tool proficiency, but instead you may add your proficiency bonus when making an ability check on a skill you are not proficient in once per day. You may not use this feature when using tools.
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#### Suggested Characteristics
You should not confuse a deluded person with someone who has lost their mind. The deluded carry themselves with dignity, refusing to lower themselves to the standards expected of them by those who refute their truth.
The deluded are not needlessly disruptive, and often tire of they way they are looked down upon - so are more inclined to hide their pride unless challenged.
| d8.... |Personality Trait |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | There are no coincidences, everything I do was destined by the cosmos. |
| 2 | I grew up as a sheltered child, and nobody has ever told me I am wrong. |
| 3 | It falls on my shoulders to protect my friends using my gift. |
| 4 | I always have a suggestion to make when faced with a problem. |
| 5 | I can’t help but show off my skills, if they seem underwhelming it's because I’m so tired. |
| 6 | I’m quick to trust those who believe in me, even total strangers. |
| 7 | I love being the centre of attention. |
| 8 | Little do I know that there is a hidden truth to my delusion. |
| d6.... | Ideal |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | **Sharing is Caring -** I must share my gift with the world to make it a better place. (Good) |
| 2 | **Glory -** My gift will bring my and my friends to great places. (Any) |
| 3 | **Pride -** I don’t need to prove myself to anyone. (Neutral) |
| 4 | **Greed -** I use my gift to exploit people for free stuff whenever possible, no matter how worthless it is. (Evil) |
| 5 | **Aura of Greatness -** People of greatness gravitate around me, therefore most of my friends are as gifted as I am. (Any) |
| 6 | **Self-Belief -** There is nothing more important that doing what you think is correct. (Chaotic) |
\page
| d6.... | Bond |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | Someday, the world will know that I am justified in my self-belief |
| 2 | I will outshine those who have come before me |
| 3 | I will make amends to the those who disowned me for who I am |
| 4 | A wiseman once told me that I needed to take a journey to a faraway place, and someday i’ll make that journey |
| 5 | I will make my parents proud |
| 6 | Those who mocked me will see what I have become and how right I was |
| d6.... | Flaw |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I consider anyone who doesn’t believe me unworthy of my attention |
| 2 | I need reassurance now and then, lest I enter an existential crisis |
| 3 | I will throw a punch at anyone who calls me outright “crazy” |
| 4 | I always want to be the one to do everything |
| 5 | I secretly believe that everyone is envious of me |
| 6 | My delusion hides a severe phobia |
\page
### Ex-Templar
Templar are holy knights similar to paladins who are almost an authority unto themselves. You undertook a holy crusade in the name of a church and at some point before or after its completion, you decided to look for a new life.
Why did you decide to leave the templar order? Did you disagree with their ideals? Did you complete the crusade, or did you abandon it? Was the Crusade successful? Or did something happen to your order?
**Skill Proficiencies:** Insight, Athletics
**Languages:** One of your choice
**Equipment:** A holy symbol or insignia specific to the crusade you were on. A belt pouch containing 15GP
#### Holy Crusader
As a templar, you and your order would have been called to complete a task ordained by someone of significant importance. Choose a crusade or roll on the table below to define what lays in your past.
| d6..... | Holy Crusade |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | To close a rift to the abyss and rid the area of fiends and abyssal corruption. |
| 2 | To lay siege to an ancient castle in which a lich had taken residence. |
| 3 | To wipe out a nearby city of unlawful marauders and barbarians. |
| 4 | To slay an ancient dragon who lives in the mountains. |
| 5 | To protect an elven forest from destruction by a group of fire cultists. |
| 6 | To quell a commoner’s rebellion in a capital city which threatened to topple the entire empire. |
##### Never Forget
As a matter of honor and personal pride, your holy symbol or insignia is always visible on your person unless you are purposefully attempting to disguise yourself. This holy symbol or insignia is unique to the crusade you undertook.
#### Feature: Brother-in-Arms
You are still in contact with another member of your order who you may call upon to complete favours or even join your adventure. Your brother-in-arms is loyal to a fault and shares your ideals. Conversely, your brother-in-arms may choose to call on you for the same.
#### Suggested Characteristics
Ex-Templar are driven to complete the tasks they are set, but have learned to enjoy the small things whenever they can. They have an aversion to things which remind them of their old lives, but will always rise up to a challenge when called upon. The deity you choose does not have to be related to the church you served.
| d8.... |Personality Trait |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | I expect to be treated by my peers the same way I was when I was a templar, with respect. |
| 2 | I prefer to be at the front of a fight, where I can make the most difference. |
| 3 | There are no half measures, when doing something, you go all-in. |
| 4 | I can’t help but frame requests as orders, and find myself causing offence to the self-righteous. |
| 5 | Social situations feel like an impossible chess game I prefer not to play. |
| 6 | I like making decisions, and I usually make my opinion heard. |
| 7 | I believe strength in numbers is usually the safest option. |
| 8 | My code demands that I treat everyone with due respect, even my enemies. |
| d6.... | Ideal |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | **Protection -** Everybody deserves the right to safety of body and mind. (Good) |
| 2 | **Templar’s Code -** I must adhere to a strict code, one i’ve obeyed my entire life. (Lawful) |
| 3 | **Recruiter -** I see potential in people and push them toward the greatness I believe they can achieve. (Any) |
| 4 | **Freedom of Choice -** Nobody should be forced to do something they think is wrong. (Neutral) |
| 5 | **Vehemence -** I will destroy anything which threatens the sanctity of my beliefs. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | **Low Standards -** The world is a rotten place, and nothing I do can be worse than what I’ve already had to see and do. (Evil) |
| d6.... | Bond |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | Only I know that the crusade isn’t really over, and I will finish what I started. |
| 2 | I will not allow anyone to commit the same atrocities that I did. |
| 3 | I will avenge my brother who fell in battle beside me. |
| 4 | It is my duty to reclaim a relic of ancient significance which our crusade failed to secure. |
| 5 | I refuse to break another vow, lest my word not become my bond. |
| 6 | My weapon is the only thing I can trust. |
\page
| d6.... | Flaw |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | When i’m given a task, I will stop at no end to achieve it, even if it endangers my life. |
| 2 | I will not allow anyone else to sacrifice themselves, the burden should be mine to bear. |
| 3 | I see the world in figurative black and white - either something is good, or it is evil. It is right, or it is wrong. |
| 4 | I am plagued by the guilt of my misdeeds, and in my repentance, I am overly generous. |
| 5 | Mercy is a sign of weakness, I always go for the kill. |
| 6 | I find it difficult to take orders from someone I don't trust or respect. |
#### Variant Ex-Templar: Renegade
Either you are the only crusader left of your order, or you decided to go rogue for some reason. You made a decision or completed a task which earned you a good reputation with common folk as a man of greatness, but you have been disgraced from your order and shunned by the church.
> ##### Variant Feature: People's Champion
>The insignia you wear is proof of who you are, and those who recognise you will be inclined to help or hinder you, depending on who *they* are and how your decision affected them and their way of life.
>For example, you may have made the decision not to slay a dragon because a local tribe considers it sacred. The tribe would show you respect and hospitality, whereas the nearby town may not.
\page
### Hag-Raised
You were raised by a hag. However you came to end up on the old woman's doorstep is unknown. She took you in and raised you, she was always kind to you and cared for you like you were her own. She taught you many things from her long life and also about how to live away from the world as her kind does
Did she steal you from your parents? Were you sold to her in exchange for a spell? Was she hated by the other locals or respected? What is the hag’s name? Did she ever tell you?
**Skill Proficiencies:** History, Nature
**Languages:** Sylvan.
**Equipment:** Commoner’s clothes, A gnarled wand which glows faintly in the presence of fey magic, and 5GP
#### Feature: Granny Always Said
The hag that raised you was always full of useful knowledge and had an anecdote for every situation, usually based on the whimsical fey creatures she kept the company of. You absorbed much of this information and because of this you usually know what to say to fey creatures to garner their approval or rile them up.
##### Bonus Feature: Ladle-dodger
Your childhood disobedience always earned you a hefty thwack from whatever it was that the hag had to hand, you also remember once seeing her scare an angry mob away with nothing but a ladle. Thanks to this, you gain +1 to AC against opportunity attacks made against you as long as you are only within reach of 1 hostile creature.
#### Suggested Characteristics
Those raised by hags are as varied as hags themselves. However, most are wary of large gatherings of people, and prefer to be in the wilds rather than large cities. It is also not uncommon for them to be adverse to making eye contact when speaking to people.
| d8.... |Personality Trait |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | I distrust anyone who offers me anything free of charge. |
| 2 | I am always kind to strangers I meet on the road or in the wilds. |
| 3 | I use attraction and false promises to my get what I want. |
| 4 | Sometimes I forget that not everything is a magical version of the item in question, and struggle to use simple objects because of this. |
| 5 | I often speak aloud to myself, a throwback to the long stretches I was alone for in my youth. |
| 6 | Sometimes the hag that raised me visits my dreams or whispers half heard secrets in my ear. |
| 7 | I rarely speak at all, the hag that raised me was telepathic and so I think things at people and wonder why they ignore me. |
| 8 | I am full of mis-remembered sayings and delight in saying them in a grave tone as if I am wise. |
| d6.... | Ideal |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | **Fairy-Chaser -** Freedom is anywhere you want to find it, you just have to follow the fairies. (Neutral) |
| 2 | **Tough But Fair -** A harsh punishment is often needed to ensure that people stay on the correct path. (Lawful) |
| 3 | **Nothing for Free -** Everything has a price even if it is just the promise of a favor. (Lawful) |
| 4 | **Taskmaster -** The best substitute for hard work is getting someone else to do it. (Neutral) |
| 5 | **In Sheep’s Clothing -** A pretty face can hide a multitude of sins. (Evil) |
| 6 | **Indiscriminate -** it doesn’t matter how you do it as long as it gets done. (Chaotic) |
| d6.... | Bond |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | The hag that raised me had a sister she sent me to find, and I promised I would. |
| 2 | I long to discover who my real parents were, the hag wouldn’t say or didn’t know. |
| 3 | The day I left, the hag told me I would kill the one I love the most… I must never succumb to love. |
| 4 | A magical mishap teleported me away from my home and I long to get back. |
| 5 | I long to attain the power that the hag that raised me had, at any price. |
| 6 | One day I hope to meet the mother of all hags, Baba Yaga. |
| d6.... | Flaw |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | Whenever I disappoint someone, I reactively flinch or cower, expecting discipline |
| 2 | Old women scare me and I avoid talking to them if possible. |
| 3 | I have a warped view of good and evil which sometimes lands me in trouble. |
| 4 | I criticise any and all food I eat, always stating that is isn't as good as Granny’s. |
| 5 | When something is said to me in a commanding tone, I will often start doing it before realising that I can say no. |
| 6 | I believe that if I was ever in life threatening danger, the hag would step in and save me. This can make me reckless. |
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### Wall Walker
You grew up and were likely born on the great wall that divides your city/province/country from the outside world. Your parents are guards or scouts and their dedication to their role meant that your formative years were spent on, in and around the wall.
Is the wall there as protection or merely a border? Was there/ is there currently a conflict at the wall? Did you join your extended family watching out into the next land? Or were you too busy finding the hidden places that only children of the wall ever find?
**Skill Proficiencies:** Stealth, Athletics
**Equipment:** Travellers clothes, a trinket you found in a long forgotten place on the wall, 15gp
#### Feature: Hard To Reach
Years of climbing the wall and getting to places many others cant have made you a prodigious climber as such you have +2 on all athletics checks to climb.
Additionally if the surface is not smooth and is man-made, you don’t fall any further than 5ft before you regain your hold, except on a critical failure.
#### Suggested Characteristics
Wall walkers either grow up with an inherent respect or resentment for authority. The wall they grew up on either represented safety or lack of freedom. Almost all have adventure in their hearts, but approach complex obstacles with a level head on their shoulders.
| d8.... |Personality Trait |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | I plan every detail before an important undertaking. |
| 2 | I love getting to hard to reach places, whether that be the top of a wall or behind a locked door. |
| 3 | I tend to be a show-off around new people. |
| 4 | Despite my feelings about them, I admire the craftsmanship of any wall or structure that has stood the test of time. |
| 5 | I prefer to think my way around problems than to face them with brute force. |
| 6 | The idea of a life beyond the wall fascinated me, and still does every day. |
| 7 | I boast about being the hide-and-seek champion in my town 5 years in a row. |
| 8 | I talk about walls so often that I have to be reminded not to do so. |
| d6.... | Ideal |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | **Aim Higher -** There is no place too unreachable, no goal too far, if you're willing to fail a few times along the way. (Good) |
| 2 | **Self-actualisation -** The strongest walls are the ones we build within. We must overcome ourselves, before we can overcome any real obstacle (Any) |
| 3 | **Boundaries -** Walls are made for a reason, and it’s our duty to respect those reasons. (Lawful) |
| 4 | **Challenge Accepted -** A wall is like any other obstacle, there are always ways to subvert them. (Neutral) |
| 5 | **Control -** Walls and laws are necessary to control cattle and people. (Evil) |
| 6 | **Freedom -** Walls don’t just keep monsters out, they keep people in. I refuse to be confined like that. (Chaotic) |
| d6.... | Bond |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I will find out what happened to my long-lost relative who went beyond the wall and never returned. |
| 2 | I will bring back stories of my adventures to the family I have left behind. |
| 3 | I must rebuild a part of the wall that collapsed, and I will find the funds to do so by adventuring. |
| 4 | The trinket I found must have a purpose, I must find someone who knows more about it. |
| 5 | I am determined to explore the largest building in existence someday. |
| 6 | Whatever the cost, I must not allow the wall I was raised on to fall ,and I am duty bound to answer any call to defend it. |
| d6.... | Flaw |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I hate being confined, and become irritable if I’m not able to explore. |
| 2 | I compare every wall I see with the one I grew up on. |
| 3 | An accident I had once had as a child left me with a severe phobia. |
| 4 | I’m curious to know what lies behind every locked door. |
| 5 | Illusionary walls anger me, for a reason that is unknown even to me. |
| 6 | I refer to walls by unique names that I give them. |
#### Variant Wall Walker: As Above So Below
Whilst most of the other children spent their time climbing higher, you found your fun in the narrow tunnels and basements below the wall.
Replace the skill proficiency for Athletics with Acrobatics when you take this variant.
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> ##### Variant Feature: Nimble Body
>Your adventures have given you an unusual insight to fighting off creatures when in tight spaces.
>You ignore all penalties imposed when taking the squeeze action.
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### Wyvern Hunter
You grew up amongst a community of travelling dragon-hunters who work together to rid settlements of nearby drakes and wyverns that destroy their crops and livestock. You have practiced the techniques for tracking and hunting drakes as a pack, but have decided to leave your community in favour of something greater.
What were your reasons for leaving? Were you disgraced in some way? Or did you simply yearn for a different life?
**Skill Proficiencies:** Athletics, Survival
**Languages:** Draconic
**Equipment:** Travellers clothes adorned with wyvern scales, a belt pouch containing 15GP
#### Feature: Dragon Bane
When you succeed on a saving throw imposed by a dragon’s breath weapon, you take no damage instead of half damage. Additionally, you have advantage on saving throws to resist the frightened condition against dragons.
##### Bonus Feature: Wyvern Hunter Harpoon
As part of your starting equipment, you may start with the Wyvern Hunter Harpoon as well as the proficiency to use it as detailed at the end of this background choice. This feature is only available at the DM's discretion.
#### Suggested Characteristics
Wyvern hunters range from salt-of-the-earth to aloof, regardless, they remain loyal to a group once their trust is earned. Wyvern hunters rarely stay in any one location longer than a week, and prefer to travel than to stay put. They are almost always fiercely proud of their profession, and live by the tenets of their clan.
| d8.... |Personality Trait |
|:-------:|:-|
| 1 | I have disdain for drakes, they are nothing more than flying vermin. |
| 2 | I always talk about my clan, for I fear if I do not they will be forgotten. |
| 3 | I envy dragons more than anything else, flight is a gift they squander. |
| 4 | I boast that I have killed an ancient dragon, the truth is that I have never even seen one. |
| 5 | My first memory is of the corpse of a dragon, it has haunted me all my life. |
| 6 | Whilst I know that the metallic dragons are a force for good, I would have no issues killing one. A dragon is a dragon. |
| 7 | I tasted the meat of a dragon long ago, and I would do anything to do so again. |
| 8 | I have trouble relating to people who have no interest in my profession. |
| d6.... | Ideal |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | **Respect -** My quarries are a part of nature, and do not deserve to be tormented. (Good) |
| 2 | **Opportunist -** The easiest prey to kill is one that never sees you coming. (Any) |
| 3 | **Passive -** A sleeping dragon can be left, there is no good in making more trouble for the world. (Neutral) |
| 4 | **Might -** I am an apex predator, and no quarry is too great for me. (Any) |
| 5 | **Patience -** No great feat was ever accomplished without a solid plan. (Any) |
| 6 | **Brutality -** the more horrifying a dragon’s death, the better. (Evil) |
| d6.... | Bond |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I will prove to my clan that I am worthy of my title. |
| 2 | Someday I’ll find the ancient dragon that destroyed my clan, and he will face retribution. |
| 3 | I was sent by my clan to find the first wyvern hunter harpoon, wielded by my ancestor. |
| 4 | I will be the greatest dragon hunter that ever lived. |
| 5 | My birth caused my clan to lose the trail of a dragon they were hunting, I have sworn to find it once more. |
| 6 | There must be more to me than dragons, I must discover a greater purpose. |
| d6.... | Flaw |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 1 | I harbor resentment towards Dragonborn, and immediately assume the worst of them. |
| 2 | I get restless when I know there is a chromatic dragon nearby, and will do everything I can to convince people to kill it. |
| 3 | I cannot stay in the same place longer than a few days before I feel like I need to move on. |
| 4 | I assume that everyone sees me as a force to be reckoned with. |
| 5 | I am always trying to prove to my peers that I am the strongest in some way. |
| 6 | I speak in draconic and expect people to understand me, because it’s the language my clan always used. |
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___
> ##### Wyvern Hunter Harpoon
> **Damage:** 1d10 Piercing
> **Properties:** Heavy, Thrown (40), Exotic
> **Weight:** 25lbs
>This unique weapon is a harpoon attached to a purpose made 40ft chain weighing 20lbs.
>The chain has 20 hit points and can be broken with a successful DC25 strength check.
>Replacing the chain costs 1GP per 1ft of chain. The chain can be no longer than 40ft, or the weapon loses its thrown property.
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>##### Usage
When making a melee attack with this weapon, it is considered an improvised weapon with no additional effects. When thrown, make a ranged attack, on a hit, the creature takes 1d10 piercing damage plus your strength modifier and is impaled. If you miss the attack, you may use your bonus action to reel the weapon back to you. You may only ever make **one attack roll** on your turn when using the wyvern hunter as it takes time and effort to aim and throw properly.
> When making an attack roll using the Wyvern Hunter Harpoon against anything that is not a dragon, you roll at disadvantage.
>##### Holding the Chain
Any creatures holding the chain must have a combined pull capacity of 1000lbs to ground a creature of medium size, or 2000 lbs to ground a creature of large size.The wyvern hunter is not capable of grounding anything larger than a large creature.
>If anyone holding the chain does anything other than hold the chain on their turn, they let go and their pull capacity is removed from the total amount. If this causes the total amount to be lower than the amount required to ground the creature, the creature is no longer grounded.
>If the Wyvern attempts to move away once grounded, it must succeed on a contested Athletics check against anyone holding the chain (see PHB175 for group checks).
>##### Anchoring the Chain
As an action, you may anchor the wyvern hunter to the ground. If you do, you automatically succeed on grounding a medium or large creature if any subsequent attack roll with the Wyvern Hunter Harpoon hits.
The creature cannot move further than 40ft from the chain’s anchor point, and must succeed on a DC25 strength check to burst the chain.
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>##### New Condition: Grounded
When a creature becomes grounded, if it was flying, it reaches the 40ft range of the chain and its speed becomes 0 until the end of its turn. It then falls, taking 4d6 bludgeoning damage (1d6 for every 10ft it fell). Because it is impaled, its fly speed becomes 0, and it cannot move away from the chain’s point of origin until the grounded condition ends.