Background
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Every adventurer had a life before they set out on their journey. Perhaps it was this path that set them on the road to adventure in the first place. Or perhaps they choose this life in spite of everything else. Whatever their story, Background summarizes major parts of a character's past and how it plays into the present. Every character comes from somewhere and Backgrounds help to inform a player and GM where the character has been and where they are likely headed.
Backgrounds offer a handful of starting resources along with a new Feature associated with that particular Background. Each also offers a number of Assets for heroes to benefit from and Challenges to overcome which the GM can use to hook characters into the story. |
Character CreationChoose one Background. This will give you one new Feature of your choosing, a bonus to your starting resources, and an Asset. You can choose more than one Background for character flavor, but will only receive the benefits of one. |
Assets
Every hero has a past and while that past may bring its baggage and challenges, it also has some benefits. Assets are wealth, resources, contacts, training, knowledge, or some other benefit the hero has acquired up to this point in their journey which has and will prove useful. You automatically gain a Racial Asset based on your ethnic heritage. When you select a Background, you gain an Asset of your choice of which is associated with this Background.
Challenges
Challenges are complications or potential entry points into a new story arc that stem from a character's Background. The GM and player can work together to decide on how a character's Challenges pertain to the main story (if it does at all), or GMs can let players pick their own Challenges, treating them as player-approved plot hooks. Resolving a Challenge always causes a character trouble or costs them something, but also works to draw the players in a new direction or refresh an existing story, and ultimately provides rewards and experience in its resolution.
DeviantAvenger
Black Knight Circus Freak Criminal Connection Deep Cover Dread Pirate Exile Noble Savage Outsider Prince of Thieves Raised by Wolves Redemption Revolutionary Street Rat Vigilante Wanted Dead or Alive |
MysticalAccidental Hero
Auspicious Lineage Dead Man Walking Discovery Forbidden Magic Heirloom Lab Rat Living Legend Monster Slayer Nascent Mage Oathsworn Of Two Worlds School of Magic Secret Society The Chosen One Voice of Nature |
ProfessionalAstrologer
Bounty Hunter Business Tycoon Country Bumpkin Courtesan Eager Apprentice Explorer Fortune Teller Gladiator Grizzled Veteran Indentured Servitude Reclaimer Rogue Scholar Tech Genius Traveling Merchant Treasure Hunter Wandering Minstrel |
SocialAnonymous Benefactor
Arch Enemy Aristocrat Blood Brothers Celebrity Heir to the Throne Last of the Order Mistaken Identity Onerous Debt Orphan People's Champion Person of Influence Right-Hand Man Search Party True Love World Traveler |
Deviant
AVENGER
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Something or someone close to you was taken and you are consumed with thoughts of revenge. Such a drive pushes you to train harder, forsaking all comforts in pursuit of your goal...and one day you will confront those responsible for your loss and make them pay.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Attention to Detail Badass Hulking Strength Imposing Presence Well-Traveled Pick ONE of these Assets:
Reputation Sworn Enemy Weapon Expertise |
CHALLENGES
Word of your quarry's last known location has reached your ears. The hunt is on.
A rival avenger pursues your quarry with different methods and a very different endgame in mind for them.
The lead you've been following turns out to be a trap set by your enemies to mislead and destroy you.
RESOURCES
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Black knight
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Either by disgrace or dishonor, you have lost your influence and authority, yet retain all your drive and deadly skill. On the run from those you once fought alongside, you operate outside the law, doing necessary evils others will not sully their hands with.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Badass Creature of the Night Imposing Presence Iron Will Tit for Tat Pick ONE of these Assets:
Diplomatic Immunity Immortality Rank & Title |
CHALLENGES
You come across a former brother in arms who is now honor-bound to kill you.
An opportunity to reclaim your honor (at great difficulty or personal cost) presents itself.
A dark deed no other knight has the stomach for must be done and all eyes turn to you.
RESOURCES
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CIRCUS FREAK
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Your unusual talent or appearance has made you something of a spectacle and an outcast in normal society. But in the circus, you're right at home with a family of fellow misfits. Though you've left the big top behind for greater things, your ties to the circus remain.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Acrobat Comic Relief Entertainer Escape Artist Hulking Strength Pick ONE of these Assets:
Ambidextrous Art Posse |
CHALLENGES
A letter from a circus friend tells you that your old ringmaster has gone missing with quite a sizeable debt left behind.
Your old troupe has been taken over by a merciless gang of thieves and tricksters.
A terrible accident at the circus starts to look less like misfortune and more like murder.
RESOURCES
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CRIMINAL CONNECTION
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Because of your upbringing or the decisions of your parents, you've grown up mingling in criminal circles and maintain close ties to those in the underworld. You know who to suck up to, who to avoid, and who you can go to for favors or your next job.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Con Artist Criminal Gift for Subtlety I Know a Guy Streetwise Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Secret Society Tricks of the Trade |
CHALLENGES
The head of a powerful (but somewhat noble) crime family has passed away. His rotten children now vie for power and you are sucked into the fray.
A vile new gang has moved into town and is muscling your allies out.
The guard has a zealous new captain who has already overseen the arrest of many close friends and important allies. If something isn't done soon, you may find yourself on the witness stand or in the hangman's noose.
RESOURCES
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DEEP COVER
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You have ingratiated yourself into the inner circle, pretending to be someone you're not in order to gather intelligence and sabotage an operation from the inside. A master of disguise and deception, you're close to learning the enemy's most guarded secrets.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Devil's Own Gift for Subtlety Light Touch Master of Disguise Never Bullshit a Bullshitter Pick ONE of these Assets:
Patronage Secret Society Tricks of the Trade |
CHALLENGES
You must do something unconscionable in order to maintain your cover, and all eyes are watching.
One of your new "allies" has grown suspicious and could compromise your cover.
You begin to grow attached to those you've infiltrated and sympathetic to their cause.
RESOURCES
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DREAD PIRATE
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When setting out to sea, merchants and naval conscripts whisper your name with fear. As a dreaded scourge of the high seas, you are a skilled sailor with enough charisma and deadly prowess to strike terror into the heart of any landlubber.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Able Seaman Criminal Devil's Own Iron Fortitude Strong Swimmer Pick ONE of these Assets:
Boat Posse Relic |
CHALLENGES
There are whispers of a mutiny. Someone is turning your crew against you.
A fleet of wealthy merchant ships just left from port, guarded only by a small token fleet.
You win half of a treasure map in a game of chance. Where does it lead? And where is the other half?
RESOURCES
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EXILE
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Because of political turmoil, famine, war, or your own dark deeds, you have been forced from your homeland. You are an exile, a stranger in a strange land hoping to one day return home and reclaim your place among your people.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Catlike Agility Indomitable Polyglot Ready for Anything Survival Instinct Pick ONE of these Assets:
Diplomatic Immunity Sworn Enemy Wagon |
CHALLENGES
Word comes from your homeland; the family you were forced to leave behind is in danger.
You hear tales of an artifact that could restore your home and homeland, if only it could be found and mastered.
A fellow countryman recognizes you and asks for a favor, one you may not have been willing to do previously, but under the circumstances...
RESOURCES
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NOBLE SAVAGE
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Though technologically primitive, your people are peaceful and good, living in harmony with nature. While baffled by the norms of modern society, you are quite at home in the wild, able to navigate the landscape and its many dangers with ease.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Able Bodied Animal Kinship Killer Instinct Nature's Ally Storyteller Pick ONE of these Assets:
Craft Disease Resistant Rituals |
CHALLENGES
The elders of your tribe have sent an urgent message; they need you to return home at once.
You see one of your people captured, mocked, and abused by a mob of ignorant townsfolk.
A potential contact or (so-called) ally of your adventuring group refuses to have any dealings with a "dirty savage" like you.
RESOURCES
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OUTSIDER
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Society has shunned you. Perhaps you are grotesque in appearance. Perhaps your beliefs are far outside the norm. For whatever reason, you've learned how to go through life alone, living by yourself on the fringes of society. Truth is, you've come to prefer it.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Acrobat Animal Friendship Double Jointed Nose for Trouble Uncanny Senses Pick ONE of these Assets:
Craft Reputation Third Eye |
CHALLENGES
A heavily-armed militia of local witch-hunters is seeking you out on trumped up charges with a mind to burn you at the stake.
In your travels, you come across a sealed treasure and a note of warning.
A kind stranger invites you in, only to be shunned by the rest of their community for associating with you.
RESOURCES
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PRINCE OF THIEVES
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With skills, charisma, and a flair for theatrics, you stage incredible heists, stealing priceless art, crown jewels, rare artifacts, and other fantastic treasures. Stories of your exploits have become legend among commoners and your fellow criminals.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Catlike Agility Criminal Master of Disguise My Reputation Precedes Me Sneakthief Pick ONE of these Assets:
Relic Reputation Wealth |
CHALLENGES
The Eye of Zephon has eluded you for years, but you've just learned of its acquisition by a wealthy and cruel baron. Your crew is in. The game is afoot.
Your latest acquisition turns out to be more than a pretty bauble - it's a dangerous magical artifact sought after by a doomsday cult.
A famed engineer offers a reward to any thief who can enter his "impregnable" vault.
RESOURCES
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RAISED BY WOLVES
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While you may or may not have been raised by actual wolves, your upbringing was nothing short of barbaric. You have a wild nature unfit for the fragile civilities of society and prefer life on the frontier, where all the action and adventure is.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Animal Kinship Freerunner Iron Fortitude Nature's Ally Uncanny Senses Pick ONE of these Assets:
Animal Spirit Disease Immunity Rituals |
CHALLENGES
Your actual parentage turns out to be much more noble and important than anyone ever would have expected.
A passing noble takes offense at your rudeness and resolves to have you put down like the animal they believe you to be.
One of your wild parents is at the heart of a guerilla-style war against a frontier city. Whose side will you take?
RESOURCES
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REDEMPTION
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You were responsible for some terrible deed, some morally reprehensible act which you cannot forgive yourself for. To atone for your evil past, you have taken to doing good (and often dangerous) deeds in hopes of one day tipping the karmic scales back in your favor.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Adrenaline Junkie Creature of the Night Grace Under Fire Killer Instinct Manipulative Bastard Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Reputation Secret Society |
CHALLENGES
You hear a cry for help in the distance and cannot help but run into the fray without realizing what you're getting into.
A situation arises similar to the test you failed so long ago. Will history repeat itself or will you do things differently?
In the moment of truth, you discover that doing the right thing is going to require a sacrifice on your part. A big one.
RESOURCES
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REVOLUTIONARY
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You wage a war against a broken, unjust system alongside a rag-tag band of rebels. Your fight may be against political, social, religious, economic, or any number of other forces, but you fight on no matter the odds, gaining ground and supporters every step of the way.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Indomitable Orator Ready for Anything Tactician Team Player Pick ONE of these Assets:
Manse Patronage Posse |
CHALLENGES
A powerful potential ally could sway the tide of war in your favor, but before they join your cause, they require something of you.
Your forces retreat from a terrible defeat with the realization that there is a spy among you.
The moment you've been waiting for has arrived - it is time to strike a key blow against your enemy, one that could potentially end the war and see your side victorious. Are you ready?
RESOURCES
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STREET RAT
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A lifetime on the streets has made you tough and savvy. You know every nook and crook in this city and can navigate its many pitfalls with ease. While you may not have family in the traditional sense, the beggars, thieves, and whores are your tribe.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Catlike Agility Con Artist Freerunner Sneakthief Streetwise Pick ONE of these Assets:
Ambidextrous Connections Disease Resistant |
CHALLENGES
For their own eccentric reasons, a wealthy noble opens their home to you, taking you in as one of their own. You are thrust into a world of wealth and privilege wholly alien to you.
An old friend joins a violent street gang and you fear for their safety.
Your vile manners and coarse language offends one of your group's allies. You must make amends or risk losing their aid.
RESOURCES
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VIGILANTE
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The streets are filthy, the courts are corrupt, and the guards are little more than useless thugs. Someone's got to do something. You've taken the law into your own capable hands as judge, jury, and executioner. Each night, you emerge from the shadows to do what must be done, enacting justice to make the city safe again.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Badass Creature of the Night Detective Natural Athlete Streetwise Pick ONE of these Assets:
Patronage Sworn Enemy Wealth |
CHALLENGES
A notorious criminal you put away is back on the streets and out for revenge. Bringing you to utter ruin is now their sole obsession.
Your secret identity is discovered by a cunning young orphan.
Though you are technically an outlaw, the captain of the guard secretly contacts you, asking for help with a seemingly impossible case.
RESOURCES
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WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
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You have been accused of committing a heinous crime and as such are being pursued by the authorities across several realms. As a result, you have learned to live outside the system and maintain a number of contacts in the criminal underworld.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Criminal Imposing Presence Master of Disguise My Reputation Precedes Me Survival Instinct Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Reputation Weapon Expertise |
CHALLENGES
Bounty hunters have caught word of your location and are on their way to capture you.
You are innocent of the crime for which you've been accused. You've been trying to prove your innocence while on the run and have just picked up on the trail of the real culprit.
In an attempt to draw you out, bounty hunters have kidnapped a loved one.
RESOURCES
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Mystical
ACCIDENTAL HERO
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You never wanted to be a hero. In fact, you'd much rather lead a quiet life. But it seems fate, circumstance, and the will of the gods have all conspired to make you the hero no one asked for (but everyone needs).
Pick ONE of these Features:
Artisan Comic Relief Everyone's Best Friend Inconspicuous Nose for Trouble Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Craft Income |
CHALLENGES
An unheroic task suited to your particular skillset awaits; a task which no one else can (or will) do.
You must convince a potential ally that you are a hero, but they refuse to believe that you (of all people) could ever be heroic.
An epic quest which many great heroes have failed somehow falls to you. Will you rise to the challenge or fail like the others?
RESOURCES
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AUSPICIOUS LINEAGE
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You come from a long, prestigious line and your name carries weight, both in terms of social clout and expectation. What does the mention of your name conjure in the minds of others? What does your family expect of you? What do you expect from yourself?
Pick ONE of these Features:
Chessmaster Diplomat Famous My Reputation Precedes Me Physician Pick ONE of these Assets:
Manse Reputation Wealth |
CHALLENGES
Your family tomb was just robbed...and by a relative no less! What were they after?
The spirit of a long dead ancestor has been appearing in your dreams lately with a grim warning...
There is a dark stain on your family name, an atrocity from generations past. It now falls on you to set right this wrong from long, long ago.
RESOURCES
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DEAD MAN WALKING
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You should not be alive. Whether you survived an accident, an assassination attempt, or some other deadly scenario, your friends, family, and the official record believe you to be dead. Your past is haunted but your future is a blank canvas.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Adrenaline Junkie Devil's Own Fearless Jack of All Trades Nose for Trouble Pick ONE of these Assets:
Immortality Secret Society Third Eye |
CHALLENGES
The one responsible for your "death" discovers that you're still alive and aims to finish what they started.
A mistake from your past life comes back to haunt you in the present.
You actually did die and the powers that returned you to life did so on the condition that you would fulfill one simple task when the time comes. The time has come.
RESOURCES
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DISCOVERY
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You were instrumental in making a landmark discovery in your field, but received no recognition or recompense for your work. You now seek to prove your genius, your worthiness to claim the honor you were once denied.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Academic Arcane Prodigy Creative Genius Eccentric Inventor Scientific Approach Pick ONE of these Assets:
Airship Craft Patronage |
CHALLENGES
A flaw in your original discovery leads to disaster and you finally get some kind of recognition...in the form of blame.
You uncover surprising new data that could lead to another breakthrough.
A mysterious figure familiar with your work seeks you out for help with an exciting new project.
RESOURCES
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FORBIDDEN MAGIC
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You were warned. But ambition, greed, or simple curiosity got the better of you and you dabbled in Mysteries you were not able to comprehend or control. Now you're paying the price for your sins and doing everything in your power to contain what you set loose.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Arcane Prodigy Bookworm Devil's Own Manipulative Bastard Pain Tolerant Pick ONE of these Assets:
Arcane Theorum Eldritch Pact Lore |
CHALLENGES
You've learned a counterspell that could reverse the effects of the original Spell you cast. But attaining it will be costly...
A group of witch-hunters have been dogging your steps for some time. Now, they have finally caught up with you.
A demon of light appears before you one night in your dreams, offering you a way out of your predicament with what seems to be a reasonable offer.
RESOURCES
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HEIRLOOM
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For generations, an heirloom has been passed down through your family. It's a strange curio that no one has ever thought of as more than a symbol of your household. Now it seems there is much more to the old family relic than anyone ever realized.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Bookworm Iron Will Noble Bearing Poker Face Tit for Tat Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Craft Relic |
CHALLENGES
You awaken to broken glass, a door ajar, and your family heirloom missing.
A group of oddly dressed strangers accosts you, asking questions about your heirloom and demanding you hand it over to them.
One fine day, your family heirloom begins glowing. No one can ascertain why or how to make it stop.
RESOURCES
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LAB RAT
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You are the product of a series of secret (and highly unethical) magical or scientific experiments. Those responsible for creating you have fled into the shadows, abandoning you to your own devices. Shunned by society, you are a wonder and a freak.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Double Jointed Hulking Strength Pain Tolerant Scientific Approach The Big Guy/Girl Pick ONE of these Assets:
Ambidextrous Disease Resistant Third Eye |
CHALLENGES
After years of searching, you have finally found the one who created you.
Whatever process created you has begun to break down. You need to find a way to stabilize and revitalize yourself.
You always thought you were alone, one of a kind. But you just met someone else exactly like you - and not under the best of circumstances.
RESOURCES
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LIVING LEGEND
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You are famous for a heroic or villainous deed, the realities of which have been greatly exaggerated by the gossip of peasants and the songs of bards. Nonetheless, you are well-known for your deeds and your legacy can be leveraged to win favors or fear from those who don't know otherwise.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Adrenaline Junkie Adventure is my Middle Name Famous My Reputation Precedes Me Storyteller Pick ONE of these Assets:
Patronage Relic Reputation |
CHALLENGES
There is a rumor going around that you actually didn't do the deed for which you are famed. Are these rumors true? Will you squelch the rumors or confirm them?
A bard follows you around, hoping to write a full account of all your adventures and getting you both into trouble along the way.
The locals flock to see you in action, endangering themselves and hindering your quest.
RESOURCES
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MONSTER SLAYER
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Creatures of darkness fear you. You are a renowned slayer of vampiirs, demons, and all manner of foul beasts, tracking them relentlessly through the night. Your grim occupation has led you to many strange and dangerous places in pursuit of your prey.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Able Bodied Creature of the Night Student of War Tough as Nails Well-Traveled Pick ONE of these Assets:
Disease Resistant Lore Weapon Expertise |
CHALLENGES
You are hired to kill a monster that doesn't seem monstrous at all. In fact, it seems your employers are the real monsters here.
Word reaches you of a beast none can kill, one whom the local lords have all pooled their resources to offer a massive bounty on.
A horrible monster you once killed has seemingly returned with a vengeance. Your reputation is called into question and worse may happen if you don't deal with the beast's renewed threat.
RESOURCES
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NASCENT MAGE
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Either through study or eldritch visions, you have come to understand The Mystery, but cannot fully control your emerging powers. Knowing the prejudices people hold towards magic-users, you've managed to keep your abilities a secret...for now.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Arcane Prodigy Educated Eidetic Memory Mystic Streetwise Pick ONE of these Assets:
Arcane Theorum Familiar Rituals |
CHALLENGES
A friend with a proclivity for gossip witnesses you casting spells. There's no way this person can keep a secret for long.
You have attracted the attention of a local cadre of thuggish witch-hunters. An investigation is underway.
You find yourself in a situation where you must use your magic publicly or lose something precious.
RESOURCES
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OATHSWORN
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You've sworn a sacred oath before gods and men to fulfill some duty or uphold a certain code of behavior. Your oath gives you strength and purpose, but also restricts much of what you can and cannot do. What exactly did you swear and why?
Pick ONE of these Features:
Air of Authority Clergy Grace Under Fire Indomitable Student of War Pick ONE of these Assets:
Rank & Title Secret Society Sworn Enemy |
CHALLENGES
You are forced into a situation where you must break your oath or sacrifice something precious to uphold it.
A rival shows you a new and unexpected way of interpreting and fulfilling your oath.
The tenants of your oath compel you to action when you might otherwise prefer to sit this one out.
RESOURCES
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OF TWO WORLDS
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With your parents hailing from very different worlds, you were brought up as a child of both and neither. Though you can't say you truly belong anywhere, you know much about these two different cultures and have friends and family in each.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Boundless Energy Everyone's Best Friend Polyglot Ready for Anything Well-Connected Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Diplomatic Immunity Third Eye |
CHALLENGES
The two sides of your heritage have grown to despise one another and are quickly moving towards all-out war (in some form or fashion).
A cryptic message from one of your parents draws you into a battle for their inheritance.
There is rumor of a great vault filled with treasures, which only someone of your peculiar heritage can open.
RESOURCES
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SCHOOL OF MAGIC
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Under the careful tutelage of seasoned magicians, you spent your childhood learning how to unravel and harness the secrets of The Mystery. You still maintain close ties with the school of your youth, keeping in touch with old friends and teachers. Perhaps you've even entertained the thought of teaching one day.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Arcane Prodigy Bookworm Educated Mystic Orator Pick ONE of these Assets:
Arcane Theorum Lore Secret Society |
CHALLENGES
On the recommendation of a former classmate, an elite but nefarious group asks you to consider joining their ranks.
Word reaches you that your favorite teacher from school has fallen on hard times.
The school which you have so many fond (if peculiar) memories of was recently closed down under suspicious circumstances.
RESOURCES
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SECRET SOCIETY
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You are a member of a secret society, a shadowy covenant whose members include the wealthy and powerful. Though you may use the organization to further your own goals, know that such an arrangement cuts both ways as you will be expected to fulfill your duties to the group and keep its secrets.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Clergy Mystic Poker Face Polyglot Well-Connected Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Rituals Secret Society |
CHALLENGES
An anonymous activist has written a manifesto exposing the secrets of your order and has plans in place for widespread distribution of this information.
The rituals you once believed to be strange but benign traditions have been working these many years to awaken some nameless eldritch horror this whole time - and the ritual is nearly complete.
The society performs a ritual once every thousand years that keeps evil at bay and allows the nation to prosper. As the day of the ritual draws nigh, you discover that it requires a human sacrifice.
RESOURCES
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THE CHOSEN ONE
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Signs in the heavens foretold your birth, proclaiming that you would do great (or terrible) things during your life. All of the prophecies about you have come true thus far; you are the chosen one and forces beyond your control rally both for and against you.
Pick ONE of these Features:
A Way With Words Grace Under Fire My Reputation Precedes Me Natural Athlete Star Quality Pick ONE of these Assets:
Posse Relic Reputation |
CHALLENGES
A cult based on the prophecies concerning you has formed. All over the land, they perform dark, twisted deeds in your name, claiming you as their leader and role-model.
You must complete a seemingly impossible gauntlet of challenges in order to prove who you are and fulfill another part of the prophecy.
The great enemy you were prophesied to destroy has arisen and you are hopelessly outmatched. Despite what the prophecies say, there is no possible way for you to defeat this enemy.
RESOURCES
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VOICE OF NATURE
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You speak for the trees, beasts, and other natural entities without voices as Mortals understand them. As an advocate for the natural world, you often find yourself at odds with those who favor progress and short-term prosperity over preservation of the life and well-being of these beautiful worlds.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Healer Killer Instinct Mystic Nature's Ally Uncanny Senses Pick ONE of these Assets:
Craft Disease Resistant Third Eye |
CHALLENGES
The spirits of the forest have given you an important task, one vital to the survival of the realm an its creatures.
A wealthy and powerful lord has ordered the destruction of a nearby forest you protect.
You've been entrusted with the seed of a new World Tree. Not only must you protect it at all costs, but must find a suitable place to plant and care for it. The survival of this world depends on your success.
RESOURCES
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Professional
ASTROLOGER
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The will of the gods and the designs of fate are spelled out plainly in the heavens for those who have eyes to see and knowledge to understand. Unsettling signs in the sky have begun to appear of late, setting you on a journey to prevent the doom you see unfolding.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Attention to Detail Bureaucrat Data Collector Educated Prescient Pick ONE of these Assets:
Lore Secret Society Visions |
CHALLENGES
While casually gazing one night, you see a sign in the sky which foretells the imminent death of a close friend.
It appears your original calculation and subsequent predictions may have been incorrect, for better or worse.
A rival astrologer is working to discredit your predictions and ruin your reputation. They've already turned powerful individuals against you.
RESOURCES
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BOUNTY HUNTER
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You make your living hunting down criminals, monsters, and those on the run from authority. You don't question your quarry's guilt or the morality of the situation; all that matters is whether or not you get paid...and how much.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Badass Imposing Presence Never Bullshit a Bullshitter Sense of Direction Tough as Nails Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Patronage Weapon Expertise |
CHALLENGES
Turns out there's something unusual or important about your current mark that the client neglected to mention.
A powerful client refuses to pay the previously agreed upon price for your services.
You get word of a new bounty on someone you know, someone you care about deeply...and the price for their head is the highest you've ever seen.
RESOURCES
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BUSINESS TYCOON
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Before leading a life of adventure, you once made a fortune in the world of business. While your personal assets might have dwindled somewhat of late, you are still respected, feared, loved, and hated by those you once did business with.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Artisan Bureaucrat Con Artist Mind for Business Tech Savvy Pick ONE of these Assets:
Income Manse Wealth |
CHALLENGES
A new and unexpected market opens up on the far side of the world. You aim to be among the first to stake your claim.
Your supply chain is in jeopardy and you must root out and deal with the cause if you are to remain financially solvent.
A competitor has found a way to offer his goods for much cheaper than you, but you have no idea how they could get their prices so low. Foul play seems afoot.
RESOURCES
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COUNTRY BUMPKIN
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Unpaved roads, great green fields, and the rhythm of nature filled the idyllic days of your youth. While you may have gone on to bigger and better (or just more complicated) things, your heart will always remember the lessons you learned from the country.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Able Bodied Animal Kinship Inconspicuous Storyteller The Big Guy/Girl Pick ONE of these Assets:
Craft Manse Wagon |
CHALLENGES
You return to your country home only to find that things are not quite how you left them. Or maybe it's you who has changed?
A legend you heard growing up turns out to be much more than mere folklore.
Your humble origins are made known. Rivals and others within your circle start to belittle you because of your rustic background.
RESOURCES
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COURTESAN
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As a practitioner of the Sphere's oldest profession, you've had your fair share of adventures, trysts, and secrets. Though you've left that past behind you for greener pastures, you still retain all your many wiles and charms as ties to the old life keep calling to you.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Gift for Subtlety Grace & Charm Light Touch Seductive Sex Appeal Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Connections Tricks of the Trade |
CHALLENGES
An old client of yours is being elected to city council and his enemies come to you for dirt.
You know a secret about the prince, one his family will do anything to hide and his enemies will pay dearly to expose.
A killer is targeting working girls. Old friends of yours are dead, scared, and turning to you for help.
RESOURCES
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EAGER APPRENTICE
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With the energy of youth, you are ready to overcome any obstacle, conquer any opponent, and shatter every expectation. You're going to be the best there ever was! Once you master the basics, that is. What you lack in knowledge, you make up for in zeal.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Boundless Energy Comic Relief Manual Dexterity Physician Student of War Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Craft Patronage |
CHALLENGES
The master takes on direct instruction of another apprentice, one even more reckless and headstrong than you are.
The next part of your training is about to begin, and few ever make it to this stage. What awaits you? Are you up for it?
A failed former student threatens your master and all they've ever built - this includes you and the other apprentices.
RESOURCES
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EXPLORER
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For the sake of coin, thrill, or academic interest, you spend your days delving into the depths of Golden Age ruins in search of knowledge and treasure. You are skilled at navigating dungeons and finding the secrets that lie hidden within.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Adventure is My Middle Name Light Touch Ready for Anything Scientific Approach Well-Traveled Pick ONE of these Assets:
Lore Relic Wagon |
CHALLENGES
Word of a nearby ruin has reached your ears, and there's something interesting about this one you're not going to believe...
You have acquired an ancient key to a stone door carved into a lonely hill in some forgotten corner of the world.
Entering this dungeon has released the ancient evil that was once sealed within. Now it's after you and all who unearthed it.
RESOURCES
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FORTUNE TELLER
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By supernatural ability or a talent for chicanery, you claim to read the fortunes of those willing to pay for your services. This strange aptitude for seeing (or just guessing) the future has landed you in and out of trouble time and again.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Entertainer Mystic Never Bullshit a Bullshitter Prescient Storyteller Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Empyrean Contract Visions |
CHALLENGES
Each night, you dream a version of the same strange dream. Today, you see something from your recurring dream in the real world.
A former client, angry at how their fortune turned out, seeks revenge on you.
For the first time, a prediction you were absolutely certain of proves wrong and you aim to find out why.
RESOURCES
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GLADIATOR
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In the fighting pits, there are only two types of competitors: winners and losers, the ruthless and the dead. For fame, fortune, sport, or the demands of a cruel master, you've spent years fighting in the pits and arena, staying alive only by the combat prowess of a veteran and the ferocity of a beast.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Entertainer Grace Under Fire Lightning Reflexes Student of War Tough as Nails Pick ONE of these Assets:
Combat Maneuvers Patron Weapon Expertise |
CHALLENGES
A deadly new combatant is all the talk lately - it seems there is no one they can't kill. And you are their next opponent.
A new master buys your contract and offers to free you in exchange for one small task.
No more will you fight for scraps at the bottom of the heap. You cast your gaze upwards and set your sites on becoming grand champion.
RESOURCES
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GRIZZLED VETERAN
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You've seen more than your share of battle, having fought in wars and skirmishes since the days of your youth. On bloody fields where many died, you survived on your cunning, toughness, and skill in battle, assets which you still use in your every day life as a civilian adventurer.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Fearless Student of War Tactician Tough as Nails Wandering Warrior Pick ONE of these Assets:
Combat Maneuvers Rank & Title Sworn Enemy |
CHALLENGES
An old war buddy shows up at your door, asking for help with a problem only you can solve.
The enemy you once fought so hard to vanquish has risen anew and you catch whispers of their return to power.
You return from war to find your home in peril. The place and people you love are much worse off than when you left. You must set things right.
RESOURCES
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INDENTURED SERVITUDE
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In much of the Sphere, slavery is illegal. Elsewhere, a person may be captured and enslaved or elect to become a slave for a set time in order to cancel a debt or pay for a crime. Now or in the past, you've found yourself in such an unhappy circumstance, serving a cruel master.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Able Seaman Boundless Energy Escape Artist Iron Will Pain Tolerant Pick ONE of these Assets:
Craft Patronage Sworn Enemy |
CHALLENGES
The other slaves are planning a revolt, but the one leading it is cruel, arrogant, and likely to turn the revolt into a massacre (for one side or the other).
You left something precious in the hands of your former master when you fled their control. You must reclaim it.
After years of seeking you out, agents of your former master have learned of your location and are on their way.
RESOURCES
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RECLAIMER
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Something precious to you has been lost: a kingdom, a loved one, an inheritance, or even a part of your own body or soul. By whatever means possible and necessary, you will reclaim what you've lost, perhaps gaining even more during the course of your journey.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Diplomat Fearless Jack of All Trades Lightning Reflexes Wandering Warrior Pick ONE of these Assets:
Noble Steed Patron Sworn Enemy |
CHALLENGES
A powerful organization gains a stake in seeing your reclamation fail and does everything they can to hinder your progress.
Powerful allies offer their assistance at a great and difficult price, a price which may cost you more in the long run than you stand to gain.
A terrible enemy stands to gain much should your quest succeed. Do you persist or change course?
RESOURCES
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ROGUE SCHOLAR
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Most academics are content to spend their lives perusing dusty tomes and droning on in lecture halls. Though every bit their intellectual peer, you prefer a more...hands on approach to the pursuit of knowledge and would sooner dive headfirst into an ancient crypt than spend your days pouring over maps.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Academic Adventure is My Middle Name Eccentric Inventor Nose for Trouble Scientific Approach Pick ONE of these Assets:
Lore Patronage Relic |
CHALLENGES
While browsing through the library, you come across a peculiar tome that mentions a lost treasure in a secluded ruin somewhere on the far side of the world.
Your research into the origins and fundamental nature of magic has led you to the base of a haunted mountain ruin.
Evil forces have stolen your notes and are now in pursuit of a dangerous relic you've been researching.
RESOURCES
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TECH GENIUS
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You are a consummate tinkerer, a creator of mechanical wonders. Though some may call you mad, you like to think of yourself as something more akin to an artist. You have an answer to every problem, often in the form of some mechanical oddity you just dreamed up.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Eccentric Inventor Genius Manual Dexterity Scientific Approach Tech Savvy Pick ONE of these Assets:
Craft Invention Manse |
CHALLENGES
One of your more dangerous inventions has gone missing and you suspect foul play.
Though you aren't sure all will go well, the time has come to give your latest invention a proper field test.
A rival inventor has stolen one of your designs, "improved" upon it, and turned the resulting creation towards nefarious ends.
RESOURCES
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TRAVELING MERCHANT
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Cart bulging with goods, you travel from town to town selling your wares. With many miles behind you and many more ahead, you are an adept traveler. Your easy smile and natural charisma make you a great salesman while your eye for danger and a bargain keeps you one step ahead of insolvency.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Artisan Everyone's Best Friend Mind for Business Nose for Trouble Well-Traveled Pick ONE of these Assets:
Boat Income Wagon |
CHALLENGES
You acquire a strange stone at auction. Though you thought nothing of it initially, its attracted no end of trouble since coming into your possession. And yet you can't help but feel it is somehow very important...
On the road to the next trading post, you are accosted by an unusual gang of bandits.
One of your most valued clients asks you to procure a peculiar item from a far away place on their behalf.
RESOURCES
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TREASURE HUNTER
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You make your living as a treasure hunter, delving into ruins, shipwrecks, and other dangerous places where great treasure awaits. Though you have already claimed many valuables during your storied career, you are always on the hunt for new treasures to claim.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Attention to Detail Fearless Light Touch Ready for Anything Well-Traveled Pick ONE of these Assets:
Lore Relic Wealth |
CHALLENGES
You hear tales of a fantastic treasure many have sought but none have yet laid claim to.
A treasure you've already sold turns out to be much more important, dangerous, and valuable than you originally thought.
A group of rival adventurers seeks the same fortune you do and is using every underhanded trick in the book to beat you to it.
RESOURCES
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WANDERING MINSTREL
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With a lute in your hands and a song in your heart, you wander from town to town spreading joy, stories, and news from lands afar. You are well known for your bawdy tales and creative brilliance, being famed as a performer and a philanderer in the lands you frequent.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Comic Relief Creative Genius Entertainer Storyteller Well-Traveled Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Lore Reputation |
CHALLENGES
Aa rival bard challenges you to a duel of stories; whoever can tell the best tale (as judged by your eager audience) wins half of a treasure map.
You've been telling this story for years...you never knew it was true (at least in part).
An inn you frequent has burned to the ground; arson is suspected and you or someone you care about is the prime suspect.
RESOURCES
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Social
ANONYMOUS BENEFACTOR
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An anonymous patron supplies you with equipment, resources, and information, helping you accomplish your goals (and perhaps their own in the process). Your patron has never asked you for anything directly, but in your experience, help like this doesn't come without a price.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Able Bodied Artisan I Know a Guy My Reputation Precedes Me Well-Connected Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Connections Patron |
CHALLENGES
Your benefactor has mysteriously disappeared and no one knows where to.
Your benefactor sends you a message: for the first time ever, they ask to arrange a face to face meeting.
One of your benefactor's enemies sees you as their protégé and has begun targeting you to get at your patron.
RESOURCES
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ARCH ENEMY
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You have an enemy. And not just any enemy. You have an arch enemy, someone who has made it their life's work to foil you at every turn. Their antagonism may be deadly or simply cruel, but one thing is certain: they despise you with every fiber of their being.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Criminal Detective Pain Tolerant Ready for Anything Star Quality Pick ONE of these Assets:
Reputation Sworn Enemy Weapon Expertise |
CHALLENGES
A hit squad from your arch enemy shows up at the worst possible moment with every intention of destroying you.
Your arch enemy has taken someone you love or stolen something precious from you. You must get it/them back at any cost.
Hat in hand, your arch enemy comes to you asking to reconcile...but you sense something is amiss. What's their angle this time?
RESOURCES
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ARISTOCRAT
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You were born into a life of wealth and privilege. While those around you indulge their appetites and played out their petty dramas, you saw the reality of injustice around you. You now seek to use your talents, resources, and position to change the world. Or at least shake things up a bit.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Air of Authority Born Leader Educated Noble Bearing Well-Connected Pick ONE of these Assets:
Diplomatic Immunity Manse Wealth |
CHALLENGES
An acquaintance of yours with a penchant for mischief knocks on your door at midnight.
A troop of armed guards shows up one evening with a warrant for your arrest.
One of your misadventures has blown up into a full-on scandal, only this time you're actually innocent of the accusations (for once).
RESOURCES
1You start the game with an extra 10 Supply and
up to 25 extra Crowns worth of Armaments |
BLOOD BROTHERS
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You are extremely close to a person or small group of people. You grew up together, know each other inside and out and when one of you is in need, the others come running. What are they like? What are they likely to need from you? What do you need from them?
Pick ONE of these Features:
Everyone's Best Friend Grace Under Fire I Know a Guy Natural Athlete Team Player Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Income Posse |
CHALLENGES
A close friend has died under mysterious circumstances and the old gang reunites at the funeral.
One of your friends has been arrested for a truly heinous crime and the evidence against them looks damning.
A curse has befallen a friend and you are the only person who can help them lift it.
RESOURCES
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CELEBRITY
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Wherever you go, your fame precedes you. People know your name, your face, your story. Many obsessed fans feel they know you personally and will go to any lengths for an encounter. Amidst the glamour and fable, let it be remembered that you are a person too. An exceptional person, but a person all the same.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Creative Genius Famous Grace & Charm Sex Appeal Star Quality Pick ONE of these Assets:
Posse Reputation Wealth |
CHALLENGES
A disturbed fan has begun a spree of horrendous killings to get your attention.
You meet a talented young star on the rise who is making all the same foolish mistakes you once made.
An opportunity to be totally anonymous (for once in your life) presents itself. What is required to take this opportunity and what are you like without your fame?
RESOURCES
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HEIR TO THE THRONE
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A position of power and influence awaits. For some time now, you've been groomed for leadership, waiting to fill an important position once it becomes vacant. Rivals plot against you. Others seek an alliance. Betrayal and deceit are around every corner.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Air of Authority Bureaucrat Chessmaster Eidetic Memory Genius Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Patronage Rank & Title |
CHALLENGES
A pretender to the throne challenges your legitimacy and stands to usurp your position.
Before you receive your inheritance, there is one final task you must do in or test you must pass.
You have done something to disqualify yourself from receiving the inheritance and must regain your standing in the eyes of others.
RESOURCES
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LAST OF THE ORDER
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For generations, your order has prevailed in its noble cause. But in-fighting, corruption, and the steady march of time have seen to its decline. Now you alone remain as the last of your order, the only one who still bears the light (and the weight) of its cause.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Clergy Diplomat Freerunner Tactician Wandering Warrior Pick ONE of these Assets:
Diplomatic Immunity Noble Steed Secret Society |
CHALLENGES
Another seeks to join your cause. But the tenants of your order demand that first they undergo a grueling series of trials to prove their worthiness.
You discover a dark secret the order kept hidden from you this whole time.
An opportunity to rebuild your order presents itself. This will come with a great investment of time and resources, but when all is said and done, you will be the new grandmaster of your order, reborn.
RESOURCES
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MISTAKEN IDENTITY
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Someone once mistook you for a famous hero, noble, scholar, or some other notable figure, placing you in a role you've managed to BS your way through. Ever since, you've pretended to be this person, living a life much richer and more rewarding than your old one.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Air of Authority Attractive Con Artist Never Bullshit a Bullshitter Streetwise Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Reputation Rank & Title |
CHALLENGES
You are forced to sacrifice something precious from your old life in order to maintain your cover.
Someone from your past recognizes you. The jig is up unless you can convince this person not to rat you out.
The person you've been impersonating enters your care with no memory of who they really are. But with each passing day, reminders of their old life begin to jog their memory...
RESOURCES
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ONEROUS DEBT
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A massive debt you could never pay off in a lifetime hangs over your head as a constant burden and threat, collecting greater interest every day. Debt collectors hound you constantly, sending goons to harass you while attempting to collect at every turn.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Escape Artist Gift of Gab Lightning Reflexes Poker Face Uncanny Senses Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Rank & Title Wealth |
CHALLENGES
A powerful crime lord takes you into his thrall, offering to pay off all your debts if you do one simple job for him...
Debt collectors crash your wedding, birthday, or some other important milestone in your life, bringing your debt to light in front of all your friends and family.
A bounty is placed on your head for failure to pay your debts. You are now a wanted person with deadly foes in pursuit.
RESOURCES
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ORPHAN
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Your parents both died tragically while you were very young, leaving you in the care of a neglectful relative or state-run orphanage. Your life up to this point has been spent searching for your true identity and the home you never knew.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Iron Fortitude Jack of All Trades Natural Athlete Ready for Anything Wandering Warrior Pick ONE of these Assets:
Craft Patron Relic |
CHALLENGES
It turns out that your parents are still alive somewhere, driven into hiding and forced to leave you behind for your safety.
The one who raised you sends you a mysterious letter from their deathbed.
Your parents left you one thing: a brass key that never tarnishes. All your life, you've wondered what its purpose was and now you have your first clue as to the lock it fits.
RESOURCES
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PEOPLE'S CHAMPION
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Your personal charisma, moral character, and heroic deeds have seen you thrust into the limelight as a champion of the people. Though you are beloved by the common folk, there is no shortage of powerful, well-connected enemies seeking to ruin you.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Attractive Born Leader Healer Natural Athlete Star Quality Pick ONE of these Assets:
Rank & Title Reputation Wealth |
CHALLENGES
The people are suffering under the hand of a cruel tyrant and the growing rebellion looks to you for leadership.
An old enemy dredges up some dark sin from your past, tarnishing your reputation among those who think you can do no wrong.
A rival hero is dragging your name through the mud to bolster their own reputation. Will you fight back or let them get away with it?
RESOURCES
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PERSON OF INFLUENCE
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Through election, appointment, fame, or manipulation, you've landed a position of prestige and influence. Though many will ascribe to your views and agenda, some who oppose them will seek your downfall. Where do you rule and what do you hope to achieve with your reign?
Pick ONE of these Features:
A Way With Words Bureaucrat Famous Noble Bearing Well-Connected Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Diplomatic Immunity Rank & Title |
CHALLENGES
A difficult decision you had to make turns out for the worst. You must fix what you've broken in order to keep your position (and reputation) intact.
Elections are coming up soon. You must campaign and play the political game to stay in office.
An opposing faction is gaining more and more traction against you and your political allies. You must defeat this movement before it gets too powerful.
RESOURCES
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RIGHT-HAND MAN
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You are the attendant, bodyguard, or key advisor of a wealthy, powerful, or otherwise important individual. Though your position is prestigious, it is not without peril; your fortunes are tied to those of your master, and you share their enemies as well as their allies.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Chessmaster Manipulative Bastard Team Player The Big Guy/Girl Uncanny Senses Pick ONE of these Assets:
Patronage Rank & Title Reputation |
CHALLENGES
Your master has fallen gravely ill and you fear it may be poisoning. Not only must you find a cure, but reveal the party responsible for this act of treachery...lest you take the blame.
The one you serve is...not themselves of late. Others might not notice, but to your keen eyes, something seems...off.
Your aging master finally passes away peacefully, transferring their estate and authority to an heir, whom you must now faithfully serve.
RESOURCES
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SEARCH PARTY
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You are searching for someone. Perhaps a loved one, perhaps a mentor, perhaps an enemy. Whoever they are, you have been following their trail for sometime now, wandering from town to town, from adventure to adventure. Who is it you seek? And what you have found so far?
Pick ONE of these Features:
Boundless Energy Detective Uncanny Senses Well-Traveled Wandering Warrior Pick ONE of these Assets:
Connections Noble Steed Sworn Enemy |
CHALLENGES
You hear tales of a seer who can find anyone or anything no matter where they are. She herself is hard to find, however, and her price is said to be exceedingly high.
Another clue leads you to inquire at the castle of a troubled local lord, who is willing to help you...if you'll do something for him first.
All evidence suggests that the one you are seeking is dead. Do you give up the search or keep hope alive?
RESOURCES
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TRUE LOVE
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True love is a rare and powerful thing. You are fortunate enough to have found such a treasure in the arms of another. Your love gives you strength and makes you into a better person. There is nothing you wouldn't do for the one you love and nothing they wouldn't do for you.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Attractive Gift for Subtlety Grace & Charm Iron Will Prescient Pick ONE of these Assets:
Art Manse Visions |
CHALLENGES
A dark secret from your lover's past threatens your beautiful union.
Your love has gone missing and foul play seems to be afoot. You will stop at nothing to find them and bring them back to safety.
A rival lover interposes themselves between you and your one true love, driving a wedge through your relationship. Can your love endure this new challenger?
RESOURCES
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WORLD TRAVELER
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From the dusty plains of Simbala to the peaks of the Aruvaal, your travels have taken you far across the Sphere. Why you wander is your own business, but whatever the reason, you have beheld wonderous things and become a richer soul for the journey.
Pick ONE of these Features:
Able Seaman Storyteller Strong Swimmer Wandering Warrior Well-Traveled Pick ONE of these Assets:
Airship Boat Wagon |
CHALLENGES
A wonder or ruin you've been meaning to explore just so happens to be nearby. Why not go give it a look?
You left something important at a previous destination and must backtrack in order to reclaim it.
In your travels, you happen upon a strange child desperately in need of help. Might they join you in your sojourn?
RESOURCES
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Custom Background
If none of the options here fit your vision for your character, you and the GM may work together to create a custom Background that works for your character and ties into the story your GM is telling. A good Background provides not only some backstory about your character, but a motive and opportunities for new adventures. A Background also provides:
- 150 Crowns, distributed among Armaments, Items, and Wonders in increments of 25, 50, and 75 (or 50, 50, 50).
- Five options for a new Feature associated with the Background.
- Three options for a new Asset associated with the Background.
- Three potential Challenges the GM can use as plot hooks for your character.
