WIP Backgrounds

Mortal Bound

Azuma (Shinobi)

Azuma (Samurai)

Delver

Feature: TBD

Suggested Characteristics

Caligos Inquisitor

Note: completed backgrounds are here and not included below.

Mortal Bound

WIP status: not ready for play, probably not going to be finished unless a campaign or character calls for it
Skill Proficiencies: Persuasion, ReligionLanguages: Two languages of your choiceEquipment: TBD

You were once a being of unfathomable power, some may have called you a patron or even a god. However, for some reason, you have been bound to a mortal body with no access to your former power. You must now struggle through life with all the limitations of mere mortals.

Feature: Loyal Following

Even without your powers, but with some time and charismatic charm, you can recruit small numbers of followers from the local populace. Your followers will make small offerings of food, lodging and coppers. Enough to give you and your companions a modest lifestyle or better (depending on the prosperity of the locals and the strength of your charm). You followers may also do small favours for you, such a relying a message across town or sourcing basic goods, but they will not risk their lives for you. If you are in bad standing with the local populace or law, you will likely find it harder to recruit followers, and may even lose some.

Reason For Binding

For some reason you have fallen and can't get up return to your previous form and regain your powers. Perhaps you entered willingly, perhaps you were forced into it.

1dx| Reason For Binding1 | I am being punished for a crime or misdemeanor that I may, or may not, have committed.2 | I'm in hiding from a more powerful being that is hunting me.3 | I screwed up a ritual or spell and now I'm stuck in this body.4 | A mortal bound me in this form for imprisonment or servitude.5 | I'm hoping to understand a great mystery and felt a new perspective might help.6 | I was simply curious how the simpler beings lived.7 | There are certain laws restricting beings of my kind, I wished to circumvent those laws.8 | I could not stand living forever, watching everything wither and die around me.

Suggested Characteristics

A mortal bound was once a powerful, immortal being and may still act like they are, or they may have already been humbled by the experience and be grateful for what they have left.

1dx| Personality Trait1 | I treat other mortals as lesser beings, they are still just servants or slaves to me.2 | I get bored and frustrated at the mundanity and limited scope of mortal activities and conversations.3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1d6| Ideal1 | Kindness. Just because I'm not as powerful as I once was, doesn't mean I can't still help people as best I can. (Good)2 | Status. I will be returned to my rightful place with all the authority and responsibility that bears. (Lawful)3 | Acceptance. I have made peace with my new life. (Neutral)4 | ... (Chaotic)5 | Power. I am still strong enough to control and destroy those beneath me. (Evil)6 | Purpose. I had a purpose before, I can still commit to that as a mortal. (Any)
1d6| Bond1 | 2 | 3 |4 |5 | There are those who have vandalized my sacred sites and insulted my name during my absence, I will see them punished when I can. 6 | I still have some of the offerings my followers gave to me, I cherish them greatly.
1dx| Flaw1 | I sometimes forget that I am mortal and have lost my powers, I act recklessly, both in combat and social situations.2 | I have no idea how to do even the most basic things, like cooking or cleaning, as I've never had to do them before.3 | Much of my wisdom, knowledge and sense of self-worth came from my powers. I feel lost and empty without them.4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

Some good examples of what this is meant to be are the characters here or here (both TVtropes links)

This is not intended to be a "character regains powers over time" deal or even "character becomes OP after powerup scene", if the character does get their powers back it should be as part of that character's epilogue or retirement from play (unless the DM decides otherwise and works something out)

Azuma (Shinobi)

WIP status: not ready for play, probably not going to be finished unless a campaign or character calls for it
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, StealthTools Proficiencies: Choose one from Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, Thieves' Tools or Poisoner KitLanguages: AzumeseEquipment: A club or dagger disguised as tool, such as a kunai, a thread of fine wire, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a belt pouch containing 15 gp

For Xia only

Among the Azuma people, the shinobi are agents of stealth and subterfuge.

Feature: Shinobi Infiltration

WIP

Maybe include something about being able to navigate Muhai (e.g. something akin to ranger features)

You gain one of the following feats; Actor, Poisoner, Skilled or Skulker.

Shinobi Specialism

Some shinobi have specialist roles and are highly trained for that specialism. You can select your specialism from the table below or roll randomly, you may also come up with your own.

Suggested Characteristics

WIP

1dx| Personality Trait1 | 2 |3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1d6| Ideal1 | Necessity. My skills are a necessary evil that should only be used for the greater good. (Good)2 | Code. Despite my methods I still adere to a code of honor or law. (Lawful)3 | 4 | 5 | Sadism. I greatly enjoy taking or ruining the lives of my targets. (Evil)6 |
1d6| Bond1 | Xia belongs to the Azuma, all others are trespassers and invaders.2 | 3 |4 |5 | Despite its many dangers, I feel at home in the Muhai. 6 |
1d6| Flaw1 | My desire to get the job done sometimes leads to me disregarding risks of exposure or colateral damage.2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Azuma (Samurai)

WIP status: not ready for play, probably not going to be finished unless a campaign or character calls for it
Skill Proficiencies: History, PersuasionTools Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, Calligrapher's ToolsLanguages: AzumeseEquipment: A set of fine clothes, TBD and a purse containing 15 gp

For Xia only

Among the Azuma people, the samurai are a class of aristocratic warriors. Often trained from infancy in the arts of both etiquette and war.

Feature: Noble Master

Samurai serve a noble master, this can be a specific individual, a noble family or a temple. You share in your master's reputation, you are generally welcome where ever they would be, and people assume you have the right to be there. The common folk make every effort to accommodate you and avoid your displeasure.

Alternatively, you might be a ronin, a samurai with no master. For whatever reason, you wander the lands with no one to serve but yourself. Ronin are often seen as mercenaries, disliked by some but the only hope for many others. A ronin can usually find work in any settlement larger than a village, enough to sustain a modest lifestyle.

You gain one of the following feats; Inspiring Leader, Linguist, Resilient or Skilled.

Suggested Characteristics

Often appearing in and around noble courts or temples, samurai are often expected to behave with the same grace and decorum that is expected of their masters. While they may engage in the same rituals and formalities of said masters, their primary purpose is that of a warrior, they must remain ever vigilant and wary, for opportunities as well as dangers.

Ronin may not be held to such high expectations as traditional samurai but many still expect a certain level of dignified elegance. Poor as some may be, ronin are still not common folk. Though for some ronin, this may be a facade they a have since shed, now acting as blunt and uncouth as they please.

1dx| Personality Trait1 | I rarely speak unless spoken to.2 |3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | I have long since shed the facade of eloquence. I act and speak how I please.
1d6| Ideal1 | Respect. Respect is due to me because of my position, but all people regardless of station deserve to be treated with dignity. (Good) 2 | Responsibility. It is my duty to respect the authority of those above me, just as those below me must respect mine. (Lawful) 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
1d6| Bond1 | Xia belongs to the Azuma, all others are trespassers and invaders.2 | I will face any challenge to win the approval of those close to me. 3 | I am a proud warrior of the samurai class, other members of this class are as dear as family to me, even wayward ronins.4 |5 |6 | I serve the common folk as much as I serve the rich and the powerful, if not more.
1d6| Flaw1 | I believe that almost everyone is beneath me.2 | I treat everyone as my better, rarely speaking out against them, even when I should.3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Delver

WIP status: not ready for play, probably not going to be finished unless a campaign or character calls for it
Skill Proficiencies: Nature, SurvivalTools Proficiencies: Woodcarver's Tools, One gaming set or instrument of your choiceLanguages: One of your chocieEquipment:

For Xia only

Delvers are adventurers from all over the world who seek to explore Muhai, the wooden sea. They brave its dangers to uncover knowledge and treasures.

Feature: TBD

sponsor/guild (provided you bring them worthy stuff each month, they will provide lodging and basic resources for expeditions)
feat; alert, dungeon delver, resillient, tough, skilled

Suggested Characteristics

Delvers need to be tough and vigilant to survive the depths of Muhai. WIP

1dx| Personality Trait1 | 2 |3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1d6| Ideal1 | Treasure. Whether its gold, trinkets or knowledge, I crave treasure and will do almost anything to acquire it. (Evil)2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
1d6| Bond1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |5 |6 |
1d6| Flaw1 | My curiousity can lead me to take unneccesary risks.2 | The things I've faced in Muhai have left me jumpy and paranoid, even when I am perfectly safe.3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Caligos Inquisitor

WIP status: not ready for play, probably not going to be finished unless a campaign or character calls for it
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, PerceptionLanguages: Two languages of your choice (typically including celestial or draconic)Equipment: A long dark coat, a bird shaped mask, a cane, TBD and a purse containing 15 gp

For Caligos only

Feature: Fearsome Reputation

WIP

Suggested Characteristics

WIP

1dx| Personality Trait1 | 2 |3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1d6| Ideal1 | Order. The Iuris Legion are the true gods of this world and they should be respected. (Lawful)2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
1d6| Bond1 | 2 | 3 |4 |5 |6 |
1d6| Flaw1 | My desire to root out chaos and sin often leads me to jump to conclusions and assume the worst in people.2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

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