{ "id": "dnd-character-backgrounds", "name": "D&D Character Backgrounds", "title": "D&D Character Backgrounds", "description": "405 character backgrounds from Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and expansions, including descriptions and source books.", "category": "entertainment", "source": "https://github.com/nick-aschenbach/dnd-data", "source_url": "https://github.com/nick-aschenbach/dnd-data", "updated": "2026-04", "record_count": 405, "columns": [ { "key": "name", "label": "Name", "type": "string" }, { "key": "description", "label": "Description", "type": "string" }, { "key": "publisher", "label": "Publisher", "type": "string" }, { "key": "book", "label": "Book", "type": "string" }, { "key": "category", "label": "Category", "type": "string" } ], "rows": [ { "name": "Acolyte", "description": "These D&D 5E Free Basic Rules only contain a fraction of the races, subclasses, backgrounds, feats, items, monsters, spells, and other content available on Roll20. Check out the Player's Handbook to add dozens of more player options to the Charactermancer, the Dungeon Master's Guide to expand on the tools available for DMs, and the Monster Manual to add hundreds of more unique creatures (including token artwork) to fight! Acolyte You have spent your life in the service of a temple to a specific ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Free Basic Rules (2014)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Acolyte", "description": "You have spent your life in the service of a temple to a specific god or pantheon of gods. You act as an intermediary between the realm of the holy and the mortal world, performing sacred rites and offering sacrifices in order to conduct worshipers into the presence of the divine. You are not necessarily a cleric—performing sacred rites is not the same thing as channeling divine power. Choose a god, a pantheon of gods, or some other quasi-divine being from among those listed or those specified b", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Acolyte", "description": "You have spent your life in the service of a temple to a specific god or pantheon of gods. You act as an intermediary between the realm of the holy and the mortal world, performing sacred rites and offering sacrifices in order to conduct worshipers into the presence of the divine. You are not necessarily a cleric—performing sacred rites is not the same thing as channeling divine power. Choose a god, a pantheon of gods, or some other quasi-divine being from among those listed or those specified b", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Essentials Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Acolyte", "description": "Ability Scores Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma Feat Magic Initiate (Cleric) Skill Proficiencies Insight and Religion Tool Proficiency Calligrapher’s Supplies Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Calligrapher’s Supplies, Book (prayers), Holy Symbol, Parchment (10 sheets), Robe, 8 GP; or (B) 50 GP You devoted yourself to service in a temple, either nestled in a town or secluded in a sacred grove. There you performed rites in honor of a god or pantheon. You served under a priest and studied religion. Thanks", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Acolyte", "description": "Ability Scores Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma Feat Magic Initiate (Cleric) Skill Proficiencies Insight and Religion Tool Proficiency Calligrapher’s Supplies Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Calligrapher’s Supplies, Book (prayers), Holy Symbol, Parchment (10 sheets), Robe, 8 GP; or (B) 50 GP You devoted yourself to service in a temple, either nestled in a town or secluded in a sacred grove. There you performed rites in honor of a god or pantheon. You served under a priest and studied religion. Thanks", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Free Basic Rules (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Acrobat", "description": "Acrobats are an integral part of any circus act. Whether you have mastered the trapeze, aerial silks, acro dance, or acrobalance, your mastery over your body is unmatched. You have traveled with the circus far and wide, displaying this mastery and entertaining crowds of people far and wide. You have learned to suppress your fear, facing dangerous stunts from heights that make others’ knees buckle; a trait that translates well to a life of adventure. Skill Proficiencies : Acrobatics , Athletics L", "publisher": "Escape Plan Games", "book": "Tavern Tales Vol 1 - A Trip Away Inn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Activist Journalist", "description": "You work to expose the harm caused by ruling powers through journalism. Maybe a local broadsheet or town crier employs you, or maybe this is how you spend your free time. Either way, the stories you investigate and report on have an impact on your community and your role within it. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Investigation Languages: Two of your choice and a journalist shorthand for taking notes Equipment: A set of common clothes, a scroll that you use to “map” important relationships between ", "publisher": "MCDM Productions", "book": "Arcadia Issue No. 9", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Aetherial Mystic", "description": "Aetherial Mystic “Keeping your eyes only upon the heavens will make you stumble upon the earth.” You believe the elemental planes are extensions of the gods, and the aether is their lifeblood. To truly understand the heavens, we must sail their seas and experience all its glory. Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Religion Languages One language of your choice Equipment A depleted aetherium crystal, a book of general elemental knowledge, an astral compass, and a pouch containing 5 gp Bonus Trait Focuse", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Agasha Family - Dragon Clan", "description": "The Agasha family’s teachings cover religious rites, including powerful invocations to the spirits, and the family’s knowledge represents generations of tireless research. But unlike many theologians, their beliefs and methods are ever-evolving like the elements in nature. Although founded by a pacifist, many of their techniques are invaluable in a fight. Once devoted predominantly to mysticism, they now combine it with the practical arts of naturalism and scientific observation to get greater e", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Akodo Family - Lion Clan", "description": "The Akodo family trains many of the master strategists and tacticians of the Empire at its legendary war college. Students of its martial schools are trained to be warrior-scholars seeking to understand war and battle in all its complexity; no part of the martial disciplines is too small for their study and no part too large to evade their understanding. Skill Proficiencies: History, choose one other Charisma-based skill (Deception, Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion). Tool Proficiencies: ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Al-Zawira - Non-Rokugani", "description": "A massive center of learning and the heart of the Qamarist Caliphate, Al-Zawira produces some of the finest sages in the world. Amidst its towers, scholars pursue truths of the world, the universe, and human nature, advancing sciences such as chemistry, physics, alchemy, and astronomy. Al-Zawira is renowned for the skill of its physicians as well, who are said to be able to reattach severed limbs and even stir life back into the recently deceased. For over five hundred years since its founding u", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Amazon of Perunalia", "description": "A strong daughter of a mighty nation, you are among the most elite warriors of matriarchal Perunalia. All amazons of Perunalia are female, and all train in the art of archery first and foremost. Regardless of your chief profession, you are trusted to defend the nation in time of need and you enjoy the respect and esteem you earn through service to the Duchy. Skill Proficiencies: History, Intimidation Tool Proficiencies: Woodworker’s tools, one gaming set of your choice Equipment: A set of woodwo", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ambulant", "description": "Grinders, umbrella menders, nomads, seasonal workers, wayfarers, street actors, thespians, harlequins, puppeteers, carnies, charlatans, relic peddlers, beggars, wandering clerics, students moving from one school to another, professional wanderers, toy makers, tinsmiths, milliners, Norcitans, lacklands, ziganes and caravankers, and all those who spend their lives moving from region to region looking for work or taking their itinerant shows around: these are ambulants. The presence and constant tr", "publisher": "Acheron Games", "book": "Brancalonia - Core Rulebook Compendium", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Amnesia - Person of Mystery", "description": "Roll20 Note: This page is read only and will not function with drag-and-drop as similar pages within this category. Your background is a mystery, even to you. You have no official records and what recollections you do have are dim. It’s not a topic you feel comfortable discussing with others. Ability Adjustment: +1 to Ability score of your choice (maximum of 20) Iconic Equipment: A mysterious pendant Proficiency: T o be determined Language: To be determined It’s Coming Back to Me. At any point d", "publisher": "Evil Genius Games", "book": "Everyday Heroes Quickstart Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Amnesiac", "description": "You woke up one day in the city of Luyarnha, with no memory of who you were or where you came from. You're near-certain that this place is not your home, but all the memories of your past life are a haze of indistinct shapes and sounds. Faint images, like that of a silver lake or a towering mountain, flash through your mind but they provide no concrete details of your origin. You only know that you must find the truth, at any cost. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Investigation Tool Proficiencies: ", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Anarchist of Tolia", "description": "You are a defiant, a freedom fighter, a rebel. You believe in a free and masterless society and you aren’t afraid to fight for it. You believe the independence of the individual to be a virtue that society must embrace. You, as a resident of Tolia, possibly live either in Kanrath or Cyherested; a vampire supremacist city where mortal life has no meaning, or the city of magic where non-casters have no value in society. The tyranny in these cities disgust you, and you are willing to change it or d", "publisher": "Dream Realm Storytellers", "book": "Bloodpunk - A Guide to Tolia Campaign Setting", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Anthropologist", "description": "You have always been fascinated by other cultures, from the most ancient and primeval lost lands to the most modern civilizations. By studying other cultures' customs, philosophies, laws, rituals, religious beliefs, languages, and art, you have learned how tribes, empires, and all forms of society in between craft their own destinies and doom. This knowledge came to you not only through first-hand observation-by visiting far-flung settlements and exploring local histories and customs. Skill Prof", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Tomb of Annihilation (Deprecated)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Anthropologist", "description": "You have always been fascinated by other cultures, from the most ancient and primeval lost lands to the most modern civilizations. By studying other cultures’ customs, philosophies, laws, rituals, religious beliefs, languages, and art, you have learned how tribes, empires, and all forms of society in between craft their own destinies and doom. This knowledge came to you not only through books and scrolls, but also through first-hand observation—by visiting far-flung settlements and exploring loc", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Tomb of Annihilation", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Arbonesse Exile", "description": "You are from the River Court of Arbonesse or one of its far-flung thorpes. Most exiles are elf-blooded or gnomes, but the occasional foundling of another race taken in by exiles is not unheard of. You are fiercely proud of your home and its legacy, despite its declining prominence. At the same time, the exiles are a canny people whose elders pass down lore of the mysterious fey and shadow roads. They are always wary of those strange places where the boundary between worlds grows thin. Skill Prof", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Archaeologist", "description": "An archaeologist learns about the long-lost and fallen cultures of the past by studying their remains—their bones, their ruins, their surviving masterworks, and their tombs. Those who practice archaeology travel to the far corners of the world to root through crumbled cities and lost dungeons, digging in search of artifacts that might tell the stories of monarchs and high priests, wars and cataclysms. Skill Proficiencies: History, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Cartographer's tools or navigator's ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Tomb of Annihilation (Deprecated)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Archaeologist", "description": "An archaeologist learns about the long-lost and fallen cultures of the past by studying their remains—their bones, their ruins, their surviving masterworks, and their tombs. Those who practice archaeology travel to the far corners of the world to root through crumbled cities and lost dungeons, digging in search of artifacts that might tell the stories of monarchs and high priests, wars and cataclysms. Skill Proficiencies: History, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Cartographer’s tools or navigator’s ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Tomb of Annihilation", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Archivist", "description": "Some of your earliest memories are of the library you called home while you learned to read and write under the tutelage of your mentor. The stacks comforted you, protected you, and took you to lands undreamed of. Now the time has come to turn that knowledge into practical experience, and to record your own journey for posterity. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Investigation Tool Proficiencies: Artisan’s tools (calligrapher’s supplies) Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A leather-bound journa", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Archivist", "description": "Some of your earliest memories are of the library you called home while you learned to read and write under the tutelage of your mentor. The stacks comforted you, protected you, and took you to lands undreamed of. Now the time has come to turn that knowledge into practical experience, and to record your own journey for posterity. Skill Proficiencies Arcana, Investigation Tool Proficiencies Artisan’s tools (calligrapher’s supplies) Languages Two of your choice Equipment A leather-bound journal fu", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic Vol 1", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Artisan", "description": "Ability Scores Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence Feat Crafter Skill Proficiencies Investigation and Persuasion Tool Proficiency Choose one kind of Artisan’s Tools Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Artisan’s Tools (same as above), 2 Pouches, Traveler’s Clothes, 32 GP; or (B) 50 GP You began mopping floors and scrubbing counters in an artisan’s workshop for a few coppers per day as soon as you were strong enough to carry a bucket. When you were old enough to apprentice, you learned to create basic craf", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Asahina Family - Crane Clan", "description": "Founded after a terrible conflict between the Phoenix and Crane Clans centuries ago, the Asahina family teaches its scions to seek harmony and peace in all things, embodying a philosophy of compassion and pacifism. Through art and prayer, they seek to calm and soothe the world around them and spread peace and accord throughout the Empire. In their mediations with spirits, they create enchanted charms that provide protection, mending, and palliation. The Asahina family teaches that only through t", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Asako Family - Phoenix Clan", "description": "The Asako are a quiet family, viewed as being content to follow their scholarly and philosophical pursuits while the Isawa drive the goals of the Phoenix. The Asako prize knowledge, but they prize wisdom even more, and they use their studies to advance their spiritual evolution as well as their political agendas. The Asako serve as courtiers for the Phoenix, and they are much in demand as court scholars and tutors across the Empire. Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, choose one other Intelligen", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ashari", "description": "Isolated from the political struggles of urban Tal’Dorei, you are a member of the Ashari people—a society bound to an ancient covenant protecting the Material Plane from the chaos of the primordial elements. You’ve been raised to revere and protect the natural world, and to shepherd the tumultuous elemental forces that give it life. When the elements threaten to overwhelm the delicate balance of nature, it is the role of the Ashari to restore harmony. You grew up in a tight-knit society, bound t", "publisher": "Darrington Press", "book": "Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Astral Drifter", "description": "For longer than you can remember, you have traversed the Astral Sea. There, you experienced firsthand the wonders of the Silver Void: you stopped aging and no longer felt hunger or thirst. Driven by wanderlust, you drifted from one part of the Astral Sea to another, like a mote of dust on the wind. You have lost count of the decades that have passed since you arrived here. In your travels, you have camped on the petrified hulks of dead gods and narrowly escaped the psychic winds that sweep acros", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Spelljammer - Adventures in Space", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Athenian Mage", "description": "You belong to the most magically advanced city in the realm. Magic is part of everyday life, from the simple and humble civilian life all the way to the tallest wizard towers in your home. You have been educated by the experienced scholars of the Blue Archive, been apprenticed under a powerful mage or simply used the vast resources of the city in order to educate yourself. The value of knowledge is branded onto your mind. Study of the tapestry of the cosmos is paramount to all mages. As such you", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Athlete", "description": "Athlete You strive to perfect yourself physically and in execution of everything you do. The thrill of competition lights fire in your blood, and the roar of the crowd drives you forward. Tales of your exploits precede you and might open doors or loosen tongues. Whether in one of the poleis, between them, or among the nonhuman peoples of Theros, physical contests and those who pursue them command respect bordering on reverence. Athletes arise from all walks of life and all cultures and quite oft", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Mythic Odysseys of Theros", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ayrissian Magnate", "description": "Ayrissian Magnate “Only the truly powerful and refined are worthy adversaries to test my business acumen. Everyone else is but an obstacle to my mercantile greatness.” You are a skilled and cunning merchant or privateer of the Kingdom of Ayris. You use finely honed trading skills to further Ayris’s power through commerce and tact, knowing that each situation may require a delicate touch. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion Tool Proficiencies: Jeweler’s kit Languages: One of your choice Equi", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Azorius Functionary", "description": "The brutes are at the gate, chaos is looming, and the only thing standing in the way of disaster is the foundation of law and order—as embodied in the Azorius Senate . You’re a proud member of the Azorius guild , which both enacts and enforces the laws that make Ravnican society function smoothly and safely. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Intimidation Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: An Azorius insignia, a scroll containing the text of a law important to you, a bottle of blue ink, a pen, ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Bandit Defector", "description": "You were once a member of the Bandit Coalition, moving from place to place, ambushing and robbing passing merchants. Something made you decide that path was no longer worth pursuing, and you left that life behind. But quitting the Bandit Coalition isn’t so easy. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Disguise Kit, one type of Gaming Set or Musical Instrument Equipment: a knife, a cooking pot, a winter blanket, an object you received as your cut from a successful robbery, a ", "publisher": "Hit Point Press", "book": "Humblewood", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Barber", "description": "", "publisher": "Jeff Stevens Games", "book": "Potbellied Kobold", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Barrister (Corrupt Motivation)", "description": "You are a legally recognized advocate. You are entitled to speak on the behalf of another before a judge or a magistrate. Some barristers represent the state, and prosecute malefactors and those accused as such. But others represent the accused, at least those able to afford your services. Not all barristers represent people in criminal affairs however, as there are often legal issues when one party needs to bring another party over a dispute of contract or conduct. You spent your formative year", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Barrister (Crisis of Conscience)", "description": "You are a legally recognized advocate. You are entitled to speak on the behalf of another before a judge or a magistrate. Some barristers represent the state, and prosecute malefactors and those accused as such. But others represent the accused, at least those able to afford your services. Not all barristers represent people in criminal affairs however, as there are often legal issues when one party needs to bring another party over a dispute of contract or conduct. You spent your formative year", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Bayushi Family - Scorpion Clan", "description": "The lead family of the Scorpion Clan, the Bayushi family carries on the tradition of its founder with all of his legendary dramatic flair. Smiling behind masks of oni, arachnid mandibles, or threatening fangs, the Bayushi family are perhaps the ultimate power brokers within the Emerald Empire, wheeling and dealing with the courtiers of other clans to see to it that the Empire continues to function. Students trained in their methods of courtly intrigue know to project confidence, danger, and allu", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Beast Hunter", "description": "Growing up, the menacing presence of the Scourge loomed over your life in the city. The beasts terrified you, destroyed your homes, and took away people you loved. Driven by vengeance, fear, or a desire for justice, you chose to become a hunter. The Church, a mentor, or the Radiant Order taught you the ways of the hunt, giving you the knowledge and skills needed to defend your city and yourself. Whether you were once a simple citizen turned protector or a seasoned veteran of the First War harden", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Bemmean Scholar", "description": "Bemmea, capital city of the Magocracy of Allain, is the jewel of magical study in Midgard. You walked its ley‑infused streets and studied among the gleaming spires that touch the sky. During your time in the arcane city, you ate, drank, slept, and breathed magic, and now you carry that legacy into the world. Students with no arcane aptitude are rare, but nonmagical scholars do arise from Bemmea's crackling skyline. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Investigation Languages: Two of your choice Equipmen", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Bhavyatapura - Non-Rokugani", "description": "The central region of the Ivory Kingdoms is dominated by a vast plateau known as the Sonagiri, or \"Golden Mountain.\" Ringed by soaring, snowcapped mountains and cut by the mighty Heeratand, or \"River of Diamonds,\" the expansive and fertile Sonagiri is the most densely populated part of the Ivory Kingdoms. Bhavyatapura, the \"City of Spendor,\" occupies the Heeratand in the center of the Sonagiri. Although they are collectively known as Sheelavaan, which simply means “urbane,” the people of Bhavyat", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Blacksmith", "description": "Every rusty sword you find at the bottom of a dungeon, every piece of armour that has saved its wearer from a piercing arrow, every spear tip, dagger, and shield, all were made by blacksmiths. The smith holds a unique position in society. Depending on where you are in the world, iron and steel may be rare. Your work might be a practical necessity, or the height of fine art and luxury. You create the weapons and armour that keep people safe, but also keys, horseshoes, lanterns, and nails. Without", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Blood Sister", "description": "You were brought up in the service of the Red Goddess Marena in one of her temples, likely from a young age. As a member of the Blood Sisters, you were accorded respect and often fear on account of your status if your temple was located within the Principalities. Beyond Morgau's borders, however, the goddess' worship would have been forbidden and you would have honored her in secret. You are not necessarily a cleric—the Red Sisterhood contains plenty of lay worshippers too — but you are adept at", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Bodyguard", "description": "", "publisher": "Jeff Stevens Games", "book": "Potbellied Kobold", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Bookworm", "description": "Roll20 Note: This page is read only and will not function with drag-and-drop as similar pages within this category. You loved books and spent nearly all your free time reading as a child. In addition to many wonderful stories, you have learned a lot of practical knowledge as well. Ability Adjustment: Choose one (+1 Intelligence or +1 Wisdom) (maximum of 20) Iconic Equipment: a 1st edition or a rare book, a tasteful bookmark Proficiency: Choose one (Natural Sciences or Social Sciences) Language: ", "publisher": "Evil Genius Games", "book": "Everyday Heroes Quickstart Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Born Leader", "description": "Some people are just born with the natural talents of leadership. They exude charisma, excel at commanding others to follow, and just get things done. Born Leader Some people have a natural affinity for leadership and positions of authority. You are charismatic, adored by followers, and have an insatiable drive to accomplish goals. You are respected (or feared) by those below your station, and they follow your lead with blind devotion. As such, you are typically in a position of leadership, whet", "publisher": "Goodman Games", "book": "The Fey Sisters' Fate (FEF 2)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Boros Legionnaire", "description": "As a member of the Boros Legion , your life is devoted to the service of angels and consecrated to the work of establishing justice and peace on the streets of Ravnica. You might be a true believer, inspired by the example of the angels, moved by the plight of the downtrodden, and devoted to the cause of justice. Or you could be a cynic in the ranks, perhaps because you reluctantly followed in the footsteps of a Boros parent, succumbed to the persuasion of a charismatic recruiter’s lofty promise", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Bounty Hunter", "description": "Your past as a tracker of criminals to bring them to justice has led you across many lands and realms. You have met those who stand as the force of justice and taken into captivity those who prowl in the shadows and use violence and coercion to gain their spoils. Hunter Network. While you are visiting a town or settlement, you can reach out to contacts and informants who provide you with valuable information. By spending downtime and 1d10 gp to make the appropriate inquiries, you can gather info", "publisher": "Lion Banner Games", "book": "HellWatch Infernal Oath 5e Compendium Expansion", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Brawler", "description": "In a Kingdom where brawls are as widespread as games of dice, brawlers love nothing better than constantly throwing themselves into fistfights and scuffles, which they often provoke deliberately. Demonstrating their strength and arrogance is the brawlers’ idea of fun, and the lifestyle they have chosen. Skill Proficiencies: Intuition, Performance Tool Proficiencies: Two types of gaming set Equipment: A brawl trophy (roll an additional Memorabilia), a map with a list of all his hometown’s Dives, ", "publisher": "Acheron Games", "book": "Brancalonia - Core Rulebook Compendium", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Butcher", "description": "", "publisher": "Jeff Stevens Games", "book": "Potbellied Kobold", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Calamac Ordu - Non-Rokugani", "description": "The Calamac Ordu is every bit as large, prominent, and wealthy as their long-time rivals, the Menghes. The head of the Calamac family is Calamac Mala, a stout, ruddy-faced woman given to shouting and loud laughter. Her husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and a smattering of grandchildren, are the core of her ordu. Mala’s wealth, and her claim to fame, derives from her impressive herds of cattle. The beef and leather from these animals have given her whole family a formidable stature and read", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Canon Lawyer (Corrupt Motivation)", "description": "Variant - Canon Lawyer Sometimes those schooled in matters of law aren’t concerned with the laws of the land but the laws of gods governing the faithful. Instead of prosecuting or defending criminals, you prosecute or defend those accused of blasphemy or heresy. If you choose this variant, you can replace proficiency in History with Religion instead. You are a legally recognized advocate. You are entitled to speak on the behalf of another before a judge or a magistrate. Some barristers represent", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Canon Lawyer (Crisis of Conscience)", "description": "Variant - Canon Lawyer Sometimes those schooled in matters of law aren’t concerned with the laws of the land but the laws of gods governing the faithful. Instead of prosecuting or defending criminals, you prosecute or defend those accused of blasphemy or heresy. If you choose this variant, you can replace proficiency in History with Religion instead. You are a legally recognized advocate. You are entitled to speak on the behalf of another before a judge or a magistrate. Some barristers represent", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Caretaker", "description": "You are part of a large family with multiple younger siblings and/or elderly relatives that you were responsible for taking care of. Because of this responsibility, it was important that you learned proper bedside manner and basic medical care. Perhaps you lived in an orphanage with other children relying on you. Maybe you volunteered at the local hospital. Likely, you were the most responsible of your siblings and your parents entrusted you with watching over the others while they worked or wer", "publisher": "Renegade Game Studios", "book": "Wardlings Campaign Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Celebrity", "description": "You are famous. Everyone on the SIM knows your name and what you do. You have a knack for attracting public attention and know how to work a crowd. Most of your life has been spent in the limelight, whether you liked it or not. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Performance Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, one type of musical instrument or gaming set Languages: One of your choice. Equipment: Fancy outfit, recording unit, SIM Unit, 200 cubil Feature: “Hey, isn’t that….” You are often recognized by th", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Celebrity Adventurer's Scion", "description": "Your family name strikes fear and admiration in the hearts of the common folk—but that’s got nothing to do with you. Songs and stories celebrating the adventuring exploits of your famous parent are widely known. Kids across the land grew up wishing they were you. But being the child of a famous adventurer wasn’t all hugs and kisses. You seldom saw your celebrity-adventurer parent, and when they were around, it was all about them and tales of slaying this demon or vanquishing that dragon. All too", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Acquisitions Incorporated", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Changeling Traveler", "description": "You’re an urban nomad, wandering from city to city, a force for change—much like the Traveler who bestowed you with your supernatural gifts. You spent your childhood traveling with your family, using your abilities to evade your enemies and ensure the single-skins give you whatever you need. Your family is part of a wider network of changeling clans, and you can take advantage of the havens, traditions, and personas your people have sowed across the lands. Most travelers are changelings. If you’", "publisher": "Keith Baker Presents", "book": "Exploring Eberron", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Chaos Child", "description": "You were born in an area tainted by the forces of chaos, whether that be a demon-blighted wasteland, twisted, alien forest, or region of badlands marked with the ruins of an ancient fallen civilization. The taint subtly infests your soul, drawing you toward corruption and madness, but that does not mean you have to give in to it, and more than one child of chaos has become a symbol of order and righteousness in the world. Skill Proficiencies: Any two of your choice Tool Proficiencies: One of you", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Wastes of Chaos", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Charlatan", "description": "You have always had a way with people. You know what makes them tick, you can tease out their hearts’ desires after a few minutes of conversation, and with a few leading questions you can read them like they were children’s books. It’s a useful talent, and one that you’re perfectly willing to use for your advantage. You know what people want and you deliver, or rather, you promise to deliver. Comm⁠on sense should steer people away from things that sound too good to be true, but comm⁠on sense see", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Charlatan", "description": "Ability Scores Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma Feat Skilled Skill Proficiencies Deception and Sleight of Hand Tool Proficiency Forgery Kit Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Forgery Kit, Costume, Fine Clothes, 15 GP; or (B) 50 GP Once you were old enough to order an ale, you soon had a favorite stool in every tavern within ten miles of where you were born. As you traveled the circuit from public house to watering hole, you learned to prey on unfortunates who were in the market for a comforting lie o", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Citizen Activist", "description": "The system is corrupt. Change will only come if the oppressed come together to resist. Your work may happen out in the open or perhaps in secret. Work with the GM to decide what form your activism takes. Maybe you lead a coalition that lobbies elected officials or nobles for a change in local law. Perhaps you organize jobs, medical care, and food for those who need it. You could lead demonstrations and engage in civil disobedience, distribute literature or tag walls in the city with graffiti tha", "publisher": "MCDM Productions", "book": "Arcadia Issue No. 9", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "City - Commoner", "description": "Cities are places where trade flourishes, cultures meet, and many different types of people mix and mingle. Some city dwellers love the press of bodies, the clamor of the marketplace, and the cacophony of conversation, debate, and rumormongering. Others only see humanity packed into boxes; the stink of blood, sweat, and tears; and rampant crime. The prospect of wealth in cities draws a steady supply of labor but also spurs on the abuse and marginalization of that labor. Folk stories warn of the ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "City Watch", "description": "You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime. You aren’t a soldier, directing your gaze outward at possible enemies. Instead, your service to your hometown was to help police its populace, protecting the citizenry from lawbreakers and malefactors of every stripe. You might have been part of the City Watch of Waterdeep, the baton-wielding police force of the City of Splendors, protecting the common folk from thieves and rowdy nobility alike.", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "City Watch Investigator", "description": "You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime. You aren’t a soldier, directing your gaze outward at possible enemies. Instead, your service to your hometown was to help police its populace, protecting the citizenry from lawbreakers and malefactors of every stripe. You might have been part of the City Watch of Waterdeep, the baton-wielding police force of the City of Splendors, protecting the common folk from thieves and rowdy nobility alike.", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Clan Crafter", "description": "The Stout Folk are well known for their artisanship and the worth of their handiworks, and you have been trained in that ancient tradition. For years you labored under a dwarf master of the craft, enduring long hours and dismissive, sour-tempered treatment in order to gain the fine skills you possess today. You are most likely a dwarf, but not necessarily—particularly in the North, the shield dwarf clans learned long ago that only proud fools who are more concerned for their egos than their craf", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Clasp Member", "description": "Whether you grew up in the mean streets of Kymal bamboozling foolish gamblers, or spent your youth pilfering loose coin from the pockets of Emon’s many tourists, your lifestyle of deceiving-to-survive eventually drew the attention of the Clasp: a storied crime syndicate that has hideouts in every city in Tal’Dorei. In exchange for protection, a modicum of kinship, and a number of useful resources to further develop your craft as a criminal, you agreed to receive the brand of the Clasp and join t", "publisher": "Darrington Press", "book": "Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Cloistered Scholar", "description": "As a child, you were inquisitive when your playmates were possessive or raucous. In your formative years, you found your way to one of Faerûn’s great institutes of learning , where you were apprenticed and taught that knowledge is a more valuable treasure than gold or gems. Now you are ready to leave your home—not to abandon it, but to quest for new lore to add to its storehouse of knowledge. The most well known of Faerûn’s fonts of knowledge is Candlekeep. The great library is always in need of", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Clown", "description": "Clowns are an integral part of the circus experience, entertaining crowds with singing, dancing, trick riding, juggling and more. Their job is to elicit laughs and joy from the crowd, sometimes at their own expense. The life of a clown is not easy, and the burden of others' joy can sometimes weigh heavy. The best clowns persevere, and give everything they have to make sure others feel the joy they lack. Skill Proficiencies : Performance , Intimidation . Languages : One of your choice. Tool Profi", "publisher": "Escape Plan Games", "book": "Tavern Tales Vol 1 - A Trip Away Inn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Collaborator", "description": "In the vicious and bleak world that Izrador has created, many have no choice but to work with the Shadow’s forces if they wish to survive. Others tragically fall into the trap of believing that their service will earn a modicum of peace for themselves or their loved ones. Yet, time and again, those who give aid to Izrador’s agents find that the Shadow is neither merciful nor generous to those who serve him. For some, this realization drives them deeper into desperation and despair. For others, i", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Midnight - Crown of Shadow", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Cometborn", "description": "Cometborn are individuals born under the passing of a comet. The event magically changed them, instilling in them memories from before they were born. These memories are fragments of various events and people that existed in the world in some of the previous times the comet passed overhead. Cometborn are aware these memories are not their own but find comfort in the memories nonetheless. They often turn to these memories in times of stress or uncertainty, seeking—and often finding—answers to the", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic Vol 2", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Commercial Pilot", "description": "For every ace fighter pilot or sky pirate, there are hundreds of completely unremarkable civilian pilots, who make their livings ferrying goods, people, and information between the stars. These commercial pilots may not have much combat experience, but they do spend a large portion of their lives at the controls, and surely know their ships better than anyone else. There are many reasons why a civilian pilot might become an adventurer. It is not uncommon for trained pilots to be dragooned into s", "publisher": "Mage Hand Press", "book": "Dark Matter Starter Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Conspiracy Theorist", "description": "You’ve always seen the hidden dangers. Your intuition is amazing, and you’ve often identified a villain after a single look at the person. And when trouble is on the horizon, you know it’s not just a weather change. As things went downhill on Virthys, you knew what was coming. Or, well, at least that something was coming. You tried to warn people, but they just laughed at you. Only when people actually started to die, people began to believe you might have been up to something. If only people ha", "publisher": "Braythe RPG", "book": "Braythe - Shattered Realities", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Continental Nobility", "description": "Continental Nobility Requirements: Any class except sorcerer, warlock, or wizard You are the scion of a noble household. Whether you hail from Caspia , Elyria , or Westemär , the fall of Drakkenheim has either adversely impacted your family’s fortunes, or created a tantalizing opportunity to increase your political power and influence. Skill Proficiencies: Two of the following: Persuasion, Athletics, History, or Intimidation Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A signet ring or brooch bearin", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Dungeons of Drakkenheim", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Courier", "description": "You are a courier in a metropolitan city, who’s been delivering all sorts of packages for a very long time. Although the job may seem easy at first, it is far from it. You have to protect and deliver the package with which you’ve been entrusted at all costs, and you don’t know what dangers await as you do, since you don’t know what you’re carrying or who would be willing to hurt you from getting the package to its destination. Couriers can work for companies, the government, wealthy citizens, or", "publisher": "Dream Realm Storytellers", "book": "Bloodpunk - A Guide to Tolia Campaign Setting", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Courier", "description": "You travel the world, carrying vital information across Eredane, between the strongholds of the free peoples. You may serve a royal court or a military leader, your service may be between hidden outposts in the depths of Erethor, through the tunnels between dwarven holdfasts, or across the open lands between human settlements. Wherever you roam, it is not without purpose. You are no aimless wanderer, but a dutiful servant of the free peoples. As such, you are also a target for the forces of the ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Midnight - Crown of Shadow", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Court Apprentice", "description": "Studious and law-abiding, you believed the Inquisition Courts held the truth above any other. Years of service led you through thousands of documents and books. You witnessed countless trials where most were sentenced as guilty, and only a handful absolved. You have now gathered enough knowledge to make up your mind. Court Etiquette. You are well-versed in the customs and manners of the aristocracy. When dealing with a nobleperson, their attitude towards you is better than average unless you hav", "publisher": "Lion Banner Games", "book": "HellWatch Infernal Oath 5e Compendium Expansion", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Court of the Animals' Path - Non-Human", "description": "In the Enchanted Country, the beings that follow the court of the Animals’ Path interpret the Celestial Order as stating that virtue has its own rewards: the virtuous die and are reborn anew, while the wicked cannot progress toward Enlightenment. Most animals and animal spirits of the Animals’ Path conceptualize the Celestial Order as follows: demons ascend to become animals, animals ascend to become yōkai or animal spirits, yōkai and animal spirits ascend to become humans, and humans ascend to ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Court of the Path of Mischief (or Illusion) - Non-Human", "description": "The other leading philosophy of the Enchanted Country is embodied in the court of the Path of Mischief (or Illusion). A trickster lord of the Path of Mischief (or Illusion), if asked about their court’s philosophy, would say that humans, alone among animals, have rebelled against the duty of all creatures to see one another as equals. Humans exalt themselves above others by virtue of the advantages granted to them by their bodies and minds, and they reshape the world around them into something i", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Court Servant", "description": "Even though you are independent now, you were once a servant to a merchant, noble, regent, or other person of high station. You are an expert in complex social dynamics and knowledgeable in the history and customs of courtly life. Work with your GM to determine whom you served and why you are no longer a servant: did your master or masters retire and no longer require servants, did you resign from the service of a harsh master, did the court you served fall to a neighboring empire, or did someth", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Courtier", "description": "In your earlier days, you were a personage of some significance in a noble court or a bureaucratic organization. You might or might not come from an upper-class family; your talents, rather than the circumstances of your birth, could have secured you this position. You might have been one of the many functionaries, attendants, and other hangers-on in the Court of Silverymoon, or perhaps you traveled in Waterdeep’s baroque and sometimes cutthroat conglomeration of guilds, nobles, adventurers, and", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Crafter", "description": "You are an artisan and excel at both practicing and selling your craft. You are part of some inner circles depending on your profession. Gunsmiths, tailors, chefs, and mechanics all fall under your list of contacts in a major or minor way, as trade across the galaxy requires both know-how and know-who’s. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion Tool Proficiencies: An artisan tool of your choice, Vehicles (Planetary) Languages: One of your choice. Equipment: Your choice of one set of artisan’s to", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Criminal", "description": "You are an experienced criminal and still have contacts within the criminal underworld. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Steal⁠th Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, thieves’ tools Equipment: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15 gp Criminal Specialty There are many kinds of criminals, and within a thieves’ guild or similar criminal organization, members have particular specialties. Choose the role you played in your criminal life, or roll on ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Essentials Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Criminal", "description": "You are an experienced criminal with a history of breaking the law. You have spent a lot of time among other criminals and still have contacts within the criminal underworld. You’re far closer than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Steal⁠th Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, thieves’ tools Equipment: ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Criminal", "description": "Ability Scores Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence Feat Alert Skill Proficiencies Sleight of Hand and Stealth Tool Proficiency Thieves’ Tools Equipment Choose A or B: (A) 2 Daggers, Thieves’ Tools, Crowbar, 2 Pouches, Traveler’s Clothes, 16 GP; or (B) 50 GP You eked out a living in dark alleyways, cutting purses or burgling shops. Perhaps you were part of a small gang of like-minded wrongdoers who looked out for each other. Or maybe you were a lone wolf, fending for yourself against the local ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Criminal", "description": "Ability Scores Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence Feat Alert Skill Proficiencies Sleight of Hand and Stealth Tool Proficiency Thieves’ Tools Equipment Choose A or B: (A) 2 Daggers, Thieves’ Tools, Crowbar, 2 Pouches, Traveler’s Clothes, 16 GP; or (B) 50 GP You eked out a living in dark alleyways, cutting purses or burgling shops. Perhaps you were part of a small gang of like-minded wrongdoers who looked out for each other. Or maybe you were a lone wolf, fending for yourself against the local ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Free Basic Rules (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Cult Initiate", "description": "Whether through your own choice or a twist of fate, you found yourself part of a clandestine and often misunderstood group of individuals—a cult. This may have been a circle focused on the symbiotic relationship of flesh and nature, a scholastic order obsessed with the cosmos, or followers of a prophecy predicting the apocalypse. However, your faith or circumstances have since changed, leading you to leave the confines of the cult. You might still be an active member, or you've escaped its influ", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Cultist", "description": "Late nights of studying and ritual practice, feigning normalcy in the eye of the public, such is life in a cult. You may not have always been in it, and you may have gotten out of it if you were lucky, but that won’t change the fact that you were once devoted to a dark cause you had to keep hidden from all but your fanatical brethren. You participated in evil deeds and studied the teachings of dark entities. Your reclusive past makes it hard for you to trust others and form relationships with th", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Curio Collector", "description": "Curio collectors are obsessed with collecting alchemical ingredients, spell components, and other small oddities. They travel the world in search of the rarest of these to add to their collections. Not all curio collectors are spellcasters, though many are. They might be caring and generous community leaders who want to facilitate magic in their community or quiet and withdrawn owners of a curio shop stuffed with oddities both practical and decorative. The curio collector is always proud of thei", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic Vol 2", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Daidoji Family - Crane Clan", "description": "The Daidoji family trains the core of the Crane Clan’s standing military, but their other key function is in managing the clan’s vast logistics network. From the Iron Warriors who comprise the elite units of the Crane Clan’s armies and command legions of levied soldiers, to the wary bodyguards protecting the courtiers of the Doji, to the Daidoji Trading Council responsible for providing the raw materials and wealth for Crane arts, the Daidoji family keeps operations running smoothly so that the ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Dancing-Bear Guide", "description": "The Lodge of the Dancing Bear is a loose, widespread organization that stretches from Bjeornheim to the northern coast of the Grand Duchy. Members of the lodge—known as guides—are a rough and tumble lot. As a dancing bear guide, you are at home in the wilds of Midgard, but you make forays into civilization for the express purpose of exposing city-dwellers to the freedom of the wilds. Closed-off streets strewn with garbage and filth mask the truth the wider world has to offer. You’ll show them wh", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Dead", "description": "I don't need to die to talk to spirits, or even the dead for that matter. Unless it's whatever I ate earlier. I never could understand all that gurgling. — Xanathar You died and came back. This experience changed you and defines who you are today. The specifics of your death are up to you, but the following questions and suggestions will help you determine your odd personal history. How did you die? It probably wasn't of old age. Spells like raise dead can bring back those who die before old age", "publisher": "Castle Skydawn Design", "book": "Xanathar's Lost Notes to Everything Else", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Desert Runner", "description": "You grew up in one of the desert areas in the northern half of the Southlands, among the Tamasheq nomads, the jinnborn, or the gnolls. As a nomad, you are used to moving from place to place, following the caravan trails. Your upbringing makes you more than just used to desert livingyou thrive there. Your tribe has lived in the desert for centuries, and you know more about desert survival than life in the towns and cities. Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Herbalist ki", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Southlands Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Desert Runner", "description": "You grew up in the desert. As a nomad, you moved from place to place, following the caravan trails. Your upbringing makes you more than just accustomed to desert living—you thrive there. Your family has lived in the desert for centuries, and you know more about desert survival than life in the towns and cities. Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Herbalist kit Languages: One of your choice Equipment: Traveler’s clothes, herbalist kit, waterskin, pouch with 10 gp Feature", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Destined", "description": "Duty is a complicated, tangled affair, be it filial, political, or civil. Sometimes, there’s wealth and intrigue involved, but more often than not, there’s also obligation and responsibility. You are a person with just such a responsibility. This could involve a noble title, an arranged marriage, a family business you’re expected to administer, or an inherited civil office. You promised to fulfill this responsibility, you are desperately trying to avoid this duty, or you might even be seeking th", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Devoted Missionary", "description": "Devoted Missionary You are a follower of one of the many religions of the world. Through either divine calling, visions, or prophecies, or because your church sent you as an envoy and representative, or maybe because you are seeking divine answers, you have made the journey to Drakkenheim. What sacred purpose lies in the ruins that you are quested with uncovering? Skill Proficiencies: Two of the following: History, Religion, Arcana, Nature Equipment: A set of pale robes, a small chip of delerium", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Dungeons of Drakkenheim", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Dhampir of Morgau", "description": "The Principalities of Morgau and Doresh burst at the seams with miserable specimens of humanity, or deluded wretches who seek undeath to elevate their station. Your lot is greater, thanks to your noble blood—you were born to one of the vampire houses, the spawn of a vampire lord and a mortal mother. Unlike dhampir who desperately eke out a living from a world that rejects them, you were raised with opportunity and privilege. Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Persuasion Tool Proficiencies: One m", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Dimir Operative", "description": "You’re a spy. Secrets and misinformation are your stock in trade. You skulk in the shadows, infiltrate other guilds, and steal the most precious secrets, whether they’re written in locked journals or hidden away in someone’s mind. Even you might not be aware of all the reasons behind the missions you carry out. Sometimes a mission’s sole purpose is to conceal the motivation behind another strike performed in a different part of the city, or simply to spread fear. As part of your covert work for ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Diplomat", "description": "You have always found harmonious solutions to conflict. You might have started mediating family conflicts as a child. When you were old enough to recognize aggression, you sought to defuse it. You often resolved disputes among neighbors, arriving at a fair middle ground satisfactory to all parties. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a letter of passage from a local minor authority or traveling papers that signify you as a trav", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Disciple", "description": "The Radiant Church, a beacon of hope and strength, raised you, training you in the teachings of the Radiant One. As a disciple, you were immersed in the Church's lore, its ideals of benevolence born of resilience and fortitude, and its promise of a prosperous future. You were taught to shine your light into the darkness, to lead the way for others, and to be a pillar of strength in times of adversity. Whether you're an ardent believer, a skeptic questioning your faith, or someone seeking to wiel", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Disgraced Noble", "description": "Note: This variant modifies the Noble background from the Player's Handbook . ... And Losing Privilege Just as a lowborn character can gain a noble title, a highborn one can lose it. The simplest path to being stripped of a title is to be convicted of treason. However, in the Five Nations, nobles have duties, and a family who fails in those might be stripped of their title and property by their monarch. In the Lhazaar Principalities, a character could lose their title because someone else takes ", "publisher": "Keith Baker Presents", "book": "Chronicles of Eberron", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Displaced Noble", "description": "Note: This variant modifies the Noble background from the Player's Handbook . While the Position of Privilege feature represents benefits that might come from your position, not all nobles receive such recognition. If you’re a noble from Cyre, you no longer have your estate or your fortune. You might still have your Position of Privilege if your family was so beloved or connected that the respect lingers, but most Cyran nobles aren’t treated this way. In situations like this, you might choose th", "publisher": "Keith Baker Presents", "book": "Chronicles of Eberron", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Doji Family - Crane Clan", "description": "The descendants of Doji have defined the courtly arts and culture of the Empire since its dawn. Lords of even far-flung domains strive to have a member of the Doji family among their members; for courtly news and rumor, the Doji family’s access is unrivaled. The Doji family also maintains the most prestigious schools that train courtiers in the Empire, and whether the topic is etiquette, law, or diplomacy, a student of the Doji tradition is able to speak on the topic with nuance and confidence. ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Drifter", "description": "You are used to hearing the phrase, “You’re not from around here, are you?” The truth is, you aren’t. You’re from nowhere. You’ve spent most of your life wandering from planet to planet, earning your keep when need be and moving on when it’s time. You have your reasons. Maybe you were forced to leave. Maybe you just wanted to go. You keep moving, but always plan to stop someday… maybe… Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Survival Tool Proficiencies: One instrument or gaming set of your choice. One ", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Enforcer", "description": "You use violence so that powerful people can get what they want. Whether it’s for cops, cartels, or corporations, in exchange for a little bit of their power and a little bit of their money, you hurt who they tell you to. The work isn’t all dubious—you’re often up against people that are at least as bad as your boss—but when your boss sends you to shake down shopkeepers or punch protesters, you follow orders. As long as you and yours are fine, you don’t care. When you choose this background, wor", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Engineer", "description": "Both the city of Kanrath and the city of Cyherested are technological centers of civilization in Tolia. Not only do all of their daily struggles concern technology, but the state of technology and thus the technological advancements in a city determine their political status as well, as both are in a race against the other in this regard. It’s no wonder that engineers are thus in high demand in Tolia. You, an engineer, have studied one of the most prestigious disciplines one could read up on. Wh", "publisher": "Dream Realm Storytellers", "book": "Bloodpunk - A Guide to Tolia Campaign Setting", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Entertainer", "description": "You thrive in front of an audience. You know how to entrance them, entertain them, and even inspire them. Your poetics can stir the hearts of those who hear you, awakening grief or joy, laughter or anger. Your music raises their spirits or captures their sorrow. Your dance steps captivate, your humor cuts to the quick. Whatever techniques you use, your art is your life. Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, one type of musical instrument Equipment: A musi", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Essentials Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Entertainer", "description": "You thrive in front of an audience. You know how to entrance them, entertain them, and even inspire them. Your poetics can stir the hearts of those who hear you, awakening grief or joy, laughter or anger. Your music raises their spirits or captures their sorrow. Your dance steps captivate, your humor cuts to the quick. Whatever techniques you use, your art is your life. Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, one type of musical instrument Equipment: A musi", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Entertainer", "description": "Ability Scores Strength, Dexterity, Charisma Feat Musician Skill Proficiencies Acrobatics and Performance Tool Proficiency Choose one kind of Musical Instrument Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Musical Instrument (same as above), 2 Costumes, Mirror, Perfume, Traveler’s Clothes, 11 GP; or (B) 50 GP You spent much of your youth following roving fairs and carnivals, performing odd jobs for musicians and acrobats in exchange for lessons. You may have learned how to walk a tightrope, how to play a lute i", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Envoy of the Free Peoples", "description": "You serve your people and perhaps a particular lord or household as a diplomat and an ambassador. You travel the length and breadth of Eredane, with the authority to speak on behalf of your people within the most secure halls of their allies. Among your own people, you hold a position of honor and respect. To the other free peoples, you are a symbol of future alliances and distant hope. Yet, to Izrador and his armies, you are a threat to be eradicated. Your role requires that you carry some mark", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Midnight - Crown of Shadow", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ex-enforcer", "description": "You use violence so that powerful people can get what they want. Whether it’s for cops, cartels, or corporations, in exchange for a little bit of their power and a little bit of their money, you hurt who they tell you to. The work isn’t all dubious—you’re often up against people that are at least as bad as your boss—but when your boss sends you to shake down shopkeepers or punch protesters, you follow orders. As long as you and yours are fine, you don’t care. When you choose this background, wor", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Executioner", "description": "You made a living from killing. Most criminals get away, so when they do catch them, those in charge like to make an example with a public spectacle. People weren’t exactly lining up for the job and most decent people understandably see this as undesirable work. You took to the work. Perhaps a forebear of yours, and one of their forebears before them had the job; and it has become a family profession. Perhaps it was an outlet for your darker desires that would have led you to the block. Skill Pr", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Exile", "description": "Sometimes seen as a fate worse than death, exile has long been a popular sanction for radicals, dissidents, and troublemakers. Exiling these people allows the authorities to remove a thorn from their sides without creating a martyr or having to keep the unwanted person in costly perpetual captivity. Many a coup or revolution has resulted in the leaders and courtiers of the old regime being consigned to exile, sometimes on a moon or neighboring planet, sometimes on the other side of the ‘verse. O", "publisher": "Mage Hand Press", "book": "Dark Matter Starter Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Exile of the Black City", "description": "Misto Cherno, also known as the Black City, is the traveling fortress that serves as capital to the villains and bandits of the plains. The size of the city changes to match the overall health of the Rothenian lands. In times of strife, turmoil, and war, the city grows, adding wagons and walls to accommodate the increase. During times of peace, the city's population shrinks. It is said that once Misto Cherno consisted of just four walled wagons. As long as there are those with few scruples, the ", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Expanse Immigrant", "description": "Expanse Immigrant “No one’s ever going to drive me from my home again.” You’ve arrived in the Expanse hoping for a better life. You may have come to seek fortunes you never had, opportunities you were never given, or a peace you never knew. Regardless of the reason, you’ve endured hardship to reach the Expanse, and intend to make this wondrous place your home. Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Survival Tool Proficiencies: type of artisan’s tools Languages: One of your choice Equipment: A keepsake", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Experimented", "description": "Blood experiment is a common practice in Kanrath and Cyherested although they differ in each city. In Kanrath, the most common blood practice is leech therapy, where the scientists or the state officials drain “the dirty’’ blood and replace it with a more “clean” and “pure” one. It has little to no scientific accuracy but it is believed that it reveals powers that lie in one’s blood or that it provides the experimented with new powers related to blood. Most leech therapy victims die due to blood", "publisher": "Dream Realm Storytellers", "book": "Bloodpunk - A Guide to Tolia Campaign Setting", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Faceless", "description": "Being who you are, you could never be a hero. Whether due to your class, your people, your family, or your sins, something about you prevents you from effectively pursuing the path you’ve chosen. Even so, that doesn’t stop you. You’ve left your old face behind, taking on a new persona, becoming something more. Characters with the faceless background don a disguise—literally or otherwise—as they adventure. This persona might be dramatic or subtle. In a way, though, many characters have such large", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Baldur's Gate - Descent Into Avernus (Legacy)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Faceless", "description": "Being who you are, you could never be a hero. Whether due to your class, your people, your family, or your sins, something about you prevents you from effectively pursuing the path you’ve chosen. Even so, that doesn’t stop you. You’ve left your old face behind, taking on a new persona, becoming something more. Characters with the faceless background don a disguise—literally or otherwise—as they adventure. This persona might be dramatic or subtle. In a way, though, many characters have such large", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Baldur's Gate - Descent into Avernus", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Faction Agent", "description": "Many organizations active in the North and across the face of Faerûn aren’t bound by strictures of geography. These factions pursue their agendas without regard for political boundaries, and their members operate anywhere the organization deems necessary. These groups employ listeners, rumormongers, smugglers, sellswords, cache-holders (people who guard caches of wealth or magic for use by the faction’s operatives), haven keepers, and message drop minders, to name a few. At the core of every fac", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Failed Merchant", "description": "Maybe you come from a long line of merchants. Perhaps you were an entrepreneur. Regardless, your ventures ended poorly. Whether it was because of outside influences, bad luck, or simply because your business acumen was weak, you lost everything. With failure, however, comes experience. You’re free of that old life, having made some connections and learned your lessons. Prepared to pursue the life of an adventurer, your insight into the world of commerce brought you into the sphere of Acquisition", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Acquisitions Incorporated", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "False Apologizer", "description": "You have committed serious transgressions in the past, and you want to atone for them in meaningful ways—or so you’d have everybody believe. Secretly, you’re only apologizing because doing so allows you to continue your villainy behind a rehabilitated façade. What crimes have you committed? Work with your GM to determine how your atrocities fit into the story and what your actions mean for the people you harmed. As someone who is pretending to make honest amends, you could be adventuring to brin", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Families of the Fleet - Mantis Clan", "description": "For complicated historical reasons, members of the Mantis Clan do not have a family name. Its samurai all belong to the Mantis fleet, however, and so they take their names from the ships they sail with. Kudaka of the Bitter Wind or Hitoshi of the Osano-wo are how they style themselves, changing their names as they sign on with different crews. Those Mantis who stay on land are known by the port where they live, such as Miaka of Kinushima City or Tōya of Tempest Island. Skill Proficiencies: Perfo", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Far Traveler", "description": "Almost all of the common people and other folk that one might encounter along the Sword Coast or in the North have one thing in common: they live out their lives without ever traveling more than a few miles from where they were born. You aren’t one of those folk. You are from a distant place, one so remote that few of the common folk in the North realize that it exists, and chances are good that even if some people you meet have heard of your homeland, they know merely the name and perhaps a few", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Farmer", "description": "You are a child of a farm-owning family and have learned how to work the land since you could walk. From feeding chickens and milking cows to planting and harvesting crops, you’ve done it all. Rising early and doing chores has made you disciplined, and eating home-grown food has made you appreciate what comes from nature. Skill Proficiencies : Animal Handling, Nature Tool Proficiencies : Farmer’s Tools, Vehicles (Land) Equipment : A backpack, a bedroll, a blanket, a shovel, hempen rope (50 feet)", "publisher": "Renegade Game Studios", "book": "Wardlings Campaign Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Farmer", "description": "Ability Scores Strength, Constitution, Wisdom Feat Tough Skill Proficiencies Animal Handling and Nature Tool Proficiency Carpenter’s Tools Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Sickle, Carpenter’s Tools, Healer’s Kit, Iron Pot, Shovel, Traveler’s Clothes, 30 GP; or (B) 50 GP You grew up close to the land. Years tending animals and cultivating the earth rewarded you with patience and good health. You have a keen appreciation for nature’s bounty alongside a healthy respect for nature’s wrath.", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Fate-Seeker", "description": "The circumstances of your birth are of supernatural significance to some people, which shaped your formative years a great deal. The details of this early life can be various, depending on how far-reaching the belief in your specialness was and the tone of it. You may have been deemed unlucky or existentially dangerous—feared and ostracized, grown up under the dark shadow of superstition (and maybe real magic). Conversely, a positive, or more open-ended Omen may have burdened you with the hopes ", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Feral One", "description": "You abandoned civilization, or civilization abandoned you, for the Forest long ago. Regardless of whether it was by choice or by chance, the effect on you is the same. You live, hunt, eat, and sleep in solitude. Caves are your shelter, the ground your bed, and the creatures of the Forest your companions. You have learned that you can trust no one but yourself and that you will live, and ultimately die, by your Skills, wits, and Strength. The Forest Provides Having spent most of your life within ", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Margreve Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Fey Hostage", "description": "Years, possibly centuries, ago you were captured by the fey. Each host, as the fey called themselves, treated their “guest” differently. The relationship you forged with your captors defines you just as strongly as the circumstances of your abduction and of your escape or release. You have been indelibly marked—emotionally, psychically, and physically—by the fey and their special brand of hospitality. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Insight Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, one type of", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Fey Hostage", "description": "Years, possibly centuries, ago you were captured by the fey. Each host, as the fey called themselves, treated their “guest” differently. The relationship you forged with your captors defines you just as strongly as the circumstances of your abduction and of your escape or release. You have been indelibly marked—emotionally, psychically, and physically—by the fey and their special brand of hospitality. Skill Proficiencies Deception, Insight Tool Proficiencies One type of gaming set, one type of m", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic Vol 1", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Feylost", "description": "You grew up in the Feywild after disappearing from your home plane as a child. Perhaps you were spirited away by kindly Fey who thought you were destined for great things. Perhaps you stumbled through a fey crossing by chance during a twilight stroll in the woods. Perhaps you were kidnapped by evil Fey but escaped from their clutches. Whatever the manner of your disappearance, you gradually fell under the Feywild’s spell and learned a little about the nature of the mercurial tricksters that dwel", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "The Wild Beyond the Witchlight", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Finagler", "description": "\"With strangers you apply the law, with friends you interpret it.\" - Saying among the Finaglers - The finagler is a bit of a symbol of the Kingdom’s civil life and bureaucracy: a fixer, a notary, a pettifogger, and a hack, a fine connoisseur of laws and red tape, and therefore perfectly capable of circumventing them, infiltrating the system, and turning it inside out. Halfway between public and private, the finagler is the go-to official for Knaves confronting the law, the nobility, and justice ", "publisher": "Acheron Games", "book": "Brancalonia - Core Rulebook Compendium", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Fisher", "description": "Fisher You have spent your life aboard fishing vessels or combing the shallows for the bounty of the ocean. Perhaps you were born into a family of fisher folk, working with your kin to feed your village. Maybe the job was a means to an end—a way out of an undesirable circumstance that forced you to take up life aboard a ship. Regardless of how you began, you soon fell in love with the sea, the art of fishing, and the promise of the eternal horizon. Skill Proficiencies: History, Survival Language", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Ghosts of Saltmarsh", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Flaming Fist", "description": "You have joined the Flaming Fist, a powerful mercenary company headquartered in Baldur’s Gate, where it serves as the city’s primary law enforcement and military. Lower-ranking fists patrol the Lower City or are assigned to missions elsewhere, while senior officers may act as commanders in battle or intimidating bodyguards for high-profile negotiations. If you’ve relinquished your ties to the Flaming Fist, you can reenlist at any time. However, so long as you collect wages, you must serve the Fl", "publisher": "Anthony Joyce-Rivera", "book": "Baldurs Gate - The Fall of Elturel", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Folk Hero", "description": "You come from a humble social rank, but you are destined for so much more. Already the people of your home village regard you as their cham⁠pion, and your destiny calls you to stand against the tyrants and monsters that threaten the co⁠mmon folk everywhere. Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools, vehicles (land) Equipment: A set of artisan’s tools (one of your choice), a shovel, an iron pot, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 1", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Forest Dweller", "description": "You are a creature of the forest, born and reared under a canopy of green. You expected to live all your days in the Margreve, at one with the green things of the world, until an unforeseen occurrence, traumatic or transformative, drove you from your familiar home and into the larger world. Civilization is strange to you, the open sky unfamiliar, and the bizarre ways of the so‑called civilized world run counter to the truths of the Old Ways. Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival Tool Proficienci", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Margreve Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Forest Dweller", "description": "You are a creature of the forest, born and reared under a canopy of green. You expected to live all your days in the forest, at one with the green things of the world, until an unforeseen occurrence, traumatic or transformative, drove you from your familiar home and into the larger world. Civilization is strange to you, the open sky unfamiliar, and the bizarre ways of the so-called civilized world run counter to the truths of the natural world. Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival Tool Proficie", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Forest Hamlet - Commoner", "description": "In some forests, reality blends and shifts, and spirits whisper to one another in the murk. If one enters a forest unprepared, it is only a matter of time before such a person succumbs to either the whims of the spirits or the will of the wilds. Verdant and lush, forests resound with the melody of birdcalls, rustling leaves, and creaking wood as ancient trees settle into the soil. A wise person learns to live with the wild, perhaps even tame it a little, but they always absorb a bit of that wild", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Former Adventurer", "description": "As you belted on your weapons and hoisted the pack onto your back, you never thought you’d become an adventurer again. But the heroic call couldn’t be ignored. You’ve tried this once before—perhaps it showered you in wealth and glory or perhaps it ended with sorrow and regret. No one ever said adventuring came with a guarantee of success. Now, the time has come to set off toward danger once again. The reasons for picking up adventuring again vary. Could it be a calamitous threat to the town? The", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Former Slave", "description": "Along with countless others, you were captured by the Shadow’s legions and enslaved, put to work to feed and arm Izrador’s war machine. Maybe you lived in the north and saw the legions’ destruction of your society as they moved south and occupied your empty cities. Or perhaps you were an inhabitant of central or southern Erenland and were swept up by one of the many slaver patrols capturing anyone they could to toil for the Shadow. You may have even been born into captivity. Regardless of your o", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Midnight - Legacy of Darkness", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Fortune Teller", "description": "You have spent your life traveling with the circus as the resident fortune teller. You delight in the wonder-filled eyes of patrons, as you make predictions about their future and offer insightful glimpses into their past. You love to make an extravagant performance, gazing into a crystal ball, laying out tarot cards, or reading palms to make your predictions. Predicting one’s future can be a heavy burden, but you know it’s just as much about the spectacle as it is the art itself. Skill Proficie", "publisher": "Escape Plan Games", "book": "Tavern Tales Vol 1 - A Trip Away Inn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Freebooter", "description": "You sailed the seas surrounding the Southlands as a freebooter, part of a pirate crew. You should come up with a name for your former ship and its captain, as well as its hunting ground and the type of ships you preyed on. Did you sail under the flag of a bloodthirsty captain, raiding coastal communities and putting everyone to the sword? Or were you part of the Istagal Raiders, the former slaves turned pirates, who battle to end the vile slave trade in the White Sea? If you’re a minotaur, you l", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Southlands Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Freebooter", "description": "You sailed the seas as a freebooter, part of a pirate crew. You should come up with a name for your former ship and its captain, as well as its hunting ground and the type of ships you preyed on. Did you sail under the flag of a bloodthirsty captain, raiding coastal communities and putting everyone to the sword? Or were you part of a group of former slaves turned pirates, who battle to end the vile slave trade? Whatever ship you sailed on, you feel at home on board a seafaring vessel, and you ha", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Freedom Fighter", "description": "Your lands may have been occupied by the Shadow’s legions. Your life may have been taken from you by the Shadow. Your friends and family may still be living under the constant threat of oppression and death. But you chose not to go quietly into the night. You fight the Shadow in one of the many resistance groups across Eredane. Many groups of freedom fighters are scattered across the occupied lands. You may be one of the Dorns or Sarcosan freeriders who harass the Shadow’s convoys and patrols on", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Midnight - Legacy of Darkness", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Fugitive", "description": "Outcasts; prison, galley or forced-labor escapees; deserters from armies and mercenary companies; on the run after attacking a guard or an aristocrat: whether rumors about them are true or false, fugitives are accused of escaping from the Kingdom’s “justice”, and when they join a company, it’s because they have no other prospects. Skill Proficiencies : Stealth, Survival Languages : Racket Equipment : A dagger, a memento from your past life, a set of traveler's clothes, a pouch with 10 sp. Featur", "publisher": "Acheron Games", "book": "Brancalonia - Core Rulebook Compendium", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Gambler", "description": "All you need to make a lot of gold is a little gold. Except at those times when all you need to have no gold at all is a little gold. Whether you’re a good gambler or a bad one rarely matters, because no one can divine the whims of Lady Luck. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down. But the thing about gambling is that someone is always willing to take a bet. Skill Proficiency: Deception, Insight Tool Proficiencies: One gaming set Languages: Any one of your choice Equipment: One gaming set, a", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Acquisitions Incorporated", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Gamekeeper", "description": "You are at home in natural environments, chasing prey or directing less skilled hunters in the best ways to track game through the brush. You know the requirements for encouraging a herd to grow, and you know what sustainable harvesting from a herd involves. You can train a hunting beast to recognize an owner and perform a half-dozen commands, given the time. You also know the etiquette for engaging nobility or other members of the upper classes, as they regularly seek your services, and you can", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Gate Warden", "description": "A Gate Warden from the gloomy gate-town of Hopeless protects the balance of the Outlands. Prerequisite: Planescape Campaign You spent a significant amount of time somewhere influenced by intense planar forces or a portal to another plane of existence, such as one of the gate-towns in the Outlands. You’re accustomed to experiences that would leave others reeling in terror or enraptured by otherworldly beauty, and you’re as comfortable dealing with Celestials and Fiends as you are with the vendors", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Planescape - Adventures in the Multiverse", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ghost Knight (Midgard)", "description": "You joined the Ghost Knights of Morgau, also known as the Order of the Knights Incorporeal, either willingly or as a result of being conscripted, and were bound in service to an officer in the order—most likely a vampire, darakhul, or priestess of the Red Goddess. As a humble foot soldier, you almost certainly took part in the brief and bloody war to seize the Electoral Kingdom of Krakova for the Principalities, fighting alongside both undead troops and living warrior-priests of Mavros and Maren", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ghoul Imperium Deserter", "description": "You have served your emperor and his officers dutifully, and it has brought you nothing. The rewards you have been promised—a herd of fattened manlings for feasting upon, a troop of skeletons to serve your needs, and possibly a zombie or three for light security—all of these things and more have failed to materialize in whole or in part, and now you want what you feel is coming to you, even if you have to live among the feeble mortals of the surface lands to get it. While some Ghoul Imperium des", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Underworld Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Giant Foundling", "description": "Though you aren’t a Giant, you grew up among giants. Maybe you were an orphan taken in by a sympathetic family of stone giants who raised you as one of their own. Or perhaps you lived in a lost prehistoric pocket of the world, surrounded by giants and fearsome behemoths or hulking dinosaurs. Something about your environment—perhaps the food or water that sustained you, elemental magic inherent in the site of your home, or some verdant blessing of growth placed on you—caused you to grow to a rema", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Bigby Presents - Glory of the Giants", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Gladiator", "description": "A gladiator is as much an entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer, trained to make the arts of co⁠mbat into a spectacle the crowd can enjoy. This kind of flashy com⁠bat is your entertainer routine, though you might also have some skills as a tumbler or actor. Using your By Popular Demand feature, you can find a place to perform in any place that features comba⁠t for entertainment—perhaps a gladiatorial arena or secret pit fighting club. You can replace the musical instrument in your equi", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Gnoll Caravan Raider", "description": "Gnolls are found in large numbers throughout the Southlands. While many are “civilized” and join local armies to fight as shock troops, their more savage cousins often roam the deserts and wilderness preying on caravans. Gnolls are accomplished caravan raiders, attacking with stealth, creating chaos and panic, and then slipping away with the plunder before the merchants and their guards can react. While some gnoll raiders follow Bastet or her jackal-headed husband Anu-Akma, the worst of them hav", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Worldbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Gnoll-Caravan Raider", "description": "Gnolls are found in large numbers throughout the Southlands. While many are civilized (more or less) and join local armies to fight as shock troops, their savage cousins roam the deserts and wilderness preying on caravans. Gnolls are accomplished raiders, attacking with stealth, creating chaos and panic, and then slipping away with the plunder before the merchants and their guards know what’s hit them. While some gnoll raiders follow Bastet or her jackal-headed husband Anu-Akma, the worst of the", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Golgari Agent", "description": "You are a member of a teeming horde—one small part of a sprawling organism. Just as you are part of the swarm, the swarm is part of a larger ecosystem, a never-ending cycle of life, death, rot, and rebirth. You have spent your life in the slow churn of that ecosystem, in the dark places of the city where the messy parts of existence are on display. There is little squeamishness among the Golgari , no fear of death or taboo about the dead, just a fierce affirmation of the cycle. Skill Proficienci", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Graverobber", "description": "Some folk regard graves as sacred ground, a memento of the ones who passed away from the world, some see them as places that they won’t visit, even after death, and others consider graves to be a source of uncanny wealth. You, as a graverobber, are the third. You visit the graves of Kanrath or Cyherested, not to mourn, but to plunder. A shovel and a well-groomed grave are all that you need to reach the riches you desire. However, every profession has its own difficulties, especially in Tolia. Bo", "publisher": "Dream Realm Storytellers", "book": "Bloodpunk - A Guide to Tolia Campaign Setting", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Grinner", "description": "The Golden Grin began in the far-off land of Tal’Dorei, trading secret messages through a network of bards and minstrels to undermine an iron-fisted king’s authoritarian rule. Today, Tal’Dorei is a relatively peaceful republic, and some Grinners have grown restless while waiting for tyranny to raise its ugly head again. A contingent of such Grinners traveled to the Menagerie Coast and set up a network of secret bases in the cities of the Clovis Concord, from which they are presently working thei", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Explorer's Guide to Wildemount (deprecated)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Grinner", "description": "The Golden Grin began in the far-off land of Tal’Dorei, trading secret messages through a network of bards and minstrels to undermine an iron-fisted king’s authoritarian rule. Today, Tal’Dorei is a relatively peaceful republic, and some Grinners have grown restless while waiting for tyranny to raise its ugly head again. A contingent of such Grinners traveled to the Menagerie Coast and set up a network of secret bases in the cities of the Clovis Concord, from which they are presently working thei", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Explorer's Guide to Wildemount", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Grounded", "description": "Despite the inherent vertical aspects of birdfolk culture, you have always felt safer and more at peace with your feet firmly planted on the soil. You are practical and level-headed, but due to your different perspective on the world, other birdfolk see you as quirky or unsettling. Your unique insight allows you to connect with the humblefolk who live under the forest canopy in ways perch-dwelling birdfolk cannot. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Insight Tool Proficiencies: one type of Artisan’s ", "publisher": "Hit Point Press", "book": "Humblewood", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Gruul Anarch", "description": "The entire world of Ravnica is a sprawling metropolis, but you are a native of the wild areas that still exist—the abandoned districts, the rubblebelts, the overgrown parks, and the crumbling ruins. You are part of a savage society that clings desperately to the Old Ways—attuned to nature, full of primal rage, and given short shrift by a world consumed with continuing civilization’s march of progress. Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Athletics Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit Languages: Ch", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Guard", "description": "Ability Scores Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom Feat Alert Skill Proficiencies Athletics and Perception Tool Proficiency Choose one kind of Gaming Set Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Spear, Light Crossbow, 20 Bolts, Gaming Set (same as above), Hooded Lantern, Manacles, Quiver, Traveler’s Clothes, 12 GP; or (B) 50 GP Your feet ache when you remember the countless hours you spent at your post in the tower. You were trained to keep one eye looking outside the wall, watching for marauders sweeping from t", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Guide", "description": "Ability Scores Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom Feat Magic Initiate (Druid) Skill Proficiencies Stealth and Survival Tool Proficiency Cartographer’s Tools Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Shortbow, 20 Arrows, Cartographer’s Tools, Bedroll, Quiver, Tent, Traveler’s Clothes, 3 GP; or (B) 50 GP You came of age outdoors, far from settled lands. Your home was anywhere you chose to spread your bedroll. There are wonders in the wilderness—strange monsters, pristine forests and streams, overgrown ruins of gr", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Guild Artisan", "description": "You are a member of an artisan’s guild, skill⁠ed in a particular field and closely associated with other artisans. You are a well-established part of the mercantile world, freed by talent and wealth from the constraints of a feudal social order. You learned your skills as an apprentice to a master artisan, under the sponsorship of your guild, until you became a master in your own right. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools Languages: One of you", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Guild Merchant", "description": "Instead of an artisans’ guild, you might belong to a guild of traders, caravan masters, or shopkeepers. You don’t craft items yourself but earn a living by buying and selling the works of others (or the raw materials artisans need to practice their craft). Your guild might be a large merchant consortium (or family) with interests across the region. Perhaps you transported goods from one place to another, by ship, wagon, or caravan, or bought them from traveling traders and sold them in your own ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Gye Valley - Non-Rokugani", "description": "The Gye valley is the largest and most populous of the five major river-valleys of Saebyuksan and has substantial agriculture, producing enough to export to other valleys and even to other countries. Crops grown there are shipped through the Kkachi valley and traded as far away as Kinushima City. The Gye valley’s surplus goods have given its ruling family the chance to build expansive temples and shrines and continue the spiritual research into the art of invocations. At the largest sacred sites", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Hantei Family - Imperial Court", "description": "The Hantei family, which includes the Emperor and his immediate family, is truly “Imperial,” insofar as the Emperors who have reigned over Rokugan have come from this family. At any time, it consists only of the ruler of the Empire, the Imperial spouse, and any children who potentially stand to inherit. Imperial heirs are taught by the best instructors available from the Great Clans, but their lofty position can make a traditional education difficult, for many instructors are loath to admonish a", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Haunted One", "description": "You are haunted by something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You’ve tried to bury it and run away from it, to no avail. Whatever this thing is that haunts you can’t be slain with a sword or banished with a spell. It might come to you as a shadow on the wall, a bloodcurdling nightmare, a memory that refuses to die, or a demonic whisper in the dark. The burden has taken its toll, isolating you from most people and making you question your sanity. You must find a way to overcome it befor", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Haunted One", "description": "You are haunted by something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You've tried to bury it and flee from it, to no avail. This thing that haunts you can't be slain with a sword or banished with a spell. It might come to you as a shadow on the wall, a bloodcurdling nightmare, a memory that refuses to die, or a demonic whisper in the dark. The burden has taken its toll, isolating you from others and making you question your sanity. You must find a way to overcome it before it destroys you. Sk", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Curse of Strahd", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Haunted Region - Commoner", "description": "Brooding skies smother the land, and jagged precipices cut the Heavens. Unfamiliar animals and plants, changed by hellish influence, assault the eyes with strange colors, textures, and movements. The wind blows bitter, and the nights are long. Scattered all throughout the world, one can find places palpably affected by the malign presence of vengeful ghosts, corrupted spirits, and unspeakable acts. The Crab Clan’s lands are often so afflicted, as if even the Kaiu Wall cannot fully contain the mi", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Haunted Villager", "description": "Life is bleak and relentless under vampire rule for the common folk of the Blood Kingdom. You were a hard-working peasant or craftsman living in one of the villages or small towns in Morgau, Doresh, or Krakova. The days were long and only fleeting moments of joy punctuated your miserable existence. What little money you made was barely enough to keep your family clothed and fed, and the menacing presence of the elders and the priestesses of the Red Goddess made true happiness elusive. Then one d", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Healer", "description": "You have dedicated a great deal of your life to understanding the body, how to cure it and how to keep it healthy. You may be a priest in a temple, an apprentice under a physician or even a self-taught medic. You know how easy it is to cause damage, and in contrast how difficult it is to fix it. Your studies encouraged you to research and practice your expertise wherever your travels may take you to. Skill Proficiencies: Medicine and Nature Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit and Poisoner’s Kit La", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Hellrider", "description": "You are one of the Hellriders, an elite company of mounted warriors that protects Elturgard, the Kingdom of Two Suns. The Hellriders get their name from the brave cavalry that rode into the Nine Hells alongside the angel Zariel long ago. Today, these honorable riders fiercely defend Elturel atop mighty destriers and dutifully give ten percent of all earnings to the city’s coffers. Hellriders are easily recognizable due to their crimson and white armor and banners bearing the crest of Elturgard: ", "publisher": "Anthony Joyce-Rivera", "book": "Baldurs Gate - The Fall of Elturel", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Heretic", "description": "Xan's heretics are on my tail again for sure. There's Another close one. You need to be more cautious, young pupil. — El Yeah, that was... wait. Alright, who is this? — Aladair You believe in a doctrine outlawed by your faith, taught to you in secret by other heretics. Perhaps your superiors excommunicated you from your temple, or forbidden dogma provided answers to questions you never sought. Whatever your origin, you’re now shunned by the faithful, or worse, hunted. Skill Proficiencies: Decept", "publisher": "Castle Skydawn Design", "book": "Xanathar's Lost Notes to Everything Else", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Heretic", "description": "Where gods vie for supremacy through trickery and murder, and mortals ascend to godhood, so there is heresy. You believe in a doctrine outlawed by your faith, taught to you in secret by other heretics. Perhaps your superiors excommunicated you from your temple, or forbidden dogma provided answers to questions you never sought. Whatever your origin, you’re now shunned by the faithful, or worse, hunted. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Religion Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A holy symbol", "publisher": "Castle Skydawn Design", "book": "Lost City of Mezro", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Hermit", "description": "You lived in seclusion—either in a sheltered community such as a monastery, or entirely alone—for a formative part of your life. In your time apart from the clamor of society, you found quiet, solitude, and perhaps some of the answers you were looking for. Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Religion Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit Languages: One of your choice Equipment: A scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, an herbalism kit, a", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Hermit", "description": "Ability Scores Constitution, Wisdom, Charisma Feat Healer Skill Proficiencies Medicine and Religion Tool Proficiency Herbalism Kit Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Quarterstaff, Herbalism Kit, Bedroll, Book (philosophy), Lamp, Oil (3 flasks), Traveler’s Clothes, 16 GP; or (B) 50 GP You spent your early years secluded in a hut or monastery located well beyond the outskirts of the nearest settlement. In those days, your only companions were the creatures of the forest and those who would occasionally ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Hero of the Apocalypse", "description": "When the old world came to an end, you didn't just watch. You tried your best to save people, fighting enemies or helping others get to a safer location. Even if you were inexperienced, you did whatever you were capable of, and some people are still alive today because of you. After the rebirth of your world in Braythe, you stayed in contact with some of those you have saved, and maybe others who have helped at your side. These people will never forget you, and you will never forget them. Skill ", "publisher": "Braythe RPG", "book": "Braythe - Shattered Realities", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Hida Family - Crab Clan", "description": "The Hida family trains its members to guard Rokugan against the horrific denizens and spreading doom of the Shadowlands first and foremost. Its castles are built into the Kaiu Wall itself, and its training grounds overlook swaths of the twisted realm beyond. The family’s task is an eternal vigil to keep the Empire safe from unthinkable horrors as its founder once did. However, unlike the divine warrior who founded the family, the members of the family today are not demigods but mortals, and ever", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Hightailer", "description": "Your life wasn't really the best in the old world. You got from day to day, maybe even had some success. But when things got difficult, you had a tendency to just move on. This gave you a certain freedom, but also a lack of security - financially as well as emotionally. When the apocalypse came, you did what you do best: You ran. Fortunately, in the right direction. Be it fate or luck, you ended up in a region that was saved by the champion of your world. But since then, you never really stopped", "publisher": "Braythe RPG", "book": "Braythe - Shattered Realities", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Hiruma Family - Crab Clan", "description": "Having lost their lands to the spread of the Shadowlands centuries ago, the Hiruma family does little in the way of administration of territory or collection of taxes. Instead, members of this family train and serve as the eyes and ears of the Crab beyond the Wall, warning of attacks and staging spoiling raids when a particularly powerful horror begins to gather an army around itself. It is a desperate, dangerous task, but the warnings facilitated by the skills of the Hiruma allow the Crab to re", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Historian", "description": " No one knows that the world of today is built on the foundations of the past quite like you do. Though you likely have a specialty of some sort, you are fascinated by the history of the world in which you live. Indeed, adventuring is often a way of stealing a rare glimpse into the remnants of ancient empires and peoples, even if it is a dangerous option. Skill Proficiencies: History, plus one other from among Arcana, Nature, or Religion. Languages: One of your choice, relevant to your specialty", "publisher": "Green Ronin Publishing", "book": "Death in Freeport 20th Anniversary Edition", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Host", "description": "For years, your body was not your own. You lost control of yourself to a creature more powerful than you, known as your “rider”. You have more control of yourself now, but it may still influence your decisions, or you may still be a victim of stigma from the things you did under its control. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Perception Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit and one instrument or gaming set. Languages: Two of your choice; your native language and one gained from the creature you were host t", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "House Agent", "description": "You have sworn fealty to a dragonmarked house. If you have a dragonmark, you’re likely a member of one of the house’s influential families; otherwise you’re an outsider who hopes to make your fortune through the house. Your main task is to serve as the eyes of your house, but you could be called on at any time to act as its hand. Such missions can be perilous but lucrative. Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Persuasion Tool Proficiency: Two proficiencies from the House Tool Proficiencies table ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Eberron - Rising from the Last War", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ichiro and Fureshu Family - Badger Clan", "description": "Most Minor Clans rule over territories far from Rokugan’s borders and rarely march to war. Not so for the formidable Badger Clan, which is situated in the north of Rokugan and protects a set of key mountain passes and trails. From childhood, members of the Ichirō family are taught to be watchful and ready at all times to warn the rest of the clan of invading armies. Indeed, over the centuries, the Badger Clan has sparred with various foreign forces making military expeditions into Rokugan from t", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ide Family - Unicorn Clan", "description": "In its centuries of wandering, the Unicorn Clan had a need for good ambassadors. It was Ide, one of Shinjo’s original followers, who helped her create alliances and navigate foreign powers in the early days of the clan’s great journey, and Ide’s descendants still perform this role for the clan. Today, the Ide tradition trains some of the finest ambassadors who have not only helped smooth the clan’s return to Rokugan, but also maintain its alliances with the Ujik, the Qamarist Caliphate, and beyo", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ikomo Family - Lion Clan", "description": "The Ikoma family are storytellers who weave history and myth into a grand tale of the Emerald Empire. They serve as the memory not only of the Lion Clan but of the Empire as a whole. Boasts, tears, and stories are the tools the Ikoma use to advance the Lion in the courts. While the Dragon Clan records history without clear bias, the Ikoma family of the Lion Clan glorify Rokugan and its leadership in all they create. Skill Proficiencies: Persuasion, choose one other Intelligence-based skill (Arca", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Inheritor", "description": "You are the heir to something of great value—not mere coin or wealth, but an object that has been entrusted to you and you alone. Your inheritance might have come directly to you from a member of your family, by right of birth, or it could have been left to you by a friend, a mentor, a teacher, or someone else important in your life. The revelation of your inheritance changed your life, and might have set you on the path to adventure, but it could also come with many dangers, including those who", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Innkeeper", "description": "You spent some time as an innkeeper, tavern keeper, or perhaps a bartender. It might have been in a small crossroads town, a fishing community, a fine caravanserai, or a large cosmopolitan community. You did it all; preparing food, tracking supplies, tapping kegs, and everything in between. All the while, you listened to the adventurers plan their quests, heard their tales, saw their amazing trophies, marveled at their terrible scars, and eyed their full purses. You watched them come and go, thi", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Inquisitor", "description": "You are a steadfast disciple of the Radiant Church, filled with an unwavering faith and a holy zeal that drives you to root out any threats to the church and its teachings. Your duty might involve questioning potential heretics, investigating signs of corruption within the church, or combating the enemies of the faith. You walk a fine line, enforcing the laws of the Church and ensuring the purity of its followers. Skill Proficiencies: Religion, Intimidation Tool Proficiencies: Torture tools Lang", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Interpreter", "description": "In a galaxy with hundreds of systems, thousands of worlds, and a vast array of cultures, communication is a constant challenge. On the civilized worlds, maws, and other places where disparate peoples gather, professional interpreters are almost indispensable. Without them, business and diplomacy would be impossible, and misunderstandings and conflict would surely fill the void. Living in such vibrant places, it is only natural that interpreters should get caught up in the adventures and machinat", "publisher": "Mage Hand Press", "book": "Dark Matter Starter Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Inventor", "description": "You were born and raised in the most technologically advanced city in the material plane, or maybe you had an apprenticeship from a master who belonged there. Perhaps you were born in the northern metropolis of Kryo Aima in the world of Igimas, or you grew up in the city of Sharn in the realm of Eberron. Ever since you were young you have seen marvelous creations that inspired you. Magically-fueled vehicles, golems, firearms and every piece of magitech you can imagine, these all left you in awe.", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Investigator", "description": "You relentlessly seek the truth. Perhaps you’re motivated by belief in the law and a sense of universal justice, or maybe that very law has failed you and you seek to make things right. You could have witnessed something remarkable or terrible, and now you must know more about this hidden truth. Or maybe you’re a detective for hire, uncovering secrets for well-paying clients. Whether the mysteries you’re embroiled in are local crimes or realm-spanning conspiracies, you’re driven by a personal ne", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Investigator", "description": "As an Investigator, your life is a ceaseless pursuit of the elusive truth. You are driven by a profound desire to understand the perplexing enigma that is the Scourge, the inscrutable disappearances happening across the city, the veiled cult activities, the covert dealings within the Church, or the aristocrats' clandestine affairs. Regardless of the specifics, you are a seeker of knowledge and truth, using your keen insight and intellect to unravel the mysteries that plague your world. You might", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Isawa Family - Phoenix Clan", "description": "The Elemental Masters who sit on the Council of Five are the true rulers of the Phoenix, and these masters are almost always drawn from the Isawa family. These masters come from a venerable tradition; the Isawa family’s ritualist school predates even the Emerald Empire itself, having been brought south by inhabitants of the Dawn Peaks region centuries before the fall of the divine siblings. The Isawa have a continuous culture stretching back to their ancient homeland, and have also had centuries", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Iuchi Family - Unicorn Clan", "description": "The Iuchi are a ritualist family whose practices stretch back to the Unicorn Clan’s departure from Rokugan. Having left behind the spirits of his homeland, Shinjo’s follower Iuchi learned a unique mystic art called the way of names, which allowed him to command and bind spirits within powerful talismans. Iuchi learned numerous different forms of mysticism and sorcery during his long life, but his heirs have focused on the way of names, honing it into a potent art. Now that they have returned to ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ivory Kingdoms Naga - Non-Human", "description": "In the Ivory Kingdoms, naga inhabit many of the rivers. They rule great underwater cities, which only a few humans are ever lucky enough to visit due to the logistical difficulties of keeping a human both underwater and alive for long periods of time. However, they often visit the cities of humans, trading with the various fractious kingdoms that, in the eyes of the naga, seem to rise and fall in days. The naga as a whole generally stay out of the political affairs of humans when they can avoid ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Izzet Engineer", "description": "Armed with an inventive intellect, a love of magical technology, and an unquenchable energy, you are an enthusiastic participant in the research work of the Izzet League . Though you’re likely to begin your career as a mere attendant, you can aspire to become a skilled mage or alchemist, a laboratory supervisor, or even a flamethrower-wielding scorchbringer tasked with defending Izzet laboratories. The Izzet are obsessive, brilliant, inspired, and an unpredictable force of chaos in Ravnica, and ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Journalist", "description": "Similar to other cosmopolitan cities with huge populations, journalists or radio hosts are well-known in Tolia. Both occupations are considered useful tools for the ruling class and citizens. The ruling classes use them for propaganda, while citizens need them to learn about their cities and community. Even though there is no journalism school in Tolia, agencies and senior journalists find newbies and teach them the ropes. The rookies usually work as assistants, reporters, and artists (drawing c", "publisher": "Dream Realm Storytellers", "book": "Bloodpunk - A Guide to Tolia Campaign Setting", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kaikoga Family - Moth Clan", "description": "With a small physical domain and few members, the enigmatic Moth Clan seems an odd organization. Yet their role in the Empire is critical, as they are the guardians of the Realm of Dreams, which mortal souls slip into in slumber. The Moth Clan’s Dreamweavers are ritualists who travel into this mysterious realm through a specialized ritual they developed over centuries. In the Realm of Dreams, they communicate with the denizens of that realm and catch glimpses of hidden desires, forgotten memorie", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kaito Family - Phoenix Clan", "description": "The small Kaito family has been given the task of safeguarding the many shrines scattered across the Phoenix holdings, from small altars sheltered by a single tree to massive sanctuaries. To fulfill their responsibilities, the Kaito have mastered the use of charmed arrows and prayers to protect the shrines from spiritual foes, and practical archery to fend off more mortal dangers. The Kaito are rarely seen outside the Phoenix lands, as they have so many tasks within, but they occasionally make p", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kaiu Family - Crab Clan", "description": "Monuments to the skill of the Kaiu family’s engineers and architects are everywhere in the Crab lands, from the vast Kaiu Wall itself to the armor and weapons used by those who stand guard over it. The Kaiu family is responsible for maintaining the road network supporting the fortifications, the siege engines that crush and shatter the Shadowlands forces, and defensive works spread across the interior of the Crab holdings. As a result, members of the family are taught to think logically while re", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kakita Family - Crane Clan", "description": "The Kakita family maintains two of the most renowned academies in the Empire: the Kakita Duelist Academy and the Kakita Artisan Academy. Each of these traditions has produced some of the finest artists of every generation. Duelists wield the sword, protecting the Crane Clan’s interests with sharp finality, and artisans write, paint, and sculpt works that stirs hearts for generations. The students of the Kakita tradition are encouraged to master a single art absolutely. For duelists, this often m", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Karelagne Naval Magewright", "description": "Karelagne Naval Magewright “Few things are as beautiful as a ship under full sail, breaking through the aether.” You have spent your life in service to the glory and power of the Karelagne Navy, utilizing your technical and magical prowess to build advanced aether vehicles to ensure nothing stands against the Empire’s might. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Investigation Tool Proficiencies: Tinker’s tools, vehicles (choice of air, land, or sea) Equipment: A naval uniform, ink drawing of the first sh", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kasuga Family - Tortoise Clan", "description": "Magistrates of Slow Tide Harbor, the Tortoise Clan presides over one of the most notorious havens for smugglers and criminals in the Empire. However, as Slow Tide Harbor is one of the most accessible deep water ports for foreign shipping, the Tortoise Clan controls a majority of the very lucrative sea trade with foreign powers. It is said that many luxury goods make their way directly from Slow Tide Harbor to the Imperial Court, and that the Tortoise Clan’s good standing stems from the favor thi", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kinushima City - Non-Rokugani", "description": "A bustling port on a small island, Kinushima City sits on a sheltered bay where Mantis and foreign ships alike often go to trade specialty goods. Originally a modest fishing village, the city has grown prodigiously in the last two centuries, and the population now consists of a mix of native islanders, Mantis traders, and foreign merchants from countless far-flung lands. Yet the city has a culture all its own as well, with a thriving musical scene derived from the islanders’ traditions, cuisine ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kitsu Family - Lion Clan", "description": "Ancestor veneration is common in Rokugan, but the Kitsu bloodline, which incorporated with otherworldly beings in ages past, produces members who can part the veil to speak with them. The Kitsu are known for being traditional and conservative, even among the Lion. Those without the talent to speak to spirits keep genealogies, tend to the tombs and shrines, and otherwise honor the noble dead. Skill Proficiencies: Religion, choose one other Charisma-based skill (Deception, Intimidation, Performanc", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kitsuki Family - Dragon Clan", "description": "The samurai of the Kitsuki family are most well-known for their training’s emphasis on keen perception and their investigative techniques that rely upon making the most of physical evidence, including the smallest clues other magistrates might overlook. A small family, they serve the Empire as magistrates and the Dragon Clan as courtiers. In both roles, their eye for deception and knack for finding the truth serve them well. Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, choose one other Wisdom-based skill", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kitsune Family - Fox Clan", "description": "Once the followers of Shinjo who remained behind in the Empire, the Kitsune family of the Fox Clan is noted for its scholarship, its knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants, and the subtle skill of its ritualists. Driven from their original holdings in centuries past by the Lion Clan, the Fox Clan now makes its home in the Kitsune Forest, an ancient and primeval vale filled with spirits. As such, the Fox Clan has taken on the self-appointed task of mediation between spirits and humans. R", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kkachi Valley - Non-Rokugani", "description": "Since the formation of the Jindallae League, the wars between the valley clans have largely ceased, leaving the Kkachi valley’s ruling family ample opportunity to expand their fortunes through trade, often exporting goods produced in the Gye valley. Much of this wealth has been dedicated to expanding the navy controlled by the Kkachi clan. While most of the navy consists of traditional trading vessels, the Kkachi clan also commands numerous so-called nautiluses, heavily armored defensive vessels", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Knight", "description": "A knighthood is among the lowest noble titles in most societies, but it can be a path to higher status. If you wish to be a knight, choose the Retainers feature (see the sidebar) instead of the Position of Privilege feature. One of your comm⁠oner retainers is replaced by a noble who serves as your squire, aiding you in exchange for training on his or her own path to knighthood. Your two remaining retainers might include a groom to care for your horse and a servant who polishes your armor (and ev", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Knight of Solamnia", "description": "Prerequisite: Dragonlance Campaign You have trained to be a valorous warrior known as a Knight of Solamnia. Strict rules guide your every action, and you work to uphold them as you strive to defend the weak and oppose evil. Your honor is as important to you as your life. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Survival Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: An insignia of rank, a deck of cards, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Feature: Squire of Solamnia You gain the Squire of Sol", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Dragonlance - Shadow of the Dragon Queen", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Knight of the Order", "description": "You belong to an order of knights who have sworn oaths to achieve a certain goal. The nature of this goal depends on the order you serve, but in your eyes it is without question a vital and honorable endeavor. Faerûn has a wide variety of knightly orders, all of which have a similar outlook concerning their actions and responsibilities. Though the term “knight” conjures ideas of mounted, heavily armored warriors of noble blood, most knightly orders in Faerûn don’t restrict their membership to su", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Knotted Tails Tribe - Non-Human", "description": "The Shadowlands is a harsh environment even for beings immune to its corrupting influence, filled with cunning horrors and ravening undead. Some nezumi tribes have dedicated warriors among them, trained to fight these threats for the tribe from birth, but this is not the case for the Knotted Tails. Being a relatively small tribe of a few dozen, most members of the tribe take on different roles as necessary, and no roles are considered demeaning. Every Knotted Tails nezumi is thus not only a guar", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Krakovan Rebel", "description": "You were a loyal citizen and supporter of King Eynryk, rightful ruler of the Electoral Kingdom of Krakova, when the undead army of the Principalities invaded. Still living within the borders of the Province of Krakovar, your loyalties now lie with the exiled Queen Urzula, and you despise the vampires who conquered your homeland. You have joined the ranks of the resistance to Morgau’s rule, taking part in ambushes and small acts of sabotage against the undead. You may have rescued innocents ensla", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Kuni Family - Crab Clan", "description": "No ritualist tradition is more feared in the Emerald Empire than that of the Kuni family, which teaches its members to root out any sign of evil, whether in Crab lands or beyond. The Kuni family has an extremely unusual structure, even for a family built around maintaining religious traditions. While most members of the family serve in administrative roles or train as warriors, those with the knack for speaking to spirits are trained not by a series of teachers alongside fellow students, but by ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Legendary Lineage", "description": "You have heroes in your family background and the story of your ancestors is known far and wide. Perhaps your parents were a famous adventuring duo, or a grandparent hunted and killed great evils. Maybe your heroic bloodline has many heroes within it going back as far as any can remember. Whatever the case, the deeds of those who came before you are great and the public's expectation of your accomplishments is even greater. The weight of your family name affects all you do. Skill Proficiencies: ", "publisher": "Castle Skydawn Design", "book": "Xanathar's Lost Notes to Everything Else", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Light Bringer Inititate", "description": "You followed in the nuns’ footsteps at a Convent of Everlasting Light, yet the unmistakable signs proved you were different. Sacred Light. Your connection to the Everlasting Light allows you to cast the Light cantrip. Also, you are well versed in the rituals and prayers of the Covenant; if you chant over a mundane item of appropriate type for 10 minutes, you can turn it into a holy symbol. Skills: Perception (Wis), Religion (Int) Languages: One of your choice Tools: Calligrapher’s supplies or He", "publisher": "Lion Banner Games", "book": "HellWatch Infernal Oath 5e Compendium Expansion", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Lorehold Student", "description": "You have spent your youth preparing to be a student of Lorehold College, reading every book on the college’s recommended reading list for prospective students. Your academic passions are in the broad field of history. You might dream of using magic to contact great historical figures or your own ancestors or of recreating the mighty magic of a distant age. Skill Proficiencies: History, Religion Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, an ink pen, a hammer, a hooded lantern", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Strixhaven A Curriculum of Chaos", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Low-Worlder", "description": "Low-worlders hail from planets that have never discovered the secrets of faster-than-light travel, planets from which the rest of the universe seems unknown and out of reach. The technology level of these planets range from as primitive as spears and bone tools, to as advanced as modern Earth. However, without the innovation of faster-than-light travel or the intervention of a galactic faction, the peoples of these planets will never join the galactic community. Low-worlders find themselves far ", "publisher": "Mage Hand Press", "book": "Dark Matter Starter Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Lyceum Scholar", "description": "You most likely came up through money or hailed from a family with social prestige if you were able to afford tuition at the Alabaster Lyceum in Emon. But whatever your origin, your interests and pursuits brought you to the hallowed halls of Tal’Dorei’s highest place of learning, where you soaked in every lesson you could, hoping to better make your mark on the world. (Or at least you pretended to. Even at the Lyceum, every class has its slackers.) Eventually, though, the call to adventure pulle", "publisher": "Darrington Press", "book": "Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mage Craft Dissident", "description": "Mage Craft Dissident “Fools sing their songs of lament and prose, unaware their downfall is of their own making.” Mage Craft Dissidents are spellcasters who have cast off the crutch of technology, believing its usage will lead to civilization’s downfall. Utilizing the aether by drinking tiny amounts of the poisonous liquid, these spellcasters enter what they call “wraith dreams” - vivid hallucinations believed to be eerie premonitions of the future, often involving impending doom and disaster. S", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mage of High Sorcery", "description": "Prerequisite: Dragonlance Campaign Your talent for magic came to the attention of the Mages of High Sorcery, an organization of spellcasters that studies magic and prevents its misuse. You’ve trained among the Mages, but whether you’ll face the dangerous test required to become a full member of the group remains to be determined. Your passion for studying magic has likely already predisposed you toward one of the organization’s three orders: the benevolent Order of the White Robes, the balance-p", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Dragonlance - Shadow of the Dragon Queen", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mageborn", "description": "Mageborn Requirement: You must be a bard, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard You manifested arcane magical abilities at a young age, and were taken into the guardianship of the Amethyst Academy. You learned to harness your magic at a secluded magical school. After you came of age and completed your apprenticeship, you became free to pursue your own interests, but you must respect the laws and customs that govern all those with spellcasting powers. Under the Edicts of Lumen, mages are disinherited of a", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Dungeons of Drakkenheim", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Malenti", "description": "You were born a sahuagin in the Eternal Dominion of the Thunder Sea, but ritual magic and the blood of the kar’lassa allowed you to consume and replace a surface dweller. You can never regain your original form; for all intents and purposes, you are who you appear to be. You’re physically indistinguishable from them, and you have enough of their memories to fool even their family and friends. But you have the mind of a sahuagin, and you’re loyal to the Dominion. As a malenti, the first question ", "publisher": "Keith Baker Presents", "book": "Exploring Eberron", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Marine", "description": "Marine You were trained for battle on sandy beaches and rocky shores. You have launched midnight raids from swift ships whose names evoke terror in the hearts of your adversaries. The water is your second home, the rain your shelter, and the crashing waves your battle cry. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Vehicles (water, land) Equipment: A dagger that belonged to a fallen comrade, a folded flag emblazoned with the symbol of your ship or company, a set of traveler’s c", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Ghosts of Saltmarsh", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Marked for Death", "description": "You once were dead, but the mysterious Blood Moon of Rebirth returned you to life, leaving an indelible Eldritch Carving on your body - the Sacrificial Brand. The mark on your flesh is feared by many, as it is believed to attract the terrible creatures that plague the world, to you, it symbolizes the weight of your past life with you, and the promise that this life will end again, violently. Embracing your new life as a symbol of rebirth and sacrifice, you have resolved to use this opportunity, ", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Matsu Family - Lion Clan", "description": "The Matsu are the courageous, implacable heart of the Lion. As the largest family in the Empire, the Matsu fill the ranks of the vast Lion armies. Founded by Lady Matsu, one of the greatest of all samurai in the early Empire and one of the few to claim a victory over Akodo in single combat, they retain many matriarchal traditions in her honor, including several elite military units that are exclusively female. Due to their numbers, when members of other clans think of the Lion Clan, the Matsu ar", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Media Investigator", "description": "You’ve made your career out of getting the latest scoop, piece of gossip, or finding just the right contact to get you hard evidence on a story. You may be doing it because you like it, or perhaps it’s the only thing you’re good at. Or maybe you’re looking for that really big story, the one that’ll either set you up for life or prove whatever you believed all along was actually true. Skill Proficiencies: Computers, Investigation Tool Proficiencies: Disguise Kit, Media Kit Equipment: Fancy clothi", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Menghes Ordu - Non-Rokugani", "description": "One of the largest ordus in residence belongs to the Menghes family under the patriarchal leadership of Menghes Daidu. Daidu is a lean, long, sour-faced man, and his wives, brother, sons, daughters, nephews, and grandchildren make up the majority of the ordu’s population. The Menghes family are excellent herders of sheep, and one of Daidu’s wives, Bortelun, is a renowned weaver of blankets, carpets, and other woolen goods. The Menghes family is also ambitious, hoping to secure high-ranking posit", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Menoumori Island - Non-Rokugani", "description": "A forested volcanic island covered in brilliant ponds that shine like brightly polished lapis lazuli, Menoumori Island is home to the people of the same name, and is the largest of the inhabited coastal islands. The people there likely share some ancestors of some of the groups that settled Rokugan, and their origin story tells of a flight on the back of a massive bat spirit that delivered their ancestors from a mountainous land to the island. The inhabitants of Menoumori Island traditionally ma", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mercenary", "description": "Having participated in battles for coin as a sell-sword, you're no stranger to risking your safety and even life for just a chance at acquiring wealth. But now, as an adventurer, you look forward to the chance of even greater prizes. Your experience as a freelancing warrior means you have familiarized yourself with the ways of mercenary life, and you likely have haunting reminders and scars from your time out on the field. You might have served with a large outfit, such as the Bloodaxes from Sun", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mercenary Company Scion", "description": "You descend from a famous line of free company veterans, and your first memory is playing among the tents, training yards, and war rooms of one campaign or another. Adored or perhaps ignored by your parents, you spent your formative years learning weapons and armor skills from brave captains, camp discipline from burly sergeants, and a host of virtues and vices from the common foot soldiers. You’ve always been told you are special and destined to glory. The weight of your family’s legacy, honor,", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mercenary Recruit", "description": "Every year, the hopeful strive to earn a place in one of the great mercenary companies. Some of these would-be heroes received training from a mercenary company but needed more training before gaining membership. Others are full members but were selected to venture abroad to gain more experience before gaining a rank. You are one of these hopeful warriors, just beginning to carve your place in the world with blade, spell, or skill. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Persuasion Tool Proficiencies: O", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mercenary Veteran", "description": "As a sell-sword who fought battles for coin, you’re well acquainted with risking life and limb for a chance at a share of treasure. Now, you look forward to fighting foes and reaping even greater rewards as an adventurer. Your experience makes you familiar with the ins and outs of mercenary life, and you likely have harrowing stories of events on the battlefield. You might have served with a large outfit such as the Zhentarim or the soldiers of Mintarn, or a smaller band of sell-swords, maybe ev", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Merchant", "description": "Ability Scores Constitution, Intelligence, Charisma Feat Lucky Skill Proficiencies Animal Handling and Persuasion Tool Proficiency Navigator’s Tools Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Navigator’s Tools, 2 Pouches, Traveler’s Clothes, 22 GP; or (B) 50 GP You were apprenticed to a trader, caravan master, or shopkeeper, learning the fundamentals of commerce. You traveled broadly, and you earned a living by buying and selling the raw materials artisans need to practice their craft or finished works from s", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mharoti Emissary", "description": "You are an agent of the Dragon Empire abroad in the nations of Midgard. You might be traveling as a legitimate ambassador, or without displaying your allegiance. Wherever you go, you present a “true” version of history regarding the Mharoti empire and the kingdom you happen to be in. The details of this tale encourage sympathy toward the empire and dissent toward the local government. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A text of “accurate” history, p", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Miner", "description": "You grew up in the Free Cantons of the Ironcrags, the kobold city of Lillefor, or the human mining communities of the Seven Cities. You learned how to dig deep beneath the surface of Midgard in search of iron, copper, silver, gold and rarer metals, or valuable minerals and gemstones. Whether you used clever technological innovations and magic to get at these prized ores and precious stones, or relied on your brute strength and dogged determination, it was an exciting and dangerous life. Hazards ", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mirumoto Family - Dragon Clan", "description": "The Mirumoto family is renowned for their founder’s unique two-sword style, called “Two Heavens,” but they train their scions to be more than just bushi and duelists. The Mirumoto family also oversees the management and mundane duties of the Dragon Clan, allowing the ascetics of the Togashi Order to pursue their paths on the way to Enlightenment. Living in a harsh, mountainous region with a sparse population, Mirumoto samurai tend to be practical and down-to-earth. They are less inclined to draw", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Miya Family - Imperial Court", "description": "Legend has it that when the War against Fu Leng was finally won, it was the original Miya who brought the news of the victory to the first Hantei, who lay dying. The Emperor commanded Miya to continue spreading the news of the war’s end across the Empire. As he did so, he and his retainers assisted the war-ravaged Empire in rebuilding, leaving a sense of hope and purpose in their wake. When he returned to the Imperial City a hero, the wily Otomo saw an opportunity. He convinced the new Emperor, ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Monastery", "description": "Skill Proficiencies: Religion, choose one other Wisdom-based skill (Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Perception, or Survival). Tool Proficiencies: Any two artisan tools. Languages: You can read, sign, speak, and write Rokugani and one other language of your choice. Equipment: Unremarkable garb, staff, any one artisan tool, and 5 sp. Suggested Feats: Clarity in Solace, Paragon, Laborer’s Endurance. Background Feature: Regimented Lifestyle You grew up in a monastery, granting you the following ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Monster", "description": "Your actions are depraved, and your current crimes extend beyond callous greed or mischief. You have invented ways to harm others that shock the most jaded cutthroats and sell swords. You take perverse pleasure in staying one step ahead of those who would punish you for your heinous acts. All fear you, even the evil hearted. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Intimidation Languages: Two languages of your choice Equipment: 1 vial of Antitoxin, 1 vial of Poison (Basic), 1 flask of Oil, tinderbox, and", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Monster - Exile", "description": "", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Monster Hunter", "description": "The world is a dangerous place. Monsters great and small lurk in the dark places: in caves, in castles, maybe in your attic right this very moment. While others hunt deer, you hunt monsters, not for food, not for sport, but for survival. Without people like you, the world would soon be overrun by dragons, demons, even the dead don't stay quiet. You have spent years studying these creatures, how they fight, where they nest, and most importantly, how you can kill them. There's money to be made by ", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Monstrous Adoptee", "description": "Songs and sagas tell of heroes who, as children, were raised by creatures most view as monsters. You were one such child. Found, taken, left, or otherwise given to your monstrous parents, you were raised as one of their own species. Life with your adopted family could not have been easy for you, but the adversity and hardships you experienced only made you stronger. Perhaps you were “rescued” from your adopted family after only a short time with them, or perhaps only now have you realized the tr", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Moshi Family - Centipede Clan", "description": "The Centipede Clan are the foremost followers of Lady Sun, and they view themselves as bulwarks of sacred traditions. They sing their greetings to Lady Sun each morning and tend to one of the most revered locations in all of Rokugan, the place where it is said Lady Sun herself descended from the Heavens to speak with their founder. The stone on which Lady Sun once trod now serves as the site of the Shrine of the Lady Sun, which is centered on a massive, gilded statue of the goddess welcoming tra", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Moto Family - Unicorn Clan", "description": "The Moto are descended from the Ujik, the nomadic peoples of the Plains of Wind and Stone west of Rokugan, who drive their herds across the steppe. Indeed, the Moto family are still very much politically involved with many of the Ujik social units called ordus , which range in size from single families to vast, moving cities. Within the Unicorn Clan, the Moto train some of the finest heavy cavalry units and form much of the backbone of the Unicorn Clan’s military might. Whether in Rokugan or in ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mountain Dweller", "description": "An adventurer and explorer by nature, no unmarked path and trail can withstand your determination. You seek something beyond the material and wish to explore the world around you. Altitude Adaptation. You are acclimated to thin air and harsh weather conditions commonly found in elevated regions. You have advantage on checks and saves against exhaustion caused by cold, altitude and climbing fatigue. Skills: Animal Handling (Wisdom), Survival (Wisdom) Tools: Navigator’s Tools or Cook’s Utensils Eq", "publisher": "Lion Banner Games", "book": "HellWatch Infernal Oath 5e Compendium Expansion", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mountain Village - Commoner", "description": "In the mountains, majestic peaks reach to the clouds, and the air is thin and cold. Artists have captured the purity of these lands with stark lines and minimalist detail, illustrating their beauty and detachment from the rest of the world. Though scholars see the mountains as a boundary between the sky and earth or as a wall dividing Rokugan, they often ignore the truth that they act as both a barrier to outsiders and a door to the introspective. This environment is perfect for monks and those ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mountain's Witness", "description": "Dontrona Mountain, Sable Mountain, Demon Mountain; call it what you will, this spire of mystery and infernal plots looms large on both the horizon and in the dreams of Rothenians. You know more than most of this place, for you have made a bargain with its masters. Once a dangerous wasteland occupied by long extinct people, the mountain at the southern edge of the Wormwood now hosts a scheming malevolence. The sorcerer known as the Master is a legendary figure on the plains. His children, born fr", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Muse", "description": "A muse is someone who inspires great works of art, epic poems, or daring acts of bravery. They are loved and celebrated wherever they go, and have legions of adoring fans, artists, and suitors. Many muses are artists in their own right, and travel the world to inspire and be inspired by others. Often beautiful, always brilliant, muses might turn to a life of adventure to escape the confines of city life, experience daring adventure, or just to get some battle scars. A muse might be considered bl", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mysterious Origins", "description": "Your origins are a mystery even to you. You might recall fragments of your previous life, or you might dream of events that could be memories, but you can’t be sure of what is remembered and what is imagined. You recall practical information and facts about the world and perhaps even your name, but your upbringing and life before you lost your memories now exist only in dreams or sudden flashes of familiarity. You can leave the details of your character’s past up to your GM or give the GM a spec", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Mystic of Baba Yaga", "description": "“…I met a man upon the road, (a wanderin’ was I wonderin’) He said he bore a heavy load, I saw no pack upon his back, He said look close inside this sack, I saw an egg with two clawed toes! (a reelin’ now a reelin’) He said, SHE COMES FOR ME AND WHAT I STOLES! I swore I’d never say a thing (a fearin’ now a fearin’) Now I got no tongue for which to sing (she found me, aye she found me)…” -Excerpt from a Kharivian Jig (author unknown) The buzz of bees drunk on pollen, the cracks left by footsteps ", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Neimheim Gnome", "description": "You hail from the gnomish kingdom of Neimheim: a place of skilled craftsmen, close families, and blood stains so deep they’ll never wash out. Your homeland labors under a generations-old curse laid by Baba Yaga. Today, your people exist because of a pact struck with a great devil from the Eleven Hells. The pine forests of your home survive because of blood sacrifice paid to the forces of Hell, so the devils hold Baba Yaga’s wrath at bay. You are no stranger to the necessity of keeping up appeara", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Nekoma Family - Cat Clan", "description": "The Nekoma family of the Cat Clan lives on a protected island off the Phoenix coast. While the family appears to be a playful association of acrobats, actors, and noted playwrights, in truth they are a successful clan of mercenary shinobi, selling their skills as thieves to the other clans. Unlike most shinobi, the Cat Clan teaches its members to disdain bloodshed, and never to kill when deception, misdirection, or a clever con suffice. It is said that if something is wrongfully stolen, members ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Newly Risen Noble", "description": "Note: This variant modifies the Noble background from the Player's Handbook . When Is a Noble Not a Noble? Just as you can be a noble without the noble background, you can also take the noble background or its Position of Privilege feature even if your character isn't part of the nobility. This is an especially good option for wealthy or influential members of dragonmarked houses. As a dragonmarked “noble,” you're either close to house leadership or part of an especially wealthy or powerful bran", "publisher": "Keith Baker Presents", "book": "Chronicles of Eberron", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Noble", "description": "You understand wealth, power, and privilege. You carry a noble title, and your family owns land, collects taxes, and wields significant political influence. You might be a pampered aristocrat unfamiliar with work or discomfort, a former merchant just elevated to the nobility, or a disinherited scoundrel with a disproportionate sense of entitlement. Or you could be an honest, hard-working landowner who cares deeply about the people who live and work on your land, keenly aware of your responsibili", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Noble", "description": "Ability Scores Strength, Intelligence, Charisma Feat Skilled Skill Proficiencies History and Persuasion Tool Proficiency Choose one kind of Gaming Set Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Gaming Set (same as above), Fine Clothes, Perfume, 29 GP; or (B) 50 GP You were raised in a castle, surrounded by wealth, power, and privilege. Your family of minor aristocrats ensured that you received a first-class education, some of which you appreciated and some of which you resented. Your time in the castle, espec", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Nomad", "description": "You are a natural traveler, having moved around from place to place your whole life. The only place you’ve ever felt like you belonged is with your tribe itself, but you have no real attachment to a home of any kind. Your family is the only stability that you’ve ever known. Whether you migrated due to necessity, because you were driven from your home, or to find new customers for your wares, being a nomad has both given you a unique way of life and insecurity issues all at once. Still, you feel ", "publisher": "Renegade Game Studios", "book": "Wardlings Campaign Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Northern Minstrel", "description": "While the tribal warriors residing in other parts of the wintry north consider you to be soft and cowardly, you know the truth: life in northern cities and mead halls is not for the faint of heart. Whether you are a larger-than-life performer hailing from one of the skaldic schools, a contemplative scholar attempting to puzzle out the mysteries of the north, or a doughty warrior hoping to stave off the bleakness of the north, you have successfully navigated alleys and stages as treacherous as an", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Northlands Reaver", "description": "The Northland's brutal winters breed harsh people; perhaps none more so than the reavers. Your life is a series of challenges to be overcome, spoils to be taken, and honor to be earned. You have sailed the icy northern seas in the dead of winter and the black of night, and you have put your enemies to the blade and the flame. Your name is fear on the lips of your foes and glory in the songs of your comrades. Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Vehicles (water) Languag", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Nurian Theurge", "description": "The Southlands kingdom of Nuria-Natal is steeped in the magic of life and death. The greatest keeper of this knowledge is the theurge. As a theurge, you study the flow of the River Nuria that gives life to the desert, both physically as a source of fresh water, and magically as one of the largest ley lines in the world. You are the keeper of life and preserver of the dead for the next world. Most theurges are either clerics or wizards, but all have a working knowledge of both divine and arcane m", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Occultist", "description": "At your core, you are a believer in things others dismiss. The signs abound if you know where to look. Questions beget answers that spur further questions. The cycle is endless as you uncover layer after layer of mystery and secrets. Piercing the veil hiding beyond the surface of reality is an irresistible lure spurring you to delve into forgotten and dangerous places in the world. Perhaps you’ve always yearned toward the occult, or it could be that you encountered something or someone who opene", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Occultist", "description": "Curiosity has always gotten the better of you. There has always been a sense of affinity to the darkness and the secrets it hides. While others feel fear in its presence, you get a sense of calmness. From delving into the occult, you have discovered far more about the world around you and the world that is unseen. Esoteric Knowledge. You have extensive knowledge about supernatural phenomena, dark rites, and forbidden lore. You have advantage on Arcana checks related to the occult. Skills: Arcana", "publisher": "Lion Banner Games", "book": "HellWatch Infernal Oath 5e Compendium Expansion", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Of River's Hollow", "description": "You were born in River’s Hollow or raised there for at least 5 years and have been taught to worship DexMya. You know your destiny is to become a powerful Wardling and protect the world from evil. You have learned about the Oor and serve as an intermediary between the gods, nature, and the rest of the world. Skill Proficiencies : Insight, Religion Language : Sylvan Equipment : A small trinket that reminds you of home, a set of common clothes, a simple weapon of your choice, and a pouch containin", "publisher": "Renegade Game Studios", "book": "Wardlings Campaign Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Of the Silver Staff", "description": "You were born into or trained as a member of the Silver Staff, resident in the Argent Halls adrift in the Starscape. Life among the vor’tai acolytes saw you tutored in the mastery of your physical form, and the broadening of your mental horizons, with long hours of martial training being followed by late nights among the scrolls and tomes the Staff guard. There are mentions of non-vor’tai members of this ‘Silver Staff’ – how did they get there? Planar travel is no small feat. Perhaps the vor vis", "publisher": "Animancer", "book": "Enchiridion Vaz’kin’rai", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Officer", "description": "In a crowded and chaotic city, crime is a common occurrence that must be prevented. To keep non-criminals safe, the enforcers in Kanrath and the C.B.I. in Cyherested work tirelessly. As an officer of law enforcement, you are one brave soul that has pledged an oath to protect the order at all costs. You may be a patrolling officer that keeps the peace at night, or a detective that solves mysterious murders. Whatever your duty might be, you have a superior that keeps you in line and a badge that h", "publisher": "Dream Realm Storytellers", "book": "Bloodpunk - A Guide to Tolia Campaign Setting", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Omen-Born", "description": "The circumstances of your birth are of supernatural significance to some people, which shaped your formative years a great deal. The details of this early life can be various, depending on how far-reaching the belief in your specialness was and the tone of it. You may have been deemed unlucky or existentially dangerous—feared and ostracized, grown up under the dark shadow of superstition (and maybe real magic). Conversely, a positive, or more open-ended Omen may have burdened you with the hopes ", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Oracle", "description": "The path of fate is ever-flowing. Oracles are rare individuals who have been gifted with the ability to see further beyond the mortal realm and into the mechanisms of the cosmos itself to some degree. Some are granted this power by gods with domains within the intricacies of fate and prophecy. To the casual observer most things in life are nothing more than coincidences, but to an Oracle, the strings of Fate occasionally become as clear as the light of the sun. Where seemingly unlinked events le", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Order of the Gauntlet", "description": "You are a member of the Order of the Gauntlet, an organization devoted to crushing evil when it rears its ugly head. The order is composed of righteous warriors—paladins and clerics of Tyr, Helm, Torm, and Hoar—united by faith, ideals, and a powerful camaraderie. Unlike the Harpers, the Order of the Gauntlet conducts its operations in the open and refuses to strike preemptively. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Religion Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A heraldic pendant, a scroll containin", "publisher": "Anthony Joyce-Rivera", "book": "Baldurs Gate - The Fall of Elturel", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Orzhov Representative", "description": "The prospect of immense wealth is the promise of membership in the Orzhov Syndicate. All of the guild’s endeavors channel wealth from Ravnican society into the ranks of the Orzhov —and concentrates the spoils at the top of the hierarchy. As a functionary in that system, your best hope is to claim as much as possible of the money that passes through your hands on its way up, so that you can work your way into a more prominent position. Regardless of your past and the wealth of your family, your i", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Otomo Family - Imperial Court", "description": "The original Otomo, the younger son of a great warlord, was glib, clever, and subtle. Thanks to his formidable powers of persuasion and manipulation, he was an expert at defusing conflicts that threatened to destroy his tribe. His wit and cunning soon proved of enormous value to the divine sibling Hantei as he sought to unite the disparate people of the nascent Empire of Rokugan. Today, the Otomo family still serves in the role of keeping Rokugan united, but sometimes this can also mean pitting ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Outlander", "description": "You grew up in the wilds, far from civilization and the comforts of town and technology. You’ve witnessed the migration of herds larger than forests, survived weather more extreme than any city-dweller could comprehend, and enjoyed the solitude of being the only thinking creature for miles in any direction. The wilds are in your blood, whether you were a nomad, an explorer, a recluse, a hunter-gatherer, or even a marauder. Even in places where you don’t know the specific features of the terrain,", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Outlaw", "description": "You’ve run afoul of the law at least once or twice and it’s given you a different perspective and maybe a bit more experience than you asked for. You’ve made contacts in the criminal underworld and can often sniff out the bad seed in the bunch. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth Tool Proficiencies: Either a disguise kit or forgery kit (choose one), Infiltration tools, gaming set of your choice. Equipment: basic clothes, hooded jacket or overcoat, combat knife, 150 cubil Feature: Underworld ", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Parfumier", "description": "You are educated and ambitious. You spent your youth apprenticed among a city’s more reputable greenhouses, laboratories, and perfumeries. There, you studied botany and chemistry and explored properties and interactions with fine crystal, rare metals, and magic. You quickly mastered the skills required to identify and process rare and complex botanical and alchemical samples and the proper extractions and infusions of essential oils, pollens, and other fragrant chemical compounds—natural or othe", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Partisan", "description": "You were born into the cold order of Tolia, but you do not believe anything needs to change. You are a citizen of Tolia, either living in Cyherested where sorcerers reign or Kanrath where vampires rule with an iron fist. It is thus a safe bet to assume you are either a sorcerer or a vampire, although you can simply be in awe of the system so much that you do not care about your own place in it. As a partisan, you are an integral cog in the machine that is the system and would stand against anyon", "publisher": "Dream Realm Storytellers", "book": "Bloodpunk - A Guide to Tolia Campaign Setting", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Patrician", "description": "You are one of the societal elite. You may have been born into wealth as part of a megacorporation or a famous family. Perhaps you fell into the life of political favor. Either way, you are considered within the upper class and have the connections and clout to prove it. Skill Proficiencies: Lore, Persuasion Tool Proficiencies: One instrument and one gaming set of your choice. Languages: One of your choice. Equipment: Fancy outfit, a piece of jewelry or clothing with your family/company symbol, ", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Pilot", "description": "There isn’t anything you can’t fly. When you’re in a vehicle, you’re a diamond in the sky, a star blazer, a leaf on the wind… you get the idea. You might be a retired fighter jock, a commercial pilot, mercenary ace, or maybe you learned how to fly your parents’ space rig when you were small. Skill Proficiencies: Astrophysics, Insight Tool Proficiencies: Vehicle (Planetary), Vehicles (Space) Equipment: flight suit, 150 cubil. Feature: Knowing the Craft You know your way around a ship and are part", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Pirate", "description": "You spent your youth under the sway of a dread pirate, a ruthless cutthroat who taught you how to survive in a world of sharks and savages. You’ve indulged in larceny on the high seas and sent more than one deserving soul to a briny grave. F⁠ear and bloodshed are no strangers to you, and you’ve garnered a somewhat unsavory reputation in many a port town. If you decide that your sailing career involved piracy, you can choose the Bad Reputation feature instead of the Ship’s Passage feature.", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Plague Doctor", "description": "Plague doctors are the brave (and sometimes mad) members of a community who are willing to risk illness and injury in their efforts to heal the sick. Plague doctors are equal parts scholar, healer, and student of esoteric medical arts. Some attend academies as physicians only to find the long apprenticeships difficult to endure before taking their skills on the road. Others are healers following their community’s healing traditions. Still others are wandering scholars, collecting specimens and r", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic Vol 2", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Plaintiff", "description": "Sure, accidents happen. But they seem to happen an awful lot when Acquisitions Incorporated operatives are on the scene. Naturally, nothing ever happens when there are no witnesses left behind. But sometimes one casualty is left a little less than dead, just waiting to discover what a lucky break that accident actually was. You were a victim of a legal incident that was ostensibly the fault of Acquisitions Incorporated. At least that’s what the local magistrate said. But before a final ruling co", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Acquisitions Incorporated", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Planar Philosopher", "description": "A planar philosopher forges a portal key in the Great Foundry in Sigil, headquarters of the Mind's Eye. Prerequisite: Planescape Campaign You subscribe to a philosophy that seeks to understand the nature of the planes or some hidden truth of the multiverse. You draw strength from your conviction and, perhaps, a network of like-minded thinkers, such as the factions of Sigil (summarized below). In your travels, you explore the depths of your understanding and spread your philosophy wherever you go", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Planescape - Adventures in the Multiverse", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Political Strategist", "description": "You work for a candidate, elected official, guild, or other entity that seeks to maneuver local politics as strategically and deftly as possible. You advise your bosses on who to make strategic alliances with, how to outmaneuver political opponents, and where to go and what to say to build support among the city’s influential citizens. Whether you’re helping your boss get that power or you’re their puppet master is up to you and your GM. Skill Proficiencies: Your choice of two of the following: ", "publisher": "MCDM Productions", "book": "Arcadia Issue No. 9", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Politician", "description": "You are running for office or have already been elected (or maybe appointed; talk to your GM about what makes sense for the setting). Your office is one of moderate power and influence; you might be a member of a city council or a community elder or alderperson. You can’t control major political decisions in your city, but you certainly have access to, and maybe the respect of, the people who do. Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Performance Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A set of fine ", "publisher": "MCDM Productions", "book": "Arcadia Issue No. 9", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Polymorphed", "description": "You were transformed into an animal or monster and lived that way for years. You most likely entered this form unwillingly but how you came down with this affliction is up to you. A caster with an axe to grind may have cast true polymorph for some petty offense committed by you or a loved one. Maybe you unwittingly donned a cursed magic item. Perhaps you activated some arcane trap when you accidentally stumbled into an ancient ruin. You could have made the choice willingly to infiltrate some gro", "publisher": "Castle Skydawn Design", "book": "Xanathar's Lost Notes to Everything Else", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Port Town - Commoner", "description": "The sea, the source of salt and fish but also storms, provides and takes away in equal measure. Wise fishers respect the power of the waves and the devastating effects of floods. Tempestuous, unpredictable, dangerous. Understandable, life-giving, nourishing. All these things are true of the water, and anyone who has spent a substantial amount of time near it knows this. Rivers and lakes may often be placid, but their power for good and ill must still be appreciated. They can overflow and flood, ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Prismari Student", "description": "An advanced Prismari student artfully harnesses fire. You are an artist, and you have been preparing to hone your craft according to the traditions of Prismari College. Whatever your medium—sculpture, dance, paint, music, drama, architecture, or any other field—you have grand visions of bringing your art to life in a fusion of magic and creativity. Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance Tool Proficiencies: One type of musical instrument or artisan’s tools Languages: One of your choice Equi", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Strixhaven A Curriculum of Chaos", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Privateer", "description": " You’ve spent your time at sea, cutting the line between criminal and bounty hunter. You have sailed with those with letters of marque, but you know they were often inclined to lean into a bit of piracy now and again themselves. Either way, you know your way around a ship, and the docks at port. Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Athletics Languages: One of your choice Tool Proficiencies: Vehicles (Water) or Navigator’s Tools Feature: The Brotherhood - You are known to the elite but often bloody b", "publisher": "Green Ronin Publishing", "book": "Death in Freeport 20th Anniversary Edition", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Professional Athlete", "description": "You were born into a legacy that your family and your community takes pride in. While other children played, you trained. In fact, your version of relaxing is to work up a sweat until your endorphins kick in. But, just when you thought you were close to fulfilling your purpose, you discovered your journey was only just beginning. Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Athletics Tool Proficiencies: A gaming set of your choice and Vehicles (Planetary). Equipment: basic clothes, sports uniform, trophy co", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Prophet", "description": "Truth rings throughout the multiverse, and sometimes it finds a place to resonate loud and clear. You are one such point. There is a greater power at work in the world, and you can see pieces of its design. Unlike the faint glimpses of a fortuneteller or the twisted lies of a charlatan, your words stir something in those who hear your message. From the doomsday ravings of a filthy derelict on the street corner to the polished words of an urbane and refined cult mistress, a prophet is the servant", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Protector of the Tribe", "description": "You grew up as part of a tribe that lives in unity with nature and the spirit world. At some point in your life, whether early or at a late age, the desire to protect your people became a driving force. You had a mentor supporting you and teaching you everything they knew. You not only learned to fight for yourself and others, but also to take care of your own equipment. Your tribe gladly accepted, maybe even honored you as a protector. If you decided to leave your tribe, there was a strong reas", "publisher": "Braythe RPG", "book": "Braythe - Shattered Realities", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Public Intellectual", "description": "You’re known for speaking out against—or in favor of—a regime, political organization, religious body, or other entity that holds state power. Perhaps you’re a dissident or even an exile (work with the GM to figure out what fits best in your campaign). Your mastery of political science, ethics, and philosophy allows you to express complex ideas about governance, political systems, and history with ease. Perhaps you wrote and distributed tracts and pamphlets urging people to recognize a particula", "publisher": "MCDM Productions", "book": "Arcadia Issue No. 9", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Quandrix Student", "description": "A Quandrix student magically gazes into the intricate patterns of nature. In preparation to become a student of Quandrix College, you have spent years working through the college’s math problems for prospective students. Your interests concentrate on the mathematical principles and patterns found in the natural world. You might lean more toward mathematics or physics, or you delve into more abstract studies of metaphysics, arcana, or logic. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Nature Tool Proficiencies:", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Strixhaven A Curriculum of Chaos", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Rakdos Cultist", "description": "You’re an entertainer at heart, a performer with a flair for the dramatic and a love of the spotlight. You’ve spent years honing your craft, mastering a demanding set of skills so you can perform them with panache and make them look easy. The wild applause, the screams of the crowds, the mayhem and terror spreading into the streets—this is what you live for. You’re also a member of a cult devoted to an ancient demon who delights in violence and chaos. It just so happens that Rakdos loves a good ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Red Winter Adherent", "description": "You are part of the Red Winter, whether recently inducted or a more seasoned member. You and your brothers and sisters of the Red Winter believe vampires have subverted the natural order of things by ruling over the living. Vampires have no blood except that which they take from the living. They are parasites. It is the living who are truly blessed by the Blood Goddess. Your order seeks vengeance on the parasites who have overreached their station, and you plan to put the scales back in balance.", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Underworld Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Reformed Cultist", "description": "Two pantheons have battled over the fate of Exandria since the world’s founding—the Prime Deities and the Betrayer Gods. During the Calamity, the Prime Deities allied themselves with the mortal races of Exandria, their original creations, to protect their flawed world and its multifarious forms of life. The Betrayers sought to wipe the slate clean. At the end of that devastating war, the Prime Deities established a Divine Gate that would prevent all gods, good or evil, from directly affecting th", "publisher": "Darrington Press", "book": "Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Refugee", "description": "Sojourner dwarves like Okkar Ironeyes are likely to be born on the road, refugees of either a recent or ancient event that resulted in the loss of their homeland. The following background can be used by PCs who lived a similar existence prior to their adventuring careers. Refugee You have lost your home due to some natural disaster, act of war, magical cataclysm, or other form of widespread destruction. Forced to flee your home, you’ve spent a good portion of your life on the road looking for a ", "publisher": "Goodman Games", "book": "Glitterdoom (FEF 1)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Refugee", "description": "You have been driven from your homeland by the ravening forces of the Shadow. Without access to the traditional lands of your people, you have been forced to find succor in the lands of others. Taken in and given aid and shelter by the free peoples of Eredane, you and yours have found some measure of safety from the threat of Izrador’s armies. You may hail from distant lands and foreign cultures to where you have settled, or your flight may have been less distant, but no less devastating. Whatev", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Midnight - Crown of Shadow", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Retired Adventurer", "description": "I've retired a few adventurers in my time. Do they count? I highly doubt any of them will be back. — Xanathar You lived a life of adventure already and retired to something quieter. You thought you were done and to that end may have given away all your old gear and spent all your treasure. Little did you know something would pull you back into your old life. If you choose this background, you have some exciting questions to answer. You determine what your past looked like. What adventures have y", "publisher": "Castle Skydawn Design", "book": "Xanathar's Lost Notes to Everything Else", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Rewarded", "description": "You were living a difficult life before your destiny suddenly changed through a miraculous turn of good fortune. Perhaps a benevolent deity gave you precisely what you most desired. You might have stumbled across a Deck of Many Things and drawn a card with a potent, positive effect. Or maybe you inherited a modest fortune from a distant relative you didn’t know you had. Regardless, you left the daily miseries of your old life behind in favor of a life of adventure and excitement. Your old debts ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "The Book of Many Things", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Rival Intern", "description": "You were an intern at a rival of Acquisitions Incorporated, and you gained a healthy respect for not just the job and the franchising opportunities, but for the ruthless and efficient way Acquisitions Incorporated goes about its business. Why deal with the rest, when you can work for the best? Perhaps the rival did not treat you as well as you were hoping, or you washed out of that organization. Maybe you hope to leverage the knowledge you gained there for an advantage at Acquisitions Incorporat", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Acquisitions Incorporated", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Rover", "description": "Rovers spend a large part of their lives in the free, natural manner traditional of feral communities and wolfcats, hermits, heretics, woodcutters, coalmen, shepherds, and the more isolated pagans. They are hunter-gatherers and their groups move with the seasons, drawing all their raw materials from the remains of animals or plants. The rovers’ cultures, skills, and knowledge are deeply influenced by their outdoor life, experience with wild territories, and communion with nature and its phenomen", "publisher": "Acheron Games", "book": "Brancalonia - Core Rulebook Compendium", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Royal", "description": "You were born to a life of luxury and comfort. You are a member of the royal family who will inherit the throne of a small kingdom or city-state with an absolute monarchy. As a result, your childhood was pampered compared to the great majority of people. Although that doesn't mean you stayed for the long run. Perhaps you left your royal family in favor of a life elsewhere. If so, what spurred you on to leave everything behind? Or maybe you stayed, taking control of your family's power. If that's", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ruined", "description": "Everything was going so well! You had a life of luxury, love, and comfort when you suddenly lost it all. Perhaps you were framed for crimes you didn’t commit and lost your reputation, fortune, and career. Maybe a rampaging dragon or another monster wiped out everything you had in a single calamitous afternoon. Or you might have sought out a Deck of Many Things , hoping to make your successful life even more glorious—only to draw a destructive card that changed your destiny forever. Your desperat", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "The Book of Many Things", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Runagate", "description": "You grew up in a society of evil. You learned to torture, to kill. But there was a moment where you just couldn't stand it anymore. Or maybe it was just a moment of opportunity, the chance to escape that you had been looking for so long. You deserted your home and your culture, leaving everything behind but what you could carry on your body. Harsh as your new life might be, it is better than what you came from. But not everything is good: You know your former friends and family will not simply l", "publisher": "Braythe RPG", "book": "Braythe - Shattered Realities", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Rune Carver", "description": "What we call rune magic is the palest imitation of Annam's creative work. He shaped worlds from the primal elements; we struggle to bind the merest scraps of elemental power into the mystic shapes of our runes. —Diancastra You’ve dedicated your life to studying runecraft. Whether you were taught by a master rune carver or learned by poring over ancient engravings, you can tap into the supernatural power held within runes. The art of runecraft was initially created by giants, but over time, the p", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Bigby Presents - Glory of the Giants", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Rural Family", "description": "Roll20 Note: This page is read only and will not function with drag-and-drop as similar pages within this category. You grew up among the salt of the earth. Not only did you learn the value of hard work, you also gained many practical skills. Ability Adjustment: Choose one (+1 Strength or +1 Constitution) (maximum of 20) Iconic Equipment: Your family’s old pickup truck “she still runs great” Proficiencies: Basic Equipment, Survival, and Mechanics", "publisher": "Evil Genius Games", "book": "Everyday Heroes Quickstart Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Rural Farmland Town - Commoner", "description": "Though many may think the city is the embodiment of civilization, rural farmland tends to better reflect the organizing power of people and governments. Whether tilling the fields of gentle plains or clearing forests to make use of nutrient-rich soil, a flat, even field represents the taming of the wilds. Food is the core of any prosperous civilization, and without fertile land entire empires quickly crumble. Food is a force that can both unify and stratify people; all must eat, but the luxury o", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Sage", "description": "You spent years learning the lore of the multiverse. You scoured manuscripts, studied scrolls, and listened to the greatest experts on the subjects that interest you. Your efforts have made you a master in your fields of study. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to answer, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Specia", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Sage", "description": "You spent years learning the lore of the multiverse. You scoured manuscripts, studied scrolls, and listened to the greatest experts on the subjects that interest you. Your efforts have made you a master in your fields of study. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to answer, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Specia", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Essentials Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Sage", "description": "Ability Scores Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom Feat Magic Initiate (Wizard) Skill Proficiencies Arcana and History Tool Proficiency Calligrapher’s Supplies Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Quarterstaff, Calligrapher’s Supplies, Book (history), Parchment (8 sheets), Robe, 8 GP; or (B) 50 GP You spent your formative years traveling between manors and monasteries, performing various odd jobs and services in exchange for access to their libraries. You whiled away many a long evening studying books an", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Sage", "description": "Ability Scores Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom Feat Magic Initiate (Wizard) Skill Proficiencies Arcana and History Tool Proficiency Calligrapher’s Supplies Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Quarterstaff, Calligrapher’s Supplies, Book (history), Parchment (8 sheets), Robe, 8 GP; or (B) 50 GP You spent your formative years traveling between manors and monasteries, performing various odd jobs and services in exchange for access to their libraries. You whiled away many a long evening studying books an", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Free Basic Rules (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Sailor", "description": "You sailed on a seagoing vessel for years. In that time, you faced down mighty storms, monsters of the deep, and those who wanted to sink your craft to the bottomless depths. Your first love is the distant line of the horizon, but the time has come to try your hand at something new. Discuss the nature of the ship you previously sailed with your Dungeon Master. Was it a merchant ship, a naval vessel, a ship of discovery, or a pi⁠rate ship? How famous (or infamous) is it? Is it widely traveled? Is", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Sailor", "description": "Ability Scores Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom Feat Tavern Brawler Skill Proficiencies Acrobatics and Perception Tool Proficiency Navigator’s Tools Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Dagger, Navigator’s Tools, Rope, Traveler’s Clothes, 20 GP; or (B) 50 GP You lived as a seafarer, wind at your back and decks swaying beneath your feet. You’ve perched on barstools in more ports of call than you can remember, faced mighty storms, and swapped stories with folk who live beneath the waves.", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Scholar", "description": "You specialize in a particular field of knowledge which you’ve spent much of your early years studying. Knowledge is the key to the mysteries of the universe and you strive to learn enough to become a master in your studied field. Skill Proficiencies: Astrophysics, Lore Languages: Two of your choice. Equipment: personal digital library, basic clothes, 75 cubil. Field of Study Every scholar has a specialized field of study. The following table lists some examples. d8 Origin d8 Origin 1 Scientist ", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Scion", "description": "You are a member of the Scions, a group of brilliant, boundary-pushing scientists, working at the fringe of societal norms and scientific understanding. You have seen life being breathed into the lifeless, creating living constructs through electrifying science, a practice never seen before. As a member of the Scions, the inventions and creations of your group have earned favor among the city's higher-ups, and given delusions of grandeur to those of you who wrestle with the godlike power of crea", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Scion of Sin", "description": "You understand how evil works and what kind of impact it can have on people for generations to come. After all, your ancestors brought evil to the land. Your upbringing has been heavily shaped by what your ancestors did. Regardless of the details, everyone had a hard life where you grew up and they blame your family as the cause of their troubles. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, History, or Intimidation Tool Proficiencies: One of disguise kit, forgery kit, or thieves’ tools. Languages: One of yo", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Scoundrel", "description": "You were brought up in a poor neighborhood in one of the crowded towns or cities of the Southlands. You may have been lucky enough to have a leaky roof over your head, or perhaps you grew up sleeping in doorways or on the rooftops. Either way, you didn’t have it easy, and you lived by your wits. While never a hardened criminal, you fell in with the wrong crowd, or you ended up in trouble for stealing food from an orange cart or clean clothes from a washing line. You’re no stranger to the city wa", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Southlands Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Scoundrel", "description": "You were brought up in a poor neighborhood in a crowded town or city. You may have been lucky enough to have a leaky roof over your head, or perhaps you grew up sleeping in doorways or on the rooftops. Either way, you didn’t have it easy, and you lived by your wits. While never a hardened criminal, you fell in with the wrong crowd, or you ended up in trouble for stealing food from an orange cart or clean clothes from a washing line. You’re no stranger to the city watch in your hometown and have ", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Scribe", "description": "Ability Scores Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom Feat Skilled Skill Proficiencies Investigation and Perception Tool Proficiency Calligrapher’s Supplies Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Calligrapher’s Supplies, Fine Clothes, Lamp, Oil (3 flasks), Parchment (12 sheets), 23 GP; or (B) 50 GP You spent formative years in a scriptorium, a monastery dedicated to the preservation of knowledge, or a government agency, where you learned to write with a clear hand and produce finely written texts. Perhaps you sc", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Seafarer", "description": "Whether from humble beginnings in a small fishing village or a noble knight of the waves from the city of Atlantis, you have sailed across the Aegean sea, the sea of Crete, and even through the sea of monsters. All seafarers respect and fear the sea, and take great pains to ensure they have paid proper tribute to the gods and spirits of the ocean before a voyage. Seafarers play a unique role in the social hierarchy and economy of the world. Are you a navy officer? A merchant trader? A ruthless p", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Seer", "description": "The stars guide all footsteps on the path. Seers are rare individuals endowed with the gift to see beyond the mundane veil cloaking the world to the truth illuminated by those stars. Cause and effect run in scattered lines to a seer’s eyes, linking individuals and events seemingly unrelated to the casual observer. Only a fool discounts the word of one who sees the twists of fate. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Perception Tool Proficiencies: One gaming set of your choice (cards, dice, or some other", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Midgard Heroes Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Selesnya Initiate", "description": "You are a member of a blessed community, built on the ideals of harmony. Here, nature and civilization coexist peacefully, living and growing in accordance with the will of the Worldsoul, Mat’Selesnya. As a member of the Selesnya Conclave, you are surrounded by people and other creatures who share your worldview and your longing for deeper spiritual communion with the world, and you have a fervent desire to share the joy you have experienced with Ravnica. Along with the rest of the conclave, you", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Sentry", "description": "In your youth, the defense of the city, the community, the caravan, or your patron was how you earned your coin. You might have been trained by an old, grizzled city watchman, or you might have been pressed into service by the local magistrate for your superior skills, size, or intellect. However you came to the role, you excelled at defending others. You have a nose for trouble, a keen eye for spotting threats, a strong arm to back it up, and you are canny enough to know when to act. Most impor", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Seppun Family - Imperial Court", "description": "The Seppun family can trace its origins to the very dawn of the Empire, and their founder, a wise-woman and diviner called Seppun, was said to have been Hantei’s first follower and friend in the Mortal Realm. Seppun was instrumental to Hantei’s ascension, helping him navigate the politics of the region and attain power. She also stood as his bodyguard, protecting him from numerous physical threats over the years. This devotion has continued ever since, leading the Seppun to become the foremost d", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Servant of the Jinn", "description": "You served in the court of a powerful jinn or a genie lord. For 1,001 days you lived at court on one of the elemental planes, traveling as part of their entourage and always at their beck and call. You might be a jinnborn, in which case it was your tribe’s patron jinn that called on you to serve, or you could be a Tamasheq nomad, or even a gnoll or minotaur. Whatever your heritage, you served your master as best you could and were changed forever by the otherworldly experience. Skill Proficienci", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Southlands Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Shiba Family - Phoenix Clan", "description": "The Shiba family descends from the divine sibling Shiba and provides the Phoenix with a champion, but it bent the knee to the Isawa family early in its history and has dutifully served it ever since. The Shiba focus on keeping the Phoenix Clan safe and rely first and foremost on diplomacy before resorting to force. They are expected to be learned in scholarly ways as well as in the warrior arts, and they understand the ritualists they serve better than do most families dedicated to battle. Skill", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Shika Family - Deer Clan", "description": "Treading softly, without grand accolades, the Deer Clan serves the Empire as a guardian of balance. Through divine vision granted by the Fortune of Bonds, Musubi, the members of the Deer Clan uncover threads of futures yet to come. Through artful stealth, they weave or sever these threads in the delicate tapestry to head off potential crises before they come to fruition. The clan’s matchmakers are ritualists blessed with unique insights into relationships. These help them to tie alliances betwee", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Shinjo Family - Unicorn Clan", "description": "The Shinjo are the core of the Unicorn, the clan of explorers who followed their founder Shinjo into the vast world beyond the Empire. They administrate and lead the Unicorn, working to keep all of the parts of the clan pulling together in unison. The education of members of the Shinjo family is broad-based—each scion is trained in scouting, hunting, and skirmishing, but also in diplomacy and governance. Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, choose one other Charisma-based skill (Deception, Inti", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Shinomen Naga - Non-Human", "description": "Unlike human civilizations, naga societies can sleep for hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years, dreaming in their aquatic or subterranean cities as other species build empires that fall to dust. Although they do not yet know why, the naga who inhabit the Shinomen Forest collectively feel the pull of a great destiny that awaits them beyond the woods. The dream is broken, and at last, these naga prepare to rejoin the world outside. Naga rarely adorn themselves with clothing in the human sens", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Ship's Doctor", "description": "Aboard a ship, you must be prepared for anything. Whether exploring the far reaches of the ‘verse, where untold alien pathogens lurk, going to war in one of the great space fleets and staring down alien weapons, or simply dealing with the crew’s cybernetic implants going haywire, the ship’s doctor never knows what challenges they might face from day to day. Pragmatic out of necessity, but always seeking to provide the best possible care for their patients, shipboard medics are natural candidates", "publisher": "Mage Hand Press", "book": "Dark Matter Starter Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Shipper", "description": "You know the true value of being able to get goods and services from place to place. You see yourself as a free trader, hauling items or people of all types from place to place so long as you’ve got the tools and the ship for it. Sometimes you’re helping to bring meds or refugees across the warzone. Some other times can be... a bit less heroic. Skill Proficiencies: Astrophysics, Deception Tool Proficiencies: One gaming set of your choice, Vehicles (Space). Languages: One of your choice Equipment", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Shipper/Transporter", "description": "", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Shipwright", "description": "Shipwright You have sailed into war on the decks of great ships, patching their hulls with soup bowls and prayers. You once helped build a fishing vessel that single-handedly saved a town from starvation. You have seen a majestic prow in your dreams that you have not been able to replicate in wood. Since childhood, you have loved the water and have been captivated by the many vessels that travel on it. Skill Proficiencies: History, Perception Tool Proficiencies: Carpenter’s tools, vehicles (wate", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Ghosts of Saltmarsh", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Shosuro Family - Scorpion Clan", "description": "When the Shosuro family is known to outsiders, it is for their acting talent and theatrical skills. Little does the Empire realize how fully the Shosuro embrace their roles; many of the finest Scorpion spies are Shosuro living as other people among the clans, watching them for any sign of treachery against the Imperial Throne. While Shosuro students are trained to be master entertainers, and their family school is officially an acting academy, they are often asked to turn their skills in acrobat", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Silverquill Student", "description": "You have spent years practicing your writing and oration in the hope of becoming a student of Silverquill College. Your studies focus on language, literature, and the power of words, both magical and otherwise. The metaphorical power of words to illuminate or conceal is joined with the literal ability of magic to do the same in your academic pursuits. Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Persuasion Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, an ink pen, a book of poetry, a scho", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Strixhaven A Curriculum of Chaos", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Simic Scientist", "description": "Imagine a perfect world: one in which nature and civilization exist in harmony, adapted to each other; one in which life is shaped to match its environment and the environment is shaped to match life. That’s the world you have been trying to grow in the laboratories of the Simic Combine . Nature is all about adaptation, evolution, and balance—but for it to keep up with the pace of advancing civilization, nature needs some help from biomancers and terraformers. If, along the way, you happen to cr", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Siwali Embalmer", "description": "In Siwal, dealing with the dead is the livelihood of a select few families. You are a member of one of the families of Siwal’s gravebinders, or you have apprenticed to one of them. You are trained in the making of shrouds, leading mourning ceremonies, and the methods one must use to consecrate both body and gravesite to prevent the dead from rising as undead. As one of the few who truly knows the streets and avenues of the Grand Necropolis, you are afforded a measure more respect than most simpl", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Southlands Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Siwali Embalmer", "description": "In Siwal, dealing with the dead is the livelihood of a select few families. You are a member of one of the families of Siwal’s gravebinders, or you have apprenticed to one of them. You are trained in the making of shrouds, leading mourning ceremonies, and the methods one must use to consecrate both body and gravesite to prevent the dead from rising as undead. As one of the few who truly knows the streets and avenues of the Grand Necropolis, you are afforded a measure more respect than most simpl", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Underworld Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Siwali Traveler", "description": "You traveled the sands of the deserts as a youth, with the camel trains, as part of a sandship crew, or in a caravan. Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Navigator’s tools, Vehicles (land) Equipment: A staff, a set of traveler’s clothes, waterskin, several small pouches of herbs and spices, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp. Feature: Worldly You know the local deserts, their cultures, and the customs of those people. You know where and when nomadic tribes typically", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Southlands Player's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Smuggler", "description": "Smuggler On a rickety barge, you carried a hundred longswords in fish barrels right past the dock master’s oblivious lackeys. You have paddled a riverboat filled with stolen elven wine under the gaze of the moon and sold it for twice its value in the morning. In your more charitable times, you have transported innocents out of war zones or helped guide herd animals to safety on the banks of a burning river. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Deception Tool Proficiencies: Vehicles (water) Equipment:", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Ghosts of Saltmarsh", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Snowfeather Aerie - Non-Human", "description": "Far into the Great Northern Mountains exists the Snowfeather Aerie, one of the largest in Rokugan, at times housing hundreds of tengu. The Snowfeather Monastery’s inhabitants run their aerie much like a human monastery, with set schedules, rituals, and meditation at the heart of daily living. Tengu hatchlings are given tasks they are able to fulfill but that might also teach them basic tenets of spiritual living; older tengu are given tasks that utilize their talents and expertise. Its Elders pu", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Soldier", "description": "War has been your life for as long as you care to remember. You trained as a youth, studied the use of weapons and armor, learned basic survival techniques, including how to stay alive on the battlefield. You might have been part of a standing national army or a mercenary company, or perhaps a member of a local militia who rose to prominence during a recent war. When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine which military organization you were a part of, how far through its ran", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Soldier", "description": "War has long been your life. You might have been part of a national army or a mercenary company, or perhaps a member of a local militia. When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine which military organization you were a part of, how far through its ranks you progressed, and what kind of experiences you had during your military career. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Intimidation Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, vehicles (land) Equipment: An insignia of rank, a trop", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Essentials Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Soldier", "description": "Trained to be a master of arms, you’ve spent years practicing the art of combat. Your experience has taught you how to survive in the field both alone and with a group of fellow combatants. You may have been an army grunt or a space marine. Or perhaps you spent your years as a mercenary or a member of the Knights of Infinity. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Survival Tool Proficiencies: One vehicle type of your choice Equipment: military/combat uniform, basic clothes, 150 cubil Feature: Fellow at", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Soldier", "description": "Ability Scores Strength, Dexterity, Constitution Feat Savage Attacker Skill Proficiencies Athletics and Intimidation Tool Proficiency Choose one kind of Gaming Set Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Spear, Shortbow, 20 Arrows, Gaming Set (same as above), Healer’s Kit, Quiver, Traveler’s Clothes, 14 GP; or (B) 50 GP You began training for war as soon as you reached adulthood and carry precious few memories of life before you took up arms. Battle is in your blood. Sometimes you catch yourself reflexivel", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Soldier", "description": "Ability Scores Strength, Dexterity, Constitution Feat Savage Attacker Skill Proficiencies Athletics and Intimidation Tool Proficiency Choose one kind of Gaming Set Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Spear, Shortbow, 20 Arrows, Gaming Set (same as above), Healer’s Kit, Quiver, Traveler’s Clothes, 14 GP; or (B) 50 GP You began training for war as soon as you reached adulthood and carry precious few memories of life before you took up arms. Battle is in your blood. Sometimes you catch yourself reflexivel", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Free Basic Rules (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Soshi Family - Scorpion Clan", "description": "The Soshi are often overlooked, and that is how they prefer things to be. For generations, the Soshi family has trained the most subtle illusionists in Rokugan, whose carefully crafted façades are nearly impossible to detect, even for other ritualists. They are most effective when unseen, offering up prayers in silence for the Scorpion Clan. The Soshi live for subtlety, the gentle nudge, the whispered word that sets everything into motion. Sometimes this comes at a price, however, for their pref", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Soul Channeler", "description": "A quirk of fate, or a circumstance of birth, exposed you to the intoxicating power of arcane magic and changed you irrevocably. You spent your formative years learning about yourself, gauging your inner reserves and how much you are willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana and either Persuasion or Intimidation Tool Proficiencies: Artisan’s tools (alchemist’s supplies), poisoner’s kit Languages: Infernal or Abyssal Equipment: A set of alchemist’s supplies, a pocket ", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Soul Channeler", "description": "A quirk of fate, or a circumstance of birth, exposed you to the intoxicating power of arcane magic and changed you irrevocably. You spent your formative years learning about yourself, gauging your inner reserves and how much you are willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals. Skill Proficiencies Arcana and either Persuasion or Intimidation Tool Proficiencies Artisan’s tools (alchemist’s supplies), poisoner’s kit Languages Infernal or Abyssal Equipment A set of alchemist’s supplies, a pocketknife", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic Vol 1", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Spartan Warrior", "description": "As a member of the Spartan Army, your life is devoted to War and your home. You have been trained by the harshest taskmasters in the land, since you were a child, to be nothing short of a perfect warrior. For if a warrior does not reach this ideal, how could they ever dare to call themselves a Spartan? Values of teamwork, determination, tactical thinking and loyalty are part of every Spartan's education, alongside the brutal training for combat they undergo over the years. Every Spartan should b", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Spy", "description": "Although your capabilities are not much different from those of a burglar or smuggler, you learned and practiced them in a very different context: as an espionage agent. You might have been an officially sanctioned agent of the crown, or perhaps you sold the secrets you uncovered to the highest bidder.", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Starfall Aerie - Non-Human", "description": "In the Spine of the World Mountains rests the Starfall Aerie. This aerie always has exactly eight residents: one teacher and seven students. Among tengu and humans alike, this aerie is famed for the sword style practiced by its inhabitants, said to be invincible in airborne combat. When a student has trained for a year, they must venture into the world before returning, and most students are not accepted more than once. A few humans even are said to have had the chance to train in the Starfall s", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Starlight Sea Raider", "description": "Starlight Sea Raider “Those who sail the Starlight Seas are a motley bunch, as varied as individual blades of grass. Some beautiful, some grotesque, and some indescribable. You should fear them all.” You learned that to survive, you had to carve out your destiny and embrace a life of chaos. Your life is hard but one in which you thrive. You have become skilled at intimidation, information extraction, and enforcement. Your ability to instill fear and obedience makes you an invaluable asset to you", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Storyteller", "description": "Storytellers serve a multitude of purposes within their community. Some storytellers act as historians, keeping memories and traditions alive through generations. Others see stories as the perfect vehicle for imparting wisdom and lessons to those in need of such things. Still other storytellers are entertainers, keeping crowds and distinguished guests rapt. The stories kept by storytellers can range in importance from a simple, cautionary tale to a secret, magical ritual. As adventurers, storyte", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic Vol 2", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Storyteller", "description": "Storytellers are always respected. Even if they are battered, tired, and have been on the road for weeks, a storyteller commands a certain respect that is hard to define, but impossible to miss. They play vital roles in society: entertainer, teacher, and record keeper. They collect, trade, and share in the great stories of the past and present, helping adventurers become famous, turning heroes into legends. Did you become an adventurer to hear stories from around the world, or to create your own", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Street Knife", "description": " You’re a child of the rough streets, and yet you call them home. You may have been there your entire life, or only recently in the past few years, for whatever reason. Either way, you’ve taken to them with a natural grace and talent for viciousness that makes them a home to you. You may run with the gangs, be part of a crew of criminal entrepreneurs, or simply a talented loner. Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Stealth Languages: None Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit and any one gaming set. Feat", "publisher": "Green Ronin Publishing", "book": "Death in Freeport 20th Anniversary Edition", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Student", "description": "You are an avid student and eager learner. You always like to know the answers and will spend hours researching facts for fun. While you enjoy your academic studies in general, you have focused on a particular subject in which you are an expert. You may have learned about this subject from your parents in relation to their own jobs or you may have been drawn to the subject by a friend, a favorite teacher at school, or even a private tutor. Skill Proficiencies (Choose One) : History, Religion, Na", "publisher": "Renegade Game Studios", "book": "Wardlings Campaign Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Survivor", "description": "Survivor Not everyone left Drakkenheim after the meteor. Some stayed behind, searching the ruins for things they lost: friends and family, or just seeking out treasure and artefacts. You know what places in the city are the most dangerous, what paths are the best to take, and often have an idea of the fastest ways to travel. Despite the Haze, and dangers, you’ve managed to survive, but carry the weight of Drakkenheim’s madness with you. Skill Proficiency: Two of the following: Perception, Surviv", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Dungeons of Drakkenheim", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Survivor of Tragedy", "description": "Roll20 Note: This page is read only and will not function with drag-and-drop as similar pages within this category. A horrible thing happened to you when you were young. It’s an event that has left you emotionally scarred, but ultimately stronger and wiser. Ability Adjustment: Choose one (+1 Constitution or +1 Wisdom) (maximum of 20) Iconic Equipment: A memento from your tragic past that gives you hope Proficiency: Choose one (Endurance or Insight) True Survivor. You only need two successful dea", "publisher": "Evil Genius Games", "book": "Everyday Heroes Quickstart Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Suzume Family - Sparrow Clan", "description": "An offshoot of the Crane Clan from the fifth century, the Sparrow Clan is renowned for its storytelling tradition and its warriors’ skill with the sling. The Suzume Hills, home to the Sparrow Clan and the Suzume family, are dry, unproductive, rocky, and devoid of any great resources. Unsurprisingly, Sparrow Clan tradition holds that a life of humble poverty is the ideal to which samurai should aspire—for they have no other option—and as a result, Sparrow Clan samurai tend to see few tasks as ben", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Tattered Ear Tribe - Non-Human", "description": "Within the ancient vale known as the Shinomen Forest, the Tattered Ear nezumi have flourished despite all odds. The primeval forest defies all attempts to tame it, devouring most civilizations with the hubris to enter it. However, the Tattered Ear nezumi have carved several places for themselves, the largest of which is called the Great Home. This massive tree has been the haven of the Tattered Ear since their arrival in the forest in centuries long past. Beneath its roots, the Tattered Ear make", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Techie", "description": "You’re a whiz when it comes to anything technical. Computers and machines are your forte and also your favorite topic of discussion. You’ve got connections of the digital sort who are often the source of useful information. If the “mundanes” out there knew what you did, their brains would probably melt away. Skill Proficiencies: Computers, Mechanics Tool Proficiencies: Hacker’s kit, Cybersmith’s tools, Digital Technician’s Tools, or Shipwright’s Tools Languages: ALOMU (universal programming code", "publisher": "Alligator Alley Entertainment", "book": "Esper Genesis Core Manual", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Technologist", "description": "The galaxy is filled with machines—machines that often break down. Technologists are experts in repairing, tuning, and decommissioning the devices that other people rely on for their employment, comfort, and safety. Therefore, they are in constant demand everywhere, from heavily industrialized foundry worlds near the galactic core, to the Frontier worlds on the rim. Moreover, any ship of significant size is likely to employ engineers to keep it flying, regardless of where it finds itself in the ", "publisher": "Mage Hand Press", "book": "Dark Matter Starter Kit", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Tent Master", "description": "The life of a tent master is an unforgiving one. They are a necessary part of the circus, but never get a chance to enjoy the spotlight. It’s their job to build the tents and maintain them, repair games and rides, and handle any of the rigging that needs to be done for the acrobats. They often work behind the scenes, even during live events, without ever making their presence known. They live a simple, no-nonsense life and take great pride in their work. Skill Proficiencies : Athletics , Stealth", "publisher": "Escape Plan Games", "book": "Tavern Tales Vol 1 - A Trip Away Inn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "The Ghostlands - Non-Rokugani", "description": "The Ivory Kingdoms are bordered along a large portion of their eastern edge by a region of thick, gloomy, tangled forests inhabited by evil spirits and terrifying monsters. These “Ghostlands” are, in fact, a natural rainforested area affected by the southernmost and westernmost reaches of the Shadowlands, the vile realm that borders the southern margin of Rokugan. A dedicated group known as the Yodha, which is organized into cadres of supremely skilled warriors, wages a never-ending struggle to ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "The Hidden Valley of the Ganzu - Non-Rokugani", "description": "Along the Sand Road is the Hidden Valley of the Ganzu, a crucial oasis held by a tenacious people. Qamarists by faith and members of the Unicorn Clan by alliance, the Ganzu stride the line between these two great powers, and play a critical role in the trade that flows along the Sand Road. Given the strategic value of their lands, the Ganzu people have had to fight for them many times over the centuries, including as recently as fifty years ago, when the Qamarist Caliphate sought to absorb them ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "The Realm of Slaughter - Non-Human", "description": "The Realm of Slaughter is another realm of punishment, but unlike the Realm of the Hungry Dead, the Realm of Slaughter is for the violent and the cruel. This realm is thought to have been created by the Fortune of Death. Originally conceived as a place of rehabilitation where such souls could work out their anger, the Realm of Slaughter is a never-ending battlefield where punished souls fight in unending wars, dying and rising again and again. It is filled with the souls of those who died pointl", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "The Realm of the Hungry Dead - Non-Human", "description": "The Realm of the Hungry Dead is a realm of punishment for souls who could not be satisfied in life: the greedy, the lustful, the gluttonous, and the power hungry. Their fixation on physical pleasures caused them to neglect their soul’s destiny, their desires growing until they could not be sated, and so they have been relegated to this realm where nothing satisfies. Gaki , the most abundant souls of the Realm of the Hungry Dead, are ghosts who know only hunger, in every sense of the word. Ironic", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "The Realm of Waiting - Non-Human", "description": "Beneath the Mortal Realm is the Realm of Waiting, a vast place where mortal souls go to be judged by the Fortune of Death. Never intended as a permanent residence for souls, the Realm of Waiting now struggles to keep up with the constant stream of dead resulting from disasters in the Mortal Realm and conflict with the forces of the Realm of Torment, the deepest hell, which seek to influence all afterlife realms. As a result, many spirits spend centuries here, and many mazoku bureaucrats have ser", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Tian Shan - Non-Rokugani", "description": "Most of Tiān Shān consists of a single, massive mountain that twists towards the Heavens and stands proud above all of the other mountains in Yún Fēng Guó. From the outside, it boasts three ornate doorways carved from the mountain itself, with countless others sprinkled between the main tiers. There are two temples and one palace. The other, less significant doorways serve as entrances to dwellings of noble families. Stairs snake up the mountain in every direction. Two jewel-encrusted stairways ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Togashi Order - Dragon Clan", "description": "The Togashi Order is a family by choice rather than bloodline, and welcomes anyone willing to embrace their teachings and accomplish the challenges required to join, the first of which is finding one of the Togashi monasteries hidden high in the mountains of Dragon lands. Some of those able to find their way to the order were members of the order in a past life, returning to continue their training and spiritual journey under the guidance of the Dragon Clan Champion. To the rest of the Empire, t", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Tonbo Family - Dragonfly Clan", "description": "Most Minor Clans have political relationships with their Great Clan neighbors, but the Dragonfly Clan is deeply enmeshed with the Dragon Clan, existing somewhere between a close ally and a vassal organization to the Dragon clan. As their lands contain the mountain passes best positioned to reach Dragon lands from the rest of the Emerald Empire, anyone who wishes to reach the Dragon Clan’s holdings must first deal with the Tonbo family. Whether one is attempting to march an army into the high pea", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Toritaka Family - Falcon Clan", "description": "There are many good and helpful spirits that travel to the Mortal Realm from the afterlife, the realms beside, and the realms beyond. But the Mortal Realm is also threatened by spectral predators, from ghosts driven by their endless hunger to stalking specters that predate the dawn of humanity. Such creatures lurk in the shadows, in those patches of shade that seem not merely empty of light but filled with darkness. It is the sworn duty of the Falcon Clan, a Minor Clan whose holdings lie to the ", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Tough", "description": "“When you finish the game, the king and knave end up in the same box\" - Alazian saying - Toughs were born and raised amidst all manner of oppression, hardship, or violence, yet far from breaking them, these extreme living conditions tempered their mettle, making them as hard as steel. Having been exposed so directly to the harshest abuse and privations, no obstacle, fear, or hesitation will stop them now. Skill Proficiencies : Athletics, Intimidation Tool Proficiencies : One type of gaming set L", "publisher": "Acheron Games", "book": "Brancalonia - Core Rulebook Compendium", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Traded Child", "description": "As a baby, you were traded to a hag, fiend, or other extraplanar bargain-maker. They raised you in a strange place, apart from others of your kind, to serve as a pawn in their schemes. Your unconventional childhood makes you a visitor in both the lands of your birth and your upbringing, able to navigate both, but at home in neither. When you choose this background, work with your GM to determine the circumstances of your youth. Who raised you and for what purpose? Do you know the terms of the ex", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Transformed", "description": "Life is change, that's nothing new. But what happened to you goes far beyond normal life experiences. During the rebirth of your world in the dimension of Braythe, you went through a metamorphosis. Not just the world changed, you did - physically. After surviving the apocalypse, you were literally not the same person anymore. Maybe you liked the change, maybe you felt like your entire identity was stolen from you. In either case, you had to adapt, forced to find a new understanding of yourself, ", "publisher": "Braythe RPG", "book": "Braythe - Shattered Realities", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Transformed Familiar", "description": "Your connection to magic began with a term of service, or servitude, to a magician of power. Your partnership continued as expected for years, until the bond was abruptly broken. In the aftermath, you found yourself with a new body. Despite your new appearance, your actions often betray your origin. The struggle between what you have become and what you once were rages within you. Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Artisan’s tools (alchemist’s kit) Languages: One of yo", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Transformed Familiar", "description": "Your connection to magic began with a term of service, or servitude, to a magician of power. Your partnership continued as expected for years, until the bond was abruptly broken. In the aftermath, you found yourself with a new body. Despite your new appearance, your actions often betray your origin. The struggle between what you have become and what you once were rages within you. Skill Proficiencies Perception, Survival Tool Proficiencies Artisan’s tools (alchemist’s kit) Languages One of your ", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Deep Magic Vol 1", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Treasure Seeker", "description": "Treasure Seeker Lost treasure and valuable relics brought you to Drakkenheim. Perhaps the prospect of earning more gold than you can spend in your lifetime is too tantalizing to pass up, or alternatively you may seek items for their historical or religious significance. Skill Proficiencies: Investigation and one choice from the following: Stealth, Insight, or Perception Equipment: Thieves’ tools, a set of dark clothes with a hood and a face covering. A signet ring of a fake lord, a fake identifi", "publisher": "Ghostfire Gaming", "book": "Dungeons of Drakkenheim", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Trophy Hunter", "description": "You hunt the mightiest beasts in the harshest environments, claiming their pelts as trophies and returning them to settled lands for a profit or to decorate your abode. You likely were set on this path since birth, following your parents on safaris and learning from their actions, but you may have instead come to this path as an adult after being swept away by the thrill of dominating the natural world. Many big game hunters pursue their quarry purely for pleasure, as a calming avocation, but ot", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Tome of Heroes", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "True Apologizer", "description": "As a true apologizer, you are genuinely accountable for your actions. You’re interested in correcting your misdeeds and improving the lives of those you hurt in tangible ways. You can replace the forgery kit proficiency with another artisan’s tool of your choice, and include that tool in your equipment package instead. Choose or randomly determine your reason for turning away from villainy by rolling on the Moment of Epiphany table. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth Tool Proficiencies: For", "publisher": "Lone Colossus Games", "book": "Injuries and Vile Deeds", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Tsuruchi's Warband - Wasp Clan", "description": "Commanded by the famed bounty hunter Tsuruchi, the Wasp Clan is a group of mercenaries that has found itself elevated to the status of Minor Clan thanks to the political machinations of the Imperial Court. Having seized a Scorpion Clan castle in battle, these bows-for-hire were shocked to see an emissary of the Emerald Champion arrive to grant them the status of samurai and congratulate them on their new home—a key political blow against the Scorpion Clan’s growing influence. The ambitious Tsuru", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Undertaker", "description": "Undertakers play a vital role in any functioning society. Every settlement needs someone to bury the dead and conduct funerals. Ensuring the dead are buried properly stops them rising as undead, and more importantly, keeps the gods happy. The work may not be glamorous, but no one can deny it's important. Those who work with the dead often provide spiritual counsel and support to their community. Do you follow a particular faith, or accept all? Do you burials follow the rituals of a specific cult", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Urban Bounty Hunter", "description": "Before you became an adventurer, your life was already full of conflict and excitement, because you made a living tracking down people for pay. Unlike some people who collect bounties, though, you aren’t a savage who follows quarry into or through the wilderness. You’re involved in a lucrative trade, in the place where you live, that routinely tests your skills and survival instincts. What’s more, you aren’t alone, as a bounty hunter in the wild would be: you routinely interact with both the cri", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Urchin", "description": "You grew up on the streets alone, orphaned, and poor. You had no one to watch over you or to provide for you, so you learned to provide for yourself. You fought fiercely over food and kept a constant watch out for other desperate souls who might steal from you. You slept on rooftops and in alleyways, exposed to the elements, and endured sickness without the advantage of medicine or a place to recuperate. You’ve survived despite all odds, and did so through cunning, stre⁠⁠ngth, speed, or some com", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Usagi Family - Hare Clan", "description": "Famous hunters of heretical sorcerers, the Hare Clan dates back to the era when Bloodspeaker cults plunged the Emerald Empire into chaos using foul necromancy. The Hare Clan’s expertise has meant that its political sway has waxed and waned over the generations: in times of crisis, even the Great Clans often look to its specialized sorcerer hunters for guidance on how to face those who wield vile powers beyond human comprehension. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, choose one other Intelligence-base", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Utaku Family - Unicorn Clan", "description": "There is no finer heavy cavalry in the Empire than the Battle Maidens. These skilled champions are exceptional riders, capable of incredible martial feats of prowess even against long odds. The sight of a single Battle Maiden arriving at the field has been said to have turned many battles in the Unicorn Clan’s history. The Utaku family not only trains these elite warriors, but also sees to their steeds, the legendary horses of the Blessed Herd who carry only worthy riders into battle. Skill Prof", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Uthgardt Tribe Member", "description": "Though you might have only recently arrived in civilized lands, you are no stranger to the values of cooperation and group effort when striving for supremacy. You learned these principles, and much more, as a member of an Uthgardt tribe. Your people have always tried to hold to the old ways. Tradition and taboo have kept the Uthgardt strong while the kingdoms of others have collapsed into chaos and ruin. But for the last few generations, some bands among the tribes were tempted to settle, make p", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Vagabond", "description": "", "publisher": "Jeff Stevens Games", "book": "Potbellied Kobold", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Veteran Soldier", "description": "The Last Age is an age of constant warfare. All of the lands of Eredane are mobilized for total war, and nearly every individual capable of fighting has been drafted into the armies. The elves and dwarves both throw themselves into a desperate struggle for survival, while in the north, the orcs have long since been forced to live in a completely militarized society. Even in the occupied lands, many humans are drafted into Izrador’s armies or fight as mercenaries, while plenty of refugees have jo", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Midnight - Legacy of Darkness", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Village Healer", "description": "From a young age, you were adept at healing those who were infirm. You have honed your skills on your journey through discovering the world of plants and potions. Heartfelt Recognition. Your reputation as a healer precedes you, making it easier to gain trust. When interacting with non-hostile creatures in a village or similar community setting, their attitude towards you is better than average unless you have given them cause to distrust you. Skills: Medicine (Wis), Nature (Int) Tools: Healer’s ", "publisher": "Lion Banner Games", "book": "HellWatch Infernal Oath 5e Compendium Expansion", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Vintner", "description": "Vintners make wine. Whether used in religious ceremonies, weddings, funerals, parties, or just to enjoy with dinner, wine makes up an integral part of society, and as such vintners enjoy a peculiar position of privilege. Is your wine delicious, sought after, and expensive? Or was it vile, barely tolerated, and cheap? You might work with your family, a partner, or a guild. You might be an important member of high society, invited to the most exclusive parties. Or you might fight to make a name fo", "publisher": "David Serrano", "book": "Warriors of the New World", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Volstrucker Agent", "description": "The Volstrucker are a clandestine organization of arcane assassins and enforcers in the service of the Cerberus Assembly. Their operatives bear no official title, but are referred to in hushed tones as “scourgers” by residents of large Dwendalian cities such as Zadash and Rexxentrum. You are a Volstrucker agent. Your duty is to silence dissidents who would undermine the will of King Dwendal—and more importantly, the will of the Assembly. Skill Proficiencies : Deception, Stealth Tool Proficiencie", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Explorer's Guide to Wildemount (deprecated)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Volstrucker Agent", "description": "The Volstrucker are a clandestine organization of arcane assassins and enforcers in the service of the Cerberus Assembly. Their operatives bear no official title, but are referred to in hushed tones as “scourgers” by residents of large Dwendalian cities such as Zadash and Rexxentrum. You are a Volstrucker agent. Your duty is to silence dissidents who would undermine the will of King Dwendal—and more importantly, the will of the Assembly. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth Tool Proficiencies", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Explorer's Guide to Wildemount", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Wasteland Reaver", "description": "You grew up prowling the wastes as a member of a bandit gang, orc tribe, or similar warlike group. You spent much of your early life raiding and pillaging, plundering villages and merchant caravans. Then, at some point, you turned your back on this life to pursue the path of an adventurer. Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Choose any one of the following: cook’s utensils, leatherworker’s tools, thieves’ tools, or woodcarver’s tools Languages: Any one of your choice Equip", "publisher": "Kobold Press", "book": "Wastes of Chaos", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Waterdhavian Noble", "description": "You are a scion of one of the great noble families of Waterdeep. Human families who jealously guard their privilege and place in the City of Splendors, Waterdhavian nobles have a reputation across Faerûn for being eccentric, spoiled, venal, and, above all else, rich. Whether you are a shining example of the reason for this reputation or one who proves the rule by being an exception, people expect things of you when they know your surname and what it means. Your reasons for taking up adventuring ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Wayfarer", "description": "Ability Scores Dexterity, Wisdom, Charisma Feat Lucky Skill Proficiencies Insight and Stealth Tool Proficiency Thieves’ Tools Equipment Choose A or B: (A) 2 Daggers, Thieves’ Tools, Gaming Set (any), Bedroll, 2 Pouches, Traveler’s Clothes, 16 GP; or (B) 50 GP You grew up on the streets surrounded by similarly ill-fated castoffs, a few of them friends and a few of them rivals. You slept where you could and did odd jobs for food. At times, when the hunger became unbearable, you resorted to theft. ", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Player's Handbook (2024)", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Whitestone Rifle Corps", "description": "You trained with the elite forces charged with the defense and protection of the isolated city-state of Whitestone, with much of that training focused on how to care for, protect, and safeguard the firearms that are the weapons of the Whitestone Rifle Corps. You are also entrusted with a solemn duty—to never let the secrets of your liege-lord’s deadly creations fall into the wrong hands. You might have come to Whitestone to prove yourself worthy of wielding the secretive and highly coveted firea", "publisher": "Darrington Press", "book": "Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Wilding", "description": "As an infant, you were lost in the wild, either abandoned by your parents, kidnapped and left on your own, or by terrible random happenstance. After spending 5 years being raised by nature, you have a difficult time fitting in with civilized society. Skill Proficiencies : Athletics, Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Perception, and Survival. Language : Common. This is the only language you know, regardless of your race, and you still speak in broken sentences. Equipment : A set of makeshift clothes, ", "publisher": "Renegade Game Studios", "book": "Wardlings Campaign Guide", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Wildlander", "description": "When Izrador invaded the lands of humanity at the dawn of the Last Age, a number of people were living as rangers and explorers on the edge of civilization. Rather than facing the Shadow, these individuals saw the war as lost and fled into the wilds. You are a descendant of these wildlanders, and long ago you learned that the occupied cities were just as dangerous as the wilderness lands. However, you are well aware of the history of how your ancestors fled the Shadow. Whether you felt they made", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Midnight - Legacy of Darkness", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Wildspacer", "description": "You were raised in the void of Wildspace—home to asteroid miners, moon farmers, and other hardy folk. Perhaps you grew up in a far-flung settlement such as the Rock of Bral, or you spent your early years on the crew of a spelljamming ship, performing helpful chores such as swabbing the deck, loading and offloading cargo, and scraping barnacles off the hull. Whatever your history, life in Wildspace has toughened you so well that you are as brave as a miniature giant space hamster when it comes to", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Spelljammer - Adventures in Space", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Wind-Touched", "description": "There are legends within the Wood, of birdfolk blessed by the wind who are destined to soar over any and all obstacles. When a chick is born with special markings or unique feather patterns, or when they survive a dramatic childhood event, some folks brand them “Wind-Touched”. Though a few dismiss the notion of the Wind-Touched as superstition, others heap reverence upon those believed chosen. According to legend, one who is touched by the wind will never feel at ease anywhere but high in the fo", "publisher": "Hit Point Press", "book": "Humblewood", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Witchlight Hand", "description": "You crept into the Witchlight Carnival as a child or youth and never looked back, earning a place among those who work behind the scenes to keep the carnival in business. As a hand, you work hard and party hard. The carnival has borne you to many fantastic worlds, circling back around to your home world once every eight years, but you know almost nothing about these worlds because you spend all your time in the carnival. You know the other hands well, but the carnival’s owners—Mister Witch and M", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "The Wild Beyond the Witchlight", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Witherbloom Student", "description": "You filled your childhood with rudimentary alchemical experiments, all in the hope of becoming a student of Witherbloom College. The life sciences are the focus of your reading, which include biology and necromancy. Brewing strange concoctions with medicinal properties, exploring the anatomies of monsters, and cataloging swamp flora are the kinds of studies you might pursue at Witherbloom College. Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit Languages: One of your choi", "publisher": "Wizards of the Coast", "book": "Strixhaven A Curriculum of Chaos", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Worthless Husk", "description": "You were born into a world that saw you as utterly worthless, a waste of skin. Deemed talentless and devoid of potential, you were cast aside by those around you. As a Worthless Husk, you have learned to navigate the treacherous environment of the city, using your wits and endurance to survive. Given the chance to grow—a chance which you may never get—you could prove that even the most overlooked souls can make a difference in this twisted world. Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Survival Equipment:", "publisher": "MonkeyDM", "book": "Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Xie Long Gu - Non-Rokugani", "description": "Surrounded by impenetrable mountains lies Xiē Lóng Gǔ, a beautiful valley in an eternal state of springtime. Xiē Lóng Gǔ, or the Valley of Slumbering Dragons as inhabitants of Rokugan often refer to it, can only be entered or exited via a series of tunnels both natural and man-made that extend through the neighboring mountain ranges. Xiē Lóng Gǔ is the most heavily guarded place in Yún Fēng Guó. The bodies of the land’s emperors are interred here in palatial tombs made entirely of spirit jade. M", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Yasuki Family - Crab Clan", "description": "The Yasuki family teaches its scions to use the tools of trade and industry to keep the Crab armies well equipped and fed, and not to let legal vagaries or bureaucratic inconveniences stand in the way of getting crucial jade used to fight Shadowlands creatures to bushi on the front lines. Some members of the Yasuki family take this to mean working with criminal enterprises, avoiding tariffs on river usage, and trade in the forbidden market, including foreign contraband, are all justifiable metho", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" }, { "name": "Yogo Family - Scorpion Clan", "description": "Once belonging to the Phoenix Clan but now staunchly devoted to the Scorpion Clan’s cause, the Yogo family is often called “the most unfortunate family in the Empire:” each scion of their line is said to be cursed to betray the person, place, or ideal they love the most. To try to lift this curse, the Yogo family has spent generations relentlessly studying rituals of protection and mystic wards, through which they have mastered many techniques to identify and fight evil magic. As a result, the Y", "publisher": "Edge Studio", "book": "Adventures in Rokugan", "category": "Backgrounds" } ], "meta": { "title": "D&D Character Backgrounds - Free Download", "description": "405 character backgrounds from Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and expansions, including descriptions and source books. Contains 405 records. Download in Excel, CSV, PDF formats.", "seo_title": "D&D Character Backgrounds | ListBase", "seo_description": "Download D&D Character Backgrounds — 405 records. Available in Excel, CSV, PDF formats.", "key_takeaways": [ "Contains 405 records / 5 fields", "Available for free download in Excel, CSV, and PDF formats", "Data sourced from: https://github.com/nick-aschenbach/dnd-data" ] } }