D&D 5E: Roadside Backgrounds

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You are a travelling combatant, always on the lookout for a new challenger. You duel with those who seem competent enough to push you further. You might use swords, magic, or even games of chance to test yourself and your chosen foe. In the end there is nothing more important to you than proving of your mettle. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Intimidation Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set Languages: One of your choice Equipment: A token of favor from an admirer (a handkerchief, flower, or love letter), a set of bone dice or deck of cards, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a belt pouch containing 12 gp

Your reputation and bearing as a duelist compels others to accept your challenges. So long as you offer them a duel while outside of combat, most NPCs who are not utterly outclassed by your Level are willing to have a go with you one-on-one, without the help of their companions or bodyguards. Foes are usually willing to duel until first blood, but some are even up for a fight to unconsciousness or death, particularly if you’ve really angered them.

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Duelists are defined by their need for adventure, a challenge, and the freedom to roam the world in search of these things. They value the ability to do things their own way and often have a past which reflects escape from a stiflingly rigid situation. Yet they see the duel as a pure expression of skill, and highly revere fairness in such competitions. d8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Personality Trait I treat nearly every endeavor as a competition. I seek out peers and distain my inferiors. I think I’m a celebrity and act as though I’m constantly recognized. I find it extremely embarrassing to give up or surrender. I keep my weapons and armor meticulously maintained. I have a trusty weapon I can’t live without. I give combat pointers to nearly everyone I meet. I claim to have never been beaten in a duel.

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Ideal Danger. It is the threat of death that lets us know we’re alive. (Neutral) Defense. The weak must be protected by great champions. (Good) Fairness. Competition done fairly is the only way to know who’s best, or who is favored by the gods. (Lawful) Freedom. Never let others dictate the terms of your existence. (Chaotic) Glory. Notoriety brings with it all the pleasures the world has to offer. (Evil) Self-Knowledge. Only by constantly testing your abilities can you know your worth. (Any) Bond I shall never cheat in a duel. I will become the greatest duelist in the world. I will always make for the most dangerous foe. I’ll prove my old masters wrong and accomplish great things. Upholding the honor of my house, family, nation, or friends is of the utmost importance. Defeat is not an option. Flaw I can be goaded into a fight rather easily. I will not strike an unwary or unarmed foe. I think battle is the solution to every problem. I think I’m the best combatant in the party and integrate this into my strategies. I have no problem going off alone into danger. I am easily seduced, especially by those who can fight or otherwise compete with me.

You are a special kind of vagabond, one who spreads wisdom and foreknowledge to those who seek comfort in this world. Bearing omens and advice, you are born for the open road, constantly in danger of angering those to whom you’ve dispensed truth. You must always look for new horizons, bringing a little insight into the workings of the cosmos wherever you wander. Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Performance Tool Proficiencies: Fortune telling tools Languages: One of your choice Equipment: A mule, a set of fortune telling tools (cards, dice, tea leaves, etc.), a set of common or costume clothes, and a belt pouch containing 5 gp

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Ideal Community. Those you travel with are your family. (Lawful) Curiosity. What comes over the next hill is worth seeing. (Any) Hope. The future holds much that is positive. (Good) Independence. Carving out your future means submitting to no authority but your own. (Chaotic) Survival. Fulfilling your destiny means living to see it at all cost. (Evil) Wisdom. Acting without concern for the future is foolish. (Neutral)

Once per day you may attempt to use your fortune telling tools to determine the near future of someone who has come to you for advice. You learn vague impressions of this future, such as danger, love, loss, or betrayal. You may even use this Feature to discover your own future. Alternatively, you may use this Feature to give your own Inspiration to another PC, while doing a reading for them.

Fortune Tellers live lives that are intertwined with fate. They understand that everyone has a role to play in the future, and usually come to accept their own. This acceptance leads them to a kind of serenity in the face of danger, with the ability to act quickly when their supposed destiny presents itself. d8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Personality Trait I hate to stay in one place for more than a day or two. I speak mostly in cryptic phrases. I believe strongly in destiny, accepting all events as meant to be. I am from a far away or minority culture, with ways that confuse others. I have discovered that my own future is to die horribly or heroically, and I accept that. I know that fortunes can change and seek to make the world better. I dislike games of chance; they treat fortune as a trifle. I have seen a coming war or apocalypse.

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Bond I shall fulfill my destiny. I will always tell fortunes truthfully. I can never settle down in one place. The plan of the gods must become known. My wisdom comes at a price to those who are not my companions. The evil forces in the world must be stopped. Flaw I find it hard to trust people who are not my traveling companions. I will stop at nothing to fulfill my own destiny, or that of the party. I am condescending to those who are not wise. I often tell fortunes that are merely what people want to hear. I act like I know the future, even when I don’t. I often lie to authority figures and would never come to them with a problem.

3 You are a devout adherent of a particular god or faith, proving such by journeying to places of importance for your religion. Through conviction and grit you will come to see the locations most celebrated by your people. Along the way you’ll likely get into adventures, the better to test your devotion. Skill Proficiencies: History, Religion Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A holy symbol, a set of common clothes, and an alms box containing 15 gp

You know a number of routes, points of interest, and places to stay along the way to various religious sites throughout the known world. You can usually find cheap lodging, shortcut roads, and other useful advantages when on a journey, so long as you are somewhat near a pilgrimage site for your religion. Sometimes you even know bits of trivia about the area, usually relating to your god.

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d6 1 2 3 4 5 6 d6 1 2 Pilgrims are defined by their devotion and take pains to prove it. At the same time they are sightseeing tourists, initially along for the thrill of adventure and the supposed importance of their holy journey. They are a strange mix of thrill-seeker and pious devotee. d8 1 2

Personality Trait I have seen many strange things on my journeys and enjoy telling tales. I find it calming to live a simple lifestyle with few possessions.

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It’s important for me to spread the word of my god to all, especially those of other races and cultures. I believe my god speaks to me in my dreams. Though I seem pious, I often break my vows when tempted. My journey is holy and I try not to profane it with revelry or unnecessary violence. No one is more devout than me. No one. I’m not actually all that devout; I’m just out here for the adventure or in order to escape my family. Ideal Courage. Sometimes you must do what must be done, no matter the consequences. (Chaotic) Expansion. You must make sure your god is the most powerful one, revered at many sites. (Evil) Generosity. Others should benefit from the fruits of your blessings. (Good) Humility. One must hold themselves to the highest standards before judging others. (Neutral) Tradition. We have a place in the continuity of history and we should honor the past. (Lawful) Wonderment. The world is full of inspiring sites and moments of incredible beauty. Find them. (Any) Bond I will visit every major pilgrimage site my people hold dear. No temptation will seduce me from my vows. The weak must be protected. I am not worthy of riches. Non-believers shall not foul the sites of my faith. I must prove my faith in some way before I die. Flaw I am at times hostile to those not of my faith. I take foolish risks because I think I’m being tested by my god. I hold my own wisdom above that of others. I am overly curious and concerned with the private lives of others. I hold to tradition at the expense of adaptability. I’ll do anything to protect the reputation of my church.

You are an explorer, route finder, and cartographer for your nation, people, or merchant company. You’ve spent time trekking out into the world to find unexplored regions and unknown peoples. You’re someone who loves being first to see or do something, and your attitude helps to find safe passage for those who follow in your footsteps. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Perception Tool Proficiencies: Cartographer’s tools, navigator’s tools Equipment: Cartographer’s tools, navigator’s tools, a map case, a map of the local region, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp

You are capable of plotting a route to nearly any destination, no matter how remote. If you’ve heard of it, you can find a way to get there. The more obscure the location however, the more likely it is your journey will take you through dangerous regions.

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Trail Blazers are defined by their adventurous, exploratory attitudes. No location is too remote; no danger too great. This doesn’t mean they don’t take precautions on a journey, but it does mean they’re usually up for anything that sounds exciting. d8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Personality Trait I love to be the first in the room, first out the door, first watch, etc. I’ve seen so many places that they all blend together for me now. I often attempt to speak languages I don’t know. I can be cavalier and reckless when exploring new places. I was the first to discover something important and well-known. I’m obsessed with haggling and getting a good deal in trade. All of my maps are works of art, lovingly crafted after a great deal of work. I’ve met many interesting people in my day, seen many amazing things, and I enjoy regaling others with the tales.

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Ideal Adventure. A hero must always be getting into danger. (Chaotic) Commerce. Trade is mutually beneficial for everyone. (Lawful) Culture. Learning about others reveals important qualities in us. (Good) Discovery. The world must be explored. (Any) Initiative. Being first to do something secures your legacy. (Evil) Optimism. Even violent encounters with native cultures will eventually lead to good things in the long run. (Neutral) Bond I shall never stop discovering new things. Whenever I find a new place, I’ll leave a marker or map a route so that others may come this way more easily. I’ve seen something amazing and I’ll never tell a soul about it. I will always support the druids and rangers of the world. The cultures I find should be dealt with equitably, not exploitatively. I’ll draw a picture of every interesting thing I encounter. Flaw I over-plan every endeavor. I under-plan every endeavor. I am overly loyal to the merchant company I work for. I leave a trail of markers wherever I go, making me easy to track. I “go native” whenever I encounter a new people, adopting their ways. I often underestimate the amount of time it takes to get somewhere.

A seeker of fortunes, mostly lost and hidden in the ruined places of the world, you are bravely greedy. You’re undeterred by such things as traps, curses, and eternal servitors and as often as not you solve the mind bending riddles and puzzles that block your passage. Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, History Tool Proficiencies: Thieves’ tools Languages: One of your choice (usually an ancient language) Equipment: Thieves’ tools, a grappling hook, 50 feet of hempen rope, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp

You are a master of solving puzzles, cryptograms, and mathematical problems. Whenever you are faced with a logic-based task barring your ability to proceed in a dungeon or other treasure site, you may ask your DM a single yes or no question about the nature of the problem, and they must answer. This question cannot be so specific that it would ruin the puzzle, but it can be one that eliminates a number of possibilities or leads you directly down the right logical path.

Treasure Hunters are by their nature seekers of material things. This does not always mean that they are miserly or even hedonistic. There are many reasons to be tempted by the thrill of old and dangerous places. Many reasons to need coin.

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Personality Trait I’m obsessed with things from a prior age, collecting many relics from that time. I studied history academically, apprenticed to a famous scholar. I need wealth in order to protect my loved ones. Treasure gives me the thrill I need to feel alive. I wish to see the world, so I hunt treasures that take me to foreign places. I’m constantly describing the historical significance of everything I see. I have a rival who seeks to thwart my endeavors. I seek treasure to pass the time as I flee my troubled past. Ideal Greed. Treasure is its own reward. (Evil) Drive. Goals define our existence. (Neutral) Cunning. Outsmart the past. (Any) Flexibility. Stay fluid and think on your feet. (Chaotic) Restoration. Some things belong in a museum. (Lawful) Reverence. Have a place in your heart for the people who inhabit the past. (Good)

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Bond I will discover the truth hidden in the ruins. No trap can stop me. I shall earn the fame I deserve. I can’t leave any treasures behind. I’ll learn something nobody knows before I die. Every puzzle must be solved.

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Flaw I constantly speak in riddles. I’m more concerned with treasure than people. I think I deserve all the glory. When working on a puzzle, I stop noticing everything else around me. My mentor died trying to solve a particular mystery and I’m obsessed with following in their footsteps. I often forget to plan an escape route out of the dungeon.

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