Archeologist

Source: Tomb of Annihilation (SCAR Version)

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.


NOTE: Some backgrounds have options to choose from. Please read carefully. You may not get every proficiency listed below, as some may be a choice between one or the other.

  • Stat Options (choose either +2 in one stat and +1 in another, OR +1 in all three): Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom
  • Skill Proficiencies (your choice of TWO): Athletics, History, or Survival
  • Tool Proficiencies: One Gaming Set or Musical Instrument of choice.
  • Languages: Three Standard and one Exotic, OR one Standard and two Exotic languages of choice.

  • Background Keepsake: A trinket recovered from a dig site (value under 10gp.)
  • Background Gold: 15gp.

Origin Feat

Origin Researcher

When doing Out of Quest Research with a skill you are proficient in, you spend 1 less downtime on the research. This increases to 2 less downtime at 5th level.


Suggested Characteristics

Few archaeologists can resist the lure of an unexplored ruin or dungeon, particularly if such a site is the source of legends or is rumored to contain the treasures and relics of wizards, warlords, or royalty. Some archaeologists plunder for wealth or fame, while others consider it their calling to illuminate the past or keep the world's greatest treasures from falling into the wrong hands. Whatever their motivations, archaeologists combine the qualities of a scrappy historian with the self-made heroism of a treasure-hunting scoundrel.


Personality

Please select TWO from the list below.

d8 Personality Trait
1 I love a good puzzle or mystery.
2 I'm a pack rat who never throws anything away.
3 Fame is more important to me than money.
4 I have no qualms about stealing from the dead.
5 I'm happier in a dusty old tomb than I am in the centers of civilization.
6 Traps don't make me nervous. Idiots who trigger traps make me nervous.
7 I might fail- but I will never give up.
8 You might think I'm a scholar- but I love a good brawl. These fists were made for punching.

Ideal

Please select one from the list below.

d6 Ideal Trait
1 Preservation. That artifact belongs in a museum.
2 Greed. I won't risk my life for nothing. I expect some kind of payment.
3 Death Wish. Nothing is more exhilarating than a narrow escape from the jaws of death.
4 Dignity. The dead and their belongings deserve to be treated with respect.
5 Immortality. All my exploring is part of a plan to find the secret of everlasting life.
6 Danger. With every great discovery comes grave danger. The two walk hand in hand.

Bond

Please select one from the list below.

d6 Bond Trait
1 Ever since I was a child- I've heard stories about a lost city. I aim to find it- learn its secrets- and earn my place in the history books.
2 I want to find my mentor- who disappeared on an expedition some time ago.
3 I have a friendly rival. Only one of us can be the best- and I aim to prove it's me.
4 I won't sell an art object or other treasure that has historical significance or is one of a kind.
5 I'm secretly in love with the wealthy patron who sponsors my archaeological exploits.
6 I hope to bring prestige to a library- a museum- or a university.

Flaw

Please select one from the list below.

d6 Flaw Trait
1 I have a secret fear of some common wild animal- and in my work- I see them everywhere.
2 I can't leave a room without searching it for secret doors.
3 When I'm not exploring dungeons or ruins- I get jittery and impatient.
4 I have no time for friends or family. I spend every waking moment thinking about and preparing for my next expedition.
5 When given the choice of going left or right- I always go left.
6 I can't sleep except in total darkness.