War Child


You grew up in a region ravaged by warfare, where danger lies around every dawn. The times you spent hiding away from soldiers, fighting back against the assaults or simply helping those who did so unsuccessfully. You have left that world behind now, whether the war itself ended or if you simply left never to look back. But the time spent in war will never let you return to the one you once were.


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): Constitution, Dexterity, Wisdom
  • Skill Proficiencies (your choice of TWO): Athletics, Medicine, or Stealth
  • Tool Proficiencies: Your choice of one between Leatherworker's Tools, Mason's Tools, Smith's Tools, or Woodworker's Tools.
  • Languages: Two Standard languages of choice.

  • Background Keepsake: A keepsake from your old home (value under 10gp)
  • Background Gold: 5gp.

Origin Feat

Origin Sturdy

Your maximum hit points is increased by half your level. (I.e. You gain a +1 to your max hp every even level.)


Other

Family and Friends

During times of war, everyone learns how fragile life can be and especially when the lives of those closest to you are at stake. Consider how your friends and family faired through the war, maybe something happened to one or several of them that made you leave. You can roll on the following table to determine what happened to them, or choose one that fits your character.

1 Your parents died during a raid on your village.

2 Your entire family was killed when your house burned down while you were out one night.

3 Your friend whom you grew up with died in front of you when the war first started.

4 Your sibling died while fighting on the front lines and was sent home in a coffin.

5 You were the only survivor from your village after a war band came through the area.

6 Your entire family survived with your friends still living healthily.

Personality

Please select TWO from the list below.

d8 Personality Trait
1 I frequently think I see people from my old home (and am convinced it is them).
2 I am used to staying quiet when near guards or soldiers for fear of a beating.
3 I have seen so many die right before me that I now take to the bottle to help myself through the day.
4 I sometimes find myself thinking back to the days when the blood was flowing in the streets and reflect on how it changed me.
5 I see myself as a role model for children living on the street.
6 I do everything in my power to forget the things that happened during my youth.
7 All the sadness in my youth has made me always trying to be happy, even in the face of new dangers.
8 Whenever I see a crying child I have to stop and cheer them up.

Ideal

Please select one from the list below.

d6 Ideal Trait
1 Loyalty. I have given my loyalty to a belief and I would never dream of breaking that promise.
2 Life. The value of life is beyond measurable, so I strive to protect it wherever I can.
3 Rebelion. The life is best lived free from rules and systems. The free people need to be free.
4 Survival. The most important thing in life is maintaining your own life, and doing anything to survive.
5 Revenge. I saw the destruction of many lives and now I want others to feel the same things I did.
6 Idealogy. I am always ready to stand up and fight for what I believe in!

Bond

Please select one from the list below.

d6 Bond Trait
1 A friend once saved me from death when I was young and now I fight for the young children who can not protect themselves.
2 I will never forget the things I saw back then.
3 My dead sibling left me with a keepsake- I cary it with me always.
4 I accidentally killed my friend in a skirmish, but nobody ever found out. Now I carry my secret with me in shame.
5 I was taken in by a cleric while I was badly injured- as gratitude I now dedicate myself to the god of that temple.
6 Someone stood up for me and now I do everything to become like that person.

Flaw

Please select one from the list below.

d6 Flaw Trait
1 I secretly believe that those who died back then deserved it.
2 I will run at the slightest sight of death on the battlefield.
3 I actually believed in the people who destroyed my home- more than my own people.
4 I had to betray my friends to get away from the war and I would do so again if it benefited me.
5 I have a tendency to lash out against those who speak against me in fits of anger and rage.
6 I sometimes have flashbacks to the days of terror and I will sit quietly and curse those who wronged me.