Blessed Background
Friends, it is time to show off another fifth edition Dungeons and Dragons background I created. This one has been rolling around in my head for awhile, and I thought it was time to share it with the rest of you.
You may know my cursed background (available in the Pay What You Want PDF 15 New Backgrounds on the DMs Guild #ShamelessPlug). In this background, the character suffered a horrible magic curse that haunted them throughout their pre-campaign life. Now I’m happy to show off the blessed background, in which the character has the expectation of greatness thrust upon its shoulders due to some prophetic happening. This background lives in this post and is available as a PDF in the link below and on the Free Game Resources section of this site.
PDF: Blessed
Blessed
Some sign or prophecy has foretold your greatness. The excitement surrounding your soon-to-be-legendary story has spread throughout your home, but you have yet to actually prove you are worthy of your reputation. There are those who accept your prophesied fate as future fact. Others are skeptics, anxious to see you fail as proof that most mystical readings are mumbo jumbo. Some folks might be jealous of you while other desperate people pressure you to be the chosen one they need. You can determine how you became blessed by using the Prophetic Signs table.
Prophetic Signs
d6 |
Prophetic Sign |
1 |
You were born during a rare astrological or lunar event. |
2 |
Your mother was blessed by an important priest or mage while pregnant with you. |
3 |
A specific birthmark on your skin is a sign of your greatness to come. |
4 |
An ancient scroll, tablet, or other writing foretold your greatness. |
5 |
As a child you miraculously defeated an ancient evil and people took this as a sign of greatness to come. |
6 |
An important person in the community claims to have a dream that showed you are destined for greatness. |
Skill Proficiencies: History and Intimidation or Persuasion
Languages: One exotic language and one other language of your choice
Starting Equipment: A set of common clothes, a piece of parchment with the prophecy that pertains to you, a signal whistle, a journal, pen, bottle of ink, and a belt pouch with 5 gp.
Feature: Blessed Guidance
When you are truly stumped and in need of guidance, there is a voice, wind, light, or other force that occasionally guides you. You can ask for this force to aid you when you are at a loss for what to do next and the DM decides if and how this force aids you. It often works in a vague, mysterious way (e.g. speaking in riddles, rustling a key chain on a guard’s belt, etc.) and does not perform any actions for you, but rather provides a hint about some course of action you could take.
Suggested Characteristics
You have an enormous burden of expectation to shoulder. Do you believe in your own greatness or are you worried that the truth is you are just another nobody? In either case, you might strive to prove your doubters (and possibly yourself) wrong by achieving every heroic deed possible. Of course you might be terrified of your fate, running with all haste from what you fear could be true, and simply living your adventuring life as a mercenary who cares only for friends and money.
d8 | Personality Traits |
1 | When others boast, I must top them with my own achievements. |
2 | This chosen one speaks in the third person. |
3 | I don’t want to be recognized, so I use a myriad of fake names. |
4 | I feel out of place and figdety when others don’t fawn all over me. |
5 | I can’t help but take on a challenge. |
6 | I don’t take “no” for an answer. |
7 | I have a personal mantra that I repeat in stressful situations. |
8 | Nothing I achieve is ever good enough for me. |
d6 | Ideals |
1 | Strength. Everything accomplishment must be more impressive than my last. (Neutral) |
2 | Protection. My greatness will be used to protect the defenseless. (Good) |
3 | Order. I am meant to bring law to the lawless. (Lawful) |
4 | Tyranny. Only those destined to rule, like me, should have power. (Evil) |
5 | Freedom. Everyone should be free to live their life. (Chaotic) |
6 | Community. I do everything I can for the people that believe in me. (Neutral) |
d6 | Bonds |
1 | I cannot shake the memory of the first time someone called me a fraud. |
2 | My destiny is intertwined with that of a prophesied evil-doer. |
3 | I am meant for greatness, but I am prophesied to kill a loved one in order to achieve it. |
4 | My hometown is the place where I am most revered and most jeered. |
5 | I have a mentor who always challenged me to rely on myself and not a prophecy to be great. |
6 | A trinket from home reminds me where I came from and who I am fighting for. |
d6 | Flaws |
1 | I was born to be better than everyone else and I am. |
2 | I’ll take money over trust any day. |
3 | Praise me and I’ll do anything for you. |
4 | I brag about my greatness just to take others to bed. |
5 | I do not ask others about themselves or make newcomers feel welcome. |
6 | I treat my opinions as fact. |
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