Character Backgrounds

Every character has one (1) background, never more, never less. A character's background determines what basic skills he gets for free. Languages, Reading/Writing, and other Half-Month skills can be included. It also determines how much money the character starts with and for what cost the character can bring in weapons and armor at character creation - any other weapons and armor need to be purchased in-character. Note that the number of Languages given INCLUDES the character's native language - if he has one.

If a character is non-human, he may chose to take the additional language of one of his origin races - if that race has its own language. If he choses to do this, that language must be his native language (listed first - see "Character Creation"). The character may NOT chose a different language for free, nor may he take any additional language if none of his origin races have their own language. This does not allow anyone to take any human language for free - only a racial language for a non-human race which composes at least part of the character's race.

Alchemist: Character grew up exposed to the secrets of Alchemy.
Free Skills: Create 1 Basic Potion
Languages: 2 Reading/Writing: 1
Starting Money: 15 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Barbarian: Character grew up in the wilderness as a tribal warrior.
Free Skills: Scouting: Level 1, Fire Building, Creature Lore
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 2 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Blacksmith: Character was raised to be a blacksmith.
Free Skills: Make Walls/Doors/Boxes: Level 1, Make Pitons/Hooks or Make Locks/Keys/Chains: Level 1
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 5 Copper/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Carpenter: Character was raised to be a carpenter.
Free Skills: Make Walls/Doors/Boxes: Level 1, Make Torches
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 15 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Clergy: Character grew up among a relatively peacful priesthood.
Free Skills: Bless Spell
Languages: 2 Reading/Writing: 1
Starting Money: 15 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Fisherman: Character lived off of fishing for most of his life.
Free Skills: Swimming, Make Walls/Doors/Boxes: Level 1, Fishing
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Gladiator: Character was a slave and fought in gladiatorial arenas for most of his life.
Free Skills: Creature Lore, Swimming
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 5 Copper/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Goblinoid Scum: Character grew up among the underground or swamp goblins.
Free Skills: Rock Climbing, Swimming
Languages: 2 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Hunter: Character is an experienced woodsman and lived off of hunting for most of his life.
Free Skills: Swimming, Rock Climbing, Scouting: Level 1
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 2 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Jeweler: Character grew up to be a jewler.
Free Skills: Apprentice Jeweler
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 25 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Mage: Character grew up studying magical theory.
Free Skills: Read Magic Spell
Languages: 2 Reading/Writing: 2
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Merchant: Character spent most of his young life buying, selling, and trading goods.
Free Skills: None
Languages: 2 Reading/Writing: 2
Starting Money: 20 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Militia: Character spent most of his young life in a citizen army defending his land or fighting for a cause.
Free Skills: Fire Building or Scouting: Level 1, Swimming or Rock Climbing
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 5 Copper/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Miner: Character has worked as a miner most of his life.
Free Skills: Rock Climbing, Make Walls/Doors/Boxes: Level 1, Mining
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Monk: Character grew up within an isolated monk commune.
Free Skills: Swimming or Rock Climbing, Fire Building or Scouting: Level 1
Languages: 2 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Nobleman: Character came from a wealthy background.
Free Skills: None
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 35 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Peasant: Character grew up as a typical commoner in a civilized and mostly peaceful land.
Free Skills: Fire Building or Swimming, Make Walls/Doors/Boxes: Level 1, Farming
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Primitive: Character lived a primitive life in the wilderness away from civilization.
Free Skills: Fire Building, Make Walls/Doors/Boxes: Level 2
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 2 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Raider: Character lived aboard ship traveling and stealing from passing ships and port towns.
Free Skills: Seamanship, Fast Visible Search, Fishing
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Sailor: Character spent most of his life aboard peaceful ships as a deckhand or sailor.
Free Skills: Seamanship, Swimming, Build Raft/Small Boat
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 2 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Scholar: Character was raised in an academic setting and focused on education and learning.
Free Skills: None
Languages: 5 Reading/Writing: 2
Starting Money: 2 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Scribe: Character grew up learning to be a scribe or translator of written documents.
Free Skills: None
Languages: 3 Reading/Writing: 3
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Shaman: Character grew up among an uncivilized priesthood.
Free Skills: Bless Spell, Fire Building
Languages: 2 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Soldier: Character was raised to be a professional soldier.
Free Skills: None
Languages: 3 Reading/Writing: 2
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 5 Copper/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Street Urchin: Character grew up on the streets of a semi urban city and lived off of thievery and rummaging.
Free Skills: Fast Search Visible, Streetwise: Level 1
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Warmonger: Character lived among a traveling warband pillaging the countryside as they went.
Free Skills: Fire Building
Languages: 1 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 20 Silver - 5 Copper/pt. of Armor/Weapons.

Witch Doctor: Character grew up to be a tribal wizard.
Free Skills: Light Spell, Fire Building
Languages: 2 Reading/Writing: 0
Starting Money: 10 Silver - 1 Silver/pt. of Armor/Weapons.