Background: Author
Your life revolved around quill and ink. You poured your heart out on the page every day, hoping that someone would enjoy or relate to your work. You were published, a small victory for your passion. You might have been prolific or only had one work to your name. You were, perhaps, a researcher who produced scholarly works or you might be a poet or novelist. Perhaps you no longer write or perhaps you became an adventurer to fill your next great work with authenticity.
The one certainty is that you have spent sometime hunched over parchment, setting down your thoughts with ink stained fingers.
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Investigation
- Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher's Supplies
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A satchel containing 20 sheets of parchment, a collection of notes and rejection letters, a copy of your last work, four quills, a pot of ink, and a small penknife. You also have a pouch with 10gp.
| d10 |
Genre for which you are best known |
| 1 |
Action/Adventure |
| 2 |
Biographies |
| 3 |
Mystery |
| 4 |
Travel guides |
| 5 |
Poetry |
| 6 |
Beastiaries |
| 7 |
Romance |
| 8 |
Inspirational/Self-help |
| 9 |
Horror |
| 10 |
Nature/Botony |
Feature: Published
You have produced at least one enduring work and this comes with a small following. Fans of your work may recognize your name and in any large settlement, there is likely someone who will invite you to dinner or offer some small help with the promise of hearing about your next publication or getting insight into your last one. It's unlikely your fame and reknown on par with nobility, but your admirers are dedicated none the less.
Alternate Feature: Royalties
You have not attained fame so much as fortune. You recieve a small sum every month due to the coin generated by your previous works, assuming you can get somewhere a courier can reach you. The amount of gold pieces you recieve each month is equal 1d20 + your level.
Suggested Characteristics
| d8 |
Personality Traits |
| 1 |
I see life as plotlines, making me overthink everything for the myriad of possibilities. |
| 2 |
I am withdrawn, only truly able to express myself with my quill. |
| 3 |
I love to be the center of attention, swapping stories with anyone. |
| 4 |
I am fascinated with a culture beyond my own and hunger to know more about it to fuel my tales. |
| 5 |
I don't know how to settle down. The next tale is always over the horizon. |
| 6 |
I am a bit morbid and enjoy shocking people. |
| 7 |
I am meticulous in everything, but especially notes. Everything must be chronicled! |
| 8 |
I am jaded. My stories may have hope in them, but I do not. |
| d6 |
Ideal |
| 1 |
Adventure: The best thing to write about are things you've done. |
| 2 |
Truth: My stories may or may not be factual, but the message must be true to life. |
| 3 |
Fame: My words shall make me immortal. |
| 4 |
Beauty: My work should reflect the boundless splendor of the world. |
| 5 |
Wealth: I write what will bring me coin. |
| 6 |
Inspiration: I want what I set down on ink to lift up those who read it. |
| d6 |
Bond |
| 1 |
There's a place I rememer that was my first inspiration, where I wrote. I still think of it. |
| 2 |
It was my teacher who set me on the path and who every work is dedicated to. |
| 3 |
I have a patron who is my only true audience. |
| 4 |
I have another author that I read and correspond with. |
| 5 |
There was one event that I relive on the page, every time. It all starts there. |
| 6 |
I have a favorite book that I want to surpass. |
| d6 |
Flaw |
| 1 |
I have taken up drinking as a second job. |
| 2 |
I can't wait to tell people every detail of my stories, so I don't. |
| 3 |
I procrastinate like my life depends on it tomorrow. |
| 4 |
You're using that word wrong. Let me tell you the correct way. |
| 5 |
If you've wronged me, you're going to regret it in my next work |
| 6 |
I am a perfectionist. I just need to edit this one more time. |