Aspirant (5e Background)
Aspirant[edit]
Growing up, we’ve all heard or read legends of selfless heroes and dastardly villains. These stories stick with us our entire lives and tend to inspire us in one way or another. But you…you’ve taken it a step beyond. Whether you call it passion or obsession, the “hero” of these legends has influenced every facet of your life, down to very decisions you make. Some aspirants become traveling storytellers, spreading the tales of their idol across the world. Others follow in the footsteps of their idol, using him or her as an inspiration to aspire to. A small few, however, have become so enveloped in these legends that they’ve become completely delusional, believing THEMSELVES to be the very idol from these stories.
Skill Proficiencies: Performance and History
Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher tools or Disguise Kit
Languages: A language that your idol knows
Variant: Other Proficiencies: Talebearing
Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a tome or scrolls with the legends of your idol written out, common clothes, a costume inspired by your idol, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp
Feature: Just like in the Stories[edit]
Considering how often their idol’s legacy is on their mind, aspiriants are always trying to find connections between their lives and the folklore surrounding their idol.
Roll a D10. If you roll a 9 or 10, your current situation bears an uncanny resemblance to one your idol was in. What this means is completely up to the discretion of the DM. You may remember a weakness that your idol exposed against a similar enemy or meet a new person in the same way your idol met their love interest meaning you know that new person's motives.
This may be rolled whenever you make a check where you are experiencing something "for the first time". Examples of this include the first time you meet a new NPC, the first time you visit a new location, the first time you see a quest specific item, etc.
Suggested Characteristics[edit]
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I believe that my idol and I are connected in some way. |
| 2 | I try to make connections between my idol’s situations and my own. |
| 3 | Sometimes my passion is confused for obsession. However, sometimes those people are right. |
| 4 | I am typically more interested in what my idol has done than what I am currently doing. |
| 5 | I sometimes begin to daydream about my idol to a point where I lose focus of everything around me. |
| 6 | I become incredibly excited whenever someone shows even the smallest amount of interest in my idol. |
| 7 | I repeat the same stories about my idol to anyone who will listen, no matter how many times they have heard it before. |
| 8 | I have a near encyclopedic knowledge of the legends of my idol. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Imitator: Never straying from the legends, I act identical to the way my idol has in similar situations. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Hero: My idol was a hero of the people and I was inspired by his or her good deeds. (Good) |
| 3 | Villain: My idol spread terror throughout the land and hurt many innocent people. (Evil) |
| 4 | Surpasser: Even though they have inspired me, I act distinctly from my idol. I’ll create my own legends. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Messenger: I will spread the legends of my idol far and wide. (Any) |
| 6 | Mogul: My idol became an incredibly wealthy and powerful man /woman and I aspire to be one as well. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am obsessed with my idol or at least the legend surrounding him or her. |
| 2 | The oral traditions of my idol must be passed on to future generations. |
| 3 | I am more than just a fan of my idol. I have become them! |
| 4 | My idol is an ancestor of mine and my family is proud that I am following in his or her footsteps. |
| 5 | I have sworn that I will one day be as renown as my idol. They will tell stories of me! |
| 6 | The tomes or scrolls containing the stories of my idol must be protected at all costs, even at the expense of my life. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am completely delusional to a point where I have become my idol. The actual “me” no longer exists. |
| 2 | I care little about the consequences of my actions and how they affect other people. |
| 3 | I can hear my idol’s voice speaking to me in my head. |
| 4 | I follow my idol around everywhere they go to the point where they have become a little uneasy around me. |
| 5 | I struggle making decisions not based on my idol’s previous choices. |
| 6 | My obsession with my idol has become so severe it has pushed my loved ones away. |
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