Disciple of the Obscure (5e Background)

Disciple of the Obscure

Master's Blessingby MorkarDFC

You have spent your time worshipping a deity who's not very well known. You act as an intermediary between the realm of your deity and the mortal world, performing sacred rites and offering sacrifices in order to please your deity. You are not necessarily a cleric—performing sacred rites is not the same thing as channeling divine power. Choose an old god/dess, a brand new deity, or even a demigod who isn't respected as a "true god", and work with your DM to detail the nature of your religious service. Were you raised from childhood in worship of this deity? Does your deity want you to spread the word of them or continue to worship them in private? Perhaps your deity wants you to do specific things in their name/for them. Do they speak directly to you? Do they reveal themselves to you? Or perhaps they give you signs; be it omens, dreams, messengers?

Skill Proficiencies: Choose two of the following skills: Arcana, Religion, Medicine, Insight, History, Stealth, Deception, or Sleight of Hand.

Tool Proficiencies: Choose one of the following tools: A Disguise kit, one set of Artisan's tools (related to your service to your deity), or a Herbalism Kit.

Languages: One of your choice related to your deity.

Equipment: A symbol relating to your deity, a book detailing your rituals in honour of your deity, 5 candlesticks, a set of common clothes, a kit based off your chosen tool proficiency and a belt pouch containing 15 gp.

Feature: Devout Disciple

As a devout disciple of your deity, you have a greater understanding of what they want. Even if they don't speak directly to you, you are able to decipher signs provided by you deity with ease. Those signs can lead you to safe places to rest, find food, do a ritual, or even who to speak to about them.

Alternate Feature: Prophetic Disciple

Whenever you take a long rest, roll a d20 + your Religion modifier. On a 15 or higher, your DM tells you of your dream, which is a metaphor for some upcoming event. The metaphor is more specific or transparent the higher your Religion check was. The prophetic dream may be about you, or something entirely unrelated, but the information hidden in it is useful to you or someone you know of.

Suggested Characteristics

The fact that your deity isn't very well known means you have a chance to have a very close relationship to your deity. It can shape how you feel about others in a positive or negative way. It could cause you to hate others for not knowing of your deity, make you feel isolated or even be excited to share about your devotion to your deity.

d8	Personality Trait
1	Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude.
2	I quote (or misquote) sacred texts and proverbs in almost every situation.
3	I am tolerant (or intolerant) of other faiths and respect (or condemn) the worship of other gods.
4	I’ve spent so long in the worshiping my deity alone that I have little practical experience dealing with people in the outside world.
5	I am honest to a fault.
6	I hate all equally except for my deity. They are all that matters.
7	I set very high standards for myself, and expect others to follow my example.
8	I am quick to make friends. I want to share the love of my deity with all.

d6	Ideal
1	Tradition. The ancient traditions of worship and sacrifice must be preserved and upheld. (Lawful)
2	Power. I hope to one day gain enough power so people fear what my deity can do. (Chaotic)
3	Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well. (Good)
4	Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of my god’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings. (Neutral)
5	Hierarchy. My deity is the only one who should reign all. (Evil)
6	Service. I am here to serve my deity. They alone choose my path. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I would die to recover an ancient relic of my deity that was lost long ago.
2	I seek to preserve a sacred text that my enemies consider heretical and seek to destroy.
3	My deity is the only one I need in my life. I devote myself to them entirely.
4	I want to spread the word/knowledge of my deity.
5	To serve your deity's desires. You live to follow what they say.
6	I trust my deity to lead me down the right path and meet the right people.

d6	Flaw
1	I am inflexible in my thinking.
2	I secretly find all things that are not divine in nature to be repulsive.
3	I trust no one but my deity. I don't care about others, only my deity.
4	Sometimes, I hear voices in my head that command me to do terrible things. And sometimes, I give in.
5	My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god.
6	Once I see a sign from my deity, nothing else matters. I must follow it perfectly.

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