Inscribed (5e Background)
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Inscribed[edit]
In the world of epithets, everyone speaks the same language, and that literally gives words power. Whenever someone is born there's a 1 in 5 chance that they become Inscribed, and those without epithets are Mundies, the inscribed have something special attached to their soul that lets them do special powers based off of what is attached, which can range from simple, the ability to make barriers, to surprisingly complex, like the ability to mute and "dumb down" almost anything, even the damage somebody takes, there is as many possibilities as there is things in the English language, However you don't need an epithet to be strong, so don't go acting all high and mighty if you have one, because you can lose to someone without one as easily as if they did.
Specifics[edit]
Now that we've gotten you having an epithet out of the way, what's your reason that you use your epithet? Is it crime? Stopping crime? Or do you just have one and like using it?
| d6 | Specialization |
|---|---|
| 1 | Banzai Blaster |
| 2 | Person of the Law |
| 3 | Bounty Hunter |
| 4 | Criminal, and you commit actual crime, not banzai blaster crime |
| 5 | None of the above, just some person with an epithet |
| 6 | reroll |
Feature: Epithet Knowledge[edit]
Your epithet gives you better knowledge of various fighting and magic techniques than others. Because of that, you can tell what a persons hit dice is and how many spell slots they have if you're around long enough, but the timer resets if the hit dice or spell slot amount changes.
Alternate Feature: Epithet Knowledge (Version 2)[edit]
This version was mainly designed for campaigns based off of Epithet Erased
Your knowledge of epithets gives you the knowledge of telling who and who doesn't have epithets, through being around someone for at least 1 session (or however much time it would take for it to be a day in your campaign if your sessions are really long) you can tell if they do/dont have an epithet if they haven't shown it, but not what their epithet is.
These are only for if inscribed is your MAIN background, do not use them if its The Inscribed's Sub-Background.[edit]
Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, and either Performance or Religion (if you're already proficient in arcana just choose both)
Tool Proficiencies: 1 tool of your choice
Languages: 2 languages of your choice
Equipment: A set of common clothes, a pouch containing 8g, and 1 trinket visually related to your epithet.
Alternate Feature: Epithet Powers[edit]
(you're only allowed to use this when Inscribed is a FULL background for game balancing)
You have a mystical power, and because of this you can augment all damage given and received from 1 of the 10 categories.
| d10 | Epithet Element |
|---|---|
| 0 | copy (reroll) |
| 1 | mind (psychic damage) |
| 2 | ice (cold damage) |
| 3 | fire (it can also change colors, that does nothing useful but its neat!) |
| 4 | lightning/thunder (electric damage) |
| 5 | light (lights up the area in a 20 foot radius, radiant damage) |
| 6 | whoever you hit smells really nice after you do (this one is permanent) |
| 7 | emotional damage (this one is permanent) |
| 8 | rapid aging (1d4 years) |
| 9 | Fragile (deal extra damage at cost of HP) |
whatever you get, you can add 2 damage of that type up to 3 times before you need to complete a short/long rest. you also gain resistance to that damage type.
Suggested Characteristics[edit]
These character traits are merely just suggestions for those who cannot come up with any.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | "I don't need money, kid. I literally just made this worth my time." |
| 2 | "I really don't care about your powers, You can be as mundane as you like when you know how to do your goddamn job." |
| 3 | "You crash ONE car, FOUR times and suddenly it's your name!" |
| 4 | "I wrote my last will and testament because life is fleeting and you never know when you or a loved one will die." |
| 5 | "You'll get a cool name when you earn one BEN!" |
| 6 | "He's trying to lure me into a false sense of security, well jokes on him! I've never been secure in my life!" |
| 7 | "Hey! Stay back! I have an art degree!" |
| 8 | "You cant just throw those thumb tacks on the ground like that! That's dangerous!" |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fame "If I steal the Arsene Amulet, I'll be the most well-known Banzai Blaster EVER!" (Chaotic Neutral) |
| 2 | Innocence "You can't KILL someone! That's bad!" (Lawful Neutral) |
| 3 | Law "A true officer of the law stands by her principles, no matter the circumstances." (Lawful Good) |
| 4 | Fairness "Mono e Mono! Pistol to Pistol! Ugly rat face to the grossest face I can make while fighting!" (True Neutral) |
| 5 | Lighthearted Evil "I think I've had just about enough of you, guy! You made my minion cry! NOBODY makes my minions cry except ME!" (Chaotic Good) |
| 6 | Honor "Hey you, bad guys! My name is Indus Tarbella, and I challenge you to an honorable duel!" (Neutral Good) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | "I'm just helping, that's what friends are for right?" |
| 2 | "Well I guess your fate rests in my tiny hands!" |
| 3 | "If it's a wizard boyfriend fate hands me a wizard boyfriend I shall have!" |
| 4 | "Congratulations girl! You've been promoted to boy! Minion boy!" |
| 5 | "If you ever need to talk about anything just call me." |
| 6 | "If I wanted someone with no brains to help me move things I would've hired a forklift!" |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | "You want to know what I'm most afraid of? I'm afraid of this. I'm afraid of a world where I spend the rest of my life like this: brittle and creaking and constantly on the verge of breaking. I'm afraid of a life where someone bumping up against me on the street means A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL!" (paranoid) |
| 2 | "We used to eat sand back in the desert. Hey Lady Mera remember when we ate sand?" (Dumb) |
| 3 | "But these days? Skill don't matter anymore! You can train your whole life and be the best 'you' you can be... just to get beat by some shmo born with a superpower! That's why I wanna get rid of these things! You shouldn't get to be strong just 'cause you're lucky" (dislikes having an epithet) |
| 4 | "I just wanted to play, but I guess somebody always has to be the bad guy. Fine. FINE! You want to be the bad guy? Fine. I can't stop you from coming into my bubble, but that doesn't mean I have to make it easy for you." (Main Character Syndrome) |
| 5 | "It's time to show you fools the power of a Banzai Vice Principal!" (massive ego) |
| 6 | I don't have any ideas for a 6th flaw (reroll) |
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