Messenger (5e Background)
Messenger[edit]
You have always had skill with moving and never asked any questions on why's, its just when. Were you a private messenger, conveying messages that both stopped and started wars or were you just a simple post man, delivering letters to old women in the wilderness? Have you received special training in getting around, or did you just get good? Were you from a prosperous family and struck out for yourself, or did you come from a poor family and work to support your family? Do you take the conventional ways of getting around, or do you strike out to make everything quicker?
Skill Proficiencies: athletics or acrobatics, perception
Tool Proficiencies: navigator's tools
Languages: one of your choice
Equipment: satchel, 10 pieces of paper, 5 ink bottles, travelers clothes, 10gp and the crest of your previous employer.
Feature: Shortcut[edit]
You've been learning to get around for a while so you know ways to make things quicker, no matter where you are. This allows you to get around a city or town in half the normal time.
Alternate Feature: Hurried Traveller[edit]
You travel the main roads daily and remain cautious even when travelling quickly. This allows you to travel at a fast pace without penalty to passive Wisdom (Perception) scores.
Alternate Feature: Don't Shoot the Messenger[edit]
You are skilled at defusing tense social situations. You gain advantage on all Charisma checks made to improve the mood of hostile NPCs.
Suggested Characteristics[edit]
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I say a lot of quips that people don't get |
| 2 | I berate my travelling companions for walking too slow |
| 3 | I'm shy so I try to stay out of sight |
| 4 | I tend to be blunt, even when delivering bad news |
| 5 | "Don't stand in my way, if you do then you wont stand again." |
| 6 | If people give me messages then I simply have to read them |
| 7 | I never waste gold, even if someone dies because of it |
| 8 | "I never fail, only succeed." |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rebellious I will go where I want, when I want (chaotic) |
| 2 | Greed Money is the only reason to work (evil) |
| 3 | Knowledge We need to share what we know when we can (neutral) |
| 4 | Assistance I work to help people (good) |
| 5 | Skill I always try to improve (any) |
| 6 | Reliable The message must be delivered (lawful) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I need to support my family |
| 2 | I'm trying to start my own business, starting from the ground up |
| 3 | A messenger saved my village by bringing warning of an army, I want to do that |
| 4 | Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays me
from the swift completion of my appointed rounds |
| 5 | I left because i was bored and it seemed fun |
| 6 | I'm working off a debt to a Noble that I tried to steal from |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am easily distracted |
| 2 | I pick fights when I really shouldn't |
| 3 | I think i'm a demi-god. |
| 4 | I don't consider other's emotions |
| 5 | I'm an adrenaline junkie |
| 6 | I'm so lazy, I can't be bothered to finish this sent-- |
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Backgrounds