Primogenitor (5e Background)

Primogenitor

From the Vampire Knight anime, by Studio Deen

You were the first. An entire bloodline and illustrious future was born from your actions and blood. Perhaps you were a famous alchemist who was sealed away in a deep sleep, only to have recently awoken. Maybe you were a renowned wizard who sired children, misplaced in the future by a botched spell. You could also have been an inventor or innovator who has now transcended temporal boundaries to see the fruits of your creation. In current time, you are living alongside your progeny somehow, despite having been possibly written out of history ages ago. You, the progenitor of the now, are a relic living in an anachronistic time. The means as to how you are here may be sinister or completely organic. Now that you are here and back, what will you do?

What did you do that was 'the first'? Did you perhaps start a bloodline with a famous and rich history? How many generations has it been, or have you lost track? Are you recognized by your current family at all, or maybe you were removed from their history? It is possible that the family line has also ended in some way, and you, the first, are now the last. You could also have been a creator of some great process or invention that is renowned by many and now a commonplace sight. Perhaps you retired and decided to go back out to the world and see what your creation has become. Not all primogenitors have to have come back from beyond the grave, but it is far more common and perhaps interesting to have a plot that may involve that element.

Skill Proficiencies: History, Arcana

Tool Proficiencies: One tool of your choice, tied to your original activity

Languages: One language of your choice, that was special or more common in your time

Equipment: A set of common clothes, a trinket from your younger days, and a belt pouch with 10 gp

Specialization: Anachronism

As the primogenitor, there are effects that are associated with even normal returns to the world. Which anachronistic effect affects you in this jarring and ill-fitted time?

d6	Specialization
1	I have slight amnesia.
2	My skills are not where they used to be.
3	I don't know everything about my achievement as I should anymore.
4	My face and attire are no longer recognized.
5	My appearance does not match my age.
6	Even amateurs know more than me.

Feature: Relic Habits

Coming from a different time, you have a lot to get used to. But you do have a decent amount of connection with folks who might know of tales or offshoots about your accomplishments or progeny. You know and recognize behaviors, objects, and information that precedes this time. While this may be antiquated, this covers more specific information that might not be available through a History check. Discuss with your DM about the time which you came from, and how it connects to the one you are in now. For example, you might recall something about a famous noble that plagiarized off a poor scholar to get to where his family is today, something not recorded in any medium. Others may have forgotten, but time has not worn away your mind.

Suggested Characteristics

As a primogenitor, has the tide of time changed anything significant about you? Is the future rosy or dour? How do you feel about what you see?

d8	Personality
1	I prefer to stay in the shadows and watch.
2	I like to do things as they were meant to in tradition.
3	I want to help people however I can.
4	I am willing to do whatever is necessary to get my job done.
5	Seeing others try makes me feel stronger.
6	I try to be someone I am not to keep up appearances.
7	I prefer to have others tell me what to do.
8	I like to make my own choices.

d6	Ideal
1	Respect. I deserve more recognition for what I have done in history, and I will make people recognize me. (Any)
2	Assimilation. I can live here, in this new time, if I can just get a hang of everything. (Neutral)
3	Superior. I am the original. I deserve everything this time has, and I will take it by force if need be. (Evil)
4	Alleviation. Problems from then are still problems now. The key to solving them may lie with me, who has seen it before. (Good)
5	Observer. I do not belong here. All I can do is watch. (Lawful)
6	Return. I don't care about the future. Take me back. (Chaotic)

d6	Bond
1	I have a connection with one of my current family members, who resembles a long-gone loved one.
2	A cult who worships my work rose me up with expectations of me to lead.
3	I am a stranger, alone in a strange new time.
4	I have loose connections to the descendants of an old friend.
5	I long for the bygone days of my own time.
6	Despite the passage of time, I still hope to make new friends.

d6	Flaw
1	I have a habit of rambling about the good old days.
2	I have a hard time keeping awake even in the daytime.
3	I like to do things in an inefficient manner.
4	All I can think about are my own affairs.
5	I will make cold, difficult choices because I simply do not care.
6	I do not trust anyone to do anything. I will do it all myself.

5.00

(one vote)

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