Secretary (5e Background)
Secretary[edit]
As a secretary, you are a master of organization, communication, and confidentiality. Your role involves managing schedules, handling sensitive information, and ensuring smooth operations within your organization. Whether you served a powerful noble, a prestigious guild, secretive faction or a otherworldly being, your experience has honed your skills in administration and discretion. You are adept at administration, keeping secrets, and efficiently managing tasks.
Your position required you to be versatile and resourceful, often acting as the right hand of your employer. This meant dealing with everything from mundane correspondence to critical missions involving delicate information. You have likely traveled to secure important documents, meet with key figures, or even resolve disputes on behalf of your employer. Perhaps you were even forced to stay within a group of strangers for the purpose of serving your employer.
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, and one of your choice between Intimidation or Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher's Supplies
Languages: Two of your choice
Equipment: A set of fine clothes, calligrapher's supplies, a book related to your employer, a signet ring or badge of your employer, and a pouch containing 20 gp
Employer Type[edit]
What type of employer do you serve? Do you serve a powerful one or a honest one?
d8 | Employer |
---|---|
1 | Powerful Wizard |
2 | Noble Lord/Lady |
3 | Merchant Guild Leader |
4 | High Priest/Priestess |
5 | Military Commander |
6 | Crime Boss |
7 | Renowned Scholar |
8 | Otherworldly Being (Fiend, Fey, Dragon, or Undead) |
Feature: Relevant Secretary[edit]
You're recognized among the subordinates of your employer, and any creature that acknowledges your employer will show you respect. This recognition allows you to easily access shelter, food, or information. Your employer is likely to offer assistance, grant favors, or provide you with valuable resources, as long as you remain loyal.
Alternate Feature: Imposing Presence[edit]
Your professional demeanor and authoritative air often lead others to assume you hold a position of significant power, even if you're merely an assistant. When you interact with others, you can leverage this perception to your advantage. People tend to treat you with respect and deference, sometimes granting you favors or providing you with privileged information based on their assumption of your importance, even if they don't know your employer.
Suggested Characteristics[edit]
Secretaries often have personalities shaped by their roles and responsibilities, ranging from the most clumsy to the serious, or even the most depraved. Use the following tables to help develop your character's traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws.
d8 | Personality Trait |
---|---|
1 | I always have a quill and parchment ready to take notes. |
2 | I maintain a calm and professional demeanor at all times. |
3 | I love organizing things and leaving everything organized. |
4 | I enjoy being aware of everything that happens around me. |
5 | I am meticulous and hate making mistakes. |
6 | I tend to be a perfectionist, double-checking everything I do. |
7 | I am often relaxed, not taking most things as important. |
8 | I am always punctual and expect the same from others. |
d6 | Ideal |
---|---|
1 | Order. Everything should be in its proper place. (Lawful) |
2 | Knowledge. Information is power, and I seek to learn all I can. (Neutral) |
3 | Duty. I am dedicated to my employer and my responsibilities. (Lawful) |
4 | Independence. I use my position to gain autonomy and influence. (Chaotic) |
5 | Secrecy. Some information is too dangerous to be widely known. (Neutral) |
6 | Ambition. I aim to rise through the ranks and gain power myself. (Any) |
d6 | Bond |
---|---|
1 | My employer is my mentor and I owe them a great deal. |
2 | I possess a document or secret that could change everything. |
3 | I have a family member who relies on my income. |
4 | I owe everything to my employer, who gave me a chance when no one else would. |
5 | My loyalty to my employer is unwavering. |
6 | I seek to uncover the secrets of my employer or others. |
d6 | Flaw |
---|---|
1 | I am overly critical of myself and others. |
2 | I can be manipulative to get what I want. |
3 | I tend to hoard information and distrust others. |
4 | I am easily stressed and overwhelmed by pressure. |
5 | I secretly have a need for carnal desires. |
6 | I am a workaholic and neglect other aspects of my life. |
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