Singer (5e Background)

This content deviates from 5e standards. Its use could dramatically alter campaigns, take extreme care.

Caution - Here there be monsters! This content intends to provide a different experience, or goes beyond the scope of the anticipated subjects and situations, than the 5e rules were intended to handle. Some portions of the content below may not be what you expect from traditional game content. When implementing this content, DMs and Players should read over all the information carefully, and consider the following specific notes of interest:

This background is not made to be as widely applicable as the official 5e backgrounds. It is more of a profession than a whole background.

Singer

By daekazu

You are one who makes a living through entertainment with your voice. You could be a bard, which is typical, or even a less traveled option, like a songstress druid. Either way, you can make money merely by utilizing your voice. You probably have a good control over your tones, your volume, and all of that, all to be more appealing to the ears of your listeners. Singers in fantasy tend to need venues at which to perform to gather a presence, preferable to that of a street performer. Many singers might be contracted for gig work in a local pub. This is a more stable and stationary sort of singer. Others are traveling performers that could be soloists or even part of a band. Singers who travel have to be a bit more present in order to snag their daily coin.

What kind of singer are you? Do you just go with cheesy love songs or epic odes of warriors? Who are your usual targeted audiences? Where do you usually perform, in the streets or under a proper roof? Do you have a high reputation? If so, you might be sought after to perform in many places that you travel to. Pubs within a single city might even joust for your talent. Singers also sometimes attract a lot of fandom, garnering love letters and adoration in the form of various gifts. Are you such a popular singer? Or are you more unknown? Some singers that settle for certain establishments might also be privy to having a private room reserved for staff.

Skill Proficiencies: Performance, Persuasion

Languages: A language whose songs you know best.

Tool Proficiencies: One instrument

Equipment: A set of traveler's clothes and one costume for performing, one instrument, and a belt pouch with 15 gp.

Singer Type

What sort of songs are you best known for, or what shows are you most closely associated with? Singers vary in many ways, utilizing their voices in ranges that others do not. Some song genres have connotations or associations with certain cultures in the world, which may further help establish your character's place.

d6	Specialization
1	Blues
2	Epic Song
3	Opera
4	Cabaret
5	Popular Music
6	Metal

Feature: Favored Fan

Your voice has gotten you a little bit of a following, in particular with one special fan. You have a contact that is your devoted fan. They travel far and wide to listen to you give your performances at bars and concert halls. Your fan is a courtier of moderate means that is willing to do certain favors for you in exchange for your attention and time. They may lend you money or a place to live, but do not fight for you, will not follow you into obviously dangerous areas (such as dungeons), and will leave if they are repeatedly spurned or neglected by you.

Suggested Characteristics

Singers are often centers of attention. The whole shtick comes with the need to be noticed, or you don't earn your daily bread. For others, it is just a pastime and some singers are even secretly ashamed of their voice.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I sing from my own experiences because I want people to know how I feel through my songs.
2	I am my own worst critic. There is nothing you can say about me I haven't already said to myself.
3	I am not worth the time of the common folk. Their gold pouches are simply too light for me.
4	The people deserve to be heard and I am their voice! Viva la revolution!
5	I am like the art I create. I flow, I feel. I do what feels natural, what feels right. I don't care what anyone else says or thinks.
6	There are proper ways of song that must be followed, conventions not to be broken.
7	I create beautiful things to woo beautiful folk.
8	My voice is for myself. I don't really like to sing in public unless I can become someone else...

d6	Ideal
1	Money. This is just a gig job to get by. (Lawful)
2	Dream. From when I was a child, I always wanted to share my voice with others. (Neutral)
3	Ideals. There are causes worth throwing my voice behind, and I sing for their sakes. (Any)
4	Fandom. I have aims to lead my fans en masse one day and take the world by storm! (Chaotic)
5	Freedom. Song is an excellent form of expression that cannot be limited. Anyone doing otherwise deserves my wrath! (Chaotic)
6	Hypnosis. My song is a message that I am refining. Someday, this message will be strong enough that I can control all who hear it... (Evil)

d6	Bond
1	I am forever indebted to the one who taught me my craft.
2	I am simply trying to provide for my family.
3	I am constantly trying to win the affection of the one whose caught my eye.
4	I am drawn to travel and incorporate all my experiences into my performances.
5	I am forever locked in competition with my longtime rival. They always seem to be one step ahead as we both travel parallel paths.
6	I will not call a task complete until I am certain it is the best I can possibly do.

d6	Flaw
1	I will not tolerate any criticism of my melodious voice!
2	If there's no way I'll gain from it, there's no way I'll do it.
3	I get jealous easily, especially around other singers.
4	I will do anything for a slow turn from a nice pair of legs.
5	I am the BEST at what I do, and I laugh at those who suggest they can find one better than I.
6	I spend most of my gold overindulging in life's pleasures.

5.00

(one vote)

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