Venator (5e Background)

Venator

A member of the secret Ordo Venatores, an organisation of highly skilled monster hunters who are tasked with safeguarding the 'surface' world from monsterous threats. Their numbers are severely diminished after a large war between them and a cabal of sentient monstrosities, this means their reputation has gone from rare sighting to urban legend.

How did you become a Venator? Were you born into the culture, managing to fight and survive the purge? Did you stumble upon a former Venator's home, deciding you would continue the legacy of prestigious hunters? Whatever reason, be sure that your presence will cause hushed rumours in taverns and uneasy looks from some less than savoury figures to become uneasy around you.

Skill Proficiencies: Survival and either: Arcana, Stealth or Investigation

Tool Proficiencies: Thieves' Tools or Poisoner Kit

Languages: Undercommon and 1 more language of your choice

Equipment: The Venator stiletto dagger (1d4 piercing), A set of traveler's clothes with the Venator crest located somewhere upon it, A hunting trap, a book containing a bestiary of monstrosities, belt pouch of 10 gp.

Specialisation

Venatores are divided based on their area of expertise, what do you do? Are you an outright exterminator or a monster biologist?

d4	Specialization
1	Slayer
2	Inquisitor
3	Cryptozoologist
4	Trapper

Feature: Best of the Best

Venatores are the best slayers of monstrosities, as such they can identify marks or signs of monstrosity activity in an area. Additionally, when they encounter a creature they can deduce whether it is a monstrosity and, if it is, what type of monstrosity it is

Alternate Feature: Citizen of the Veiled

The old Venatores came from a hidden society where man and monster lived in, somewhat, harmony. Although that time has past, you still know how to hide what you are from the world. When in civilised areas or towns you can find discreet accommodation as well as keeping your identity ambiguous to passersby.

Suggested Characteristics

d8	Personality Trait
1	I'm so quiet, I often just fade into the scenery
2	Discretion be damned, when I arrive in a town I let everyone know who and what I am.
3	I have an unbridled animosity towards monstrosities.
4	I constantly dodge questions about who I am.
5	A job's a job, don't much care who's hiring or who's the target.
6	My body has scars covering nearly every surface, things to remind me of my past.
7	I work alone, I don't need to see anymore friends die.
8	I try to reason with my targets, if there's a chance I can solve the problem without violence I'll take it.

d6	Ideal
1	Protector. I do what I do to protect the people. (Good)
2	Vengeance. I am a Venator today to avenge the death of a loved one by a monstrosity. (Chaotic)
3	Death. Monsters deserve to die, none of them will get my mercy. (Evil)
4	Knowledge. I study monsters to better understand how to deal with them, so I don't need to use violence. (Neutral)
5	Survival. I only do this to keep myself alive. (Any)
6	Order. The Ordo Venatores provided safety and order in the past, I wish to carry on that duty. (Lawful)

d6	Bond
1	I have blood ties to the beings I hunt.
2	Monsters forced me into this lifestyle after killing my family.
3	I promised a crippled Venator to keep their legacy alive.
4	My family before me were Venatores, I follow in their footsteps.
5	I was once spared by a creature I thought was evil, I don't know what to think now.
6	I was a Venator from before the purge, I always remind my targets of that fact when I kill them.

d6	Flaw
1	I am inexperienced in the world of monster hunting, I often mess up.
2	When confronting a monstrosity I think about nothing else, care for nothing else.
3	I can't bring myself to kill, not even things that aren't humanoid.
4	I am distant and antisocial, a life of death and misery is the cause.
5	I am terrified of my foes, although I do not show it
6	I have made an enemy of an extremely powerful monstrosity, I check every corner for its forces.

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