Adventuring Scholar

Most scholars work in the library surrounded by long forgotten books of lore and history.

You know that that isn’t going to find new knowledge, only field work is going to make that happen. You have left the comforts of monastery, college, or library to find the true history of the world. The journey takes you into dangers both monumental and small as you battle the horrors of dark and diseases that rage in fell places. However, you always take comfort in knowing that what you do will forever change how the world views itself.

Skill Proficiencies: History, Investigation
Languages: Two of your choice
Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a blank journal, a set of common clothes, a lab board to write on, and a belt pouch containing 5 gp

Feature: Historical Perspective

You’ve spent many hours working deep in the bowels of the library, reading tombs of forgotten lore. These hours have taught you about the things adventurers often encounter. Once per day, when you would make a skill check to learn about a creature, you can attempt a Intelligence (history) check with advantage instead of the standard check normally performed to learn about the creature.

Suggested Characteristics

Adventuring scholars range from teachers to researchers and their experiences in these jobs before creating the people they are. Time in the lab or library have forged their hopes, dreams, and mannerisms. This time away from their fellow man has also forged biases and other bad character traits that can come to the surface under stress.

d8Personality Trait
1Wherever I go, I’m constantly writing down what’s going on.
2I never stopped teaching, and now spontaneously just start teaching things to those around me.
3Everyone I meet knows something I don’t, so I want to talk to as many people as I can.
4Even though I know learning more tends to make people unhappy, I keep going on.
5I believe that you need to experience something to truly understand it.
6My one life’s tenet is no one is above the truth.
7People vex me as they don’t follow what they know is real, but live in some bizarre fantasy.
8I won’t stop until I’ve learned all there is to know.
d6Ideal
1Revelation. I want to find the true history of the world. (Lawful)
2Power. I can’t advance in the system unless I leave it to show how useful I am. (Lawful)
3Disruption. They system is broken, and I’m going to teach people how to fix it. (Chaotic)
4Education. I’m going to teach outside of the classroom to those who need it. (Good
5Growth. By leaving the lab, I’m going to learn more about who I am. (Any)
6Legacy. I can’t write the book I will be remembered for if I don’t have anything new to say. (Any)
d6Bond
1If I must die to prove the world wrong, then so be it.
2All the things I find belong in a museum.
3If we don’t share what we know, then what we know doesn’t matter.
4No truth should be hidden.
5Those who don’t leave the library are not fit to lead.
6Every child I meet deserves a chance to learn.
d6Flaw
1I view knowledge as far more valuable than life.
2People who touch my journal can expect to not walk away from the encounter.
3I miss the comforts of the library to the point I think about quitting daily.
4I can’t stand people who won’t adjust their thinking when they receive new data.
5I believe that the uneducated people of the world are the worst thing imaginable.
6It’s far too easy to manipulate me when people appeal to my educational vanity.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

5-for-5e Book 2 – 5 Backgrounds for 5e. Copyright 2017 d20pfsrd.com Publishing; Author: Ed Kabara

scroll to top