Apostate

You were once a devout believer in a particular religion, but circumstances led you to renounce your faith, or at least your membership to whichever specific religion you previously subscribed. You may have left quietly, you may have made a scene, but in any case, the religion you turned away from took note of your disaffiliation and has thus labeled you an apostate. Your experiences along this path have shaped who you are today.

Skill Proficiencies: Religion and your choice of one from: Deception, History, or Persuasion

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: A holy symbol from the religion you abandoned, a treatise or book on another belief system, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp.

Feature: Apostasy

You have a working knowledge of the particular religion you used to belong to, including its beliefs, teachings, rites, and expectations, and you generally know where you might expect to find followers of that religion. While you no longer have a favorable status among that religion and its believers, you are still familiar with certain significant figures within that religion and may have information about them, as well (discuss with your GM).

You are also, of course, familiar with how that religion handles apostates like yourself, including their relevant policies and tactics. As such, you have at least some idea how to attempt to avoid the notice of the remaining members of your former religion, and you also know where to look to potentially find other apostates similar to yourself.

Fleshing Things Out

Some questions to consider when determining how this background applies to your character: Do you regret your decision to turn your back on your religion or do you stand firm in your choice? Would you go back if they would let you? Do you resent those who still belong to your erstwhile congregation? Do you still hold to any of the tenets of your faith, or have you abandoned all of it? What made you turn your back on your religion? The teachings? The other believers? Are your former brethren hostile toward you or do they simply mourn your absence?

You should also consider what caused you to take up the role of an adventurer. Did you stumble into adventures once you left your religion? Or did your path of adventure teach you to grow apart from your religion somehow?

d8 Personality Trait
1 I don’t talk about my beliefs unless absolutely necessary.
2 Worldly possessions are important; how else do you know how successful you are?
3 There’s nothing I can’t accomplish.
4 I am extremely protective of my friends and family.
5 I assume the worst about people until I know better.
6 I do not suffer insults or disrespect lightly.
7 I never apologize for anything.
8 I am always polite, especially to strangers.
d6 Ideal
1 Free Thinking. People should make their own choices about what they believe in. (Neutral)
2 Dogma. One’s beliefs should be built around a strict ethos. (Lawful)
3 Benevolence. One’s beliefs should serve the greater good. (Good)
4 Dominance. Religion can be an effective tool to dominate others. (Evil)
5 Self-Respect. Mine is the only opinion that matters to me. (Any)
6 Independence. I wanted to be an individual, not just another supplicant. (Chaotic)
d6 Bond
1 I left behind people very important to me when I left my religion.
2 I intend to start my own religion and show people the true path.
3 I hold great respect for anyone who shares my beliefs.
4 I am totally shunned by those of my previous faith when they find out I’m an apostate.
5 I feel compelled to get involved when I meet someone else struggling with their religion’s beliefs.
6 Even if I travel far, my home is never far from my thoughts.
d6 Flaw
1 I doze off at inopportune places and times.
2 I usually say the first thing that pops into my head; I have no filter.
3 I try to fix things that aren’t broken, often breaking them.
4 My table manners are atrocious.
5 I’ve been told I’m forgetful, but I don’t remember why.
6 Impatience is an art I’ve perfected.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

The Big Book of Backgrounds Copyright 2019, P.B. Publishing, Phil Beckwith, and Cody Faulk.

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