Missionary

Some religions place importance and priority on spreading their faith to others. Those who travel far and wide to undertake this holy effort are known as missionaries. The exact methods each missionary employs may vary, but they all seek to fulfill their mission of spreading the word of their faith wherever they feel that they can and should.

Skill Proficiencies: Persuasion, Religion

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: A copy of your religion’s holy text, a holy symbol, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp.

Feature: Aid from the Faithful

As a missionary, you are generally held in high regard by those who belong to your same religion, as yours is a holy mission. As such, you and your party (so long as you are with them) can typically expect aid from other followers of your religion. Such aid can include food, lodging, simple supplies, and basic support, as long as the cost to the providers is something they can afford without excessive hardship (GM’s discretion). If you and your party require protection, those of your religion will typically do their best to hide you or otherwise keep you safe, provided the risk to the provider is not too great and the threat does not originate from your own religious order.

Additionally, if you encounter a shrine, temple, or other place of worship that is dedicated to your religion, you can expect the clergy there to react favorably toward you as long as you are not on bad terms with them. This might include reasonable discounts on spellcasting services such as healing, and they are likely to be willing to share information and resources with you if you can demonstrate that you have a need for such things. They are likely to consider aiding you when you are in need as an act of devotion to their religion.

Fleshing Things Out

Some questions to consider when determining how this background applies to your character: Which faith do you belong to? How did you come to belong to that religion?

What methods do you prefer to use to accomplish your mission of spreading your faith? How do you relate to others of your faith? How do you feel about your missionary work?

You should also consider what caused you to take up the role of an adventurer. Were you a missionary first, and that path led you into an interesting situation, which in turn led you to a life of adventure? If so, what was that situation, and what sort of adventure did you find yourself in? Or were you an adventurer who only incidentally discovered fulfillment in the life of a missionary? In that case, what led you to your faith, and more specifically, what led you to serve as an active bearer of your faith’s message?

d8 Personality Trait
1 I speak boldly for all to hear.
2 I never let myself get intoxicated.
3 A journey is its own adventure, regardless of where it leads.
4 I like to discuss an issue at length before making any decisions.
5 Money represents resources, and resources are important to everyone. Don’t squander what you have.
6 I’m not afraid of what happens after people die.
7 I enjoy meeting new people and seeing new places.
8 I don’t mind sleeping under the stars if necessary.
d6 Ideal
1 Choice. People are free to choose what to believe; I simply give them one more option. (Chaotic)
2 Dogma. There is only one true path to enlightenment. (Law)
3 Logic. It isn’t important that you believe, merely that you understand why you should. (Neutral)
4 Benevolence. More than anything, what is important is that people believe in spreading the word of being good to one another. (Good)
5 Dominance. More than anything, what is important is that I come out on top. (Evil)
6 Education. People must be taught so that they can understand the truth I bring. (Any)
d6 Bond
1 Spreading the message I carry as far as I can is my most important priority.
2 If only the people of my homeland understood the truth I’ve learned, they might welcome me back.
3 After I left it, the temple I come from was destroyed by heretics.
4 I was sent to walk the path of the missionary to atone for a sin I committed.
5 I joined this religion because I didn’t know what else to do with myself, but surprisingly, I found purpose in spreading the word.
6 I want everyone to speak my name with pride as they would any hero and legend of the faith.
d6 Flaw
1 I believe that there are none more devout than me; others are merely pretenders.
2 I am quick to anger and have a fiery temper.
3 I have no confidence in my own abilities.
4 I don’t really know when to keep my mouth shut.
5 I wear my heart on my sleeve.
6 I insult people (subtly or not) to feel better about myself.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

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

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