Mercenary Veteran

As a sell-sword who fought battles for coin, you’re well acquainted with risking life and limb for a chance at a share of treasure. Now, you look forward to fighting foes and reaping even greater rewards as an adventurer. Your experience makes you familiar with the ins and outs of mercenary life, and you likely have harrowing stories of events on the battlefield. You might have served with a large outfit such as the Zhentarim or the soldiers of Mintarn, or a smaller band of sell-swords, maybe even more than one. (See the “Mercenaries of the North” sidebar for a collection of possibilities.)

Now you’re looking for something else, perhaps greater reward for the risks you take, or the freedom to choose your own activities. For whatever reason, you’re leaving behind the life of a soldier for hire, but your skills are undeniably suited for battle, so now you fight on in a different way.

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Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, vehicles (land)
Equipment: A uniform of your company (traveler’s clothes in quality), an insignia of your rank, a gaming set of your choice, and a pouch containing the remainder of your last wages (10 gp)

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Feature: Mercenary Life

You know the mercenary life as only someone who has experienced it can. You are able to identify mercenary companies by their emblems, and you know a little about any such company, including the names and reputations of its commanders and leaders, and who has hired them recently. You can find the taverns and festhalls where mercenaries abide in any area, as long as you speak the language. You can find mercenary work between adventures sufficient to maintain a comfortable lifestyle (see “Practicing a Profession” under “Downtime Activities” in chapter 8 of the Player’s Handbook).

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Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the soldier background below as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a mercenary.

Your bond could be associated with the company you traveled with previously, or with some of the comrades you served with. The ideal you embrace largely depends on your worldview and your motivation for fighting.

d8 Personality Trait

1. I’m always polite and respectful.
2. I’m haunted by memories of war. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind.
3. I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones.
4. I’m full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every combat situation.
5. I can stare down a hell hound without flinching.
6. I enjoy being strong and like breaking things.
7. I have a crude sense of humor.
8. I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success.

d6 Ideal

1. Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good)
2. Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful)
3. Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic)
4. Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins. (Evil)
5. Live and Let Live. Ideals aren’t worth killing over or going to war for. (Neutral)
6. Nation. My city, nation, or people are all that matter. (Any)

d6 Bond

1. I would still lay down my life for the people I served with.
2. Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind.
3. My honor is my life.
4. I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it.
5. Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for.
6. I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

d6 Flaw

1. The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear.
2. I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior.
3. I made a terrible mistake in battle that cost many lives, and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret.
4. My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning.
5. I obey the law, even if the law causes misery.
6. I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.