Character Generator

To create a character for Smoke & Sovereigns you have to choose a Faction, Class, Profession, Augmentation, Archetype, Backstory Prompt (optional), Quirk or Secret (optional)

You can go through the list and create your own handcrafted character, or you can leave it up to the dicegods to choose for you. Each faction has a recommended list of classes, and each class has a recommended set of professions. But isn't the fun part going outside the realm of expectation?

If you are curious about what each of the factions, classes, or professions means, click on the linked article and you'll get a more expanded description.

Pick a Faction

d4 Faction Selection

1. High Thrones: The rich and noble-blooded. Relic-wielding manipulators of law and legacy. Suggested classes: Envoy, Savant, Artisan, Tinker

2. Sliver Guilds: The well-off technocratic merchants, guildmasters, and industrial priests. Suggested classes: Merchant, Mystic, Clergy, Surgeon, Savant, Gearwright, Artisan, Envoy

3. Reavers: Scrap-armored mercenaries, outlaw engineers, and gear gladiators. Suggested classes: Gladiator, Merchant, Surgeon, Scavenger, Enforcer, Tinker, Artisan, Gearwright

4. Dwellers: Poorest faction, sewage workers, factory workers, wasteland divers. Suggested classes: Gladiator, Scavenger, Enforcer, Gearwright, Mystic

Pick a Class

d12 Class Selection

1. Artisan: Skilled craftsmen and women who specialize in various forms of manufacturing, including blacksmithing, woodworking, and textile creation. They produce essential equipment, weapons, and luxury items, often using salvaged materials from the old world.

2. Gearwright: Similar to Artisans, Gearwrights focus specifically on the design and construction of intricate machinery and automatons. They are adept at repairing and modifying steam-powered devices, ensuring that the technology of the past continues to function in the present.

3. Tinker: Tinkers are inventive problem-solvers who specialize in everything from clockwork engineering to creating gadgets and devices from scrap materials. They are known for their ability to improvise and adapt, often crafting tools that serve multiple purposes. Tinkers are invaluable for their resourcefulness and creativity in the face of scarcity.

4. Enforcer: An enforcer is dedicated to maintaining order. Enforcers are skilled law enforcement agents and investigators who operate within the complex social structures of the megacities. They are tasked with solving crimes, apprehending criminals, and ensuring the safety of the populace, often navigating the fine line between justice and the murky ethics of a society in turmoil.

5. Scavenger: Scavengers are resourceful individuals who venture into the dangerous remnants of the surface world to salvage valuable materials and artifacts. They possess survival skills and a keen eye for hidden treasures, often trading their finds for food and supplies.

6. Savant: A master of forgotten sciences, mechanical lore, and industrial philosophy and history. They see the world as one interconnected machine, flesh, metal, and society all moving in intricate synchronicity. They are known for their knowledge and ability to understand multiple truths.

7. Envoy: The Gilded Envoy represents the pinnacle of nobility, living in excess and wielding significant political power. These charismatic leaders are skilled negotiators and diplomats, adept at navigating the intricate web of alliances and rivalries among the elite. Envoys host extravagant gatherings and use their wealth to influence decisions that shape the future of the megalopolis.

8. Surgeon: These are highly trained medical professionals who provide care and healing. They possess extensive knowledge of both traditional medicine and advanced technological treatments, using their skills to ensure the health and longevity of their patrons. Noble Healers often have access to rare ingredients and technologies, allowing them to perform miraculous feats of healing.

9. Clergy: A spiritual leader who combines faith with the worship of technology and progress. They guide the populace in ethical considerations surrounding industrial advancements and serve as a moral compass in a world driven by greed and ambition. And use faith as a way to control the lower classes. High Priests often conduct rituals to bless new inventions and promote the responsible use of bio-power.

10. Mystic: Embodies the esoteric aspects of the world. Mystics are practitioners of the arcane arts, drawing upon the power of the old world to perform rituals and enchantments. They often serve as advisors, healers, and protectors, using their deep understanding of the mystical forces that govern their environment.

11. Merchant: Brokers operate on the fringes of society, dealing in information, secrets, and goods while Traders handle the legit merchantile going ons. They are skilled negotiators and manipulators, often playing rivals against each other to gain leverage. This class thrives on cunning and intelligence, making them powerful players in the political landscape of the megacity.

12. Gladiator: Gladiators are combat specialists who thrive in the brutal arenas of the wasteland. They are skilled fighters, often using a combination of weapons and mechanical enhancements to showcase their prowess in one-on-one duels or large-scale battles.

Pick a Profession

You can either choose from the recommended list of professions under each class or roll on the whole table below. And please know that if you have a profession you really want to play, but can't find it in the list? Talk to your GM. Anything is possible in the world of role-playing games after all!

4d20+1d12 All Professions

Artisan

d10 Artisan Profession

1. Inventor: A visionary creator who designs and builds fantastical devices powered by clockwork and electricity. The Inventor is responsible for crafting everything from airships to automatons, pushing the boundaries of technology.

2. Gilded Alchemist: The Gilded Alchemist blends science and magic to create potions, elixirs, and explosive concoctions. They serve the nobility by providing remedies, enhancing weaponry, and crafting luxurious items.

3. Opulent Chef: The Opulent Chef crafts exquisite meals for the elite, utilizing rare ingredients and innovative cooking techniques. They create culinary masterpieces that not only satisfy the palate but also serve as a status symbol at lavish banquets.

4. High Thrones Designer: This role involves creating stunning creations and garments that often cater to the nobility's desire for both beauty and functionality, incorporating clockwork-powered elements into their designs.

5. Sommelier: The Sommelier curates and presents rare and exquisite beverages. They possess an extensive knowledge of flavors and pairings, elevating dining experiences to new heights. Though they often work for the elite serving wine, they can be valuable in an adventuring party brewing potions and elixirs to aid survival.

6. Grand Architect: The Grand Architect designs opulent structures and estates for the nobility, blending aesthetics with advanced engineering. They envision and oversee the construction of grand homes, public buildings, and monuments that reflect the power and wealth of their patrons.

7. Junk Sculptor: The Junk Sculptor creates art and functional items from discarded materials, transforming waste into beauty. They often sell their creations in the undercity markets, providing a glimpse of hope and creativity.

8. Lightkeeper: The Lightkeeper maintains the flickering gas lamps and makeshift lighting systems in the megacity, ensuring that everyone can navigate their dark environment safely. They often work with limited resources.

9. Performer: The entertainer can bring joy in many ways; with music, clown, storytelling, or acrobatics, providing a brief escape from the harsh reality of Varnaxis. They often rely on tips and donations to survive.

10. Soulbinder: Soulbinders are mystical practitioners who bind souls or essences to objects, machines, or living beings. They wield a unique combination of old-world arcane knowledge and mechanical expertise, creating enchanted items that can enhance abilities or provide protection. Some even show signs of being psychers, though it is outlawed.

Gearwright

d6 Gearwright Profession

1. Cogsmith: Traditional smithing focuses on the crafting and forging of weapons, armor, and tools. Smiths are skilled artisans who work with metal and other materials to create functional and often beautiful items.

2. Clockwork Artificer: A master creator of clockwork-powered devices and artifacts, this Artificer designs bespoke inventions for the elite. Their creations range from ornate timepieces to steam-powered devices, each infused with unique properties.

3. Circuit Whisperer: Specialists in the maintenance and repair of technology. They have an innate ability to communicate with machines, often understanding their needs and quirks intuitively. They excel in troubleshooting and enhancing existing technology, making them sought-after allies in a world reliant on steam and cogs.

4. Scrap Armorer: A master of salvaging and repurposing materials, the Scrap Armorer crafts formidable armor and weaponry from the remnants of the old world. They specialize in creating custom gear that enhances the combat capabilities.

5. Gear Salvager: Scours the remnants of old machinery and vehicles for usable parts. They dismantle and repurpose components, providing essential supplies for inventions and repairs.

6. Outlaw Engineer: Rogue inventors who create makeshift devices and contraptions from scavenged parts. They often operate outside the law, crafting traps, explosives, and improvised weaponry.

Tinker

d6 Tinker Profession

1. Automaton Engineer: Specializing in the creation of bespoke automatons for the wealthy, this engineer designs and builds intricate mechanical companions that serve various purposes, from household assistance to entertainment.

2. Technomancer: A master of blending technology with arcane arts, the Technomancer manipulates energies to enhance machinery and create powerful artifacts. They serve as both inventor and sorcerer, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

3. Brassworks Engineer: Designs and constructs advanced machinery. They work closely with the Cogsmiths to innovate new technologies that enhance the guild’s operations.

4. Shadow Mechanic: Experts in repairing and modifying vehicles and devices in secret. They work discreetly to keep the underbelly of the megacity running, often for clients who wish to avoid the attention of authorities or rival factions.

5. Skyway Engineers: Specialists in designing and maintaining the intricate network of elevated walkways and transport systems that connect the megacities. Skyway Engineers ensure the safety and efficiency of these vital pathways, often incorporating steam-powered mechanisms for mobility.

6. Herald Mechanic: An essential profession that maintain and repair everything in the megacities, from elevators to walkways, to mechanical systems, the lighting, the power distribution system and the structural integrity of every part of the skeleton that lifts the city and its people off the surface.

Enforcer

d8 Enforcer Profession

1. Creed Investigator: A skilled detective who specializes in solving crimes and uncovering mysteries within the complex social fabric of the megalopolis. Armed with keen observational skills and a deep understanding of both human behavior and aetheric technology, these investigators navigate the shadows of society to bring justice to light. They often work closely with law enforcement, but their methods may be unconventional, relying on a mix of deduction, technology, and sometimes even a touch of the arcane.

2. Riot Arm: A heavily armored mercenary specializing in crowd control and urban warfare. They wield non-lethal and lethal weapons to maintain order in chaotic environments, often working for the highest bidder.

3. Fume Warden: Fume Wardens are guardians of the undercity, responsible for monitoring and managing the toxic fumes and pollutants that permeate the environment. They wear specialized gear to protect themselves from harmful substances and work to ensure the safety of their communities.

4. Iron Enforcer: Tasked with maintaining order within the megacity and enforcing its rules, the Iron Enforcer utilizes a combination of brute strength and mechanical enhancements to keep the peace. They are the watchmen you see on patrol throughout the city.

5. Mechanical Beastmaster: Trainers and caretakers of mechanical creatures and automatons for use as entertainment, companionship, or combat. They have a unique bond with their creations. This profession excels in modifying and enhancing their mechanical pets, ensuring they are equipped for various tasks and challenges.

6. Rogue Tactician: Specializes in devising unconventional strategies for raids and skirmishes. They analyze the battlefield and use their knowledge of terrain and enemy behavior to outsmart opponents.

7. Regulatory Inspector: Enforce laws and regulations related to trade, commerce, and public safety. They conduct inspections of businesses and markets, ensuring compliance with established standards and addressing violations.

8. Cogwarden: Specialists assigned to oversee the factories and enforce regulations around dangerous machinery and industrial zones. They carry specialized tools for disabling rogue automatons or shutting down illegal tech operations, blending technical know-how with martial enforcement. Their presence is as much about safety as it is about law.

Scavenger

d8 Scavenger Profession

1. Marsh Runner: A type of courier responsible for delivering important messages and goods between guild members and allied factions across the Surface. Utilizing vehicles or mechanical birds, they navigate the dangers of the wasteland.

2. Wasteland Diver: They venture into the toxic remnants of the surface world to salvage valuable materials and artifacts. They are adept at navigating hazardous environments and avoiding rivals. Equipped with makeshift protective gear, they brave the dangers of radiation and hostile creatures.

3. Dustwalker: Skilled survivalists who navigate the treacherous landscapes of the wasteland, often serving as guides for those who venture into the dangerous surface world and couriers between settlements. They possess extensive knowledge of the terrain, weather patterns, and local flora and fauna, making them essential for safe passage through hazardous areas.

4. Relic Hunter: An adventurous scavenger and archaeologist who specializes in uncovering ancient artifacts and lost technologies from the remnants of the old world. Equipped with a keen eye for detail and a deep knowledge of history, they navigate treacherous landscapes and forgotten ruins to retrieve valuable relics that hold both historical significance and potential power.

5. Skyship Crew: Commanding a fleet of majestic skyships, the Skyship Commodore oversees trade routes and aerial defenses. Responsibilities include crew management, navigation, and engaging in aerial skirmishes. Depending on their variant, they are experts in celestial navigation, weather patterns, and aerial combat, ensuring safe passage for passengers and cargo. Variants: Skyship Captain, Sailor, Navigator

6. Guild Cartographer: Usually on the order of the Guilds, they map the ever-shifting landscapes after the Silence, identifying resources, trade routes, and potential threats.

7. Scrap Collector: A dedicated individual who scours the remnants of the old world for valuable scrap materials. Collectors sift through debris, abandoned buildings, forgotten ruins, and junkyards to gather metal, machinery, biomaterial and other reusable resources, often trading their finds for food and supplies. They have a keen eye for valuable items hidden among the refuse.

8. Vault Rat: Skilled navigators who venture into the crumbling remains of ruins and structures on the Surface to uncover hidden treasures and lost technologies. They map out dangerous areas, identify potential hazards, and often work in teams to maximize their chances of success.

Savant

d8 Savant Profession

1. Chrono-Archivist: The Chrono-Archivist is the keeper of history in a world where the past is often forgotten. Tasked with collecting and preserving ancient texts, artifacts, and memories, they utilize memory devices to restore lost knowledge.

2. Guild Historian: The Guild Historian preserves the knowledge and lore of the Above world, documenting achievements and historic texts, and lineages of noble families. They curate archives, conduct research, and ensure that the stories (of the elite) are never forgotten.

3. Highborn Curator: Oversees vast collections of rare artifacts, art, and historical relics, preserving the cultural heritage of the post-apocalyptic world. They host exclusive exhibitions and private viewings for the nobility, ensuring that the past is celebrated and remembered.

4. Throne Scribe: These scribes are skilled writers and record-keepers who document events, transactions, and knowledge for future generations. They play a crucial role in preserving history and ensuring that important information is accurately recorded.

5. Librarian of the Lost: Curators of ancient texts and manuscripts, librarians manage valuable archives and libraries filled with forgotten or hidden knowledge. They catalog and restore valuable books, making them accessible to those seeking wisdom.

6. Gilded Archeologist: Archaeologists explore ruins and excavation sites to uncover artifacts and remnants of past societies. They analyze findings to reconstruct historical narratives and understand the cultural significance of their discoveries. There's a ranking system which determines the access an archeologist has to a site, as well as what resources they have at their disposal.

7. Lore-weaver: They weave tales that connect the past with the present, using their deep understanding of culture and tradition to educate and inspire others. Loreweavers often travel from community to community, sharing stories that highlight moral lessons, historical events, and the wisdom of ancestors. They may also document oral histories and create written records, ensuring that the collective memory of society is preserved for future generations.

8. Runesmith: A skilled scholar dedicated to deciphering the ancient runes and symbols of the Old World. With a deep understanding of the arcane and historical significance of these markings, Runesmiths possess the unique ability to recreate and even invent new runes that harness bio-energy. They meticulously study remnants of the past, translating forgotten languages and unlocking the secrets of lost technologies.

Envoy

d8 Envoy Profession

1. Mechanical Arbiter: The Mechanical Arbiter serves as a judge and mediator in disputes among the nobility. Utilizing steam-driven devices to ensure fairness, they uphold the law in a chaotic world.

2. Crown Diplomat: A master of negotiation and persuasion, a Crown Diplomat navigates the treacherous waters of broken politics and power hunger. Responsibilities include forging alliances with rival factions, managing trade agreements, and hosting lavish soirées to maintain influence. 

3. High Thrones Warlord: This formidable leader commands a legion of automatons and battle-hardened warriors. The Warlord strategizes military campaigns, oversees the construction of fortified strongholds, and ensures the loyalty of their troops.

4. Concord Guildmaster: The Concord oversees the Guilds of Varnaxis, their production lines, which is everything from intricate clockwork devices to steam-powered machinery and food. They manage skilled artisans, ensure quality control, and innovate new designs.

5. Brass Tongue: These negotiators are exceedingly skilled in brokering deals, mediating disputes, and finding common ground between conflicting parties of all classes and factions.

6. Sovereign Ambassador: They are elite envoys appointed by the highest authorities to represent their sovereigns in matters of diplomacy, negotiation, and alliance-building. They operate at the intersection of politics, protocol, and power, often entrusted with delicate missions that can shape the fate of nations or entire regions.

7. Ironclad Consul: Clad in a suit of reinforced leather and brass, the Ironclad Consul is a formidable presence in diplomatic circles. They are always prepared to negotiate terms and defend their faction’s position with authority.

8. Shadow Operative: A stealthy infiltrator and spy who uses a combination of mechanical gadgets and cloaking devices to gather intelligence. They are skilled in the art of disguise, often blending into various factions to uncover secrets and relay vital information back to their superiors.

Surgeon

d6 Surgeon Profession

1. Forager: Forages for medicinal plants and fungi that grow in the damp, dark corners of the undercity and even on the surface itself. They create remedies and potions for the black market that are often outlawed, using their knowledge of local flora. Their concoctions can be as dangerous as they are effective.

2. Brass Nurse: A disciplined caregiver trained in the last surviving medical academies. Calm under fire, they blend pre-apocalypse clinical methods with field improvisation, keeping patients alive when resources are scarce.

3. Salvage Cleric: A faith-driven healer who scours wreckage for sacred scraps of the Old World, repurposing relics into life-saving tools. Their rites of healing are part prayer, part engineering, part survivalism.

4. Rust Priest: A wandering spiritualist who believes corrosion and decay are part of life’s cycle. They heal by purging infection, guiding patients to embrace their patched-together survival as a divine blessing. Some draw power from the Old World, turning death into life.

5. Cog Surgeon: A battlefield doctor whose scalpel is as precise as a gear’s tooth. They install prosthetics, replace shattered bones with brass frames, and stitch flesh with wire when silk is in short supply. Efficiency outweighs elegance in their work.

6. Ironmender: A relentless healer who bridges the gap between surgeon and blacksmith. They rebuild broken bodies with riveted braces, articulated prosthetics, and reinforced bone plates, welding survival into their patients piece by piece.

Clergy

d6 Clergy Profession

1. Industrial Chaplain: Serves as a spiritual guide for those who worship the power of steam and machinery. They conduct rituals to bless new inventions, offer guidance on ethical engineering, and maintain the guild’s moral compass.

2. Wasteland Missionary: Journeys across desolate, dangerous territories, carrying messages of faith and hope to isolated survivors. They offer spiritual guidance, comfort, and a sense of community in a fractured world. Their presence often rekindles hope and resilience for the outcasts they happen upon.

3. High Priest/Priestess: The spiritual leader of a congregation, the High Priest or Priestess guides followers in their faith, conducts rituals, and interprets the will of the divine. They often serve as mediators between the community and the higher powers they worship.

4. Bone Oracle: Reads the future and divine will through the interpretation of bones, relics, and fragmented remains. Revered and feared, their visions guide communities through perilous decisions and warn of looming dangers.

5. Salvage Seer: Wanders the ruins, claiming to sense the echoes of the lost past embedded in discarded scraps and broken technology. They perform rituals using scavenged objects to commune with forgotten spirits or the “souls” of machines, blending spirituality with industrial decay.

6. Silent Apostle: Serves a solemn church that teaches that the Silence was a punishment from the gods for humanity’s hubris and greed. They serve as living symbols of sacrifice, bearing scars or mechanical augmentations as a testament to their devotion. Often acting as mediators or spiritual anchors, their quiet influence spreads faith and resolve without the need for speech, inspiring awe and obedience through mystery alone.

Mystic

d6 Mystic Profession

1. Old World Mystic: Practitioners of the arcane arts who draw upon the power of the Surface to perform spells and rituals. They often serve as advisors, healers, or protectors, using their knowledge to navigate the complexities of a post-apocalyptic world.

2. Pastbinder: Delves into the echoes of history, interpreting forgotten events and lost knowledge through mystical means. They study decayed texts, worn artifacts, and relic timelines, using ritualistic practices to sense the flow of time and the hidden causes behind pivotal moments.

3. Dreamwalker: They have the ability to enter and navigate the dreams of others, exploring their subconscious and offering insights or guidance. They often help individuals confront fears or unlock hidden potential.

4. Guardian of the Silence: A protector of sacred sites and ancient knowledge, the guardians use their understanding of mystical forces to defend against threats, employing both combat skills and arcane abilities to safeguard their community.

5. Rust Walker: Navigates physical reality and liminal spaces, gathering secrets unseen by others. Similar to shamans.

6. Cog Prophet: Divines the future by observing the intricate movements and alignments of clockwork mechanisms—whether ancient automatons, spinning gears, or ticking watches. They interpret the rhythmic clinks and clicks as cryptic mechanical metaphors, weaving prophetic tales from the dance of metal and motion. Followers seek their counsel to glimpse fate’s hidden gears, trusting their uncanny ability to foresee events through the language of machines.

Merchant

d6 Merchant Profession

1. Sliver Merchant: A savvy trader specializing in rare goods who navigates the treacherous market of post-apocalyptic wares. Responsibilities include sourcing unique items, negotiating deals, and maintaining a network of contacts.

2. Memory Broker: Operates at the intersection of commerce and nostalgia, specializing in the trade of memories and experiences in a world where the past is often fragmented. Utilizing advanced devices, Memory Brokers can extract, store, and sell memories, allowing clients to relive cherished moments or gain insights from the experiences of others. This profession is both revered and feared, as it raises questions about identity and the nature of memory.

3. Vaultwarden: The steadfast guardian of the guild's most precious resources and secrets, tasked with the protection and management of vast underground vaults filled with artifacts, rare technologies, and invaluable knowledge. This role requires a blend of physical prowess and intellectual acuity, as Vaultwardens must not only defend against external threats but also maintain the intricate mechanisms that secure the vaults.

4. Smuggler: Operates in the shadows, transporting contraband goods and information across the borders of the megacity. They navigate the dangers of rival factions and law enforcement to make a profit.

5. Curio Collector: Specializes in rare and unusual artifacts from the old world, including antiques, trinkets, and oddities. They often have a keen eye for valuable items and maintain a shop filled with fascinating pieces that tell stories of the past.

6. Market Dealer: Traders who specialize in everything and anything; cogs, machinery, apothecary, food, jewels, automatons, weapons, armor, you name it. They navigate the bustling markets of Varnaxis with ease, bartering with scavengers and engineers to acquire valuable resources (and intel).

Gladiator

d6 Gladiator

1. Gear Gladiator: Thrives in the brutal arenas, showcasing their combat prowess in battles against other warriors and mechanical beasts. They are skilled in various fighting styles and often use a combination of weapons and gadgets.

2. Bounty Hunter: Tracks down targets for a price, using a combination of combat skills and cunning tactics. They often work independently or as part of a Reaver crew, employing traps and gadgets to capture or eliminate their quarry.

3. Marauder: A ruthless raider who thrives on chaos and plunder, leading raids against settlements and rival factions. They are skilled in guerrilla tactics and excel at striking swiftly before disappearing into the wasteland.

4. Gearblade Duelist: A master of close-quarters combat, wielding a unique combination of blades and mechanical enhancements. They engage in one-on-one duels, showcasing their agility and skill.

5. Outlaw Saboteur: A sanctioned rogue who creates makeshift devices and contraptions from scavenged parts and excels in disrupting enemy operations. They are known for their ingenuity in crafting traps, explosives, and improvised weaponry to aid their mercenary comrades.

6. Thrones Champion: A celebrated fighter who competes in arenas, showcasing their combat prowess and entertaining crowds when not leading troops into actual battle. They often become icons of strength and skill, training younger warriors in the art of combat.

Other Professions in Varnaxis

d8 Other Professions

1. Factory Worker: Laboring in the sprawling factories of the megalopolis, Factory Workers operate machinery, assemble products, and manage the relentless pace of production. They endure long hours in hazardous conditions for meager wages.

2. Sewage Mechanic: Maintain and repair the complex network of pipes and waste systems beneath the city. They work in grim conditions, ensuring that the flow of waste is managed and that the underbelly remains functional.

3. Urban Scout: Agile and resourceful individuals who navigate the bustling streets and hidden passages of the megalopolis. They gather intelligence, scout for resources, and often serve as guides and couriers for those unfamiliar with the city’s underbelly. Urban Scouts are adept at stealth and parkour, allowing them to traverse the urban landscape with ease.

4. Underground Courier: Transports illicit goods and information between factions in the undercity. They must navigate a web of alliances and rivalries while avoiding detection.

5. Rat Catcher: Tasked with controlling the population of vermin in the underbelly, Rat Catchers use traps and cunning to eliminate pests that threaten food supplies and hygiene. They often work in teams to tackle larger infestations.

6. Town Crier: A collective noun for the tenacious journalists and reporters who digs deep to uncover hidden truths and expose corruption within the megacities.

7. Bodyguard: A skilled protector hired to ensure the safety of individuals, often high-profile clients such as politicians, merchants, or celebrities within the megacities.

8. Apothecary: A knowledgeable practitioner of herbal medicine and alchemy, specializing in the preparation and sale of potions, remedies, and healing elixirs. They possess a deep understanding of local flora and the properties of various ingredients, allowing them to create effective treatments for ailments and injuries.

Pick an Augmentation

These augmentations are only suggestions for what could have been done to you, either voluntarily, as part of your work, or by force throughout your life. Every citizen of Varnaxis has some sort of augmentation that affects their mental or physical prowess, granting temporary power or insight. It is unheard of not to have one, though it is theoretically possible. But those who don't can risk becoming outcasts, so if those individuals exist at an adult age, then they are either liars or masters of illusion.

d20 Augmentation

1. Steam-Spine Vent: Your spine vents bursts of scalding steam, searing foes or powering tools instantly.
Drawback: Overuse causes intense internal pressure, risking temporary paralysis.

2. Neural Override Module: Hack primitive technology and mechanical locks, bending tech to your will.
Drawback: Vulnerable to counter-hacking, which can cause seizures.

3. Clockwork Heart: A mechanical heart keeps you alive.
Drawback: Emotionally detached; harder to form personal bonds.

4. Living Ink Tattoos: Biomechanical tattoos shift to encode maps, oaths, or spectral whispers.
Drawback: Tattoos occasionally react uncontrollably to emotional stress or near ancient sites.

5. Syntheye Array: Optics that reveal heat, past echoes, or hidden intentions.
Drawback: Sensory overload in bright or chaotic environments.

6. Vocal Modulator: Mimic any voice or encrypt speech on the fly.
Drawback: Voice can become distorted if overused, risking suspicion.

7. Mag Claw Prosthetic: Multi-tool claw for rapid weapon disassembly and repair.
Drawback: Loud mechanical sounds can give away stealth.

8. Internal Forge Core: Melt, mold, and shape metal parts inside your body.
Drawback: Generates intense heat, risking burns or detection.

9. Bleedtech Neural Interface: Sense machines as extensions of your own flesh and blood.
Drawback: Vulnerable to mechanical feedback shocks.

10. Springloaded Legs: Enhanced legs grant powerful jumps and sprints.
Drawback: Causes joint strain and requires frequent maintenance.

11. Empathy Dampener: Masks your emotional signals, making you unreadable.
Drawback: Creates social distance; others distrust you.

12. Memory Vault: Stores vast data accessible via mental interface.
Drawback: Mental overload can cause confusion or blackout.

13. Gas Filtration Lungs: Filter toxic air, enabling survival in hazardous zones.
Drawback: Filters degrade over time and must be replaced carefully.

14. Signal Scrambler: Emits an electronic field blocking tracking and surveillance.
Drawback: Disrupts your own communication devices nearby.

15. Pulse Gauntlets: Emit short-range electromagnetic pulses that disable electronics.
Drawback: Overuse causes arm fatigue and can trigger local alarms.

16. Ocular Data Recorder: Records visual data and streams it discreetly to allies.
Drawback: Risk of data corruption or hacking.

17. Pressure Regulator Skin: Allows survival in low-pressure or vacuum-like environments briefly.
Drawback: Limited duration and requires cooldown to avoid damage.

18. Thermal Absorber: Absorbs and redistributes heat from environment or attacks.
Drawback: Excess heat must be vented periodically, creating vulnerability.

19. Neural Reflex Booster: Speeds up reaction time and reflexes drastically.
Drawback: Causes intense neural fatigue after prolonged use.

20. No Augmentation
Drawback: Risk becoming an outcast if not hidden well.

Pick an Archetype

Your archetype is the backbone of who your character is before the gears of the city start grinding them down and your campaign begins. It shapes how they think, fight, scheme, and survive, whether they’re a soot-stained idealist, a brass-hearted killer, or a haunted prophet with one eye on the past.

Rolling instead of picking forces you out of familiar territory, pushing you to inhabit lives you might never choose for yourself. In Smoke & Sovereigns, where the city sways half a mile above the poisoned wasteland, every soul is born into a role the world has beaten into them. Your archetype isn’t just a personality, it’s the mask you wear to survive, the weight you carry, and the scars you’ll collect along the way. Be bold and roll!

d20 Archetype

1. The Wounded Warrior: A battle-scarred fighter haunted by past losses, driven by redemption or vengeance.

2. The Reluctant Prophet: Sees visions or truths others ignore, burdened by knowledge they cannot escape.

3. The Rogue Scholar: A rebellious thinker or inventor who challenges dogma and authority.

4. The Cold Mechanist: Emotionally distant engineer or augmentee who trusts logic over feeling.

5. The Cunning Trickster: Uses wit, deception, or guile to survive and manipulate the powerful.

6. The Forsaken Zealot: Fanatic believer, driven by a faith that blinds and empowers.

7. The Silent Sentinel: A stoic guardian who speaks little but acts decisively to protect others. Loyal to a fault.

8. The Dreamer: Idealist who believes in rebuilding a better city, often blinded to the grime beneath.

9. The Grim Inquisitor: Relentless seeker of truth and purity, often harsh and merciless.

10. The Veiled Assassin: Silent killer working in the shadows for unseen masters.

11. The Gentle Healer: Uses simple remedies and kindness, struggling to survive without the harshness around them.

12. The Lost Scion: An exile or (former) heir wrestling with legacy, identity, and the heavy expectations of a fractured world. Torn between past privilege and harsh survival.

13. The Iron Judge: Unyielding enforcer of law and order, willing to sacrifice compassion for justice.

14. The Doomed Martyr: Sacrifices themselves for a cause or belief, aware of their grim fate.

15. The Haunted Mystic: Touched by forces beyond understanding, walking a razor’s edge between sanity and madness.

16. The Defiant Survivor: Endures horrors with grit and stubborn hope, refusing to be broken.

17. The Bloodied Gladiator: Champion of brutal arenas, seeking glory or escape from a harsh fate.

18. The Mechanized Herald: Augmented messenger or envoy, carrying secrets and hidden dangers.

19. The Relic Keeper: Guardian of ancient artifacts, maps, or stories from before the Fall, obsessed with preserving them against decay, theft, or misuse. Haunted by the weight of being the last link to a forgotten truth.

20. The Shielded Noble: Protected by privilege but trapped by expectations and a fragile world.

Pick a Backstory Prompt

Your backstory should connect your character to the world of "Smoke & Sovereigns", reflecting Varnaxis shadows, secrets and struggles. Pick one prompt from the list or roll for it (or just use it for inspiration!) and think about how it influences your character's goals, fears, and relationships. Did it happen recently or a long time ago?

Backstories in a TTRPG campaign are amazing! They give you a personal stake, add depth to the world, and provide your GM with rich hooks to weave into the narrative. Good backstories balance mystery and detail, enough specifics to inspire scenes and motivations, but open-ended enough to grow during play.

d20 Backstory Prompt

1. Your bloodline was erased from official records. Why? 

2. You survived a massacre in the Undercrawl. You kept something from that day. A thing no one should own.

3. You’re haunted by dreams that may be instructions from a dead god.

4. A contract binds you to a Guild Lord whose face you’ve never seen. The seal burns when you speak their name aloud.

5. You betrayed your faction. Someone knows.

6. A dormant automaton calls you “Mother” or “Father” when no one else is near. You have not built it.

7. You are the last living speaker of a language banned after The Silence.

8. You were born from an experiment. Did you escape, or were you set loose with a purpose?

9. A weapon in your possession should not function. Yet it hums to you, speaking in a voice only you understand.

10. You were dead once. Now you’re not. Nobody can explain it. 

11. You are the last living speaker of a language banned after The Silence. 

12. You carry a relic key that every faction wants, but only you can use though you do not know where it leads. Only that it keeps returning whenever it is stolen.

13. You once fell through a crack in the city’s foundations and found a secret older than the megacity itself.

14. Your memories have gaps. Someone or something has been erasing parts of your past.

15. You owe a debt to a ruthless gang.

16. Your body harbors a slowly spreading rust disease that no healer can cure.

17. You found a forgotten elevator shaft leading to the highest point in the megacity.

18. You’re hunted by a faceless enforcer who never misses and never speaks.

19. An old clockwork bird follows you, carrying messages from an unknown sender.

20. A forgotten hymn from before The Silence haunts your mind, filling you with both power and dread.

Pick a Quirk or Secret

Quirks make your character yours. They’re the odd habits, strange fears, and secrets that set you apart from every other scavenger, envoy, or ironmender in the city. A quirk might never matter mechanically, but it always matters in the story.

Think of it as your hook into the world. A single strange habit can spark roleplay, form alliances, or get you into trouble in ways you’ll never predict. In a setting this grim and strange, a quirk is more than flavor, it’s the thread that can unravel the whole tapestry.

d12 Quirks

1. Hears clock chimes that only they can perceive.

2. Keeps a list of names in your pocket, half are crossed out.

3. Dreams of a black sun hanging over the city, and wake with soot on your hands.

4. Keeps a hidden library of pre-Silence fairytales.

5. Collects teeth from each kill.

6. Had the same recurring nightmare since childhood.

7. Carries the last letter from someone you loved, but never read.

8. Insists on tapping every doorframe three times before entering.

9. Can’t stand the sound of hissing steam, it makes you break into a cold sweat.

10. Compulsively dismantle small machines when nervous.

11. Keeps a pocketful of rusted keys, though none fit any lock you’ve seen.

12. Terrified of elevators, yet live on the upper tiers.

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Congratulations!

You’ve built your shadow in the smog.

From your faction and class to your archetype to backstory, from strange augments to the smallest nervous tic and knowing what you do each day, every day, you now have more than a sheet of numbers: you have a person who walks the rusted streets and highways of Varnaxis, breathes the poisoned air, and carries secrets like coins in their pocket.

The megacity will try to grind them down. The factions will pull them in a dozen directions. The smoke will swallow their name if they let it and the Surface will kill them the first chance it gets. But every choice you’ve made gives them the means to push back.

Now step into the streets. Listen for the gears turning. And remember—up here, nothing stays buried forever.

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Now - head over to the Skill Section to see what skill set you have to work with. Good luck!

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For the Skill & Ability Sections go here: Skill & Ability Section
For the Player Handbook go here: Handbook for Players

Examples: Dice-rolled PCs

#1

Name: Les Massler

Faction: Sliver Guilds

Class: Clergy

Current Profession (rolled on all): Guild Historian

Past Profession (rolled on Clergy table): Wasteland Missionary

Augmentation: Syntheye Array (Optics that reveal heat, past echoes, or hidden intentions.)

Archetype: The Haunted Mystic (Touched by forces beyond understanding, walking a razor’s edge between sanity and madness.)

Backstory: Your body harbors a slowly spreading rust disease that no healer can cure.

Quirk: Keeps a pocketful of rusted keys, though none fit any lock you’ve seen.

Summary: A former Wasteland Missionary who became disillusioned with their work when they discovered just how many hidden agendas and corruptions there are. When a rough encounter in an outcast community infected Les, they returned to Varnaxis in search of a cure that does not exist. Abandoning their preaching, they joined the Thornveil Library as a historian, fervently and desperately searching for an answer in hidden records. But all they keep finding are strange keys that never match the temperature of the room.

#2

Name: Sorrel Kyn

Faction: Reavers

Class: Enforcer

Profession: Regulatory Inspector

Augmentation: Living ink tattoos (contain maps, oaths, or ghosts)

Archetype: The Shielded Noble (Protected by privilege but trapped by expectations and a fragile world)

Backstory: A weapon in your possession should not function. Yet it hums to you, speaking in a voice only you understand.

Quirk: Hears clock chimes that only they can perceive.

Summary: A scarred Inspector from the Undercrawl who bears a whispering bolt-pistol scavenged from a dead Guildmaster. Born to a noble woman and a factory worker, Sorrel did not know many of the grievances and hardships the Undercrawl is known for. Until they did. Suddenly, maps inked in their skin shift in response to unknown energies, and they swear they hear the chimes of time just before death finds someone near.