Swift feet, sharp wits, and unwavering determination define your past. Whether as an official messenger for nobility, a trusted runner for merchants, or a clandestine smuggler carrying secrets through enemy lines, you made your living ensuring that messages, goods, or even people reached their destinations. Your work took you across city streets, treacherous wilderness, and dangerous territories, often alone and with little but your instincts to guide you. Success meant efficiency, discretion, and, above all, reliability.
Now, whether by choice or necessity, you have moved on from this profession, but your skills remain invaluable. You understand how to navigate the world quickly and unnoticed, you know the best routes through both civilization and the wild, and you’ve learned how to assess people and situations at a glance. The question remains—what messages did you once carry? Did you flee your former life due to a dangerous delivery, a powerful employer, or a message that should never have been read?
Swift and Silent
You are accustomed to moving quickly and unnoticed. When traveling alone or in a small group (no more than six creatures), you can move at a fast pace without suffering the usual penalty to passive Perception. Additionally, when delivering a message or package, you can usually find a contact who will provide you safe lodging or a fresh mount in areas where couriers are respected.
Suggested Characteristics
Couriers are resourceful and independent, accustomed to thinking on their feet. Many take pride in their reliability, but some see their profession as nothing more than a job, willing to deliver anything for the right price. They often develop strong survival instincts, honed through years of navigating unpredictable environments. However, their experiences can make them restless, distrusting, or obsessed with speed and efficiency, even in situations that don’t require it.
Personality Traits
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|
| 1 | I talk fast, move fast, and don’t like wasting time. |
| 2 | I treat every journey like a race—I hate falling behind. |
| 3 | I keep a map in my head, always planning the fastest route. |
| 4 | I take pride in never losing a delivery, no matter the risk. |
| 5 | I’ve learned to blend in anywhere—people rarely notice me. |
| 6 | I see messages as sacred—I would never read or tamper with one. |
| 7 | I always keep my word—when I say I’ll deliver something, it gets delivered. |
| 8 | I don’t care what’s in the package, as long as I get paid. |
Ideals
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|
| 1 | Duty. A message, once entrusted to me, must always reach its destination. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Freedom. Roads, borders, and walls mean nothing—I go where I please. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Profit. I don’t care what I carry, as long as the coin is good. (Neutral) |
| 4 | Secrecy. Some messages are too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands. (Any) |
| 5 | Loyalty. The ones who trusted me once will always have my respect. (Good) |
| 6 | Deception. A good courier knows when to lie about what they know. (Evil) |
Bonds
| d6 | Bond |
|---|
| 1 | I still carry an undelivered letter or package—I must complete my final delivery. |
| 2 | Someone once saved my life on the road, and I owe them everything. |
| 3 | A dangerous group is hunting me because of a message I carried. |
| 4 | I lost someone I cared about during a delivery gone wrong—I seek justice. |
| 5 | I have an old, tattered map of a place few remember—I need to find it. |
| 6 | I was framed for smuggling contraband—now I seek to clear my name. |
Flaws
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|
| 1 | I can’t sit still—I always feel the need to move. |
| 2 | I struggle with keeping secrets that weigh on my conscience. |
| 3 | I am reckless, often taking unnecessary risks to save time. |
| 4 | I have a bad habit of taking on jobs before I fully understand them. |
| 5 | I left someone behind during a delivery gone wrong, and I regret it. |
| 6 | I owe a powerful criminal or noble a great debt, and they won’t let me forget it. |
Comments