Istrian Backgrounds

University Archaeologist

You are an archaeologist working for one of the major universities in Istros: the Aarseth College of Highvault, the Illya Novatsk University of Everbell, or Taureluum's Halls of Vashana.

Aarseth College Student

You are a student at Aarseth College, studying anything from mathematics to religion or even the highly selective arcana department. 

Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from Arcana, History, Nature, Religion, Animal Handling, and Medicine
Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan's tools 
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A set of common clothes, one set of artisan's tools, a pouch containing 8 gp, and 3 reference books related to your academic field.  Feature: Student Privileges As a student, you are provided with a dorm room as part of your tuition. 

Tsuthiido ŭ Brisstra Operative

(requirement: half or full shadow-elf)
You belong to the Tsuthiido ŭ Brisstra. Sworn to the service of one of the five noble shadow elf houses as a child, you were trained from a young age to protect the independence of Taureluum by whatever means necessary. Since completing your training, you have lived on the surface world, infiltrating government or criminal organizations to collect information for the security of Taureluum.

Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from Arcana, Deception, History, Persuasion, and Stealth
Tool Proficiencies: Thieves Tools or Forgery Kit
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: One set of clothes that blends in with the group you are currently infiltrating, a pouch containing 15 gp, and a Vashana's Veil.

Feature: Shadow Network You have access to the Tsuthiido ŭ Brisstra shadow network, which allows you to communicate with other members of the order over long distances. If you write a letter in special arcane ink, address it to a member of the Tsuthiido ŭ Brisstra, and cast it into a fire, the letter will burn to cinders and materialize whole again on the person of the agent you addressed it to.
The ink used to send a letter across the shadow network is the same as that used by a wizard to scribe spells in a spellbook. Writing a letter in this ink costs 10 GP per page.

Suggested Characteristics

d8	Personality Trait
1	I always have a plan for when things go wrong.
2	I am always calm, no matter the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me.
3	I hate to start fights, but I love to finish them.
4	Talk to me about yourself, I'm a hell of a listener.
5	I never accept that I'm out of my depth.
6	I always keep my word - except when I'm commanded to break it.
7	I laugh off insults and never take them personally.
8	I idolize the noble family I am sworn to and have difficulty ignoring insults against them.

d6	Ideal
1	Obligation: I owe it to my people to continue my work.
2	Legacy: I want to be remembered for my deeds long after I am dead.
3	Family: My loyalty is to my family, not my noble patrons, and I continue my work because I know their safety relies on the safety of Taureluum.
4	True Loyalty: My loyalty is to the noble family I serve and I aim to protect them over all others.
5	Spite: I hate the surface dwellers and I continue my work out of malice, rather than any sort of loyalty.
6	Opportunism: I love gold and power, and cozying up to important officials is a great way to line my pockets.

d6	Bond
1	The job is all that matters, I will see it through.
2	My orders are important, but my comrades always take first priority.
3	My loyalty to the nobles I serve is unwavering.
4	Someone I loved died because of a mistake I made. That will never happen again.
5	I deeply miss someone and am quick to adopt people who remind me of them.
6	I don't care about the house as a whole, but I would do anything for my old mentor.

d6	Flaw
1	An innocent person is in prison for a crime I committed. I'm okay with that.
2	Lying is reflexive, and sometimes I engage in it without realizing.
3	Few people know the real me.
4	Though I act charming, I feel nothing for others and don't know what friendship is.
5	I am easily distracted by the promise of information.
6	I am fixated on following official protocols.