Gladiator, Variant (5e Background)
Gladiator
You're a gladiator of the colosseum; You were captured, enslaved and forced to compete in death matches.Your fighting style made you a successful gladiator or was at least good enough to keep you alive. The colosseum is in your blood now, the events that took place, the memories that you replay in your dreams and your experiences have become you. Whether by choice or not, although you are free; you'll never escape the arena.
Skill Proficiencies: Athletics and Intimidation
Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, Vehicles (land)
Languages: Any one
Equipment: Costume, a set of common clothes, a past trophy, an inexpensive but unusual weapon, such as a trident, cestus gloves or net (one of your choice) and a belt pouch containing 15 gp
Arena Types
Not all gladiators are the same. Some fight with fists while others with weapons or magic, what skills kept you alive?
| d6 | Specialization |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fight Club. You have crushed peoples skulls with your bare hands.
|
| 2 | Magic. Your knowledge of the arcane has seen the death of many mages. |
| 3 | Pit Fighter. You fought with weapons in a crowded arena that smelled of death and fear. |
| 4 | Coliseum. You fought opponents in tests of strength and honor, but there is no honor in being forced to take a life |
| 5 | Tamer. You slayed many creatures either on your own or with a team and can still hear their screams. |
| 6 | Dueler. One-on-one duels were your specialty, man and beast fell before you as tyrants watched on. |
Feature: Contacts
When in a town, you can find a venue in which to fight for money and reputation, perhaps a gladiatorial arena or secret pit fighting club. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your performance makes you something of a well known local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you. You can find fighting matches between adventures sufficient to maintain a comfortable lifestyle (see "Practicing a Profession" under "Downtime Activities" in chapter 8 of the Player's Handbook).
Suggested Characteristics
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I enjoy the power, but glory can take me away every once in a while. |
| 2 | I have a persona that I can become randomly and my costume changes me morally. |
| 3 | I only respect people if they prove themselves in the ring. |
| 4 | I can't stand the sight of an unfair fight. |
| 5 | Fighting is how I escape from reality. |
| 6 | I love the smell of fresh blood. |
| 7 | I will overdo my actions to an almost comical level. |
| 8 | I haven't actually been hit for years. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Reputation I want to be known throughout the land as the strongest. (Neutral) |
| 2 | Power I want to become the hero I pretend to be. (Any) |
| 3 | Fear I want people to tremble at the sound of my name. (Evil) |
| 4 | Hope I want to inspire others. (Good) |
| 5 | Money I'm just in it for the money. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Torture I love to see others in pain. (Evil) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My weapon has seen me through many battles, it is important to me. |
| 2 | My costume is part of me and my being. |
| 3 | I have seen countless friends die around me, many at my own hands, so I find it difficult to make new ones. |
| 4 | I am loyal to my friends as long as I respect them. |
| 5 | I feel like I am still a part of my old arena team. |
| 6 | Sometimes I cannot leave who I became in the arena. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | Violence has kept me alive for so long it's all I know. |
| 2 | I refused to be forced to fight and will only fight when where and who I choose. |
| 3 | I can't stand the sight of blood, it causes me to black out |
| 4 | I feel almost no emotion. |
| 5 | I am afraid of being enslaved to fight again. |
| 6 | Nobody can beat me and I'll destroy anybody who says otherwise. |
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