Reluctant Hero
You weren’t supposed to be here, and you still can’t grasp why you. You expected to live a quiet, comfortable life. If you had it your way, you wouldn’t be. Somewhere along the line your friends and neighbors figured out you were good at solving problems and you’ve been asked more times than you want to count. Every time you get close to your dream something always causes you to be pulled into what should be someone else’s business. Mostly because it seems nobody else will do anything about the situation and it’s going to either annoy you or you won’t be left alone until it gets fixed.
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Perception
Tool Proficiencies: Two of your choice
Equipment: One set of artisan’s tools (one of your choice), a set of common clothes, a token of gratitude from a friend or loved one, and a pouch containing 10 gp
Unchosen Path
Before you got pushed into the heroic life, you did your best to not draw attention to yourself or any talents you had. Something or someone intervened and discovered you weren’t as ordinary as you claimed. Choose or randomly roll what drove you onto this path.
| d12 | Unchosen Path |
| 1 | I couldn’t stand by and just watch someone suffer. |
| 2 | I got tired of listening to people whining. |
| 3 | I saved someone by accident. |
| 4 | When I had power, I abused it and hurt someone; I need to atone and prove my worth to them. |
| 5 | I realized the village was losing a resource and I fixed it. |
| 6 | I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, it prevented a tragedy and made me an enemy. |
| 7 | I made a promise too costly to break. |
| 8 | I was conscripted to do a job and covered for others so we wouldn’t be punished. |
| 9 | No one else wanted the job. |
| 10 | The town made me the leader because they thought I was wise. |
| 11 | I stole something from an oppressive bully and had to leave home. |
| 12 | People mistook me for someone else. |
Feature: Skepticism
Fixing other peoples’ problems large and small has taught you when someone’s trying to pawn off their work. You are now wary of people requesting aid because you know there’s better choices and the chance it’s a con job. As a result, you tend to pause long enough mulling it over that most liars give away their game believing you figured out their act. The people you help are likely to do you favors in the future.
Suggested Characteristics
Reluctant heroes come from just about any walk of life, but they all have one thing in common: they didn’t ask for this life and they’d love nothing more than to let someone else take up the duty.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
| 1 | I’m afraid people will realize I’m a fraud. |
| 2 | I realized the error of my ways and don’t want others to make the same mistakes. |
| 3 | I get angry at people who remind me of who I was. |
| 4 | When people ask me to lead, I feel uncomfortable but do my duty. |
| 5 | I’m always working. When do I get to rest? |
| 6 | I’ll let others step up before I do. |
| 7 | There’s no need to thank me if teaching you makes you go away. |
| 8 | I’ve become resigned to my fate, but I won’t be quiet about how I feel. |
| d6 | Ideal |
| 1 | Atonement. I want to be a better person. (Good) |
| 2 | Duty. I help others because it needs to be done. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Greed. Hey, turns out people willingly give me money. (Evil) |
| 4 | Freedom. Go away, please. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | People. Those I help will eventually help me. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Self-Aware. If I can find out why me, I can accept myself. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
| 1 | I want to be able to forgive myself. |
| 2 | My community needs my help. When I’m done, I can rest with the comfort of friends and family. |
| 3 | I have a home waiting for me when I finish my last quest. |
| 4 | Someday I will get to return to obscurity. |
| 5 | When I’m strong enough to defeat the villain who made me take this path, I will go back to my old occupation. |
| 6 | I owe a debt I can never repay. |
| d6 | Flaw |
| 1 | I caused the problem I fixed that led people to believe I’m a hero |
| 2 | I’d kill someone to be left alone. |
| 3 | I ran away because I refused to accept my fate. |
| 4 | I hate being the champion of other people. |
| 5 | Nothing angers me more than people who will not solve their own problems. |
| 6 | I drown myself in vices to forget I am someone’s hero. |
Variant Reluctant Hero: Antihero
Instead of being reluctant, you fully embrace your role as a hero with a mean streak. You aren’t nice and you don’t pretend to be. You just want to get this over with. If it helps others while helping you, hey that’s not a bad deal. People grudgingly accept your help even if you are gruff and insult them while fixing their problem. You might not even take the reward just to avoid further entanglements.
Rather than two tool proficiencies, you know a language of your choice likely used with seedier elements of society. Instead of artisan’s tools, you can choose another set of tools or gaming set.