You've spent years isolated from society for a variety of possible reasons: religious or spiritual solitude, personal tragedy, deep study, or even hidden from an enemy. The experience has made you self-reliant but also somewhat disconnected from the bustling world. Adventuring might be a necessity for you now, a way to save or protect your place of solitude, or perhaps you've realized that the world cannot be ignored forever.
Skill Proficiencies: Religion, Survival
Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism Kit
Equipment: A herbalism kit, a book or set of scrolls on a subject of your choosing, a set of common clothes, a hooded cloak, and a pouch containing 10 gp.
Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your class:
- herbalism kit
- book
- clothes, common
Feature: Hermit's Refuge
You have a secluded place where you’ve spent your years of solitude. This could be a cave, a remote library, or an abandoned structure deep in the forest. While you are in your refuge or its surrounding area, you can call upon its resources to hide, rest, or gain specific lore related to your reason for becoming a recluse.
Suggested Characteristics
Recluses may have once been part of society or have always lived on the fringes. The solitude shapes their personality and their ideals, oftentimes creating individuals with unique perspectives and abilities.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| d1 | I am slow to trust and slower to make friends. |
| d2 | I have a knack for going unnoticed, blending into the background. |
| d3 | I often get lost in my thoughts, becoming oblivious to my surroundings. |
| d4 | I am profoundly uncomfortable in crowded places. |
| d5 | I find peace and clarity in natural settings. |
| d6 | I am intensely curious and find it hard to leave a question unanswered. |
| d7 | I enjoy simple pleasures and shun extravagant living. |
| d8 | I find more wisdom in silence than in speech. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| d1 | Solitude. True understanding comes from solitary contemplation. (Any) |
| d2 | Wisdom. The answers to life's questions can't be found in books or the words of others. (Neutral) |
| d3 | Nature. The natural world is more important than all the constructs of civilization. (Neutral) |
| d4 | Balance. Life is a balance between the self and the world; one cannot ignore either. (Lawful) |
| d5 | Freedom. I must be free to find my own way in this world. (Chaotic) |
| d6 | Self-Knowledge. Knowing oneself is the first step to understanding the greater truths. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| d1 | I retreated from society after a life-altering event, and I aim to confront it. |
| d2 | My isolation gave me great insight that I must now share with the world. |
| d3 | I left behind someone important when I retreated from society, and I wonder if I should return. |
| d4 | I am the guardian of an ancient secret or relic and must protect it. |
| d5 | My refuge is under threat, and I must protect it. |
| d6 | Someone I care about has disappeared, and I must find them. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| d1 | I lack basic social skills and struggle to understand emotional cues. |
| d2 | I am highly paranoid and trust no one. |
| d3 | I am a hoarder, unable to throw anything away. |
| d4 | I hold myself and others to unrealistic, high standards. |
| d5 | I'm so obsessed with my personal theories and thoughts that I overlook obvious truths. |
| d6 | I think anyone who chooses to live in society is either a fool, corrupt, or naive. |
Credits: Game Squires