Character Options

Every trait opens on two lines, a region and a prerequisite, and the region is a place rather than a kind of character. Silencio, Bardh, Amulta, In Ikhtar, Galderia, Escaria, Taziondale, Eldamar and the Barren Lands, Mette-hina, Idir and Yovance each hold at least one, and Peredhel is named province by province: Duin, Perenhia, Rast, Vala, Laden, Yovincia. One is open to any human nation and to no other.

The choice is made once, at creation, and it settles where the character is from. Whatever else a background claims, the trait is what names the home. The rule that binds the two together is set out under Regional Traits.

The prerequisite is most often nothing. Where there is one it asks for something the character already has: a rank in a Craft, Profession or Perform skill, the bardic performance feature, proficiency with a crossbow, service in Amulta’s military, the ability to cast a spell, or an alignment. Yovance carries the sharpest of those. Freed Slave and Former Slaver are both keyed to it and both closed to good characters, and Confidante to the Oppressed, keyed to the same country, is closed to evil ones.

Most of what is on offer is a trait bonus of one or two, on something narrow enough that it comes up in a particular kind of scene and nowhere else. The rest hand over a specific thing instead: an additional language off a short list, the first five feet of rocky ground crossed without penalty, the right to forge a plus-one weapon or shield against a Craft rank where a caster level would normally be asked for.