Backgrounds

## Old World Life

Creating a character background is only a small fraction of your character's life. There are many circumstances that influenced your character externally that helped shape who your character is and influences how they make decisions. This guide examines just a few ideas for creating a character in this setting, anywhere in the Old World, and offering elements to add randomization to your character's life - just like how it would affect a real, living person in our world.

I encourage you to use this as a jumping off point for designing a character before getting too attached, it has both opportunities for great wealth before your adventure even begins, or tragedy that can potentially lead to better roleplay opportunities.

## Origins

### Parents

Roll separately for each of your parents on this table.

 96-99
 00

### Birthplace

If the result is 96-00, some strange event coincided with your birth or conception. This could be that your mother had a dream where she was visited by a lion wreathed in flames when she became pregnant, or that on the eve of your birth, your family's heirloom sword turned from iron to silver.

### Siblings

First, determine how many siblings you may have using the table below. Your roll will have the following modifiers applied based on your race:

* Elf, dwarf, Goodfellow: -2
* Cagot, Sasceri, Halfling: +2
* Kenku, Oliphian, Subrason: -3

Then, roll on the table below that one to determine birth order of your siblings, whether they are older, younger, or the same age as you. Finally, roll on the following tables for each sibling:

* Occupation
* Alignment
* Status
* Relationship

 3-4
 5-6
 7-8
 9-10

 3-7
 8-12

### Family and friends

Use the modifier you are given in the Family Lifestyle roll to add to your roll on the Childhood Home table. If you have an absent parent or absent parents, roll on the Fate of Absent Parent Table. Apply the results of the Childhood Memories table accordingly based on who raised you, and let that influence your Relationship.

In addition, roll for each parent or guardian on the following tables:

* Occupation
* Alignment
* Status

#### Family of origin

 02
 03-07
 07-14
 15-25
 26-65
 66-76
 77-00

#### Fate of Absent Parent

 2
 3-4
 5-6

#### Family Lifestyle

 4-5
 6-8
 9-12
 13-15
 16-17
 18

#### Childhood Home

 1-20
 21-40
 41-50
 51-70
 71-90
 91-110
 111 or higher

#### Childhood Memories

 6-7
 8-10
 11-13
 14-16
 17-18
 19 or higher

## Life Events

First, roll your character's age to find out how many important life events they have experienced on their own. Then, roll on the corresponding Life Events table to find out what events happened throughout your life to influence your standing today. Many require rolling on additional tables; do so once you have rolled all of your Life Events.

If you are a race with a lifespan exceeding 100 years on average, subtract 100 from your maximum lifespan. Then, add that number to your Current Age if your roll on this table is 50 or more.

#### Life Events

 20-29
 30-44
 45-50
 51-56
 57-73
 74-80
 81-89
 90-98
 99-00

#### Boons

 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
 10

#### Crime

 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8

#### Punishment

 3-6
 7-8
 9-12

#### Tragedies

 3
 4
 5-7
 8
 9-10
 11-12

#### War

 2-3
 4
 5-7
 8-9
 10-11
 12

## Supplemental Tables

### Alignment

 4-5
 6-8
 9-12
 13-15
 16-17
 18

### Cause of Death

 5-6
 7
 8
 9
 10
 11
 12

### Relationship

 5-10
 11-12

### Status

 4-6
 7-10
 11-12
 13-15
 16-17
 18