Early Years
Fill these questions out to describe how the character grew up as a child and before adulthood. You can leave some questions blank if you want to discover these in game, or let the DM decide. For the questions that you answer, you can list a few bullet points or write a few paragraphs.
What was your home like growing up?
Orphanage. A lot of kids, a lot of bummers and a lot of sharing and trying to be something special.
Who else is in the home? Parents, siblings, animals or pets?
The only vivid one I remember was this girl called... Daphne? I forgot her name. But she was the loudest of the bunch and the only one really standing out between all those other sad figures. But besides that... I think a dozen kids my age? And a few others older and younger than me. Oh and the caretakers. Some changed over the years, some stayed.
Where is your home? Is it a village, a farm, a city, or something else?
An Orphanage, as I said before.
What does your family do to make money?
Ha! The orphanage got most of its money from donations. Or when we would do some handicrafts or baking and would sell those things for a few copper. When you're old enough to work you're old enough to leave the orphanage.
How religious are you and your family?
Too many kids from too many backgrounds, so the caretakers tried not to force something on us, instead we were allowed to pray for whatever we thought was good. I personally liked praying to Omerion, whenever I pranked someone or tried to, or Avalyra, whenever I felt imprisoned in there.
Tell me about a rumour you heard about the surrounding area.
As a kid, me and others believed there was a hidden treasure, buried somewhere in the backyard of the orphanage, but of course we never found anything of the sort. Other than that probably only the scary talk the adults try to impress the kids with. A hag that comes at night and eats the kids who are not asleep and so on.
Oh, but there was one about a secret noble living in the neighborhood who had to hide from assassins and the likes because another noble wanted them dead.
Tell me a rumour you heard about one of your parents.
Well, apparently one of the caretakers used to be a big warrior, that lost their power because of a greater being and tried to fill their heart with the social work they did.
Tell me about your friends. Please list at least two.
I don't work good with friends. I would rather call them "favorable acquaintances"
One of them is Mason, the merchant that took pity in me (or was it honest interest). Well, he at least taught me a lot about a traders life, and how to fight for myself. I should probably thank him, if that old man is still alive, I suppose.
The other one is called Charles Veiss. He was the appraiser from the merchants guild. He always made sure the artifacts I found and brought back were handled with the utmost care. Whenever I returned he had some wine and a meal ready, so we shared lots of evenings together, eating and drinking and talking about our respective work.
Tell me about your enemies / rivals. Please list at least two.
Gregory Abolins. My former business partner and friend. He decided to use my skills for his own gain and stole a lot of money from me and basically our shop. Too bad his parents are too influential and I am too good to spent some days in prison.
So yes, you could probably count his family as my rivals. If he is that wicked, I don't want to know how his parents are. Does he have siblings? Might be, I bet his father has some bastards running around as well.
The Maturing
Fill these questions out to describe your character and how they see and live in the world now. Again, you can leave some questions blank, or fill them out with a few paragraphs.
What kind of work are you required to do? Do you have an apprenticeship? Or education?
I would say I am a fairly good merchant. And treasure hunter. I hunt my own treasures to sell them. A great business plan, don't you think?
Tell me about your teachers/mentors/masters. How was your relationship with them?
Mason, the merchant. A bit on the bigger side, always smiling, always well dressed, and always smelled a bit like pepper. He was human, or at least looked like it, as cunning as he was greedy. Someone that inspired me to get where I am today and probably the biggest influence in my life.
What are you interested in outside of your work or studies? What are your passions or hobbies?
I got interested in perfumes lately. It seems like a really delicate process of conserving the smells and essences of things. Quite fascinating. And as is a professional curse, I love having the actual trading trends in my mind. And the easiest way to do this is by shopping and wandering the markets.
Tell me a rumour about one of your rivals.
One I did not make up myself? None, weird enough. This family is too clean, if you ask me.
Tell me about a tragedy that you experienced.
Oh, you wanna know how I found out that Gregory betrayed my trust and smuggled money from under my nose and selling the artifacts and antiques I collected for more than my cut let me believe? Yes, this. The tragedy of my life.
What are your ambitions or dreams? If you were granted a wish that had to be selfish in nature, what would you chose?
I love being rich and successful, and quite honestly, I just want to live comfortably and with a bit of luxury. And seeing Gregory not having that luxury.