Main» Character Backgrounds

The Slavic Lands campaign setting contains within it many nations, tribes, and regional cultures. It is a land of changing alliances and enmities, wars and political conflicts. Your character’s regional and cultural origin is a key factor in his background, his outlook, and the way he will be treated as he travels throughout the land.

The following countries, nationalities, tribes, and cultures are all possible choices for your character’s origin. Each cultural background has a number of attributes listed with it.

Languages: All characters in the Beyond Ragnarok campaign are assumed to know enough Russian to communicate passably, even if they are not fluent in it. A character automatically knows the languages associated with his region or culture.

Feats: At 1st level, a character may choose to select one regional feat associated with his region or culture. Regional feats cannot be taken at any level beyond 1st; you do not have to take a regional feat if you choose not to.

Classes: This list refers to character classes that may be taken by a character from that culture at 1st level. It does not restrict class choices at subsequent levels, as it is assumed that your character will be adventuring to other lands, with characters from other cultures, and will be exposed to many new experiences.

List of cultures & regions

The regions or cultural groups from which a new character can hail.

Russian

• Languages: none
• Classes: bard, cleric, fighter, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, wizard
• Feats:
  • Businessman
  • City Dweller
  • Forester
  • Luck of Heroes

Greek

• Languages: Greek
• Classes: bard, cleric, fighter, hexblade, rogue, wizard
• Feats:
  • Businessman
  • City Dweller
  • Educated

Cuman

• Languages: Cuman
• Classes: fighter, rogue, sorcerer
• Feats:
  • Military Training
  • Survivor

Polish

• Languages: Polish
• Classes: bard, cleric, fighter, ranger, rogue
• Feats:
  • Forester
  • Luck of Heroes

Varangian

• Languages: Varangian
• Classes: barbarian, bard, cleric, druid, fighter
• Feats:
  • Military Training
  • Survivor

German

• Languages: German
• Classes: cleric, fighter, hexblade, rogue, sorcerer, wizard
• Feats:
  • Disciplined

Hungarian

• Languages: Hungarian
• Classes: cleric, druid, fighter, ranger, rogue, sorcerer
• Feats:
  • Forester

Cherkess

• Languages: Cherkess
• Classes: bard, cleric, fighter, ranger, sorcerer
• Feats:
  • Arcane Schooling
  • Businessman

Mongol

• Languages: Mongol
• Classes: cleric, fighter, ranger, sorcerer, wizard
• Feats:
  • Horse Warrior
  • Military Training

Regional feats

Regional feats may only be taken at 1st character level.

Arcane Schooling [regional]

Region/Culture: Cherkess.

Benefit: Choose one arcane spellcasting class. You can activate spell trigger items as if you had one level in that class.

Businessman [regional]

Region/Culture: Cherkess, Greek, Russian.

Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on Appraise, Sense Motive, and Diplomacy checks. Additionally, pick one of those three skills. That skill is always a class skill for you.

City Dweller [regional]

Region/Culture: Greek, Russian.

Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on Bluff, Gather Information, and Sense Motive checks. Additionally, pick one of those three skills. That skill is always a class skill for you.

Disciplined [regional]

Region/Culture: German.

Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on Concentration checks and Will saves.

Educated [regional]

Region/Culture: Greek.

Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to all Knowledge checks. Additionally, pick one Knowledge skill. That skill is always a class skill for you.

Forester [regional]

Region/Culture: Hungarian, Polish, Russian.

Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot checks. When you are in forest terrain, this bonus increases to +3.

Horse Warrior [regional]

Region/Culture: Mongol.

Benefit: You can take 10 on a Ride check in any circumstance. Ride is always a class skill for you. You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls made from the back of a moving mount.

Luck Of Heroes [regional]

Region/Culture: Polish, Russian.

Benefit: You gain a +1 luck bonus on all saving throws.

Military Training [regional]

Region/Culture: Cuman, Mongol, Varangian.

Benefit: You are proficient with all martial weapons.

Survivor [regional]

Region/Culture: Cuman, Varangian.

Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on Survival checks and Fortitude saves.