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Character Backgrounds

Your character’s background is a collection of characteristics that represent the place and occupation that were most formative before your character embarked on a life of adventure.

Parts of a Background

A background includes the following parts.

Ability Scores

A background lists three of your character’s ability scores. Increase one by 2 and another one by 1, or increase all three by 1. None of these increases can raise a score above 20.

Feat

A background gives your character a specified Origin feat (described in “Feats”).

Skill Proficiencies

A background gives your character proficiency in two specified skills.

Tool Proficiency

Each background gives a character proficiency with one tool—either a specific tool or one chosen from the Artisan’s Tools category. Tools are detailed in “Equipment.”

Equipment

Each background offers a package of equipment. If you are making a customs background, choose any: pack of clothes, set of tools and 3 trinkets.

Residence

Each background describes your main place of residence, meaning you can rest at your own place here and take guests. Some background give you a place outside of Gensokyo, that you are unable to access immideately.

Background Descriptions

Spirited Away

Any creature from Outside World, also known as human world or modern world. It’s often a missing human, but sometimes, new youkai also appear, migrating from unfriendly cityscapes.

Ability Scores: Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma

Feat: Outside World Specialist

Skill Proficiencies: Choose any 2

Tool Proficiency: Choose any 1

Equipment: Modern City Clothes, Pepper spray, Tiny Knife, Smartphone (trinket), Lighter, 3 Tiny Korindou Trinkets

Residence: Outside world (no own place in Gensokyo)

Villager

A normal resident of the only safe for humans place in Gensokyo, Human village.

Ability Scores: Constitution, Wisdom, Dexterity

Feat: Alert

Skill Proficiencies: History and Animal handling

Tool proficiency: Farmer tools

Equipment: Eastern clothes, Farmer tools, Youkai-warding amulet, one Korindou trinket

Residence: Human village

Solitary

Some people living alone or in a small group outside of settlements. Only ones strong enough to protect themselves can afford living comfortably like that.

Ability Scores: Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence

Feat: Magic Initiate (Any) or Tough

Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival

Tool proficiency: Medical tools

Equipment: Western clothes, Book, Medical Tools

Residence: Any place in Gensokyo wilderness

Acolyte

Someone training in one of religious places of Gensokyo.

Ability Scores: Constitution, Wisdom, Charisma

Feat: Magic Initiate (Cleric) (see “Feats”)

Skill Proficiencies: Performance and Religion

Tool Proficiency: Calligrapher’s Supplies

Equipment: Calligrapher’s Supplies, Book (prayers), Holy Symbol, Ritual clothes

Residence: Hakurei Shrine, Moriya Shrine, Myoren Temple, or Senkai

World of Death visitor

Not many people visited here… In their life, that is. But some beings live here.

Ability Scores: Wisdom, Constitution, Charisma

Feat: Savage Attacker

Skill Proficiencies: Religion and History

Tool Proficiency: Calligrapher’s Supplies

Equipment: Calligrapher’s Supplies, any clothes, old piece of wood with someone’s deeds written on it

Residence: Netherworld (Either Hakugyokurou, Old Hell, or Hell)

Lunatic Rungate

Someone who ran away from Lunar Capital. Might be a spy sent to find other runaways, a bored Lunarian, or an ever mistreated Moon Rabbit.

Ability Scores: Intelligence, Wisdom, Dexterity

Feat: Lunar Gift

Skill Proficiencies: Magic and Religion

Tool Proficiency: Any

Equipment: Voile of anti-gravity (allows flight but is extremely recognisable), Lunar corps clothes or Eastern Clothes, Lunar Rifle (1d10 Radiance damage or 1d4 melee piercing damage)

Residence: Lunar Capital (no own place in Gensokyo)

Youkai Colony Member

Someone living in one of smaller Youkai societies

Ability Scores: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence

Feat: Skilled, Crafter or Outside World Specialist

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion

Tool Proficiency: Any Artisan’s Tools

Equipment: Artisan’s Tools

Residence: One of Youkai villages (Kappa’s Genbou Ravine, Yamawaro territories, Tengu Village, hidden Kitsune and Tanuki villages, etc.)