You've spent years buying and selling goods, haggling prices, and discerning the quality of wares. Your life as a merchant has given you a unique set of skills and a wealth of knowledge about various cultures, goods, and economies. Whether you owned a shop, were part of a mercantile guild, or were a traveling salesman, you are adept at getting the best deal and have an uncanny ability to assess the value of items. You might have turned to adventuring because of a business gone bad, a desire to discover rare and exotic goods, or maybe the simple wish to escape a life bound by the ups and downs of commerce.
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: Artisan's Tool
Languages: 1 of your choice.
Equipment: A set of artisan’s tools (one of your choice), a letter of introduction from your guild, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 25 gp.
Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your class:
- (a) any artisan's tool or (b) parchment (one sheet) or (c) clothes, traveler's
Feature: Trade Contacts
You have a reliable and trustworthy contact who acts as your liaison to a network of other merchants and traders. You know how to get messages to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you. This network can be used to gain information, deliver messages, or acquire goods, although there may be some risks involved.
Suggested Characteristics
Merchants come in all shapes and sizes, from the greedy and corrupt to the honest and fair. Your experience in the trading world has shaped your personality and beliefs.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| d1 | I never pass up a good deal. |
| d2 | My eloquence and charm are my best assets. |
| d3 | I have a joke or anecdote for every social occasion. |
| d4 | I am cautious and never take unnecessary risks. |
| d5 | I am always courteous and respectful, even to my enemies. |
| d6 | I am constantly calculating the odds of various outcomes. |
| d7 | I am highly critical of myself and others. |
| d8 | I believe that everything and everyone has a price. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| d1 | Fair Trade. Honest work and fair deals are the cornerstones of civilization. (Lawful) |
| d2 | Opportunity. Buy low, sell high. (Neutral) |
| d3 | Exploitation. Greed is good; the world is ripe for the taking. (Evil) |
| d4 | Adventure. The world has many hidden treasures, and I aim to find them. (Chaotic) |
| d5 | People. My work benefits the community, and that’s enough for me. (Good) |
| d6 | Ambition. One day, I will be at the top of the trading world. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| d1 | I owe my success to a specific person, and I will repay that debt. |
| d2 | An unscrupulous competitor ruined my business, and I seek revenge. |
| d3 | I will do anything to protect my reputation as a fair and honest merchant. |
| d4 | My family has been in the trade for generations; I can’t let them down. |
| d5 | I have a knack for finding rare items and aim to make a historic discovery. |
| d6 | A specific market or city holds special significance for me. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| d1 | I am overly fond of wealth and material possessions. |
| d2 | I am deeply in debt and will do anything to repay it. |
| d3 | I often overreach and take on more than I can manage. |
| d4 | I have a "get rich quick" mentality and take risky gambles. |
| d5 | I can be ruthlessly opportunistic. |
| d6 | I have swindled someone important, and they seek revenge. |
Credits: Game Squire