Backgrounds and Signs of Birth

Alignment

Law and chaos, good and evil. Kyme is a world of wild shifts in morality and attitudes. Prejudice and grudges still define the interactions between all peoples. Alignment is how you would describe a character's actions, not a dictate of actions.

The Signs of Birth

The sky of Kyme is marked by the celestial bodies of the Lighted, Kyme's source of sunlight and the red-shifted moon of Sang-Lune in the South. In the North the Shadowed, a massive darkened moon, and the blue-shifted moon of Saph-Luna. Along the Elemental Divide stars are affixed in the sky above each element marking the seasons of the world and the affinity of those born under them.

You can choose for your character a date of birth and apply the Signs of Birth bonuses. You can find the full Kyme Calendar here.

Season of Air

The Ring. +1 to History, add +1d4 to initiative rolls.

1st of Zephyr to 15th of Gale Midday

The Feather. +1 to Acrobatics, when you take the Dodge action you gain an additional 10 feet of movement until the end of your next turn.

Past Midday 15th of Gale to 30th of Draught

Season of Water

The Leviathan. +1 to Intimidation, when you complete a long rest you gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.

1st of Drop to 15th of Deluge Midday

The Mystic. +1 to Arcana, you know the detect magic spell and can cast it as a ritual.

Past Midday 15th of Deluge to 30th of Tide

Season of Fire

The Arsenal. +1 to Athletics, you gain an additional stow/draw on your turn.

1st of Spark to 15th of Inferno Midday

The Urn. +1 to Medicine, you automatically succeed on the first death saving throw you make.

Past Midday 15th of Inferno to 30th of Ember

Season of Earth

The Grove. +1 to Nature, you are able to speak in simple terms to Small or smaller beasts.

1st of Roots to 15th of Summit Midday

The Arrow. +1 to survival, you can reroll a failed check to locate a creature or object.

Past Midday 15th of Summit to 30th of Valley

Unknown

Those who know not the sign that marked their birth share a sign of the things unknown. A single shifting star that follows the Elemental Divide on its yearly watch of Kyme.

The Other. +1 to chosen skill, +1d4 to an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw once per long rest, before the DM has determined the result of the roll.

Backgrounds

Backgrounds in the world are defined often by the race and region of the character. The only universal experience in the world is that all peoples face the dangers that lurk in the darkness.

In selecting a background for a character in Kyme:

Choose a region of the world, found in Maps of Kyme subpage, where your character will be from. The surface of the world as well as the Depths have been claimed by the various races, though there are regions of the world where little to no civilization is found or that members of certain races would seldom be found.

You might also select a faction in the world as many races have deep ties or are built entirely around these factions. There are factions not listed as they have a less pronounced presence or are a clandestine element.

The following are additional thoughts on selecting a background in the setting and in some cases possible factions involved with certain backgrounds.

Acolyte

Faithful followers fall within the religious structure of the Paths or any racial deities. Cults also draw acolytes into service.

Charlatan

The grifters and schemers of the world are drawn towards the massive metropolises of the races and Arkyme, taking advantage of the passage of peoples the world over.

Criminal

The unlawful permeate the world, the syndicates of the Pale Mercantile and the Deep Mills dominate the underworlds of civilization. Though most common is a market for violence.

Entertainer

Song in the heart, a poem on the tongue, these flaunt in the face of the darkness of a world where most songs a dirge, most poetry elegiac. Though the seasonal festivals in Arkyme draw all who seek to lift the spirits of others.

Folk Hero

Those who stand against the darkness in the world and those who would enact it find themselves quickly sought as the dangers of the world never cease. The Hunter's Age takes many willing to act and protect the common folk.

Guild Artisan

The world of mercantile work extends to all peoples, The Fellowship of the Worker's Wheel find many in their midst. Yet arts shared across peoples Arkyme is the center of trade in the world.

Hermit

Dangers await those who retreat to solitude in Kyme, though great truths can be found in places left untouched by others.

Noble

The highborn of peoples are found in each and every expression of civilization across the world. Whether the heir to the smallest of viscounty or grandest of dukedoms nobility affords little outside of the lands of one's birth.

Outlander

The dangers of the wilds have tempered your will as the darkness does not dim your heart. The region in which you have wandered you carry with you into each new land.

Sage

A book in hand and ink-stained fingers are not all that mark those who seek the terrible knowledge of this world. Madness or apathy might take one's mind as they come to know the horrors that might be brought upon the world by countless threats.

Sailor

Those who embark onto the seas face grave threats, whether on the surface or in the Depths. Taking in passage all manner of people, you see more of the world than most and you have connections with many places.

Soldier

The armies of the races are where most soldiers experience their service. The various vassaldoms of the world sending able people to the Praetori of Achonus, Vithim's Stand, the Duemonti Ward, and the Stone's Reserve.

Urchin

The megalopolises of the world Dymkrag, Synstasia, Duemonte, Malanh and Arkyme teem with those who have never seen the world outside the cities. You know how to survive the dangers of the cities as others survive in the wilds.