Variant for Anthropologist and Archaeologist from “Tomb of Annihilation”
You have always been fascinated by other cultures, from the most ancient and primeval lost lands to the most modern civilizations. By studying other cultures' customs, philosophies, laws, rituals, religious beliefs, languages, and art, you have learned how tribes, empires, and all forms of society in between craft their own destinies and doom. Sometimes this knowledge comes first hand, by visiting far-flung settlements and exploring local histories and observing their customs. Other times it is discovered, buried amidst the bones, ruins, and tombs of the ancient world as you root through crumbled cities and lost dungeons, digging in search of artifacts that might tell the stories of monarchs and high priests, wars and cataclysms.
What drives you to explore and learn about the world? Is it knowledge for knowledge sake? Or do you have some sort of vested interest? Do you hope to find fame, fortune, and glory on your journey? Clearly your adventuring career is a natural progression from your previous work, but do you still think like a scholar? Cataloging and preserving? Or have you decided that a little bit of looting might just be okay for a change?
Prior to becoming an adventurer, you spent much of your young life traveling the world in search of knowledge. Perhaps this time was spent pilfering relics from old ruins, or perhaps you spent time among a foreign culture, fully immersing yourself in its ways. It is likely that, as a result of these experiences, you have developed a sentimental attachment to something you discovered or carried with you in your travels. Or perhaps there’s a culture you love deeply and have adopted as your own. Work with your DM to determine what, if anything, has come with you into your new life as an adventurer.
| Suggested Signature Item or Favored Culture | ||
| d8 | Signature Item | Favored Culture |
| 1 | 10-foot pole | Tribal Culture |
| 2 | Medallion | Elves |
| 3 | Crowbar | Aarakocra |
| 4 | Shovel | Dwarves |
| 5 | Hat | Kobolds |
| 6 | Sledgehammer | Tritons |
| 7 | Hooded lantern | Orcs |
| 8 | Whip | Extraplanar Culture |
Skill Proficiencies: History or Insight. Choose one from: History, Insight, Investigation, Perception, Religion or Survival.
Tool Proficiencies: Choose one: Calligrapher’s Supplies, Cartographer’s Tools, Navigator’s Tools, Thieves’ Tools, Land Vehicles, or Water Vehicles
Languages: Any one Language of your choice. You may also trade your Tool Proficiency pick for an additional Language of your choice.
Equipment: A leather-bound journal filled with notes; a pen and ink; a trinket of special significance; a set of Traveler’s Clothes; and a pouch with 15gp.
When you enter a ruin or dungeon, you can correctly ascertain its original purpose and determine its builders, whether those were dwarves, elves, humans, yuan-ti, or some other known race. In addition, you can determine the monetary value of art objects more than a century old.
- or -
You can communicate with humanoids who don't speak any language you know. You must observe the humanoids interacting with one another for at least 1 day, after which you learn a handful of important words, expressions, and gestures - enough to communicate on a rudimentary level.
Few adventuring scholars can resist the call to… well… adventure. Unexplored ruins, recently discovered dungeons, or new and fascinating cultures like hold tremendous allure for them. Many seek to understand how other races and civilizations survive – or determine why the did not. The deeper reasons could be for preservation or pure intellectual curiosity, but others seek out ruins and cultures in the service of fame, fortune, or recognition.
| Personality Traits | |
| d8 | Personality Trait |
| 1 | I’m a stickler for observing proper etiquette and customs. |
| 2 | I can’t pass up a good puzzle or mystery. |
| 3 | I prefer to observation and cataloging to meddling in things I don’t fully understand. |
| 4 | I’m a pack rat who never throws anything out. |
| 5 | I would risk life and limb to discover something new or unravel ancient mysteries. |
| 6 | I might fail, but I will never give up. |
| 7 | I prefer the company of my books and my research to the company of others. |
| 8 | Knowledge is powerful. But fists are also fairly useful in a pinch. |
| Ideals | |
| d6 | Ideal |
| 1 | Discovery. I want to be the first person to discover something new. (Any) |
| 2 | Understanding. By understanding other races and cultures, we learn to understand ourselves. (Neutral) |
| 3 | Death Wish. Nothing is more exhilarating than a narrow escape from the jaws of death. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Dignity. Other cultures and their belongings deserve to be treated with respect. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Preservation. That artifact belongs in a museum. (Good) |
| 6 | Greed. I won't risk my life for nothing. I expect some kind of payment. (Evil) |
| Bonds | |
| d6 | Bond |
| 1 | My mentor gave me a journal filled with lore and wisdom. Losing it would devastate me. |
| 2 | I have a friendly rival. Only one of us can be the best, and I aim to prove it's me. |
| 3 | I have a trinket that I believe is the key to solving some great, ancient mystery. |
| 4 | I hope to bring prestige to a library, a museum, or a university. |
| 5 | Having returned to modern civilization, I now long to return to the wilds where I last explored. |
| 6 | I won't sell an art object or other treasure that has historical significance or is one of a kind. |
| Flaws | |
| d6 | Flaw |
| 1 | I have a secret fear of some common wild animal - and in my work, I see them everywhere. |
| 2 | I talk to myself, and I don't make friends easily. |
| 3 | When given the choice of going left or right, I always go left. |
| 4 | I believe that I'm intellectually superior to people from other cultures and have much to teach them. |
| 5 | I’ve picked up some unpleasant habits after spending so much time roughing it out in the wilds. |
| 6 | When I'm not exploring dungeons or ruins. I get jittery and impatient. |