Your character and the party have discovered a treasure containing the following items. After drawing lots, you get first pick; which one item do you choose for your personal use?
Chain armor of lightness: does not encumber any more than street clothing, needs no training to wear but does inhibit spell-casting when worn.
Glyph-cloth: allows a spell caster to embroider a spell onto it, and that caster can then cast the spell from the cloth instantaneously.
Rune-glass: enhances one's inherent ability to determine what is on a magical scroll. A person with no inherent ability gains nothing with the glass.
Helm of warning: a steel helm that alerts the wearer of any being within 20' when worn. Cannot be worn while casting spells.
Returning dagger: when thrown up to 50', this dagger will fly back (safely) to the owner's hand.
Imagine your character has survived several years of adventuring and has come to the attention of a minor noble. That noble wishes to learn more about your early career and is paying you to write your memoirs. Which of the following narratives best describes your character?
When I first started adventuring, I had no idea how perilous it would be. I had prepared in an academic sense, but book-learning proved of limited use. After a close call with death, I decided it would behoove me to choose a companion or two with care. I fell in with a trio, two of whom were quite skilled with their swords and the third an excellent archer. We quickly developed a workable system whereby I would use my powers and skills to learn all I could about a job, and when we found ourselves in battle the archer would fire at our enemies as they approached. When the enemy did engage us, the swordsmen would take them on. All the while, I would use my magic in any way I could to assist my companions. Over time, two of the others fell in combat. The remaining two of us went our separate ways, for by this time I was skilled enough that I could at times defeat an enemy long before they even had a chance to draw a weapon.
Even as a beginner, I had no trouble finding work alone. It may have been guarding a rich merchant one night, or being in a posse, but it was the little jobs that got my name known. Soon, I was guarding caravans, leading exploratory journeys, and helping raid entire camps of brigands. It was hard work, but I enjoyed it. The hardest part was facing spell-users -- you have to catch them off guard, and have plenty of men. Sure, the weaker ones fall with one arrow or an angry look -- but the more powerful ones can blast you before you get within bow-shot if they see you coming.
I began my career as a sell-sword. My teacher said she thought I may have a ``gift'' for magic, but I sure didn't when I left her. I got a variety of short jobs collecting debts, enforcing contracts, and escorting ``respectable'' people to trysts. I didn't really have a career, though, until I helped recover the stolen tax chests. That was just after I began to develop my ``gift'', though I kept that a secret for a while longer. After that, I could get work almost anywhere, and my ability to use magic has grown over the years. I'm no great spell caster, mind you, but I can do a bit to keep myself alive when a sword and armor aren't all that matter.
From each of the following pairs, choose the skill or ability your character would most likely study or use.
martial arts (unarmed combat) reading magical scrolls
ambush (lethal surprise attack) attuning to and using magical staves, which allow one to cast certain spells
weapon quick-draw herb lore
ability to strike a target behind you without turning around dodging ability, to avoid strikes aimed at your unarmored body
a spell to increase your offensive ability with a weapon a spell to protect you in combat
a spell to heal yourself or someone else a spell to divine the location of an object or person
ability to maneuver in a chain-mail shirt ability to maneuver in a soft leather jerkin
ability to train a horse magical spells that enable you to control and command a horse