Background List

The Backgrounds system is generally used as per 7th Sea. Certain backgrounds have been modified and new ones added, based on the Benefices and Afflictions in Fading Suns.

Backgrounds are purchased for 1 to 3 Hero Points, and severity of the trouble the hero will get into depends on this cost. The more you pay, the more trouble you buy, but the more experience points you collect for it. If a character's Background was used as a major plot line in a story arc, the character collects twice the Background's rating in extra experience points; if the Background was used as a subplot, the character collects the Background's rating in extra experience points.

You may have a number of Backgrounds equal to your Panache.

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**Backgrounds**
Background	Description
Alien Lover	You have an alien lover, perhaps an Obun or Ukar. If this was known you would be the object of revulsion form your peers; and if the Avestites find out you are in serious trouble...
Alien Upbringing	Due to some odd series of events, you were raised by members of another race. It's almost unheard of, but it has happened…
Amnesia	You cannot remember who you are or how you got here.
Assassin	A political rival hired an assassin to kill you.
Bastard	You are the bastard child of a noble. You can still buy a title, but will receive no inheritance.
Betrothed	Your marriage has been arranged by family. You may not even know or have met the person. You are expected to follow through when the time comes.
Code of Honor	For each point spent on this, pick a rule of honor that you cannot break (you lose a drama die if you do break it).
Crisis of Faith	You used to be religious but now doubt your beliefs. Do you abandon them or return?
Cursed	You may or may not know the curse, and may or may not accept its inevitability. But something bad happens.
Dark Secret	Something about you is so horrible that you will do almost anything to cover it up.
Dead to the World	You faked your death and are forbidden to let your loved ones and friends know.
Debt	You owe money. The more points spent, the more money owed or the more intently they want to collect from you.
Defeated	You were defeated and live with that shame. You force yourself into situations like it hoping to live up to what you should have done.
Dependent	Somebody relies a great deal on you. This may be an elderly family member, a child, or an often-in-trouble friend.
Dispossessed	Someone has taken away your home and lands and you want them back. Amount spent on this indicates size/value of lands and strength of those holding them. You lose half of your monthly income to personal upkeep until this is resolved.
Escaped Serf/Slave	You are on the run from everyone. You have no ties to anyone and if you get caught, the Musters will sell you…
Exiled	You are forbidden to return home. If you go, you could be executed.
Fallen from Grace	You are ostracized by your family (nobles) or your peers (guild, Church)..
Fear	You are terrified of something. You lose a number of actions each round equal to the HP cost or must spend them defending yourself from your fear.
Hunted	Someone wants you. The more points spent, the more intently they are hunting you.
Hunting	You lost something or someone you must get back. The more points spent, the more important it is or the more dangerous it will be to recover.
Invention (Engineers only)	You invented something. You think it would improve life for people so you want to publicize it, but it may make you hunted by the Church. You struggle with this choice.
Lost Love	Your love left you for a hated enemy, who now wants to ruin you.
Lost Relative	A close relative disappeared or was kidnapped. You dedicated your life to finding them.
Lost Worlder	You are from one of the newly rediscovered Lost Worlds. You are considered a dangerous barbarian and heathen who must be silenced by the Church and most authorities.
Mistaken Identity	They are convinced you are someone you are not or that you know something you do not.
Moment of Awe	You saw something so incredible that you've dedicated your life to finding it again. A woman, Sathra, a Lost World…
Nemesis	Someone out there hates you and wants to ruin your life (not simply kill you).
Oath of Fealty	You owe an oath of fealty above and beyond your normal obligations. The object of the oath may call on your aid when s/he desires, although there is usually something you receive in return for this oath.
Obligation	You owe somebody something and must repay the favor, or have a duty you cannot avoid.
Orphaned	Separated from your family. You won't rest until you find out what happened.
Pressed into Service	You are currently serving someone unwillingly and are waiting for a chance to escape.
Ridiculed	A person in court has made a career out of ridiculing you. Points spent make him wittier and more powerful.
Rivalry	Someone else wants something you want. It may be a friend or an acquaintance, but you both want it really badly.
Romance	You have won the hand of a lover, but they need your help, assistance, time, to have rivals scared off, and so on.
Secret	You know something – it may range from blackmail on a minor noble to the location of a forgotten planet.
Traitor	You had a moment of weakness and betrayed someone. You're trying to keep this hidden, but someone may blackmail you or find out. You start with +750 Firebirds.
Treasure Map	You have a map to something great. Points spent make it better and more dangerous to acquire.
True Identity	You did something in the past you want to hide and took on a new identity. You must strive to keep that old identity hidden.
Vendetta	There is someone you hate so much you want to make them suffer, even if it hurts you on the way. And it's mutual.
Veteran of the Emperor Wars	You killed your fair share (and more) during the Emperor Wars, and are haunted by the experience.
Vow	You have made a promise you won't break, even if it costs your life.
Wanted	There is a price on your head.

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