PA - Merc Background (d8)

1

BRUTE

You’ve survived just by being one of the strongest fuckers around. Big, hunky, and musclebound, you’ve plenty of might and no hesitation about using it, whether for right or no. You might have worked as a pit fighter for the entertainment of crowds, served as a warlord’s guard, or simply took what you wanted from people weaker than you just because you could.

Brute Background: Roll on "BRUTE BACKGROUNDS"

Languages: English (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

2

DRIFTER

You’ve travelled far and wide across the Wasteland, but even after all this time, you’ve still not seen it all. You find it hard to stay in one place for long. The road always calls you back. So, you don’t put down roots and you sure as hell haven’t made any last arrangements. Of course, this could change if you meet the right people, but so far that hasn’t happened.

Drifter Background: Roll on "DRIFTER BACKGROUNDS"

Languages: English (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language"), Roll on "Languages" , Roll on "Languages"

3

FACE

There’s something about you that other people like. You might have a trusting face, a quick wit, or a magnetic personality. Who the fuck knows?! The main thing is that you’re good at making friends and getting people to believe you, and sometimes even trust you. You can use your talent for good or you can be a real piece of shit and exploit the dumbasses too thick to see you for the charlatan narcissist you really are.

Face Background: Roll on "FACE BACKGROUNDS"

Languages: English (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language"), Roll on "Languages" , Roll on "Languages"

4

FANATIC

People might have given up their allegiances and beliefs when the world went to shit, but you still cling hard to what you think is important. You might be a religious fanatic, a patriot, or just committed to a cause you believe is greater than yourself. Whatever it is, it helps you get up every day, drives you, and gives you purpose to get shit done.

Fanatic Background: Roll on "FANATIC BACKGROUNDS"

Languages: English (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

5

GANGER
People form gangs all the time, usually held together by the leadership of a charismatic and exceptionally tough fucker. Gangs might be vicious assholes who prey on the weak or noble sorts who follow some particular code of honor like protecting the weak or some shit like that—but usually it’s the former.
Whatever the case, you found yourself in a gang and stayed with them for a while before you struck out on your own; because of this, you might have some bad blood with your old companions, in which case you’ll be spending a lot of time looking over your shoulder. Or, your gang could have fallen apart after having its ass kicked by mutants, the V Reich, or another, stronger gang. Whatever it is, you might be done with the past, but the past ain’t done with you, friendo.

Ganger Background: Roll on "GANGER BACKGROUNDS"

Languages: English (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

6

GENIUS
You’re something of an anomaly. Most of the smart folks wound up in one of the Megalopoli, but not you. Somehow you got stuck in the Wasteland along with everyone else, and with a head full of knowledge, useful or useless depending on where you are at the time. Your smarts mean you can figure out problems, remember useful details, and generally be the most brilliant asshole around.

Genius Background: Roll on "GENIUS BACKGROUNDS"

Languages: English (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language"), Roll on "Languages" , Roll on "Languages"

7

SCAVENGER

The Wasteland might seem empty and shitty—because for the most part, it is—but for those who know where to look, it holds all kinds of treasures. You’ve made a life for yourself finding usuable shit, from guns and bullets to food and meds in order to keep you and those you care about from turning into mutant wastoids. You have a knack for finding useful stuff in places others would overlook.

Scavenger Background: Roll on "SCAVENGER BACKGROUNDS"

Languages: English (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

8

SURVIVOR

It ain’t easy living in the Wasteland, but somehow you always manage. You’ve found ways to deal with the hardships in this terrible world, managing to find clean water and edible food, all while avoiding the worst of the shit the Wasteland could throw at you. You can draw on your experiences to help you and your companions stay alive.

Survivor Background: Roll on "SURVIVOR BACKGROUNDS"

Languages: English (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

1

You strangled someone with your bare hands, who may or may not have deserved it. This made you unwelcome in your home community, forcing you to move on to find somewhere else to live.

2

A mad scientist captured you and pumped you full of steroids. You got bigger and stronger, but now you have a hair-trigger temper and seriously nasty acne.

3

You roughed up the locals to get what you wanted. Eventually, they brought in a couple of mercs tougher than you to take you out. You ran for your life and have been on the go ever since. Someday you’re going back to that shithole to get payback.

4

You can’t always gauge your own strength. The last time you got in a nasty fight, you hit someone so hard they never got up again. When the locals started hunting for a rope to string you up, that was your cue to leave.

5

You served as a guard for a powerful warlord. After saving that asshole’s life from an assassin, he gave you your freedom. As soon as you left to seek your own fortune, he had you ambushed outside of town, and you were left for dead.

6

You protected a community for many years, using your brawn to beat down the raiders and gangers who troubled them. Eventually, someone stronger than you came along and picked a fight. You survived, but your community didn’t. You’ve been hunting those fuckers down ever since.

1

You move around a lot because someone always winds up dead when you stay put for too long, usually because of you. You’ve got a lot of blood on your hands, whether justified or not.

2

Some truly rotten shitbirds murdered your spouse and child. After you killed them all, you started wandering the world to fill the emptiness inside you.

3

You think there’s some promised land out there somewhere, some place where the world still works. You’re hunting for it and won’t stop ‘til you find it.

4

You’re tracking down someone who needs to die. They’ve slipped away from you a few times, but you’re sure you’re getting close and will never give up the chase.

5

Slavers, gangers, or someone else kidnapped someone you loved. You’re scouring the Wasteland to find them.

6

You’re just a fucking hobo.

1

Slick, cunning, and a real piece of shit, you always knew what to say to get what you wanted. You’ve probably destroyed a lot of lives in your time.

2

You had the ear of your community leader and you counseled your friend in such a way as to improve your lot. People eventually got sick of your shit and drove you out. Tar and feathers might have been used.

3

You were the spokesperson for a nasty warlord. You worked hard to find ways to justify the fucked-up shit the monster you represented did, and you have to live with that.

4

You’ve never done an honest day’s work in your life. You always find a way to get your “friends” to do all the heavy lifting for you.

5

You understood that people looked up to you and listened to you. You tried to lead your community to do more and be better. You made some progress, but mutants eventually overran your settlement and ate all your friends after you escaped.

6

You are a gifted orator, storyteller, or performer, or you possess some other innate ability that compels you to get in front of people and hold their attention. You’re well-known in your community and people in other areas have started to hear about you too.

1

You have a personal god who talks in your head and tells you what to do. Sometimes the voice tells you to do good things and sometimes bad. You obey, because it’s FUCKING GOD talking!

2

You belonged to a weird doomsday cult who either believed aliens would save you all, or some god was going to destroy the nonbelievers, or you and the other faithful would all be whisked away to heaven. Well, that shit didn’t happen, Chief, but you believe you have some great work left to do in order to regain the favor of whatever divine authority didn’t save you.

3

All this bad shit that’s going on is just a phase. Soon, your country is gonna make a comeback, kick ass, and re-establish its rightful fucking place in the world. USA! USA! USA!

4

You hate a particular group of people—mutants, gangers, or someone else of your choice. You believe these assholes are to blame for all the shit that’s gone wrong in the world. You’d kill ‘em all if you thought you could get away with it.

5

You belong to one of the new religions that have popped up in recent years. You’re a believer and you seek to spread the good news about your faith.

6

You see injustice wherever you go. You’ve decided to commit your life to righting wrongs and protecting the innocent. The world’s gonna keep your schedule book pretty full.

1

You belonged to a nasty crew. You blazed a path of fire and death across the Wasteland until some other, better mercs finally took your crew down. You escaped, but you’ve got shit to answer for.

2

Your gang leader was a right nasty piece of shit. You followed him years until one day he went too far. You up and killed that asshole and took off before his buddies could get hold of you. You know you’re dead meat if they ever find you.

3

You were a member of good standing in your gang, but when shit went sideways you ran. You know that if they ever catch you, they’ll drag out your demise in an extremely hard and ugly way.

4

You were the leader of a small gang until some young upstart challenged you for leadership. He or she stuck you in the belly, left you for dead, and took the gang with them. You might be pissed enough about this to seek revenge.

5

Your gang tried to do the right thing when they could. They protected folks who needed protecting and never caused much trouble. One day, y’all got surprised and were wiped out by some real nasty fuckers, but you escaped.

6

You got cut off from your gang and have been searching for them ever since. You suspect they’re dead and gone, but you’ve not yet given up hope.

1

You used your genius for evil. You made a bomb, unleashed a plague, or introduced a poison into the water supply. You killed a fuck-ton of people and then decided to flee the scene. You’re mostly sure any survivors didn’t know about your role. Mostly.

2

You worked for the V Reich or a similar group, helping to create abominations for their cause. Your skills were highly valued, and they’re not happy that you left them.

3

You used your mind for selfish ends. You used and manipulated a whole bunch of people into doing what you wanted them to do. Eventually, they wised up and ran you off.

4

You want to build a doomsday weapon and use it against one of the Megalopoli. You’ve been drawing up plans in the hopes of one day getting the revenge you so desperately crave.

5

You grieve for the loss of education and intelligence in the world. You see yourself as a teacher and hope to drag the Wasteland out of its present dark age.

6

You have learned something of eminent importance to the people of the Wasteland. You might have a cure for a disease, a way to find clean water, or something else (up to you and the GM to figure out).

1

Always nosy, you discovered a secret that got a lot of people killed when it was revealed. You hope no one will figure that shit out.

2

You stole something of value from someone who really needed it. You’re pretty sure that person is dead now. Fuck ‘em.

3

You once went rooting around in an old cave and came out with a weird glowing rock. You lost it in your village. A few weeks later, everyone was dead. Oops.

4

You grew up as a warlord’s slave. You learned how to scavenge to keep yourself fed.

5

You took up with a junker band for a few months, working as a scout. You were good at wriggling into and through the tight places to get to the goods.

6

A friend was about to be hanged for theft, but you found the “stolen” goods and saved his or her life. Good job!

1

Everyone you knew and loved died horribly in an incident you’d rather forget. For whatever reason, you fled like a coward and the guilt and shame haunt you still. A reckoning’s a’coming someday, you know.

2

You once slipped into a camp and stole all their food and good shit. You figure they might have starved to death, but it was you or them, right?

3

A bunch of mutants found and captured you. They dragged you off and made you their plaything, doing things…well, best left unsaid. You finally escaped with a bitter hatred for those fuckers, and you’re gonna find every one of ‘em and make them pay.

4

You were exiled from your community after you did something bad. Despite being tossed out without any food or water, you found a way to survive.

5

You were raised out in the Wasteland by a master survivor and learned everything you needed to learn to get by. After he or she died, you set out to make your own way through the blasted lands.

6

You lived as a hermit for most of your life. When you saw a roving band of nasty gangers headed toward a nearby settlement, you helped the folk living there prepare in time for them to defend themselves. They’ve never forgotten— neither the grateful settlement nor the angry gangers— and your reputation often precedes you.

1

Japanese (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

2

Spanish (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

3

German (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

4

French (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

5

Mandarim (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

6

Russian (Roll on "Know Read and Write Language")

1-4

Speak only

5-6

Speak/Read/Write