Page 45 - DnD 5e - Xanathar's Guide to Everything

What's the one form of temptation that your rogue
cha racter can't resist when the opportunity presents it-
self, even if giving into it might mean trouble for you and
your companions?

R OGUE GUI LTY PLEA SU RES
d6 Pleasure
P EOPLE FORGET THAT T H E ENTIRE POI NT OF VENTU RI NG
Large gems
down into a dusty tomb is to bring back the prizes hidden 2 A smile from a pretty face
away there. Fighting isforfools. Dead men can't spend 3 A new ring for your finger
their fortunes. 4 The chance to deflate someone's ego
- Barnabas Bladecutter 5 The finest food and drink
6 Add ing to your collection of exotic coins
When brute force won't get the job done, or when magic
isn't available or appropriate, the rogue rises to the ADVERSARY
fore. With skills tied to stealth, subterfuge, and trickery, Naturally, those who enforce the law a re bound to come
rogues can get into and out of trouble in ways that few up against those who break it, and it's the rare rogue
other characters can emulate. who isn't featured on at least one wa nted poster. Beyond
Some rogues who turn to adventuring are former that, it's in the nature of their profession that rogues
criminals who have decided that dodging monsters often come into contact with criminal elements, whether
is preferable to remaining one step ahead of the law. out of choice or necessity. Some of those people can be
Others are professional killers in search of a profitable adversaries too, and they're likely to be harder to deaJ
application of their talents between contracts. Some with than the average member of the city watch.
simply love the thrill of overcoming any challenge that If your character's backstory doesn't already include a
stands in their way. personage of this sort, you could work with your DM to
On adventures, a rogue is likely to mix a n outwardly come up with a reason why an adversary has appeared
cautious approach- few rogues enjoy combat- with a in your life. Perhaps you've been the subject of scrutiny
ravenous hunger for loot. Most of the time, in a rogue's for a while from someone who wants to use you for
mind, taking up arms against a creature is not about nefarious purposes a nd has just now become known to
killing the creature but about becoming the new owner you. S uch an incident could be the basis for an upcom-
of its treasure. ing adventure.
The following sections explore certain facets of what it Does your rogue character have an adversary who
means to be a rogue, which you can use to add depth to also happens to be a criminal? If so, how is this relation-
your character. s hip affecting your life?

GUILTY PLEASURE ADVERSARI ES
Most of what rogues do revolves around obtaining trea- d6 Adversary
s ure and preventing others from doing the same. Little The pirate captain on whose ship you once se rved;
gets in the way of attaining those goals, except that what you call moving on, the captain calls mutiny
many rogues are enticed away from that path by a com- 2 A master spy to whom you unwitt ingly fed bad
pulsion that clouds their thinking-an irresistible need
that must be satisfied, even if doing so is risky. information, which led to the assassination of the
A rogue's guilty pleasure could be the acquisition wrong target
of a physical item, something to be experienced, or a 3 The master of the local thieves' guild, who wants
way of conducting oneself at certain times. One rogue you to join the organization o r leave town
might not be able to pass up any loot made of silver, for 4 An art collector who uses illegal means to acquire
instance, even if said loot is hanging around the neck masterpieces
of a castle guard. Another one can't go through a day 5 A fence who uses you as a messenger to set up
in the city without lifting a purse or two, just to keep illicit meetings
in practice. 6 The proprietor of an illegal pit fighting arena whe re
you once took bets

CHAPTER 1 I CHARACTER OPTIONS