Careers

Careers describe what a character has done to survive in Jhelum. They represent training, lived experience, habits, contacts, and the quiet skills learned through hardship.

Good Boons/Good Flaws: Each Career lists Good Boons and Good Flaws. These are not required. Consider them suggestions—traits that will shape the character.

• Good Boons are advantages often learned or earned in that career

• Good Flaws are habits, enemies, or burdens that tend to follow it

Assassin

Some men kill in battle. Assassins kill when no one is watching.

The Assassin does not fight—they *end* things.

They are trained in stalking, disguise, poison, and the patient study of victims. An Assassin learns routines, habits, fears, and weaknesses before ever striking.

In play, this career applies when:

Shadowing targets unnoticed over long periods
Disguising identity or assuming false roles
Using poison, subtle weapons, or silent kills
Studying habits, entrances, and vulnerabilities
Infiltrating guarded locations unseen

An Assassin wins before the blade is drawn.

Good Boons: Cutthroat, Many Faces

Good Flaws: Hunted, Cold-Bitten

Bandit

There are roads in Jhelum. That is why there are bandits.

The Bandit lives between civilization and wilderness.

They know how to choose ground, strike fast, and vanish before reprisal. Roads, caravans, and isolated travelers are their trade.

In play, this career applies when:

Setting ambushes or choosing terrain for attack
Intimidating travelers or extracting tribute
Moving quickly through rough terrain
Identifying valuable caravans or weak escorts
Working within loose outlaw bands

Bandits do not seek fair fights—only profitable ones.

Good Boons: War Cry, Relentless

Good Flaws: Greedy, Wanted

Beastmaster

Animals do not lie.

The Beastmaster understands creatures better than people.

They read posture, scent, and instinct. They calm, train, and command beasts—whether hunting cats, jungle apes, or great working animals.

In play, this career applies when:

Calming, handling, or directing animals
Reading animal behavior and warning signs
Training beasts for labor, war, or companionship
Tracking creatures through signs and spoor
Surviving in the wilderness alongside animals

Animals trust what men often do not.

Good Boons: Beast-Friend, Jungle Born

Good Flaws: Soft-Hearted, Superstitious

Beggar

A beggar sees everything. No one sees the beggar.

The Beggar survives beneath notice.

They know the streets, the alleys, the scraps of rumor and truth that fall between the feet of the powerful.

In play, this career applies when:

Gathering rumors, gossip, and street knowledge
Blending into crowds by being ignored
Identifying safe places, hidden routes, and dangers
Reading people through scraps of behavior
Surviving with nothing

A Beggar knows the city better than its rulers.

Good Boons: Gutter Rat, Sixth Sense

Good Flaws: Gullible, Ill-Reputed

Blacksmith

Iron remembers the hand that shapes it.

The Blacksmith shapes the tools of the world.

They understand metal, heat, and force. Weapons, armor, tools—all pass through hands like theirs.

In play, this career applies when:

Forging, repairing, or assessing weapons and armor
Judging the quality of metalwork
Using heavy tools or brute force labor
Understanding how things break—and how to fix them

A Blacksmith knows what steel can—and cannot—do.

Good Boons: Brawny, Tools of the Trade

Good Flaws: All Thumbs, Arrogant

Bodyguard

Some lives are worth more than others. Yours is not one of them.

The Bodyguard lives to keep another alive.

They read threats before they emerge, placing themselves between danger and their charge without hesitation.

In play, this career applies when:

Spotting hidden threats or ambushes
Positioning defensively in combat
Assessing danger in crowds or unfamiliar places
Managing routes, exits, and safe positions
Anticipating hostile intent

A Bodyguard’s success is measured by another’s survival.

Good Boons: Sixth Sense, Hard to Kill

Good Flaws: Honor-Bound, Hunted

Burglar

Walls, locks, and darkness are tools like any other.

The Burglar works in silence and patience.

They study homes, climb walls, slip locks, and move through shadows where others would stumble.

In play, this career applies when:

Climbing, breaking in, or bypassing barriers
Moving silently in enclosed spaces
Studying guard patterns and household routines
Identifying valuable goods in a residence
Planning careful thefts

A Burglar succeeds before anyone knows they were there.

Good Boons: Sneaky, Case the Place

Good Flaws: Wanted, Greedy

Caravan Guard

Gold moves. So do those who would take it.

The Caravan Guard lives on the road.

They endure long journeys, protect valuable cargo, and remain alert to threats that emerge without warning.

In play, this career applies when:

Keeping watch over long durations
Spotting ambushes or suspicious movement
Fighting defensively to protect others
Managing camp routines and travel security
Recognizing caravan practices and dangers

The road teaches vigilance—or kills those who lack it.

Good Boons: Sixth Sense, Hard to Kill

Good Flaws: Hunted, Reckless

Caravan Trader

Everything has a price.

The Caravan Trader moves goods across the world.

They understand value, negotiation, and the fragile web of trust that keeps trade alive.

In play, this career applies when:

Bargaining, haggling, and closing deals
Organizing cargo, routes, and supply chains
Assessing goods and pricing quickly
Navigating trade customs across regions
Managing caravan logistics

Trade is risk—and reward.

Good Boons: Bazaar Tongue, Silver Tongue

Good Flaws: Greedy, Gold Fever

City Guard

The law wears a face—and you have seen it up close.

The City Guard enforces order—such as it is.

They know criminals, streets, and the uneasy balance between authority and corruption.

In play, this career applies when:

Identifying criminal behavior or deception
Enforcing rules, laws, or authority
Patrolling and reading urban environments
Handling disturbances or interrogations
Recognizing underworld activity

A Guard knows the city’s cracks—and who lives in them.

Good Boons: Sixth Sense, Dread Presence

Good Flaws: Honor-Bound, Ill-Reputed

Courtesan

A smile opens doors steel cannot.

The Courtesan trades in charm, beauty, and perception.

They move in high circles, gathering secrets and shaping desires with subtlety.

In play, this career applies when:

Seducing, charming, or manipulating others
Performing dance, music, or refined arts
Navigating elite social settings
Extracting secrets through intimacy or conversation
Reading emotional cues

Desire is a weapon—and they wield it well.

Good Boons: Temple Dancer, Striking

Good Flaws: Lustful, Double Life

Crafter

The hand remembers what the mind forgets.

The Crafter shapes the world through skill and patience.

Whether in wood, stone, metal, or paint, they understand how things are made, how they hold together, and how they fail. Their work may be humble or exquisite, but it is always deliberate.

In play, this career applies when:

Building, repairing, or modifying objects
Recognizing quality craftsmanship or structural weakness
Working with tools, materials, and raw resources
Designing or improvising practical solutions
Appraising crafted goods or artistic work

A Crafter knows that everything made can be unmade.

Good Boons: Tools of the Trade, Artist's Eye

Good Flaws: Obsessive, Plain Spoken

Cutpurse

A crowded street is a field ripe for harvest.

The Cutpurse thrives in chaos.

They steal in motion—hands quick, presence forgotten.

In play, this career applies when:

Picking pockets or planting items
Moving unnoticed through crowds
Creating distractions
Escaping pursuit in busy environments

A Cutpurse vanishes before the loss is felt.

Good Boons: Deft Hands, Gutter Rat

Good Flaws: Wanted, Shifty

Entertainer

Crowds are as easy to read as open books.

The Entertainer lives by attention.

They command crowds, stir emotion, and shape perception through performance—song, dance, acrobatics, or spectacle. They know how to hold eyes, redirect focus, and turn a moment to their advantage.

In play, this career applies when:

Performing to captivate or influence an audience
Reading crowd mood and shifting it
Creating distractions or drawing attention
Moving gracefully or dramatically
Navigating social spaces through charm

A good Entertainer controls the room—even when they pretend not to.

Good Boons: Artist's Eye, Silver Tongue

Good Flaws: Big Mouth, Lustful

Farmer

The land gives. The land takes.

The Farmer knows the slow truths of the land.

They understand seasons, soil, animals, and the quiet labor that sustains life. Their knowledge is practical, grounded, and often overlooked.

In play, this career applies when:

Working with crops, livestock, or basic tools
Reading weather patterns or seasonal changes
Surviving in rural environments
Identifying edible plants or simple remedies
Managing physical labor over long periods

A Farmer knows how to endure—and how to make something grow.

Good Boons: Sure-Limbed, Brawny

Good Flaws: Gullible, Out of Place

Healer

Not all wounds bleed.

The Healer tends the body—and sometimes the spirit.

They know herbs, poultices, bones, and the fragile balance between life and death. Their work is slow, careful, and often thankless.

In play, this career applies when:

Treating wounds, illness, or poison
Identifying herbs and natural remedies
Stabilizing injured allies
Recognizing symptoms or causes of harm
Providing care in difficult conditions

A Healer knows that survival is rarely clean.

Good Boons: Healing Hands, Leechwise

Good Flaws: Soft-Hearted, Ruin-Shaken

Hunter

The jungle watches back.

The Hunter lives by the kill.

They track, trap, and strike prey in environments where one mistake means death. They understand terrain, silence, and patience.

In play, this career applies when:

Tracking creatures or people through wilderness
Setting traps or ambushes
Moving silently through jungle or wild terrain
Identifying animal signs and behavior
Hunting for food or survival

The Hunter knows they are never the only predator.

Good Boons: Jungle Born, Keen Eyes

Good Flaws: Soft-Hearted, Ruin-Shaken

Laborer

The world is built on backs like yours.

The Laborer endures the weight of the world.

They haul, dig, lift, and build. Their strength is earned through repetition and necessity, not glory.

In play, this career applies when:

Performing heavy physical work
Enduring exhaustion, strain, or harsh conditions
Using simple tools effectively
Understanding construction, hauling, or manual systems
Pushing through pain and fatigue

A Laborer survives by continuing when others stop.

Good Boons: Brawny, Iron Thews

Good Flaws: Delicate, Slave to the Pipe

Mahout

An elephant is trusted, not controlled.

The Mahout guides giants.

They form deep bonds with massive beasts, directing them through trust, ritual, and long familiarity.

In play, this career applies when:

Handling large animals, especially elephants
Directing beasts in travel, labor, or war
Reading animal mood and intent
Navigating terrain with animal support
Maintaining and caring for great beasts

A Mahout does not command—they are obeyed because they are trusted.

Good Boons: Beast-Friend, Dread Presence

Good Flaws: Soft-Hearted, Superstitious

Merchant

Coin is power made visible.

The Merchant understands value.

They know what things are worth—and how to make others agree.

In play, this career applies when:

Negotiating deals or prices
Assessing goods and wealth
Managing trade relationships
Recognizing scams or false value
Navigating markets and commerce

A Merchant profits where others hesitate.

Good Boons: Bazaar Tongue, Reads the Lie

Good Flaws: Greedy, Ill-Reputed

Monk

The body is a weapon. The will is the hand that wields it.

The Monk seeks mastery of self.

Through discipline, training, and philosophy, they hone body and spirit into a unified weapon.

In play, this career applies when:

Performing feats of balance, agility, or control
Enduring hardship through discipline
Applying martial techniques with precision
Resisting temptation or distraction
Interpreting spiritual teachings

The Monk’s strength is chosen—not given.

Good Boons: Monkey Grace, Inner Fire

Good Flaws: Honor-Bound, Vow-Bound

Noble

Power is learned early.

The Noble is born into authority.

They understand hierarchy, command, and the invisible rules that govern status.

In play, this career applies when:

Commanding others or asserting authority
Navigating court politics and etiquette
Recognizing lineage, titles, and alliances
Influencing through status rather than force
Accessing elite spaces

A Noble expects obedience—and is often given it.

Good Boons: High Born, Commanding Presence

Good Flaws: Arrogant, Blood Feud

Pilgrim

The road teaches what temples cannot.

The Pilgrim walks for purpose.

They travel not for profit, but for meaning—crossing lands, enduring hardship, and witnessing the world.

In play, this career applies when:

Surviving long journeys on foot
Navigating unfamiliar lands
Enduring hardship and deprivation
Recognizing holy sites or traditions
Interpreting omens or signs

A Pilgrim carries their purpose with them.

Good Boons: Hard to Kill, Sixth Sense

Good Flaws: Obsessive, Superstitious

Pirate

The river gives. The river takes. Pirates take first.

The Pirate lives by water and plunder.

They raid from boats, strike fast along riverways, and vanish into channels and reeds where others cannot follow.

In play, this career applies when:

Fighting aboard boats or unstable footing
Navigating rivers, currents, and hidden routes
Boarding, raiding, or hit-and-run tactics
Reading water conditions and hazards
Intimidating through reputation and brutality

The river is their road—and their refuge.

Good Boons: River-Born, War Cry

Good Flaws: Greedy, Reckless

Pit Fighter

The crowd wants blood. You give it to them.

The Pit Fighter survives by spectacle.

They fight not just to win—but to endure, to entertain, and to walk away alive.

In play, this career applies when:

Fighting in tight quarters with brutal efficiency
Grappling, brawling, or using improvised weapons
Reading an opponent’s movement and intent
Playing to a crowd or intimidating foes
Enduring punishment and continuing

A Pit Fighter is shaped by violence—and watched while it happens.

Good Boons: Hard to Kill, Relentless

Good Flaws: Reckless, Big Mouth

Priest

The gods are many. Not all are kind.

The Priest serves powers beyond the world.

They know rites, prayers, taboos, and the proper ways to speak to gods—or avoid their attention.

In play, this career applies when:

Performing rituals or religious ceremonies
Interpreting omens, dreams, or divine signs
Recognizing cults, sects, or heresies
Advising on spiritual matters
Navigating temple hierarchies

A Priest knows that faith is never simple—and never safe.

Good Boons: Temple-Blessed, Omen Reader

Good Flaws: Wary of Sorcery, Honor-Bound

Raider

Take what you can. Leave nothing behind.

The Raider fights as part of a warband.

They strike in numbers, overwhelm resistance, and leave devastation in their wake.

In play, this career applies when:

Fighting in coordinated group assaults
Using intimidation and shock tactics
Moving quickly through hostile terrain
Recognizing opportunities for plunder
Operating within warband structures

Raiders do not linger—they take and move on.

Good Boons: War Cry, Relentless

Good Flaws: Reckless, Blood Feud

Rogue

A quick smile, a quicker lie.

The Rogue survives by wit and charm.

They talk their way through danger, manipulate situations, and adapt faster than others can react.

In play, this career applies when:

Lying, bluffing, or fast-talking
Reading people and exploiting weaknesses
Escaping trouble through cleverness
Navigating criminal or gray-market dealings
Improvising solutions under pressure

A Rogue wins by never playing fair.

Good Boons: Silver Tongue, Many Faces

Good Flaws: Shifty, Wanted

Sailor

The river decides.

The Sailor lives at the mercy of water.

They understand currents, winds, vessels, and the dangers that lie beneath the surface.

In play, this career applies when:

Piloting or managing boats
Reading water, weather, and currents
Handling ropes, sails, and rivercraft
Surviving storms or water hazards
Navigating known and unknown routes

A Sailor respects the river—or drowns in it.

Good Boons: River-Born, Sixth Sense

Good Flaws: Landlubber, Slave to the Pipe

Scholar

Knowledge is power.

The Scholar collects and interprets knowledge.

They read, remember, and connect ideas others overlook.

In play, this career applies when:

Recalling lore, history, or obscure facts
Reading ancient texts or languages
Interpreting symbols, scripts, or records
Identifying cultural or historical context
Analyzing problems through knowledge

A Scholar sees patterns where others see noise.

Good Boons: Learned, Reads the Lie

Good Flaws: Obsessive, Wary of Sorcery

Scout

You see them before they see you.

The Scout moves ahead of danger.

They observe, report, and survive where others would be lost or killed.

In play, this career applies when:

Reconnaissance and forward observation
Moving silently through terrain
Spotting hidden threats or ambushes
Navigating wilderness or hostile areas
Reporting information quickly and accurately

A Scout survives by staying unseen.

Good Boons: Sixth Sense, Sneaky

Good Flaws: Reckless, Hunted

Scribe

Ink outlives steel.

The Scribe records the world.

They copy, preserve, and interpret written knowledge, often serving those who cannot read or write.

In play, this career applies when:

Writing, copying, or translating texts
Maintaining records or accounts
Recognizing official seals or documents
Interpreting written information
Navigating bureaucratic systems

A Scribe shapes what is remembered.

Good Boons: Learned, Reads the Lie

Good Flaws: Ill-Reputed, Wary of Sorcery

Sellsword

Loyalty is rented.

The Sellsword fights for coin.

They have served many masters, learned many ways of war, and survived them all.

In play, this career applies when:

Fighting in organized or chaotic combat
Assessing threats and tactics
Maintaining weapons and gear
Negotiating contracts or pay
Operating within military structures

A Sellsword trusts coin more than loyalty.

Good Boons: War Leader, Hard to Kill

Good Flaws: Blood Feud, Reckless

Shaman

The Shaman does not command power—they negotiate with it, speaking to spirits of tree, river, wind, and stone, and reading in sickness or misfortune the signs of something offended, hungry, or watching too closely.

Interpreting omens, dreams, and signs in the natural world
Appeasing, bargaining with, or warding off spirits
Preparing ritual brews, incense, or protective markings
Identifying places that are sacred, dangerous, or watched
Guiding others safely through the unseen rules of the Mahāraṇya

They do not wield the Secret Fire, but bargain with what is already present, their brews and smokes not mere mixtures but agreements made tangible—things asked to act, and willing, for now.

Good Boons: Sixth Sense, Spirit-Touched

Good Flaws: Superstitious, Marked

Slave

Survival is its own skill.

The Slave has lived under the will of others.

They have endured hardship, learned obedience when necessary, and observed the systems that bind people.

In play, this career applies when:

Enduring pain, hunger, or exhaustion
Understanding slave systems and hierarchies
Performing forced labor (fields, mines, hauling)
Reading masters and avoiding punishment
Recognizing opportunities to escape or resist

A Slave survives by knowing when to endure—and when to act.

Good Boons: Hard to Kill, Slippery

Good Flaws: Hunted, Obsessive

Smuggler

There is always a way around the law.

The Smuggler moves what should not be moved.

They know hidden routes, false compartments, and how to avoid attention.

In play, this career applies when:

Concealing goods or bypassing inspections
Navigating illegal trade routes
Avoiding authorities or checkpoints
Identifying black market opportunities
Transporting contraband safely

A Smuggler thrives where rules exist.

Good Boons: Gutter Rat, Sneaky

Good Flaws: Wanted, Shifty

Soldier

Orders first. Questions later.

The Soldier is trained for war.

They understand discipline, formation, and the brutal simplicity of command.

In play, this career applies when:

Fighting in organized combat
Following or issuing orders
Maintaining discipline under stress
Recognizing military tactics and structure
Operating in unit cohesion

A Soldier survives by doing what must be done.

Good Boons: War Leader, Hard to Kill

Good Flaws: Honor-Bound, Arrogant

Sorcerer

Power always has a cost.

The Sorcerer traffics in forbidden knowledge. A Sprcerer must choose a Path to follow, which gives them access to two domains of particular sorcerous effects. For example, the Curse Path gives access to the Harm and Transform domains. For more information on working sorcery, click here.

They bargain, study, and risk themselves to wield forces that should not be touched. And sorcery is never free.

In play, this career applies when:

Casting or understanding sorcery
Recognizing magical effects or rituals
Bargaining with unseen forces
Interpreting occult symbols or knowledge
Sensing unnatural presence

Note that in order to take ranks in the Sorcerer career, a character spend at least one rank in the Sorcerer's Apprentice career (that is, Apprentice 1).

Good Boons: Inner Fire, Scent of Sorcery

Good Flaws: Cursed, Fire-Touched

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Mop the floor. Seek the secrets.

The Apprentice serves power they barely understand.

They assist, observe, and learn fragments of dangerous knowledge.

In play, this career applies when:

Assisting in rituals or magical work
Recognizing basic sorcerous practices
Performing minor magical tasks
Handling strange tools and components
Surviving proximity to dangerous magic

An Apprentice knows just enough to be in danger.

Good Boons: Inner Fire, Scent of Sorcery

Good Flaws: Half-Learned Arts, Fire-Touched

Sorcerer's Apprentice 1 is required to take any ranks in the Sorcerer career.

Spy

Secrets are more valuable than gold.

The Spy gathers what others hide.

They infiltrate, observe, and extract information without being noticed.

In play, this career applies when:

Infiltrating groups or locations
Gathering and relaying information
Maintaining cover identities
Reading deception and intent
Navigating espionage networks

A Spy survives by never being known.

Good Boons: Many Faces, Sneaky

Good Flaws: Hunted, Double Life

Street Knife

In the alleys, speed matters.

The Street Knife fights where rules do not apply.

They strike fast, dirty, and without hesitation.

In play, this career applies when:

Fighting in close, chaotic environments
Using improvised or small weapons
Intimidating or dominating street-level threats
Surviving urban violence
Reacting quickly under pressure

A Street Knife wins by ending the fight first.

Good Boons: Brawler, Gutter Rat

Good Flaws: Hot-Headed, Wanted

Temple Guard

The gods have servants. You are one.

The Temple Guard protects sacred ground.

They enforce divine order and guard places others fear to enter.

In play, this career applies when:

Defending fixed locations or entrances
Recognizing sacred protocols and taboos
Identifying threats within holy spaces
Maintaining vigilance over long periods
Enforcing religious authority

A Temple Guard serves both mortal and divine masters.

Good Boons: Temple Insider, Hard to Kill

Good Flaws: Wary of Sorcery, Honor-Bound

Tempter

Everyone wants something.

The Tempter exploits desire.

They manipulate, seduce, and guide others toward choices they will regret.

In play, this career applies when:

Manipulating emotions or desires
Seducing or persuading targets
Identifying weaknesses in others
Steering decisions subtly
Creating moral compromise

A Tempter does not force—they *invite*.

Good Boons: Striking, Silver Tongue

Good Flaws: Lustful, Shifty

Tomb Robber

The dead keep their treasures well.

The Tomb Robber steals from the past.

They brave traps, curses, and forgotten places in search of wealth.

In play, this career applies when:

Exploring ruins and ancient sites
Detecting or avoiding traps
Identifying relics or valuables
Navigating underground spaces
Surviving cursed environments

The dead do not give up their treasures easily.

Good Boons: Sixth Sense, Case the Place

Good Flaws: Ruin-Shaken, Cursed

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