Grinner

Source: Explorer's Guide to Wildemount (5e 2014).

Ballad of the Grinning Fool Suggested Characteristics Personality Traits Ideals Bonds Flaws The Golden Grin began in the far-off land of Tal'Dorei trading secret messages through a network of bards and minstrels to undermine an iron-fisted king's authoritarian rule. Today, Tal'Dorei is a relatively peaceful republic, and some Grinners have grown restless while waiting for tyranny to raise its ugly head again. A contingent of such Grinners traveled to the Menagerie Coast and set up a network of secret bases in the cities of the Clovis Concord, from which they are presently working their way into the highest echelons of the Dwendalian Empire. You are a Grinner. Your goals are to spread freedom and inspire hope - or, in time, revolution - in the hearts of the oppressed. Source: Explorer's Guide to Wildemount Proficiencies

Benefits

Feature	Details
Skill Proficiencies	Deception Performance
Tool Proficiencies	One type of musical instrument thieves' tools
Languages	None
Equipment	A set of fine clothes Value:15gp Weight:6lbs a disguise kit Value:25gp Weight:3lbs a musical instrument of your choice a gold-plated ring depicting a smiling face and a pouch Value:5sp Weight:1lb containing 15gp. Features Code-Songs All members of the Golden Grin have learned a handful of folk songs in their travels and use those songs to send secret codes alert fellow Grinners to danger. Choose a favorite song or roll on the Favorite Code-Songs table. d6 Favorite Code-Song 1 Zan's Comin' Back. This hopeful Tal'Dorei folk song declares the inevitable return of a just ruler. Use it to seek out potential allies. 2 Blow Fire Down the Coast. A rowdy fighting song from the Clovis Concord this ditty talks of blasting up pirate ships. Use it to encourage battle. 3 Hush! Onward Come the Dragons. This Tal'Dorei folk song recounts the terror in the days after the invasion of the red dragon called the Cinder King. Use it to encourage caution in speech deed. 4 Let the Sword Grow Rust. An antiwar anthem from Marquet this song has uncertain origins. Use it to help quell violent encounters. 5 Drink Deep Li'l Hummingbird. A drinking rondo from the Menagerie Coast this song tells the tale of a young person who drinks so heavily that they awaken to find they've stowed away on a ship. Use it to encourage alertness in social situations. 6 Dirge for the Emerald Fire. This elven song supposedly has thousands of obscure verses. Use the first two verses to spread news of death or defeat. Ballad of the Grinning Fool Like every Grinner you know how to find a hideout. In any city of 10,000 people or more on the Menagerie Coast or in the lands of the Dwendalian Empire you can play the "Ballad of the Grinning Fool" in a major tavern or inn. A member of the Golden Grin will find you give shelter to you any companions you vouch for. This shelter might be discontinued if it becomes too dangerous to hide you at the DM's discretion. This feature must be used with caution for not all who know the ballad are your friends. Some are traitors counterspies or agents of tyranny. Suggested Characteristics Grinners are trained in the art of secrecy innuendo and are skilled at hiding in plain sight by being the loudest brightest person in the room. Their skills in subterfuge combat lend themselves well to an adventuring lifestyle and traveling with mercenaries treasure hunters creates a convenient excuse to journey through lands bent under tyranny. Personality Traits d8 Personality Trait 1 I love the spotlight. Everyone look at me! 2 Give me a drink I'm your friend. 3 Talk to me about yourself. I'm a hell of a listener. 4 I hate to start fights but I love to finish them. 5 I can't sit still. 6 I'm always humming an old tune from my past. 7 When I don't have a reason to smile I'm miserable. 8 I'm lucky like you wouldn't believe. Ideals d6 Ideal 1 Revolution. Tyrants must fall no matter the cost. (Chaotic) 2 Compassion. The only way to make a better world is to perform small kindnesses. (Good) 3 Justice. A nation built upon just foundations will uphold freedom for all. (Law) 4 Expression. Music joy and laughter are the keys to freedom. (Good) 5 Self-Determination. People should be free to do as they please. (Chaotic) 6 Vigilance. A free people must be carefully taught lest they be misled. (Neutral) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I lost someone important to an agent of the Dwendalian Empire. That regime will fall. 2 The first people to be hurt by this war will be the common folk. I need to protect them. 3 Music helped me through a dark time in my life. Now I'll use music to change the world. 4 I will be known as the greatest spy who ever lived. 5 All life is precious to me. I know I can change the world without taking a humanoid life. 6 The elite in their ivory towers don't understand how we suffer. I intend to show them. Flaws d6 Flaw 1 I've never lied once in my life. What? No I'm not crossing my fingers! 2 I do everything big! Subtlety? I don't know the meaning of subtlety! Oh that's a problem? 3 Being a spy in wartime is painful. I've seen so much suffering I think I'm losing my mind. 4 I can't focus on my mission. I just want to carouse sing play! 5 Yeah that's my name. Yeah I'm a Grinner spy. Who cares about staying undercover? 6 I can't afford to trust anyone. Not. Anyone.