You were trained to guard a holy site such as a temple, sacred grove, or the location of a miracle. Unlike with a tomb guardian, your duties included making the site available for visitors, though the specifics could vary from a few important religious dignitaries to teeming throngs of unruly pilgrims. Depending on the nature of the assignment, you may have been expected to be friendly and helpful or to exude menace and authority.
How did you wind up with such an assignment? How did you feel about the site you guarded? Were you filled with reverence, or was it merely a job to you? Did you enjoy the visitors, despise them, or something between? Why did you leave?
Ability Score Increases: +1 to Wisdom and one other ability score.
Skill Proficiencies: Religion, and either Perception or Persuasion
Tools: Herbalism Kit
Language: One chosen from Celestial, Infernal, or Draconic
Suggested Equipment (Cost 7 gold): Ceremonial uniform, block of incense, club
Feature: Ecumenical Reverence. Encounters with a variety of belief systems and philosophies has taught you to treat the beliefs and practices of others in a way that shows respect. You gain an expertise die on Religion checks to show proper respect or avoid causing offense.
Adventures and Advancement: The skill set of a temple guard often makes them valuable in other security roles such as those of a bodyguard. If you take on such roles, you may eventually gain a team of 2 acolytes and 4 guards who operate under your direction.
| d10 | Connection |
|---|---|
| 1 | The kindly religious official who ran the site you guarded. |
| 2 | The stern priest who viewed the pilgrims who visited the site with contempt. |
| 3 | The suspicious inquisitor who was constantly looking for some reason to accuse you of heresy. |
| 4 | The enthusiastic pilgrim who took the time to meet everyone at the site. |
| 5 | The potential desecrator of the site who you stopped. |
| 6 | Another guard who you had a rivalry—perhaps friendly, perhaps not—with. |
| 7 | The guide who brought pilgrims to the site. |
| 8 | The young acolyte who you helped keep out of trouble. |
| 9 | The builder who helped maintain the site. |
| 10 | Your former commanding officer, now retired. |
| d10 | Memento |
|---|---|
| 1 | An additional piece of clothing such as a stole or hat that you wore on specific holy days. |
| 2 | A prayer book, well-thumbed. |
| 3 | Your letter of acceptance into the ranks of the temple guards. |
| 4 | A supposedly holy relic that was gifted to you by a mysterious pilgrim. |
| 5 | A scroll containing guard routes and passwords for the site you guarded. |
| 6 | A small, smooth stone that you used as a worry stone when things got stressful. |
| 7 | A ceremonial incense burner that you know is sturdy enough to use as a flail. |
| 8 | A meditation carpet embroidered with symbols tied to the site you guarded. |
| 9 | A blasphemous text you confiscated from a would-be desecrator. |
| 10 | A chintzy trinket sold to pilgrims to remember the site you guarded, stained with blood and resonating with a feeling of deep unease. |