Origins and traditions of the Bronze Age Mediterranean
Your background defines where you come from and what shaped you before adventure called. Each culture offers unique backgrounds with Origin Feats reflecting their traditions. Standard 2024 PHB backgrounds are also available for Greek characters.
Each background below includes an Origin Feat (a 1st-level feat granted by the background) and additional thematic benefits.
Greeks are the dominant culture. Standard 2024 backgrounds also available: Soldier, Sailor, Acolyte, Noble, Folk Hero, etc.
Itinerant Oracle
Greek
Skills: Insight, Religion Tools: One musical instrument or herbalism kit Languages: One of your choice
Origin Feat: Touched by the Gods
You wander Greece speaking prophecies, touched by divine visions that shape your path.
Cantrips Guidance and Thaumaturgy
Augury once per Long Rest without expending a spell slot
NPCs react with reverence or fear. You can discern genuine visions from madness.
Bronze Smith
Greek
Skills: Athletics, Investigation Tools: Smith's tools Languages: One of your choice
Origin Feat: Crafter (2024 PHB)
3 artisan tool proficiencies
20% faster crafting times
Artisan tools can serve as spellcasting focus
Deep metallurgy expertise. You can identify metal quality and origin, improvise repairs, and recognize iron.
Island Villager
Greek
Skills: Athletics or Animal Handling, and Survival Tools: Vehicles (water) or one artisan's tools Languages: One of your choice
Origin Feat: Tough (2024 PHB)
Hit point maximum increases by 2 times your level
Gain 2 additional hit points per level after choosing this feat
Advantage on Survival checks in coastal and island environments. You can predict weather and handle small boats.
Mystery Cult Initiate
Greek
Skills: Arcana, Religion Tools: Disguise kit or one musical instrument Languages: One of your choice
Origin Feat: Secret Wisdom
Your initiation rites opened your senses to hidden truths, connecting you to ancient mysteries.
Cantrip Thaumaturgy
Protection from Evil and Good once per Long Rest
Cult initiates provide you with shelter and aid
You belong to a secret society bound by oath and ritual.
Once the greatest civilization, the Minoan palaces fell two hundred years ago. What remains are refugees and keepers of dying traditions.
Keeper of the Old Ways
Minoan
Skills: Arcana, History Tools: Calligrapher's supplies Languages: Linear A (nearly extinct)
Origin Feat: Magic Initiate (2024 PHB)
Choose Cleric, Druid, or Wizard spell list
Learn 2 cantrips from the chosen list
Learn 1 first-level spell; cast it once per Long Rest without expending a spell slot
You can decipher Linear A script. You have advantage on checks to understand pre-Collapse items, rituals, and symbols.
Bull-Dancer
Minoan
Skills: Acrobatics, Performance Tools: One musical instrument Languages: One of your choice
Origin Feat: Athlete (2024 PHB)
Increase Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution by 1 (max 20)
Climbing speed equals walking speed
Standing from prone costs 5 feet of movement
You make running long jump from 5 feet of movement
You have advantage on Animal Handling checks with bulls. You command prestige among those who remember Minoan culture.
Labyrinth Scholar
Minoan
Skills: Investigation, Arcana Tools: Mason's tools or Cartographer's tools Languages: Linear A
Origin Feat: Maze-Mind (custom)
Cannot become lost in structures and mazes
Advantage on Investigation checks to find hidden doors and passages
Detect Magic once per Long Rest without expending a spell slot
The labyrinthine architecture of the ancient palaces is encoded in your memory and intuition.
Master sailors and merchants from the Levantine coast, Phoenicians survived the Collapse better than most with their revolutionary alphabet.
Merchant-Scribe
Phoenician
Skills: Insight, Persuasion Tools: One gaming set or musical instrument Languages: Phoenician (with alphabet) and one additional
Origin Feat: Lucky (2024 PHB)
Luck Points equal to your Proficiency Bonus
Spend a Luck Point before you roll a d20 test to gain Advantage on that roll
Regain all expended Luck Points when you finish a Long Rest
You possess alphabetic literacy, giving you advantage on forgery checks and the ability to teach others to read and write Phoenician.
Navigator-Priest
Phoenician
Skills: Nature, Religion Tools: Navigator's tools Languages: Phoenician and one additional
Origin Feat: Star-Reader and Storm-Caller (custom)
Advantage on Survival checks while at sea
Predict approaching storms with 24 hours notice
Cantrips Druidcraft and Produce Flame
Your connection to sea and sky guides you through perilous waters.
Purple-Dyer
Phoenician
Skills: Investigation, Sleight of Hand Tools: Alchemist's supplies or Poisoner's kit Languages: Phoenician and one additional
Origin Feat: Secrets of the Murex (custom)
Resistance to poison damage
Advantage on saving throws against the poisoned condition
Detect Poison and Disease once per Long Rest without expending a spell slot
Identify any substance by sight and smell within 1 minute
You guard the secrets of Tyrian purple and dangerous alchemies, knowledge worth fortunes.
The ancient kingdom endures. Their priests read stars, tend the dead, and sense something deeply wrong with the cosmic order.
Temple Astronomer
Egyptian
Skills: Arcana, Religion Tools: Navigator's tools or Calligrapher's supplies Languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs and one additional
Origin Feat: Reader of the Heavens (custom)
Predict astronomical events with Nature checks
Advantage on Arcana and Religion checks regarding cosmic forces, time, and fate
Augury once per Long Rest without components
Determine north, time of night, and latitude by reading the stars
The heavens speak to you of patterns and purpose etched into reality itself.
Ka-Priest
Egyptian
Skills: Medicine, Religion Tools: Herbalism kit or Embalmer's tools Languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs and one additional
Origin Feat: Keeper of the Ka (custom)
The sacred art of preserving the dead and honoring the soul's journey. This is sacred duty, not evil necromancy.
Learn one Cleric cantrip of your choice
Gentle Repose once per Long Rest without expending a spell slot
Speak with Dead once per Long Rest without expending a spell slot
You maintain communion with the deceased and preserve their legacy for eternity.
Pyramid Builder
Egyptian
Skills: Athletics, Investigation Tools: Mason's tools and one additional artisan's tools Languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs
Origin Feat: Sacred Geometry (custom)
Advantage on Investigation checks regarding architecture, hidden chambers, and structural weaknesses
Identify ancient building techniques and accurately determine a structure's age
Advantage on Athletics checks to escape grapples or move heavy objects
The proportions of sacred monuments flow through your understanding of space and weight.