4. Motifs

You play an adventurer—a homeless mercenary who voluntarily delves into the depths of a mythical dungeon in hopes of treasure and glory and gods only know what else. But every adventurer in the Underworld has lived another life. Your motifs speak to the life that you lived before you became an adventurer.

A motif is a short phrase that defines a moment in your adventurer’s history. Motifs have two primary uses:

• When your adventurer has a motif that would prepare them or make them particularly qualified for a test of fate, you have favor on that test (+3 to the total).

• You can bid lore to ask the GM questions about a subject if you have a motif that is appropriate to the question you’re asking; see Lore.

A motif is made up of two parts: a descriptor and the name of a profession. To create a motif, combine two words from the lists on the following page, or create your own. An adventurer only ever has three motifs.

You should never feel locked into the choices you make about your adventurer. You may change a motif during the City Phase if you and the GM feel it’s appropriate.

Sample motif descriptors and professions