To the Swashbuckler, flair is not an afterthought—it is the whole point. It's not merely about achieving victory, but about doing so with an unmistakable panache that leaves onlookers breathless. Whether dueling atop a crumbling wall, tumbling through a window with sabre in hand, or delivering a quip just as the chandelier falls, the Swashbuckler makes spectacle a signature. Grace and bravado are as vital to them as steel and wit. Anyone can fight—the Swashbuckler performs.

Raised on stories of daring heroes, or perhaps trained in courts where elegance masked danger, the Swashbuckler grew into someone for whom confidence is second nature. This background suits those who view danger as a dance and treat peril as an audience. Some come from noble houses, some from traveling performers, others from the back alleys of bustling cities where charm and agility were their best weapons. No matter their origin, all Swashbucklers share a deep belief: style is substance.

In practical terms, a Swashbuckler excels at social graces, acrobatics, and combat that prioritizes speed and precision. They are as quick with a jibe as they are with a rapier, and they thrive in high-stakes environments where risks are great and rewards greater. Others may think them reckless or vain, but the Swashbuckler knows that the world remembers those who dazzle, not those who merely survive. The spotlight isn’t just their comfort zone—it’s their battlefield.

To play a Swashbuckler is to embrace spectacle in everything you do. Your character might laugh in the face of danger, flirt with death (and with everyone else), and never miss a chance to turn a routine encounter into a memorable scene. The Swashbuckler background isn’t about arrogance—it’s about conviction: that looking good while doing the impossible is the highest form of art.

When you select this background, add seven points to your Agility score and five points to your Charisma score. In addition, you may distribute eight points among any of your other attribute scores. No single attribute may receive more than four points.

Stamina: A Swashbuckler begins play with 30 stamina, plus an amount equal to your Strength bonus.

Recovery Dice: When you select Swashbuckler as your background, you gain two ten-sided dice (2d10) as Recovery dice. This is in addition to any Recovery dice you gained due to your ancestry.

Defences: Add two training ranks to your Reflex defence.

Place one training rank in the Performance skill. Choose either Blades or Unarmed Combat, and place one training tank that the chosen skill. In addition, choose any two additional skills from the following list: Acrobatics, Athletics, Blades, Deception, Diplomacy, Insight, Intimidation, Sleight of Hand, Society, Unarmed Combat. Place one training rank in each of the selected skills.

You don't just act—you captivate. You gain the Élan and Reliable Finisher traits, detailed below.

You gain Élan by performing a daring or stylish action that impresses, surprises or entertains. When you perform any action that has the Élan property and roll a success, you gain Élan. Many of the universal Actions have the Élan property.

Élan is binary; either you have it or you do not. While you have Élan, you gain the following benefits:

• You gain a +1 bonus to your Speed;
• Your attacks inflict +1 damage per die of damage rolled;
• You gain a +1 bonus to your passive Reflex defence.

Some special actions will cause you to lose Élan. In addition, if your location becomes Uncertain, you lose Élan.

Time Required: 6 seconds.
Required: You must have Élan to select this Finisher.

You take the time to line up the perfect attack against your foe. Make a melee or unarmed weapon attack. Regardless of whether or not the attack hits or misses, the target takes 2d8 damage of the same type normally inflicted by your attack.

Once you use this Finisher, you lose Élan.

Choose one of the following traits, and add it to your character. In addition, the following traits are available to your character as Basic traits, regardless of their base class.

The following traits are available to your character as Expert traits, regardless of their base class.

You begin play with the following equipment:

• 100 silver coins.