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.

Stamina: A Swashbuckler begins play with 15 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.

Choose one of the following traits, and add it to your character. In addition, the following traits are available to your character as Apprentice-tier traits.

• Destabilizing Finisher
• Draw Them In
• Expert Weapon Training
• Fleet
• Lightning Reflexes
• Unarmed Disarm
• Unarmed Training
• Vivacious Steps

The following traits are available to your character as Journeyman-tier traits, starting at level five.

• Brutal Finisher
• Dual-Hand Finisher
• Precision Strikes
• Stunning Finisher

The following trait is available to your character as a Master-tier trait, available at level nine.

• Chained Finisher

You begin play with the following equipment:

• 100 silver coins.