Backgrounds

You once held a comfortable desk in the luxury sky-arcologies of Kōten or the artificial bio-domes of The Garden. Everything changed when you uncovered classified files—such as KAMI's conscious synthetic soul prototype or Hoshi Biodyne's suppressed age-reversal breakthrough. Forced to flee into the Undercity before executive strike teams silenced you, you now sell corporate secrets to survive.

Background feature

Clearance_residuals: You retain obsolete or stolen high-level access ciphers that grant you entry to lower-tier corporate facilities, research archives, or sky-line transit elevators in Kōten.

Skill proficiencies

Subtext Scan (Insight), Fixer Negotiation (Persuasion).

Starting equipment

Tailored Kōten Silk-Suit, Encrypted Data-Pad , a burner credstick with 150 Nuyen.

Tool language proficiencies

Encrypted Data-Pads , Corporate Executive Protocol.

You survived behind the blast walls and automated kill-zones of Sector 17. Whether you were a forgotten squatter or a captive test subject in Kitsune Bio-Magic's illegal essence-harvesting labs, you managed to break past Aegis Tactical border patrols and escape into the city's shadow economy.

Background feature

Bio_hazard_instinct: You automatically spot bio-contaminants, illegal genetic experimentation traps, and automated security sensors in corporate quarantine zones.

Skill proficiencies

Low-Signature (Stealth), Zone Survival (Survival).

Starting equipment

Weatherproof Tech-Wear, Bio-Chemical Synthesis Lab or Trauma Gel, a scarred biometric ID tag.

Tool language proficiencies

Alchemical & Bio-Reagent Chem-Lab , Sector 17 Mutated Slang.

You learned your trade inside the dark subway networks of The Underline. Operating alongside pirate broadcasters or hacktivist cells like The 404s, you hijack corporate advertising displays and run pirate data streams from perpetually moving metro train cars.

Background feature

Moving_node_access: You know how to patch into independent mesh networks across The Underline and can secure free transit aboard illegal subway lines.

Skill proficiencies

System Forensics (Investigation), Cyber-Arcana (Arcana).

Starting equipment

Cyberdeck Decryption Set , Kevlar Hoodie, a pocket mesh broadcaster, 120 Nuyen.

Tool proficiencies

Cyberdecks (Security Tools), Pirate Mesh Radio.

You learned field surgery in the subterranean alleys of Yoru Market. Trained under back-alley surgeons like Doc "Scalpel" Chen, you patched up wounded shadow-runners, installed unregistered cyberware, and treated Black ICE neural feedback.

Background feature

Black_clinic_sanctuary: Unlicensed street docs, cyberware fences, and shadow brokers in Yoru Market treat you as a colleague, offering emergency medical triage, discounted cyber-parts, and safe havens.

Skill proficiencies

Street Doc (Medicine), Palm-Hack (Sleight of Hand).

Starting equipment

Trauma-Gel Injector, Cyber-Scalpel, Cyberware Repair Kit, 100 Nuyen.

Tool proficiencies

Trauma-Gel & Bio-Nanite Injectors, Cyberware Fabrication Kits.

You served as a private security enforcer for Aegis Tactical. You may have been part of an elite corporate strike squad or a rogue soldier who broke your remote neural governor like Sergeant Vane's Oni gang in Kurogane.

Background feature

Mercenary_network: Private security contractors, ex-military mercenaries, and industrial weapon crews in Kurogane respect your military background, granting you access to mercenary hiring halls and military gear leads.

Skill proficiencies

Threat Display (Intimidation), Threat Scan (Perception).

Starting equipment

Kevlar Street Jacket, Shock-Baton, Aegis Tactical Service Badge, 150 Nuyen.

Tool proficiencies

Arms & Cyberware Tech Tools, Land Vehicles (Combat Bikes).

Raised among the traditional Shinto shrines of Kitsune-cho, you were trained to protect sacred ley lines from corporate energy grids tapped by Izanagi Grid and Kitsune Bio-Magic.

Background feature

Ley_line_sanctuary: Traditional priests, street shamans, and magical street cults like The Shrine Children offer you shelter, alchemical reagents, and spiritual guidance without cost.

Skill proficiencies

Critter Attunement (Animal Handling), Spirit & Tech Cults (Religion).

Starting equipment

Spirit-Warded Conduit Pole, Shinto Spirit-Charm, Conductive UV Ink, 50 Nuyen.

Tool language proficiencies

Calligrapher's Stylus, Ancient Shinto & Spirit Speech.

You were a rising star in the entertainment capital of Neon Shinjuku. Sponsored by Amaterasu Media or managed by nightclub syndicates like The Velvet Dolls, you learned how media recommendation algorithms manipulate collective behavior.

Background feature

Fan_base_and_backstage_access: Your celebrity profile grants you VIP entry into host clubs, synthwave venues, and media channels across the Neon Layer, as well as shelter provided by loyal subscribers.

Skill proficiencies

Idol Presence (Performance), Deep Fake (Deception).

Starting equipment

Holographic Idol Attire, Digital Beat-Pad or Laser-Harp, 150 Nuyen.

Tool proficiencies

Holographic Display & Media Rigs, Social Media Analytics.

You grew up navigating the flooded ruins, pontoon bridges, and submerged highways of Mizu Ward. Operating stealth pontoon boats alongside smuggler captains like Aria "Vapor" Chen, you moved contraband past automated dock patrols.

Background feature

Submerged_navigation: You know the locations of submerged pre-war subway tunnels, hidden pontoon routes, and underwater safe-houses across old Tokyo.

Skill proficiencies

Reflex Dodge (Acrobatics), Street Navigation (Survival).

Starting equipment

Weatherproof Tech-Wear, GPS Topo-Deck, a waterproof container, 100 Nuyen.

Tool proficiencies

Water Vehicles (Pontoon Boats), GPS Topo-Deck.

You learned the street code of honor along the automated logistics yards and shipping docks of Chrome Harbor. Aligned with cyberpunk street samurai like Boss Kazuma's Chrome Lotus, you enforced territorial control against rival gangs.

Background feature

Honor_of_the_docks: Street samurai, dockworkers, and contraband fences in Chrome Harbor recognize your loyalty to the street code, offering safe harbor and warning you of corporate raids.

Skill proficiencies

Hydraulic Prowess (Athletics), Threat Display (Intimidation).

Starting equipment

Monomolecular Combat Knife, Reinforced Ballistic Weave , 100 Nuyen.

Tool proficiencies

Cyberware Fabrication Kits, Smart-Link Maintenance.

You were present in Shiba Void during the anomalous broadcasts or matrix bleeds surrounding the ground-zero origin of the 2089 Ghost Signal ("I REMEMBER YOU"). You perceive digital ghosts and matrix data as living entities.

Background feature

Signal_sensitivity: You can sense residual matrix anomalies, spatial glitches, and digital ghosts in erased districts or high-density server nodes.

Skill proficiencies

Cyber-Arcana (Arcana), System Forensics (Investigation).

Starting equipment

Encrypted Data-Pad , UV-Fluorescent Marker, a corrupted memory chip, 50 Nuyen.

Tool language proficiencies

Encrypted Terminals, Ghost-Code Cipher.

You made a living in the multi-tier arcade ruins and flooded electronics bazaars of Akihabara Ruin. Working alongside street techs and deckers, you salvaged obsolete 2040s hardware and independent AI cores like Zero-One.

Background feature

Junk_rigging: You can harvest functional electronic components, micro-processors, and obsolete cyberdeck parts from junked machinery, arcade terminals, and electronics graveyards.

Skill proficiencies

Data Archives (History), System Forensics (Investigation).

Starting equipment

Retro-Tech Repair Kit, Power-Tool Rig, a pocketful of spare micro-capacitors, 100 Nuyen.

Tool proficiencies

Retro-Tech Repair Kits, Hardware Lathes.

You entered a high-stakes financial contract with Ryujin Trust & Financial. Whether taking out a loan for bio-augments or incurring corporate debt, your contract is backed by shell accounts managed by an awakened dragon.

Background feature

Dragon_s_line_of_credit: You can secure emergency credit or temporary high-level access in sky-arcologies through Ryujin shell trusts, though doing so increases your corporate debt and draws dragon oversight.

Skill proficiencies

Subtext Scan (Insight), Fixer Negotiation (Persuasion).

Starting equipment

Tailored Kōten Silk-Suit, Corporate Encrypted Ring, a line of corporate credit.

Tool language proficiencies

Financial Terminals, High-Corporate & Dragon Dialects.