Kalashtar, with their mysterious psychic connection to a spiritual entity known as a Quori, bring a unique blend of intrigue and depth to any D&D campaign.
Choosing the right background can help you embody the essence of a Kalashtar character, enhancing your role-playing experience.
What Are Backgrounds in D&D 5e?
Backgrounds are more than simple stat boosts in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. They reveal where your character came from, why you became an adventurer, and your place in the world.
Before choosing your Background, ask yourself a few questions:
- What was I before I became an adventurer?
- Why did I stop doing what my Background explains and become an adventurer?
- Where did I get the money to buy my starting equipment?
- Where did I learn the skills used in my class?
- What’s different about me compared to others with the same Background?
Best Backgrounds for Kalashtar
5. Haunted One
Skill Proficiencies – Choose two of Survival, Religion, Investigation, or Arcana
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Choose two languages, one of which being an exotic language (Undercommon, Sylvan, Primordial, Infernal, Draconic, Deep Speech, Celestial, or Abyssal)
Equipment – A set of common clothes, a monster hunter’s pack, one trinket of special significance (you may choose one or roll for one on the Gothic Trinkets table), and 1SP.
Why the Haunted One?
Shaped by a Harrowing Event, Haunted One Kalashtar have experienced some of the most horrific atrocities known to any living creature.
Their Heart of Darkness fills your eyes with unimaginable horror, noticed by those who speak to you, understanding that you are no stranger to darkness.
Kalashtar have spirits called Quori, linked to the plane of dreams and humanity, though they are considered wise and intelligent. However, they have an alien quality and are haunted by the conflicts of their otherworldly spirits.
4. Far Traveler
Skill Proficiencies – Perception, Insight
Tool Proficiencies – One musical instrument or gaming set you choose (most likely something native to your homeland)
Languages – Choose one
Equipment – Set of traveler’s clothes, one gaming set or musical instrument you’re proficient with, a small piece of jewelry worth 10GP in the style of your homeland’s craftsmanship, poorly wrought maps from your homeland depicting where you are in Faerûn, and a pouch with 5GP.
Why the Far Traveler?
Far Traveler gives you the All Eyes on You feature, marking you as foreign and garnering attention from everyone, including commoners, scholars, nobles, merchants, princes, and kings.
Kalashtar may be wise and knowledgable, but because of their tight link to the otherworldly spirits, many people gaze upon them in awe.
In fact, many people flock to them, asking for favors, spiritual enlightenment, and answers to the universe that the most knowledgeable scholars cannot fathom.
3. Mage of High Society
Skill Proficiencies – History, Arcana
Languages – Choose two
Equipment – A set of common clothes, an ink pen, a bottle of colored ink, and a pouch with 10GP.
Why the Mage of High Sorcery?
Mage of High Sorcerery characters are given the Initiate of High Sorcery feat, and Mages of High Sorcery will provide you with lodging and food without end at Towers of High Sorcery.
You can even spend one night at an organization member’s home.
Kalashtar are immensely spiritual and tied to magic, leading many of them to start practicing magic, ideally in the most widely recognized institutions.
2. Sage
Skill Proficiencies – History, Arcana
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two you choose
Equipment – A set of common clothes, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you haven’t been able to answer, a bottle of ink, a small knife, a quill, and a pouch with 10GP.
Why the Sage?
Sages have the Researcher feature, allowing them to effortlessly recall information and lore.
If they do not know the information, they will know where to find the information, such as in a university, scriptorium, or some other place of knowledge.
However, some knowledge is extremely difficult to obtain and can take a long time to unlock or force you to perform questionable actions.
Kalashtar already have a good understanding of the multiverse, but some Kalashtar make uncovering its secrets their main priority, using their link to spirits, dreams, and humanity to uncover long-forgotten secrets.
1. Acolyte
Skill Proficiencies – Religion, Insight
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Choose two
Equipment – One holy symbol (gift to you when you entered the priesthood), a set of common clothes, a prayer book or prayer wheel, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, and a pouch with 15GP.
Why the Acolyte?
Acolytes receive the Shelter of the Faithful feature, granting you access to resources of temples and sanctuaries sharing your faith.
This allows you to receive free healing, food, and stay, though you’ll have to compensate them for any materials used in spells.
As you already know, the Kalashtar are very spiritual, which leads many of them to become Acolytes, serving whichever deity they see fit and helping them realize whatever plan they have for the Material Plane.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, when choosing backgrounds for your Kalashtar in D&D 5e, look for options that complement their unique blend of Human and Quori spirits.
Backgrounds such as Sage, Acolyte, or Mage of High Sorcery can deepen your character’s connection to their psionic nature, while the Haunted One or Far Traveler backgrounds can add layers to their story.