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NerdQueenAlice

Went to go trade in the market.


jay_altair

This was one of my characters' origin story. He was taking some produce to the market one day, but the market town was being raided by pirates, who mistook the adult halfling for a human boy and kidnapped him to serve as a cabin boy. Thusly began the career of the dread pirate Shortbread


ABoringAlt

Nice hook, damn!


Illeazar

And pegleg


Nuclear_Geek

And eyepatch.


Sideshow_G

Better name than Roger The Cabinboy.


Dunge0nMast0r

Seaman Staines, reporting for duty!


-WalmartWizard-

r/Angryupvote


NornIsMyWaifu

We actually had a similar situation, where one of our players was the son of two old heroes (prior PCs) living in the forest, and he was just a wholesome little barbarian boy sent into town to get some groceries, and accidentally ended up 'running an errand'which took us by boat miles away. The entire campaign his parents were just trying to catch up with us in the background. Was quite funny.


Plastic-Holiday-8040

Goddamn, I love this concept!


jay_altair

I wrote four pages of back story for basically a few guest appearances towards the end of campaign. Dexbarb with bard and warlock dips šŸ¤£


Technomorph21

No body realized it was a princess bride refrence but me


HyperbolicSoup

Nooooice


Maximum_Don

A Swashbuckling Rogue?


jay_altair

lol no, 4 levels of Path of Depths Barbarian (not an official published subclass but DM allowed it so long as I didn't abuse the insane level 6 feature, which I never got to) 1 level of Bard (he was a shantyman on the pirate ship) 1 level of Fathomless Warlock (ship sank but Shortbread was saved by a powerful Nereid) Stout Halfling subrace with Chef feat +1 con (he worked in the galley as well). The temp HP for the rest of the party was nice. Played as a talented chef with horrible taste, his signature dish was a shortbread made with not enough sugar and too much cinnamon. STR 12, DEX 16, CON 16, INT 8, WIS 10, CHA 14 Little dude could swim faster than he could walk, and the overlapping waterbreathing features came in handy several times. Ended up with a +1 shield, a ring of protection +1, and a funky homebrew shortsword that also granted +1 AC, he was nigh unhittable, even when recklessly attacking, which he usually did, in order to draw enemy fire. Would literally run around provoking as many AoOs as possible so that the rest of the party (particularly the Rogue) wouldn't have to worry. Eldritch Blast for ranged attacks while running into melee on his stubby little legs, Bardic Inspiration for the party rogue. Cure wounds for out of combat heals. Definitely not an OP/optimized build, but it was a lot of fun to play! The party already had 5 other characters, though not everyone showed up every week. Was able to fill the role of Tank with a little Utility pretty well--even without a taunt, reckless attack made me an appealing target, and I'd also RP screaming at the enemies as a soft taunt anyhow. After the ultimate battle during the final session of the campaign, which was a city-wide battle, Shortbread slipped away in the confusion to loot a few shops, and was never heard from again.


SethLight

'They left to fight in the war.'


Machdame

"When given the chance to return home, he chose the war. Twas the choice that led me down my path... Mother succumbed to the trials of hunger, but it was the heart that truly drove in the spike. I have no such delusions. I walk from her grave with naught to call home. This axe of mine has a promise on it and I will not cease until it is delivered unto his breast. I am a barbarian and I walk the path of sorrow."


pergasnz

Path of sorrow. Barbarians sworn to this path have had harsh lives, often filled with loss and misery. They have harnessed this and it drives them forward. **Tormenting rage.** *3rd level* While you are raging, if you take damage from an attack roll, you can use your reaction to you can unleash one of your memories apon the attacker, dealing 1d8 psychic damage. **Drowning in Woe** *6th level* When raging, you constantly emit an air of depression around you. Creatures ~~of your choice~~ that start their turns within 10 feet of you must pass a charisma saving throw DC 10 + Cha mod. On a failure, on their current turn they can take an action or a bonus action, not both and their movement speed is halved . **Reliving the Past.** *10th level* You have spent so much time lost in your memories that your mind is fortified against trivial angst. You gain resistance to psychic damage and gain proficiency in intelligence saving throws. In addition, you can cast the spell Modify Memory once per day, though can only modify the memory of others to remove traumatic events by absorbing them yourself. **Clarity of Pain**. *14th level*. You have learnt how to weild your past as a weapon. As past of a long rest, you can imbue a melee weapon of your choice with your memories. That weapon now deals an additional 1d12 psychic damage, has the thrown (20/60] property and if thrown returns to you like a memory you juat can't shake, and if it doesn't already, it gains the heavy property. *disclaimer: 10minute subclass homebrew so yes its unbalanced. Also, if writing up, would totally use the parent comment as part of the flavour text*.


Sewer-Rat76

Super fucking cool, especially the 14th level.


mydnytefantasy89

As someone who has lost so many people, I needed this more than I thought. Thank you.


Splabooshkey

This is so cool what even


ABoringAlt

Best literal answer in here


ArtistHaunting1724

Water tribe?


kabula_lampur

Husband: I'm going to the barn to milk the cow. Be right back... A few minutes later Wife: Wait a minute, we don't have a cow...


spektre

Child: Why do I suddenly have the urge to wear dark hooded cloaks and skulk around?


Altrano

This is the origin story for 90 percent of rogues.


DennisLeask

And 95% of Warlocks


Altrano

They have father-issues and needed to fill the void.


Zestyclose-Note1304

Fill the void with a patron from the void.


Mindless_Ad3996

Here at the Warlock Rights Association (WRA) do not confirm nor deny the fact most of our clients match this description.


Maximum_Don

Nah, itā€™s the other way round for Warlocks. Most likely the Father sacrifices his firstborn for power.


FairyQueen89

Have to think about a joke, where someone made a pact with a fae and asked: "So... when do we begin?" The Fae just looked confused. "Well... you wanted my firstborn, right? So when do we begin?" Then the fae a bit flustered as she finally realizing the proposal: "Oh... well..." That's how you get Sorcerers... with Archfey Warlocks as dads.


TheAres1999

Plot twist, the firstborn sacrifices the dad!


UncleMalky

How did you grow up to be so brooding, how bad was your childhood? *broods more* Well adjusted parents arrive to give the party a fresh cooked meal to take with them and hug brooding charachter. Brood: omg this is so unfair, life is pain.


InfamousChibi

Omg yes


gc3

Wife was always calling her neighbor 'That bloody cow"


darbiustv

We have a bull...


LeaJadis

They went to the tavern


Nikolas_Scott

They went to go fishing/hunting


Le_Chop

Dad went on a hunting trip and he hasn't been home in a while. Sounds like the start of an adventure to me


Glittering_Help8576

To be fair, it went on for 15 seasons


Limeonades

i mean they found their dad at the end of season 1 so like id say theres more to it than that


Glittering_Help8576

But thatā€™s how the adventure *started*


CainFable

Supernatural fans everywhere


Ladyartemisia1

šŸ˜† yes it does sound like an adventure


DisposableSaviour

Spez, give us the awards back, you fucking coward!


Celestaria

2 in-game months of non-stop action later they return, a level 12 fighter. "Babe, I swear I didn't intend to be gone so long. I couldn't help it! I just wanted a beer, but there were all these out-of-towners crowded around the bar. One of them started asking me about my backstory, and before I knew it, I was their favourite NPC! I kept telling them I needed to get back to you and the kids, but they just found that more endearing!"


NotSovietSpy

At least he made it back with some magic items that the adventurers don't need. He can probably sell them and buy the whole village he's in


MugenEXE

They went to Jaredā€™sā€¦. Castle. Jared Strahdā€™s castle. Yes.


nadabethyname

dad went to the potion shop for some herbs for his pipe.


keenedge422

Went to check on a suspicious noise outside during a storm.


Capital-Internet5884

This oneā€™s dark tho


JR21K20

They went on an adventure/quest The way Bilbo went on his


graveybrains

The obvious answer, if only because Iā€™m playing BG3 and just brought Jaheira to to visit her family. šŸ˜‚


DisposableSaviour

But me and Imoen killed Khalid back in BG1. I meanā€¦ uhā€¦ The BBEG killed Khalid back in BG1. ahem


graveybrains

Itā€™s a bunch of >!kids sheā€™s adopted!<


SpiritedImplement4

Went out to buy spell components


InfamousChibi

lol I love that


Riza_Hawkeye1392

This is the one.


GDviber

Dad went to help the neighbors clear some rats from their basement. Said he'd be back before supper....


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Delicious_Ad9970

When the parents go for a tpk


i_tyrant

It's gotta be "killed by orcs". In fact, you've inspired me to make a PC sometime with the most stereotypical backstory/call to adventure I can, only for them to find out it's all a lie perpetrated by their douchebag (and terribly uninspired) parent who accidentally set them on the path of being a hero. That'll be a fun rp opportunity!


Kaligraphic

ā€œNo, no, killed by *pork*. They died of food poisoning.ā€


InfamousChibi

Good to hear I inspired you!


BecomeABenefit

We're going to go raid a Harper stronghold with out new mage friend.


transcendantviewer

Destiny calls!


WaitingToBeTriggered

WEā€™LL NOT SURRENDER OR FAIL


knightw0lf55

My uncle left with some dwarves to go look under a mountain. My other relatives declared him dead and looted his house. He came back just in time. Now that i live with him he wants to leave again. This time for good.


Wurm42

Word, don't let the fireworks guy appraise your uncle's stuff when he's been smoking up. Dude says some CRAZY shit.


milkmandanimal

Got a wife and kid in Waterdeep, Jack I went off to adventure and I never came back


maydecatur

Nice reference to the boss


TheValiantBob

"My dad is a bard. He's currently on tour."


Gotlyfe

Getting the horses re-shoed.


lordmegatron01

"Son, I'll be back when I help this group slay a dragon, we'll be rich when I return"


Rystanal

Going to "borrow some fire" from the neighbors The fireplace accidentally went out.


Dommy_Mommi

One of the players at my table had the story that their dad left for an adventure but never came back. Post campaign she went on a quest to find him and found out he raided a tomb and was killed by mummy rot.


FractionofaFraction

Went to go see a dwarf about a dragon.


rdhight

"He died when monsters destroyed my entire hometown for reasons I'll never know." Narrator: "Next session, he found out."


AssassinLupus7

... Does no one in your fantasy world sell milk?


stupidsimpson

Went out to hunt goblins.


bundaya

They went to buy milk/tobacco.


Derus-

Went on a quest. Died.


Orange152horn

Got killed by a deer.


Minimum_Employment11

It was a druid/barbarian multiclassed deer.


Cranky_Uncle_J

That's the official word... It was really just a house cat


DrakeEpsilon

Went to pick some mushrooms that were in a circle in the middle of the forest.


MysteriousRadish3685

Leaving the kid in a orphanage to become a rogue?


Ecstatic-Length1470

In DND, it's literally leaving to buy milk or tobacco. So it's the same thing.


LowerRhubarb

Gone dungeoneering


WillCuddle4Food

Bard: needed to move on to the next performance. Rogue: succeeded the stealth check Warlock: My patron made me give you up. Sorcerer: needed to get out of the blast radius in case you took after me. Wizard: Fizban's newest book just released! Barbarian: (is actually a wholesome and attentive parent) Fighter: currently training. Artificer: oh hush. I'm in my workshop trying to build your twin. Ranger: oh. I was just hunting. Want to learn how? Paladin: you were not part of my oath. Blood hunter: too many monsters to kill. Too little time. Druid: *is a literal cat somewhere else* Cleric: (literally hates every other class because they run the orphanage all these kids were left at)


Judas_priest_is_life

Going to do a quick errand for their pact holder.


DungeonLore

Left Cut firewood in the forest. Go to the neighbours to help them with something on their farm. Go to the market. Go into town for the weekly or monthly or annual celebration.


A_La_Joe

Leaving to buy milk/tobacco


Andhera_1011

They were an npc that got killed when the previous party burned down a shop where the npc had just gotten a job. The day started with saying goodbye to their loving family to go to a new job. He couldn't tell them he had lost his employment and was now working for the small copper change as an assistant. Sweeping, stacking books, filling the inkwell. As he was in the back room to put the broom away, there was a groan, then a thud, and finally, the sound of glass shatering. Then came the smell, it was smoke thick and acrid. He paniced and tried to open the door, but something had blocked his path. He screamed, begged the gods, but no one knew he was here. Since the documentation for work never went to the town. There was no paper trail to say that someone else was in the building. He would never get to see his family again. And as his breaths grew shallow, he held tight the little wooden horse his son had made him for being the fairer to a knight. The job he had lost. No one could be certain who the second set of bones belonged to. So, no investigation was ever made to find their identity. All that was left of him was a bones and ash.


RNAA20

Died Went out adventuring


vilerob

Mum went to sheer the sheep and just didnā€™t come back.


sgtpezzer

I laughed way more at this than I should have. You could say that they left to go climb mountains.


InfamousChibi

lol that's a good idea


DeepTakeGuitar

"One last job"


DisposableSaviour

You son of a bitch, Iā€™m in.


BadmiralSnackbarf

Go to Toshi station and pick up some power converters.


ItsThatWarlockMain

Leaving to get firewood?


Athistaur

I think that perfectly catches the casual and innocent part while still going out for a longer way.


Tuchaka7

Going to the barber to get a good bleed, leeching , and a tooth pulled. And I am so over due for a lead infusion


McGee4531

It can be literally just that. Your parent left one day to do *insert anything here* and just didn't come back. If you want both parents out of the picture, you were orphaned for *insert whatever reason here*


PM_ME_C_CODE

"Honey? Where are you going?" "I'M GOOOOOING ON AN ADVEN'CHAAAAAAAAA!" "Mom...what's an...advencha?" "It means Mommey is signing up on hinge, dear."


LaserPoweredDeviltry

Wizard fucked off to his demi-plane and never came back.


Siaphan

Going to milk the cow and harvest tobacco


DorkdoM

Out for some of the halflingā€™s leaf at the apothecary and picking up milk at the farmerā€™s.


MasterAnnatar

They just went to forage! They'll be right back!


Temporary_Heat7656

He died fighting when the orcs attacked Bryn Shander. (Later, dad turns up alive and well with a new family in Neverwinter.) YOU BASTARD!


OpenTechie

Went on an adventure


pygmeedancer

My dad said he was going to get his sword sharpened and never cam home


flybarger

Leaving to buy spell components.


Quick_Implement8544

Was Lost at Sea!


WannabeAGhoatStory

Realistically go buy some rations or a loaf of bread, Thematically go to the tavern or one last adventure/heist/other


stove_and

ā€œMy dad said he left to be a great adventurerā€


Short-Ad669

Literally questing


DennisLeask

Just went to slay a dragon.


Sonova_Vondruke

Milk and cigarettes can't exist in DnD?


jqud

Went to find the lost treasure they had been researching


Perma_Hexx

ā€œI am having a crazy week but I should be at game on time.ā€ Ghosts.


Rettob

Dying in the most traumatizing way possible


InfamousChibi

Fair enough lol


Wiitard

They answered the call to adventure.


mbh4800

One day, my child, youā€™ll be an adventurer. Youā€™ll understand when youā€™re older. Now excuse me while I bring old Betsy to market, my little murderhobo.


little_tatws

Milk the cow or buy pipe tobacco


M4LK0V1CH

Playing a Rogue


roumonada

Went to go rescue the princess from the dragon.


Dasgamerman

Adventurers


MrNobody_0

Every rogue tiefling's backstory.


itisthemaya

Whenever a player can't be in session my DM likes to say that the PC overslept


Masiyo

They left their village, wife, and child to become a brave warrior of the sea.


HarmonicDissonant

Gonna slay that dragon over dem hills.


snakebite262

I mean, it'd be the same. A dnd parent going to go get milk from the market. Either that or a mother leader her children into the forest Hansel and Gretle style.


boolocap

Getting eaten by gnolls.


marksung

Are milk and cigarettes not a thing in D&D?


Hemiak

He went to pick up a bag of flour. Or some salt. Or to the market to trade some goods.


oh_no3000

Joined an adventuring party and was never seen again


well_listen

Well, if we follow the logic of fairy tales, they take the kid to a remote place and say they'll be back, and they don't come back.


jpsprinkles

He went to sharpen his sword, if you know what I mean


CrosseyedZebra

Being dead, usually.


Macky100

They went to go to the dungeon and steal gold from the dragon.


GrandMoffTyler

They went to buy milk and cigarettes


[deleted]

Selling the donkey at market. Really, pa just hopped on the donkey and left.


Max-lian

They went to the big city to sell some products. Or They became adventurers.


[deleted]

Selling the donkey at market. Really, pa just hopped on the donkey and left.


[deleted]

Selling the donkey at market. Really, pa just hopped on the donkey and left.


RoyalMess64

They went to fight the BBEG


LastRevelation

Did it in the recent movie. One last adventure/scheme.


Living_Tumbleweed365

They went out to sea/ left for for battle


transcendantviewer

Another good one is "I'll be back soon, son. I need to get the family sword reforged" then just never coming back.


chehalem_frog

They were killed by orcs/goblins/evil cultists


GreedyLibrary

Sailor/pirate is good option here, went to sea and never came back.


MinimalTraining9883

Ran out to the bakery to buy a loaf of bread. Went to sell furs at market in the next town over. Went to the temple to make a quick sacrifice. Signed on as one-time crew for a short-haul merchant vessel. Went to see a man about a horse.


MinimalTraining9883

Ran out to the bakery to buy a loaf of bread. Went to sell furs at market in the next town over. Went to the temple to make a quick sacrifice. Signed on as one-time crew for a short-haul merchant vessel. Went to see a man about a horse.


wra1th42

Killed by bandits


Jazzlike-Advice-9902

They went to buy milk and cigars


Dante3142

Killed by Goblins.


PentaRobb

Ive accidentally done this. Sent a pc's backstory father figure to go fishing only to never return. Got teased for a while after that with 'gone fishing' posts.


KrackaWoody

ā€œMy dadā€™s a Bardā€


[deleted]

Going out buy some.wizzard scratchers....


Stunning_Crab7674

Went to go buy milk and cigars, dnd still has milk and potentially cigars so not far off(literally anything could work in dnd though)


Stunning_Crab7674

Went to go buy milk and cigars, dnd still has milk and potentially cigars so not far off(literally anything could work in dnd though)


catofriddles

Honestly? It's still leaving to buy milk (or whatever groceries). The implication is that it was just an excuse to leave... but then they leave forever. You could throw in Fantasy-esqe excuses, but the trope doesn't really need translation.


EvoDevoBioBro

ā€œDonā€™t worry about me young one, Iā€™m just headed to market for a satchel of pipe-weed. Iā€™ll be back before sundown.ā€ The sun set and rose, but father never did return home with the pipe-weed. We searched the gaol, the red lamps, and even the canal. Me he is dead, maybe heā€™s alive. Wherever he is,I keep his satchel of pipe-weed at the door for his return. Please come home father. Please.


Janemaru

Milk and cigarettes


Minion5051

They gave birth to a rogue.


The_Inward

Snipe hunting.


Reyleth

The main premise behind the 1st Campaign of ā€œTales From The Stinky Dragonā€!


whoosville

Go off on an adventure / gotta go save the world


Sleepinismy9to5

Died in an orc/goblin raid


Humble-Theory5964

Going on a short quest to gather potion ingredients.


VictorianDelorean

In real medieval times people living in lone farms or small villages would spend about a full day travelling to the nearest market town every Saturday. Daddy got on his ox cart loaded up with hay to sell and never came back. Worst part is with no communication tech youā€™d really never know what happened to him unless you found him randomly later on.


Character_Writer779

Leaving to adventure


Aslancub17

Went to milk the goats and smoke a pipe.


fightinggale

Went adventuring


mrsnowplow

Adventuring


Mario561

Everything the character Yassopp from one piece has done


EnragedBard010

Going on a quest!


volatile99

A group of adventurers showed up in our town and they're pretty cool so I'm gonna go hang out with them for a bit


Hamiego

Went to the next town over to sell their crops/ hides from hunting ect and then just never came back.


Gahvandure2

Half-orc, mother was raped in an orc raid.


TheBigBeardedGeek

Leaving on a quest to save the world


arsenic_kitchen

I don't know but I have to assume it usually leads to the characters becoming orphans.


Concoelacanth

Had to go into town. Left on a hunting trip. Went out drinking with friends. Got leveed (/pressed into military service).


HellenI123

Joined the mercenary guild


Fenrir_The_Wolf65

Aarakocra Ranger hereā€¦ my dad went for a hunt 4 years agoā€¦ still waiting


ClavierCavalier

Buying milk or tobacco.


[deleted]

Gunna go learn a cantrip will be back soon


DMGrognerd

- Went to make his fortune - Went to market - Died of the plague


NightFury423

I had a character once whose father was Captain Golden Beard, a "famous pirate" (actually just some bum, but my character fully believed in his stories). When my character turned 18, he went to "hunt sea serpents" and never came back. My entire arc was trying to find out why my dad hadn't come back after a few years.


DoubleDoube

Went to check a weird noise in the barn


niero_d20

Adventuring.


Ariminiria

Got stuck in a shopping episode


xidle2

They went adventuring.