Hedge Mage (HB)

You were taken in by a witch, either by choice or circumstance. Under the witch's tutelage, you were exposed to the raw magic of the land, experiencing the subtle art of communing with the natural and the spiritual world from a very young age. Your mentor may have been a benevolent healer of the community, or maybe a hermit that chose to devote to their art and its mysteries in solitude. Perhaps, they were even feared, for it is known that folks will dread that which they cannot understand. Regardless of their social standing, your days were filled with gathering herbs, assisting in rituals, and learning more of the Hidden World. Whether you now chose to grow into the mantle of the witch yourself, or if you have ended your apprenticeship prematurely, the knowledge you gained has prepared you for a life beyond your mentor's humble abode, and the lessons that were imparted upon you are invaluable.

A background lists three of your character's ability scores. Increase one by 2 and another one by 1, or increase all three by 1. None of these increases can raise a score above 20.

You gain the following benefits.

Forager. You have Advantage on D20 Tests made for foraging and identifying herbs and mushrooms.

Poppet Mage. You gain the Poppet Mage feature, associated with the same Artisan's Tool as above, allowing you to practice Poppet Magic (see Chapter III: Poppet Magic).

Each background gives a character proficiency with one tool—either a specific tool or one chosen from the Artisan's Tools category.

Artisan's tools:

Choose A or B: (A) Herbalism Kit (same as above), 1 Backpack, 10 Candles, 1 Set of Traveler's Clothes, 5 days of Rations, 3 Vials, 15 GP; or (B) 50 GP