"You there! Yes you, your name escapes me, you're the new member, aren't you? Well what did Filettus and you get today out there? Any useful prizes? Because until you bring me something of value, you won't be eating here. Let hunger be your teacher."

Master of the Rose Street Beggar's Guild, Tertius the Cook

Street Smarts

Living on the streets of a medieval city, while brutal, can make someone into a very resourceful person. Street slingers have to learn to fend for themselves, keep food in their bellies, scare off threats, and find opportunities wherever they present themselves. Indeed, their skill set much resembles those who have to live in the wilderness, only they live in the center of the world's civilizations. These folk often learn by scavenging, begging, pickpocketing, or taking on any odd job that presents itself to a capable young person. Folks with Street Smarts are less likely to have a grasp of complex formal topics that would be taught in a proper institution of learning, but they can easily outwit people who consider themselves very smart, in the right environment.

          So-called civilized society looks down on those who have gotten their education through hard knocks. Indeed, most middleborn and highborn folks wouldn't consider living on the streets and barely abiding by the laws to be an education at all. There are good reasons for this of course - most raised on the streets would themselves have preferred a cushier way to learn what life had to teach them. Still, beggars can't be choosers, in this case sometimes literally, and so folks with street smarts try to make the best out of a bad situation. Plus, the fact that their education in life is looked down upon can play to their advantage - if people think you don't know anything, they don't tend to think you are a real threat. When it comes to people that have survived the mean streets of medieval cities, nothing further could be from the truth.

          Those educated via street smarts are likely to have a strange relationship with learning through more formal methods later in life. They might think that there is no point, or that its for stuffy bookworms. This can often leave them stunted even when they are given the resources to learn more. Still, this isn't always the case. Indeed, some who had life teach them hard lessons are more receptive when life comes knocking again - those with this education are quick studies when faced with new threats, challenges, or dangers, and usually are able to intuit how to approach a new danger that has presented itself rather suddenly, which would leave more bookish learners stuttering and reaching for their favorite encyclopedia.

If you choose Street Smarts, you gain the following:

~A +1 to one of the following Ability Scores of your choice: Charisma, Dexterity, or Wisdom~

~A Skill Proficiency in Sleight of Hand, Survival, or Intimidation~

~Dice set as a Tool Proficiency~

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