Where You Come From Shapes Who You Are

Perseverance is a world that doesn’t give second chances. Where you were born, how you were raised, and the hardships you endured define you, whether you like it or not. Some people carry the weight of old family names, others wear the dust of the frontier on their boots. Some were born under Commonwealth rule, others beyond it—but one truth unites them all:

Survival is the first rule. Everything else is negotiable.

This post explores Origin Keywords, which define where a character comes from and how it shapes their skills, reputation, and outlook.

Tenderfoot Outworlder

"You can always spot an outworlder. Clean boots, soft hands, and the look of someone who thinks law still matters out here."

You came from off-world, fresh off a Commonwealth transport or a private freighter. Maybe you were born on a core world, where technology, law, and comfort were taken for granted. Or perhaps you’re a traveler from a distant colony, drawn to Perseverance for reasons of your own. Either way, you’re a newcomer to this dust-choked, lawless world, and it shows.

Out here, manners won’t stop a bullet, and contracts mean less than a fast draw. You’ve still got habits and knowledge from the life you left behind, but Perseverance is a crash course in survival, and you’ll have to learn fast – or die trying.

Breakout Abilities:

• Off-World Education – You had a formal education, giving you knowledge of history, science, or politics.
• Commonwealth Bureaucracy – You understand how the Commonwealth operates and can navigate its rules.
• Spaceship Rat – You know your way around zero-G environments, ship maintenance, and long-haul space travel.
• Polite Society – You know how to act in refined company, though it rarely helps in a gunfight.
• Naïve Optimism – You still think the world is fair. (Could be used positively – or as a flaw.)

Old Family

"Fallpoint was built by my ancestors. I don’t intend to let it slip into the hands of common dirt-scrapers."

Your bloodline traces back to the first settlers on Perseverance—the officers, engineers, and decision-makers aboard the generational ship that crash-landed centuries ago. Over time, the Old Families secured power in Fallpoint, controlling key industries, government positions, and trade.

As a member of an Old Family, you were raised with wealth, education, and connections, expected to uphold your ancestral legacy. Whether you embrace or reject that expectation is up to you. Some Old Family scions become politicians, military officers, or business moguls—others flee the weight of their name, carving their own path in the frontier.

Breakout Abilities:

• Born to Rule – You were raised to lead, negotiate, and command respect.
• Commonwealth Connections – You have ties to powerful officials and traders.
• Elite Education – You’ve been trained in history, science, or military strategy.
• Inherited Wealth – You start with resources most people never see.
• Arrogance of Privilege – You assume things will go your way. (Could be a flaw.)

Pioneer-Born

"My people don’t need tech to survive. The planet made us strong."

Your ancestors weren’t officers or officials when the generational ship crashed. They were the hardworking laborers, mechanics, and farmers—people who had to scrape survival from Perseverance’s brutal landscape. Over generations, their bodies adapted to the world’s conditions in subtle but meaningful ways.

Maybe your skin resists the planet’s brutal sun, or your lungs are denser, built for thin oxygen. Perhaps your night vision is sharper, an edge over those still reliant on artificial light. Science may not recognize you as a different breed, but locals know a Pioneer-Born when they see one—and they know better than to underestimate you.

Breakout Abilities:

• Desert-Hardened – You resist extreme heat and dehydration better than most.
• Mountain-Bred Lungs – You can breathe and move easily in high altitudes or thin air.
• Keen Night Vision – You see better in low light than most people.
• Survival Instincts – You know how to find food, water, and shelter in the wild.
• Suspicious of Off-Worlders – You don’t trust outsiders. (Could be a flaw.)

Prospector’s Kin

"You think you’re tough? Try digging under a sun that bakes you alive while knowing you might not make it out."

You grew up in the mines, either in the burning deserts or the frozen peaks, where survival depends on grit, knowledge, and knowing when to cut and run. Mining settlements are harsh places, full of rugged, desperate people, and those who thrive there don’t scare easy.

As a prospector’s child, you’ve spent your life digging for wealth, fighting for your share, and learning when someone’s about to cheat you. Maybe you dream of striking it rich – or maybe you’ve already had enough of the mines and are looking for something better.

Breakout Abilities:

• Mine Survival – You know how to handle cave-ins, gas leaks, and collapses.
• Ore & Gem Expertise – You can assess minerals and their value.
• Tough as Bedrock – You’ve built endurance working in harsh conditions.
• Can Spot a Con – You grew up around gamblers and thieves; you see through lies.
• Superstitious – You believe in old miner legends. (Could be a flaw.)

Rancher’s Blood

"A rancher ain’t just some dirt farmer. We carve out our living against beasts and thieves alike."

Born on the great plains, you grew up wrangling ironhorns and striders, herding massive creatures that could crush a man in an instant. Out here, guns and grit keep both predators and rustlers at bay, and no rancher survives without learning to fight.

As a rancher’s child, you know how to handle animals, navigate the wilderness, and deal with hard people. Your kind is respected and feared in equal measure – because when a rancher sets their mind to something, nothing stands in their way.

Breakout Abilities:

• Beast Wrangler – You know how to handle large, dangerous creatures.
• Sharp Shooter – Predators and rustlers taught you to aim fast and true.
• Tracking Expert – You can follow trails across open land.
• Hard as Leather – Pain and exhaustion don’t slow you down.
• Hates City Folk – You don’t trust people who never worked the land. (Could be a flaw.)

What’s Next?

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we explore the remaining five origins—including river traders, outlaws, and drifters.

Which origin calls to you the most? Let me know in the comments! 🚀🤠