Below is a comprehensive list of all available Backgrounds. I have only included an explanation for those that are not self explanatory. The parenthetical word represents the book/s that the background appears in.
Note: No background can ever be bought at more than 3 points. See Foul Weather Jack on the Advantages page for more information about 4 point Backgrounds.
Acolyte Vows [Castille] - You are seeking a position in the Vaticine Church, or another religious order. See Castille, pg. 93, for more information.
Afaym Addict [Cathay]
Amnesia [PH]
Animal Animosity [Ussura]
Assassin [Montaigne] - Someone has hired an assassin to kill you.
Betrothed [Vodacce]
Black Stone Veteran (Rose & Cross only)[Rose & Cross] - At some point in the past, the Order had to put down a man or woman who had become a threat. They gathered in a chapel and drew stones from a bowl: stones to see which one would kill in the name of the Rose and Cross. You were among their number and the black stone lay in your hand when opened.
Bloodsworn [Vendel/Vesten] - You have sworn a sacred oath to do something. The number of HP spent on this Background determines how difficult it will be to complete the task.
Code of Honor [Vodacce]
Colonial [Islands of Gold]
Contentious Theory [Invisible College]
Crisis of Faith [Eisen & Church of the Prophets]
Cursed [PH]
Dead to the World [Die Kreuzritter]
Debt [PH]
Defeated [PH]
Dispossessed [Castille] - Someone has taken away your land and your home. See Castille, pg. 93, for more information.
Dracheneisen Heir (Noble Eisen only)[Eisen]
Dragon Dreams [Cathay] - See Cathay, pg. 72, for more information.
El Vago [Los Vagos] - A Hero has worn the clothing and white mask of El Vago.
Escaped from Tiakhar [Cathay] - See Cathay, pg. 72, for more information.
Exiled [Pirate Nations]
Fascination [Islands of Gold] - You led a sheltered life. During your first encounters with strangers you become intrigued easily by something about them, perhaps an item. Now, it's become inordinately important to you.
Fear [PH]
Gadjo (non-Fhideli only)[Ussura] - You have interacted with the Tibesti and had an unfavorable result. They now have an exceedingly poor opinion of you, and the feeling is mutual. See Ussura, page 93, for further information.
Hated Relative [Vendel/Vesten]
Heirloom Relic [Church of the Prophets] - Your family was once touched by the divine and received a relic as a sort of spiritual souvenir. Now, it's in your custody. You may look at it as a blessing or a curse.
Heretical Relation [Church of the Prophets]
Hunted [PH]
Hunting [PH]
Huo Qiang (Wall of Fire) Talisman [Cathay] - See Cathay, pg. 72, for more information.
Infamous Teacher [Swordsman's Guild]
Inquisition Informant [Church of the Prophets]
Invention (Invisible College Only)[Invisible College]
Loan [Vendel/Vesten]
Lorenzo [Vodacce]
Lost Ability* [7th Sea Addendum ebook] - You used to have an advantage (for 1 point), a skill (for 1 point), a swordsman school (for 2 points) or sorcery (2 points for half-blooded, 3 points for full-blooded or twice-blooded, 1 point for trace-blooded), but for some reason you can no longer use it. Maybe you are haunted by memories of a disastrous show, and lost the Acrobat skill. Perhaps Matushka has taken back the gift of Pyeryem for some slight, or the Sidhe have taken their Glamour from you. Maybe you had the Faith advantage, but now you're not so sure. Perhaps you were a student of Wu Tsain, but you lost the inner calm that School requires. All bonus XP from this background goes into reclaiming this ability; the background is lost when the ability returns. The XP cost to regain the ability is three times the HP cost for an advantage, background or sorcery, or the normal XP cost for a swordsman school or skill. When you regain the ability, you get it as if you had bought it with HP; that is, you gain 7 Sorcery Points for full-blooded sorcery, one rank in each basic knack for a skill, one rank in each swordsman knack for a School, and so on.
Lost Love [PH]
Lost Relative [Pirate Nations]
Memlo (Fhideli only)[Ussura] - You have been defiled. It's not your fault, but the effect is the same. Your people consider you unclean. See Ussura, page 93, for further information.
Mistaken Identity [PH]
Mole [Rilasciare]
Moment of Awe [Pirate Nations]
Nemesis [PH]
Obligation [PH]
Orphaned [Eisen]
Ousted [Knights & Musketeers] - You used to be a member of an organization, but for whatever reason, your membership has been revoked.
Past Possession (Daughters Only)[Sophia's Daughters] - Characters with this background have been or may be (temporarily) possessed by a Sidhe spirit and receive a message or mission from it.
Predecessor (Requires Membership)[Knights & Musketeers] - You are following in the footsteps of a parent or older sibling in the organization.
Pressed Into Service [Pirate Nations]
Probation (Requires Membership)[Knights & Musketeers] - Due to some misdeed on your part, your membership is at risk.
Qatihl'i Target [Crescent Empire] - Somehow, you have evoked the wrath of the Qatihl'i, as assassin cult, and they're not trying to eliminate you. The number of points in this Background determines how seriously they're pursuing you.
Ridiculed [Montaigne]
Rivalry [PH]
Romance [PH]
Sect Adversary [Rilasciare]
Sidhe Lover [Avalon] - You are in love with a Sidhe. This love must remain a secret, else the two of you suffer the wrath of the Queen. Eventually, the consequences of your romance will make themselves known.
Traitor [Castille]
Trance (Scrying Sorcerers Only)[Sophia's Daughters] - You sometimes fall into epiliptic fits that that grant you strange visions from the Sidhe.
Treasure Map [Pirate Nations]
True Identity [PH]
Unsanctioned [Swordsman's Guild]
Vaticine Relative [Lost Vagos]
Vendetta [PH]
Vow [PH] - Different than Obligation in that a vow is promised, an Obligation is owed.
Waisen Dependent [Eisen] - You are responsible for the care of a waisen, someone who has lost touch with reality, retreating completely into their own mind. Unforutnatly for you, waisen are often unpredictable.
* Skills from 7th Sea Addendum eBook.
