Unnatural Knowledge
By default, all player characters are literate. Which feels like a bit of a stretch, even for fantastical medieval worlds. Literacy used to be exceptionally rare. And yet regardless of upbringing and background, all PCs can read and write at least one languages, and often two or even three. While some classes and backgrounds imply a degree of education (cleric and wizard, sage and acolyte) others do not (barbarian and sorcerer, urchin and hermit). Sure, the barbarian that was born into a noble house and succumbed to a magical curse filling them with uncontrollable rage should probably be able to read. As should the wizard who was formerly a farm worker. But the only letter a rogue born and raised on a pirate ship might be able to recognize is “X”.
All so true; I still have to see a campaign more realistically oriented.
For example, a viking saga in which intelligence and upbringing dictate how many runes your character can recognize.
I just dissent with the last sentence: pirates also recognize the “P” (and possibly avoid having it branded on them).