Hey, I started playing D&D a few weeks ago and I have a question about skill proficiencies. I was given a pre-generated character - a hill dwarf cleric. From looking at the character sheet, I can see that he is proficient in religion, medicine, intimidation, and athletics.
From looking over the PHB, I can see that religion and medicine proficiency were selected as the two 'cleric' options for skills. But I can't figure out how/why he is also proficient in the two additional skills (intimidation and athletics). Someone at my session suggested that it might be tied to racial proficiencies, but I don't see anything about that in the dwarf section of the PHB.
It would be awesome if someone could clarify for me. 
There are two sources of Skill Proficiency, you should start with at least 4 skills.
Your class
Which gives two from the class list (unless you're a Rogue, Ranger or Bard who get more)
Your Background
Which specifies two skills
Along a total of two more proficiencies from: languages, tool proficiencies
And some starting equipment and some guidelines on a special feature.
With Athletics and Intimidation I suspect you have the Soldier background.
You can also gain skill proficiencies from certain class abilities (Knowledge Domain Clerics and the Skilled Feat)
Half-Elves and the Variant Human option also start will more skills.
Illithidbix wrote: