Traumatized by past actions, items, or people, you continue to move on from it, while it still haunts you, others have faith in you. The people have your back, they may not know of your past, and you are trusted, but should you be?
- Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Deception, Persuasion, Performance
- Languages: Choose two exotic languages (Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, or Undercommon)
- Equipment: A monster hunter’s pack, a set of common clothes, and one trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Gothic Trinkets table after this background).
Harrowing Event
Prior to becoming an adventurer, your path in life was defined by one dark moment, one fateful decision, or one tragedy. Now you feel a darkness threatening to consume you, and you fear there may be no hope of escape. Choose a harrowing event that haunts you, or roll one on the Harrowing Events table.
| d9 |
Harrowing Event |
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1
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I saved people during a natural disaster.
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2
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I stood alone against a terrible monster.
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3
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I stole from a corrupt merchant to help the poor.
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4
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I led a militia to fight off an invading army.
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5
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I broke into a tyrant’s castle and stole weapons to arm the people.
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6
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I trained the peasantry to use farm implements as weapons against a tyrant’s soldiers.
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7
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A lord rescinded an unpopular decree after I led a symbolic act of protest against it.
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8
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A celestial, fey, or similar creature gave me a blessing or revealed my secret origin.
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9
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Recruited into a lord’s army, I rose to leadership and was commended for my heroism.
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Feature: Heart of Darkness
Those who look into your eyes can see that you have faced unimaginable horror and that you are no stranger to darkness. Though they might fear you, commoners will extend you every courtesy and do their utmost to help you. Unless you have shown yourself to be a danger to them, they will even take up arms to fight alongside you, should you find yourself facing an enemy alone.
Suggested Characteristics
A folk hero is one of the common people, for better or for worse. Most folk heroes look on their humble origins as a virtue, not a shortcoming, and their home communities remain very important to them.
| d8 |
Personality Trait |
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1
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I judge people by their actions, not their words.
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2
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If someone is in trouble, I’m always ready to lend help.
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3
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When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way.
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4
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I have a strong sense of fair play and always try to find the most equitable solution to arguments.
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5
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I’m confident in my own abilities and do what I can to instill confidence in others.
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6
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Thinking is for other people. I prefer action.
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7
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I misuse long words in an attempt to sound smarter.
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8
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I get bored easily. When am I going to get on with my destiny?
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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Respect. People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. (Good)
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2
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Fairness. No one should get preferential treatment before the law, and no one is above the law. (Lawful)
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3
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Freedom. Tyrants must not be allowed to oppress the people. (Chaotic)
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4
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Might. If I become strong, I can take what I want—what I deserve. (Evil)
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5
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Sincerity. There’s no good in pretending to be something I’m not. (Neutral)
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6
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Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling. (Any)
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again.
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2
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I worked the land, I love the land, and I will protect the land.
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3
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A proud noble once gave me a horrible beating, and I will take my revenge on any bully I encounter.
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4
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My tools are symbols of my past life, and I carry them so that I will never forget my roots.
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5
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I protect those who cannot protect themselves.
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6
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I wish my childhood sweetheart had come with me to pursue my destiny.
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.
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2
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I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of failure.
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3
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The people who knew me when I was young know my shameful secret, so I can never go home again.
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4
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I have a weakness for the vices of the city, especially hard drink.
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5
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Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land.
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6
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I have trouble trusting in my allies.
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