You have no family left, everyone you know has died or disappeared in one way or another. You may remember the events that lead to where you are now, or you may have no recollection. Loneliness plagues you, and trusting others has become painful for the fear that they too, will leave you in the end. Nightmares and flashbacks may be a recurring issue, bringing back the trauma you've been through and possibly guilt for not doing more during the event that caused you to lose your family. You are extremely detached to whoever you come into contact with, in order to try and minimize the pain for when they leave. Your solitude is eating away at you, and you feel that if you don't start trusting people soon, you might just lose all that is left of you.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from among Insight, Investigation, Religion, or Survival
- Languages: Choose one exotic language (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.
| d10 |
Harrowing Event |
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1
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A monster that slaughtered dozens of innocent people spared your life, and you don’t know why.
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2
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You were born under a dark star. You can feel it watching you, coldly and distantly. Sometimes it beckons you in the dead of night.
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3
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An apparition that has haunted your family for generations now haunts you. You don’t know what it wants, and it won’t leave you alone.
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4
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Your family has a history of practicing the dark arts. You dabbled once and felt something horrible clutch at your soul, whereupon you fled in terror.
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5
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An oni took your sibling one cold, dark night, and you were unable to stop it.
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6
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You were cursed with lycanthropy and later cured. You are now haunted by the innocents you slaughtered.
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7
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A hag kidnapped and raised you. You escaped, but the hag still has a magical hold over you and fills your mind with evil thoughts.
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8
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You opened an eldritch tome and saw things unfit for a sane mind. You burned the book, but its words and images are burned into your psyche.
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9
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A fiend possessed you as a child. You were locked away but escaped. The fiend is still inside you, but now you try to keep it locked away.
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10
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You did terrible things to avenge the murder of someone you loved. You became a monster, and it haunts your waking dreams.
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Feature: Silent Vow
Just by taking a look at you, anyone can see you are an outsider no matter where you are. They see someone who stays on the fringes of society, wandering between areas with no apparent goal. Those who speak to you alone may be more inclined to divulge information or secrets to you, as they believe you have no one to tell it to. As long as you don't pose a threat, many will be kind to you as they sense you need more good things in your life.
Suggested Characteristics
You would die for those you care about. They are the only ones who have stayed by your side.
| d8 |
Personality Trait |
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1
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I don’t run from evil. Evil runs from me.
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2
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I like to read and memorize poetry. It keeps me calm and brings me fleeting moments of happiness.
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3
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I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die.
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4
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I live for the thrill of the hunt.
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5
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I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse.
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6
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I expect danger around every corner.
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7
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I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized.
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8
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I put no trust in divine beings.
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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I try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good)
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2
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I’ll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying. (Any)
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3
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I kill monsters to make the world a safer place, and to exorcise my own demons. (Good)
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4
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I have a dark calling that puts me above the law. (Chaotic)
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5
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I like to know my enemy’s capabilities and weaknesses before rushing into battle. (Lawful)
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6
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I’m a monster that destroys other monsters, and anything else that gets in my way. (Evil)
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy.
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2
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I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent.
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3
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My torment drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I’ve lost.
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4
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A terrible guilt consumes me. I hope that I can find redemption through my actions.
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5
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There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free.
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6
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I have a child to protect. I must make the world a safer place for him (or her).
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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I have certain rituals that I must follow every day. I can never break them.
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2
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I assume the worst in people.
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3
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I feel no compassion for the dead. They’re the lucky ones.
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4
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I have an addiction.
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5
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I am a purveyor of doom and gloom who lives in a world without hope.
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6
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I talk to spirits that no one else can see.
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