You lived in seclusion — either in a sheltered community such as a monastery, or entirely alone — for a formative part of your life. In your time apart from the clamor of society, you found stumbled upon an ancient artifact that released a demon which subsequently possessed you. Now you spend your life wrestling with it's impulses and desires, searching for a way to subdue the demon forever.
- Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Religion
- Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, an herbalism kit, and 5 gp
What was the reason for your isolation, and what changed to allow you to end your solitude? You can work with your DM to determine the exact nature of your seclusion, or you can choose or roll on the table below to determine the reason behind your seclusion.
| d8 | Life of Seclusion |
|---|---|
| 1 | I was searching for spiritual enlightenment. |
| 2 | I was partaking of communal living in accordance with the dictates of a religious order. |
| 3 | I was exiled for a crime I didn’t commit. |
| 4 | I retreated from society after a life-altering event. |
| 5 | I needed a quiet place to work on my art, literature, music, or manifesto. |
| 6 | I needed to commune with nature, far from civilization. |
| 7 | I was the caretaker of an ancient ruin or relic. |
| 8 | I was a pilgrim in search of a person, place, or relic of spiritual significance. |
The demon that lives within you often causes trouble and attempts to break free from your subconcious. During battle, when the demon takes control, your fingernails grow into long sharp claws, your teeth grow longer and sharper, and your eyes turn solid red.
A WIS check (DC 20) must be made to prevent an involuntary possession after accumulating enough damage to reduce HP by 1/4 and again after each additional 1/4 lost. In order to return to original form, a WIS check (DC 15) must be made to become aware of the possession and then another WIS check (DC 20) to subdue the demon within. In combat, when all enemies to the party are eliminated or captured, a battling WIS check must be made between Felexious and the demon, Felex with advantage. If felex wins, the demon is subdued within and the combat ends. If the demon wins, combat continues as normal.
When the demon is in control, your character's following attributes are altered:
Your only known languages become Common and Infernal
Your alignment becomes chaotic evil
Demon Fury: The demon's thirst for blood is so powerful that it attacks the closest living thing, whether it's an enemy to the party or a member of it. The demon is searching for the beating heart of anything to quench it's thirst.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
17 (+3) 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 8 (-1) 15 (+2)
You can also now make 2 attacks with your attack action, but are limited to just these:
Demon Bite: The demon attacks with a ferocious bite worth 1d6 + 3 piercing damage.
Demon Claws: Both hands are used as one unarmed attack with 1d4 + 3 slashing damage per hand.
Blood Sucking: If the demon has a creature subdued or finds a creature that is pron, then he can use a bonus action to suck the creature's blood. This takes 1d6 HP from the creature and renews 1d6 HP to the demon.
Suggested Characteristics
Some hermits are well suited to a life of seclusion, whereas others chafe against it and long for company. Whether they embrace solitude or long to escape it, the solitary life shapes their attitudes and ideals. A few are driven slightly mad by their years apart from society.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’ve been isolated for so long that I rarely speak, preferring gestures and the occasional grunt. |
| 2 | I am utterly serene, even in the face of disaster. |
| 3 | The leader of my community had something wise to say on every topic, and I am eager to share that wisdom. |
| 4 | I feel tremendous empathy for all who suffer. |
| 5 | I’m oblivious to etiquette and social expectations. |
| 6 | I connect everything that happens to me to a grand, cosmic plan. |
| 7 | I often get lost in my own thoughts and contemplation, becoming oblivious to my surroundings. |
| 8 | I am working on a grand philosophical theory and love sharing my ideas. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Good. My gifts are meant to be shared with all, not used for my own benefit. (Good) |
| 2 | Logic. Emotions must not cloud our sense of what is right and true, or our logical thinking. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Free Thinking. Inquiry and curiosity are the pillars of progress. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. Solitude and contemplation are paths toward mystical or magical power. (Evil) |
| 5 | Live and Let Live. Meddling in the affairs of others only causes trouble. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Self-Knowledge. If you know yourself, there’s nothing left to know. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nothing is more important than the other members of my hermitage, order, or association. |
| 2 | I entered seclusion to hide from the ones who might still be hunting me. I must someday confront them. |
| 3 | I’m still seeking the enlightenment I pursued in my seclusion, and it still eludes me. |
| 4 | I entered seclusion because I loved someone I could not have. |
| 5 | Should my discovery come to light, it could bring ruin to the world. |
| 6 | My isolation gave me great insight into a great evil that only I can destroy. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | Now that I’ve returned to the world, I enjoy its delights a little too much. |
| 2 | I harbor dark, bloodthirsty thoughts that my isolation and meditation failed to quell. |
| 3 | I am dogmatic in my thoughts and philosophy. |
| 4 | I let my need to win arguments overshadow friendships and harmony. |
| 5 | I’d risk too much to uncover a lost bit of knowledge. |
| 6 | I like keeping secrets and won’t share them with anyone. |
This hermit background assumes a contemplative sort of seclusion that allows room for study and prayer. If you want to play a rugged wilderness recluse who lives off the land while shunning the company of other people, look at the outlander background. On the other hand, if you want to go in a more religious direction, the acolyte might be what you’re looking for. Or you could even be a charlatan, posing as a wise and holy person and letting pious fools support you.
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Posted Feb 12, 2019I would love to see a variant where you have made a deal with the demon that allows for a voluntary switch between and control ala etrigan the demon/jason blood from DC
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Posted Feb 14, 2019That's a great idea! I have been wanting to revisit this option anyways, so I might put that in!
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Posted Feb 15, 2019please let me know if you do!
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Posted Aug 12, 2022This is PERFECT for one of my Warlock characters. May mix a little of the Haunted One in for myself, but nice job on this background!
It fits wonderfully.