You hideous piece of flaming salamander s**t. You did something so bad that you were completely rubbished in the town paper, and you are the main talk of the town. Your name is being plastered on the notice board and people are forging wanted posters for you. You may have a few defenders, but it is nothing compared to the mob mentality that is out to get you. Your quality of life is dropping while the cost of living is rising. Tavern keepers scoff at you, smiths laugh at your face, and you cannot find lodging. Even if the innkeeper gives out a room, the patrons are most likely opposed to you staying in the same inn as them.
What have you done that angered them so? Your missteps were socially unacceptable and have muddied your name in the eyes of many. Are the allegations even true? Or is this all a misunderstanding gone wrong? Is there even ground for this anger and excommunication from society, or is this some form of political correctness pushed so far that it crossed over to injustice itself?
Whatever the case, here you are. Hated by a whole community of people for something you have or have not done. Life will be hard for you among settlements where the word has spread, so be prepared. Good luck, you utter disgrace.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from Deception, Intimidation, Persuasion, and Stealth.
- Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, forgery kit
- Languages: None. We think it's better you don't spread your terrible opinion with even more people...
- Equipment: A set of common clothes, a disguise kit, a forged wanted poster with a crude drawing of your likeness, and a pouch containing 5 gp.
No one is cancelled without a trigger event to cause it... or so I'm told. Think of a few allegations made against you or your controversial opinions that got you into this mess or use this table to generate some ideas. Work out with your DM whether these allegations are true, if some of them are or if it's all blown out of proportion. Gods help you if you're actually innocent, because you'll have a hard time proving it.
| d8 | Reason for Cancellation |
|---|---|
| 1 | You have written an erotic letter (or multiple) to an underaged citizen. |
| 2 | You think goblins should not be considered humanoids. |
| 3 | You've cast Friends on too many people. It backfired. |
| 4 | You used magic to mask your advantage or augment your abilities for a competition. |
| 5 | Multiple citizens posted stories about your predatory behaviour onto the Notice Board. |
| 6 | Your faith is different to that of the masses. |
| 7 | You used commoners to level up. |
| 8 | You are sexually attracted to the undead. |
The mob is out to get you. They have no patience for your excuses. You have truly pulled the short end of the stick. In your community, taverns are highly hostile places for you to be in. Patrons will shout at you, some may even start physical provocations. In the street, people will stop you to make a fool out of you in public, to question you or to spout their truth and why you are, in fact, the devil's son. The word travels fast and your deeds and name are known far and wide. You must either be disguised in urban places, commit to forceful defence or completely avoid urban areas. You will even encounter people who actually believe the forged wanted posters and who come after you. However, there is always opposition, and you have people on your side, or at the very least, indifferent people who can't be bothered with your past. These people will either outright help you, or treat you as they would anyone else. Those that help are vigilant and will provide you with at least a poor lifestyle and a lodging.
It is up to your DM to determine how far the word has spread, how angry the people are and the severity of their actions against you. The uninformed are your haven.
Suggested Characteristics
The Cancelled vary wildly in their personas as everyone makes mistakes and those mistakes can be brought to light. These suggested characteristics will focus more on your character's view of the whole ordeal and the effect these allegations have had on them. To make your character more well-rounded, take inspiration from any other background that suits your character's life up until their cancellation.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I joke about the reason I was cancelled. A lot. |
| 2 | I can't face crowds. For I will certainly be lynched. |
| 3 | I've read a book about a person who died for their beliefs and it inspired me to stay by my own. Till the very end. |
| 4 | I've learned not to trust anyone. |
| 5 | Mobs need numbers. I'll just reduce the number. |
| 6 | I take my time with every person who tries to debate me. |
| 7 | I keep my mouth shut. Better not to say anything than to say the wrong thing. |
| 8 | I treat others how they treat me. Nuff said. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Infamy. If everyone thinks of me as a villain, than a villain I am. (Evil) |
| 2 | Patience. If I give no other reason for this persecution, the flames will eventually die out. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Engoodening. I will do as many good deeds as I can until I clear my name. (Good) |
| 4 | Indifference. I know the truth and that's enough for me. (Neutral) |
| 5 | Vengeance. All who doubt me will pay. (Evil) |
| 6 | Justice. I will prove my innocence through the law. (Lawful) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | This ordeal helped me see who my real friends are. |
| 2 | I know where the evidence is kept. The evidence of my innocence. |
| 3 | My family is always by my side. Whatever happens. |
| 4 | A person close to me has now turned against me. |
| 5 | A toy from my childhood always calms my nerves. |
| 6 | I must keep the allegations from reaching my family, loved ones, or someone important for my career. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I blow up at the slightest provocation and insult. |
| 2 | I don't let anyone in on my feelings and inner thoghts. |
| 3 | I actually commited the deed (or deeds) I was accused off. |
| 4 | I am inflexible in my thinking. |
| 5 | I'm obssesed thinking about this whole ordeal. I find it hard to focus on anything else. |
| 6 | They're all right. I can't live with myself. |
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Posted May 8, 2021When I saw this in the homebrew background search, I expected another poorly written, political, "joke" homebrew post (I once someone's homebrew goblin statblock that they just named "Jeff Bezos" and called him black-hearted, etc). But then I read it and it's absolutely amazing. Well done, many claps!
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Posted May 10, 2021Woah! I never expected anyone to see this let alone leave a positive comment on it! Hahaha thanks a lot! The whole past year of fuzzy events inspired me to make something funny yet grounded enough to actually be viable. I'm glad you like it! I had a lot of fun writing it up!