You do not know who you are, or where you came from, the strongest notions of your own name may be recollected and flashes of a past that may not be entirely your own plague your subconscious. All you do know is what is happening in the present and what you can make of your future, but it's very likely that your past may catch up with you in one way or another.
With this backstory, you may alongside your DM to elaborate on your unknown history. You may dive into the history that your character themselves are not aware of, and fill in many of the blanks to help the DM understand your character fully. Alternately, you may leave your shrouded history entirely in your DM's hands for them to craft and weave as they see fit and truly go forward with no knowledge of your character's past.
Think about your connections, the people in your past, and the places you visited. Were you born and raised in a big city or a small village? A shrewd noble, or a hardworking labourer? Were you well known, respected, feared? Were you part of an order of knights, or perhaps a cabal of criminals? These ties that bind may not be known to you, but some threads are hard to cut.
Do you even know what caused your accident, and are your memories gone for good or do you believe you can be restored...is that even something you want? Was it wild magic gone awry, deep, and scarring emotional trauma or plain ol' bump to the head?
Is the person you are now the opposite of who you used to be? Were you a vicious bandit and then a mule kick to the noggin' has you fighting valiantly to protect the people you would have once oppressed? An amnesiac Cleric who's found themselves firmly placed among a den of thieves? Will people recognize you, are you adored or hunted?
How much time has passed since the incident? Is it still so very fresh that the whole world is new to you? Has a deal of time passed and you've begun to build a life for yourself? Are you settled into a brand new you, comfortable but still wary of what mysteries lie in your past?
- Skill Proficiencies: What has passed is a mystery but your body still twitches with familiar impulses and muscle memory guides your hand. Sometimes, you even recall things learned in a life now shrouded.
- Tool Proficiencies: You have in your possession either; a set of tools which feel familiar, an instrument that's comfortable to hold or a game set you've shown a peculiar adeptness.
- Languages: A language remembered, discovered or recently learned in your new life.
Where'd they find you?
Were you discovered or did you find yourself in an unfamiliar land? Roll a d6 or decide for yourself among these options.
| d6 |
Where'd they find you? |
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1
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You were left for dead in a town you don't know.
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2
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You awoke in a prison with no memory of how you got there.
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3
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You found yourself in a forest clearing unaware of what led you to that moment.
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4
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You were found in an abandoned ruins by explorers who brought you back to civilisation.
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5
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You were adrift after a shipwreck, either rescued by passing sailors or having woken up beached and a little worse for wear.
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6
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You died, you felt death's icy chill, you can sometimes still feel it. You're alive but who are you?
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Feature: Who Am I?
You're unknown even to yourself, you move with uncertainty, like an echo of the person you used to be. You fight with an all too comfortable vigour and you speak in a tongue you don't recall learning, can you live up to who you were? Or is it a path better left forgotten? A residual after-image of a life now over, you get to start again, gift or curse seize the new breath, and work towards your goals.
Suggested Characteristics
A book with missing pages, you can choose how you live today, the few fleeting memories that define you, or the path you intend to blaze will build who you are.
| d6 |
Personality Trait |
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1
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I can't trust anyone, I don't know who is with me or against me.
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2
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I take in each new day with fresh eyes and savor the beauty of the world.
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3
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After losing a life once, I take the time to stop and smell the flowers and enjoy life.
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4
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I don't take any responsibily for my actions, I was only reborn yesterday!
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5
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I'm living my newfound life to it's fullest. Full of danger, adventure and no regrets.
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6
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I feel a shadow of my previous self obscure me and will rise beyond it!
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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Serenity. This world is so beautiful and new, I will endeavor to find my place in it. (Good)
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2
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Revelry. I will enjoy all this world has to offer, and I will not leave until I've had my fill (Chaotic)
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3
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Self-Improvement. I will strive to be better than who I was before! (Good)
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4
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Preservation. I lost everything once, I will protect what I have now. (Neutral)
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5
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Revenge. Whatever took my life away will pay. (Chaotic)
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6
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Build a Legacy. I will make new exciting memories that would put my old life to shame. (Any)
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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I see visions of a ... lover perhaps? I hope to find them to understand our connection.
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2
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I was found with a strange relic of unknown origin, it may be dangerous. I must protect it and learn what it is.
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3
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There is a single question that echoes through my mind that I must have answered.
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4
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I see a place... a building or town, I'm not sure what it means yet but I will find out.
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5
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All I can remember is the name of the ship I was on.
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6
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I keep a Journal to write what new experiences I have, it's very precious to me.
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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Whatever caused me to forget my past has also effected my short term memory, it's easy for me to forget small things.
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2
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Sometimes I black out and lose whole days, I'm not sure what happens during this time, I just regain my senses afterwards and have no recollection of the events.
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3
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I find it hard to trust people even my closest comrades, I can't truly know if they aren't the ones behind my misfortune.
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4
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The incident that caused me to lose my past left me with crippling headaches whenever I'm reminded of my past.
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5
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I do not know who I am, but others do, and I am scorned for the deeds done by a stranger who wore my face.
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6
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People from my past are pursuing me, and I do not know why.
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