You awoke in some kind of tomb; be it a crypt, grave, or mound, and crawled your way out with no recollection of how you got there or who you even are. Looking at yourself, you that you're no longer the being you once were. You are, in a word, dead. Yet you continue to live, why? What being granted you this undeath and more importantly, what are you going to do with it now? Perhaps you wish to recover what you had lost, be it a family or home, or maybe you wish to make the most of this clean slate, not tying yourself to the memories of the past.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose any two skills that are appropriate to your past life.
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose one tool that is appropriate to your past life.
- Languages: You one exotic language as it relates to your method of undeath. (Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, or Undercommon)
- Equipment: A dungeoneer's pack, one trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Gothic Trinkets table after this background). Also gain a set of tattered set of common clothes and 1 sp.
The Moment of Death
This is what killed you, you may remember it, you may not. It has left a mark on your undead form obvious enough to be noticed by yourself or others if it not hidden. This moment should have significant meaning for your character whether you remember it or not, as it was likely the catalyst for your undead transformation. Roll once on this table to determine a random cause of death or choose/create your own that suits your story.
| d10 |
The Moment of Death |
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1
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You were bitten and killed by a vampire, ghoul, or other undead and thus turned into one yourself.
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2
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You were sacrificed in the name of some deity by a group of its fanatic followers as a form of ritual worship.
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3
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You and many others were the casualties of an attack on your town by some violent raiders or monstrosities.
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4
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Your death was peaceful and uneventful, yet you still returned.
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5
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You succumbed to some sort of strange illness or poison.
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6
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You were the unfortunate target of an assassination or murder.
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7
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You were killed on the battlefield during a great war.
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8
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You were murdered, and you know your murderer's name.
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9
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You were executed for a crime you may or may not have committed.
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10
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You have no idea, your death is an unknown mystery. Perhaps it was so long ago any memories have since faded, or perhaps it is kept a secret for other reasons.
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Feature: One of The Grave
You unsettle those around you with your deathlike appearance unless you sufficiently hide your form. Strangers may take pity on you if they do not know what you truly are, providing you with some sort of meager shelter should the need arise. However, they may also turn on you upon learning your true form, seeing you as nothing more than an abomination.
Suggested Characteristics
Although you may not remember your past life, it still affects you all the same. And through this combination of once-living and once-dead, you are now someone completely new, yet still the being you once were as well.
| d8 |
Personality Trait |
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1
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I've seen all this before, it takes quite a bit to actually excite me.
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2
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I see a world of greys, we all are ending up in the same place anyway.
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3
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Every time someone asks how exactly I died, I give them a different story. Sometimes I doubt if I really know it myself.
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4
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The scars of my death cover my body and constantly remind me of what happened.
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5
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I see small talk and idle chatter as wasted time.
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6
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I am determined to not let myself die again like I did the first time.
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7
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I like to learn, I've missed so much time and am eager to catch up.
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8
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I see death as almost a friend rather than an enemy who must be avoided.
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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Valor. There is a reason I am here again, I believe it is something righteous. (Good)
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2
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Freedom. I have been given a second chance, I don't intend to waste it. (Neutral)
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3
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Compassion. No one should have to suffer the same fate I have. (Good)
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4
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Independence. Life is short, death is always waiting, and I got away this time. (Chaotic)
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5
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Order. Life and death is a delicate balance, I am unliving proof of that. (Lawful)
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6
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Malice. Death no longer has a grip on me, now I bring it to others. (Evil)
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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I remember a loved one or family I lost, I would to anything to reunite with them.
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2
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For some strange reason I have developed a close bond with whatever brought me back.
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3
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There is a place and I don't know why, but I want to go there more than anything.
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4
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I will track down whatever it was that killed me and end it once and for all.
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5
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I will use this opportunity to do the good I couldn't in my first life.
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6
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Some are not as lucky as I am, I will protect them and make sure they don't need a second chance.
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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Death happened to me and I came back, others could too. There's no need for mercy.
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2
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I should have stayed dead, I have no place here.
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3
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I don't put much effort into things unless they are really important, otherwise it's not worth my time.
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4
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I always go with my gut, no matter how reckless it is.
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5
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I purposely distance myself from others, no one should be close to me.
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6
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I always see the worst in the world, I know better than to hope for the best.
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