As a child something happened to your family causing you to be scarred not just physically but magically as well. You've had to fend for yourself ever since, stealing what you can to survive and learning how to use and control this new found power.
- Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Survival, Intimidation, Arcana, [Tooltip Not Found]
- Tool Proficiencies: Thieves’ tools, tinker's tools
- Languages: Infernal
- Equipment: One trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Gothic Trinkets table after this background). a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15 gp
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. Those who look into your eyes can see that you have faced unimaginable horror and that you are no stranger to darkness. Though they might fear you, commoners will extend you every courtesy and do their utmost to help you. Unless you have shown yourself to be a danger to them, they will even take up arms to fight alongside you, should you find yourself facing an enemy alone.
You have a reliable and trustworthy contact who acts as your liaison to a network of other criminals. You know how to get messages to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you.
Suggested Characteristics
You have learned to live with the terror that haunts you. You are a survivor, who can be very protective of those who bring light into your darkened life. Criminals might seem like villains on the surface, and many of them are villainous to the core. But some have an abundance of endearing, if not redeeming, characteristics. There might be honor among thieves, but criminals rarely show any respect for law or authority.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 2 | I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse. |
| 3 | I blow up at the slightest insult. |
| 4 | I have a crude sense of humor. |
| 5 | I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die. |
| 6 | The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it. |
| 7 | I live for the thrill of the hunt. |
| 8 | I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m a monster that destroys other monsters, and anything else that gets in my way. (Evil) |
| 2 | Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | I kill monsters to make the world a safer place, and to exorcise my own demons. (Good) |
| 4 | People. I’m loyal to my friends, not to any ideals, and everyone else can take a trip down the Styx for all I care. (Neutral) |
| 5 | I like to know my enemy’s capabilities and weaknesses before rushing into battle. (Lawful) |
| 6 | Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| 2 | I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy. |
| 3 | My honor is my life. |
| 4 | There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free. |
| 5 | My torment drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I’ve lost. |
| 6 | I'm trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous benefactor. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. |
| 2 | I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong. |
| 3 | I have an addiction. |
| 4 | I talk to spirits that no one else can see. |
| 5 | When I see something valuable, I can’t think about anything but how to steal it. |
| 6 | If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it. |
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