You are haunted by something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You’ve tried to bury it and run away from it, to no avail. Whatever this thing is that haunts you can’t be slain with a sword or banished with a spell. It might come to you as a shadow on the wall, a bloodcurdling nightmare, a memory that refuses to die, or a demonic whisper in the dark. The burden has taken its toll, isolating you from most people and making you question your sanity. You must find a way to overcome it before it destroys you.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from among Arcana, History, Religion, or Survival
- Languages: Choose two, one of which must be Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, or Undercommon
- Equipment: A explorer's pack (containing a backpack, a bedroll, a mess kit, a tinderbox, 10 torches, 10 days of rations, and a waterskin. The pack also has 50 feet of hempen rope strapped to the side of it. A set of clothes, common and/or clothes, traveler's and 3 sp.
Prior to becoming an adventurer you escaped the cult. Those months before are a blue but they scarred you. (Choose 1 or 2)
| d8 | The Last Straw |
|---|---|
| 1 | The cult killed your family, their fanatical devotion tested in a macabre test of faith. |
| 2 | You were born under a dark star. Gifted or cursed, the deities must find delight in your pain. |
| 3 | Your mentor and dearest friend betrayed you. Your companionship twisted into something dark, he wanted a weapon not a friend. |
| 4 | Your family has a history of practicing the dark arts. You dabbled once and felt something horrible clutch at your soul, whereupon you fled in terror. |
| 5 | On a cold, stormy night, you discovered the truth of the cold. The sound of thunder hiding your small yelp of fear. |
| 6 | The cult saw your potential and tortured you, mentally and physically. They tried to turn you into the perfect being of faith. To a point they did. |
| 7 | You opened an eldritch tome and saw things unfit for a sane mind. You burned the book, but its words and images are burned into your psyche. |
| 8 | You did terrible things to prove your faith. You became a monster, and it haunts your waking dreams. |
This character trait allows the holder to look through deceptions concerning arcane, history or religion. You past allows you to gauge when someone is pulling the wool over your eyes. You do not like it. You hate it. You gain the following benefits:
- Increase your Wisdom score by 2, to a maximum of 20.
- You gain a +5 bonus on insight checks.
- You gain a +3 bonus against mind controlling or compelling spells.
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.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I don’t run from evil. Evil runs from me. |
| 2 | I like to read and memorize poetry. It keeps me calm and brings me fleeting moments of happiness. |
| 3 | I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse. |
| 4 | I expect danger around every corner. |
| 5 | I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized. |
| 6 | I put no trust in those who preach or their divine beings. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | I try to help those who also must escape. |
| 2 | I’ll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying. (Any) |
| 3 | I kill monsters to make the world a safer place, and to exorcise my own demons. (Good) |
| 4 | I have a dark calling that puts me above the law. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | I like to know my enemy’s capabilities and weaknesses before rushing into battle. (Lawful) |
| 6 | I’m a monster that destroys other monsters, and anything else that gets in my way. (Evil) |
| d4 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent. |
| 2 | My tormentor took away the people/person I love. I will never let them steal away another's. |
| 3 | A terrible guilt consumes me. I hope that I can find redemption through my actions. |
| 4 | There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free. |
| d4 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I assume the worst in people. |
| 2 | I have an addiction. |
| 3 | I am a purveyor of doom and gloom who lives in a world without hope. |
| 4 | I tend to avoid large groups, this is seen as cowardly. |
Contacts
Your contacts are either those who also escaped like you or aided you in your escape. You know that they will be able to help other's like you or help you keep informed if the cult moves.
| d4 | Contact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fellow Runaway |
| 2 | Rescuer |
| 3 | Inn Keeper |
| 4 | Town Guard |
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