Once, you were an obedient member of a religious cult. You may have been a follower of a dark god, demon prince, twisted fey, or just power-hungry religious fanatic - that is of little importance now. What matters now is that, somehow, you found it in you to free yourself from the blind servitude and saw the error of your ways. Many innocents died by your hand - sacrificed on an altar or slain in raids. Brainwashed, drugged, or simply confused and misled you have committed crimes so heinous you could hardly ever ask for forgiveness. Nevertheless, you have left the cult determined to seek a new life. Will it be a life of virtue in a pursuit of redemption or a lonesome journey of an embittered and broken individual trying to run away from their past? Why did you join the cult in the first place? What made you see through the veil of the cult indoctrination? How have you managed to escape?
- Skill Proficiencies: Deception and Stealth
- Tool Proficiencies: One of the following: calligrapher’s supplies, disguise kit, musical instrument.
- Languages: Abyssal and one standard language
- Equipment: a set of traveler's clothes, your cult’s identification mark, a dagger, a magic scroll describing a minor incantation or ritual (level 1 warlock spell of your choice, one use), a pack of candles, and a pouch containing 5gp
Cult member identification
| d6 |
Cult member identification |
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1
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Markings (tattoos, scarification, branding…)
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2
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Self-Mutilation (fingers or ears cut off, missing eye(s), split tongue…)
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3
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Accessories (rings, medallions, bracelets, piercings…)
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4
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Clothing (distinct color or type of clothing…)
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5
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Language (password, phrase, cipher, non-verbal signs…)
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6
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Multiple layers of identification - roll twice on this table, reroll any 6s
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Feature: The black sheep
Thanks to your long affiliation with a cult community, you can very easily identify anyone who is a member of a commune similar to your own. All cults are essentially the same and their members exhibit the same behavioral patterns. By extension, you can also easily recognize any drug addicts, compulsive liars and people with various behavioral disorders.
Additionally (this is up to you or your DM to decide), some of your former brothers and sisters in faith might not know you have defected and would be willing to provide you (and only you) with shelter and supplies. However, the question is whether you want to stay with them again.
Suggested Characteristics
Former cultists may have been very different when they joined, but tend to have similar experiences in the cult even when not worshiping the same thing. Whether that turns them into champions of the light or brooding misanthropes is a matter of circumstance and personality.
| d10 |
Personality Trait |
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1
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I have learned to keep my mouth shut and eyes down if I want to survive.
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2
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My past still haunts me in my dreams. I often wake up screaming or do not sleep at all.
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3
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I distrust any kind of organized faith and those who follow them.
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4
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I am so eager to put the past behind me that I fake being a happy outgoing person
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5
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feel immense guilt over my past actions and welcome suffering as my atonement. I have little or no regard for my personal health.
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6
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I always look for hidden meanings in everything.
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7
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Every day I expect to get a knife in my gut and I see vengeful assassins in every shadow. I am paranoid or suspicious of others.
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8
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I still swear by the name of my old god and use the cult’s jargon.
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9
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Being a pawn in someone else’s game left me with an inability to make choices of my own. I am indecisive.
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10
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I am resistant and contrary just for the sake of it.
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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Protective. Dark cults trifle with powers that are beyond their understanding or control. Those fools must be stopped. (lawful)
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2
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Nihilist. What’s the point of anything? People are insignificant and their struggle is futile. (neutral)
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3
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Repentant. I cannot possibly undo the wrongs I have done, but I can still try and atone. (good)
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4
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Anarchist. Lives of men should not be ruled by anyone. No gods, no masters! (chaotic)
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5
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Faithful. While our cause may be righteous, the cult's leaders are corrupt: I seek to follow my god's plans. (any)
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6
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Selfish. The world is doomed either way. Better make to most of it. (evil)
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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When I left the cult, I took one of its relics with me. For some strange reason, I cannot part with it.
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2
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They were supposed to be sacrificed, I have helped them escape. Now I feel responsible for them.
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3
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It breaks my heart to know that my close friend, lover or family member is still a loyal follower of the cult.
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4
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The cult leader made me kill my old friend during the initiation. I have not forgotten that and I want revenge.
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5
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I cannot stand by and watch as more children and youths get turned into mindless fanatics or are exploited for someone else's personal gain.
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6
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No one must ever know about my involvement with the cult.
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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I still secretly believe the doctrine of my old cult and know that I and this world are doomed.
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2
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I make up for past abuse by abusing others.
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3
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I developed a taste for illicit drugs in the cult and still crave them
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4
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I blindly follow anyone who takes authority.
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5
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In the cult I had to steal and hide food to survive. I still do even when I have plenty.
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6
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I will sacrifice anything to stop the cult. Anything and anyone.
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