Driven by tragedy, you have declared vendetta against a group of creatures. Upon taking sacred vows of vengeance, your vendetta was smiled upon by a divine or arcane entity of power. Whenever faced with such creatures as are the subject of your 'Vow of Violence', you are bound by your vows to terminate them with extreme prejudice by any means necessary.
- Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner's kit.
- Languages: One language spoken by those you have sworn to eradicate.
- Equipment: A backpack containing; a poisoner's kit, two whetstones, a weapon taken from a fallen enemy (dagger, light hammer, or whip) painted black, a flask of oil, a tinderbox, 10 torches, a blood-stained set of common clothes, and an empty money pouch.
A Vow of Violence is no small thing. It demands undergoing sacred rites and pursuit of an all consuming vendetta, as sworn before an artifact or holy site. Choose a tragedy that motivates you, or roll one on the Tragedy table.
| d10 | Tragedy |
|---|---|
| 1 | By happenstance, I was away when a certain monster slaughtered my entire village. It's hard to tell which exact monster of that species is guilty, so I'll settle for rendering the entire species extinct. |
| 2 | A tribe (orcish, goblin, humanoid, etc.) killed the men of my family and did worse things to the women. I wont rest until that tribe - or maybe the whole species - is eradicated. |
| 3 | I was orphaned when a fiend possessed one of my parents and made that parent kill the other, then themself. Even if I must literally go to hell to kill the creature for good, then so be it. |
| 4 | I could do nothing but watch as the rotting undead creatures devoured my spouse and child. Now I destroy all undead on sight. I will destroy undeath itself if I can. |
| 5 | After a long time failing to conceive a child, my spouse went to a hag without my knowledge. What was born was an abomination that drove my spouse over the edge. Hags and their kind will pay. |
| 6 | I was cursed with the horrors of lycanthropy but eventually cured. Now, I've set out to eradicate incurable lycanthropes before they can continue to spread their vile disease. |
| 7 | A so-called 'noble' family has oppressed my family and community for generations. I say that they've gone too far, and the world will be better off without them. |
| 8 | The dragon burnt our crops, ate our cattle, razed the village, and kidnapped or murdered many of my neighbors. If no one else will slay the creature, then I will! |
| 9 | The local thieves guild is an absolute menace! Kidnappings, contract killings, and slave trade are an active threat to the community. In return, I'm an active threat to the thieves' guild. |
| 10 | I will not rest until I have completely destroyed those responsible for the brutal murder of my mentor. |
After a long time spent living on a knife's edge, the telltale signs of aggression have become are apparent to you. Outside of combat, you always know when a creature is armed with weapons and any time you see a creature wielding a weapon, you can also tell whether the creature is proficient in that weapon's use.
Spell List
A Vow of Violence may seem like an unnecessary promise of brutality to some, and to an extent it is. Despite this, certain divine creatures and extraplanar entities often smile upon votarists who take up arms against creatures that the powers that be despise.
Prerequisite: Spellcasting or Pact Magic class feature
For you, the spells on the Vow of Violence Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class. (If you are a multiclass character with multiple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.)
| Spell Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| Cantrip | primal savagery, true strike |
| 1st | hellish rebuke, hunter's mark |
| 2nd | hold person, magic weapon |
| 3rd | haste, vampiric touch |
| 4th | black tentacles, locate creature |
| 5th | dream, hold monster |
Your magic often features subtle trickles or splashes of red, like sprays or drops of blood. The scalera of your eyes often reddens as you cast, and when you cast beneficial spells on your allies, their eyes do, too.
Suggested Characteristics
Characters with this background live the reality of their promise of physical aggression against an irredeemable foe. Their flaws and mannerisms are often defined by the singular focus of their sacred oath. Surprisingly enough, a Vow of Violence may lead to a character who secretly strives for peace with creatures that they have not sword to eradicate. Some votarists may even be so burnt out from their constant struggles that they wish nothing more than to lay down their weapons and embrace tranquility.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | No one would ever guess by my happy demeanor that I have taken a Vow of Violence, and I tend to dance around the subject if and when someone does learn of my background. |
| 2 | I've spent so long seeking vengeance that I have little practical experience in social interactions. |
| 3 | I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die. |
| 4 | I live for the thrill of the hunt. |
| 5 | I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse. |
| 6 | I expect danger around every corner. |
| 7 | My sense of humor is exclusively morbid. I only joke in inappropriate moments, and always joke then. |
| 8 | Actions mean everything to me and words mean nothing, whether it's honesty or insults that are spoken. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling. (Any) |
| 2 | Unfettered. What use are laws and customs? My vow is above such concerns. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Retribution. I am vengeance. Had my enemies done no wrong, I wouldn't be here to destroy them. (Evil) |
| 4 | Faith. I trust in my vow and the divine forces that guide my actions. I have faith that if I act with drive and purpose, I'll meet my goals. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Protection. As strange as it may seem, I do not enjoy violence. It is just what I have to do to save innocent lives and serve the greater good. (Good) |
| 6 | Impartiality. This isn't about freedom, or tradition, or good, or evil. This is just what is. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy. |
| 2 | If I cannot give the dead back their lives, I can at least grant them peace in the afterlife by my deeds. |
| 3 | I have a mentor that taught me to harness my pain and anger. I don't know where I'd be without them. |
| 4 | A terrible guilt consumes me. I hope that I can find redemption through my actions. |
| 5 | I was on a path of self-destruction until the temple found me and provided me with clarity and purpose. I would do anything for that temple. |
| 6 | No one else is going to have to endure the hardships I've been through. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | What i do is murder. I have no qualms about sharing that, and no patience for those in the way of my vow. |
| 2 | I never ever retreat. I would rather die, taking as many enemies with me as possible. |
| 3 | When faced with a choice between helping others and pursuing revenge, I usually choose vengeance. |
| 4 | I have an addiction. |
| 5 | I put too much trust in those who share my destructive goals. |
| 6 | I'm obsessed with my vow, to the detriment of everything else in my life. |
Comments