Sometime in the past you were tortured by someone or something so dark and twisted it left you broken both physically and mentally. As a result of this torture you have been left with a shattered mind and the strongest memories are of the time you were tortured, almost as if you were only left with pain to reflect on. You occasionally see glimpses of your past life and even a ray of happiness but they are for but a fleeting moment. You’ve now set out on an adventure to overcome this torture and reclaim your life.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose one from among Arcana, Investigation, Religion, or Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose one, Disguise Kit, Thieves Tools, or Musical Instrument
- Languages: Choose one, Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, or Undercommon
- Equipment: A monster hunter’s pack (containing a chest, a crowbar, a hammer, three wooden stakes, a holy symbol, a flask of holy water, a set of manacles, a steel mirror, a flask of oil, a tinderbox, and 3 torches), one trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Horror Trinkets table after this background), a set of common clothes, and 1 sp.
Dreadful Moment
In your past you were tortured and broken. That moment is seared into your mind and acts as a barrier to the memories of who you truly are. Choose a dreadful moment or roll on the dreadful moment table.
| d10 |
Dreadful Moment |
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1
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A Necromancer constantly raised you and others from the dead forcing you into combat for his amusement.
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2
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A nobleman had you abducted and forced you tell the secrets of your order. He employed torture methods only a madman would think of.
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3
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You were a prisoner of war and tortured by the enemy to give up war plans.
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4
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While studying the arcane an eldritch horror took you prisoner and used its cruel imagination to torture you in ways no mortal could.
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5
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A vampire whisked you away in the night and used you and others as blood cattle for his nourishment.
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6
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A monster drug you back to its cave and toyed with you for days before it planned to eat you, you narrowly escaped.
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7
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A dragon was not amused by your families tribute and made you watch as it tortured, disemboweled and at them one by one.
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8
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A demon used you for experiments, most notably skinning you and using a spell to sustain you and left you that way.
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9
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Your father became possessed one day and tortured you until he finally overcame it and took his own life for what he had done.
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10
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You became possessed one day and tortured yourself until you overcame it, fearing one day it may happen again.
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Feature: Fractured Mind
As a result of the dreadful moment that left you broken your mind has shattered. Whether this is a result of a specific torture method or your mind going insane is unknown. You can easily recall the moments of your torture but anything prior to that is shrouded and fractured. Trying to recall those past memories causes sharp pains. These memories occasionally come at random moments and can cause a personality shift for the better. Other times the torturous moments become more intense causing personality shifts for the worse. You constantly fight to maintain who you are.
Suggested Characteristics
You may have survived your torture but there is not a day that goes by where you are not affected by it. As a result you hate to see anyone tortured or abused. You will stand up for anyone who is too weak to defend themselves.
| d8 |
Personality Trait |
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1
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I don’t run from evil. Evil runs from me.
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2
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I like to read and memorize poetry. It keeps me calm and brings me fleeting moments of happiness.
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3
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I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die.
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4
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I live for the thrill of the hunt.
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5
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I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse.
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6
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I expect danger around every corner.
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7
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I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized.
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8
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I put no trust in divine beings.
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| d6 |
Ideal |
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1
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I try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good)
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2
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I’ll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying. (Any)
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3
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I kill monsters to make the world a safer place, and to exorcise my own demons. (Good)
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4
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I have a dark calling that puts me above the law. (Chaotic)
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5
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I like to know my enemy’s capabilities and weaknesses before rushing into battle. (Lawful)
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6
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I’m a monster that destroys other monsters, and anything else that gets in my way. (Evil)
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| d6 |
Bond |
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1
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I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy.
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2
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I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent.
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3
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My torment drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I’ve lost.
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4
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A terrible guilt consumes me. I hope that I can find redemption through my actions.
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5
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There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free.
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6
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I have a child to protect. I must make the world a safer place for him (or her).
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| d6 |
Flaw |
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1
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I have certain rituals that I must follow every day. I can never break them.
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2
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I assume the worst in people.
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3
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I feel no compassion for the dead. They’re the lucky ones.
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4
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I have an addiction.
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5
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I am a purveyor of doom and gloom who lives in a world without hope.
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6
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I talk to spirits that no one else can see.
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