You died. That's it. Rather, you should have died. By some fluke of luck or great skill, you've managed to outrun death. However, that is a race nobody ever truly wins. Death is coming for you. You've seen it. It is only a matter of when and where Death catches you. Always running while looking over your shoulder, you search for a way to earn another life before that time comes.
Work with your DM to come up with the day you should have died and the way you cheated death. It is most important to know what you were attempting to do as they died. Were you an adventurer looking for treasure in an abandoned temple? Or were you attempting to rescue the neighbor's cat from a tree? Perhaps you were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?
- Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Acrobatics
- Equipment: A lucky charm, a riding horse, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 25 gp.
Death takes on many appearances. Roll on this table to give Death an appearance. Things resembling this image even loosely can often strike fear into you. You may also see Death lurking just at the corner of your vision, or worse if you aren't fast enough.
| d6 | Death's Appearance |
|---|---|
| 1 | A ghostly humanoid skeleton clad in a tattered black robe and carrying a spectral scythe |
| 2 | An anthropomorphic silvery-white wolf with an elongated snout, a gray mask marking on his face, sharp teeth, and black eyes with bright red sclera |
| 3 | An anthropomorphic sheep with pale fur and a lamb's legs and feet carrying a mystical bow |
| 4 | A young girl with black, soaking wet hair, hiding her waterlogged and deformed face which has turned grey with sunken eyes. |
| 5 | An unusually tall, hairless, pale, humanoid creature who generally crawls on all four spindly limbs and has many sharp teeth. |
| 6 | A nearly identical, yet unsettlingly alien version of yourself always showing a wicked wide grin |
As a death runner, you've grown accustomed to feeling the need to run on little sleep. As they say, "Death never sleeps," but you still do at times. When you short rest, remove one level of exhaustion. You also gain 10 feet of additional movement when suffering from the frightened condition.
Suggested Characteristics
Death runners are terrified of Death's pursuit. The way this fear manifests changes their personality greatly. Everything from their mannerisms to their flaws are built around somehow avoiding Death.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I was once brave and sometimes I draw on that bravery to push me through tough times. |
| 2 | If you need to know the best way to exit any building, I'll know it. Just in case. |
| 3 | I see Death everywhere. No really. I'm not superstitious. You'll just have to believe me. |
| 4 | Telling jokes makes me feel much better about my impending doom. |
| 5 | I'm always willing to talk about the day I died even if I do change a few details. |
| 6 | I can't believe people can be so carefree when they could die at any second. |
| 7 | Finding time to stop and smell the roses is a luxury I long for. |
| 8 | I'm so used to staying on the move, I don't mind not getting to know people. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Consideration. I won't hurt someone else to flee from Death. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Charity. I might not have much time left, so I'll help where I can. (Good) |
| 3 | Change. Maybe Death wants me to be a better person or a worse person. I don't know. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. The only way I survive this is by being strong enough to fight back. (Neutral) |
| 5 | Aspiration. First I'll beat Death, then I'll take on the gods. (Any) |
| 6 | Self-preservation. I'll do whatever I can to make sure I get through this. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm going to make it through this because I have no choice. |
| 2 | One day I'll make Death sorry it chased me. |
| 3 | I'm still wondering how I survived. I must know. |
| 4 | I'm going to use this life to the fullest. |
| 5 | I won't let anyone die on my watch. |
| 6 | I will find out everything I can about Death. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I actively sabotage lasting relationships out of fear of leaving them later. |
| 2 | There are times I believe I'm immortal if I don't see Death around. |
| 3 | I feel like I have things worse than everyone and can be uncaring to their troubles. |
| 4 | I refuse to accept failure because that means Death. |
| 5 | I sometimes think I was chosen for a reason that makes me better than others. |
| 6 | I believe things will always go wrong and I have to adjust. |
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