The thud as the male half-elf hits the floor is louder than you expected. That lying, thieving, no-good fink and fraud must have been heavier than you remember. Weight aside, someone must have heard that, so you quickly sheath your knife and nimbly slip out the cracked window onto the roofed portico.
"Camden?" calls a lady's voice, and you know it must be the shopkeeper's big-mouthed wife, Annabel. Silently, you creep down to the edge of the portico as she comes into view. Anger boils as you remember the many times she double-crossed you, spilled your secrets . . . what a fool you'd been to trust in her. But the past is the past, and this is now, and so she must pay. She's looking around, not up; you draw your longer dagger. She glances up, startled and confused at the slight, sudden noise, then shrieks as you leap down from the portico, knife drawn. The screaming stops. Satisfaction flushes your face, draws a leering grin across it. You feel like you could laugh out loud now in exhilaration, but you mustn't give yourself away. Sneakily, you sheath your dagger, and creep away into the starlit dawn.
Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever felt like the world will erupt by your spiteful hand? Have you ever felt bloodlust, or the sudden need to kill, without knowing why? Have you ever felt dark, depressed, and gloomy, only to have your spirits lifted in wicked satisfaction after hearing the mumbled words before death and seeing the warm blood pooling, dripping from your weapon? Have you ever felt so angry, you could never control it? Have you ever felt the psychopathic need to make everyone suffer, and suffer by your hand?
But why? Maybe you were hurt. Maybe you felt alone. Maybe you just felt the need come strong, rushing into your veins and making your heart throb with adrenaline. Those who know this sensation, know what it is like to be a Red Cap.
Red Caps thrive off the sight of glassy eyes staring, the taste of blood in their mouths, the sound of a gurgled last breath, the feel of cold skin as they drag away their victims. Red Caps are adept, yet soulless hunters, who live for the thrill of the hunt-- hunting down human beings, that is. In their past, they may have been troubled deeply by something, or been caught in a terrible accident which altered their way of thinking, diminished their sense of what is right and wrong. Some act for revenge, murdering everyone and their brothers who dared cross their path, who dared mock them, trick them, or shame them. Some just kill-- after their first victim was discarded in the empty streets for all to see, they loved it, they needed more, they killed more. Any harsh, rageful, or melancholy sensations in Red Caps die along with their victims. They'll kill until they die-- then keep causing havoc past that. That is the burden lifted of the Red Cap.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose Three From the Following: Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Intimidation, Performance, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth.
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose One From the Following: Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, Dragonchess Set, Poisoner's Kit, Thieves' Tools.
- Languages: Three of your choice.
- Equipment: A quiver of 30 arrows and a shortbow or a dagger, a flask, a disguise kit or a hunting trap, and a pouch containing 5 gp.
You are an experienced, longtime, well-known killer, and for this you are respected by many gangs, bandits, thieves, and murderers alike. You are near the top of the underworld, having slaughtered so many victims and gotten away with it. When dealing with other criminals and gangsters, you are welcomed heartily, offered lodgings, food, or drink. You don't have to disguise yourself (you've probably got a tell-tale scar or missing body part) or act like you are one of them when you are truly not. You are a widely-known criminal, you sneak and you kill, and you've not been contained permanently to this day. Either these miscreants are in awe and therefore respect you, and serve you so as to show reverence, or are in awe and therefore fear you, and serve you so as to not be decapitated. This bond is broken upon your murder of one of these people, as long as it is seen by others, who escape alive with the information. If all witnesses are killed, your secret is safe, you can blame it on something or someone else, and you may continue under this guise.
Suggested Characteristics
You are a Red Cap, and you act without thinking, kill without forethought. You've been consumed by this greed for bloodlust. You can't take a step without wondering who will be your next victim. Every moment asks this question: "Have they found me yet?" But, why? What changed you so deeply, that caused you to become this monster?
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I was hurt a long time ago and that has filled me with rage, which I use to fuel my endless, savage kills. |
| 2 | I don't know why I kill so much. It's just a sensation that's there, and I can't get it out. |
| 3 | I kill because I do. There's no harm in dying early if you're going to do it sometime anyhow. |
| 4 | Sometimes I feel so distant I don't know if what is going on is real. |
| 5 | I believe there should be good in the world, but I can't help from killing. |
| 6 | Every time I hear people's last words croaked out desperately, I can't help but feeling guilty, even if it wasn't me who killed them. I don't know what's wrong with me. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Benefit. I kill troublemakers in the world, it makes me feel better about myself, and it is a favour for the helpless. (Good) |
| 2 | Chaos. Everyone should die by my hand, the world should run red with blood. (Evil) |
| 3 | Insanity. I'm driven by mindless murder and see no logic in reason. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Danger. When I attack people, they tend to attack me. I don't sneak around because I hope to someday die while killing. (Any) |
| 5 | Revenge. Those who have harmed me, fall under my blade. (Evil) |
| 6 | Aid. Suffering shouldn't happen, so those who cause suffering must suffer. (Good) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I plan to make everyone who has stood in my way suffer, using a trusty little thing I like to call murder. |
| 2 | I kill because I'm on a mission from someone-- but once I took down that target, I just couldn't seem to stop. I'm doing it for the one who hired me anyways, aren't I? |
| 3 | I must have my revenge on those who wronged me. |
| 4 | I won't rest until I've taken care of all the evildoers in the world. |
| 5 | I've sworn an oath to never let a wrongdoer slip from my fingers again. |
| 6 | Each time I kill, I want more, so I get more. It's a never-ending cycle, it can't stop until I die. I am always hungry. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I don't hesitate before I kill. It's become sort of a second nature after witnessing someone do something I don't like or approve of. |
| 2 | I feel a seething anger all the time, and it's only quenched for a moment after I feel slick blood seeping down my blade. |
| 3 | Gloom follows me in my wake in the form of my victims, haunting and taunting me. It's like they're still alive. |
| 4 | Sometimes I accidentally kill innocent people who weren't witnesses, or who didn't need to be dealt with. I feel no remorse for that. |
| 5 | I can't afford victuals, so I dine on the flesh and drink the blood of my victims. I live off my kills. |
| 6 | Sometimes my mind battles between doing right and doing wrong. I always end up choosing wrong. |
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