The Maternal Fury Image

You were once a promising student of the Order of the Ebon Paw, a sect of monastic blood hunters who wielded fire and shadow to combat elemental threats. The order used a forbidden language to communicate with fire elementals and control their power.

However, a yearning for a life beyond bloodshed and a fierce desire for a family led you to abandon the order. You built a peaceful life in a small village, crafting beautiful glass using the skills you honed during your training. But tragedy struck when fire elementals ravaged your home. Consumed by grief and a burning desire for vengeance, your past has come back to haunt you with a horrifying truth – a truth you have yet to fully understand.

 
Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Stealth, Perception, Deception (Choose two)
Tool Proficiencies: Disguise Kit, Glassblower's tools (choose one)
Languages: Primordial, or one of your choice
Equipment: A set of traveler's clothes, a pouch containing 10 gp, a charred amulet depicting a stylized, rat's paw, a tattered cloak that once belonged to your spouse (advantage on saving throws against despair), a pair of well-worn leather gloves imbued with a faint warmth (advantage on Dexterity checks related to glassblowing), and a singed stuffed mouse doll, its once vibrant colors dulled by time, and often clutched tightly in your hands (a cherished memento of your lost daughter, whispering a silent plea for answers).
 
Feature: Whispers of the Beast

Summary: You carry a dormant strain of lycanthropy, a secret you inherited from your past. While the full transformation hasn't manifested in many years, the curse subtly influences you.

Benefits:

  • Blood Sense: If you catch a strong smell of blood, you have advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks until your next short or long rest.
  • Keen Eyes: When your hit points drop below half your maximum, you gain darkvision 60 feet until your next short or long rest.

Drawbacks: 

Fire Aversion: The sight of flames ignites a torrent of agonizing memories from your past. Whenever you are targeted by a fire-based attack or are caught in a dangerous amount of fire (determined by your Dungeon Master), you must make a DC 13 wisdom saving throw or become Haunted by Flames. On a failed save, you are overwhelmed by visions of your fiery tragedy.

  • Haunted by Flames: For 1 minute, you are frightened of any creature or object that uses or embodies fire. The searing heat and flickering flames trigger vivid flashbacks.
    You have disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls while the source of your fear is within line of sight.
    You can't willingly move closer to any source of fire.
    Haunted Echoes: During this time, the visions and echoes of screams can be distracting, but you are not completely blind or deaf. You can still perceive your surroundings with some difficulty.
  • Recovery: After 1 minute, the visions fade, and you regain control. You are shaken but not permanently incapacitated. However, you are left feeling emotionally drained and vulnerable. You have disadvantage on wisdom saving throws for the next hour.

Partial Transformation (Optional Rule):

This optional rule allows you to tap into the dormant power of your lycanthropy during moments of dire need. However, this power comes at a cost. Discuss this feature with your Dungeon Master before using it in your campaign. They can adjust the mechanics and effects to fit the overall power level of the game.

Triggering the Transformation:

When your hit points drop below half your maximum, you must make a DC 13 wisdom saving throw. Your senses sharpen – you scent the air like a wild animal, and see in the dimness with newfound clarity. This surge of awareness is a warning, a glimpse of the beast slumbering beneath your skin. On a failed save, you succumb to the transformation. You can choose to fail the saving throw to embrace the beast's power or attempt to resist.

Partial Transformation

  • Beast's Fury: When a partial transformation occurs, a primal energy stirs within you. A bestial rage takes hold, and razor-sharp claws erupt from your fingertips. Your movements become more primal, your reflexes faster. A low growl escapes your throat, a mix of fear and fury.
    You gain a bonus to your movement speed equal to your Monk speed bonus.
    You sprout sharp claws that deal 1d6 slashing damage as an unarmed strike (in place of your unarmed strike).
  • Beastly Flurry: As a bonus action while partially transformed, you can make an extra attack with your claws.

End of Transformation:

At the end of your turn or if you are incapacitated, the transformation ends. You regain control but are exhausted for 1 hour. You can choose to spend one ki point to avoid exhaustion.

 
Suggested Characteristics

Your past is shrouded in mystery, but the flicker of fear in your eyes and the horrible burn scars you keep hidden underneath your cloak hint at a traumatic event involving fire. You are a skilled martial artist, but a deep-seated terror of flames simmers beneath the surface. The dormant lycanthropy within you fuels your combat prowess, but also threatens to consume you in moments of rage.

d8 Personality Trait
1 Haunted Eyes: My gaze often seems distant, a flicker of fear betraying the fiery tragedy that forever changed me.
2 Fiercely Loyal: Once I let someone into my inner circle, I become an unrelenting shield, unleashing the beast within if necessary to protect them.
3 Stoic Discipline: A calm exterior masks the inner turmoil of my curse. Years of monk training have honed my stoicism.
4 Haunted Dreams: Vivid nightmares replay the fire, fueling my fear of flames and making trust a difficult proposition.
5 Quick Wit: A sharp mind and a dry sense of humor are my weapons for deflecting from the darkness that lurks within.
6 Reluctant Savage: I view my lycanthropy as a curse, only embracing the beast's power when there's absolutely no other option.
7 Yearning for Control: Constant training fuels my desire to master my emotions and control the beast within, seeking inner peace through relentless discipline.
8 Distrustful: Past betrayals have made me wary of others. I keep my true nature a closely guarded secret.
d8 Ideal
1 Survival is Key: The world throws punches, and only the strong survive. This harsh truth guides my actions.
2 Balance is Necessary: I strive to maintain a balance – the primal fury of my curse tempered by the disciplined control of my monk training.
3 Atone for the Past: A deep desire burns within me to redeem myself for past sins, to use my power for good.
4 Protect the Innocent: Those who cannot defend themselves deserve my protection. I dedicate myself to safeguarding them at all costs.
5 Knowledge is Power: Answers lie hidden in knowledge. I seek to understand my curse, hoping to unlock its secrets and potentially control it.
6 Embrace the Beast: I've come to accept the duality of my nature. When necessary, I wield the beast's power as a weapon against those who deserve its wrath.
7 Silence the Echoes: The haunting visions triggered by fire are a constant torment. I yearn for inner peace, for a way to silence those echoes.
8 Unbreakable Will: I possess an unyielding will. I refuse to succumb to the darkness within, clinging fiercely to my humanity.
d8 Bond
1 Lost Loved One: A loved one, stolen by flames, haunts my every step. Their memory fuels my quest for control and potential redemption.
2 Mentor's Guidance: A wise monk took me in after the fire, offering a path to control the beast within and teaching me the value of discipline.
3 Hunting the Source: An insatiable hunger drives me to find the source of my lycanthropy, seeking answers and a potential cure.
4 Redemption for a Past Deed: A burden resides within me – a past misdeed fueled by the beast. Atoning for my actions consumes me.
5 Oath of Vengeance: A fire's destruction fueled my rage, leading me to swear an oath of vengeance. The beast's fury and my sense of justice guide my steps.
6 Hidden Pack: I am secretly part of a lycanthrope pack. While striving to control my curse, I remain loyal to my kin.
7 Mysterious Benefactor: A shadowy figure aids me in my journey, offering cryptic advice and resources in exchange for my skills. Their motives remain unclear.
8 Forbidden Research: Stolen research on lycanthropy lies hidden amongst my belongings. Perhaps within its pages lies the key to unlocking the secrets of my curse, even a cure.
d8 Flaw
1 Fire Frenzy: When intense flames engulf the world around me, control becomes a struggle. The beast within threatens to erupt in a berserker rage.
2 Haunted by Visions: The visions triggered by fire can be debilitating, momentarily blinding me to immediate threats lurking in the shadows.
3 Self-Loathing: Loathing for my curse festers within me. Accepting help or forming close bonds is a constant battle against this self-hatred.
4 Reckless Abandon: The heat of battle can cloud my judgment. I might overstep my limits, succumbing to the beast's power for a fleeting edge.
5 Distrustful Nature: Past experiences have made me wary of others, hindering my ability to form meaningful connections.
6 Secretive Past: My past is shrouded in secrecy. Fear of rejection or manipulation prevents me from revealing my lycanthropic curse.
7 Fragile Control: My control over the beast is a fragile thing. A single misstep or emotional trigger could unleash its fury.
8 Temptation of Power: The beast's power is undeniable, a seductive whisper at the edge of my mind. Sometimes, the temptation to use it for personal gain is a constant struggle. The line between control and savagery blurs easily.
 
The Maternal Fury Image

Comments

Posts Quoted:
Reply
Clear All Quotes