Test subjects for wizards, artificers, and other mages may come from any background, but poor and helpless people fall prey to these usually less than moral geniuses most often. Not everyone survives these experiments, and from those who do most usually get away from them, do so with scars and mutations - but you are one of the few who even benefited from the experiments, even if there might have been side effects on your appearance, and changes in your mind. You also might have learnt some games to pass the time, or following what your experimenter did gained a basic understanding of their tools, and their methods of paying close attention to details.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from among Arcana, Perception, or Investigation
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tool or gaming set, that you learnt from watching the experimenter who was working on you, or while waiting to pass your time in captivity.
- Languages: Choose one which should be some exotic language or the language of your experimenter.
- Equipment: A set of common clothes, a set of artisan's tools that you are proficient with or a gaming set, a set of manacles, notes about the nature of the experiment that have been done on you or a tag that identified you among your experimenter's test subjects, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp
The experiments brought results... some might call them side effects. They could be arcane mutations, purposful alterations in your anatomy, or even injuries unrelated to the powers you gained. Regardless of that, they are unique to you. Roll on the table, pick one, or make up your own experiment result that sets you apart from other members of your species.
| d10 | Experiment results |
|---|---|
| 1 | Your eyes are unique. You might have more, or less; your pupils could be different; they could burn with fire or be completely white even, but regardless they are not normal. |
| 2 | You might have different body parts than what you should have, or have non functional extras. Perhaps just have a few more fingers than intended. |
| 3 | Your skin texture changed. Maybe something was grafted on you, or you ooze an oily substance. Perhaps it could appear crystalline or be covered by boney plates. |
| 4 | Parts of your body resemble undeads or constructs. You might have a functional ghost hand that acts on things like some undefined force with no texture, or your torso might look like a mummy's. Or you could have mechanical arcane powered eyes, or a tail. |
| 5 | Your mind is unnatural. You migth have developed some form of insanity, or you could have lost your emotions. Perhaps you have two minds that switch being in control daily. |
| 6 | Your body was a parchment for your Experimenter. You could have sigils, runes or other writing patterns etched, sewn, burnt or grown into you, perhaps these writings still change on you actively as your powers grow. |
| 7 | Your face or mouth changed. It could look similar to some other species or monster, you could have fangs, or mandibles, or you might lack nostrils. Or it could all be replaced by a hungry void. |
| 8 | Some planar energy reshaped you. You could have fey features, or perhaps your hair is some ghastly heatless flame reminding people of the shadowfell. Or you have something completely different coming from any of the outer planes. |
| 9 | A dragon organ or other body part was grafted to your body. It could give you powers, or it might be just uncomfortable, perhaps even failing. |
| 10 | There is a sign of pure arcane energy coursing through you. You might have glowing veins, or cracks where the magic shows, perhaps entire parts of your body could be held together by a non physical connection with a gap in your form. |
You gain one of the following Feats as a representation of the spark of supernatural abilities you gained from the tests that have been ran on you: Alert, Mage Slayer, Mobile, Mystic Conflux. (Take your chosen feat as a bonus feat at the end of character creation, as selecting a Feat as part of a Background can't be coded in Beyond.)
In addition you have a basic knowledge of how arcane laboratories are laid out, and arcane experimenters could likely take interest in you and offer you free lodging in exchange for some harmless tests they would run on you.
Suggested Characteristics
The experiments changed you forever, but the way they change someone is different person to person.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I don’t run from evil. Evil runs from me. |
| 2 | I like to read and memorize poetry. It keeps me calm and brings me fleeting moments of happiness. |
| 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, because the beasts that was injected into me hungers... |
| 5 | I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my cursed past. |
| 6 | I expect danger around every corner. |
| 7 | I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized. |
| 8 | I put no trust in divine beings. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | I try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good) |
| 2 | I’ll stop the kind of people that tormented me or die trying. (Any) |
| 3 | I kill monsters to make the world a safer place, and to make me feel like I don't belong amongst their rows. (Good) |
| 4 | Law didn't protect me, so I won't protect it either. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | If law was upheld I wouldn't have been hurt either, so I will make sure it is followed. (Lawful) |
| 6 | I’m a monster that destroys other monsters, and anything else that gets in my way. (Evil) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I keep my thoughts and sufferings in a journal. My journal is my legacy, it might help others avoid my fate. |
| 2 | I would sacrifice my life to protect the innocent. |
| 3 | The way I was transformed drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I’ve lost, and my old self. |
| 4 | I despise myself for how I willingly accepted being a test subject, and I struggle in believeing myself if I don't perform well. |
| 5 | There’s evil left in me from those experiments, I can feel it. It must never be set free. |
| 6 | I have a child (or foundling from the laboratory) to protect. I must make the world a safer place for him (or her). |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have certain rituals that I must follow every day. I fear what could happen to me or my surroundings if I broke them. |
| 2 | I assume the worst in people. |
| 3 | I feel no compassion for the dead. They’re the lucky ones. |
| 4 | I have an addiction. |
| 5 | I am a purveyor of doom seeing no hope in humanity after what I was subjected to. |
| 6 | There are multiple voices in my head. Maybe the other experiments I was fused with? Or have I just gone insane? We don't know. |
Previous Versions
| Name | Date Modified | Views | Adds | Version | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4/18/2024 9:47:38 AM
|
15
|
1
|
1
|
Coming Soon
|
Comments