Many adventurers have pasts that are shrouded in mystery. Secrets left untold, doors left unopened. Stories that are known to them, and them alone.
Your story, however, isn’t known by anyone…including you.
You don’t know where you came from, how you got here, or even who you are. You simply awoke in this unfamiliar place, and inside of your mind, where there should have been memories—a name, a past, a lifetime—there was only emptiness. The closest things you have to clues are a small handful of belongings, muscle memory from tasks you can’t recall, and skills from a source you can’t explain.
Maybe you sustained a head injury, or repressed your memory due to severe psychological trauma; maybe this was forcibly done to you through alchemy or magic; or maybe you voluntarily did this to yourself. Whatever the case, you’re seeing the world through new eyes. You might want to regain your memory, or you might simply choose to move on and attempt to forge a new path.
- Skill Proficiencies: Any two of your choice
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, musical instrument, or tool
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A set of traveler’s clothes, a trinket that hints at your past (choose one or roll on the Mementos table), a tool, musical instrument, or gaming set you’re proficient with, and a pouch containing 15 gp
You possess an item that you believe may be connected to your lost past. Its purpose and significance are unknown to you at present, but you can’t shake the feeling that this trinket meant something to you at one point. Work with your DM to determine exactly how important the item actually was to you.
| d10 | Mementos |
|---|---|
| 1 | A signet ring from an unknown house |
| 2 | A locket containing a faded picture of someone |
| 3 | An old, tarnished key |
| 4 | A holy symbol of an unknown or dead god |
| 5 | A faded and yellowed map of a place that doesn’t appear on any other map |
| 6 | A badge or coin bearing an insignia that nobody recognizes |
| 7 | A damaged weapon, such as a sword with a shattered blade or a bow with a broken string |
| 8 | A handkerchief with someone’s initials monogrammed on it |
| 9 | A sealed letter addressed to you, with a warning not to open it until certain conditions are met |
| 10 | An intricate puzzle box that seems impossible to open |
While you may not remember who you once were, there are others in the world who do. These can be passing acquaintances, long-lost friends, old rivals, or even enemies looking to settle a score. In any inn or other area where travelers regularly congregate, you may occasionally run into one such individual, who will be willing to offer you any help they can—provided, of course, that they can be trusted.
Work with your DM to decide how much you're willing to allow these chance encounters to know of your previous life, and if inclined, what sort of life it was. Be sure to make it clear whether or not you're open to the possibility of past enemies returning to haunt you.
Suggested Characteristics
An amnesiac retains many behaviors and traits from their past self, but they also gain new ones shaped by their struggle to piece together the disparate fragments of their identity. Some are driven by a relentless desire to seek answers and recover their memories, while others feel that their past is best left forgotten and try to put as much distance as possible between it and themselves.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I judge others based on their actions, not their words. |
| 2 | I’m haunted by shadows of memories that I can’t fully recall. |
| 3 | I’m very interested in other people’s stories, as they might contain clues to my own. |
| 4 | I pay attention to even the smallest details, hoping that something might spark a memory. |
| 5 | I write down everything I know, whether old or new. I don’t want to forget again. |
| 6 | I tend to follow my instincts, as they’re all I have now. |
| 7 | For some reason, doing a certain activity makes me feel calm. I wonder why that is? |
| 8 | Sometimes I stare at my reflection for long periods, wondering who I am. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Compassion. I empathize with those who feel lost or out of place; I know that pain all too well. (Good) |
| 2 | Structure. Amid all this uncertainty, I need order and stability to make sense of things. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Freedom. Whoever I used to be, that’s not who I am now. I can do as I please. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Resentment. Since I don’t know who or what did this to me, I’ll just take my anger out on anyone who dares to cross me. (Evil) |
| 5 | Belonging. Everyone has their place in this world, and I want to find mine. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Identity. I must discover who I am and what my purpose is. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I awoke remembering only a single name from before. That person could hold the key to my past…but I don’t know where they are. |
| 2 | There’s a distinctive marking on my body. I want to find out what it means. |
| 3 | The person who took care of me after I awoke has become my closest friend. |
| 4 | The item that I had when I woke up could be my only connection to who I was. I’ll never part with it. |
| 5 | Sometimes, a fragment of an unfamiliar song or poem pops into my head. Where did I learn it? |
| 6 | I feel compelled to seek out (or avoid) a specific place, organization, or deity. I need to know why. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m willing to try anything and everything in an effort to remember—no matter how dangerous it might be. |
| 2 | Someone I don’t remember claims that I’m their mortal enemy, and they’re hunting me down. |
| 3 | I’m slow to trust, and even slower to open up. After all, neither they nor I truly know me. |
| 4 | I get really frustrated with my inability to remember things, often lashing out or withdrawing into myself as a result. |
| 5 | I don’t want to go looking for answers about my past, because I’m afraid I won’t like what I find. |
| 6 | I’m obsessed with recovering my memories, to the point that I ignore everything—and everyone—else. |
Comments