You have been given a dark gift and are cursed by Watchers. Something is always watching you and draws ethe real spirits that take the form of creatures made of shadows, usually in the shape of Tiny beasts, that follow you and gather in your general vicinity. These creatures act like normal examples of their kind, but their behavior suggests a hint of malice. No matter what precautions you take, you can't permanently drive these spirits away. They always return, wait just beyond the reach of deterrents, or later crawl out of your clothes and equipment.
You don't believe in any god now. The curse of the watchers has been on you for most of your life and no miracle has yet been granted to you.
Roll a d4 or make the choice for the shape of your watchers:
- Inescapable judgments: Animate tools of punishment, drifting eyeballs, religious iconography
- Night Wings: Bats, moths, owls
- Plague Carriers: Fleas, rats, squirrels
- Stray Souls: Ghost orbs, shadows, ectoplasmic wisps
As actions you gain:
Borrowed Eyes. As an action, you can influence the presence guiding the watchers for 1 hour. For the duration, you gain advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) and Wisdom (Perception) checks, and you can't be blinded. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Dread Presence. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Deception), Charisma (Performance), and Charisma (Persuasion) checks made against creatures that can see the watchers, and you have disadvantage on saving throws made against the scrying spell.
You can temporarily disperse or hide the watchers with some effort. With 1 minute of work and a successful DC 15 Charisma (Animal Handling) check, you can suppress your Borrowed Eyes and Dread Presence for 1 hour. Once you successfully suppress these features, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.
- Skill Proficiencies: You are proficient in religion and insight
- Tool Proficiencies: You take proficiency in any artisan's tool set
- Languages: No additional language from this background
- Equipment: You carry 1 backpack, 1 amulet, 1 blanket, 1 lamp, 1 flask of oil, and 1 spool of string OR 20 GP
Choose or create your own piece of home to carry with you
| d4 | Trinkets |
|---|---|
| 1 | A pair of white, kid-leather gloves |
| 2 | A spinning top carved with four faces: happy, sad, wrathful, and dead |
| 3 | A smashed hand mirror |
| 4 | A tiny porcelain figurine of a dancer |
You have a golden cloak, scarf, or handkerchief that protects you from taking levels of exhaustion.
Suggested Characteristics
The Tarokkan "Shepherd" card sits in the glyphs suite and symbolizes those who protect others or one who bears a burden far too great to be shouldered alone. Your traits and ideals are based on the length of time that you have been suffering from the watchers. Your flaws are found in how you may respond to your world based on this curse.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I don't like to sit idle. |
| 2 | I let people underestimate me, revealing my full competency only to those close to me. |
| 3 | I may fail, but I don't give up. |
| 4 | I'm very literal and don't appreciate metaphor or sarcasm. |
| 5 | I don't talk about the thing that torments me. I'd rather not burden others with my curse. |
| 6 | I become cantankerous and quiet in the rain. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Haunted. I'll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying. (Any) |
| 2 | Escape. I believe there is something beyond the world I know, and I need to find it. (Any) |
| 3 | Zeal. Anything worth doing is worth throwing my whole self into. (Any) |
| 4 | Hedonist. Life is short. I live my life to the fullest, as I know any day could be my last. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Generous. I give everything I can to help those in need, regardless of who they are. (Good) |
| 6 | Selfish. I refuse to risk my hide to help others. They wouldn't help me if roles were reversed. (Evil) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm desperately seeking a cure to an affliction or a curse, either for someone close to me for myself. |
| 2 | My parent once brought a cursed magic item home. It is my obsession. |
| 3 | I attribute my survival to the work of the divine, and seek to prove myself worthy of the honor. |
| 4 | I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again. |
| 5 | All life is precious to me. I know I can change the world without taking a humanoid life. |
| 6 | My torment drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I've lost. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm convinced something is after me, appearing in mirrors, dreams, and places where no one could. |
| 2 | I complain about everything. |
| 3 | I put too much trust in those who wield power. |
| 4 | I can't sleep unless there's a light in the room. |
| 5 | I have lived a hard life and find it difficult to empathize with others. |
| 6 | I feel no compassion for the dead. They're the lucky ones. |