Your past ties you to the Shadowfell - a colorless plane of shadow and constant gloom. Perhaps you were trapped there when a vile sorcerer banished you from your home plane. Perhaps you were sold to and raised among the Shadar-kai and were taught how to survive in the bleak landscape. Perhaps you are a dhampir, a reborn, or a necromancer who hears the whispers of fell spirits while they sleep and spies fleeting shadow creatures when they close their eyes.
Whatever the manner of your connection, you gradually fell under the Shadowfell's influence and gleaned a little about the nature of spirits and the dead. You are haunted by the fact that another world made of despair and shadow writhes just beyond what mortals can see with their mundane eyes. Although your visions of the Shadowfell grow faint or repressed when on any other plane, your mind often wanders to the fear (or twisted joy) of one day returning to there.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two shadow-land skills from the following: Arcana, Religion, Stealth, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose one nefarious tool from the following: Disguise kit, Forgery kit, Poisoner's Kit, Thieves' Tools
Choose one source of sweet respite from the following: One type of musical instrument, One type of gaming set - Equipment: Explorer's pack, Clothes, common (including a heavy dark cloak), ten candles, dice set or a playing card set, a dagger, and a pouch containing 20 gp
Roll a d6 to determine a shadow-bound mannerism. Alternatively, pick your favorite(s) or create one of your own.
1 - You stand at windows and doorways or stare at the horizon as if worried you are being followed.
2 - Unless death and danger are involved, you take little pleasure in life.
3 - You sing dirges, recite sad poems or mumble the names of the dead.
4 - You sleep during the day and wince in bright light, but you grow unusually bold and confident in the darkness of the night.
5 - You are overly callous, cold and utilitarian.
6 - You sport prominent tattoos, shave your head, wear all black, or otherwise choose unexpected styles and fashion. You celebrate (or resign to) how it sets you apart from the masses.
| d6 | Shadow-Bound Mannerisms |
|---|---|
| 1 | You stand at windows and doorways or stare at the horizon as if worried you are being followed. |
| 2 | Unless death and danger are involved, you take little pleasure in life. |
| 3 | You sing dirges, recite sad poems or mumble the names of the dead. |
| 4 | You sleep during the day and wince in bright light, but you grow unusually bold and confident in the darkness of the night. |
| 5 | You are overly callous, cold and utilitarian. |
| 6 | You sport prominent tattoos, shave your head, wear all black, or otherwise choose unexpected styles and fashion. You celebrate (or resign to) how it sets you apart from the masses. |
The unseen and intangible presence of the Shadowfell follows you. It is subtly perceived by spirits, the undead and natives of the Shadowfell. Whether they see you as predator or prey, they feel a shadowy connection to you. Weak or cowardly creatures of this kind are inclined to avoid you. Unintelligent creatures of this kind are inclined to ignore you if outside of combat. Intelligent or powerful creatures of this kind give you no special respect, but they may be more inclined to speak with you (even if they plan to kill you right after).
Previous Versions
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8/30/2024 6:07:39 AM
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8/30/2024 6:10:58 AM
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Coming Soon
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Posted Aug 30, 2024When I wrote this, I was looking for something like “Feylost” but for the Shadowfell. I was going to be playing in Ravenloft, but the Shadowfell was more ubiquitous. It’s open to more campaign settings. Of course, PHB 2024 just changed backgrounds going forward so this was instantly outdated. No one wants a perk to make undead villains chatty if they could just take a feat instead.
I wonder how many people will allow legacy backgrounds RAW, where PHB 2024 allows them AND a bonus feat (if they didn’t give one already). They already tend to have one more skill, tool or language than the new ones, and you can move your abilities bonuses wherever you like. I might’ve preferred a bigger collection of backgrounds in the 2024 PHB and for the sidebar to have to read “If you are still using backgrounds from older books…” to imply that you might want to check with your dm before grabbing a background with an extra tool, an extra perk, and attribute freedom that someone else at the table didn’t know was an option.
Strange days to be alive, spoiled with sourcebooks but lamenting 10% of the character creation process. I’ll probably get over it.
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Posted Sep 12, 2024I really like this background, gonna use it for my new character, who got lost in the Shadow Realm from Ebon Tides, and he's Shadow Touched too.