You were born under an ill-fated sign, marked by a curse that has bound you to the Ethereal Plane. Without warning, you occasionally slip between the Material Plane and the Ethereal Plane, often vanishing at inopportune moments and reappearing when least expected. Your connection to this mystical, ghostly plane has left you with strange powers that others fear or misunderstand, and over time, these powers have begun to manifest in chaotic, unpredictable ways.
The source of this curse is a mystery. Some say it was a result of your ancestor’s dealings with extraplanar entities, while others claim that you were simply born in the wrong place at the wrong time, aligning with the forces of the Ethereal Plane. Whatever the reason, the curse is both a gift and a burden, providing you with strange magical abilities but isolating you from the world.
Your ability to slip into the Ethereal Plane has impacted your relationships and life in the Material Plane. It also explains why you’re not always present with your companions, as the curse sporadically pulls you away when its influence takes hold.
- Skill Proficiencies: Arcana and Perception
- Equipment: A token from the Ethereal Plane (such as a translucent stone or wisp of ectoplasm), a journal detailing strange occurrences tied to your curse, common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 GP.
Once per long rest, you can voluntarily step into the etherealness for up to 10 minutes, gaining the benefits of the spell (without expending a spell slot). However, the curse often takes you there against your will at the DM’s discretion. During times when you are forced to the Ethereal Plane, your character is unable to act in the Material Plane, explaining your absence from certain sessions.
Suggested Characteristics
Your curse has shaped who you are—causing you to be wary, detached, or perhaps resigned to your fate. The unpredictable nature of your existence, slipping in and out of the Border Ethereal, makes you either distant or highly attuned to the unseen forces around you.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m constantly alert, always looking for signs of the next time the curse will pull me away. |
| 2 | I avoid making plans because I never know when I’ll disappear again. |
| 3 | I find comfort in the company of ghosts and spirits, as they are more constant than people. |
| 4 | I approach every problem with a calm, almost detached mindset—what’s one more complication compared to my curse? |
| 5 | I have a habit of staring off into the distance, as if I can see into the Border Ethereal at all times. |
| 6 | My sense of humor is morbid, and I often make light of death and the unseen world. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Order. There must be some logic or rule to this curse, and I’m determined to find it. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Survival. I’ll do whatever it takes to live another day, curse or no curse. (Neutral) |
| 3 | Destiny. This curse is part of a greater design, and I will embrace whatever fate has in store. (Lawful) |
| 4 | Power. I can harness the chaos of the Ethereal Plane to gain control over my destiny. (Evil) |
| 5 | Balance. I’ve learned to walk the line between worlds and see the harmony in all things. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Hope. One day, I will find a way to lift this curse and live a normal life. (Good) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I once met a powerful entity in the Border Ethereal who gave me cryptic advice. I must decipher their words and find them again. |
| 2 | There is an object that connects me to the Ethereal Plane—a family heirloom, cursed relic, or artifact—and I must protect it at all costs. |
| 3 | I am searching for someone who knows more about my curse, even if it takes me to the darkest corners of the world. |
| 4 | I’ve caused someone great pain by disappearing at a crucial moment, and I seek to make amends. |
| 5 | I have glimpsed something terrifying in the Border Ethereal, and I’m determined to stop it from crossing into the Material Plane. |
| 6 | My loyalty lies with the group I travel with. Despite my curse, I will protect them at all costs. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | My fear of disappearing again makes it hard for me to trust others or rely on them. |
| 2 | I often hesitate to act decisively, fearing that I might vanish at a critical moment. |
| 3 | I’m obsessed with finding a cure for my curse, to the point that I ignore more pressing matters. |
| 4 | I’ve begun to feel more at home in the Ethereal Plane than in the Material Plane, and this detachment makes me reckless. |
| 5 | My constant shifting between planes has left my mind frayed, and I occasionally confuse past, present, and future. |
| 6 | I harbor deep resentment toward those who live normal lives, and I sometimes lash out at them unfairly. |
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