You were once the subject of a dark experiment, whether by a twisted organization, malevolent mage, or some other force seeking to control or enhance you. The experiment left you changed—physically, mentally, or both—and ever since, you have been plagued by volatile and uncontrollable powers. The experiment may have been intended to create a weapon, but something went horribly wrong. Now, you struggle to maintain control, constantly on the verge of losing yourself to the power within.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from among Arcana, Intimidation, Athletics, or Survival
- Languages: Choose two, one of which must be Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, or Undercommon
- Equipment:
- Explorer's Pack (containing a chest, a crowbar, a hammer, three wooden stakes, a holy symbol, a flask of holy water, a set of manacles, a steel mirror, a flask of oil, a tinderbox, and 3 torches)
- One trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Horror Trinkets table after this background)
- A set of common clothes
- 1 sp
- Inhibitor Collar/Bracelet: A magical or technological item designed to suppress your powers or volatility. You still wear it, though whether it helps or hinders you is up to the DM’s narrative [Tooltip Not Found]
This reflects the unpredictable and volatile nature of the powers or mutations that resulted from the experiment. It emphasizes that your character's abilities are not fully under control and that random, often dangerous, effects could manifest at any time. This table can be used whenever your character is under stress, when their powers surge, or during a specific trigger point in combat or role-play.
| d10 | Unstable Manifestations |
|---|---|
| 1 | Your blood heats up, dealing 1d6 fire damage to all creatures within 5 feet, including allies. |
| 2 | A sudden surge of energy grants you +2 to attack and damage rolls for 1 minute. |
| 3 | You emit a pulse of necrotic energy. All creatures within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or take 1d8 necrotic damage. |
| 4 | Your body twists and mutates, growing claws or fangs. Your unarmed strikes deal 1d6 additional slashing damage for 1 minute. |
| 5 | Your heart races uncontrollably. You gain the effects of the Haste spell for 1 minute, but when the effect ends, you suffer 1 level of exhaustion. |
| 6 | A random explosion of magic occurs. Roll on the Wild Magic Surge table (from the Sorcerer class in Player's Handbook). |
| 7 | You become intangible for 1 minute, allowing you to pass through walls and obstacles, but you can’t interact with objects or attack during this time. |
| 8 | An aura of chaos surrounds you. All creatures within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be confused (as the Confusion spell) for 1 minute. |
| 9 | Dark energy crackles around you. For 1 minute, each time you take damage, you can use your reaction to deal 1d6 force damage to the attacker. |
| 10 | Your eyes glow with a supernatural light, and you gain blindsight out to 30 feet for 1 minute, but you are blinded beyond that range for the duration. |
Your body and mind are unpredictable due to the experiment’s aftermath. Sometimes, your volatile nature manifests in ways you can’t control, but it also gives you an aura of danger that makes others cautious around you. When you enter a town or city, rumors quickly spread of your presence, and many individuals or groups keep their distance out of fear. This gives you advantage on Intimidation checks when interacting with commoners or low-level enemies, as your erratic behavior makes you appear more dangerous than you truly are.
In combat, once per long rest, you can enter an "Unstable Surge" state, which lasts for 1 minute. During this time, you gain advantage on attack rolls, but must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of your turns or attack the nearest creature, friend or foe.
Suggested Characteristics
The Failed Experiment background carries the weight of a dark past, where the character was subjected to cruel experiments or manipulation that left them physically and mentally altered. These changes have made the character volatile, both a danger to themselves and others, and they must constantly struggle to maintain control. Their personality, ideals, bonds, and flaws are shaped by this traumatic experience and the lingering effects of the experiment, manifesting in a constant tension between self-preservation and the fear of losing control.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I feel a constant pressure inside me, like a storm building, and I'm never sure when it will break. |
| 2 | I’m always on edge, looking for ways to stay calm before something goes wrong. |
| 3 | I tense up whenever I sense danger, because deep down I know that I’m the real threat. |
| 4 | My emotions are like a fragile dam, and I fear what will happen when they finally burst. |
| 5 | I am obsessed with understanding my powers, even at the cost of my sanity. |
| 6 | I look for humor in dark places, trying to make light of my grim circumstances. |
| 7 | I am constantly on guard, unable to trust anyone completely, not even myself |
| 8 | I sometimes feel detached from reality, as if my body and mind are separate from who I once was. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Control: I must learn to control the power inside me before it consumes me. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Freedom: "No one will ever control me again. I will forge my own path, no matter the cost." (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Domination: "If I can't control my power, then I will make the world bow to it. They will fear what I’ve become." (Evil) |
| 4 | Redemption: "There must be a way to undo what was done to me. I seek to reclaim my humanity." (Good) |
| 5 | Revenge: "Those responsible for my torment will pay dearly for what they did to me." (Evil) |
| 6 | Power: "The power within me is a gift. I will master it, and no one will stand in my way." (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | "The person or group that helped me escape is the only one I trust, and I would die for them." |
| 2 | "I am hunting the one responsible for my transformation, and I will not rest until they are destroyed." |
| 3 | "I carry a keepsake from my past, a reminder of the life I once had before the experiment." |
| 4 | "I owe a debt to someone who showed me kindness during my darkest days, and I will protect them at all costs." |
| 5 | "I have strange, cryptic memories of a place or person tied to the experiment, and I must uncover their meaning." |
| 6 | "I still feel the pull of the experiment’s creators, and part of me wonders if I’ll ever truly escape them." |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | "I am prone to sudden, violent outbursts when under stress, and I struggle to control them." |
| 2 | "I fear that I am more monster than human, and I don’t trust myself around others." |
| 3 | "When I lose control, I hurt those closest to me, and I feel like there's no stopping it." |
| 4 | "I obsessively seek any information or magic that might help me control or cure my condition, even at great personal risk." |
| 5 | "I push people away, convinced that getting close to me will only lead to their suffering." |
| 6 | "I sometimes wonder if I should give in to the power within me and let it consume who I was." |
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