"We are the dead that breathe, the condemned that walk, and the forgotten that strike. When nations need ghosts, they call us. When we succeed, no one will ever know; when we fail, no one will ever care."
Introduction
The Hanged Men are individuals convicted of capital crimes and sentenced to death, only to be spared through a grim pact: their service in deadly and secretive missions in exchange for a potential pardon. These conscripts are marked by their grim pasts and shaped into tools of stealth and lethality, performing tasks that must remain untraceable and hidden from the public eye. Their missions are fraught with peril, but redemption is a faint light on the horizon for those who survive and excel.
Purpose and Role
The Hanged Men serve as deniable assets for their employers—nations, clandestine organizations, or shadowy factions. Their tasks range from high-risk reconnaissance and sabotage to assassinations and retrieval of forbidden artifacts. They operate under the constant shadow of their "execution," a metaphorical blade always hanging above their heads, ensuring compliance and focus. Success and meritorious service can lead to the ultimate reward: a full pardon and freedom.
Ability Score Increase
- +2 Dexterity: Reflecting their stealth and agility honed for survival in hostile conditions.
- +1 Constitution: A testament to their endurance and survival under constant threat.
- Skill Proficiencies: Skill Proficiencies
- Stealth
- Deception
- Tool Proficiencies: Tool Proficiencies
- Thieves' tools
- Poisoner’s kit
- Languages: Languages
- One language of your choice, often reflecting the espionage or diverse missions assigned to them.
- Equipment: Equipment
- A dark hooded cloak used for concealment.
- A set of light armor tailored for silent movement.
- A set of thieves' tools.
- A dagger with an engraved symbol of their second life (often a broken noose).
- A pouch containing 15 gold pieces, their first payment upon "resurrection."
Noose's Shadow
Your survival instincts are sharpened by the knowledge that death is always near. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened, and once per long rest, you can choose to reroll a failed Stealth check.
Marked for Redemption
Your second chance comes with a price, marked by the token of your "death." When interacting with criminal elements, spies, or other deniable assets, you have advantage on Persuasion and Intimidation checks, as your reputation precedes you.
Suggested Characteristics
| d4 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | "I carry the weight of my sins in silence, letting actions speak louder than words." |
| 2 | "My humor is dark and biting; laughter is a way to keep the shadows at bay." |
| 3 | "I watch everyone closely, knowing betrayal is a constant threat." |
| 4 | "Redemption is a goal, but survival is my priority." |
| d4 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Redemption: "I strive to atone for my sins through my actions." (Good) |
| 2 | Self-Interest: "Freedom is the ultimate prize, and I will claw my way to it." (Neutral) |
| 3 | Fatalism: "The noose will come for me one day; until then, I live in the moment." (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Obedience: "I owe my life to the one who spared me; their word is law." (Lawful) |
| d4 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | "I swore an oath to protect the family of the man whose life I ruined." |
| 2 | "The one who granted me my second chance is my beacon; I will not fail them." |
| 3 | "I keep a token of my past—a noose, a brand, or a scar—as a reminder of the price of my freedom." |
| 4 | "I owe my survival to a fellow Hanged Man; I will ensure they find freedom as well." |
| d4 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | "I struggle with the weight of my crimes and often doubt my worthiness for redemption." |
| 2 | "I am quick to judge and slow to trust, always expecting betrayal." |
| 3 | "I rely too heavily on my skills to avoid danger, sometimes pushing the limits of recklessness." |
| 4 | "The fear of returning to the gallows drives me to paranoia and impulsiveness." |
Contacts
Role in Aetheris
The Hanged Men are often employed by shadowy factions like the Shadowed Cadence or manipulated by powerful groups like the Whispering Veil. Their tasks are essential for maintaining the balance of power in Aetheris, but their actions are always in the shadows—unseen and unsung. Whether serving the Harmonium Conclave as covert operatives or acting as mercenaries in the deserts of Sahariad, their presence shapes the world in subtle but significant ways.
"The noose left its mark, but it wasn't my neck it took—it was my soul. Every mission I complete is another step away from the gallows, but redemption is a path paved in shadows and blood."
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