You have always felt a dark, insidious presence lurking in the depths of your soul. Whether it is the curse of an ancient bloodline, the lingering influence of a fiendish patron, or the manifestation of a hidden trauma, this darkness occasionally compels you toward acts of cruelty or violence that you struggle to resist. Yet the origins of this urge remain a mystery even to you, for your past is a fractured haze—disjointed glimpses of places you do not recognize, the scent of blood on your hands, the echo of a voice whispering your name. You remember nothing concrete, only fleeting sensations of regret, terror, and, disturbingly, exhilaration. Who you were before this amnesia took hold is unknown, but the weight of your forgotten past presses down on you like a specter in the dark.

During some long rests, you awaken with a consuming desire to kill, feeling as though the darkness within you is clawing its way to the surface. There are nights when you fight against it, fearing what you might become. Other times, you wake to the smell of blood, with no memory of how it got there. Whether your past was one of villainy or vengeance, you cannot say, but something within you urges you to uncover the truth—before it consumes you entirely.

Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from among Arcana, Insight, Intimidation, or Investigation

Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan's tools

Languages: One of your choice

Equipment: A monster hunter’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 set of artisan's tools, one trinket of special significance (choose one), a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp.

Suggested Characteristics

You often wrestle with a deeply buried darkness that manifests in various, unsettling ways. Your past is a fog of repressed memories, violent impulses, and unexplainable rage. While some may fight against their urges, desperately seeking redemption or understanding, others may be resigned to their fate, seeing the darkness within as an integral part of their identity.

You are marked by a haunting duality: you can be charming, even gentle, in one moment, and terrifyingly ruthless in the next. Your behavior is influenced by your struggle with self-control, the fear of losing yourself to your darker instincts, and a lingering suspicion of your own past. This internal battle often drives you to seek answers to the origin of your impulses, sometimes obsessively so, while others may attempt to distract themselves or simply live in denial.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I am obsessed with uncovering the origins of my dark urges.
2	I experience strange and vivid dreams filled with blood and shadows.
3	I’m always scanning the faces around me, looking for the next threat, even when there’s none to be found.
4	Sometimes, when I’m alone, I hear the voices again… coaxing me, tempting me.
5	I keep my emotions locked away. It’s safer for everyone that way.
6	I find it difficult to trust others, not because of what they might do, but because of what I might become.
7	I often find myself drawn to places of darkness or decay, as if something there is calling to me.
8	I keep my hands busy with mundane tasks or fidgeting, afraid that if I stop, the darkness will creep back in.

d6	Ideal
1	I must master the darkness within me, no matter the cost. (Lawful)
2	These urges aren’t a curse; they’re who I am. Why should I deny them? (Chaotic)
3	My past doesn’t define me. I can still be better. (Good)
4	This darkness gives me strength. I must embrace it fully. (Evil)
5	If I can uncover the truth behind these urges, I can reclaim my fate and find peace. (Any)
6	I’ll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I am hunting the source of my dark urges, hoping to destroy it before it destroys me.
2	I’m searching for someone or something that can shed light on the source of my urges.
3	I owe a debt to someone who helped me regain control during my darkest hour.
4	There’s a place, a name, or a symbol that haunts my dreams. I must discover its meaning.
5	I once hurt someone close to me in a fit of rage. I must find a way to atone.
6	There’s a person who knows too much about my past, and I fear what they could reveal.

d6	Flaw
1	I sometimes feel a twisted sense of satisfaction when giving in to my darker impulses, and it terrifies me.
2	I am haunted by the faces of those I’ve hurt, making it difficult for me to sleep or find peace.
3	I often doubt my own perceptions, wondering if what I see is real or just a twisted vision.
4	My fear of losing control sometimes paralyzes me when I need to act.
5	I struggle to relate to others, fearing what they would think if they knew the truth about me.
6	Sometimes, the darkness whispers promises of power… and sometimes, I listen.