You are marked by an unholy curse. Whether through arrogance or desperation, you struck a deal that forever altered your path. The curse may grant you power, but it also demands that you hold up your side of the deal, or you will die.
Cursed ones are bound to ancient evils or villainous deities. Whatever the source, each cursed one bears an intricate evil mark upon them. these curses can manifest as contracts that they have to abide by, something controlling them, or them being forced to be a sort of slave for the being that gave them the curse. cursed ones may see the being that controls/owns them in their dreams, or start to hallucinate them, or hear the being whispering in their ear or talking in their head.
Cursed ones are forced to live with the weight and regret of their choices. Not daring to speak of their curse to others, for fear that they would take it as a bad omen and run away. because of the fear that others may find out, some cursed ones may usually like to keep more isolated, preferring smaller groups of people than many, and too afraid to fall in love just for someone to run away, they often live alone, and only meet others for jobs or small close friendships or connections.
Many cursed ones are trying to find a way to break the curse by looking to find some cure or more powerful deity that can help, while others have come to terms with their situation, deciding to live out their days as if each was their last because of the curse they bear.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from among Arcana, Deception, Investigation, Perception, Stealth, Survival, and Animal Handling
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose either proficiency with a disguise kit or thieves tools, as well as a choice between either painter's supplies, or tinker's tools
- Languages: Choose either Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Dark Speech, Undercommon, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, or Sylvan depending on the language of your controller/patron
- Equipment: A small chest, a crowbar, a handaxe, one wooden stake, two daggers, a disguise kit, a 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, and 6 sp.
Your life was forever changed by one fateful decision. A deal or a curse forced upon you. The source of your curse may have granted you power, but it also demands a horrible payment. the curse you gained left you with a scar or tattoo on your body. Choose the event that cursed you, or roll on the Mark of the Curse table.
| d8 | The Horrible Deal |
|---|---|
| 1 | You were on death's door when a mysterious figure appeared and offered you a second chance. You took the deal so you could live, but you only realized later the consequences of your actions. |
| 2 | A family curse passed down for generations has become your burden to bear. One night when you were young, it awakened inside of you. Now it torments you wherever you go. |
| 3 | After you used a forbidden magic to gain personal power, a dark spirit answered your call. It gave you your desired power, but now it lingers in your head, constantly demanding an endless payment. |
| 4 | When touching an ancient artifact, it released a dark power, before turning to dust. Though the cursed artifact is gone, its curse remains with you. |
| 5 | You accidentally saw something no one was supposed to see -- an ancient horror, as old as time itself. when you looked, it looked back and everything went black. When you awoke, you found a power inside you, however you also had a terrible curse. |
| 6 | You were tricked into signing a pact written in blood. The fine print binds your soul to a powerful entity, and every time you use the power it brings you closer to damnation. |
| 7 | After surviving a supernatural disaster, you emerged from the rubble. The others in you town however, were not so lucky. you say that you were spared, but you know that you've really been claimed. |
| 8 | When you were only a baby, your parents sold your soul to a demon, and now you must serve that demon for an eternity. |
The curse has made your body grow accustomed to suffering, making you resistant to pain. When you take an amount of damage that would reduce you to 0 hit points, you can choose to remain alive/conscious for one additional round. You can move and act as normal, though if you take any further damage or are knocked prone before your next turn, you are immediately knocked unconscious. You can use this feature once per long rest.
ALSO (if your DM allows another feature) :
You are able to call upon your patron once per long rest. Doing this makes a brief divine manifestation of your patron appear wherever you can see. The manifestation can intimidate, scare, awe, or unsettle creatures that can view it. it also grants you advantage on a Charisma checks, with a minimum of 12.
Suggested Characteristics
Because of the similarities between this Background and the "Haunted One" Background, the tables for the suggested characteristics are mostly the same.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I don’t run from evil. Evil runs from me. |
| 2 | I hold others to impossible standards, believing they must not fall so low as I once did. |
| 3 | I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die. |
| 4 | My years of devotion due to my curse taught me to stay composed under pressure. |
| 5 | I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse. |
| 6 | I expect danger around every corner. |
| 7 | I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized. |
| 8 | I put no trust in divine beings. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | I try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good) |
| 2 | I’ll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying. (Any) |
| 3 | I kill monsters to make the world a safer place, and to exorcise my own demons. (Good) |
| 4 | I believe that because of my dark calling, I am above the law. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Even though I am cursed, I believe that my deity has not abandoned me. (Lawful) |
| 6 | I’m a monster that destroys other monsters, and anything else that gets in my way. (Evil) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy. |
| 2 | Before My curse, I knew joy. I now hold onto that cherished memory like a lifeline. |
| 3 | My torment drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I’ve lost. |
| 4 | A terrible guilt consumes me. I hope that I can find redemption through my actions. |
| 5 | There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free. |
| 6 | I have a child to protect. I must make the world a safer place for him (or her). |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I punish myself for my horrible mistake that led to my dark curse, believing pain is the only way to repent for what I’ve done. |
| 2 | I assume the worst in people. |
| 3 | I feel no compassion for the dead. They’re the lucky ones. |
| 4 | I have an addiction. |
| 5 | I am a purveyor of doom and gloom who lives in a world without hope. |
| 6 | I talk to spirits that no one else can see. |
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