Shadowmarked

You have spent a significant portion of your life trapped in the Shadowfell, that bleak and haunted plane of existence where despair festers and reality warps. Whether you were lost there as a child, lured in by a dark bargain, or simply unfortunate enough to stumble through a portal that never reopened, your time in that place has left an indelible mark on you. The gloom of the Shadowfell seeped into your soul, altering you in ways that others may find unsettling. Perhaps your skin carries an unnatural pallor, your shadow moves independently, or your emotions have dulled to near-nothingness. Maybe you hear whispers in the dark, calling you back.

 

Regardless of how you escaped, you now walk the Material Plane again - changed, but not broken.

Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Stealth

Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set or one artisan’s tool of your choice

Languages: One of your choice (such as Deep Speech, Undercommon, or Sylvan, reflecting your time in the Shadowfell)

Equipment: A trinket from the Shadowfell (such as a blackened coin, a glass vial of shadowy mist, or a doll with no face), a set of traveler’s clothes, a hooded lantern with black flame (burns normally, but sheds only dim light), and a pouch containing 10 gp

Suggested Characteristics

d8	Personality Trait
1	I rarely speak more than necessary, as if words are a precious resource.
2	I find comfort in the dark and feel uneasy in bright sunlight.
3	I have a morbid sense of humor that others find unsettling.
4	My emotions feel dulled, and I struggle to connect with others.
5	I always sleep with a light source nearby—just in case.
6	I constantly check my surroundings, expecting something to slip through the veil.
7	I stare too long and blink too little, making conversations uncomfortable.
8	I collect small, strange objects that remind me of the Shadowfell.

d6	Ideal
1	Survival. I endured the Shadowfell, and I’ll survive anything else that comes my way. (Neutral)
2	Hope. No matter how dark things get, there is always a way forward. (Good)
3	Power. The Shadowfell changed me. I must understand it, control it, and use it. (Evil)
4	Freedom. I refuse to be trapped again, by anyone or anything. (Chaotic)
5	Balance. The worlds must remain in equilibrium; the Shadowfell should not encroach further. (Lawful)
6	Detachment. Nothing truly matters in the end. Everything fades into shadow. (Neutral)

d6	Bond
1	Someone helped me escape the Shadowfell, and I will repay that debt no matter the cost.
2	I still see visions of something that lurked in the darkness, watching me. I know it’s coming.
3	A loved one was lost to the Shadowfell. I will find a way to bring them back, or join them.
4	A strange entity whispered secrets to me in the dark. I don’t know if I should trust it.
5	The Material Plane feels alien now, but I will find my place in it again.
6	I left something important behind in the Shadowfell, and I must return for it.

d6	Flaw
1	I sometimes forget that I escaped. I wake up convinced I’m still trapped in the Shadowfell.
2	I find it difficult to get attached to others, always expecting them to vanish like shadows.
3	I fixate on omens and signs, interpreting everything as a message from the darkness.
4	I struggle to express emotions, even when I want to.
5	I feel drawn to places of sorrow and despair, unable to resist their call.
6	I sometimes wonder if I truly escaped at all or if I’m still trapped in a different kind of illusion.