Maybe you've always had bad luck. Maybe one bad event has given you a reputation. Or maybe you've recently come into a string of misfortune. No matter the cause, you have the reputation of a jinx. People who know your history might be afraid and try to ward off your bad luck, or they might take pity on you and your situation. From the times you have been ostracized from society, you have become adept at seeing people's true intentions, surviving on your own, and disguising your identity.
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Survival
- Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A token from the place you grew up, a disguise kit, a set of traveler's clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 10 gp
Your reputation as a jinx comes from one root cause, whether or not those afraid of your bad luck know the specifics. This instance of bad luck is often exaggerated by rumors and stories, and often comes back to you with twice or thrice its original intensity. Choose the cause of your status as a jinx, or roll from the table below.
| d8 | Bad Luck |
|---|---|
| 1 | You have been unlucky for as long as you remember. Small to medium misfortunes occur often to you or those around you. |
| 2 | A terrible event, such as a fire or plague, befell your town which you were believed to have caused. You were exiled from the town in disgrace. |
| 3 | Your family was killed in an unexplained event, of which you were the sole survivor. The fate you escaped is said to follow you wherever you go. |
| 4 | A prophecy at your birth said that your life would cause doom and misfortune. You live in fear of this becoming true. |
| 5 | A powerful being such as a celestial, fey, or fiend cursed your family generations ago and sullied the once good family name. |
| 6 | Your bad luck is merely rumor. An enemy of yours framed you, causing your ejection from good society. |
| 7 | Despite all your skill and training, something always seems to go wrong when you attempt a task. |
| 8 | You don't know what caused your status as an outcast. The only bad luck you've experienced was rumors that cropped up. |
You are used to a variety of reactions at your presence and the revelation of your reputation. Upon meeting a person, you are able to tell whether they would be sympathetic to your plight should they discover your past. Those who are sympathetic to you are willing to give you temporary lodging and food.
Suggested Characteristics
A jinx might rail against the rumors that are spread about them, feel resigned to their fate, or believe their own reputation wholeheartedly. The status as a pariah can manifest in superstition, fear, or rebellion. A jinx may desire to save others from their bad luck, work to fix their reputation, or bring others down with them.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I shun company for fear of bringing my bad luck or reputation on those around me. |
| 2 | I am superstitious and interpret every event around me as an omen. |
| 3 | I keep my chin up and remain optimistic. |
| 4 | People I meet are taken by how charming I can be. |
| 5 | I am used to bad occurrences and take them in stride. I often find them humorous. |
| 6 | Even I am sometimes fearful of my own bad luck. |
| 7 | I instinctively avoid eye contact with others. |
| 8 | I try to balance my bad luck by doing good deeds. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Empathy. I don't want others to suffer the same fate I have. (Good) |
| 2 | Fate. All luck, good or bad, is part of the natural order of the universe. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Rebellion. I refuse to accept the station life has given me. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Spite. If I'm going down, others are going down with me. (Evil) |
| 5 | Getting by. I have no time to worry about the hows or whys, instead focusing on survival. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Self-reliance. I've learned the best person to rely on is myself. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I miss my home or loved ones and would do anything for them. |
| 2 | I wish to repay the debt I owe to someone who once helped me. |
| 3 | I seek magical help to restore my fate or reputation. |
| 4 | I have a quest for revenge against those who began spreading the rumors surrounding me. |
| 5 | My time as an pariah has led me to champion the cause of other outcasts from society. |
| 6 | I did, in fact, cause some of the events for which I am blamed. I am running from real evidence of my guilt. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have very little self-confidence. I refuse to believe any compliments. |
| 2 | My anger at my situation leads me do anything to spite good society. |
| 3 | I am completely willing to take advantage of those who help me. |
| 4 | I have forgotten how to work well with others. I try to do everything myself, even if someone is better able. |
| 5 | My pessimism is a drag on my friends. |
| 6 | The cause of my bad luck manifests in a physical way that is difficult to hide. |
You have learned to milk your reputation for all it's worth. You often spread elaborate rumors about your own past, and any people who have heard these rumors become fearful of you. Those who are fearful of your bad luck will help you with small amounts of food or equipment in exchange for your departure.
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