You were spawned in the pits of the Nine Hells. You might be a devil, or a lost soul made flesh.
During your time in Hell, to what extent were you tormented? Do you have any memory of your time there? How did you find your way to the material realm? Perhaps you escaped, or were sent on a mission by a greater devil, or summoned by external forces? Are the jailors of hell in pursuit of you, checking your progress, or merely awaiting your return?
Prerequisite: You must either be native to the nine hells, or of an evil alignment
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose three from among Stealth, Arcana, History, Religion, Perception, Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion
- Languages: Choose two exotic language (Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, or Undercommon)
- Equipment: A ceremonial dagger, a set of common clothes, and one trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Gothic Trinkets table after this background).
You are not from the material realm, so how did you cross the planes? You can work this out with your DM or roll on the table below.
| d10 | Hellspawn |
|---|---|
| 1 | I was released from imprisonment to be hunted by devils for sport. |
| 2 | I was summoned from Hell by a wizard. The ritual went wrong so now I am free! |
| 3 | I have been tasked by a greater devil to locate an important artifact or person. |
| 4 | I was part of a great battle against hordes of demons that spilled over to the material realm. |
| 5 | I could always come and go as I pleased, but for some reason I now cannot return. |
| 6 | I was rescued from my torment by a reincarnate spell, although I was not the intended target. |
| 7 | I was a demonic ruler until I was overthrown and banished to this realm. |
| 8 | I was part of a prisoner exchange between a greater devil and a mysterious being. |
| 9 | I was born and raised in one of the nine hells. |
| 10 | I was a first-born child, taken because my family had made a pact with a fiend and did not read the fine print, or notice some of the contract was written with invisible ink. |
You have an infernal taint that makes your origin obvious to anyone proficient in Religion. Choose one of the following features based on your particular genesis.
- Claim to Sanctuary
Buried in the smallprint of every infernal contract is a clause that allows any fugitive from Hell to claim refuge at certain sacred sites. While claiming sanctuary, no devil or agent acting on a devil's behalf may attack, touch, bind or otherwise harm the claimant until the claimant leaves the sacred site. There are particular requirements: the sacred site must be devoted to a lawful good or lawful neutral deity; it must have some means for the claimant to signal their desire for protection (ring a certain bell, sit on a certain chair or hold a certain door knocker); the claimant must surrender their weapons; and they must publicly announce their sins. The fugitive cannot claim sanctuary at one particular holy site for longer than 4 days.
- Cult Favour
Present in any civilized land are secret (or not so secret) cults devoted to usurping governments, accruing power or seeking forbidden knowledge: some groups achieve this through worshiping or making pacts with powerful entities like devils. A creature with the Mark of Hell is a desirable find for such a cult. A cult learning of your existence will send agents to strike a bargain with you. They can offer esoteric knowledge; access to hidden clubs, guilds and conspiracies; and secret places to rest. In return, they expect you to partake in infernal rituals of powerlust and sacrifice. Reneging on this deal can make an enemy of that damned sect; on the other hand cults are often in competition with one another.
Suggested Characteristics
You have learned to live with the terror that haunts you. You are a survivor, who can be very protective of those who bring light into your darkened life.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die. |
| 2 | I live for the thrill of the hunt. |
| 3 | I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse. |
| 4 | I expect danger around every corner. |
| 5 | I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized. |
| 6 | 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 have a dark calling that puts me above the law. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | I like to know my enemy’s capabilities and weaknesses before rushing into battle. (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 | I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent. |
| 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 have certain rituals that I must follow every day. I can never break them. |
| 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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