Shadow-Scarred

You have faced the forces of Shadow, the very embodiment of evil, and survived but not entirely unscathed. You might bear physical scars from injuries or even cruel tortures, or your scars may not be quite so visible. Shadow may have left you scarred in mind, heart, or spirit, necessitating time to recover and re-learn how to live your life. Fortunately, lands that survived the terrible reign of the Shadow Lords know well how to heal. Shadow and its creatures have a way of corrupting all whom they touch, and there may be some who view your past with suspicion. This is particularly true in Jarzon, so close to the Shadow Barrens, and always vigilant, but the irrational fear of Shadow—and those touched by it— creeps in everywhere.

Work with your Game Master to detail the nature of your encounter with Shadow, drawing inspiration from the incidents on the following table.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Intimidation

Tool Proficiencies: One of your choice.

Languages: One of your choice.

Equipment: A journal of your insights, a set of common clothes, a set of tools for your proficiency, and a belt pouch containing 15 gp.

Feature: Dark Insight

You have seen and experienced things you cannot forget, and they have left you changed, providing you insight into the very nature of evil itself. The Game Master may occasionally drop hints where you sense the forces of Shadow at work, grant advantage on an Insight or Perception check to pick up on such clues, or grant you a check when there ordinarily would not be one. You’re good at differentiating between the ordinary misdeeds of people and truly corrupt actions where Shadow has exerted its sinister influence.

Suggested Characteristics

The shadow-scarred are strongly influenced by their brush with evil and the marks it has left upon them.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I always have an example of how things could be worse than they currently are.
2	I have a cold stare that could crack glass.
3	I use chilling threats to safeguard the innocent.
4	I often seem sad and wistful but don’t like to talk about it.
5	I tend to be quiet and withdrawn, even (especially) in social situations.
6	I’m always willing to do whatever needs doing and prefer to keep busy. Everyone can rely on me.
7	I can sometimes be a bit cruel towards those who I think deserve it.
8	I like to offer small acts of kindness discretely but do not want credit or for anyone to know about them.

d6	Ideal
1	Beauty. My time in darkness has honed my appreciation for every kind, beautiful thing the world has to offer. (Good)
2	Responsibility. I have a duty to use my experience with Shadow to root out its influence. (Lawful)
3	Independence. My experiences have taught me we can rely on nothing but ourselves. (Chaotic)
4	Power. I will become so powerful that the forces of Shadow can never hurt me again. (Any)
5	Knowledge. Having experienced the truth of things, I cannot go back, only deeper, to understand. (Neutral)
6	Retribution. Shadow has forged in me an implacable foe for all time. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I will perish before allowing others to suffer at the hands of Shadow.
2	I would have fallen into Shadow forever were it not for someone who helped me when I needed it.
3	I did something terrible that I truly regret and will spend the rest of my life trying to redress.
4	The creature of Shadow that scarred me is still out there, and I will destroy it.
5	I am haunted by someone I lost, either in memory, or literally by their ghost, who appears only to me.
6	I have few close friends but treasure them beyond measure.

d6	Flaw
1	Knowing the dangers that exist, I am mistrustful almost to the point of paranoia.
2	I feel the need to drown my unpleasant memories in revelry, good times, and strong drink.
3	Shadow haunts me, always, in my nightmares and in my worst imaginings and temptations.
4	I am sometimes unsympathetic, seeing suffering as weakness. After all, I survived, didn’t I? So will you.
5	Deep down, I feel that I am forever corrupt and tainted because of what happened to me.
6	I am driven relentlessly by my Bond, often to the exclusion of all else.