Big Book of Backgrounds
Your life has been forever changed by an event that left you with a highly visible abnormal condition. Maybe you were involved in a horrible accident, ravaged by plague, or encountered some sort of unknowable magical force that left an indelible mark on you but the end result is the same: you have a chronic affliction and, in the absence of powerful magic or advanced medical science, this affliction is incurable. Whatever the symptoms and their accompanying outward signs, people who become aware of your condition are likely to react with either fear and superstition or morbid curiosity mixed with mild revulsion, though in either case this reactions are likely more based in ignorance than outright malice.
How do you find your affliction affects your interactions with the people around you? Do these reactions bother you or have you embraced them? And how does your adventuring figure into all of this? Are your quests and your hard earned gold an extension of your quest for a cure? Or have you decided to simply live with your affliction? Or maybe you’re seeking a glorious death in battle, something that will allow you to be remembered for more than just your condition?
What is the nature of your affliction and how does it manifest? What are its symptoms? How did you contract it and how long as it been a part of your life? Choose (or roll) on the table below if you do not have a strong idea in mind or simply want some inspiration for what you might be afflicted with.
| d4 | Affliction |
| 1 | Disease. You are afflicted by a chronic disease with no known cure. |
| 2 | Deformity. You possess some sort of physical deformity, atypical of your kind. (A birth defect, a mutation, or the smallest inkling of latent outsider blood.) |
| 3 | Disfigurement. An accident has wrecked havoc on your body, leaving you horribly scarred in some way. (Like horrible facial scarring) |
| 4 | Distortion. A magical effect, such as a contact with an outsider or demonic ichor, has changed you in some abnormal way. (like animal features, lack of a shadow or reflection, a vestigial tail etc) |
Skill Proficiencies: Survival. Choose one from: Arcana, History, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, or Stealth.
Tool Proficiencies: Choose two from: One type of Artisan’s Tools, Disguise Kit, One Gaming Set, One Musical Instrument, Land Vehicles, or Water Vehicles.
Languages: You may trade one of your Tool Proficiency picks for one Standard Language of your choice.
Equipment: A journal full of notes on your affliction; A walking stick or cane; A hooded cloak; a set of Common Clothes; and a pouch with 15gp.
When people become aware of your condition, most want nothing to do with it, either out of fear of contagion or naked superstition. This can make social interactions difficult at times, but the wide berth you are granted can also be used to your advantage. People might turn a blind eye to minor offenses, petty crimes, and social faux pas because they are unwilling to approach an afflicted person and confront them face to face. Additionally, servants of deities who are focused on healing the sick or easing the suffering of others will often go out of their way offer you aid and comfort, should you need it.
The afflicted are likely defined by their conditions, whether they wish to be or not. Some might be hand shy and tend to hide out of sight while others might wield their conditions like a bludgeon in social situations. Some might be cynical about the motivations of others, while others might fall all over themselves at the merest hint of human kindness.
Of important note, the affliction in this background is intended to be for role playing purposes and is generally cosmetic. You might justify a low Strength or Constitution score with the existence of your condition, but it is not the mechanical cause. Similarly you might play up dietary restrictions, unusual affectations, or a shortened lifespan, but these are not true according to the rules unless you and the DM agree to make them so.
| Personality Traits | |
| d8 | Personality Trait |
| 1 | I believe life is short, so I ought to have fun while I can. |
| 2 | I go to great lengths to try to conceal my condition. |
| 3 | I fear the judgment of strangers and try to keep to myself. |
| 4 | I am more than happy to use my condition to get out of doing work. |
| 5 | I’m not afraid to weaponize other people’s fears against them. |
| 6 | I crave the kindness of human touch at the acceptance of others. |
| 7 | People already act like I’m broken, so I behave how I wish. |
| 8 | I act like there is nothing wrong with me, even though its plainly obvious. |
| Ideals | |
| d6 | Ideal |
| 1 | Exploitation. Pity and fear are tools I can use to get what I want from others. (Evil) |
| 2 | Health. I just want to be healthy again. (Any) |
| 3 | Compassion. I have known suffering and take pity on those who are like me. (Good) |
| 4 | Coexistence. Everyone deserves an equal chance at happiness. Even the sick. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Practicality. If my suffering can bring about a cure, so be it. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Pragmatism. Whatever it takes to find a cure, I’ll do it. (Chaotic) |
| Bonds | |
| d6 | Bond |
| 1 | I believe there is a cure for my affliction and I will find it. |
| 2 | There is a healer who has always been kind to me. I owe them a great debt. |
| 3 | I have known great cruelty. I record the names of the worst offenders for future retribution. |
| 4 | I believe my affliction is a divine punishment and seek forgiveness with my deeds. |
| 5 | I long to find people who will accept me as I am. |
| 6 | I was exiled from my people because of my condition. When I find the cure, I plan to return. |
| Flaws | |
| d6 | Flaw |
| 1 | I have little consideration for my own safety. I’m going to die anyway, after all. |
| 2 | Years of ill treatment at the hands of others have made me misanthropic and cruel. |
| 3 | During stressful times, I often have unpredictable emotion outbursts. |
| 4 | I have to qualms about discussing my maladies in excruciating detail. |
| 5 | My own survival is worth more to me than the possibility of friendship. |
| 6 | I will shamelessly parley my condition into attention, pity, or special treatment if at all possible. |