Asylum Escapee (5e Background)
You are on the lamb having escaped out of an asylum. You couldn't take it anymore: the mistreatment, their inability to believe any truths you spoke, the walls closing in around you. The law will try to find you and bring you back, if you are not cautious. If they do who knows what the doctors will do to you. You won't go back, you will never go back.
Maybe there is nothing wrong with you, maybe you angered a noble, perhaps you are a woman with an opinion, maybe the voices are whisperings from you latent patron or maybe you divined the wrong voice from the far realms.
Skill Proficiencies: Persuasion, Insight
Tool Proficiencies: One of the player's choice.
Languages: One of the player's choice.
Equipment: A straightjacket or head cage, a set of common clothes, one trinket of special significance, and 1 sp.
Main Feature: Ear for Madness[edit]
You have witnessed different forms of madness in the asylum. You can recognize it in others. If you interact with a creature for 1 minute, outside of combat, you can tell if they have a: short term, long term, or indefinite madness. You are not able to identify what madness effects they possess, only that they have it.
For short term and long term madness, you are not able to identify the duration of their madness.
Suggested Characteristics[edit]
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I try to make friends where ever I go. I want to form a support circle...maybe one day even tell them. |
| 2 | I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die. |
| 3 | I don't run from evil because I am oblivious to it or uncaring. |
| 4 | I am very superstitious. |
| 5 | I expect danger around every corner. |
| 6 | I don't talk about my mental state with others. I'd rather not burden them. |
| 7 | I try to help others who have been through what I have been through. |
| 8 | I am unyieldingly genuine, and laugh, cry, or scream without restraint. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Some day, I will make life better for everyone like me. (Good) |
| 2 | We have to take care of each other, because no one else is going to do it. (Lawful) |
| 3 | My mental state isn't like yours, but I'm just like you. (Neutral) |
| 4 | It's only a matter of time... It's only a matter of time... It's only a matter of time... (Chaotic) |
| 5 | The people who did this to me are going to pay. (Evil) |
| 6 | I'm a good person. I deserve love. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal helps me cope. |
| 2 | I seek to undo this cursed mental clouding, so I can return to my former life. But everyday I feel less stable, and closer to the point of no return. |
| 3 | I believe there is a way to make me normal, and I am on a quest to find it. |
| 4 | I blame everyone else for what happened to me. |
| 5 | Growing up, there was only one person who could see past my affliction to the real me. I would do anything for them. |
| 6 | All I want is to find somewhere I belong. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have certain rituals that I must follow every day. I can never break them. |
| 2 | I am just as judgmental and prejudiced as everyone else- perhaps more so. |
| 3 | I don't understand why people fear or pity me. |
| 4 | Violence is my answer to almost any challenge. |
| 5 | It doesn't matter what people say to me. I'm not crazy, I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of the curve...more evolved. |
| 6 | The voices... The voices... never... stop... |
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