Scorned Accuser (5e Background)

Scorned Accuser

This is a background based on Poor Man's Poison's song "Hell's Comin' With Me".

You once swore vengeance upon those who wronged you, and you followed through. Whether you were a lone vigilante or a force of reckoning, your actions left an undeniable mark. Now, with your past behind you, you search for a new purpose—justice, power, redemption, or something else entirely.

Skill Proficiencies:

You gain proficiency in Intimidation and Perception.

Tool Proficiencies:

You gain proficiency with Thieves’ tools or one gaming set (your choice).

Languages:

You can speak, read, and write one language of your choice, typically one associated with criminal elements, such as Thieves' Cant or a language spoken in the underworld of your past region.

Equipment:

• A set of dark common clothes with a hood
• A symbol of your past vengeance (a noose, a spent bullet casing, a charred keepsake, or something similar)
• A simple weapon of your choice (such as a dagger, mace, or quarterstaff)
• A set of manacles
• A pouch containing 15 gp

Feature: Harbinger of Justice

When interacting with criminals, corrupt officials, or those with guilty consciences, you have advantage on ability checks to gather information or intimidate them. Additionally, when a creature you can see harms an innocent within 30 feet of you, you can mark them as your foe. The first time you hit them with a weapon or spell attack within the next minute, you deal additional damage equal to your proficiency bonus. You can use this feature once per short or long rest.

Alternate Feature: Shadow of the Past

Instead of serving justice, you have learned to operate in the shadows. You have contacts among outcasts and rebels. Given time and resources, you can call in favors for safe passage, minor assistance, or information. However, your past deeds have not gone unnoticed, and there may be those seeking retribution against you.

Suggested Characteristics

Characters with this background are shaped by the vengeance they sought and the consequences of their actions. Some still burn with righteous fury, while others regret the price they paid. Their personalities reflect the tension between who they were and who they are trying to become.

Personality Traits

d8	Personality Trait
1	I scan every room for exits and keep my back to the wall.
2	I have little patience for deception—I see through lies or call them out immediately.
3	I refuse to be intimidated. I’ve faced worse.
4	When I set my mind to something, I refuse to stop until it’s done.
5	I wake at the slightest sound, always ready for danger.
6	I rarely speak about my past, even when asked.
7	I never let an injustice go unanswered.
8	I carry a token from my past—a weapon, a scrap of clothing, or a letter—that I look to when uncertain.

Ideals

d6	Ideal	Alignment
1	Justice. I will never allow another tyrant to rule unchecked.	Good
2	Power. Fear is the only language people understand.	Evil
3	Freedom. No one will ever control me again.	Chaotic
4	Vengeance. I will not rest until every injustice is answered.	Neutral
5	Honor. Even in darkness, I have a code.	Lawful
6	Redemption. I seek a new purpose beyond revenge.	Any

Bonds

d6	Bond
1	I owe my survival to a mentor who trained me in secret.
2	My weapon was given to me by someone who believed in my cause.
3	I still visit my hometown in secret, watching over those I left behind.
4	The family of my enemy still hunts me. I will not rest until they are dealt with.
5	I keep a list of names—those who helped my enemy, and those who tried to stop them.
6	My closest companion is my horse (or another animal); I would die before abandoning them.

Flaws

d6	Flaw
1	I struggle to trust anyone, even those who mean well.
2	I refuse to walk away from a fight, even when it would be smarter.
3	I am haunted by the things I’ve done and sometimes hesitate when action is needed.
4	I have no patience for law and authority.
5	I let my rage control me, sometimes to my own detriment.
6	I secretly wonder if I was wrong to seek vengeance.

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