Background: Executioner

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"Some men die for love. Some men die for a cause. Some men die out of bad luck. I've known them all."

EXECUTIONER

Fear is no stranger to you. You have spent years as the threat, and promise, that upholds the rule of law for the city. You are the final word on the side of law and justice. There’s no knowing how many you’ve killed, or how many were actually guilty. But then, judging the guilty was never your duty, only seeing the sentence carried out.

What lead you to this life has and will always be the subject of rumor among the common folk. Is the executioner a bloodthirsty psychotic that is barely restrained by the crown? A man too many times wronged by the criminal world? A stoic and uncaring servant of justice? Or something else entirely?

Perhaps you were a grim specter of the city whose name was known by every man, woman, and child for your brutal public executions. Or, wishing to avoid the wrath of malcontents, you might have hidden your face from the guards during the private hangings, your identity only being known by a select few.

Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Performance, Insight

Tool Proficiencies: Torture tools

Equipment: A set of black robes, an executioner’s mask, a belt pouch containing 15gp, an executioner’s seal

VARIANT: PUBLIC TORTURER

While the role you filled was executioner, you did not simply end the life of the person, but publicly and painfully brought them to some form of confession. Yours was never seen as a necessary legal means of enforcing good, but often a cruel and wanton display of power and fear.

FEATURE: THE GREEN MILE

The guards of most dungeons have long since learned to fear the executioner and give them a wide birth in their dealings. By presenting your executioner’s seal, you may gain access to the dungeon of any town with an anonymous executioner.

SUGGESTED CHARACTERISTICS

Executioners are almost always lawful, having spent their lives as instruments of law and order. They may be cruel and debased or simply stoic. Whatever the case, they are unlikely to shy away from violence or punishment of any kind, as long as they feel it is justified or deserved.

PERSONALITY TRAIT (D6)

1. I know hundreds of stories of famous and interesting criminals.

2. I have terrible manners, having spent a significant amount of time shunned by others.

3. I prefer to let the law handle things, rather than take justice into my own hands.

4. I know a lot about the anatomy of humanoids, and often talk about it, in gory detail.

5. I never take off my executioner’s mask.

6. Nothing gets me down. No matter the situation, I’m able to take it with a lighthearted smile and a whistled tune. I’ve seen much worse.

IDEALS (D6)

1. Justice- The weak are best defended by preventative measures and punishment of the wicked. (Good)

2. Revenge- When someone wrongs you, you are obligated to and justified in harming them much more than they did you.(Evil)

3. Greed- As long as it ends in payment, there are few jobs I wouldn’t accept.(Evil)

4. Anonymity- Being well known is often the first step in being a target. (Neutral)

5. Order- The laws that rule us are in place for everyone’s benefit.(Lawful)

6. Greater Good- In order to protect the world from evil, we must sometimes become evil ourselves.(Good)

BONDS (D6)

1. I executed an innocent person and must repay an infinite debt to their family.

2. My former lord is hunting me after I executed several criminals without permission.

3. I remember the faces of the family of every person I have ever killed.

4. My instrument of execution is more important to me than anything in the world.

5. I am searching for the only criminal to have ever escaped my justice.

6. I am working to earn the forgiveness and understanding of my family for the awful things I have done.

FLAWS (D6)

1. I would report a friend for a serious crime.

2. I had my tongue removed and cannot speak.

3. I am more than happy to kill an unarmed opponent.

4. I am proud of what I was, and I am very well known for it, which attracts more than a few vengeful friends and family members to my door.

5. I trust representatives of the law far too much.

6. I am not afraid of death, having spent my life surrounded by it.

#SeriousBackground #DramaticBackground