Reddeath Background

Mercykiller

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You are a member of the Mercykillers, a faction whose philosophy centers on the concept of Justice. Justice is the metric by which a utopia is ruled, ensuring equity and fairness to all, that they are rewarded as they earn it, and are punished as they deserve it. Your faction's particular focus currently is on ensuring that the guilty are punished according to the metrics of Justice — it is your faction that runs the Prison in Sigil.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Investigation
Tool Proficiencies: Navigator's Tools, Poisoner's Kit
Equipment: Navigator's Tools, Poisoner's Kit, manacles, a set of traveler's clothes including a faction badge sewn into them, and a belt pouch containing 15 gp

Feature: Enlisted

You have taken an oath to uphold the Eight Tenets of Justice before your peers, and are entitled to the duties and priveleges of a Mercykiller. This means that you may (and are encouraged to) volunteer for guard duty at the Prison in the Lady's Ward, and here you essentially have the run of the prison, including the Cellars where the "forgotten" prisoners are kept. You are also able to visit the prison on other occasions, and have permission to visit prisoners there. You also have knowledge of a portal that leads to Vorkehan, City of Fumes, which is the Mercykiller stronghold on the plane of Acheron. You possess a key to that portal as well.

Inspiration: Compel the Truth

If you gain a point of Inspiration for adhering to your faction philosophy, you may use it to automatically detect the first lie told before your next short rest. It's hard to deceive a Mercykiller.

Activities that might potentially earn you Inspiration may include

  • Dispensing justice at great personal or emotional expense to yourself.
  • Taking the time to ensure the guilt or innocence of a prisoner.
  • Allowing another to fairly punish you, though it hurts you.

Suggested Characteristics

Mercykillers tend to be a harsh lot, dispensing and demanding justice, but their ultimate goal is fairness, to make the multiverse a more equitable place. There are some in the Red Death that focus on the "mercy" aspect of their faction, trying to identify and confront injustice or perverted justice, but there's many who are simply happy to define justice and fairness on their own terms, and apply it rigidly.