Returned Background
This is not your first go at things. Quite literally, you have lived and died. In fact, you have been dead for some time, brought back for some purpose. The world is in dire need of a hero and as such, a legendary hero, you, has been returned to the land of the living.
Work with your DM to determine the specifics of your old life. Were you a famous hero who slew the great evil of your age that has been brought back, and so you have been brought back to kill them in return? Were you an ordinary person who was brought back by some quirk of fate? Or perhaps you were the villain, whose old brand of terror is neccesary to pull the world through this next trial, and you've made a deal to escape this hell you've been rightly sent to?
The returned can be anyone from any previous era, brought back for any purpose, and now that you're here, you can do anything.
Reason for Living
The dead don't just come back to life on their own. (Well, some do, but that's not the point.) No, something or someone disturbed you from your rest. Choose a reason or roll on the table below.
| d8 | Reason |
|---|---|
| 1 | A land in need of a hero brought you back with a ritual. |
| 2 | You are constantly reincarnated in service to the gods. |
| 3 | You struck a bargain with an otherworldly being to once again walk the earth. |
| 4 | A powerful necromancer has brought you back from the dead to serve their bidding. |
| 5 | You have lain dormant for 1,000 to kill your foe for when they inevitably rise again. |
| 6 | Your body was preserved at the moment of death by gentle repose or similar magic and someone cast revivify on you out of curiosity of what would happen. |
| 7 | The clone spell went awry, and you only awakened now and with missing memories. |
| 8 | You have no idea (Your DM rolls again in secret, rerolling 8s) |
Skills: History, and one skill pertaining to your old life of your choice
Tool Proficiencies: One of your choice
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: an item from your old life, a set of fine clothes, the tool you choose for this background's tool proficiency, and a pouch containing 15 gp
Revenge of the Epic Level 1 Backstory
"But d'Artagnan!" you cry, "Why would a former legendary hero be level one?"
Well, this background assumes that your character died hundreds or even thousands of years ago, while true resurrection is limited to people who have died within the past 200 years. Furthermore, it's entirely possible you lived a long and happy life and died of old age after your previous quest, and while reincarnate would get around that issue, it still doesn't get around the time issue.
All this is to say, if an 17th level spellcaster (who probably would be able to solve the world's issues by themselves" can't bring you back from the dead at full strength, then chances are that if someone were to manage such a deed, it would be at a significant cost... like say 19 of your levels.
Feature: Living Legend
You have left a mark on history. Your name has fallen into legend, and perhaps a statue erected in your honor still stands. Depending on the publicity of your resurrection, some may doubt your identity. In fact, many may have mistaken you for a myth.
You can parley this fact into access to people and places you might not otherwise have, for you and your traveling companions. Noble lords, scholars, and merchant princes, to name a few, might be interested in hearing about your your exploits and have the honor of making a legend's acquaintence.
Suggested Characteristics
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | Every moment not spent taking action, is one moment closer to disaster. |
| 2 | I appreciate the relative anonymity that being so removed from my time has given me. |
| 3 | I am constantly startled by (how far society has progressed since / how much worse it is compared to / how everything is the same as it was) so long ago. |
| 4 | If people brought me back from the dead, I must be right. |
| 5 | People have certain expectations of me. I intend to live up to them. |
| 6 | I am not nearly as pious as history claims I was. |
| 7 | I am disappointed that I didn't leave a bigger mark on history. |
| 8 | I feel burdened by the immense pressure of my legacy. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Self-Determination. I have received a second chance at life. I'm going to make the best of it. (Any) |
| 2 | Purpose. I was brought back for a reason. I need to fulfill that purpose. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Spite. I was ripped from a happy existence to come back here. I shall make them regret that decision. (Evil) |
| 4 | Duty. The world is in peril, and I will save it. (Good) |
| 5 | Freedom. The tyranny of this age, must be stopped. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Indifference. This is not my time. It is not my position to judge. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | When this is all over, I'll finally be put to rest again. |
| 2 | I act in accordance to the desires of the one who brought me back. |
| 3 | I wish to know why I was brought back from the dead. |
| 4 | I want to use this second chance to be better. |
| 5 | Everyone I have ever known and loved is dead. |
| 6 | I am fueled by vengeance. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I honestly don't think this world is worth saving. |
| 2 | People won't like it if they learn the price I paid to come back from the dead. |
| 3 | What is virtuous now and what was virtuous then are completely different. |
| 4 | I am not actually the hero the people think I am. |
| 5 | I think that, since I have returned from death, I am invincible. |
| 6 | I have no idea what I'm doing. |
Credits
Designed by d'Artagnan on DMs Guild, /u/dArtagnanDnD on reddit, or dArtagnanDnD on patreon and dArtagnanDnD on Twitter.
- Made with "GM Binder".
- Made with reference and for use with Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, created by Wizards of the Coast.
Variant Returned: Villain
You were not hero in your past life. You were the scourge that ruined the land. You were the worst of the worst, and have been slain by the hero at the end of your story. Your return may be a contingency, part of your plan, a prophecy, or an attempt to get out of your rightful afterlife.
When considering your characteristics, while your bonds are likely the same, although probably expressing relief, your flaws, ideals, and personality traits probably would have your past image reflecting your villainy, instead of your heroism.
Variant Feature: Villified
If picked the variant villain returned background, you should select this background feature instead of Living Legend.
No matter where you go, people are afraid of you due to your past. When you are in a civilized settlement, you can get away with minor criminal offenses, such as refusing to pay for food at a tavern or breaking down doors at a local shop, since most people will not report your activity to the authorities.
Variant Returned: Undead Thrall
In your past life you could have been anybody. That doesn't matter now though, a necromancer has raised you from the dead as their slave. Regardless of whether or not they succeeded in doing so, yours is now an unholy existence.
Variant Feature: Unholy Existence
If picked the variant undead thrall returned background, you should select this background feature instead of Living Legend.
You no longer count among the living. This fact causes a few issues, such as paladins and clerics constantly wanting to destroy you. And depending on the nature of your undeath, you might be steadily decaying. But there are some benefits: you don't need to breathe, eat, drink or sleep to continue your existence.