Dark Gifts

Certain Dark Powers will grant gifts to those who fall under their grasps. These sinister gifts always favours the entity who bestows them, and gives the bearer a bonus of sorts, while having some type of drawback too. Although saying that, the latter is not always immediately clear. Most bargains have at least some clarity as to what is bestowed the outcomes can always appear to be happenstance.
There are a few methods as to how these come about. Not all circumstances are covered, but a degree of luck is usually involved (though many would say it appears as bad luck). Usually it happens to a single individual, and can appear as a dream, when the character is alone, or during a section of frozen time. Only the individual themselves know any of the details as to what transpired.
The Dark Power manifests in one form or another usually in one way or another, and regularly appears as one of the following:

• A Darklord of Ravenloft, cult, or other more esoteric group or place, will negotiate with a party if a character seals a deal to accept their Dark Gift.
• Time stops while a character is on the brink of death. A mysterious voice offers to save the character's life, but only if they accept its Dark Gift.
• An experiment or magical accident goes wrong: The DM allows the character to accept a Dark Gift or some other peril as a result.
• The character breaks a vow or suffers a curse gaining a Dark Gift as a result.
• A character touches an amber sarcophagus, and a force within entreats them to accept its influence in the form of a Dark Gift.

These seem to appear to be the most commonly accepted forms of receiving a Dark Gift. Others are bound to exist, though few who do suffer these would openly talk about them.
DARK GIFT DESCRIPTIONS
Below is a description of some of the most common Dark Gifts.
ECHOING SOUL Your soul isn't you're own or, at least, it wasn't always yours. Whether you've lived past lives, your soul was swapped into a different body, or you have a link connecting you to another body, you experience echoes from another life. These echoes grant you knowledge, talents, or even languages you can't always explain, but they also intrude on your perceptions and beliefs unexpectedly. Roll or choose an option from the Soul Echoes table to determine the nature of this Dark Gift. Additionally, you gain the traits that follow.

Soul Echoes
d6	Echo
1	My soul is linked to a soul elsewhere, perhaps another domain, world, or plane.
2	I have lived many times before, my soul reincarnating each time I die rather than passing on.
3	My consciousness from my original body and implanted in this one.
4	I was physically and spiritually merged with another being.
5	I share my body with an intangible, otherworldly being.
6	Time fractures around me, and I collide with my own past or future

Channelled Prowess. You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice. Inherent Tongue. You can speak, read, or write one additional language of your choice. Intrusive Echoes. Immediately after you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw and roll a 1 on a d20, your soul's memories emerge and overtake your perceptions and experiences. You might see people around you as someone other than who they are, or you become disorientated by a double-experience of the world around you. Roll on the Intrusive Echoes table to determine the effect of these vivid memories and perceptions. Once one of these effects occur, these intrusive echoes can't manifest again until after a short or long rest.

Intrusive Echoes
d6	Effect
1	You are charmed by a creature you can see (of the DMs choice) for 1 minute or until the creature damages you.
2	You are frightened by a creature you can see (of the DMs choice) for 1 minute , or until the creature damages you.
3	You perceive another time or place around you until until the end of your turn. During this time, you are blinded to your actual surroundings.
4	You perceive a different time or place overlapping your surroundings. Your speed is halved until the end of your next turn.
5	Memories and sensations overwhelm you. You are incapacitated until the start of your next turn.
6	Your memory is one of triumph. You can reroll ability check, attack roll, or saving throw that you just made. You must use the new roll.

GATHERED WHISPERS You are haunted by spiritual beings, whether the souls of the departed or entities from another plane. Their voices endlessly whisper, taunt, or cajole, sometimes rising to unearthly howls. Only you can perceive the spirits, unless you allow them to speak through you. The spirits are intangible and invisible; anyone who can see invisible creatures sees only fleeting glimpses of these spirits that haunt you. Roll on or choose an option from the Whispering Spirits table to determine what haunts you. Additionally, you gain the traits that follow.

Whispering Spirits
d6	Spirits
1	A council of my ancestors watches over me.
2	Fiendish presences vie for my soul.
3	Unquiet souls are drawn to me and beg for peace.
4	The spirits of those I killed linger round me.
5	An alien intelligence intrudes upon my thoughts.
6	A sibling I don't have inhabits my body.

Spirit Whispers. You learn the Message cantrip if you don't already know it and require no material component to cast it. When you cast the spell, the messages are delivered by one of your whispering spirits rather than you or your target's voice. Your spellcasting for this spell is Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma (your choice when you gain this Dark Gift). Sudden Cacophony. When you are hit by an attack roll, you can use your reaction to channel your haunting spirits, letting their vices howl through you. If the attacker isn't deafened, add your proficiency bonus to your AC for the attack, potentially causing it to miss. Once this trait causes an attack to miss, you can't use this trait again until you finish a long rest. Voices From Beyond. Immediately after you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw and roll a 1 on the d20, the haunting voices grow too loud to ignore. Roll on the Voices From Beyond table to determine the effect of these voices. Once one of these effects occurs, none of these haunting voices manifest again until after a short or long rest.

Voices From Beyond
d4	Effect
1	You have disadvantage on the next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw you make.
2	You are deafened by the voices for 1 minute.
3	You are frightened of the creature closest to you, other than yourself, until the end of your next turn. If multiple creatures are closest, the DM chooses which creature you are frightened off.
4	Within the next 10 minutes, you can ask your spirits about the results of a specific course of action that you plan to take in the next 30 minutes. You can receive an omen as if you had cast the Augury spell. The omen manifests whisperings from your spirits perceptible only to you.

LIVING SHADOW The shadow you cast is animate and ever-present, even when lighting conditions would otherwise prevent it. Your shadow occasionally moves out of sync with you. Sometimes it appears to be undertaking random but mundane tasks, while at other times it acts out your darker impulses, threatening or even attacking other shadows. With effort, you can bend this shadow puppetry to your will. Roll on or choose an option from the Shadow Quirk table to determine how your living shadow behaves. Additionally, you gain the traits that follow.

SHADOW QUIEK
d6	Quirk
1	My shadow often holds weapons or bears wounds that don't exist.
2	When distracted, my shadow panics and tries to get other peoples attention, as if it's desperate to escape me.
3	When its not being watched, my shadow makes threatening gestures, or creeps toward people.
4	My shadow's movements mirror mine incorrectly - when I raise my left hand, it raises it's left.
5	My shadow shadow fiddles with or occasionally breaks Tiny nonmagical objects.
6	There's a slight but noticeable delay between my movements and those of my shadow.

Grasping Shadow. You learn the Mage Hand cantrip if you don't already know it, and require no component to cast it. The hand created by the spell is shadowy but not connected to your actual shadow. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma. (your choice when you gain this Dark Gift. Shadow Strike. When you make a melee attack roll, you can increase your reach for that attack by 10 feet. Your shadow stretches and delivers the attack as if it were you. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Ominous Will. Immediately after you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw and roll a 1 on the d20, your shadow asserts a will of it's own and might assist or hinder you or those around you. The next time you or a creature 30 feet of you that you can see makes an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, roll a d4. If the number is odd, reduce the total by the number rolled. If the number is even, increase the total by the number rolled. Once this effect occurs, it can't happen again until you finish a short or long rest.
MIST WALKER The Mists of the Domains of Dread can appear anywhere at any time. Some places in the Material Plane are prone to appearances of it. A few people are able to slip through its grasp. You can navigate the Mists successfully given enough time, and with a little luck, but this comes at a price. If you remain too long in one place, the Mists find you and drain your lifeforce. Roll or choose an option from the Misty Travels table to determine how you developed this Dark Gift. Additionally, you gain the traits that follow.

MISTY TRAVELS
d4	Origin
1	You learned a secret about the nature of the Mists. Ever since, you can manipulate them, but the lands you travel turn against you.
2	You fled into the Mists to escape someone or something that's hunting you. You can never rest for long, Knowing you're still being pursued.
3	You're part of an organisation, a family, or an itinerant community with experience of travelling the Mists. They taught you to do the same.
4	The Mists stole you from your home and fractured your memories of where you are from. You've been on a quest to find your way back ever since.

Misty Step. You can cast the Misty Step spell, requiring no spell slot, and you must finish a long rest before you can cast it this way again. Your spell casting ability for this spell is Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (your choice when you gain this Dark Gift). If you have spell slots of 2nd Level or higher, you can cast this spell with them. Mist Traveller. When you enter the Mists intent on reaching a specific domain, you are treated as if you possess a Mist talisman keyed to that domain. To use this trait, you must know the name of the domain you have chosen as your destination, but you don't need to have visited that land. This trait doesn't allow you to bypass domain borders closed by a Darklord's will. Poisoned Roots. When you finish a long rest, the world around you in a 10-mile radius becomes a siphon that will eventually leech away your vitality. You can remain in the area safely for a number of weeks equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 week). Thereafter, each time you finish a long rest in the area, you must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion that can't be removed while you remain in the area.
SECOND SKIN There is another side to you that most people never see. When you show this side of yourself, you might become another person entirely, a celestial-like avenger, or a walking nightmare. Whatever the specifics of this form, it exaggerates some drive or hidden nature within you. Roll on or choose an option from the Second Form table to determine this other side of yourself. Additionally, you you gain the traits that follow.

Second Form
d6	Form
1	An exaggerated form of yourself.
2	Hybrid form of humanoid and beast.
3	An angelic, demonic, or aberrant form.
4	A vaguely human-shaped creature made of slime.
5	A Fey-like shape, either brooding or passionate.
6	A body made of metal, stone, or machinery.

Transformation. You can cast the Alter Self to appear in your second form. When you so, you gain the effects of that spell's Change Appearance option and cannot end it to gain the benefits of a different option. Casting Alter Self in this way requires no spell slot, and you must finish a long rest before you can cast it his way again. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (your choice when you gain this Dark Gift). If you have spell slots of 2nd level or higher, you can cast this spell with them. When you cast Alter Self using this feature, some cosmetic feature of your second feature remains after the spell ends. This visibly marks you unless you actively hide or disguise it. The mark is a perceptible change such as scaly skin, stunted wings, eyes without pupils, or horns. The mark fades after a long rest. Involuntary Change. Certain circumstances can activate your Dark Gift. After you experience this catalyst, at the start of your next turn you must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or use your action to cast Alter Self as described in the Transformation trait, even if you already used it. Roll on or choose an option from the Change Catalyst to determine what triggers your involuntary change.

Change Catalyst
d6	Catalyst
1	Seeing a particular phase of the moon.
2	The smell of a certain type of flower.
3	The sound of ringing temple bells.
4	Hearing a particular melody.
5	Touching pure silver with your bare skin.
6	Seeing someone resembling a specific individual.

SYMBIOTIC BEING A second being resides within your body along with you. It manifests physically somewhere on you and relies on you for its survival. At the same time, it offers you knowledge and other assistance, either of its own volition or because of your intertwined nature. The symbiote has its own personality and agenda, which might be at odds with yours. If you ignore the symbiote's desires, it might strive to interfere with you. There is no way to get rid of the symbiote while you have this Dark Gift. Even if you go to drastic lengths, such as severing the part of the body were the symbiote resides, it reappears on your body in another location at the next midnight. Roll on or choose an option from Symbiotic Nature table to determine what sort of symbiotic being shares your body. Additionally, you gain the following traits.

Symbiotic Nature
d6	Symbiote
1	Tiny humanoid facial features protruding from your torso, palm, or the back of your head.
2	An alien appendage inside an unhealing wound.
3	A burrowing, worm-like creature.
4	An intrusive thought inhabits your mind.
5	A living tattoo.
6	Crystal growths, that replace parts of your body.

Entwinned Existence. Your symbiote is a separate entity with it's own physical form bound to yours. It isn't a separate creature and relies on you to survive. It has Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. The DM sets the symbiote's abilities or determines them randomly (roll 4d6 for each score, ignoring the lowest roll and totalling the rest). The symbiote can see and hear using your senses. The symbiote speaks, reads and understands two languages; one that you speak, as well as one appropriate to it's nature. Choose one of the following skills; Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception, or Persuasion. You gain proficiency in that skill if you do not already have it, representing the symbiote's counsel and guidance. If you die, so does your symbiote. If you are subsequently returned to life, your symbiote' revives as well. Sustained Symbiosis. Your symbiote has a vested interest in your survival and takes steps to ensure it. When you fail a saving throw, you can choose your symbiote to expend one of your Hit Dice to roll it and add the number rolled to the saving throw, potentially turning the failure to a success. If it uses this feature on a death saving throw, you succeed on a and regain 1 hit point regardless of the number rolled on the d20. Once you succeed on a saving throw due to this trait, the symbiote can't use it again until you finish a long rest. Symbiotic Agenda. Your symbiote has an agenda that drives it, and it expects you to assist in achieving those goals. How permissive or patient it is in resolving its agenda depends on its personality (work with your DM to determine these details). If you have an opportunity to advance its agenda and don't act on it, the symbiote can try to force your hand. You must succeed on a Charisma saving throw (DC 12 + the symbiote's Charisma modifier) or be charmed by the symbiote for 1d12 hours. While charmed you must try to follow the symbiote's commands. If you take damage that is not self-inflicted, you can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success. Roll or choose from the Symbiotic Agenda table to determine the symbiote's goal, working with your DM to detail the specifics or create another agenda.

Symbiotic Agenda
d6	Agenda
1	The symbiote seeks to destroy a specific type of being, such as fiends, trolls, or paladins.
2	The symbiote craves knowledge and is determined to solve a mystery or learn a secret.
3	The symbiote wants to bring a prophesy to fulfilment, or prevent one.
4	The symbiote seeks to defend the servants of a powerful being or organisation.
5	The symbiote wants to keep you from harm at all costs, and believes it knows what's best for you.
6	The symbiote seeks to experience new sensations, the more bizarre the better.

TOUCH OF DEATH Your touch is death, harming anyone you come in contact with. The deathly power within you is beyond your control, afflicting any who touch your bare skin. By the same token, you can deliver death to your enemies with your touch. Roll on or choose an option from the Deadly Touch table to determine how this Dark Gift presents itself. Additionally, you gain the traits that follow.

Deadly Touch
d6	Manifestation
1	Your body is alchemically or biologically altered, infusing you with deadly chemicals.
2	The magic of a slighted druid or fey makes small plants wither and insects die in your presence.
3	You're the harbinger of a grim prophecy. Any creature your touch damages is marked with a temporary scar of a group, fiend, deity, or other force that takes an interest in you.
4	You survived a near-death experience - but shouldn't have. Ever since death and ill omens follow you.
5	You are out of sync with time or reality. Anything you touch is warped by the distortion.
6	Every time you touch a creature, you hear the laughter of someone you once harmed.

Death Touch. You can focus your deadly touch against your enemies. As an action, make one unarmed strike. On a hit, the target takes an additional 1d10 necrotic damage. This damage increases by 1d10 when you reach 5th level ( 2d10 ), 11th level ( 3d10 ), and 17th level (roll:4d10]). Inescapable Death. When you hit a target with attack roll and deal necrotic damage, you ignore the target's resistance to that damage. Withering Contact. When you start your turn grappling a creature or grappled by it, the creature take 1d10 necrotic damage.
WATCHERS Something is always watching you and draws ethereal spirits that take the form of shadowstuff, usually in the shape of Tiny beasts, that follow you and gather in your general vicinity. These creatures act like normal examples of their kind, but their behaviour suggests a hint of malice. No matter what precautions you take, you can't permanently drive these spirits away. They always return, wait just beyond the reach of deterrents, or later crawl out of your clothes or equipment. Roll on or choose an option from the Watchers table to determine sorts of forms the spirits typically take when they follow you.

Watchers
d8	Watchers
1	Carrion Eaters. Jackals, ravens, vultures.
2	Inescapable Judgement. Animate tools of punishment, drifting eyeballs, religious iconography.
3	Night Wings. Bats, moths, Owls.
4	Plague Carriers. Fleas, rats, squirrels.
5	Unnatural Observers. Animate objects, clockwork devices, otherworldly observers.
6	Sea Skulkers. Crabs, eels, jellyfish.
7	Stray Souls. Ghost orbs, shadows, ectoplasmic wisps.
8	Venomous Vermin. Scorpions, serpents, spiders.

Borrowed Eyes. As an action, you can influence the presence guiding the watchers for 1 hour. For the duration, you gain advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) and Wisdom (Perception) checks, and you can't be blinded. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest. Dread Presence. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Deception), Charisma (Performance), and Charisma (Persuasion) made against creatures that can see the watchers, and you you have disadvantage on saving throws made against the Scrying spell. You can temporarily disperse or hide the watchers with some effort. With 1 minute of work and a successful DC 15 Charisma (Animal Handling) check you can suppress your Borrowed Eyes and Dread Presence for 1 hour. Once you successfully suppress these features, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.

Type

Supernatural