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Part 1: Quick Start

Get a playable personality in 10 minutes

THE GOAL

You need enough personality to make decisions as your character. Not a novel—just enough to answer: "What would my character do here?"
This Quick Start gives you the essentials. Parts 2 and 3 add depth when you want it.

STEP 1: CORE TEMPERAMENT

What is your character's fundamental nature?
Choose one or roll d20 (see Tables document for full list):

Write it down: My character is fundamentally a _______________

STEP 2: THREE KEY SPECTRUMS

Mark where your character falls on each:

Risk Tolerance

Cautious ---- Hesitant ---- Nonchalant ---- Curious ---- Impulsive ---- Reckless
    □              □              □              □             □            □

Trust Orientation

Paranoid ---- Suspicious ---- Wary ---- Neutral ---- Open ---- Trusting ---- Naive
    □              □           □          □          □           □           □

Conflict Approach

Avoidant ---- Accommodating ---- Diplomatic ---- Direct ---- Assertive ---- Aggressive
    □               □                 □            □            □              □

STEP 3: ONE MOTIVATION

What drives your character forward?
Choose or roll d20:

Write it down: My character is driven by _______________

STEP 4: ONE FLAW

What weakness causes your character problems?
Choose or roll d20:

Write it down: My character struggles with _______________

STEP 5: ONE VIRTUE

What good quality makes your character worth rooting for?
Choose or roll d20:

Write it down: My character's best quality is _______________

YOUR QUICK PERSONALITY

Fill in the blanks:

Core: I am fundamentally a _______________
Spectrums:
- Risk: _______________
- Trust: _______________
- Conflict: _______________
Driven by: _______________
Weakness: _______________
Strength: _______________

HOW TO USE THIS

When you don't know what to do, ask:

1. What would a [temperament] do here?
   • "What would a Survivor do?" → Prioritize safety
   • "What would a Seeker do?" → Investigate
2. Where am I on the spectrum?
   • Suspicious character → Question the stranger's motives
   • Trusting character → Take them at their word
3. Does this involve my motivation?
   • Revenge-driven character → Anything connected to their target becomes priority
   • Protection-driven character → Anything threatening loved ones triggers action
4. Is my flaw or virtue relevant?
   • Hot-headed character might attack when diplomacy is smarter
   • Loyal character might refuse to leave an ally behind

QUICK EXAMPLE

Character: Mira Ashford
Core: Survivor
Spectrums: Hesitant / Suspicious / Direct
Driven by: Protection (her younger brother)
Weakness: Paranoid
Strength: Loyal
Situation: A merchant offers to guide the party through dangerous territory for a fee.

Mira's Thinking:

• Survivor → Is this the safest option?
• Suspicious → Why is he offering? What's the angle?
• Direct → Ask him straight: "What's in it for you?"
• Paranoid → She's already planning for betrayal
• Protective → If her brother is with her, she's even more cautious
• Loyal → She'll defer to party consensus but voice concerns

Result: Mira agrees with conditions—he leads, she watches his back (and not in a friendly way).

WHAT'S NEXT?

This Quick Start personality will work fine. But if you want more:

Part 2: Development Guide adds:

• All 10 personality spectrums
• Additional traits, quirks, and fears
• Social style and moral compass
• Authority relationships
• Exception prompts

Part 3: Deep Dive adds:

• Complete personality exploration
• Trauma response patterns
• Full secret development
• Stygian Depths specific elements
• Personality Summary Card

Tables Document contains:

• All d20 and d100 tables for random selection
• Full descriptions of all options

REMEMBER

• This is a starting point, not a prison
• Characters can change through play
• Contradictions are human
• You can always surprise yourself

The goal is to have enough personality to make interesting choices—not to lock yourself into a script.
When in doubt: do something. Your character will reveal themselves through action.

Personality is not what you plan. It's what you do when the plan falls apart.

Part 2: Development

Building on the foundation with meaningful depth

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

This guide assumes you've completed Part 1 (Quick Start) and have:

• Core Temperament
• Three key spectrum positions
• One motivation
• One flaw
• One virtue

Part 2 expands these elements and adds new dimensions. Take what serves your character; skip what doesn't.

STEP 1: COMPLETE YOUR SPECTRUMS

Part 1 covered Risk, Trust, and Conflict. Now mark your position on the remaining seven:

Emotional Expression
How does your character display feelings?

Stoic ---- Reserved ---- Measured ---- Expressive ---- Dramatic ---- Volatile
  □            □             □              □              □            □

Social Energy
How does your character engage with groups?

Hermetic ---- Solitary ---- Independent ---- Selective ---- Social ---- Gregarious
    □             □              □               □            □            □

Optimism Orientation
How does your character view the future?

Nihilistic ---- Pessimistic ---- Cynical ---- Realistic ---- Hopeful ---- Optimistic ---- Idealistic
     □               □              □            □             □             □              □

Planning Style
How does your character approach preparation?

Methodical ---- Strategic ---- Prepared ---- Adaptive ---- Spontaneous ---- Chaotic
     □              □             □             □              □              □

Empathy Capacity
How does your character relate to others' emotions?

Detached ---- Distant ---- Observant ---- Considerate ---- Sympathetic ---- Empathic ---- Absorptive
    □            □             □               □                □              □             □

Ambition Level
How driven is your character?

Passive ---- Content ---- Comfortable ---- Motivated ---- Driven ---- Ambitious ---- Obsessive
   □            □              □               □            □            □             □

Authority Orientation
How does your character relate to power?

Rebellious ---- Defiant ---- Independent ---- Neutral ---- Cooperative ---- Deferential ---- Obedient
     □             □              □              □              □                □              □

STEP 2: EXPAND YOUR TRAITS

Add 2-4 more personality traits from the d100 table or choose from these common options:

My additional traits:

1. ---
2. ---
3. ---
4. ---

STEP 3: ADD QUIRKS

Quirks are small behaviors that make your character memorable. Choose 1-3:

Physical Habits:

• Cracks knuckles when nervous
• Always faces the exit
• Touches scars unconsciously
• Hums when concentrating

Behavioral Patterns:

• Cannot pass a bookshelf without browsing
• Must finish every book started
• Gives everyone nicknames
• Counts steps when walking

Rituals:

• Prayers before meals
• Checks weapons constantly
• Specific bedtime routine
• Lucky charm carried always

My quirks:

1. ---
2. ---
3. ---

STEP 4: IDENTIFY DEEP FEARS

Fears drive avoidance and can override rational thought. Choose 1-3:

My deep fears:

1. ---
2. ---
3. ---

How these fears manifest: When confronted with my fears, my character tends to: _______________

STEP 5: DEFINE SOCIAL STYLE

How does your character typically interact with others? Choose 1-2:

My social style(s):

1. ---
2. ---

STEP 6: ESTABLISH MORAL COMPASS

What principles guide your character's decisions about right and wrong? Choose 1-3:

My moral principles:

1. ---
2. ---
3. ---

Lines I won't cross:

---

Things I'll always do:

---

STEP 7: ADD ADDITIONAL MOTIVATIONS

Part 1 gave you one motivation. Most people have multiple drives. Add 1-4 more:

My motivations (ranked by importance):

1. _______________ (Primary - from Part 1)
2. ---
3. ---
4. ---
5. ---

When motivations conflict, which wins?

---

STEP 8: AUTHORITY RELATIONSHIPS

How does your character relate to different types of power? Rate each:

Notes on specific authorities:

---

STEP 9: CREATE EXCEPTION PROMPTS

Characters aren't perfectly consistent. Define where your character breaks their own patterns:

Exception 1: I'm usually _________________________________, except when _________________________________
Example: I'm usually cautious, except when children are in danger.

Exception 2: I'm usually _________________________________, except when _________________________________
Example: I'm usually honest, except when protecting a friend's secret.

Exception 3: I'm usually _________________________________, except when _________________________________
Example: I'm usually peaceful, except when someone threatens my faith.

STEP 10: EXPAND FLAWS AND VIRTUES

Add 1-2 more of each:

Additional Flaws:

1. ---
2. ---

Additional Virtues:

1. ---
2. ---

Additional Vices (habits or temptations you struggle with):

1. ---
2. ---

YOUR DEVELOPED PERSONALITY

Core Identity
Temperament: _______________
Primary Motivation: _______________

Spectrum Profile

Traits & Qualities
Personality Traits: _______________
Quirks: _______________
Flaws: _______________
Virtues: _______________
Vices: _______________

Deeper Elements
Deep Fears: _______________
Social Style: _______________
Moral Compass: _______________
All Motivations: _______________

Authority Relationships
(See completed table above)

Exceptions

1. ---
2. ---
3. ---

USING YOUR DEVELOPED PERSONALITY

In Social Situations

• Check your Social Style for default behavior
• Consider Authority Relationships when dealing with power
• Remember Trust Orientation when meeting new people
• Use Quirks to add memorable moments

In Moral Dilemmas

• Consult your Moral Compass principles
• Check for relevant Exceptions
• Consider which Motivation is most engaged
• Your Virtues might push one direction, Flaws another

Under Pressure

• Your Deep Fears might activate
• Emotional Expression shows how you display stress
• Risk Tolerance affects how you respond to danger
• Planning Style determines whether you think or act

In Conflict

• Conflict Approach is your default
• Ambition affects how hard you push
• Empathy affects how you view opponents
• Exceptions might change everything

WHAT'S NEXT

Part 3: Deep Dive adds:

• Trauma response patterns
• Full secret development (5 secrets with consequences)
• Stygian Depths specific elements
• Personality evolution guidance
• Complete Personality Summary Card

Tables Document contains:

• All d100 tables for each category
• Detailed descriptions of all options
• Random generation for any element

REMEMBER

Your character is now substantially defined—but not limited. Everything here is:

• A guide, not a script
• A starting point, not an ending
• A foundation for play, not a replacement for it

The best personality discoveries happen in the moment, when the dice fall and you have to decide what your character does. Use this framework to inform those decisions, then let the results shape who your character becomes.

Who you are is revealed by what you do when no one is watching—or when everyone is.

Part 3: Deep Dive

Complete personality exploration for fully realized characters

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

This guide assumes you've completed Part 1 (Quick Start) and Part 2 (Development). Part 3 explores the deeper layers: trauma, secrets, personal history, and how personality evolves. It also includes Stygian Depths-specific elements and a complete Personality Summary Card.

SECTION 1: TRAUMA RESPONSE

How your character reacts under extreme stress reveals their deepest programming.

The Trauma Response Spectrum

Your Trauma Response Pattern

Primary Response: _______________
Secondary Response: _______________

What triggers this response?

• Specific situations: _______________
• Types of people: _______________
• Sensory triggers: _______________

Does your character recognize when triggered?
□ Yes, fully □ Partially □ No awareness

How do they feel after?
□ Shame □ Relief □ Exhaustion □ Anger □ Numbness

History behind the response:

---

SECTION 2: SECRETS

Secret 1: The Shameful Past
The secret: _______________________________________________________________
Who knows: _______________
What happens if revealed: _______________
Would you kill to protect it?
□ No □ Maybe □ Yes

Secret 2: The Hidden Truth
Something true about yourself you conceal: _______________________________________________________________
Why you hide it: _______________
Signs that might reveal it: _______________

Secret 3: The Hidden Agenda
What you're working toward secretly: _______________________________________________________________
How you're pursuing it: _______________
Would allies support you? _______________

Secret 4: The Private Vulnerability
Weakness you never admit: _______________________________________________________________
How you compensate: _______________

Secret 5: The Dangerous Knowledge
Something you know that could harm others: _______________________________________________________________
Who wants this information: _______________
Consequences of revelation: _______________

SECTION 3: PERSONAL HISTORY

Key Life Experiences

Formative Childhood Experience:
What happened: _______________
How it shaped you: _______________

First Major Loss:
What happened: _______________
What it taught you: _______________

First Major Failure:
What happened: _______________
Pattern that developed: _______________

Defining Betrayal:
What happened: _______________
Trust pattern that resulted: _______________

SECTION 4: STRENGTHS

Natural Strengths:

1. ---
2. ---
3. ---

How these relate to your personality:

---

SECTION 5: HABITS AND PATTERNS

Stress Habits
When anxious: _______________
When angry: _______________
When sad: _______________

Physical Tells
Nervous tics: _______________
Deception tells: _______________
Concentration behavior: _______________

SECTION 6: STYGIAN DEPTHS SPECIFIC

The Eternal Darkness
How do you feel about never seeing the sky?
□ Grieving □ Accepted □ Indifferent □ Prefer it □ Never knew it

Your relationship with darkness:

---

The Surface World
Do you remember the surface?
□ Yes, clearly □ Vaguely □ Only stories □ Never knew it
How do you feel about never returning?
□ Desperate □ Resigned □ Content □ Prefer it here

Transformation and Mutation
Your attitude toward mutation:
□ Terrified □ Wary □ Accepting □ Curious □ Seeking it
How do you view others' mutations?

---

The Fungal Culture
Your relationship with fungal life:
□ Disgusted □ Uncomfortable □ Neutral □ Comfortable □ Embracing
Decay philosophy resonance:
□ Reject □ Don't understand □ Interesting □ Meaningful □ Devoted

Religious Orientation
Primary Deity (if any): _______________
Devoutness:
□ None □ Casual □ Practicing □ Devoted □ Fanatical

Survival Adaptations
How has the Depths changed you?
Physical: _______________
Mental: _______________
Moral: _______________

Things you do now that would horrify your past self:

---

SECTION 7: RELATIONSHIPS

Relationship Patterns
How do you form attachments?
□ Quickly □ Slowly □ Rarely □ Transactionally
Attachment style:
□ Secure □ Anxious □ Avoidant □ Disorganized

How do you treat:

• Those you love: _______________
• Strangers: _______________
• Enemies: _______________
• The helpless: _______________
• The powerful: _______________

SECTION 8: PERSONALITY EVOLUTION

Potential Growth
Flaw that could become strength: _______________
Fear that could be overcome: _______________
Virtue that could become extreme: _______________

Breaking Points
What could make you abandon your values?

---

What loss would fundamentally change you?

---

Aspirational Self
Who do you want to become?

---

What's stopping you?

---

SECTION 9: THE PERSONALITY SUMMARY CARD

CHARACTER PERSONALITY CARD

Name: _______________ In three words: _______________, _______________, _______________

CORE IDENTITY
Temperament: _______________

SPECTRUM PROFILE
Mark your position on each:

Risk: Cautious ○ Hesitant ○ Nonchalant ○ Curious ○ Impulsive ○ Reckless
Trust: Paranoid ○ Suspicious ○ Wary ○ Neutral ○ Open ○ Trusting ○ Naive
Conflict: Avoidant ○ Accommodating ○ Diplomatic ○ Direct ○ Assertive ○ Aggressive
Emotion: Stoic ○ Reserved ○ Measured ○ Expressive ○ Dramatic ○ Volatile
Social: Hermetic ○ Solitary ○ Independent ○ Selective ○ Social ○ Gregarious
Optimism: Nihilistic ○ Pessimistic ○ Cynical ○ Realistic ○ Hopeful ○ Optimistic
Planning: Methodical ○ Strategic ○ Prepared ○ Adaptive ○ Spontaneous ○ Chaotic
Empathy: Detached ○ Distant ○ Observant ○ Considerate ○ Sympathetic ○ Empathic
Ambition: Passive ○ Content ○ Comfortable ○ Motivated ○ Driven ○ Ambitious
Authority: Rebellious ○ Defiant ○ Independent ○ Neutral ○ Cooperative ○ Deferential

KEY TRAITS
Personality: _______________________________________________
Quirks: _______________________________________________
Social Style: _______________________________________________

MORAL FRAMEWORK
Principles: _______________________________________________
Lines I won't cross: _______________________________________________

DRIVES
Motivations:
1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________
4. _______________
Deep Fears: _______________________________________________

FLAWS & VIRTUES
Flaws: _______________________________________________
Virtues: _______________________________________________
Vices: _______________________________________________

TRAUMA RESPONSE
Primary: _______________
Secondary: _______________

EXCEPTIONS
1. Usually _______________, except when _______________
2. Usually _______________, except when _______________
3. Usually _______________, except when _______________

SECRETS (brief)

1. ---
2. ---
3. ---

STYGIAN DEPTHS
Darkness: _______________
Mutation: _______________
Religion: _______________

SECTION 10: INTEGRATION

Answer using everything you've developed:

When I walk into a room of strangers:

---

When someone challenges my beliefs:

---

When I witness injustice:

---

When offered easy money for questionable work:

---

When someone I care about is threatened:

---

When I fail publicly:

---

When alone and no one is watching:

---

The hill I would die on:

---

FINAL NOTES

What You've Built

A fully realized personality including:

• Core identity and complete spectrum profile
• Rich trait collection and deep fears
• Trauma patterns and secrets
• Moral framework and motivations
• Relationship patterns and growth potential
• Stygian Depths integration
• Quick reference card

How to Use It

Don't memorize it. Keep your summary card handy. Internalize the big things—temperament, key motivations, major fears.

Don't be imprisoned by it. Characters surprise themselves. Change what doesn't fit.

Do let it inform decisions. When stuck, consult your personality.

Do let play change it. After significant events, revisit and update.

You are not your personality guide. You are the choices you make when everything is on the line.