Once the devoted servant of a lord, using your skills in the clever crafts on their behalf, you have set out to journey on your own without your lord's support or favour. Whether it be because your lord has failed you, their people or simply been lost with only you to carry on their legacy, you understand wealth, power, and privilege due having once had your own title, holdings and (perhaps still) significant political influence.
You might be a pampered aristocrat unfamiliar with work or discomfort, a former merchant just elevated to the nobility, or a disinherited scoundrel with a disproportionate sense of entitlement. Or you could be an honest, hard-working landowner who cares deeply about the people who live and work on your land, keenly aware of your responsibility to them.
Work with your DM to come up with an appropriate title and determine how much authority that former title carries. A noble title doesn’t stand on its own—it’s connected to an entire family, and whatever title you hold, you will pass it down to your own children. Not only do you need to determine your noble title, but you should also work with the DM to describe your family and their influence on you.
Is your family old and established, or was your title only recently bestowed? How much influence do they wield, and over what area? What kind of reputation does your family have among the other aristocrats of the region? How do the common people regard them?
What’s your position in the family? Are you the heir to the head of the family? Have you already inherited the title? How do you feel about that responsibility? Or are you so far down the line of inheritance that no one cares what you do, as long as you don’t embarrass the family? How does the head of your family feel about your adventuring career? Are you still in your family’s good graces, or shunned by the rest of your family?
Does your family have a coat of arms? An insignia you might wear on a signet ring? Particular colors you wear all the time? An animal you regard as a symbol of your line or even a spiritual member of the family?
These details help establish your family and your title as features of the world of the campaign.
A knighthood is among the lowest noble titles in most societies, but it can be a path to higher status. If you wish to be a knight, choose the Retainers feature (see the sidebar) instead of the Position of Privilege feature. One of your commoner retainers is replaced by a noble who serves as your squire, aiding you in exchange for training on his or her own path to knighthood. Your two remaining retainers might include a groom to care for your horse and a servant who polishes your armor (and even helps you put it on).
As an emblem of chivalry and the ideals of courtly love, you might include among your equipment a banner or other token from a noble lord or lady to whom you have given your heart — in a chaste sort of devotion. (This person could be your bond.)
- Skill Proficiencies: Pick either Arcana or Religion, then one other Proficiency of any kind.
- Tool Proficiencies: (Optional) Pick one proficiency in any one: Instrument, Gaming set or Artisan Tool.
- Languages: If you took the tool proficiency above pick only one Language. If you did not then pick two.
- Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a signet ring bearing the mark of your former master, a spell casting focus matching your class, and a purse containing 25 gp.
You have the service of up to three individuals: either retainers or animals with a CR rating of 1/8 or below.
The retainers can be attendants or messengers, and one might be a majordomo. They can perform mundane tasks for you, but they do not fight for you, will not follow you into obviously dangerous areas such as dungeons, and will leave if they are frequently endangered or abused.
The animals will be loyal pets who will stay with you and obey simple instructions but like the retainers will not fight for you and will leave if they are frequently endangered or abused.
Alternate Feature: Loyal Steed
You begin with a loyal steed of a CR rating 1/2 or less join you on your journey.
Suggested Characteristics
1. My passion for the arcane is what earned my knighthood. (Any)
2. Even if I can no longer officially serve, I will always live up to the oaths I made while in service. (Law)
3. I did so many things I hated back then so I will never willingly serve another again. (Chaotic)
4. I will put what I've learned to good use in order to help as many people as I can. (Good)
5. My former master will regret having dismissed me. (Any)
6. My unique talents are just what is needed. (Any)
7. I won't let former bonds or loyalty hold me back from my desires anymore (Chaotic Evil?)
8. I was inspired by my lord to greater heights and will carry on their legacy even without them. (Lawful Good?)
9. I try not to let my previous loyalty interfere with my actions in the present (Neutral)
10. I seek vengeance on my lord's enemies (Any)
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