You are the illegitimate child of a member of your homeland's nobility. You are not set to inherit any lands nor titles, and others of the aristocracy look down upon you due to the circumstances surrounding your birth. While many bastards of nobility live their lives not knowing their origin and surrounded by the peasantry, you have been made aware of your heritage, either by being raised by your noble parent, or by having your commoner parent tell you of your birth. Perhaps you are even the offspring of two nobles, born out of wedlock or from an extramarital affair. In such a case, you were likely raised amongst your noble half-siblings, and were almost surely a source of great shame for your cheating parents.
Discuss with your DM the circumstances surrounding your birth. Which of your parents are noble, if not both, and which is a commoner? Where did you grow up, and how were you raised? How did others treat you upon learning the circumstances of your birth, or do they not know? Do you have noble half-siblings, and how is your relationship with them? How about the rest of your noble family? Why did you leave this life behind to become an adventurer?
- Skill Proficiencies: History, and your choice of Deception, Performance, and Persuasion
- Tool Proficiencies: Any one set of artisan's tools of your choice
- Languages: Any one language of your choice
- Equipment: A set of fine clothes and a set of traveller's clothes, a signet ring with an "X" carved across it, a scroll of familial recognition from your noble parent, any one set of artisan's tools with which you are proficient, and a purse containing 15 gp
You were born with an air of nobility about you, inherited from your noble bloodline, but also a sense of relatability to the common people, due to your inherent lack of noble titles and status. You are able to invoke the name of your noble parent or parents to have a greater chance of gaining access to areas you may not be supposed to get into, but the common people are also not on-guard around you, nor do they treat you differently from anyone else.
Suggested Characteristics
As the bastard child of a noble or nobles, you have developed a sense of isolation due to the lack of noble titles and status, things that everyone around you seems to have. Growing up as the bastard was hard for you. Your personality was born from your lack of belonging predominantly, while your ideals are a mixture of what your noble parent wants, and what you feel you deserve. Your bonds and flaws commonly revolve around your lack of stability in the aristocracy you were partially born into.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have no time for the prim and proper social game of my noble peers. |
| 2 | I may have noble blood in my veins, but I get my hard work and determination from my common parent. |
| 3 | I always feel as though I am torn between two worlds, and at home in neither. |
| 4 | I latch on to new people quickly and rarely let go. |
| 5 | I may not have the same titles as my half-siblings, but I do have the demeanour of a lord. |
| 6 | I am oblivious to etiquette and social expectations. |
| 7 | My eloquent flattery makes everyone I talk to feel like the most wonderful and important person in the world. |
| 8 | If you do me an injury, I will crush you, ruin your name, and salt your fields. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Order. I must abide by the laws my noble parent has enforced in their land, no matter how I may disagree with them. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Individuality. I am not my common parent, nor am I nobility. I will be myself, no matter the risks or cost. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Revenge. I will take what was stolen from me by the misfortune of my birth, and punish those who treated me like I was worthless. (Evil) |
| 4 | Respect. All people, regardless of station, deserve to be treated with dignity. (Good) |
| 5 | Gold. I will gain enough wealth to live a life of luxury beside my noble peers. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Family. I will do anything for my family. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I will face any challenge to win the approval of my noble family. |
| 2 | I have fallen in love with a noble I cannot have. |
| 3 | The common folk must see me as a hero of the people. |
| 4 | My half-siblings are threatened by me. |
| 5 | I will never forget the humble cottage I grew up in. |
| 6 | My parents, though incredibly different people, both love me in their own ways. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I vent my frustrations in subtle acts of cruelty. |
| 2 | I seek to inherit my family's wealth and name, whatever it takes. |
| 3 | I believe I am much more important than I really am. |
| 4 | I am a truly scandalous secret that could ruin my family forever. |
| 5 | I too often hear veiled insults and threats in every word addressed to me, and I am quick to anger. |
| 6 | I lived a life before finding my place in my noble family, and now dangers from that past are coming for my newfound happiness. |
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