As a Spendthrift, you hail from a distinguished family known for its extravagant lifestyle and frivolous spending. While your lineage is steeped in wealth and power, your family is equally famous (or infamous) for squandering their fortune on lavish parties, exotic pets, and unnecessary luxuries. Your upbringing was filled with every possible comfort and pleasure, often at the expense of prudence and long-term planning. Now, as an adventurer, you may be seeking to restore your family's fortune, escape creditors, or simply continue your extravagant lifestyle, unaware of the realities of a dwindling treasury.
- Skill Proficiencies: History, Persuasion
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set or musical instrument
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A set of Designer clothes (slightly out of fashion), a signet ring (with a slightly faded family crest), a credit note (quickly becoming worthless), and a purse containing 15 gp but a substantial amount of debt
There are many ways an affluent family can fall into financial ruin, and within the upper echelons of society, different families might be known for specific types of extravagance or mismanagement that led to their downfall. Even those nobles who are relatively isolated from others in their social class tend to have distinct patterns in their financial decline. Whether it's a penchant for lavish spending, poor investments, or other forms of fiscal misadventure, each Spendthrift has a unique story behind their family's depleted wealth. Choose the primary cause of your family's financial woes, or roll on the table below to discover the source of your noble character's current economic challenges.
| d8 | Wealth Woes |
|---|---|
| 1 | Extravagant Tastes: Your penchant for luxury knows no bounds. From lavish feasts to the finest garments, no expense is spared. |
| 2 | Gambling Debts: A series of bad bets and a weakness for gambling have drained your coffers. |
| 3 | Failed Ventures: You invested heavily in numerous business ventures, all of which failed spectacularly. |
| 4 | Fraudulent Schemes: You fell victim to, or perhaps orchestrated, elaborate scams that backfired financially. |
| 5 | War or Political Conflict: Your family's assets were depleted by war, either through direct destruction or by funding a losing side. |
| 6 | Excessive Generosity: Your inability to refuse requests for financial aid from friends and charities left your fortune diminished. |
| 7 | Addiction: Whether to drink, magical substances, or other vices, addiction has consumed much of your wealth. |
| 8 | Family Feuds: Long-standing disputes and legal battles within your family eroded your inheritance. |
Despite your family's declining financial situation, your name still carries weight in high society. You can usually gain access to exclusive events, secure credit (on dubious terms), and interact with the upper echelons of society. However, your reputation might also attract the attention of creditors, swindlers, and other nobles aware of your family's precarious position.
Suggested Characteristics
Nobles are born and raised to a very different lifestyle than most people ever experience, and their personalities reflect that upbringing. A noble title comes with a plethora of bonds—responsibilities to family, to other nobles (including the sovereign), to the people entrusted to the family’s care, or even to the title itself. But this responsibility is often a good way to undermine a noble.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have an anecdote for every occasion, especially ones showcasing my former wealth. |
| 2 | I'm accustomed to being the center of attention and become sullen when I'm not. |
| 3 | I'm blissfully ignorant of the value of money, often generously overpaying or underbidding. |
| 4 | I flaunt my family's history and prestige, even if it's no longer accurate. |
| 5 | I'm always seeking the next big investment to recover my fortunes, but my plans are often unrealistic. |
| 6 | I believe that appearance is everything and constantly try to look wealthier than I am. |
| 7 | I'm addicted to gambling and lavish bets, often using my family name as collateral. |
| 8 | I have a taste for the finer things in life, regardless of whether I can afford them. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Optimism. Tomorrow is another day, and it surely must be better than today. (Any) |
| 2 | Restoration. I must regain my family's lost wealth and status. (Any) |
| 3 | Hedonism. You only live once. Why not enjoy it with a little style? (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Prestige. My family's name must be respected, no matter the cost. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Generosity. I give as lavishly as I spend; money is to be shared. (Good) |
| 6 | Recklessness. Caution is for the poor. Fortune favors the bold. (Chaotic) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I owe a huge debt to a moneylender, and they frequently remind me of this. |
| 2 | My family's ancestral home is on the verge of being seized, and I must save it. |
| 3 | I’m in love with someone who believes I’m still wealthy; I fear they may leave if they learn the truth. |
| 4 | My family disowned me for my spending; I seek to prove them wrong by amassing even greater wealth. |
| 5 | I accidentally squandered a precious family heirloom and must retrieve it. |
| 6 | I have a rival from a similarly noble family; we constantly try to outdo each other. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I can't resist spending money on lavish parties and luxury items. |
| 2 | I am overly trusting of those who flatter my status and wealth, often being easily swindled. |
| 3 | I am in denial about the severity of my financial situation, continuously living beyond my means. |
| 4 | I have a habit of borrowing money without thinking about repayment. |
| 5 | I am secretly terrified that my friends and allies would abandon me if they knew about my financial troubles. |
| 6 | I often gamble excessively, hoping for a big win to solve my financial woes. |
As an Indebted Noble, your background is a tale of splendor turned sour. Born into a life of luxury, your family's reckless spending eventually led to overwhelming debt. Now, under the heavy yoke of financial obligation, you find yourself bound to a powerful patron. This benefactor or organization bailed out your family, saving you from ruin but at a steep price. You are a noble, yes, but one whose gilded life is overshadowed by the looming presence of a debt you must repay. Your adventures might be driven by the need to free yourself from this burden, to regain your family's lost honor, or perhaps to further your patron's mysterious agendas.
Instead of the usual noble features, your primary connection is a significant debt owed to a wealthy patron or organization. This patron has considerable influence over you, often demanding favors or services as repayment. While their support provides access to resources, information, and high society, it also means you are constantly under their watchful eye. Your life of privilege now comes with strings attached, as you navigate the delicate balance between maintaining your noble status and serving your patron's interests.
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