You were born into wealth, power and privilege; your family owns land and property, and wields power; within their region they command absolute respect. You do not. For some reason you have rebelled against your upbringing, abusing your birthright and skills to grift and swindle, stretching the limits of your family’s tolerance to protect you from the worst consequences of your scheming. You have been ostracised from the family proper, but may still retain some level of indulgence in the form of secretive connections to a family member, or a stipend paid to you as a familial obligation.
Work with your DM to come up with an appropriate title for your family, and determine how much authority and power that title commands. While a noble title extends to the entire family, you are in a rather tenuous position, scraping by on your family’s continued indulgence. As well as the family’s title, work with the DM to describe your family, and how your relationships to them have been impacted by your ostracism.
Is your family old and established, or recently ennobled? How much influence do they wield, and over what area? What kind of reputation do they command amongst their peers and their lessers? And how does your ostracism affect what those outside of your family think of you?
How are the terms of your ostracism enforced? Have your family disavowed all knowledge of you? Do some still maintain secretive communication? Do they provide you with a stipend that you might live in a manner befitting your birth, even if they will not acknowledge you?
- Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Persuasion
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a purse containing 25 gp, and two small heirloom trinkets taken from the family
Thanks to your ostracism from your family, your position has obviously changed to those who know. Your ability to be welcomed in high society rests on the ignorance of your hosts, or their dislike of your family. The common folk are likely to resent you, either for your birthright or the fact you squandered it. While you are unlikely to be outright unwelcome anywhere, most circles will whisper about your circumstances.
Suggested Characteristics
Nobles are born and raised to a very different lifestyle than most people ever experience, but you pissed that away for some reason. You likely have some family bonds remaining, but your primary concerns are your own purse and your schemes to fill it. This can often be your downfall.
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