Praetorian Guard

"Loyalty is my creed, vigilance my armor, and honor my blade."
— Commander Arvel Dren, Shadow of the Throne

Description

As a Praetorian Guard, you served among the empire's elite warriors, sworn to protect emperors, senators, and other dignitaries. Trained in combat, diplomacy, and espionage, you were both a formidable defender and a cunning operative. Whether your service ended with honor or scandal, you carry the weight of your station and the secrets entrusted to you.

Praetorian Guards embody martial discipline and political intrigue. Their duties span from defending the empire's most powerful figures to uncovering conspiracies that threaten its stability. As a guardian of the realm, your actions have left an indelible mark on the empire and its history.

Attribute Bonuses:

• Strength (+1) and Charisma (+1), or Strength (+2).

Trinkets Table

Roll a d8 or choose one:

d8	Trinket
1	A medal awarded for valor in defense of the empire.
2	A broken blade from an enemy commander you defeated.
3	A piece of parchment bearing your oath to the empire.
4	A token from a noble you protected, engraved with their crest.
5	A signet ring with a hidden compartment.
6	A map of the imperial capital, annotated with strategic locations.
7	A cloak clasp in the shape of the Praetorian Guard’s emblem.
8	A worn leather-bound journal filled with notes on past missions.

Using the Praetorian Guard Background

This background is ideal for Fighters, Paladins, or Rogues who thrive in roles of discipline, duty, and intrigue. It provides rich thematic depth for characters navigating political intrigue, guarding powerful figures, or uncovering conspiracies within the empire. Praetorian Guards are formidable protectors and tacticians, embodying the ideals of loyalty, honor, and vigilance.

Skill Proficiencies:

• Perception: For heightened awareness of threats.
• Insight: To discern hidden motives and lies.

Tool Proficiencies:

• One gaming set of your choice (e.g., dice, cards).
• One type of artisan’s tools (e.g., smith’s tools, jeweler’s tools).

Languages:

• Common
• One additional language, often tied to foreign courts or rival factions.

Equipment:

• A ceremonial dagger with intricate designs symbolizing your oath.
• A set of fine clothes denoting your status as a Praetorian.
• A signet ring or insignia identifying you as an active or retired member of the Praetorian Guard.
• A well-crafted gladius and a shield.
• A pouch containing 20 gold pieces.

Suggested Characteristics

d4	Personality Trait
1	I am always watching, studying others’ words and actions for hidden motives.
2	I maintain a stoic demeanor, revealing little of my thoughts.
3	I treat duty as sacred, holding myself to the highest standards.
4	I am fiercely loyal to those I deem worthy of my protection.

d3	Ideal
1	Duty: My charge’s safety is more important than my own life. (Lawful)
2	Loyalty: Betrayal is the ultimate sin. (Good)
3	Power: I protect the powerful to secure my own influence. (Neutral)

d3	Bond
1	I once failed to protect someone under my care, and I will never let it happen again.
2	My insignia reminds me of the oaths I swore and the life I left behind.
3	I owe my career to a figure of great influence who took a chance on me.

d3	Flaw
1	I am deeply paranoid, always suspecting betrayal.
2	My obsession with duty sometimes blinds me to greater threats.
3	I struggle to trust others, even those closest to me.

Contacts

Praetorian Guard Contacts

Your service has forged connections with influential figures and allies:

• A fellow Praetorian who remains loyal to the Guard’s ideals.
• A noble whose life you saved, now indebted to you.
• A spymaster who relies on you for covert operations.
• A former comrade turned rival, whose motives you still question.