You understand wealth, power, and privilege. You also understand poverty, impotence, and disadvantage. You belonged to a royal family, the heir apparent to the throne. Whatever happened on that fateful day, it’s one you’ll naught forget. Who was it that dethroned your parents? Was it popular, a revolution of all their subjects because of their insufficient rule? Or did one of your enemies crush your family in one fell sweep? Did a family member mean to have you assassinated to be next in line themselves? Was your castle invaded by slavers from the Underdark? Any way it happened, you were betrayed and sold into slavery.
As a former noble, you became a trophy for a rich benefactor or rich nobles. You were used as a show piece, forced to perform for audiences and placed on show covered in riches, or you may have been a manservant or handmaiden in a royal household due to your knowledge of noble traditions. You have now lived a life of servitude bound to someone whom you have called "master" for the better part of your life. Whether you were treated with cruelty or relative kindness, you were still expected to "know your place" and were punished when you stepped out of line. Toiling for another, obeying orders, and debasing yourself have been your way of life. You have since escaped servitude, having somehow won your freedom. Your time as a slave has given you the patience to suffer the vagaries of powerful people and also insight into the dynamics of power, its uses and abuses.
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, and one of Persuasion, Deception, or History
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set or instrument, Calligrapher's Supplies
- Languages: Two of your choice
- Equipment: A signet ring (of your former domain, which perhaps no longer exists), a small piece of jewelry of great personal importance (perhaps a gift or stolen from your master, or something you managed to take with you when you were captured), common clothes, 10 gp
Somewhere there will be groups of those who recognize you and remember you fondly, whether they are peasants, a survived group of soldiers, or the ruler of a neighboring land. Any who remain loyal to you will secretly support you and your companions at a modest lifestyle. Your name might also be the key to opening doors. Furthermore, you can try to attract a group of followers who will keep you secret and defend you with their lives, but not go into situations for you that would risk their own lives. They might, however, with a successful Persuade test, be willing to help reclaim your throne. You are very aware of "Noble" culture and can easily navigate though a ball and properly greet an associate's second cousin properly.
Suggested Characteristics
Because you were raised to be a ruler, you will most likely have a good knowledge of how to deal with people and give them respect, and you have impressively kept this quality throughout your slavery. You also, however, have learned wariness. Perhaps you are still deathly bitter about your loss. You worked hard to escape and value your freedom over all else. You also have acquired some characteristics and culture from your "previous" life.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | My eloquent flattery makes everyone I talk to feel like the most wonderful and important person in the world. |
| 2 | The common folk love me for my kindness and generosity. |
| 3 | I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide. |
| 4 | I take great pains to always look my best, regardless of my current situation. |
| 5 | I weigh my options very carefully before doing anything. |
| 6 | I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me. |
| 7 | I am constantly plotting revenge, coming up with and discarding ridiculous plots. |
| 8 | If you do me an injury, I will crush you, ruin your name, and salt your fields. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Revenge. I will make amends for what has been done to me, however I can. (Chaotic) |
| 2 | Respect. Everybody deserves to be considered, even the lowliest. (Good) |
| 3 | Independence. I am the only entity that can rule me. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. If I can attain more power, no one will tell me what to do. (Evil) |
| 5 | Aspiration. I will take my kingdom back. (Any) |
| 6 | Justice. I will see justice done; if not for me, then for the common folk. (Lawful) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I will retake my dominion if it is my dying action. |
| 2 | I will protect my people, if from the shadows. |
| 3 | I can personally understand the suffering of other slaves and comfort them. |
| 4 | Those who help me escape will forever be my allies. |
| 5 | No matter what, I can still feel the warmth of my family. |
| 6 | Those who enslaved me are still out there, and I cannot rest until they've all been cut down. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I still suffer nightmares and visions of the moment my life crumbled to pieces. |
| 2 | I am paranoid about my enemies coming to finish me. I can't trust anyone. |
| 3 | I judge myself too harshly and fall into states of despair. |
| 4 | If I see any who betrayed me, their blood will spill on my hands. Nothing will stop me. |
| 5 | I'm so accustomed to obeying a master I often look for someone to tell me what to do. |
| 6 | I often manipulate others to get what I want. |
Throughout all of your ordeals -- being kidnapped and finding your escape -- there is someone who has always been at your side. Somebody full of courage. Somebody who probably reminds you of Sam Gamgee. This character acts as a retainer, and you can choose what kind of NPC it is from any CR 1 or under from Appendix B of the MM or Appendix B of Volo’s guide to Monsters: examples include a thug (your guard captain), an acolyte (your trusted advisor), a spy (perhaps a bastard nephew in the underground court life), or a noble (a family member or loyal friend). You have a very good relationship with this follower, who will sacrifice much for you: they will go into dangerous situations with you. You also cannot be selfish with this character: you can’t take without giving any. The character deserves respect and thanks. Otherwise, they might leave you. This character is controlled by the DM, who may choose to have this character gain levels in a class, or keep the same stat block.