You understand wealth, power, and privilege. Your family owns land, collects taxes, and wields significant political influence. You lived a pampered existence, eating from a silver spoon.
At least, you did. For some reason you earned your family's ire. You were disowned and disinherited. Having no claim to the titles and wealth of your family you must make your own living in the world.
This is an edit of the Disowned Noble background written by BlBowers.
- Skill Proficiencies: You grew up learning courtly graces, choose one skill from: Deception, Insight, or Persuasion.
While in exile you learned a hard lesson to survive, choose one from: Medicine, Performance, or Sleight of Hand
- Tool Proficiencies: You grew up in luxury with the finest tutors, choose a proficiency your parents thought was fitting of someone of your birth.
- Languages: Choose a language you learned to make ends meet in the world outside of your family's influence.
- Equipment: 1 set of fine clothes (threadbare and patched), 1 set of traveler's clothes, a family heirloom (smuggled from your former home), a belt pouch with 200 cp and 80 sp (a pittance from your parents before they booted you out the door)
What was the reason for your family's displeasure? You can work with your DM to determine the exact nature of the reason, or you can roll on the table below to help with ideas.
| d6 | Disownment |
|---|---|
| 1 | Because I was an informant to the crimes of a family member. |
| 2 | Because of the circumstances of my birth (prophecy, ill-omen, expression of infernal/celestial blood, bastard) |
| 3 | Because I bucked the social trends of the nobility (destroying an alliance, refusing to follow the rules of etiquette, openly insulting those in power.) |
| 4 | Because I was involved in a forbidden relationship (married a courtesan or commoner, child of a hated enemy, someone of bad blood.) |
| 5 | Because I did something to risk the good name of the family (attempted to save the life of a hated criminal/dissident, created a larger than life scandal, championed a business venture that almost bankrupted the family.) |
| 6 | Because I refused to continue the bloodline, risking the legacy of the house. |
After being disowned you have found kinship in the low and criminal elements of the cities. You can gain information and rumors from your many contacts, the infamous and those derelicts beneath notice. You may also gain residency with them in conditions ranging from wretched to comfortable.
Suggested Characteristics
As a former noble your upbringing and current life at always at odd with each other. Think about how your character takes to the change in their lifestyle and prospects for the future. Did you become a jaded cynic or were you glad to get out of the oppressive rule of your family?
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I still strive to be a paragon of dignity and honor. |
| 2 | I survived the slums by being quiet and observing. |
| 3 | My family has spoiled my outlook on those in power, they are all snakes waiting to strike. |
| 4 | I've learned to keep my thoughts to myself lest anyone else betrays me. |
| 5 | I can still maintain the cool and collected mask of a practiced liar when under duress. |
| 6 | Appearances are important, looking the part can open some of the same doors that my missing Patents of Nobility could. |
| 7 | I care little about my disownment and live my life how I wish now. |
| 8 | Those elitists will pay. Just the sight of anyone of higher birth brings my blood to boil. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Independence. I am absolved of the obligations of that world and relish in my new found freedom. (Chaotic) |
| 2 | Proud. Despite what they did to me I strive to improve the position of my family. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Revenge. I wish to see those who did this to me suffer they way they make me do now. (Evil) |
| 4 | Aspiration. I strive to prove that I am more honorable than my family purportedly is. (Good) |
| 5 | Ruin. For what they did to me I will ensure that my lineage is wiped from the annals of history. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Redemption. I will find a way to see myself returned to the peerage. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I owe everything to the commoner that took me in and taught me a way to survive. |
| 2 | I would do anything to get back in contact with the family member I loved most. |
| 3 | The gang I ran with in exile will forever be my new family. |
| 4 | I've turned to my faith to show me what true nobility is. |
| 5 | I strive to earn the adoration of the masses to replace the that of the court. |
| 6 | I pursue wealth as a means to regain some of my previous social power. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I've turned to vice as my only means of coping with what I've lost. |
| 2 | I'm so used to dealing with court life I often manipulate those around me without thinking about it. |
| 3 | I have so little trust left I barely speak more than a single word to those I don't consider friends. |
| 4 | I would rather buy the finery I had before than put food on my own luxuriant hardwood table. |
| 5 | I expect the worst of those I meet until they have proven themselves. |
| 6 | I will gladly kill again if I think it will bring me closer to my former glory. |
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