Athenon Scion

You are a scion of one of the great noble families of the Great Empire. Human families who jealously guard their privilege and place in the Crystal Palace, AthenonHouse nobles have a reputation across Dakaron for being eccentric, spoiled, venal, and, above all else, rich.

Whether you are a shining example of the reason for this reputation or one who proves the rule by being an exception, people expect things of you when they know your surname and what it means. Your reasons for taking up adventuring likely involve your family in some way: Are you the family rebel, who prefers delving in filthy dungeons to sipping fine wine at a ball? Or have you taken up sword or spell on your family’s behalf, ensuring that they have someone of renown to see to their legacy?

Work with your DM to figure out the family you are part of—there are many Athenon lineages from the Great Empire, each Major Houses in line for the Imperial Throne, each with its own financial interests, specialties, and schemes. You might be part of the main line of your family, possibly in line to become its leader one day. Or you might be one of any number of cousins, with less prestige but also less responsibility. The sixteen prominent Major Houses are listed below.

• Skill Proficiencies History, Persuasion
• Tool Proficiencies One proficiency from the House Tool Proficiencies table
• Equipment A set of fine clothes, a signet ring or brooch, a scroll of pedigree, a skin of fine wine, and a purse containing 75 gp

Your House	Proficiencies
Alrick	Weaver’s tools and cobbler’s tools
Blaedry	Carpenter’s tools and mason’s tools
Burkwhirst	Leatherworker’s tools and vehicles (land)
Daeddry	Brewer’s supplies and cook’s utensils
Dillyra	Woodcarver’s tools and carpenter’s tools
Issen	Smith’s tools and jeweler’s tools
Mercanyin	Tinker’s tools and calligrapher’s supplies
Oshar	Smith’s tools and leatherworker’s tools
Ramala	Painter’s supplies and glassblowing
Redstone	Navigator’s tools and vehicles (water)
Rogwyn	Brewer’s supplies and one musical instrument
Sanes	Disguise kit and one musical instrument
Sarn	Calligrapher’s supplies and herbalism kit
Sedry	Thieves tools and calligrapher’s supplies
Shamdar	Cook’s utensils and herbalism kit
Taryn	Smith’s tools and potter’s tools

Feature: Kept in Style

While you are in any of the Lands of the Empire, your house sees to your everyday needs. Your name and signet are sufficient to cover most of your expenses; the inns, taverns, and festhalls you frequent are glad to record your debt and send an accounting to your family’s estate to settle what you owe.

This advantage enables you to live a comfortable lifestyle without having to pay the 2gp a day for it, or reduces the cost of a wealthy or aristocratic lifestyle by that amount. You may not maintain a less affluent lifestyle and use the difference as income—the benefit is a line of credit, not an actual monetary reward.

Keep in mind that there is a disadvantage to this feature. Your AthenonHouse has a rival House, who will stop at nothing to gain an advantage over yours. Your name and signet have a chance of coming to an individual’s attention who might want to ensure bad luck happens to you, or even cause some serious damage to you and yours. And there is always the unscrupulous who will sell this information to those who would be interested.

Suggested Characteristics

Most nobles are born and raised to a very different lifestyle than most people ever experience, especially an Athenon noble, 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	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	No one could doubt by looking at my regal bearing that I am a cut above the unwashed masses.
4	I take great pains to always look my best and follow the latest fashions.
5	I don’t like to get my hands dirty, and I won’t be caught dead in unsuitable accommodations.
6	Despite my noble birth, I do not place myself above other folk. We all have the same blood.
7	My favor, once lost, is lost forever.
8	If you do me an injury, I will crush you, ruin your name, and salt your fields.

d6	Ideal
1	Respect. Respect is due to me because of my position, but all people regardless of station deserve to be treated with dignity. (Good)
2	Responsibility. It is my duty to respect the authority of those above me, just as those below me must respect mine. (Lawful)
3	Independence. I must prove that I can handle myself without coddling from my family. (Chaotic)
4	Power. If I can attain more power, no one will tell me what to do. (Evil)
5	House. The continued rise of my House is worth any price. (Any)
6	Noble Obligation. It is my duty to protect and care for the people beneath me. (Good)

d6	Bond
1	I will face any challenge to win the approval of my family.
2	My house’s alliance with another noble family must be sustained at all costs.
3	Nothing is more important than the other members of my family.
4	I am in love with the heir of a family that my family despises.
5	My loyalty to my sovereign is unwavering.
6	The common folk must see me as a hero of the people.

d6	Flaw
1	I secretly believe that everyone is beneath me.
2	I hide a truly scandalous secret that could ruin my family forever.
3	I too often hear veiled insults and threats in every word addressed to me, and I’m quick to anger.
4	I have an insatiable desire for carnal pleasures.
5	In fact, the world does revolve around me.
6	By my words and actions, I often bring shame to my family.

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