The Quintessential Aristocrat

Author	Martin R. Thomas
Publisher	Mongoose Publishing
Publish date	2004
OGL Section 15	qari

The material below is designated as open game content.

Wealthy Vigilante

Often, a member of the aristocracy seeks a higher purpose in life than just attending society functions. Many wish for an opportunity to use their wealth, status and skills to aid those less fortunate than themselves. These aristocrats may live in corrupt societies, where graft, bribery, and extortion run rampant among the official government. While taking up the mantle of a vigilante, these crusaders assume a dual identity. By way she acts as a regular member of the aristocracy, using her status to gain information concerning potential misdeeds that are about to occur. By night, she dons the cloak of an avenger and protector, disguising herself to maintain her secret identity and uses her access to wealth to buy special weapons and equipment, maintain secret hideouts, and pay informants.

Adventuring: The wealthy vigilante’s agenda is a source of many adventures. Constantly on the prowl to punish wrongdoers, she must also be wary to maintain her secret identity. Frequently, the very power she fights against is the legitimate government of the area, and they will spare no expense to try to bring the mysterious crusader to justice. When she is not using her powers of disguise and persuasion to stay one step ahead of the local authorities, she will be tracking down corrupt government officials, immoral members of the aristocracy, and common criminals to bring them to justice.
Role-Playing: A wealthy vigilante works hard to maintain two separate identities and sometimes may carry her secret so far as to almost appear to have two different personalities. As part of an adventuring party, it is conceivable that a wealthy vigilante’s own party members may not even know of her secret identity and may assume that she is just another privileged member
of society. She lives by her own personal code of justice, serving as judge, jury, and sometimes even as executioner. A hero and legend to the downtrodden, the wealthy vigilante takes care to mark her victims with her own distinguishing symbol, almost daring the local authorities to try to catch her.
Bonuses: Needing to be quick on her feet to stay ahead of her pursuers, the wealthy vigilante has trained herself to be fast and agile. Her Reflex save progression advances as a typical aristocrat’s Will save would progress, starting at +2 at first level. As a master of keeping two separate identities, she also receives a +2 competence bonus to all Bluff and Disguise checks.
Penalties: While improving her reflexes, the wealthy vigilante has not maintained the strict regimen of mental training that is characteristic of other nobles. Her Will save progression advances at the same rate as her Fortitude save, starting at +0 at first level. Constantly on the run from the authorities, there are many nights when a wealthy vigilante cannot allow herself to get a full night’s rest. Every night when she goes to rest, there is a 30% chance that the wealthy vigilante will not be able to sleep, and instead ends up staying awake all night while fearing capture. This counts as not receiving any rest and affects hit point and spell recovery. Note that the wealthy vigilante cannot avoid this condition through any means, not even if her companions offer to keep watch for her. Magical sleep (such as via a sleep spell) still does not allow the wealthy vigilante to recover her spells and hit points.