Noble - Dragon (Character Kit)

Noble
Description: Almost all humans and demihumans have some potential with the Way, but very few people are fortunate enough to find a tutor for their mental powers. These untutored potentials are fated to go through life as wild talents, possessing only a fraction of the powers they would if they had studied. On Athas, learning and study for its own sake is often a luxury only the wealthy and the noble can afford.
The noble psionicist is a character who was enrolled in a rigorous training regime by her family when she was young. Like children of our own world who take piano lessons, most find the study of their own minds to be unpleasant work, but others stay with their tutors and develop into for- midable psionicists. These nobles enjoy a powerful edge over their rivals and are some of the most clever and cunning of opponents.
Noble psionicists may be humans,
elves, half-elves, or dwarves. They may choose to be of any alignment open to the psionicist. There are no special ability requirements.
Preferred disciplines: Telepaths and clairsentients are greatly preferred for their information gathering abilities.
Role: The noble psionicist is virtually a pariah among Athass degenerate nobility. Her clear mind and self-discipline are virtues seldom found among the elite of the Seven Cities. Despite her distance from the social scene, she is still well-treated and respected by both her allies and her enemies. To her family, she is a valuable asset, a steel-bladed sword to be wielded against their rivals. In time, as the head of the family, she possesses the wisdom and the clarity of thought to bring the house even greater power and influence.
As an adventurer, the noble psionicist often has a challenging agenda mapped out for her by her family. Whether or not she follows that agenda is her own busi- ness. Until she actually assumes the mantle of leadership and the noble title, she is often free to pursue her own studies.
Weapon Proficiencies: Nobles enjoy access to excellent weapons training. Many are taught the basics of self-defense at an early age. The noble psionicist receives a bonus weapon proficiency that can be used to learn martial arts or to specialize in punching or wrestling (see the Complete Fighters Handbook). Recommended weapon proficiencies include any weapon generally associated with the nobility of the characters home.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Etiquette, Heraldry.
* Recommended: Meditative Focus, Rejuvenation, Harness Subcon- scious, Dancing, Land-based Riding, Reading/Writing.
Equipment: While a noble psionicist does not particularly enjoy the display of wealth, she also understands that appear- ances must be maintained. The psionicist must pay 150-200% (d6+14×10%) the normal cost of any clothing or equipment she purchases in order to make it clear that she is a person of privilege. If the noble psionicist cannot look the part, she will have a difficult time convincing NPCs that she is a noble.
Special Benefits: The noble psionicist begins play with more money than a psionicist without a kit. She also has a family, clan, or estate to support her. If she wishes, the noble psionicist can live with her relations indefinitely, enjoying a life of ease and luxury. However, a noble psionicist who lives off her familys fortune will find that the family expects her full loyalty.
The noble psionicist receives a +3 bonus on reaction checks with any member of her culture or society who recognizes her as a noble. Many of Athass lower classes have no love for nobility, but every citizen of a city-state has learned to respect it. A noble character in common clothes will not be recognized as a noble, no matter how many people she tells.
Special Hindrances: As noted above, the noble psionicist must maintain appearances. She must always purchase the finest version of any clothing or gear she needs. This effectively raises the cost of any piece of equipment to 150%-200% of its listed cost.
The second hindrance of a noble psionicist applies only if she is living off her family and using their estate as her home base. Her relations are glad to have her around, and will often ask her for favors or support. At least once a week, the character will have to fulfill a family obligation; she may need to use her men- tal abilities against the houses enemies, she may be asked to spy on another rival house, or she might even be invited to attend to the sorcerer-king as the houses representative. The DM should use this as a tool to reinforce good role-playing; a wealthy PC who asks her family to buy steel weapons for all her friends had bet- ter be prepared to pay for it with her time and effort!
Wealth Options: The noble psionicist begins play with 3d4 × 90 cp. At the DMs option, the character can also receive a stipend from her family equal to 10 cp per month per character level.
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