28.01.2019 Views

Dungeon Master's Guide

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

more·concerned about doing right by the adventurers,<br />

honoring any obligations without worrying too much<br />

about personal risk or adherence to the law.<br />

SPECIAL RIGHTS<br />

A politically powerful person can reward characters by<br />

giving them special rights, which are usually articulated<br />

in some sort of official document. For example,<br />

characters might be granted special rights to carry<br />

weapons in public places, kill enemies of the crown, or<br />

negotiate on a duke's behalf. They might earn the right<br />

to demand free room and board from any establishment<br />

within a particular community, or have the right to draft<br />

local militia to assist them as needed.<br />

Special rights last only as long as the legal document<br />

dictates, and such rights can be revoked if the<br />

adventurers abuse them.<br />

STRONGHOLDS<br />

A stronghold is a reward usually given to seasoned<br />

adventurers who demonstrate unwavering fealty to a"<br />

powerful political figure or ruling body, such as a king,<br />

a knighthood, or a council of wizards. A stronghold<br />

can be anything from a fortified tower in the heart of<br />

a city to a provincial keep on the borderlands. While<br />

the stronghold is for the characters to govern as they<br />

see fit, the land on which it sits remains the property of<br />

the crown or local ruler. Should the characters prove<br />

disloyal or unworthy of the gift, they can be asked or<br />

forced to relinquish custody of the stronghold.<br />

As an additional reward, the individual bequeathing<br />

the stronghold might offer to pay its maintenance cost<br />

for a period of one or more months, after which the<br />

characters inherit that responsibility. See chapter 6 for<br />

more information on stronghold maintenance.<br />

TITLES<br />

A politically powerful figure has the ability to dispense<br />

titles. A title often comes with a parcel of land (see<br />

above). For example, a character might be awarded the<br />

title Earl of Storm river or Countess of Dun Fjord, along<br />

with a parcel of land that includes a settlement or region<br />

of the same name.<br />

A character can hold more than one title, and in a<br />

feudal society, those titles can be passed down to (or<br />

distributed among) one's children. While a character<br />

holds a title, he or she is expected to act in a manner<br />

befitting that title. By decree, titles can be stripped away<br />

if the local ruler or ruling body has reason to question<br />

the character's loyalty or competence.<br />

ALTERNATIVES TO EPIC BOONS<br />

You might decide to grant one of the following rewards to a<br />

20th-level character, instead of awarding an epic boon. These<br />

two options can be awarded to a character more than once.<br />

Ability Score Improvement. The character can increase one<br />

ability score by 2 or increase two ability scores by l each.<br />

The ability score can now be increased above 20, up to a<br />

maximum of 30.<br />

New Feat. The character gains a new feat chosen by the<br />

player, but subject to your approval.<br />

,.<br />

230<br />

CHAPTER 7 I TREASURE

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!