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Introduction I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble

woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a
Kings and Queens are as important to the feel of king, and of a king of England too.
a fantasy setting, especially a historical one, as the
existence or type of magic. Is the setting a grimly Queen Elizabeth I, on the eve of the Battle of
realistic portrayal of a feudal kingdom or a never- Tilbury
never land where a despotic beast rules over a
cowering people? In either case, some knowledge
of the organization of the kingdom the campaign takes place in will help the game master establish the
proper tone, giving the players a government to serve and protect or perhaps an ambition to aspire to.

To help bring the nobility to life in your fantasy games, Clash of Kings: Nobility presents a new core
class, the Courtier, a PC-worthy version of the Aristocrat NPC class, along with information on the
various titles of nobility found in most fantasy games.

Credits: Written by Charles Rice, Editing and Layout by David Jarvis

New Core Class: Courtier Characteristics: The courtier has access to

Courtier
Description: The courtier is a leader, intriguer
or rake who rules according to the Great Chain
of Being, that medieval concept that everyone in
society had a place ordained by God. The Great
Chain ordained that kings followed God, courtiers
followed kings, commoners followed courtiers
and wives followed husbands. While in the real
world the Great Chain was a ction to allow the
smallest portion of the populace to control the
greatest amount of wealth, in campaigns using
the courtier class, the Great Chain is a literal truth
inspired by the power of a god or gods.
Adventures: The courtier adventures primarily
to enhance the reputation and power of her
family, while simultaneously advancing the
cause of king and country. If a conict occurs
between the interests of the courtiers ancient
noble family and that of the sovereign she serves,
which the courtier chooses will depend upon
alignment, circumstance, even how well the
sovereign is liked personally. Medieval politics
was a dangerous game where the winners reaped
rewards that would benet their families for
generations. The losers, as often as not, were an
interesting spectacle at London Bridge (at least
their heads were).
three separate (yet complimentary) categories of
training: leader, intriguer and rake. The leader
organizes and inspires the common man to
work together and, by the grace of God, help the
courtier achieve his goals.
The intriguer is an expert at gathering retainers
around himself, who prefers the subtle insult and
knife in the back (usually wielded by another)
to accomplish his goals. Finally there is the rake,
a swordsman who prefers to settle his affairs
personally.
Religion: Religion is very important to the
courtier. If the Great Chain is real, then the
courtier is a divinely ordained servant of God,
chosen to look after the less privileged commons
on his behalf.
Background: A courtiers education begins in
childhood, usually by age 10. Here the genders
split and noble women stayed home to learn
how to run the great estates they would one day
have to manage while their husbands were away
playing politics and war. Noble men on the other
hand, went away to begin an education in those
same arts of politics and war.
Of course rst a young man needed renement,
so the rst stop was grammar school, where
he would learn of the classics, especially the
writers of Rome who had conquered the world,
something all medieval nations eventually saw
themselves emulating. English and Greek were
also read, though in smaller amounts and the

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young courtier began his rst lesson in politics,
being encouraged by instructors to network with
his fellow students, themselves future prime
ministers of state or generals of great armies.
Relationships begun at these early ages, both
positive friendships and bitter rivalries often can
be traced to the young courtiers education.
At age 16 the courtier would then go to a great
university. In England during the middle ages
there were two. Oxford and Cambridge and most
advanced European powers had a university
or two as well. Here education, renement and
networking continued. A degree from one of
these institutions was optional and only sought by
the more serious scholars of the noble class. The
purpose of attending university was primarily to
give the courtier an added level of polish.
The nal stage of a courtiers education was
a trip abroad to the great continental powers
of Europe (or between them if the courtier was
from a European country). This added still more
renement and gave the courtier an expanded
stage on which to network and advance the
interests of his family (he was also expected to
add to his familys art collection while on his
travels).
Finally the courtier would return home and take
his place at the court, hoping to catch the eye of a
powerful patron and begin climbing the ladder of
ofces and titles, each of which could advance the
power and prestige of his noble family.
Other Classes: The courtier who specializes
in leadership works especially well with other
combat classes, who ght better and can further
benet from the courtiers leadership abilities.
The intriguer prefers the company of stealth
classes who compliment his wheels-within-wheels
methods. Finally the rake prefers combat classes
of all types with whom he can ght side by side.
Role: The courtier is a complimentary class,
skilled at making those around him better. He
is also a reasonably good ghter in his own
right and can ll out the partys ranks with his
followers and henchmen if needed.
Iconic courtier: One of the most successful kings
of the middle ages, Henry V, who temporarily
put his countrys civil wars to rest through his
charisma and ruthlessness and who died as king
of both England and France.
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Game Rule Information
Courtiers have the following game statistics.
Abilities: Charisma is the most important ability
for the courtier. Leaders and intriguers will also
want a good Intelligence and Wisdom, while
Rakes might prefer Dexterity or Constitution.
Alignment: Courtiers can be of any alignment,
though most tend toward Lawful Neutral, as they
are eager to protect their prerogatives and ruthless
toward those who oppose them.
Hit Die: 1d10
Class Skills
The courtiers class skills (and the key ability
for each skill) are: Bluff (Cha), Craft (writing)
(Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Gather
Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge
(history, local, nobility and royalty) (Int), Perform
(all) (Cha), Ride (Dex) and Sense Motive (Wis).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4+ Int. modier) x4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4+ Int.
modier
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the
courtier.
Weapon and Armor Prociency: The courtier is
procient in all simple and martial weapons, as
well as light, medium and heavy armor, as well as
shields (including tower shields).
Divine Grace (Su): At 1st level, the courtier gains
a bonus equal to her Charisma bonus (if any) on
all saving throws.
Noble Specialty: At the levels indicated on the
class table, the courtier can advance in one of
three noble specialties. The noble specialties are:
leader, intriguer and rake. The courtier can be as
specialized or an generalized as he wishes and
the only requirement is that the abilities must be
selected in order.
For example a character could select the rst
ability from the rake specialty, then the rst ability
from the intriguer specialty, then the second
ability from the rake specialty and so on.
Leader
1st: Afnity (1st level): The courtier receives a
group of 1st level followers equal to 1d10 + the
courtiers Charisma modier + the courtiers class
level. This ability may be taken more than once.
2nd: Aura of Bravery: All allies within 10 times
the Courtiers Charisma modier are immune
to fear effects. Allies who can see the courtier
(the distance of this will vary depending on
battleeld conditions but assume a minimum of
two times the characters Charisma modier and
a maximum distance of 6 times the characters
Charisma modier) gain a bonus on saving
throws against fear effects equal to the courtiers
Charisma modier.
All the Courtiers aura abilities may be used at
will, an unlimited number of times per day but
only one ability can be used at a time. Activating
an aura ability requires an attack action but after
that the Courtier may act normally.
3rd: Henchman: The Courtier receives a special
follower of one-half his courtier level. This
follower will advance as the courtier advances,
always remaining one-half his level rounded
down. There are three varieties of henchmen
available to a courtier: a standard bearer (a
member of the Fighter class), a lieutenant (a
member of the Courtier class with the leadership
noble specialty) and an assassin (a member of the
Rogue and then Assassin class).
In addition to their normal class abilities,
the standard bearer doubles the range of the
following abilities while both he and the courtier
are conscious and engaged in combat against their
enemies: Aura of Bravery, Aura of Rage, Rally,
Aura of Heroism and Aura of Resolve
4th: Aura of Rage: All allies within 5 times the
Courtiers Charisma modier receive a bonus to
their Strength equal to the Courtiers Charisma
modier.
5th: Afnity (2nd level): This ability functions
as the 1st level ability except that the followers
received are 2nd level.
6th: Rally: All allies within 10 times the
Courtiers Charisma modier are healed a number
of hit points equal to the characters Courtier
level.
7th: Aura of Heroism: All allies within 10 times
the Courtiers Charisma modier gain a morale
bonus to attack rolls and saving throws equal to
the Courtiers Charisma modier.
8th: Aura of Resolve: All allies within 20 times
your Charisma modier gain a +2 morale bonus
to attack and melee damage if they have suffered
damage.
If their hit points are below 50% this bonus
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increases to +3 and if their hit points are below
25% they receive a +4 bonus.
9th: Afnity (3rd level): This ability functions
as the 1st level ability except that the followers
received are 2nd level; Beacon of Leadership: the
Courtier is considered to be visible to all allies and
enemies on the battleeld regardless of current
conditions, out to a range of 300 feet.
10th: Personal Bodyguard: The Courtier gains a
personal bodyguard of 4 10th level Fighters.
Intriguer
1st: Rumor: the intriguer is a master at working
behind the scenes to make life harder on his
enemies. By making a Diplomacy check (DC
15) the intriguer makes all Diplomacy checks
by one enemy harder, increasing the DC by +5
when dealing with court ofcials and heads of
state (both allies and enemies). Determining that
the intriguer was behind the rumor is difcult,
requiring a Gather Information check with a DC
of 15 plus the characters Courtier level.
If the intriguer fails the Diplomacy check to
use this ability he has overstepped his bounds.
Instead of the target being affected by this ability,
the intriguer himself is affected.
2nd: Cheap Shot: The intriguer doesnt like
to ght but when he does, he ghts to win. This
ability may be used once per day and renders
the target at-footed against the intriguers next
attack.
3rd: Contacts: The intriguer has friends in high
and low places and makes all Gather Information
skill checks in minimum time (2 hours).
4th: Sneak Attack +1d6: this ability functions
as the standard Rogue ability. Note that this
damage bonus always applies to the target of the
intriguers cheap shot ability if he hits.
5th: Cheap Shot 2/day
6th: Sneak Attack +2d6
7th: Slander: The intriguer insinuates the target
of this ability has committed some heinous act by
making a Diplomacy check (DC 20). This increases
the difculty of all Diplomacy checks by +10.
Determining the source of the slander is even
more difcult, requiring a Gather Information
check with a DC of 20 plus the characters
Courtier level.
If the intriguer fails the Diplomacy check to
use this ability he has overstepped his bounds.
Instead of the target being affected by this ability,
the intriguer himself is affected.
 8th: Sneak Attack +3d6
9th: Whisper Campaign: This ability represents
a concerted effort to smear an enemy by making
a Diplomacy check (DC 25). It functions as
slander, except that the attitude of all characters
toward the target is reduced by one category (so a
character that was indifferent will instead become
unfriendly and so on).
If the intriguer fails the Diplomacy check to
use this ability he has overstepped his bounds.
Instead of the target being affected by this ability,
the intriguer himself is affected.
10th: Rabble rouser: By making a Diplomacy
check (DC 30) the intriguer is able to make a
speech defaming one target, causing all who
hear the speech to become Hostile to the target.
Diplomacy checks to improve the attitude of the
mob that hears the speech will are increased by
+15.
The mob will seek out the target of this ability
if he is known to be close by (within one days
travel) and if they reach him within 24 hours, they
will attempt to do harm to him. This ability begins
to wear off after one day, with the attitude of the
mob improving one category per day until it after
three days they become indifferent to the target of
the speech.
If the intriguer fails the Diplomacy check
required to perform this ability, the crowd is
offended by his attempted smear and will turn on
him, attacking him.
Rake
1st: Banter: When wearing light or no armor, the
rake gains a competence bonus to his armor class
equal to his Charisma modier.
2nd: Deft swordsman: The rake modies
the attack roll of all sword attacks by either his
Dexterity or his Strength modier, whichever is
greater.
3rd: Matter of honor +1: When the rake feels
he or his family have been insulted, he gains the
listed morale bonus to attack rolls, melee damage
and saving throws until he has put the matter
right, usually through violence.
If the rakes bravery or honesty has been
questioned, or if a formal challenge has been
issued to the rake, this bonus always applies. It
also always applies if the reputation or delity
of a female relative is called into question. It may
apply in other circumstances at the discretion of
the game master.
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4th: Reckless attack: The rake is a dangerous
swordsman but is reckless of his own safety. This
ability allows the rake to reduce his armor class
by -1 to gain a +1 bonus to damage on all melee
attacks for the next round. The maximum amount
the rake can reduce his armor class is equal to his
base attack bonus. If the rake reduces his armor
class below his at-footed value he is considered
at-footed for purposes of abilities such as sneak
attack.
5th: Matter of honor +2
6th: Furious lunge: The rake gains an additional
+2 bonus to hit and damage when performing
charge attacks with his sword. The rake only
gains this bonus when attacking on foot, not while
mounted.
7th: Matter of honor +3
8th: Wit +2: The rakes armor class bonus from
Banter improves by the listed amount.
9th: Matter of honor +4
10th: Sidestep: Once per day the rake can avoid
some damage from a successful attack, suffering
only minimum damage from a successful attack
melee or ranged (not magical) attack; Wit +4
Courageous: At 3rd level the courtier is immune
to fear effects.
Divine Wrath (Su): Once per day, the courtier
can invoke his authorizing divinity and deliver
a devastating attack upon an enemy. This attack
gains a bonus to hit equal to the nobles Charisma
modier, and a damage bonus of +1 per courtier
level. As the courtier advances in level he may use
this ability additional times per day, as shown on
the class table.
Leadership: At 6th level the courtier receives
this feat as a bonus feat, as others realize he is
moving up in the world and wish to share in his
favor.
Noble Promotion (Ex): At the levels indicated
the noble moves up in the Great Chain, either
being granted a more prestigious title (see the
section on noble titles below) or being granted a
larger land holding (which brings with it a larger
yearly income from that land).
Divine Curse (Su): At 19th level the courtier can
inict a terrible curse on an enemy, causing that
enemy to suffer a -4 penalty to all skill checks and
saving throws if he fails a Will save (DC 20 + the
courtiers Charisma modier).