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Backgrounds

Great House Servants


By Sean Hower

A Sourcebook for Dungeons & Dragons 5e

Introduction: The Great House Servants sourcebook provides six character backgrounds
centered on the domestic servants of a wealthy estate. The sourcebook includes butler, cook,
footman, housekeeper, maid, and personal attendant backgrounds. Each has a “traditional”
variant, a “military” variant, and an “adventuring” variant.

v.1.0

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Overview
This sourcebook provides a number of backgrounds
related to the servants of a great house. Each
background includes:
 A general description rooted in the
Edwardian era
 A set of base benefits
 Three variants, each providing additional
benefits

When you choose a background, you must also select


one of its three variants. You then take the base
benefits provided by the general description and the
additional benefits provided by the variant you
chose.

A Great House
A great house is a mansion, manor house, or other
large home, typically owned by the aristocracy,
wealthy merchants, religious elite, or successful
adventurers with a taste for luxury. Such homes rely
upon an extensive staff to support the social lives of
the families that live within them, as well as to
ensure the physical maintenance of the property
itself.

The work the servants of a great house perform for


the family is often quite personal. While family
members wouldn’t normally become directly
involved in their servant’s lives, they do feel a good
deal of responsibility for their welfare.

Often the servants of a great house live and work


“below stairs” in the basement. This is in comparison
to “above stairs” where the family of the house lives
and socializes. Servants are organized into a rigid
hierarchy, with a general division between upper
and lower ranks.

Many of the servant positions in a great house were


gender specific. As a result, so too are the
backgrounds in this sourcebook. That said, players
should be allowed to take any background they want.
The player and DM should work together, though, to
explain the reason for the break with tradition and
its possible repercussions.
Butler
The butler of a great house is an upper-ranking d6 Personality Trait
servant (the highest in the hierarchy after the agent 5 I am extremely aware of etiquette and social
or steward) responsible for maintaining the dining expectations.
room, maintaining the wine/liquor stores, and 6 If you do the family injury, I will ruin your reputation
managing the day-to-day activities of the entire staff. and scar your family’s honor.
The butler is also the chief male servant in charge of
all male servants of the house except, perhaps, those
working for the cook. He reports directly to either Ideals
the lady of the house or the master of the house. d6 Ideal
1 Honor: If I dishonor myself, I dishonor the family.
As a butler, you were required to blend into the
(Lawful)
background, anticipate everyone’s needs during
social events, and maintain decorum in even the 2 Might: The strongest are meant to rule. (Evil)
most bewildering situations. You excelled at those 3 People: I am committed to the family, not to ideals.
skills. Your employers honored you for them; you (Neutral)
took pride in them. 4 Respect: Respect is due to me because of my position,
but all people deserve to be treated with dignity.
You’ve spent many long years with the same family. (Good)
For better or for worse, you know its members as 5 Responsibility: It is my duty to respect the authority
intimately as if they were your own. You know the of those above me, just as those below me must
house and its grounds equally well. You’re also privy respect mine. (Lawful)
to the peculiarities and secrets of both, a fact that 6 Tradition: Without tradition we’re no better than the
might mortify some if they knew. beasts. (Neutral)

Base Skill Proficiency: Insight


Base Tool Proficiency: Brewer’s supplies Bonds
Base Languages: One of your choice d6 Bond
Base Equipment: One set of butler’s livery, one set 1 I will do anything to protect the family and its honor.
of common clothes, copy of Edwyna’s Etiquette
2 I will face any challenge to win the approval of the
Enchiridion, letter of introduction, pouch of 15 GP,
family.
brewer’s supplies
3 I’m loyal to my master and lady first, everything else is
only a distraction.
Suggested Characteristics 4 A member of the family betrayed me and I will have
Perhaps you inherited your position, or perhaps you my revenge.
worked your way up through the lower ranks. 5 I will preserve the traditions of the house at all costs.
Regardless, you worked hard to become a butler. So, 6 I aspire to a higher ideal of etiquette and behavior. I
consider why you left that position behind. Were you will ensure everyone around me does the same
or the family dishonored? Did the family meet a
hideous fate that you somehow escaped? Also,
consider your relationship with each of the family Flaws
members. Was it close? Was it “just a job?” d6 Flaw
1 A scandal prevents me from ever going home again.
Personality Trait 2 I put too much trust in the master and/or lady of the
house.
d6 Personality Trait
3 I am inflexible in my thinking.
1 I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing
4 I harbor dark thoughts toward one or more members
right. Perfection is a blessing, not a curse.
of the family.
2 I have no time for people who cannot appreciate the
5 I secretly believe everyone is beneath me, even the
lifestyle of the house and its family.
family.
3 I have no patience for people who do not share my
6 I have an insatiable desire for carnal pleasures.
commitment to hard work.
4 I am unflappable.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 3
Variant: Traditional Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
The lifestyle of a great house is vastly different from from among Intimidation, Perception, and Survival
anything most people ever experience. Its traditions, Additional Tool Proficiency: Vehicle,
standards, and expectations can seem both alien and cartographer’s tools
impractical to outsiders. As the butler, you didn’t Additional Languages: One of your choice
just keep the wine flowing and sack lazy footmen. Additional Equipment: Military uniform, dagger,
You diligently upheld that lifestyle. In many ways, adventurer’s pack, chest, wartime souvenir,
you were more invested in its preservation than organizational insignia, mess kit, commendation,
those born into it. cartographer’s tools, scroll case full of battlefield
maps
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
from among History, Performance, and Persuasion
Additional Tool Proficiency: Calligrapher’s Feature: Battlefield Command and
supplies Control
Additional Languages: Two of your choice
Additional Equipment: One calligrapher’s supplies, You have a thorough understanding of the command
one set of fine clothes, one fine jewelry, one gem and control structure of your military organization.
(worth 10gp) You understand the intricacies of mustering large
numbers of military assets, how best to efficiently
deploy those assets once they’re ready, and the
Feature: Majordomo difficulties of keeping those assets supplied.
Whenever the steward was away, you were left in Your activities put you into direct contact with both
charge of the entire estate. You came to understand senior and junior officers within the organization. As
the estate’s role within the community as well as the a result, you developed a rapport with both. Junior
social and political power the family could (or could officers from your organization still tend to defer to
not) wield. your opinions while senior officers will more readily
consider your advice, especially when it comes to the
You are well known among the servants and mobilizing, movement, and supplying of large forces.
stewards of the region. As a result, they tend to think These officers will always offer you and your
the best of you. While the family is welcomed in high adventuring companions a place to rest and
society wherever they go, you’re welcomed below recuperate, even if doing so would put them in
stairs among the staff. Lower-ranked servants make danger.
every effort to accommodate you and avoid your
displeasure. Other upper-ranked servants treat you
as an equal. They will always offer you and your Variant: Family Boffin
adventuring companions a place to rest and A member of the family had an eccentric fascination
recuperate unless you’ve shown yourself to be a with tinkering. They used every opportunity, and a
danger to them or the honor of the family. good deal of the family’s wealth, to indulge in their
“hobby.” Of course, that meant using you to run
Variant: Battle Butler errands, purchase supplies, and track down rare
pieces of equipment and raw materials. To be of any
When you joined the military, your relationship with value, you had to become as knowledgeable in their
the family kept you from the battlefront. You were projects as they were.
sent to the rear and stationed at a keep or castle
instead. You performed duties that were Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
surprisingly similar to those you performed back from among Arcana, History, and Investigation
home. Over time, those duties became increasingly Additional Tool Proficiency: Tinker’s tools
intertwined with the organization’s non-combat Additional Languages: One of your choice
activities. Before you were really aware of it, you Additional Equipment: Tinker’s tools, one small
were an integral asset to the organization. On rare clockwork device, scroll case of plans for three small
occasions you filled in for your superiors when they clockwork devices, magnifying glass
weren’t available.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 4
Feature: Inventor’s Network
You have established a broad network of contacts
from all over the Forgotten Realms. You can tap that
network to acquire raw materials, hunt down
information, and find people involved with the
inventor’s hobby. If a settlement is large enough, the
chances are pretty good that you have at least a
passing acquaintance with someone living there who
is associated with the inventor’s hobby in some way.
And even if you don’t know who they are, it’s a good
bet they’ll at least recognize your name. Of course,
the DM might decide that a special item or critical
piece of information is so difficult to find that it will
require an adventure or an entire campaign to track
down.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 5
Cook
The cook of a great house is an upper-ranking d6 Personality Trait
servant (third highest in the hierarchy) responsible 5 There’s nothing I like more than a planning a good
for planning menus and special occasions, party.
overseeing the preparation of meals, and managing 6 I’m well known for my work and I want to make sure
the food stores. He or she is also in charge of the everyone appreciates it.
kitchen staff. The cook reports directly to either the
lady of the house or perhaps the housekeeper if the
cook is a woman. Ideals
d6 Ideal
As the cook, you prepared a wide variety of dishes,
1 Aspiration: I’m determined to make something of
including a handful of specialties for which you
myself. (Any)
gained some amount of renown among the family’s
social circle. Even though you generally didn’t 2 Beauty: Good meals help make the world a better
place. (Good)
interact with the family as closely as the butler or
the personal attendants, they did find ways to show 3 Creativity: Eating the same thing every day is a fate
their appreciation. worse than death. (Chaotic)
4 Greed: I’m only in it for the money. (Evil)
You were practiced at supervising your staff, and 5 Power: If I can attain more power, no one can boss me
you knew how to wield your authority when needed. around. (Evil)
You exhibited some talent for maintaining a garden; 6 Respect: Respect is due to me because of my position,
you can grow two or three fruits, vegetables, spices, but all people deserve to be treated with dignity.
etc with little real effort. You came to understand the (Good)
basic care of livestock, as well as the butchering and
the drying of meats. You were also good at
preserving foods. Bonds
d6 Bond
Base Skill Proficiency: Nature 1 I’m trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous
Base Tool Proficiency: Cook’s utensils benefactor.
Base Equipment: One set of cook’s livery, one set of
2 I will become the greatest cook that ever lived.
common clothes, copy of Edwyna’s Epicurean
3 My life’s work is collected in a series of tomes I plan to
Enchiridion, letter of introduction, pouch of 20 GP,
one day publish.
one cook’s utensils
4 I will face any challenge to win the approval of the
family.
Suggested Characteristics 5 My utensils are my most treasured possessions
You worked your way through the lower ranks of because they remind me of someone I love.
the kitchen staff, studied at a guild before being 6 I won’t be doing this forever. I want to own a
placed, or came into the position through a restaurant or inn of my own some day.
recommendation from another family. You always
derived a great deal of satisfaction and pride from
your work. You still cannot help but get excited at Flaws
the prospect of preparing a feast for your fellow d6 Flaw
adventurers or even complete strangers. 1 I’ll do anything for fame and renown.
Personality Trait 2 Some of my best work I’ve stolen from others and
taken the credit.
d6 Personality Trait
3 I have a weakness for indulging in food and drink.
1 I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing
4 I’d risk too much to uncover a bit of culinary
right.
knowledge.
2 I have no time for people who find no pleasure in an
5 I’m easily insulted when I think my efforts are not
excellent meal.
properly recognized or appreciated.
3 I have no patience for people who do not share my
6 Not even the family is worthy of the meals I prepare.
commitment to hard work.
4 I like to talk at length about the dishes I’ve prepared
and enjoyed.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 6
Variant: Traditional
organizational insignia, mess kit, field stove, ration
tins, favorite drinking mug, notebook of recipes
From the careful planning of the menu, through the
selection of ingredients, to their preparation and
final presentation (delivered by the butler and Feature: Battlefield Kitchen
footmen), the family’s meals were productions in You can erect a makeshift kitchen in less time than it
their own right. When there were guests, meals takes a squad of hungry soldiers to clear their mess
came to be as much for show as for sustenance. You, kits. You’ve mastered the art of preparing meals with
of course, were as eager to make a good impression less than desirable ingredients in downright
as the family. dangerous conditions.
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one Your activities put you into direct contact with
from Animal Handling, History, and Persuasion quartermasters and others involved with the
Additional Tool Proficiency: Herbalism kit organization’s supply chain. These soldiers still
Additional Equipment: Herbalism kit, notebook of recognize you and will offer you and your
favorite recipes, assorted party favors, one fine wine adventuring companions a place to rest and
glass (worth 5 GP), one common jewelry (worth 2 recuperate, even if doing so would put them in
GP) danger. They’ll also help you procure food and other
non-combat supplies as long as they won’t get into
too much trouble doing so.
Feature: Culinary Procurement
Variant: Foodie
You can quickly gauge the quality of produce and the
general health of livestock. You can also identify the
source of a meal placed before you. A member of the family spent a good deal of time
traveling the Forgotten Realms. They needed
You have developed a network of farmers, cooks, something to anchor them to home, though, so they
merchants, and others involved in the production brought you with them. As you travelled, you took
and preparation of food. You can use that network to every opportunity to sample the local food. You also,
acquire just about any food-related item, including begged, bought, and stole every interesting recipe
equipment for preparing and serving meals. Of and ingredient you found.
course, the DM might decide that a special item you
seek is so difficult to acquire that it will require an Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
adventure or an entire campaign to track down. from among Animal Handling, Investigation, and
Survival

Variant: Combat Cook


Additional Tool Proficiency: Vehicle
Additional Languages: Two of your choice
Cooking for the military organization to which you Additional Equipment: One unique utensil from a
belonged was nothing like cooking for the family. far away land, travel journal, one set of traveling
For starters, you were forced to work with clothes, several rations of exotic dried fruits, set of
substandard ingredients. Worse, no one appreciated exotic spices, one trinket from the Trinket table in
your efforts to bring a little flair, and flavor, to the the Player’s guide, adventurer’s pack
meals you prepared. Still, you learned a lot about
making do with what was available and in the
process came up with some very unique recipes. Feature: Home Cooking
You learned how to prepare a huge variety of dishes
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one from all around the Forgotten Realms. Whether it
from among Intimidation, Medicine, and Survival was grell soup, bone naga stew, mummy cakes, yeti
Additional Tool Proficiency: One gaming set or steaks, or grilled kraken, you made it all, with just a
musical instrument of your choice, vehicle pinch of that home-cooked feeling.
Additional Languages: One of your choice
Additional Equipment: Military uniform, dagger, With the correct ingredients, you can prepare a
adventurer’s pack, chest, wartime souvenir, home-cooked meal for any pallet. And because the

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 7
way to anyone's heart is through their stomach, you
can use your skills to get on the good side of just
about anyone from any race simply by fixing their
favorite dish for them.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 8
Footman
The footman of a great house is a lower-ranking d6 Personality Trait
male servant whose presence is a practical 4 I always want to know how things work and
demonstration of the household's wealth and understand why people behave the way they do.
prestige. While a footman does perform simple tasks 5 I take great pains to always look my best.
such as helping to serve meals, opening doors,
6 I’m always polite and respectful, especially when
escorting household members on outings, and
others might act differently.
serving drinks, these duties are ancillary to
generating the impression that their employers are
wealthy and powerful. The footman reports directly Ideals
to the butler.
d6 Ideal
Unlike the butler, who strove for unassuming service, 1 Aspiration: I’m determined to make something of
part of your role was to be a visible status symbol. myself. (Any)
You did this not by deliberately calling attention to 2 Greed: I’m only in it for the money. (Evil)
yourself but by always maintaining your appearance, 3 Honor: If I dishonor myself, I dishonor the
remaining physically fit, and observing the rules of family.(Lawful)
decorum. Your silent presence became more 4 People: I am committed to the family, not to ideals.
impressive than any performance you could have (Neutral)
put on. 5 Power: If I can attain more power, no one can tell me
what to do ever again. (Evil)
When you weren’t working directly with the family
6 Tradition: Without tradition we’re no better than
or its guests, you performed any of a handful of tasks beasts. (Neutral)
around the house, such as polishing the silverware
or winding the clockworks. As a result, you picked
up a broad but shallow talent for maintaining and Bonds
repairing minor damage to all clockwork, clothing,
d6 Bond
furniture, artworks, tableware, and the like.
1 I come from a noble family, and one day I’ll reclaim my
Base Skill Proficiency: Athletics lands and title from those who stole them from me.
Base Tool Proficiency: Vehicles 2 I am in love with a member of the family.
Base Languages: One of your choice 3 I will face any challenge to win the approval of the
Base Equipment: One set of footman’s livery, one family.
set of common clothes, copy of Edwyna’s Etiquette 4 A powerful person killed someone I love and one day
Enchiridion, letter of introduction, pouch of 11 GP, I’ll have my revenge.
small lock box with personal effects 5 I will do anything to protect the family and its honor.
6 I’m always looking out for the next great thing that will
Suggested Characteristics give me a chance to make something of myself.

You might have started out as a hall boy or as an


assistant to one of the household staff. Your good Flaws
looks, height (taller than most for your race), and
d6 Flaw
athletic build (physically fit and trim without an over
abundance of muscle) earned you some attention 1 An innocent person is in prison for a crime I
committed. I’m okay with that.
and put you on the track to footman. Doing so took a
lot of hard work. 2 I can’t resist a pretty face.
3 When I see something valuable in another family’s
Personality Trait house, I can’t think of anything but how to steal it.
d6 Personality Trait 4 Secretly I think things would be better if we could lord
1 I have no time for people who cannot appreciate fine it over the estate.
living. 5 I follow orders, even if I think they’re wrong.
2 I like a job well done, especially if I can convince 6 I’ll say or do anything to avoid extra work.
someone else to do it.
3 I am extremely aware of etiquette and social
expectations.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 9
Variant: Traditional
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
from among Intimidation, Perception, and Survival
As a first footman, you understand the value of Additional Tool Proficiency: One gaming set or
putting forth a good impression. In addition to your musical instrument of your choice
regular duties, your rank and experience also means Additional Languages: One of your choice
you sometimes substitute for the butler when he's Additional Equipment: Military uniform, dagger,
unavailable. You might not be as invested in the adventurer’s pack, chest, wartime souvenir,
family as the butler, but as next in line for that organizational insignia, mess kit, one gaming set or
position you do understand and appreciate the need musical instrument of your choice, lantern, whistle
for hard work and tradition.

Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one Feature: Spirit of the Watch
from among History, Insight, and Performance You get an instant feel for the regulations and
Additional Tool Proficiency: One artisan’s tools of criminal activities within any military organization.
your choice You can easily find the watch posts in any camp, fort,
Additional Languages: One of your choice keep, or castle. You can just as easily pick out the
Additional Equipment: One artisan’s tool of your hives of criminal activity. With a little observation,
choice, one set of fine clothes, one fine traveling you can determine how things really get done and
cloak, one gem (worth 5GP), canister of metal polish, who wields the real authority.
canister of wood polish
Soldiers of the watch are more inclined to offer you
Feature: Feel the Room and your adventuring companions a place to rest
You have a honed talent for feeling out the general and recuperate, as long as you don’t present yourself
mood of any social gathering you attend. The social as a security risk. They’ll also help you gain access to
gathering can be a party, a guild-hall meeting, a the criminal organizations operating within their
negotiation between warring factions, or any other jurisdiction. You will likely not be as welcomed by
event involving multiple people. If the attendees are the members of those organizations though.
people you know, you will immediately understand

Variant: Preservationist
their motivations and predict with a fair degree of
accuracy the outcome. If the attendees are people
you don’t know or have only a passing acquaintance Your ability to maintain and repair things is more
with, it takes far less effort for you to piece together than just a practiced skill. You have a true gift for
their motivations than it would for most other understanding how a thing is made and how to
observers. You might even know a secret (DM’s maintain it. The butler recognized your talent and
discretion) that would directly impact the outcome quickly assigned you to those family possessions
of the gathering. that required the most attention. You enjoyed the
challenge, taking the opportunity to fine tune your

Variant: Fighting Footman


understanding of the objects under your special care.
You became somewhat of an expert on the matter
Going into the military wasn’t necessarily your and now servants from other houses come to you for
choice, but you lacked both the connections to avoid advice.
enlistment and the specialized skills to keep you off
the battlefront. You were left on your own to Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
succeed in and survive that environment. It was your from among Arcana, History, and Investigation
alertness and attention to detail that served you best Additional Tool Proficiency: Two artisan’s tools of
during your enlistment. Nowhere else was that as your choice
true as when you were on the watch. On those duties, Additional Languages: One of your choice
your attention to detail became a keen perception. Additional Equipment: Two artisan’s tools of your
Your unassuming presence became an endless choice, scroll case of various blueprints and designs,
tolerance for long, difficult, and boring hours small lockbox of personal effects
standing guard.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 10
Feature: Preservation Master
You learned how to repair and maintain a number of
specialized items that the family owned. In doing so,
you established a network of contacts to acquire the
skills, materials, and tools for that work. When you
can’t fix something, or you don’t have the right
materials and tools, you can tap your network to find
what you need. Of course, the DM might decide that
a special item or critical piece of information is so
difficult to find that it will require an adventure or
an entire campaign to find.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 11
Housekeeper
The housekeeper of a great house is an upper- d6 Personality Trait
ranking servant (the second highest in the 5 I’m always polite and respectful. Being otherwise is
hierarchy) responsible for maintaining the house's mark of low breading.
interior appearance and its furnishings. The 6 Everything has a place. To ignore that is laziness of the
housekeeper is also the chief female servant in basest sort.
charge of all female staff except, perhaps, those
working for the cook. She reports directly to the lady
of the house. Ideals
d6 Ideal
As the housekeeper, you came to know the best
1 Honor: If I dishonor myself, I dishonor the family.
methods for ensuring the house was clean and in
(Lawful)
good repair. You didn't do the work yourself of
course; you had a host of lower-ranking staff to get 2 Might: The strongest are meant to rule. (Evil)
their hands dirty with the details. Coordinating that 3 Obligation: It is my duty to protect and mentor the
staff from well before the family awoke until well people beneath me. (Good)
after they went to bed was no small feat though. It 4 People: I am committed to the family, not to ideals.
took devotion, attention to detail, and an (Neutral)
unwavering distaste for idleness. 5 Respect: Respect is due to me because of my position,
but all people deserve to be treated with dignity.
While the butler and his assistants were a constant (Good)
presence at gatherings, you were rarely seen by the 6 Responsibility: It is my duty to respect the authority of
family. In that sense, your work was more covert those above me, just as those below me must respect
than his and was generally unnoticed until mine.(Lawful)
something went awry. On the rare occasion when
someone did fail in their duties, you made sure they
would never repeat the mistake. Bonds
d6 Bond
Base Skill Proficiency: Persuasion 1 A powerful person killed someone I loved and one day I
Base Tool Proficiency: Calligrapher’s supplies shall have my revenge.
Base Languages: One of your choice
2 The house is most important; people come and go.
Base Equipment: One set of housekeeper’s livery,
one set of common clothes, copy of Edwyna’s 3 I will do anything to protect the family and its honor.
Exquisite Exemplars Enchiridion, letter of 4 I will face any challenge to win the approval of the
introduction, pouch of 13 GP, calligrapher’s supplies family.
5 I protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Suggested Characteristics 6 I strive for order and efficiency above all else.

You either worked your way through the lower


ranks of the house staff or came into your position Flaws
through a recommendation from another family. d6 Flaw
Housekeeping is a serious business with many
1 Despite my efforts, I am unreliable to me friends.
responsibilities. You never had time for idleness and
you certainly couldn’t tolerate laziness in others. 2 Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the
detriment of everything and everyone else.
Personality Trait 3 I have a tendency to overindulge in certain vices.
d6 Personality Trait 4 Don’t expect me to save those who can’t save
1 I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing themselves.
right. Perfection is a blessing, not a curse. 5 I once stole a valuable object from a family I worked
2 I have no patience for people who do not share my for. I’ll do anything to keep people from finding out.
commitment to hard work. 6 I’ll say or doing anything to avoid having to admit a
3 I’m always calm, no matter what’s happening around mistake.
me.
4 I am extremely aware of etiquette and social
expectations.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Great House Servants 12
Variant: Traditional
organizational insignia, mess kit, cartographer’s
tools
Efficiently mobilizing the staff, setting schedules,
ensuring tasks were completed to your exacting
standards, and mitigating crises both minor and Feature: An Eye for Architecture
disastrous is just a small sampling of what it took on You kept the interiors and furnishings of the
an average day to care for the great house. You facilities under your care the only way you knew
became adept at utilizing people to their fullest how, with efficient planning, stern discipline, and an
potential and to give more of themselves than could eye for detail. You came to know every quiet corner,
have been rightly expected of anyone. Some of your every forgotten hallway, and every secret passage
staff hated you. Others loved you. No matter. You got tucked within their cold stone walls. Eventually, you
the job done. started to realize that every keep, castle, fort, and
barracks shared a number of the same layouts,
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one architectural elements, and functional conventions.
from among Insight, Investigations, and Perception As a result, you can quickly recognize and intuit the
Additional Tool Proficiency: Herbalism kit layout of most military structures that you enter.
Additional Languages: One of your choice You may not immediately know exactly where that
Additional Equipment: Herbalism kit, one house secret passage, treasure room, or prison is but you
diary, one personal diary, one fine jewelry (worth can make an educated guess as to where to start
5GP), fine silver tea set (worth 8gp) looking.

Soldiers from any military organization will


Feature: Organizer recognize your authority. It’s not your former rank
It’s not so easy to find qualified candidates to keep a they respond to but rather how you carry and
great house staffed. To do so, you had to build up a present yourself to them. You can use their
network of housekeepers, guild masters, bosses, and deference to influence their opinions or convince
contacts among the heads of various labor gangs. them to help when they would otherwise dismiss a
Using the network, you can easily find qualified civilian. As such, you can almost always find a place
candidates for any job. It doesn’t matter whether the to rest and recuperate as long as you do not reveal
needs are mundane, such as a coachman, or more yourself to be a danger to them or their organization.
exotic, such as a ranger with a talent for battling

Variant: Lore Master


beholders. Of course, normal service rates apply,
along with hazard pay if the job involves fighting.
Growing up, you had an insatiable desire to learn.

Variant: Hostilities
You consumed every bit of knowledge you could find
but still you wanted more. So you started taking
lower-ranking service positions at great houses to
Housekeeper gain access to their libraries, resources, and
Every large fighting organization has equally large connections. One of those houses seemed made for
facilities that need as much care and maintenance as your needs, so you stayed. You worked your way up
a great house. Your stint in the military, then, wasn’t to housekeeper in order to gain access to everything
much different than your time with the family. Sure, the family had to offer. With so much at your
a keep has thicker walls, a lot more people milling disposal you've become an expert in a specific area
about, and a startling array of tools for killing, but of knowledge.
once you looked beyond those differences the
similarities became clear enough. Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
from among Arcana, History, and Religion
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one Additional Tool Proficiency: One kit or artisan
from among Intimidation, Investigation, and Survival supplies of your choice
Additional Tool Proficiency: Cartographer’s tools Additional Languages: Two of your choice
Additional Languages: One of your choice Additional Equipment: One kit or artisan supplies
Additional Equipment: Military uniform, dagger, of your choice, collection of notes regarding your
adventurer’s pack, chest, wartime souvenir, area of knowledge, non-magical trinket related to

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Great House Servants 13
your area of knowledge, fine quill and ink set, stack
of blank sheets of paper

Feature: Researcher
Even if you fail to learn or recall a piece of
information within your area of expertise, you often
know where and from whom you can obtain that
information. Usually, the source is a library, temple,
university, another great house, or a learned person
or creature. Of course, the DM might decide that a
critical piece of information is so difficult to find that
it will require an adventure or an entire campaign to
track down.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Great House Servants 14
Maid
The maid of a great house is a lower-ranking servant Ideals
responsible for various tasks around the house. A
d6 Ideal
house might have several different kinds of maids in
its employ, including chamber maids, house maids, 1 Aspiration: I’m determined to make something of
myself. (Any)
kitchen maids, and scullery maids. Regardless of the
position, all maids, with the possible exception of the 2 Fairness: We all do the work, so we all share in the
kitchen maid, report directly to the housekeeper. rewards. (Lawful)
Kitchen maids usually report to the cook. 3 Greater Good: Our lot is to devote ourselves to others.
(Good)
As a general-purpose worker, you were the lowest 4 Independence: I must prove I can handle myself
paid servant at the very bottom of the hierarchy. You without the supervision or coddling of my coworkers.
lit the fires, emptied chamber pots, scrubbed floors, (Chaotic)
and were assigned all manner of menial duties that 5 Live and Let Live: It’s not my place to tell other people
needed doing. Most of your coworkers overlooked what to do or how to live their lives. (Neutral)
the fact that they outranked you, but a few went out 6 Power: If I can attain more power, I’ll show them
of their way to make sure you didn’t forget your what’s it’s like to be on the bottom. (Evil)
place.

Base Skill Proficiency: Athletics Bonds


Base Tool Proficiency: One musical instrument of d6 Bond
your choice
1 I would do anything for the other lower-ranking
Base Equipment: One set of maid’s livery, one set of servants.
common clothes, copy of Edwyna’s Exquisite
2 I owe a debt I can never repay to a family member who
Exemplars Enchiridion, letter of introduction, pouch
took pity on me.
of 5 GP, one musical instrument of your choice
3 No one else should endure the hardships I’ve been
through.
Suggested Characteristics 4 My duties have given me insight into a greater purpose
You might have responded to a job advertisement. that I must fulfill.
Perhaps a friend of yours was already working at the 5 A proud noble once gave me a horrible beating, and I
great house when an opening became available. Or will take my revenge on any bully I encounter.
perhaps the family took pity on you because of your 6 I have family but I have no idea where they are. I hope
situation and gave you a job as a second chance. to one day see them again.
Regardless of how you got there, you’re part of the
servant hierarchy now. You can accept your position,
work your way up the hierarchy within the house, or Flaws
leave when something else comes along. d6 Flaw
1 When faced with a choice between money and my
Personality Trait
friends, I usually choose the money.
d6 Personality Trait
2 I am suspicious of strangers and expect the worse of
1 Flattery is my preferred trick for getting what I want. them.
2 The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I 3 I cannot let go of a task until I see it done, regardless of
can’t do it. the cost of completing that task.
3 I have no patience for people who do not share my 4 I remember every insult I’ve received and nurse a silent
commitment to hard work. resentment toward anyone who’s ever wronged me.
4 I judge people by their actions, not their words. 5 I am easily taken in by the promise of a better
5 I like to work in out-of-the-way places where no one situation.
else can see me. 6 I resent the family, their status, their wealth, and any
6 My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what. help they might have given me.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 15
Variant: Traditional
notebook of poison formulas, various components
for making poisons, cage with three rats
You might have been at the bottom of the heap of the
servant hierarchy, but you were expected to be as
devoted to the family as any upper-ranking servant. Feature: Exterminator
Your status granted you some degree of anonymity You hate vermin of all sorts. They scurry. They sneak.
among the family but drew additional attention from They get into food stores. They make people sick. If
the housekeeper. Still, you did your job. You got paid. there’s one thing that can bring an armed force to its
If you keep your nose clean and play by the rules, knees it’s an infestation of rodents, bugs, or other
maybe you’ll move up to a better paying position. critters that disrupt and destroy everything in their
Who knows, maybe you’ll be the housekeeper some path. You weren’t going to let that happen to your
day. organization. No. You became an expert in vermin,
from their life cycle to the best ways to kill them.
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one Your quest put you into contact with others who
from among Investigation, Slight-of-Hand, and sought the same. Through this network, you can
Stealth acquire just about any trap, poison, or other device
Additional Tool Proficiency: Your choice of one for capturing and/or killing vermin. Of course, the
musical instrument or one gaming set DM might decide that a special item or critical piece
Additional Equipment: Your choice of one musical of information is so difficult to find that it will
instrument or one gaming set, one set of common require an adventure or an entire campaign to track
clothes, one fine jewelry (worth 3GP), one silver mug down.
(worth 1GP)
While you were not in a position of authority, you
did win the thanks and gratitude of many in your
Feature: Labor Force military organization. To this day, they will show
Your position with the family earned you some that gratitude by helping you out if doing so will not
respect among the local commoners. A job at a great put them in danger or break the law. They might
house, even a maid's job, is better than some other even come to you for help.
possibilities. People familiar with the family will
lend you a hand and provide a place to rest and

Variant: The Cleaning


recuperate as long as doing so will neither put them
in danger nor get them into trouble. You get along
with commoners as well. With a little commiserating
and/or friendly banter you can get a feeling for the Alchemist
local social life and uncover local gossip. You were very serious about keeping the house
clean. You did everything you could to make sure the

Variant: Militant Maid


floors, furnishings, and artwork shined like new and
smelled fresh. You were a master of cleaning.
Military organizations have as much a need for
maids as a great house. One might even say they Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
have more. Given the conditions that some forces from among Arcana, Investigation, and Medicine
find themselves in on the march, it’s no surprise that Additional Tool Proficiency: Alchemist’s kit
a little extra help is needed to keep things relatively Additional Languages: One of your choice
clean and in order. Additional Equipment: Alchemist’s kit, various
alchemical components, set of common scales,
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one notebook of cleaner formulas, alchemical lore book,
from among Animal Handling, Nature, and Stealth protective eyeglasses, protective gloves, case of 10
Additional Tool Proficiency: Poisoner’s kit vials of various sizes
Additional Languages: One of your choice
Additional Equipment: Military uniform, dagger,
adventurer’s pack, chest, wartime souvenir,
organizational insignia, mess kit, poisoner’s kit,

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 16
Feature: Cleanliness through
Alchemy
Cleanliness is the only important goal in life. The
cleaners that you could find just weren’t doing the
trick. You needed something stronger. You needed
something better. After years of study, you
developed and perfected a number cleaning agents,
each meeting a specific purpose. Perhaps you’ve
developed a polish that keeps metal shiny and helps
protect against rust. Or maybe you invented a
formula to help keep the dishes free of dried-on food.
In the process, you established a network of
alchemists, merchants, lore masters, and other
likeminded folks. If you don’t know how to clean it,
they will. If you don’t have the right supplies, they
can find them for you. Of course, the DM might
decide that a special item or critical piece of
information is so difficult to find that it will require
an adventure or an entire campaign to track down.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 17
Personal Attendant
The valet (male personal attendant to the master of Ideals
a great house) and lady's maid (female personal
d6 Ideal
attendant to the lady of a great house) are both
upper-ranking servants. Each are responsible for 1 Beauty: Beauty can express outwardly that which we
long for or feel inside. (Good)
dressing their employer, caring for their employer's
clothes and jewelry, performing errands as needed, 2 Change: Change is the nature of things, I cannot fight
and being a companion. The valet reports directly to it. (Chaotic)
the master of the house while the lady's maid 3 Greater Good: Our lot is to devote ourselves to others.
reports directly to the lady of the house. (Good)
4 Might: The strongest are meant to rule. (Evil)
As a personal attendant, you were required to be 5 People: I am committed to the family, not to ideals.
present whenever needed and to blend into the (Neutral)
background when you weren't. In public, you were 6 Responsibility: I do what I must and obey my master or
expected to maintain decorum during even the most lady. (Lawful)
bewildering situations. In private you were expected
to be a reliable friend who always behaved with the
best intentions regarding your employer's needs and Bonds
desires, anticipating both throughout the day. d6 Bond
1 I owe my life to the family for taking me in when
Base Skill Proficiency: Insight
tragedy struck.
Base Tool Proficiency: One artisan’s tools of your
choice 2 It’s my duty to protect my master or lady.
Base Languages: One of your choice 3 There is only my master or lady
Base Equipment: One set of valet’s livery (for men) 4 I am secretly in love with my master or lady.
or one set of lady’s maid’s livery (for women), copy 5 I am guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem
of Edwyna’s Etiquette Enchiridion, letter of myself for it.
introduction, pouch of 10 GP, one artisan’s tools of 6 My former master or lady died because of a mistake I
your choice made. That will never happen again.

Suggested Characteristics Flaws


You might have started out as messenger or maid d6 Flaw
and worked your way up to the position. Perhaps
1 I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden.
you received special training. Or perhaps you and
your employer grew up together, you in the role of 2 I have trouble trusting my allies.
friend and helper. Your employer feels comfortable 3 I can’t keep a secret to save my life, or anyone else’s.
with you. Perhaps they think of you as a friend. 4 My pride will probably lead to my destruction.
Whether you feel the same way is a different 5 I have little respect for anyone lower than me.
question.
6 I follow orders, even if I think they’re wrong.
Personality Trait
d6 Personality Trait
1 I always have a plan for what to do when things go
wrong.
Variant: Traditional
Unlike other servants of the house you weren't
2 If you do my master or lady harm, I will crush you.
actively working all day long. You were on call
3 It’s my duty to remain calm no matter how dire the instead. This gave you an opportunity to socialize
situation. with the staff, gossip, and even pick up a hobby or
4 I am extremely aware of etiquette and social two. Of course, the moment you were needed you
expectations. were expected to respond quickly, putting aside
5 Whenever I come to a new place, I collect local rumors whatever secondary activity you were busying
and spread gossip. yourself with.
6 My practiced behavior and attention to detail makes
people feel as though their every need will be met.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 18
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one rely upon them to occasionally run clandestine
from among Deception, Investigation, and errands, gather information, acquire espionage-
Performance related equipment, and set up secret meetings with
Additional Tool Proficiency: Two artisan’s tools of other spies in the network. Your contact will find
your choice you a place to rest and recuperate when you're in
Additional Languages: One of your choice trouble and provide additional aid (or point you
Additional Equipment: Two artisan’s tools of your toward someone who can provide that aid) as long
choice, two fine jewelry (worth 5GP each), one fine as their own identity or the security of the network
set of clothes, one fine traveling cloak is not at risk.

Feature: Off-Duty Specialist Variant: Fashionista


In the moments between serving your master or You made it a point of pride to ensure your master
lady, you became a specialist at one of your artisan or lady wore only the most impeccable outfits. You
proficiencies. You have an extensive knowledge on knew the proper dress code for every occasion. More
the subject that a normal practitioner would not importantly you knew why those standards existed.
normally have. You've also established a network of As a result your master's or lady's dress never failed
contacts that you can use to find information and to impress. For that, they will be eternally grateful.
materials related to the proficiency. You can readily
find other practitioners to add to that network or to Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one
simply talk shop with. Of course, the DM might from among History, Investigation, and Perception
decide that a special item or critical piece of Additional Tool Proficiency: Weaver’s tools
information you need is so difficult to find that it will Additional Languages: One of your choice
require an adventure or an entire campaign to track Additional Equipment: Weaver’s tools, trunk of
down. fine clothes, three fine jewelry (worth 3GP each),
three common jewelry (worth 1GP each), jewelry
box, journal
Variant: Armed Attendant
Your background, inclination toward socializing, and
knack for digging up gossip didn’t go unnoticed by
Feature: Trend Master
the higher ups in your military organization. You You spent your free time hunting down the latest
soon found yourself under cover as an attendant for fashions and the most exotic garments. You learned
a high-ranking enemy official. You gathered all you could about how clothing is made and cared
intelligence and committed acts of sabotage for. As a result, you can identify the origins of
whenever you could. someone's clothes, the social or cultural significance
attached to those clothes (if any), and in some cases
Additional Skill Proficiency: Your choice of one the maker. You have a few sources you can turn to
from among Deception, Intimidation, and Stealth when you don't know or can't figure out something
Additional Tool Proficiency: disguise kit, forgery on your own. That network can also help you
kit acquire all sorts of clothing, both mundane and
Additional Languages: Two of your choice magical. Of course, the DM might decide that a
Additional Equipment: Military uniform, dagger, special item or critical piece of information is so
adventurer’s pack, chest, wartime souvenir, difficult to find that it will require an adventure or
organizational insignia, mess kit, disguise kit, forgery an entire campaign to track down.
kit, commendation, one trinket from the trinket’s
table in the Player’s guide

Feature: Spycraft
You've remained in contact with the network of
spies you were once a part of. Among that network is
one contact with whom you are very close. You can

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Great House Servants 19

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