Fame

Your reputation has spread through the halls of the nobility, the cloisters of the clergy, and the
hovels of the peasantry. Alternatively, your character may be a famous Crusader, diplomat or
entertainer, recognised by a disproportionately large amount of people but only in a restricted
field. For whatever reason, you are recognised and respected by those beyond your immediate
reach, and this has several advantages and disadvantages.

Firstly, your reputation might gain you a certain degree of acceptance outside the pillar of
medieval society to which you belong. A famous peasant might find himself invited to court
to entertain a powerful noble with tales of his deeds, or a count might find that his peasants
respect and admire him rather than simply fear him. On any occasion where the Fame of a
character might be considered to be of import, the ST may grant that character a bonus dies
per point of Fame to all Charisma rolls relating to particularly solicitous or impressionable
people.

Secondly, as in the modern nights, Fame is magnetic. People who recognise them will be
flock to the famous for various reasons; perhaps to live vicariously through their deeds.
Whatever the case, under the right circumstances the famous character will gain a bonus die
on Hunting rolls for each dot in this background.

Thirdly, those who garner a certain amount of Fame can find it inconvenient at times.
Whenever confronted by a social setting where an overwhelming number of people present
would recognise them, the Famous character suffers +1 difficulty to all attempts at Stealth or
any other skill or ability requiring a degree of physical subtlety.

Lastly, this Background requires constant upkeep. Unlike the modern nights, there is no Mass
Media to fuel and prolong Fame, and it quickly erodes along with the memory, mortality and
circumstances of the people.

 Level One: You have a certain degree of fame in your local district, county or perhaps
a town of some size, such as one of the Siebenburgen. Alternatively, you might be
known farther abroad by many from a certain class of people, such as the clergy, or
you may be remembered for having fought with distinction in a great battle. Example:
Karl Dressler edler von Lüneburg.

 Level Two: You are famous locally, and some men from far away might have heard
of you. Alternatively, you are known by a certain class of people throughout an entire
region. Example: Klaus von Osterholt, the Bishop of the Siebenburgen.

 Level Three: You are famous regionally, and those who travel often have probably
heard of you, though the tales they may hear may be grossly distorted. Alternatively,
you might be known nation-wide by a certain class of people. Example: Louis, Count
of Blois and Clermont-en-Beauvaisis.

 Level Four: You are known nation-wide, and most scholars and bards beyond your
borders have heard of you and know of your deeds. Alternatively, you might be
known throughout an entire geographical region (Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the
Byzantine Empire etc) by a certain class of people. Example: King John I of England,
 Phillip II of France, Phillip of Swabia or Otto of Brunswick (the rival claimants to the
Holy Roman Empire).

 Level Five: You are a legend in your own (un)lifetime. Every man and woman in your
entire geographical region has heard of you, and your deeds have grown in the telling.
Alternatively, people of a certain class across the known world have at least heard
your name. Few people indeed in the Dark Medieval world can claim such a place.
Example: the late Richard the Lionheart, or his late enemy, Saladin.

 Level Six: Your legendary fame is such that nearly everyone, everywhere in the
known world has heard of you. Perhaps your fame even extends off the map, to the
equally legendary realms of India, China and Prester John…