Fame and Status

Dol-Terias uses a "Status" system to define the PC's position in the political structure of the city. These scores will be given to your character at creation and can be increased or decreased by performing a variety of actions in-character, such as joining the guard, the men-at-arms of a house, or various other factions throughout the setting. Listed below are the possible status scores.

People in the world become known – be it for their cruelty, malice and destructive natures, or for their courageousness, valor and notoriety. Bards sing and tell stories of the most famous in their recounts of valor during tavern busy hours – while night-time camping expeditions are filled with stories of the most horrific, evil beings ever to have walked the same world we do. The new Fame, Infamy system introduces a recognition of PC and NPC actions throughout the course of their lives on the chat. It allows people to recognize PC's not just because of their status, but also because of their past actions. Fame & Infamy gives PC's and NPC's a direct bonus to Knowledge (Local) checks regarding people. It also directly effects the results of a Bardic Knowledge checks for the same purpose. Characters will gain and lose fame & infamy far more
fluidly than they do Status. A basic outlining of Fame & Infamy follows:

Fame, Infamy: 0 – Unknown

You are nothing – a commoner with no significant achievements or a nobleman that has never been seen as anything more than such by the people. Your name is unknown, your face is not recognized.

Fame, Infamy: 1 – Barely Recognizable
Those who know you, know your deeds. Those who do not may well know of them. Affiliation with some event has made the most educated locals familiar to your face and name.

Fame, Infamy: 2 – Recognizable
Your name is recognized by anyone with an above average education. You have been spoken of by name or description for your deeds, good or evil, and people have a good idea of your true nature.

Fame, Infamy: 3 – Easily Recognizable
A common man would hear your name or see your face and know something of you – be it the terrors of your evils or the greatness of your deeds. While you are seen, you are not yet worthy of any great notoriety amongst the people.

Fame, Infamy: 4 – Acknowledged
Through your actions, you have established yourself amongst the common folk as someone to either fear or admire. Your name brings nods of greeting or shoulders of uncertainty and your face is familiar to any that have met you before.

Fame, Infamy: 5 – Known

You have become a frequent topic by the people. Your name is spoken often and even people you have never met will know you by face when you see them. Your reputation at this point has begun spreading outside the city walls and into the lands around Dol-Terias, giving you notoriety even in the nearby towns – whether it is good, or bad. Many at this point receive a title which defines them, their character, and their actions, according to the people.

Fame, Infamy: 6 – Commonly Known
Your life is quickly becoming a story told by bards to inspire courage or incite fear. People buy you drinks in your favorite locations out of respect or uncertainty, and you can hear whispers of your name as you move down the street or take a seat at a bar. Around the countryside, your reputation is growing, and even cities in the farthest reaches of local provinces would have men and women within them who know your deeds.

Fame, Infamy: 7 – Well Known
The common folk greet you by name as you pass them in the streets, or make wide the path that lies before you. Your face is easily recognized by friend and foe, and your name is well known throughout the nearest settlements outside the Cities.

Fame, Infamy: 8 – Established
You have made a name for yourself that none shall soon forget. Through the greatness or the terror of your deeds, people everywhere throughout the local lands will give you the recognition you deserve, and will often make efforts to treat you in ways that may be above your station – or far beneath it.

Fame, Infamy: 9 – Well Established
Some stories are spoken, forgotten after a time – but yours is written in books. Yet, those books are not finished. People will know you from anywhere in the Provinces around Dol-Terias, and some far outside those borders will begin to learn of you as well.

Fame, Infamy: 10 – Famous, Infamous
You have achieved a place amongst the people as one of the greatest of your kind. Your actions are watched carefully, your movements are well known, and people even outside of the Provinces surrounding Dol-Terias will have heard your name spoken often by merchants and travelers. Those drawn to your deeds may very well travel from beyond the scope of your actions to learn from you, and some may even do so simply to say they knew you.

Gaining and losing Fame, Infamy
To begin with, all characters (PC or NPC) have both moments of Fame and Moments of Infamy. Sir Daniel of Galathas hosted the Lances and Romances tourney, and is one of the forefront Galathans within the city – yet, his trip to the Monolith caused him to suffer terrible injuries and was far more of a defeat than a success. These are all things that would shift (or give credence towards shifting) his Fame score.

Additionally, Just because Lord Lernan Alturien is Famous does not mean he could not lose Fame. Were his family to fall, were his house to come under severe scrutiny, were he to become mad, he would certainly lose Fame (and quite possibly Gain Infamy). Also, actions done in private should not effect Fame and Infamy unless they become public. For example, a Noble Woman that is secretly having an affair with a common man should not be penalized for it – however, if that Affair becomes public, she should receive infamy for her actions.

Finally, It may seem possible for characters to have both Fame and Infamy, but we must remember that deeds are taken by most with a weight against others. Therefore, if a Character with Fame performs an act that would grant them Infamy, they should lose fame instead. Also, Major actions should be the only thing that changes Fame on a PC: Griggor killing an Orc straggler is not an action worthy of shifting his Fame from 0 to 1. However Griggor single handedly killing ten raiding orcs while saving the lives of several villagers, would be an achievement worthy of such a boost. Keep in mind that Fame and infamy are easier to gain at lower points, harder to gain at higher points, and equally easy to lose all around. If the Scourge, with his infinite amounts of Infamy, were to kill a bunch of raiding orcs, save the villagers in the city, kiss the babes, help an old lady across the alleys, and publicly don robes of a Priest of Elynir and commit to that faith, he would lose a -lot- of Infamy. The smallest of public actions can cause a shift in peoples view of a character.

Fame, Infamy: Mechanically
Fame and Infamy effect the Knowledge checks made to know who a person is. Famous, Infamous people (10) are very easy to identify. Even a Commoner with very little knowledge in anything would recognize the High Lord and bow to him. When a character disguises themselves, their Fame, Infamy is disguised as well. Characters that put on masks, take on totally different names, or otherwise hide their identity are not affected by their Fame, Infamy; however, characters that establish an alternate identity may begin to form two different Fame, Infamy scores more about this below. Note that certain levels of Fame, Infamy talk about particular perks. Fame 5 begins your notoriety throughout outlying towns, while higher levels of the fame, Infamy even give you the ability to be known by people completely outside the Provinces. Also, once a person has reached a middle to high Fame, Infamy (5 or so), they should get a title that suits who they are. This can be generic (Angelica the Griffon Knight, Abraham the Witch Hunter) or specific (The Scourge). Titles do not disappear as fame drops, but they do become forgotten over time (such that, if the Scourge were to drop to Infamy 1 for several years, and be known once more by his real name, he may lose the title
of the Scourge)

Fame, Infamy can also be gained in multiple personalities – IE – there is a Court Noblewoman for house Dunvegan (Lisene Aduerin) who is known as “The Cat” at night. Obviously, her Noblewoman figure may give her Fame, but her form as The Cat would give her Infamy. Additionally, keep in mind that to some, Fame is a bad thing, and Infamy is good. Certain diplomatic situations should take Fame, Infamy into account, though the ranking does not give a static bonus to any skill checks (DM discretion). Fame, Infamy: Example Fames for PC's, NPC's and Justifications for them. Below are some example fame and infamy scores.

Lord Lernan Alturien: Fame 10

High Lord Lernan needs no justification. Through his deeds at the night of the blooded swords, his rule over Terias and his command of the Shields, he has certainly earned his reputation and his fame throughout the lands and beyond them.

Lady Catlindra Dunvegan-Alturien: Fame 9
Married to the High Lord, Catlindra is known for her kindness and gentle nature. She is not a terribly hidden figure and as such has earned extra notoriety amongst the people.

Sir Asgard Alturien: Fame 6

The son of the High Lord, Asgard – along with his brother – is known simply because of his bloodline and his potential to be the next High Lord of Terias. Still, he is not as publicly displayed a figure, but his recent dealings with Sir Galadorn Sureblade and his surprising display during the Griffon Knights funeral, where he lit the man's pyre, have given him more notoriety as of late.

Sir Darien Alturien: Fame 6
More reclusive than his brother, Darien is not as well displayed to the public, but still bears the fame and note of being the High Lords son and one of the next in line for the title. His recent abduction by Nergullites of the Purple Flame and the subsequent recovery by the Eyes of the Vigilant has raised his profile in recent months.

Sir Aelestiel Alturien: Fame 4
A Lt. In the Shields of Terias, known for his discipline amongst his men, Aelestiel has been a part of many engagements, and has been seen traveling in the company of plenty of Heroes of Terias – enough so to warrant a boost to his own Fame amongst the people.

Dame Angelica Baptiste: Fame 7
The now-First Griffon Knight of Terias, Dame Angelica Baptiste has participated in many tournaments throughout the years. She has been at the forefront of the Galathas, Surielite Compound construction, has created her own hospital outside of Doltanbran for use by both the Road Wardens and the common folk, and has donated much of her personal wealth to the relief of people within the Shantytown outside Doltanbran. Additionally, she has received personal favor from the High Lord for saving his life during the Great Flood, and has stood against countless foes in protection of innocent people both inside of, and outside of the cities.

Abraham D`Cruxis: Fame 6
The Witch Hunter – Abraham D`Cruxis is known for his efforts in destroying the evil book in the Misty Peaks, as well as his countless appearances in defeating evil creatures throughout Terias and Doltanbran. He is also known to be often in the company of people like Dame Angelica, and has even been seen directly by the Bishop of Anvarol, giving credit to his following of the Vigilant God.

Sir Damerlin Dunvegan: Fame 3
The man once known as Sir Daniel of Galathas returned amidst talks of duels with Sir Aeris Inniviere and an aborted engagement to his younger sister, Lady Annalise Inniviere. Trained in riding by the Griffon Knight, Dame Angelica Baptiste, he has competed in two Tourneys now and has done increasingly well in both the Joust and Swordmanship. He held a small tournament of his own to raise funds for the Galathas and Aegis portion of the Brothers Complex and recovered the long lost Scrolls of Justice, holy Galathan relics. Owner of a keelboat "The Adventure", he has contacts and enemies in both sides of Dol-Terias, including a known dislike of the Inquisition of Anvarol. His star, while rising, is diminished by the loss of an eye at the Obsidian Monolith, but the eye and his family name have been restored to him, leaving his destiny unknown. Many whisper that after the Tournament he will go after the remains of another fallen paladin, in a holy quest typical of the Galathans of old.

Skarre Dragomir: Infamy 2
The Head of the Shrine to the Cult of the Ancients – the society of undead worshipers, Skarre is known to be both a Priest and Arcanist of notable power. His believed apprenticeship to Verencros the Necromancer fuels the peoples fear of the man. However, he has been rather quiet as of late, not contributing highly to any particular events, and therefore fading slightly from the peoples thoughts.

Sir Vladimir Black (The Scourge): Infamy 10
Known well for his brutality, reckless slaughter and short temper, Sir Vladimir Black is a man that all recognize, even outside of the Provinces of the Cities. Unafraid of the binds of aristocracy, his manners are kept barely in check, and the people fear the day he is let loose of his binds.

Moriart Darkstalker: Infamy 7
A leading Assassin for the Corporation of the Red Tear, Moriarts love for fighting in brutal duels to the death and sadistic pleasure in tricking his foes has earned him a reputation as one of the most deadly Assassins in the Cities. People will recognize him – when they get a chance to see him.