Persona Development Guidelines

Here are some guidelines when developing your Persona. This is all optional, put here for fun and for those that wish to use it.

When developing your persona consider the following:

Where your persona is from, (historically), where your persona currently is, Your persona's primary Vocation/Profession, Any important relatives (parents, siblings, enemies, etc.) and a Time Period between the 8th Century and 11th Century. This does not need to be put into a written story form.

You can also include how you came to join the empire, or the story of how you are part of the Empire, your holdings, your persona's wealth, Your Ship's Name, etc. Even NPC (Nonplayer Character) Crew members or Allies/friends/family etc. that could be noted in Persona Writings, campaigns and sagas.

Deducing some of this info can be devised from Empire Structure. Specifically, The Path system, Orders and Rankings within the paths and Orders. As well as your "Caste" (Thrall, Karl, Nobleman, Ealdorman)

Persona Development by Caste

  • Thrall
    • In the Empire, a Thrall is probably at the lowest level. You are bound to one of the houses by some sort of Debt. You could owe a life debt to a higher ranked member, or you are in debt to a house. You could also have committed some sort of crime that you are paying back with Thrallship. Or you are a slave, plain and simple. ;)
    • However, even slaves earned a living, and could save up money to buy their freedom or own things. And it really depended on their Lord. (You could easily work some kind of story out with your local Drottin, a Karl, or even a member of the Nobility or Ealdormen. Which if you want, definitely ask permission first… Or be thralled to a fictional Lord or Chieftain.)
  • Karl
    • A Karl is considered a contributing member to the Empire. They have proven themselves as a valued Individual. A Karl would be free of Slavery, or other Debts that a Thrall would be restricted by.
    • A Karl would, historically, serve a local Lord or Drottin, but it would be by their own Choice and the local Lord would return such service with wealth.
    • A Karl could relate their Perona's Wealth and achievements by the number of years they have been A Karl.
  • Nobility
    • Part of being a Noble, or becoming a Noble, is getting awarded Land or some kind of Asset to use to bring Glory to the Empire and, Historically, use to pay taxes to the head of the Empire. When receiving an award of Arms a member could consider themselves being gifted some kind of asset, "large tracts of land", a Village, or possibly a Ship, or fleet of Ships.
    • In RP, a Nobleman would almost always be attended by at least one servant or Bodyguard. The higher the ranking Nobleman, the more Servants/bodyguards in attendance.
    • Guidelines:
    • Lord - 1 50 man Ship with enough land to support the families of the Crew.
    • Viscount - A fleet of Ships, 3-7 ships, with enough land to support the families of the Fleet.
    • Jarl - 3-6 Fleets of Ships, with enough Land to Support the families of the Fleets. Along with land to support the Fleets.
    • Posadnik - A number of Jarls and all associated ships & Land.
  • Ealdorman
    • Ealdorman are trickier to Roleplay. As an Ealdorman, first consider where you stand in Empire Ranking. If you are a karl, consider first looking at the Karl guidelines, then after that, apply the prestige of your Ealdorman Title.
    • For example. A Drottin would first use their Caste Guidelines, then apply their status as a Chieftain of a Drott. Chieftains gain an amount of wealth associated with their Drott. So it really depends on the Drott's Wealth which would depend on how long the Drott has been around.
    • A Keeper of the Keys or a Boiarin would most likely live in their Principality's Capital to assist the Crown. If they are Noble, they would most likely own an estate in the Capital, and possibly an amount of land not related to the capital.
    • The Stallari would most likely be located in the Empire's Capital. Being as the Stallari is the head General of the Empire. Beyond that, a Stallari could base their wealth on the number of Events they have attended equivalent to battles won or lost, it is really up to the Persona.
  • Special Titles
    • Gestir and other special titles would really depend on the Title. A Gestir could easily use Karl based Guidelines. Where something beyond that could use Ealdorman Guidelines. It really depends on the Description of the Special Title.
    • Riddari : Riddari are Revered amongst the Empire and highly sought after by Lords and other Nobles for their Employ. Riddari are also seasoned warriors and would have accumulated an impressive amount of wealth over their carreer as a Warrior.

Persona Development via Orders and Paths

A member could also base their persona's wealth on the number of Token's and Awards they have earned. Orders would matter as well.

Persona Wealth Guidelines (The Math)

  • Caste-based Income
    • Thrall: 1 wealth unit every 2 months.
    • Karl: 5 wealth units per month of Karl Status.
    • Noble: 25 wealth units per month of Noble Status (Multiplied by Noble Rank Lord being 1, Viscount being 2, Jarl being 3.) though you may own vast tracts of land, you still pay taxes and gift your people.
  • Special Bonus Caste income (In addition to basic Castes)
    • Ealdorman: 10 Wealth units per month of Ealdorman status multiplied by Rank. Drottin = 1, Hertogi = 3, Boiarin = 3, and other Ealdorman Titles = 2. This is in addition to Caste Wealth.
    • Gestir: 4-5 Wealth units per month.
    • Master Order member: 25 Wealth Units per month
    • Order member: 5 Wealth Units per month.
    • Special titles: 5 Wealth Units per month.
  • Path Wealth Numbers
    • Multiply Number of Tokens by caste Rank: thrall =1, Karl = 2, Noble/Ealdorman=3. If a member of an order, double the ending value. Master Orders Double the value a second Time, path must be related to the Master Order.
  • Event Attendance Numbers
    • Consider Each Day spent at an event equal to 1 month of your Caste "Income"

House Wealth Guidelines

  • Drotts
    • Houses, when recognized are given 1 square mile (640 acres) of land to develop & a 10 mile radius of territory. Total population in the region produces 50 fighters (this includes active members). w/ 1 NPC Professional warrior. The gifted Land comes with 5 acres of farmland, 1 Long House, 1 Apprentice Smithy, 5 Dwellings, and 100 Wealth units.
    • The House also receives a Ship that holds a 50 man crew.
  • Hirds
    • Hirds work a lot like a Drott, however their territory is increased to 30 miles and they are given 2 additional square miles to develop.
    • The Hird is also given 1 more ship for each additional 10 miles of Territory. FOr a total of 3 House Ships. Each with a crew of 50.
    • They are also gifted 1,000 Wealth Units
  • Lordships
    • A Lordship is given 1 square mile of land to develop within a Region of a Drott.
    • The land has 1 Long house, 10 dwellings, 10 acres of Farm Land, 1 Apprentice Tradesman of your choice, and 150 Wealth Units.

Amounts a house receives for described assets.

  • Thrall: 5 Wealth Units per month
  • Karl: 6 Wealth Units per month
  • Nobleman: 10 Wealth Units per month
  • Acre of Farm "Land": 1 wealth units per month, generates 5 Food
  • Apprentice Shop: 1
  • Journeyman Shop: 3
  • expert Shop: 4
  • Master Shop: 7
  • Professional Warrior: 1 +1 for every rank above 4.
  • Specialty Resource: 2, generates 1 of the Resource as well.

Monthly Food Requirements:
1 Family: 3 food per month. Can work 2 acres of farmland.
Professional Warriors: 1 food per month
Tradesman: 3 food per month

Using your Wealth

The persona wealth would be used to purchase Role Play things such as Land, Ships, Non-Player Crew members, Equipment, Horses, whatever is necessary to provide background for your persona. Here is a list of prices for things via the "Wealth Units"

Buildings

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