Legendary Status

Welcome to the web resource for D20 gaming in the world of Barsaive

Horrors- in work

Legendary Status

As characters earn Levels, their heroic reputation spreads throughout Barsaive. People hear tales of their exploits and sing songs of their adventures, and remember the characters’ names. Each character’s heroic deeds begin to build his Legend, allowing the characters to attain ever-higher levels of Legendary Status.

Legendary Status derives from a character’s Total Levels, and reflects the general public awareness of that character or group of characters. Tales of a character’s adventures spread across Barsaive until his Legendary Status rises so high that people recognize his name in virtually every city. The increasing Legendary Status of an adventuring group gives the group a reputation for prowess, and cities and towns in need of heroes may ask or hire them to undertake ever more daring missions and adventures.

Status Levels

Each Legendary Status Level marks a substantial increase in the character’s fame (or infamy) across Barsaive. The following guidelines suggest ways for gamemasters to use different levels of Legendary Status.

Level 1

Level 1 characters enjoy a reputation only in Barsaive’s most heavily populated areas. Most prominent people in cities regard Level 1 characters as heroic, but the general population remains oblivious to their daring exploits.

Level 2

Characters who earn a Level 2 Legendary Status are well known in most major population centers (Throal, Kratas, Searka, and Iopos) and by many people in smaller cities such as Jerris or Travar. Though many merchants and businessmen know of the character, the populace at large has not yet heard his name. When using social talents or skill against a character who know of him, a level 2 character adds a +1 bonus to all Charisma tests.

Level 3
Level 3 characters enjoy widespread fame in all of Barsaive’s major cities as well as many of the smaller cities and towns. Even in some of the small villages that dot the countryside, a few people tell tales of these characters’ exploits. Characters of Level 3 Legendary Status can use that status to their advantage. They often receive reduced prices on goods and services just for the asking, and may be able to request important favors more easily than lesser characters. When using social talents or skills against a character who knows of him, a Level 3 character adds a + 2 bonus to all Charisma tests.

Level 4
Everyone in Barsaive has at least heard the name of a character who gains Level 4 Legendary Status. The Kingdom of Throal often courts characters of Level 4 Status in the hope of convincing them to perform dangerous tasks for King Valurus III. Level 4 characters often maintain castles or strongholds in or near their favorite cities. When traveling, they often receive offers of free lodging or other services from individuals eager to boast that the famous character stayed at his inn, ate at his table, bought boots from him, and so on. When using social talents or skills against a character who knows of him, a Level 4 character adds a +3 bonus to all Charisma tests.

Level 5
Level 5 characters are the living legends of Barsaive. Virtually everyone knows of these characters and their heroic deeds, and more people claim to have known, seen or adventured with these characters than is possible by any race’s standards. Some examples of Level 5 characters are Nioku, the famed troll Archer, and Naaman Y’ross, a hero who fought the Horrors before the Scourge and who some believe still lives. When using social talents or skills against a character who knows of him, a Level 5 character adds a +5 to all Charisma tests.

As a character’s Legend Point total increases, he attains higher levels of Legendary Status. The Legendary Status Table below shows the minimum Total Legend Points for each Legendary Status Level.

LEGENDARY STATUS TABLE

Legendary Status	Minimum Level
Level 1	5th
Level 2	9th
Level 3	14th
Level 4	18th
Level 5	21st

PRICE OF FAME

Though a high level of Legendary Status affords a character both minor and major benefits, fame often carries a price. People often expect heroic characters to act for the common good despite the personal risks. Consciously or unconsciously, they believe that heroes should put their own interests and needs aside and work to help the people of Barsaive no matter what the cost. Most villages and small towns will recognize a character of Level 3 Legendary Status or better and ask him or her for help in time of trouble. Communities of this size may even seek out a hero to solve their problems. Though heroes often do act this way (most of them, too, believe in the classic definition of a hero), sometimes a character needs to act for himself. The conflict between personal interests and the interests of others can pose a dilemma for a character who has achieved Legendary Status.

Thom Hammerblade has achieved a Legendary Status of Level 3. He is traveling home to the Throal Mountains after a long, dangerous adventure. He suffered serious injuries fighting a Horror and an army of its minions, and hopes to rest for a few days in a village along the way.
The day after he arrives in the village, one of the citizens is found dead, apparently killed during the night by a fearsome beast. Thom really needs to recuperate, but the village citizens assume that despite his weariness and wounds a hero of Thom’s status will immediately come to their aid.
Wounded and battle-weary, Thom is facing one disadvantage of his heroic status, and must make a tough decision.