Disgraced Nobility

Your house was once great but was ruined by scandal, debt, or the Splinter Wars. You have the pedigree but none of the respect.

Overview

You have the blood, the name, and the historical records of greatness, but your vaults are empty and your family manor is likely mortgaged to the hilt. Whether your ancestors backed the wrong side in a civil war, were caught practicing forbidden magic, or simply squandered their fortune on terrible investments, your House is a laughingstock among the Altazian elite.

You grew up surrounded by the ghosts of past glory. You were taught all the etiquette, history, and poise of a high noble, but you've also had to learn how to lie, cheat, and scrape by just to keep up appearances. The Academy is your last chance to restore your family's name or forge a new destiny entirely.

Mechanical Benefits

• Starting Bonus: Gain +1 free dot in Deception and +1 free dot in Academics.
• Connection — The Old Guard: Despite your family's fall, there are a few ancient retainers, loyalists, or sympathetic nobles who remember your House's former glory. Once per arc, you can call upon this network to gain entry to an exclusive high-society event, secure a loan, or dig up blackmail material on a rival House.

Roleplay Hooks

• Desperate Facade: You will go to extreme lengths to hide your poverty, wearing outdated but impeccably maintained tailored clothes and lying about your living conditions.
• Chip on the Shoulder: You aggressively overcompensate when dealing with wealthy "new money" students or arrogant purebloods who look down on you.
• The Comeback Kid: Every action you take is calculated to either earn money, gain political leverage, or restore your House's honor.