It’s good to be the champ. I’ll do what needs doing to stay champ. I’ll win. I’ll kill. I’ll boast. I’ll woo. Whatever it takes to keep succeeding.
Every freehold has one: the hero. Not a reluctant hero, this hero knows what he is. The best of the best, a platinum band amongst a handful of dirty silver ingots. And it’s not just about having a success here and there. Killing one of the Gentry is a good start, but it has to be done with flair, with narrative panache. And that’s something for the Parliament of Victors.
A Noble Champion in the Parliament of Victors is on par with the king or queen, and may even be more popular. Everybody knows the Champion. They know of his exploits because he tells them of his exploits. It’s not about getting into the legends and earning some kind of twisted immortality the long way. It’s about the hero getting what he deserves now. Not later. He succeeds because he wants. What he wants — wine, women, song, whatever— are earned because he succeeds.
Mien
The changeling’s mien grows. It becomes larger-than-life, almost mythic in proportions. If the Champion’s mien has antlers, they grow larger, more impressive. If her skin is covered in scales or in ribbons of water, it shimmers. Lithe limbs grow longer and all the more beautiful. Big eyes deepen and shine with a captivating luster. In addition, the mien inspires a mix of intense emotion — the ugliest brute seems suddenly beautiful while the most stunning warrior-queen stirs both fear and self-deprecation in those who gaze upon her. It represents an aura of celebrity, palpable and pervasive.
Privileges
Stacked Odds
The odds are clearly stacked in the Noble Champion’s favor: any and all Physical rolls are considered exceptional successes on four successes instead of five.
The Hero’s Veneer
Upon joining the lofty ranks of the Parliament of Victors, the character automatically gains the Striking Looks Merit at four dots. If she already possesses the Merit at four dots, she instead gains an additional +1 to all Presence rolls).
Mighty Blow
Once per chapter, the character can spend a Glamour to add her Wyrd score to a single combat roll (based off of Brawl, Firearms or Weaponry). If successful, the attack is dramatic and showy (even if the damage done isn’t). The player is encouraged to describe the flourish of the mighty blow.
Joining
Joining is easy, so to speak. Get the attention of the Victors by deed and they’ll come. They’ll wine the changeling, dine the changeling. Then they’ll make their offer. Problem is, it’s just as easy to fall from grace as it is to join. The Noble Champions of the Parliament of Victors don’t get to rest on their hindquarters. They have to keep up momentum. They’re heroes, they need to act like it. Harder still, they can’t fail a challenge. He won’t get kicked out of the eldritch order if he does, but he will lose access to all three privileges until he can prove his mettle anew.
