Companion proposal
I have an idea for a companion, depending on the covenant concept.
He is a landed noble, but did not grow up with his noble family, and thus is not a knight. Being an illegitimate, he was raised elsewhere (see below). The old lord (father or grandfather) had no other descendants, other sons being killed in recent local wars. On his deathbed, he decided to have his only remaining descendant tracked down and reinstated as heir, bypassing a number of jealous nephews.
As to upbringing.
- If the covenant is essentially pagan (opposing the church and protecting openly pagan practioners), I would go for a character who is raised in a pagan cult, with a very pious pagan belief. He is a patriot of the local lands where he was brought up, violently (literally) defending his belief. His heretic beliefs may or may not be a secret.
- If the covenant is Christian, or at least not opposing the church in any way, I would go for a character raised by a friar of one kind or another. Possibly by an hermit (sheltered upbringing) or possibly not. Probably non-combatant. He is very pious, and he is likely to spend significant money erecting churches, funding crusades, or whatever else he believes to save souls. I wanted to make him ordained, but that is probably a bad idea since celibacy is not really compatible with the aristocratic duty of securing an heir. However, not being ordained does not need make him any less zealous.
- If I need a more neutral concept to fit into the covenant, I might consider troupe upbringing, but I am not sure if I can make this work for me.
His immediate family is all dead, but the relations to his cousins (who would inherit him) constitute a dark secret if not a major story flaw (enemy or whatever). The pagan case (1) may have to drop this story flaw, in favour of story flaws relating to his pagan belief.
He could serve as a «tame nobleman» for the covenant boon. This is probably most plausible in the pagan case, but not impossible in the Christian case.
What do you think? Is this a good companion for the troupe?