Power Behind the Throne (5e Variant Rule)

The Power Behind the Throne

In any town, city or village there will be a person or persons who the citizens consider to be in charge, but often other individuals or groups are actually in charge or are strongly influencing policy. The following is a system for working this out…

1. If you haven’t already picked a Public Leader for your town roll on Table 2 below. (The Public Leader is person who is officially in charge of the town).
2. The Public Leader may actually have firm control or will otherwise be near the top of the towns Power Structure, for a ‘normal size’ town Roll d6 to determine the Public Leaders position in the Power Structure. (1 = Top). Use a smaller or larger dice for smaller or larger towns (or more complexity).
3. Roll on Table 1 to fill each of the other positions in the Power Structure.
4. Feel free to re roll any result which doesn’t make sense for your setting (i.e. Pirates in an inland town).
5. Towns will have more factions jostling for power, we are just picking out the top few.
6. Then it’s time to get creative with the results of your rolls, below are some examples.

Example 1

Position	Who	Notes
1	Miners	Over the centuries the supply of 'the right' stone for the Pharaohs lavish tombs has been dwindling and the miners demands and power has now grown to an all time high
2	A War Hero	In a recent war with a neighboring country the Pharaohs brother in law very publicly saved the Pharaoh from certain death, this is the subject of many popular tales and songs throughout the land, many of which imply, correctly, that the Pharaoh isn't a very good fighter. The brother in law has always been very outspoken on matters of state.
3	Illusionists	The town is the home of the countries main Illusionist Guild. The Guild grounds and its members are self governing and policed. Many of the towns citizens consider the Illusionist Guild to be better managed and policed then the rest of the town.
4	Farmers	There is always friction between the towns people and those who provide them with food, sudden shortages and price fluctuations are a common problem.
5	The Pharaoh	The Public Leader. Khofffiu V.
6	The King of the North	This town is in a sub arctic desert, most of the border skirmishes / wars in recent years have been on the northern border in the depth of winter when the Northern Hordes try to migrate south. Many say that this migration used to be peaceful and should still be allowed.

Example 2

Position	Who	Notes
1	Symbiant/Mind Control	The Emperor is being mind controlled by a group of Mind Flayers who have infiltrated the basements and sub basements under his palace.
2	A Family	A Noble Family are responcible for running the town "for the Empire", their interpretation of the Empires laws is sometimes a little grey.
3	The Empire	The Public Leader, The Emperor who has his Palace in the capitol city.
4	Gladiators	The Gladiators in the towns arena are very popular with the towns people with some being elevated to positions far above their station and respected for their opinions on a wide range of popular topics in the town.
5	Slavers	The town is reliant on slaves and has a health respect for those who service this need.
6	A Guild Master	The Guild Master of the Fishermen's Guild is a well respected elder statesman in the town

Example 3

Position	Who	Notes
1	Elected Mayor	The Public Leader. Baron Gillebertus or other members of his family have held this post for many decades, some might dare to say that the elections are fixed but the prospect of learning to swim in the river wearing concrete boots tends to put them off.
2	The Mafia	The Baron is the head of the towns Mafia which has a strong control of the towns less legal activities.
3	Elves	The town has a large elven quarter, which is one of the towns safer areas.
4	A Healer	The high priestess of the Moon God runs her church as a hospital for the town , having a no questions asked policy and a pay it forward attitude.
5	The Ladies of the Night	"Granny" has a network of courtesans, prostitutes and escorts of both sexes and many races, giving her access to the beds of many of the towns influential individuals.
6	Sages	The town has a well respected Sages Guild which draws visitors to the town from all over the world.

Table 1 Public or Behind

d%	Which Table
01-10	Roll Once on Table 2 Public Leader
11-00	Roll Once on Table 3 Behind the Throne

Table 2 Public Leader

No’	Who	Notes
1	The Sultan
2	A Random Lottery Winner
3	A Church
4	Royal Family
5	Pharaoh
6	The King
7	The Virgin Offering
8	The Empire
9	Elected Council
10	The Emperor
11	Elected Mayor
12	The Queen
13	A Dictator
14	The High Sheriff

Table 3 Behind the Throne

No’	Who	Notes
1	Vampire
2	Lawyers
3	The Collective
4	A sibling or parent
5	The King of the North
6	Illusionist(s)
7	A Ghost
8	A Cult
9	Cthulhu
10	Slavers
11	The Masons
12	The Illuminati
13	Males
14	Monks
15	The Military
16	Athletes
17	The Dark One
18	Mind Flayers
19	Bureaucrats
20	Thieves Guild
21	Beholders
22	The Mafia
23	Rangers
24	Assassins Guild
25	Necromancers
26	Another Town/City
27	A War Hero
28	A Hive Mind
29	Judges/magistrates
30	The Listeners	See below
31	A Demon
32	Miners
33	Wizards
34	The Unions
35	The Navy
36	A God/Gods
37	Advisory Council
38	A Devil
39	Farmers
40	The Slavers
41	Elders
42	Sailors
43	A Secret Society
44	University
45	A Prisoner
46	Mummy
47	The Dwarves
48	The Media
49	The Old Ones
50	Gladiators
51	A Peoples Hero
52	The Halfling Mafia
53	Guild Council
54	Occupying Army
55	The Wealthy
56	Artificers
57	Gnomes
58	Ladies of the night
59	The BBEG
60	Halflings
61	Sages
62	Tinkers
63	A Family
64	An Advisor
65	A Healer
66	Paladins
67	A Dragon
68	A Lich
69	The Bankers
70	Women
71	A Barbarian Horde
72	The Sleepers	See below
73	The Harpers
74	The Elves
75	The Druids
76	Giants
77	Ninjas
78	Pirates
79	The Nightwatch
80	A Guild Master
81	The Watch
82	Elemental(s)
83	Merchants Guild
84	Lycanthropes
85	The Fey
86	Symbiant/Mind Control
87	The Beggar king
88	A prophet
89	Philosophers
90	The Knights of the round table
91	The Templers

'The Listeners - These keen minded individuals are available to document verbal contracts in the town which they then transcribe in their library into “The Agreement” which forms the towns laws.

The Sleepers - These comatose oracles guide the town via their loyal minders who are trained to communicate with them by entering a controlled semi comatose state themselves which grants them access to a shared mindscape.

5.00

(one vote)

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