Imperial Senator

The Quintessential Aristocrat
Author Martin R. Thomas
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2004

The Imperial Senate forms an advisory and ruling council for the empire. Oftentimes they are merely figureheads, a wealthy aristocracy representing no interests other than their own greed. Just as often, however, an imperial senator serves to hold a powerful emperor in check, or to advise him on the intrigues of law and government. Quite a few emperors earn their title by being good in a battle but lack the skills necessary for ruling an Empire. This is where the Imperial Senate comes in, acting behind the scenes to make laws, dispense justice, and more often than not, scheme to replace the current emperor with one more to their liking.

The life of a senator is one of relative opulence and wealth. Senators have many luxuries available tothem that are not available to the common man, such as education, servants, and land. Most senators will eventually end up putting these skills and abilities to good use by getting involved in political intrigue, rebellion and even war on the outlying frontiers of the Empire. Well-respected and affluent senators will eventually be promoted to provincial governors and will often be expected to lead troops into battle against enemies on the Empire’s frontier.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements

To qualify as an imperial senator, a character must fulfil the following requirements:
Skills: Diplomacy 10 Ranks, Knowledge (law) 7 ranks, Knowledge (local) 10 Ranks, Perform (oratory) 7 Ranks
Feats: Born to Wealth, Skill Focus (Diplomacy)
Special: The character must come from a senatorial family (or be elected to the senate) and own an extravagant manor within the capital city of the empire worth at least 60,000 gold pieces.

Class Skills

Bluff (Charisma), Diplomacy (Charisma), Intimidate (Charisma), Listen (Wisdom), Knowledge (all) (Intelligence), Profession (politician) (Wisdom), Sense Motive (Wisdom)
Skill points at each level: 4 + Intelligence Modifier

Imperial Senator
Class Level	Base Attack	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1	+0	+0	+2	+2	Good Fortune, Improved Status
2	+1	+0	+3	+3	Bonus Feat
3	+2	+1	+3	+3	Graft
4	+3	+1	+4	+4	Bonus Feat
5	+3	+1	+4	+4	Wealth’s Blessing

Class Features

All the following are class features of the imperial senator prestige class:

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: The imperial senator gains no additional proficiencies with weapons, armour or shields.

Good Fortune (Ex): Becoming a member of the imperial senate is sure to generate a lot of jealousy and make a lot of enemies for the senator. Through training and natural quick reflexes, the imperial senator has learned to avoid the assassins’ poisoned blade, gaining a +1 Dodge bonus to her Armour Class and a +2 bonus to all Fortitude saves versus poison. Like all Dodge bonuses, the imperial senator loses this bonus if she is denied his Dexterity bonus.

Improved Status (Ex): The imperial senator’s Status score increases by +3.

Bonus Feat: The imperial senator continues to learn and educate herself in many areas, and gains access to one of the following feats: Aristocratic
Favour, Aura of Command, Aura of Fascination, Aura of Fear, Charismatic, Inheritance, Iron Will, Multitalented, Resources, Scholarly, Skill Focus (any
Imperial Senator skill), Strength of Will or Windfall of Wealth. She must still meet any pre-requisites for the feat.

Graft: The character has gained a promotion through keeping herself in the public eye by throwing lavish parties, hosting games, and building monuments (the character and the Game Master are left to work out the details but the character should count on spending a minimum of 3,000 gold pieces per level of the imperial senator prestige class). The promotion to a higher senatorial rank generates graft for the imperial senator in the amount of 10,000 gold pieces.

Wealth’s Blessing: The imperial senator has gained another promotion to provincial governor and has been given funds in the amount of 100,000 gold pieces to build a new estate in one of the provinces of the empire.