OSR: The Allure

The name of this class came Noise Sans Signal, a blog I cannot find a link too. Blame Google if you wish.

from Getty Images

Where did you come from?

1d4

1- Former Street Kid. You are either an orphan or were born into grinding poverty. You got out first chance you could. +1 DEX, -1 CON.

2- Poor Parents. Your parents worked hard to provide for you, but most of the time you barely scraped by. +1 STR, -1 COG.

3- Rich Girl. Your parents were rich, or at least prosperous enough that you never wanted for anything in your life. +1 CON, -1 CHA.

4- Noblewoman. Your parents were Nobility and likely were quite wealthy. +1 COG, -1 STR.

What did you do before this nonsense?

1d6

1- Socialite. You spent your time going to parties and hob-knobbing with the wealthy, influential and fashionable. Gain one of the following skills: Dancing, Singing, Poetry. 2- Artist. You were an artist, though you weren't known for your art. Gain one of the following skills: Painting, Sculpting, Weaving.

3- Lady's Maid/Companion. You served a wealthy woman as an exalted servant, though you were still a servant. Gain one of the following skills: Sewing, Calligraphy, Make-Up.

4- Concubine/Mistress. You were a toy for a rich man, who showered you with presents and jewels. Gain one of the following skills: Dance, Horseback Riding, Play Musical Instrument.

5- Serving Girl/Bartender. You can mix drinks with the best of them, but that wasn't why you were behind the counter or serving drinks. Gain one of the following skills: Mix Drinks, Mathematics, Cook.

6- Actress. You were well-known as much for your beauty as your acting. Gain one of the following skills: Acting, Sing, Sewing.

Why are you involved with these maniacs (the rest of the party)?

1d6

1- Debt. You owe a huge sum and this is the fastest way to pay it off. You need money fast, lest your creditors catch up to you and force you to work for them, or worse.

2- Scandal. You got involved in some sort of ridiculous drama and fled to avoid the social fallout that followed.

3- Suitors. Two or more important/powerful people wanted to marry you and you didn't want to get involved with either. In fairness, you may have overreacted.

4- Politics. There was a political crisis where you're from and you were involved in. You now have enemies who want to marry/punish/kill. You got out of there just before things got really bad.

5- Violence. Someone tried to kill you- you're not sure if it was an admirer of yours or if it was for some other reason. Hanging around a bunch of trained killers seems like the best way to dissuade any more attempts.

6- Circumstances. It was a crazy chain of events or a ridiculous twist of fate that landed you here. It would take days to recount.

Who is still interested in you?

1d6

1- A rich merchant. He's not appealing at all physically, but he is rich.

2- The local nobleman's son. He's young, dashing and an utter fool.

3- A traveling musician. Handsome and charming, he's exactly the sort of man your mother would warn you to steer clear of.

4- The town doctor. He would claim it to be inappropriate, he's known you for most of your life. He definitely has feelings for you though.

5- A married man. How scandalous! Obviously, he will not reveal his feelings publicly, but he might be able to help you discreetly.

6- An Adventurer. He's a brute, a man of blood and iron. The only things he loves in this world is gold, booze and you.

from here

Allure

Starting HP: 1/3 Con

Fighting Spirit: N/A

Atk Modifier: +1 per Allure Level (max +3)

Starting Equipment: Pretty Clothes, cigarettes or bottle of wine, jewelry, beautiful face

1: Beautiful, Seduction, Lover

2: Exes and Woes

3: Love Triangle, Prized Booty

4: Memento

5: Fatal Attraction, Love Square

6: Charmer

7: Harem, Lose your Head

8: Greater than Gold, Love at First Sight

9: Forgive me, Father

1:

Beautiful: You are easily the prettiest person most people have ever met. You get +1 to all reaction rolls, along with your normal CHA modifier. People like you upon their first meeting and will give you the benefit of the doubt, especially if they are attracted to you. This positive impression of you lasts until you do something that proves that a beautiful face doesn't always come with a heart of gold.

Seduction: If no violence has occurred between you and another creature, you can invite them to come join you in a moment of radical intimacy. This need not involve sex, though it might. If you use your Seduction ability on an NPC, they must make a saving throw. On a failure, they give in to their temptation.

The Target may receive penalties to their Save if:

- You have bathed recently

- You are wearing something pretty and clinging

- There is a soft surface nearby (such as a bed, cushion, loveseat, etc.)

- They come from a sexually repressive culture and do not agree with its moral positions

- They come from a sexually liberated culture and do agree with its moral positions

- They have no reason to suspect you are up to something malicious

- They do not dislike you for any reason

- They like you for any reason

- They previously had a romantic rendezvous with you and it went reasonably well

The Target may receive bonuses to their save if:

- You smell bad

- You are dressed shabbily

- You don't fit their usual preferences (sex, race, body-type, nationality, etc)

- They are a creature that does not breed or reproduce sexually

- They come from a sexually repressed culture and believe in its moral positions

- They come from a sexually liberated culture and do not believe its moral positions

- They suspect you have malicious intent

- They dislike you for any reason

- They previously had a romantic rendezvous with you and it went terribly

Lover: If you successfully use your 'Seduction' ability on a creature, you can recruit that creature as your Lover. Lovers are hirelings who don't need money, but your affection and attention. A Lover will do his best to keep you safe and do as you wish, but not without limit. Your Lover will not do anything that he thinks will harm you or make him look bad in your eyes. He will also need attention and affection from you. If you neglect your Lover, he will grow uncooperative, then hostile and then finally leave you. All Lovers have different needs and will need them catered to. Some will tolerate much and expect little while others will demand the moon on a stick and provide little.

2:

Exes and Woes: If any of your former lovers are still alive, they remember you, and will insist on inserting themselves into their business if they are nearby. This can be an asset or ot could be a major hassle. These Exes include former targets of Seduction, but there are also others from before the Allure decided to become an Adventurer.

Whenever you go to an area where you once lived or have been to previously (even in your backstory), there is a X-in-10 chance, where X is your Allure Level, that you have a former romantic conquest here, who could be summoned or, if he hears about you, might show up on his own. To see how your Ex feels about you, roll on the Exes table below.

How do I feel about the Allure?

1d6

1- I despise her, and would do literally anything to make her suffer. I also might be a little psychotic

2- I hate her a bit, and if I never saw her again, it'd be too soon.

3- I still dislike her, and would make her life difficult if she came along.

4- I don't really feel anything for her anymore. I'm just glad it happened, but I don't love her anymore.

5- I still have some fondness for her, though I have mostly moved on.

6- I'm heartbroken and desperately in love with her still. I may be a little obsessive. I would get back together with the Allure in an instant.

Pretty Privilege: People like having you around. You're fun at parties, your bawdy jokes always make people laugh, and a lot of people probably like the idea of being in a relationship with you, because it would make their parents quite mad, or so they assume. Any creature who likes you will give you the benefit of the doubt and do small favors for you, for free. They'll hold the door open for you, warn you if the cops are coming to bust up a place, buy you drinks and always find room for you. However, even for those who are attracted to you, there are things they wouldn't do for you, especially if you don't seem receptive to their affections or invitations. They are patient, but even the most hopeful will give up eventually.

3:

Love Triangle: You are now capable of having two Lovers at the same time. This can be mutual consent or you can simply keep them both in a limbo-state as you "Decide" between the two of them. Note that some creatures will be not be amenable to being one of your Lovers and will demand to be exclusive with you. Failing to accomodate this desire will lead to them leaving, interpersonal discord or much worse.

Prized Booty: If you surrender to an enemy, if they are creatures who are intelligent and reproduce sexually, they will take you captive unless they have very good reason not to. Additionally, if you are ever in a situation where you are about to be killed or the rest of the party is currently mid-TPK, if you surrender, odds are you will be spared, unless the creature killing them or trying to kill you has no need for reproduction or can see no other use for you.

4:

Memento: After you have successfully used your Seduction ability, you can have the target give you one item they possess. These items cannot be super-powerful, cursed or priceless, and have to be something that the Target could easily access. For example, your target may give you one of his rings that is merely jewelry to him, but not the gold ring his father gave him years ago that he has treasured ever since.

5:

Kiss of Death: If you have successfully used your Seduction ability on a creature, you can automatically kill that creature. This always works, unless the target knew that you were likely to do this and took precautions before-hand, or the target has some kind of passive defense that you cannot penetrate. For example, if the target of Seduction has bulletproof skin and you have no way to pierce his hide, you cannot kill him. Referee's Discretion applies.

Love Square: You are now capable of having three Lovers at time. You will need to manage the various emotions and egos of your Lovers in order to do this. Even if they are all fine with sharing, it will still be very difficult to have three at a time. Note that some targets of Seduction will not be amenable to sharing and will not become your Lover if you have other Lovers, no matter how great you seem.

6:

Charmer: Your charm and beauty is so great that even if you are not to someone's personal preferences, that can no longer give them a bonus against your saving throw. If you are of the opposite sex, you can now seduce someone attracted to the same sex, or if you are of a strange race, you can now seduce someone who would not be attracted to that race.

7:

Harem: You can have any number of Lovers at one time. Just make sure you are capable of navigating the intensely difficult social politics that come from having a Harem. Even if everyone loves each other and is willing to get along, egos will get bruised, jealousy will occur and discord will mar your domestic bliss.

Lose your Head: People who would normally be attracted to you find it difficult to focus around you, as you are so pretty it boggles the mind. People who are attracted to you count as being Charmed to you, and are inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt, do minor favors for you, and are generally inclined to listen to what you have to say. When negotiating with someone like this, you get +4 (or Advantage) to all checks made to persuade, intimidate, or otherwise convince.

8:

Greater than Gold: Your perceived value is so great that people think you to be worth more than jewels or gold. As such, if you surrender yourself into the power of an enemy, you can make great demands before hand and expect them to be honored. For example, if you wished for the evil King to spare your brother, you could turn yourself over into his power on the condition that he would do so, and he would, even if your brother was one of the commanders of the rebellion trying to overthrow the kingdom.

Love at First Sight: If you meet a creature who has never met or interacted with you before, you can force them to save upon seeing/talking to you. On a failed save, this creature is instantly smitten with you and will want to be in a relationship with you. Note that this creature will build up a fantasy version of you in their mind, so the longer you delay this relationship, the more elaborate this fantasy will be and the less likely you'll be able to live up to the fantasy.

9:

Forgive me, Father: Once and only once, you can reveal the secret paternity/maternity of one younger NPC who could conceivably be your child. You reveal that you are actually his father/mother. Expect this NPC to have at minimum, a minor existential crisis, and at worse, a psychotic break. This will dramatically reframe your relationship, either for good or for ill, depending on how you treated this NPC before this reveal.

by Brian M. Viveros