Of all the stellar nations, only the Thuldans, the Borealins, the Solars, and the Hatires have anything resembling a titled aristocracy. In other nations, the ‘nobility’ may consist of families commanding unusual wealth, prestige, or political power. These oligarchs, merchant princes, and corporate directors pass their fortunes and interests to their descendants, just as the land-holding lords of old passed their fiefs to their children. A stellar noble hero is a scion of one of these families, born to wealth and power beyond the dreams of most people.

Stellar nobles adventure for a variety of reasons. Some are philanthropists, dedicated to using their position and fortune to bettering the world around them. Others are merchant-lords charting the course of a powerful privately held company in a universe of monolithic corporations. Still others are simply bored dilettantes looking for thrills.

Many of the noble families of Old Space sent out favored relatives to the Verge when it was first colonized. The Verge nobles spent a great deal of their wealth settling into their new homes, virtually eliminating their ties with Old Space altogether. When the war cut the Verge off from Old Space, the new nobles of the Verge found themselves stranded. Many of the Verge noble houses dissolved,» others were destroyed in riots. Those that survived held little love for their Old Space founders.

In the Verge: There are more than thirty noble houses in the Verge. Some of these are survivors of the original nobles. Others are houses that have emerged as the Verge has grown in power and prestige. The houses detailed below are some of the more prominent in the Verge.

House Kaitors: Kaitors Industries is the leading producer of electronic components in the Verge. With its supply of high-technology parts from Did Space reestablished, Marilyn Kaitors will most likely capture more of the technology market from her home planet of Leen in the Oberon system.

House Maritec: Thomas Maritec, the patron of the House, is a retired admiral from the Borealis military. Upon his retirement, he received an area in the Argos star system to oversee for the Borealins. With the return of the stellar nations to the Verge, Admiral Maritec is aiding the Galactic Concord, as directed by his government.

House Hale: Christopher Hale led his fleet of renegade ships to Aegis and proclaimed himself the Regent of Bluefall. Despite an earlier attempt by the Thuldans to remove him from power, Hale has remained the undisputed ruler of Bluefall.

To qualify to become a Stellar Noble, a character must fulfill the following criteria.

Feats:

Skills:

The following information pertains to the Stellar Noble advanced class.

Hit Die: 1d

Action Points: + one-half character level, rounded down, every time the Stellar Noble attains a new level in this class.

The ’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are:

Appraise (Int), Autohypnosis (Wis), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Computer Use (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Craft (Biological) (Int), Craft (Chemical) (Int), Craft (Electronic) (Int), Craft (Mechanical) (Int), Craft (Pharmaceutical) (Int), Craft (Software) (Int), Craft (Structural) (Int), Craft (Visual Art) (Int), Craft (Writing) (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Demolitions (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Drive (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gamble (Wis), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Investigate (Int), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Int), Knowledge (Administration) (Int), Knowledge (Construction) (Int), Knowledge (Criminal) (Int), Knowledge (Current Events) (Int), Knowledge (Economics) (Int), Knowledge (Humanities) (Int), Knowledge (Life Sciences) (Int), Knowledge (Locations) (Int), Knowledge (Military) (Int), Knowledge (Physical Science) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge (Social Sciences) (Int), Knowledge (Technology) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Navigation (Int), Perform (Cha), Perform (Acting) (Cha), Perform (Music) (Cha), Perform (Physical Movement) (Cha), Perform (Vocal) (Cha), Pilot (Dex), Profession (Wis), Read & Write Language, Repair (Int), Research (Int), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language, Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Treat Injury (Wis), Tumble (Dex)

Skill Points at Each Level: + Int modifier.

The following features pertain to the Stellar Noble advanced class.