Wyrd of the Week: Names of Renown

"Wingfoot I name you. This deed of the three friends should be sung in many a hall."

Heroes sometimes earn names of renown for the deeds they've done and the tasks they've accomplished. Every character in The Hero's Journey, Second Edition has a name to be sure, but what does it mean to have a name bestowed upon you for some legendary task? These are known as Names of Rewnown.

If a supporting character witnesses a player character perform a truly remarkable and legendary deed, they may choose to give that player character a Name of Renown. Whether or not they choose to do so is always up to the Narrator and is never done lightly. A player character can never earn more than three Names of Renown in their time as a hero and never more than once per level. 

A Name of Renown is often associated with some heroic deed the character has performed. This can include slaying a dragon, saving an entire city through some unique and decisive means, or performing a seemingly impossible task. A Name of Renown need not always be a good thing. A character could earn a Name of Renown for a heinous act or terrible deed as easily as a heroic one.

"When you hear them whispering Kingslayer behind your back doesn't it bother you?"

The exact title associated with the Name of Renown should be determined collaboratively between the player whose character is receiving the name and the Narrator in so much as the name should not be offensive to the player in a real world context. 

The Fellowship of the Travelling Tea Kettle were named Goblin Bane that day

Names of Renown in Play

As implied, a Name of Renown has an impact on a character's Renown. Normally, a player character is recognized by others based on a Renown check. This is done by rolling 2d6 and if that total is equal to or under the character's level then the individual in question recognizes or has head or the player character. 

A character who is recognized by these means and has earned a Name of Renown receives a +1 bonus to specific actions associated with their Name of Renown. This can result in multiple bonuses if they have earned more than one Name of Renown.

Here are a few examples of Names of Renown and what was done to earn them:

• Dragon Slayer: The character has slain a dangerous dragon in an act of great heroism such as a Lindworm or Elder Wyrm. (+1 to all attack rolls against Dragons)
• Goblin Bane: The character has driven off or defeated a great horde of goblins, saving many lives in the process (+1 to all attack rolls against Goblins)
• Longstrider: The character has traveled deep into unknown and dangerous areas of wilderness, returning with tales and artifacts of their journey. (+1 when rolling to determine whether or not a Wilderness encounter occurs)
• the Craven: The character has revealed themselves to be a coward in front of many witnesses at a key moment when bravery was called for, often to great disaster or the cost of many lives. (-1 to all Despair Saving Throws)
• the Defiant: The character stood up publicly to the will of a tyrannical ruler and was able to rally a great number of people to throw off that ruler's oppression. (+1 to the Loyalty of any Hirelings) 
• the Weal-Weaver: The character has somehow survived an impossible situation through sheer luck or uncanny action. (+1 to all Weal-based Attribute Saving Throws)

Names of Renown can be as diverse as the events that inspire them and the Narrators is encouraged to come up with ones that are appropriate to their legendarium and the actions of the player characters. The bonuses or penalties granted from a Name of Renown are never more than +1 or -1 and only last for the session of play in which the character is recognized. Remember, a player character can never earn more than three Names of Renown in their time as a hero and never more than once per level.

At the Narrator's discretion, important supporting characters can also earn a Name of Renown. This is particularly appropriate to reoccurring villains. 

The Hero's Journey, Second Edition and its supplements can be purchased on DriveThruRPG.com.