An NPC who backs a character with resources they could not otherwise reach, and expects results for it. A patron grants their own specific benefit plus travel and lodging amenities scaled by tier — comfortable, then wealthy, then aristocratic, then aristocratic with staff. An Alethi highprince lends their authority as advantages on social tests, widening from Persuasion alone to four skills by tier 4, at the risk of a Complication drawing their enemies’ attention. A wealthy trader instead funds an operations budget: 1,000 marks at tier 1 through 50,000 or more at tier 4, granted once per group however many characters share the patron. A Knight Radiant patron makes you their squire after a month.

Summary

An NPC who backs a character with resources they could not otherwise reach, and expects results for it. A patron grants their own specific benefit plus travel and lodging amenities scaled by tier — comfortable, then wealthy, then aristocratic, then aristocratic with staff. An Alethi highprince lends their authority as advantages on social tests, widening from Persuasion alone to four skills by tier 4, at the risk of a Complication drawing their enemies’ attention. A wealthy trader instead funds an operations budget: 1,000 marks at tier 1 through 50,000 or more at tier 4, granted once per group however many characters share the patron. A Knight Radiant patron makes you their squire after a month.