We have reviewed the henchmen and retainers backgrounds, and assessed how these might work together. This also led us to a conclusion with regards to the upper scaling of th Followers background.

Note that the description of the two proposed backgrounds will need some adjusting for a modern setting.

We propose to change the Rating ●●●●● amount of followers to 5000.

Proposal for the Henchmen background, based off the background in Dragonblooded.

A number of un-Exalted characters of note have sworn oaths of fealty to the character. Who these characters are depends on the concept of the character with this Background, although almost any character concept can be justifi ed. A legion winglord might count his officers as henchmen, but might also have an un-Exalted savant who just happens to have been his classmate in fi nishing school as another henchman as well. An Immaculate monk of some standing might attract several acolytes, but these seekers of wisdom might once have been bandits, socialites, soldiers or farmers. Henchmen can be employees or assassins, friends or investigators, deniable cutouts or trusted secretaries.

In game terms, they are all (or can be) henchmen. Henchmen are heroic mortals, so use the rules for generating them found on page 81 of Exalted. It is highly recommended that henchmen be allowed a single Favored Ability based on their roles. Immaculate acolytes would have Martial Arts, while a spy would have Stealth or Larceny, for example. Henchmen are typically extremely loyal, but see the “Questions of Honor” sidebar.

●○○○○ One companion
●●○○○ Three companions
●●●○○ Six companions
●●●●○ Ten companions
●●●●● Fifteen companions

Proposal for the Retainers background, based off the background in Dragonblooded.

One constant in the lives of Dynasts is servants. From the moment he wakes in the morning, until he lays head to pillow at night, a Dynast is surrounded by a cloud of servants. Secretaries, bodyguards, cooks, stewards, armsmen, maids, concubines, aides-de-camp, farriers, drivers and a host of others wait on their every whim and insulate the Terrestrials from those with whom they do not wish to interact.

Officers of the Seventh Legion, while rarely as thoroughly surrounded, are still expected to maintain a personal staff befitting their rank. Even a taizei can be expected to have a steward, a cook and a pair of personal bodyguards unaffi liated with his command. He might also perhaps have a concubine or two, though some would see it as vaguely decadent.

Retainers are mortal characters—though not normally rising to the status of heroic mortals—so use the rules for mortal character generation found on page 81 of the main Exalted rulebook. They should not typically be treated as extras. Retainers can be used to represent highly trained, but mortal and non-heroic combatants, such as low-ranking officers in a legion, elite troops or rangers.

Retainers are generally quite loyal to their master, but see the “Questions of Honor” sidebar.

●○○○○ Up to three retainers
●●○○○ Up to seven retainers
●●●○○ Up to fifteen retainers
●●●●○ Up to thirty retainers
●●●●● Up to fifty retainers