Beggar Dane

Anyone born in Breland knows the proverbs of Beggar Dane, whose collected wisdom celebrates the pragmatic spirit of the nation. Dane is an apocryphal figure; some say he was a bard who wandered the streets of Sharn, while others insist that he advised Galifar I himself during the war of unification. Whatever the truth may be, Beggar Dane is a beloved Brelish everyman, and his wisdom is celebrated in Brelish taverns and homes every day. But now, in 998 YK, there is a new Beggar Dane; an anonymous figure who speaks on behalf of the Swords of Liberty, a widespread network of insurgents who rail against the Brelish monarchy. Some believe that this Beggar Dane is a fictional figurehead, a mask that can be used by any cell leader. But the Sharn Inquisitive has done a deep investigation into the Swords of Liberty, and they are convinced that Beggar Dane is one person—a mastermind who is coordinating the actions of the western Swords cells. The Inquisitive further believes that Beggar Dane is driving the increasingly violent actions of the Swords.

The Swords of Liberty began as a peaceful political movement, calling for King Boranel to voluntarily cede power to the Brelish parliament. In 996 YK, a statement from Beggar Dane took credit for an attack on Castle Arakhain that left the east wing of the Winter Palace in flames. Over the last two years, the Swords of Liberty have struck at nobles across Breland, stating that there will be no peace until the aristocracy is dissolved. According to Beggar Dane, even that victory wouldn’t mean the end of violence. Beggar Dane accuses King Boranel of betraying the Brelish people both by accepting the terms of the Treaty of Thronehold and providing shelter for Cyran refugees. Dane maintains that Breland could have easily won the Last War if its leaders had truly wished to do so; in certain tracts, he suggests that there is a conspiracy among all the Wyrnarn monarchs, that Boranel has intentionally misled his nation to benefit his royal cousins. He promises that once the monarchy is overthrown, the new army of the common people will bring unity to all of Khorvaire—and that they will deal with both the “monsters to the west” (Droaam) and the “enemy we have welcomed in” (Cyrans).

Beggar Dane’s identity is a closely guarded secret. He’s mainly known through the proclamations that supporters share in villages and farms. However, a masked figure claiming to be Beggar Dane has spoken at rallies and been seen during Swords attacks. According to these reports, he’s a male human or halfelf; as he’s masked and shielded against divination, little else is known. Beggar Dane is believed to be on the Western Frontier and there are many in the west who support his actions, even if they aren’t willing to take up arms for his cause. Whether or not you’ve ever seen Beggar Dane, if you have been on the frontier for long, you’ve certainly heard of him.

While there are some similarities between Beggar Dane and the Company of the Black Crown, the two are actually very different. The Black Crown are a force of brigands; they may avoid the law, but they don’t hide who they are or what they’re doing. By contrast, the Swords of Liberty are covert insurgents whose members are hidden in communities across Breland. The Black Crowns defy Brelish law, but they’re interested in lining their pockets, not in driving political change; the Swords of Liberty are only interested in change, and every violent action they take advances that agenda.

The Sayings of Beggar Dane:

The proverbs of Beggar Dane are well known throughout Breland. The Sharn Inquisitive often posts one of Dane’s sayings with editorial comments on how they apply to the present day. Here’s a few examples, but there are hundreds of these sayings, covering politics, religion, and everyday life; if your character is Brelish, feel free to come up with new proverbs:

• The silent man has no one to blame but himself.

• The Aundairian says what he’ll do; the Brelishman does what he says.

• Help those in need, for you may need help in turn come tomorrow.

• Dreams don’t put swords in the hands of soldiers.

• You may believe that Aureon’s will gives the king his crown, but it was a Brelish smith who forged it.