Basic Information
An archetypal role in myth and legend, usually filled by a supernatural being that provides the hero with aid or advantage, sometimes in the form of a deus ex machina.
The most familiar form of this archetype is probably the Fairy Godmother of fairy tale fame, but ghosts of dead relatives talking animals and mentor figures like Iron John also count. If the donor actually acts on the hero's behalf then they belong more in the helper archetype - the donor usually restricts him or herself to gifts, advice and/or initiation.
Motivations for donors vary - some act out of gratitude, some to annoy a rival some out of altruism and others out of kinship or obligation whilst some are more inscrutable and have motives that are (best) left unexplained. Telling a good donor from a villain in disguise can be tricky.
Some donors set tests of character for the hero - either explicitly (possibly by means of a fetch quest) or implicitly by acting in response to his good deeds. Others provide their gifts unearned.
Sources
Game and Story Use
- Hard to use convincingly in traditional RPGs, although of course few PCs will refuse a free gift.
- Of course a donor doesn't have to be supernatural - the rich relative who died and left the PC their starting wealth also fits the role.
