First up, congrats on putting together such good characters. I’m looking forward to the story we will create.
Second thing – before all else, we need a decision on which House your Coterie is serving. My recollection is that both Bastien and Battalia are in the mix. My suggestion is that each of you post something about what attracts you to the House you prefer, but what you also like about the other House (I’m hoping none of you will say ‘my House or none’). Ideally we would reach unanimity, but if not then we will go with the majority decision.
After that, we can start Session Zero for real.
Excited to be here!
Houses:
* House Bastien fits Kyra best, as it is a house of audacious, grasping climbers who come from humble roots. They also seem closer to the common citizen than the other Major Houses.
* House Lovell are social manipulators and masters of secrets, which is aspirational for Kyra, as she sees those as excellent means to get what she wants.
* House Battalia would definitely view Kyra as the odd one out (and perhaps at odds with the House principles), which could make for interesting conflict. They also seem more inclined to preserve the status quo, while Kyra wants to disrupt it.
Battalia
Violetta's first choice. Their focus on loyalty and trustworthiness ess is the bug thing for her. They also play the Game with a focus on military so her (and Kyras) skills in the more su the arts would be all the more appreciated and valuable. The House is also (in my mind) most opposed to House al-Mari and therefore Violet's brother who is her primary antagonist.
Bastien
Seems fine. Violetta has no problem rooting for the underdog and looking g after the people is a good thing for sure. It's the audacious, grasping g part that she'd be less keen on since that's what got her family into their current mess. That said the conflict between Bastien and al-Mari could be epic!
So Battalia first for sure, then Bastien, then largely don't care until we reach al-Mari in dead last!
Thanks for the invite. Looking forward to the game.
For the House choice, I think Bastien is still my top choice, but I can make any of them work.
Bastien: This one just kind of makes sense for Sasha having spent most of her life in the Groan, Twist, Shore, or Lady's Own district's among the poorer citizens and laborers of Ilrien. Her education among the Sisters gives her a connection to the common folk and to see them better off. And she would see more potential opportunity for her own advancement in a House that relied more on a person's skills, connections and abilities vs. noble blood or raw magical or martial talent.
Lovell: It might also make sense for Sasha to have been recruited by Lovell at one point in time given her minor information brokering and her garnetyne heritage. Although young when the disaster of the Jeweled Cities struck, she may still know or have clues to where certain stashes of magical items or artifacts might be found. Perhaps the House is more interested in her than she is in them. For her, their knowledge of all that happens in Ilrien would certainly be a boon for her trying to regain some of her family and nation's wealth as well as her ship.
Battalia: I think this House would bring out a slightly more militant Sasha. Not blood thirsty, but much more willing to shed blood or fight for what she needs, wants, or believes. Perhaps that would actually be at odds with what the House needs her to be, which is a set of quiet, discreet eyes and ears to help gather the information needed to direct the 'real blades and bravos' of the House. This might lead to occasional tension with House leadership. However, their sense of honor and tradition would also appeal to her and could more often than not be one of the common threads that hold her to the House.
Elanda: With her family and people's merchant background and her ability to move among the sailors and dockworkers gathering rumors of which captains are sailing where, when, and with what goods, Elanda could be a good fit. Given their economic focus, it is likely they have strong ties to the Fortunato Trading Company or it is a main competitor. If the later, she'd be more than willing to serve the House. If the former, then she might be playing a more dangerous game of trying to make change or take what she wants from within.
Corvetto: The Jeweled Cities were home to great masters of magical arts and study. There was power that came with that mastery. Power that Sasha would hope to regain to both aid herself and the other refugees of the islands. Corvetto seems like a natural partner for her to learn and rediscover that power. In return, the House might be interested in her own knowledge of what the Cities once achieved. Although young, she grew up with magic as part of nearly every aspect of her days. And being from a trading family with assets once scattered across the region, perhaps she recalls or knows where caches of those lost wonders might exist.
Al-Mari: Probably a tougher fit for Sasha, but perhaps the joint appeal of being outsiders in the eyes of most people of Ilrein. Having suffered as a refugee of a sunken island and been the victim of fear and superstition she finds the common thread of outsiders bringing change to the city whether it wants it or not a solid grounds for serving. Internal conflict might arise due to her background with Alaric, who is now a mercenary and perhaps serving within another branch of the House.
Hello everyone. Happy to be here!
House Bastien is Luciana's House of choice because it is fundamentally unpretentious, bold almost to the point of foolhardiness at times, and because it is far more receptive to irreverent souls like herself than any of the other Houses. She could not wholly suppress her free-wheeling nature even if she wanted to, and Bastien probably is the one House in which that aspect of hers is accepted, maybe even permitted to flourish.
For House Bastilla, I suppose she respects its members' valour, and the fact that they stick to their proverbial guns unyieldingly. These are not necessarily qualities she wishes she could embody herself, but in a certain sense she appreciates that in a city that fairly thrives on politicking and intrigue, Bastilla rarely chooses to take the easy way out by mastering that particular game.
("Bastilla"? Twice? Bloody hell.)
Elisabetta's first choice would be House Bastian. They're the underdogs and as Elisabetta's family has always felt excluded from the 'Game', it's a perfect fit. And being a slightly less Battle-focused house, she as a Brava would be a little more of a rarity.
Battalia would be her second choice for reasons similar to those above. They would also be more likely than most to have recruited her sister.
Can we have a gameplay thread for dotting? Would be nice to get it on the main page.
Gameplay now open for dotting in!
In terms of the House you play, you get to decide a lot of things about it. For example, House Bastien - did it rise to greatness by leveraging connections with organised crime? Or does it see organised crime as yet another injustice leveraged against the teeming masses? Either answer is fine with me, but each will lead to a game that plays very differently.
Likewise, if you decide on House Bastilla Battalia, are they the old guard set on maintaining the status quo - by force if necessary? Or are they chivalrous and honourable, and thus horrified by some of the excesses, and a force for justice? Again, you get to decide.
(If your initial response to reading that is "hang on, that's not how D&D works!" - now you're catching on)
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Looking at the house abilities for Bastien, I'm getting crowdfunding vibes - they rose to power with the support of the common citizenry, with the understanding that the house will represent their interests among the wealthy and powerful. Beggars and gondoliers would make excellent spies and couriers, dockers could help with smuggling or tips on what cargo is coming into Ilrien. Bakers can probably open many doors, as everyone needs to eat.
Of course, it remains to be seen if House Bastien will honour these agreements, or if it will only pursue its own interests. I would say that some of its members take a particular satisfaction in leveraging information or assets gained from commoners against the other Major Houses.
So from my point of view, ixnay on the organized crime (maybe little a smuggling, as a treat).
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Here is an idea for House Bastien:
Bastien rose to power on the back of disaster which the founding council saw as an opportunity. A recent drought created severe food shortages within the city. The founders of Bastien (an alliance of minor guilds and or families some legitimate, some not) through a bold and clever use of negotiation, coercion, and some brute force managed to break a stranglehold that House Elanda had created on the grain trade. During the plot they managed to pilfer resources from several of the other Houses which is one of the real reasons Bastien is so disliked. Bravos from Battalia joined their cause, a handful of spies and networks changed allegiances from Lovell. And of course, Elanda lost control over a key market and relationships with the Bakers and Dockers guilds. Corvetto, mostly sat on the sidelines. The reasons for that neutrality aren't clear, but rumors say that promises were made and that eventually Bastien will need to pay what they owe. The threat of the masters of the arcane setting their malice fully on Bastien may also be one of the few things keeping those within Bastien from tapping the full power of the populace. As for the Al-Mari, a healthy portion of the grain to feed their own mercenaries was enough to swing them temporarily to the cause. With the crisis over the two Houses have gone their separate ways once again.
But now, what to do with its new and growing power and influence? Some within Bastien wish to build upon their success and push for an all out revolution of the people, no matter the threat of Corvetto and the other Houses. Combine the power of the mob with blood,steel, and their own Knacks to oust the Prince and the other factions. Put Bastien in control of the city and finally bring justice and wealth and security to those who really do the work. Others see that as a path to disaster believing changes that could better serve the poorer multitudes of the city must come through more peaceful and nuanced means. Whether one of these two internal factions win out or a third or fourth way rises to control could determine the fate of the House.
That all sounds great! One important point is that the Esultare hasn't added a new House for about 200 years, so it took something significant for House Bastien to make it. Sasha's idea works for me.
The other point - which is like unto the first - is that you are key members of the House; not high up in the ranks, necessarily, but valued and competent troubleshooters. In game terms, this is represented by the fact that you start out at Tier 2 (in Blades in the Dark, for example, you start at Tier 0 and can actually go down from there).
You report directly to the majordomo of House Bastien, who reports directly to the Prince* - and if anyone wants to flesh out those NPCs then have at it. All five of you** will have played a major role in House Bastien's rise thus far; what part did you play?***
*Prince is a gender-neutral term in Ilrien. All six Houses are led by a Prince (male/female/enby) - the Prince of the most powerful House**** is known as the First Prince.
**I realise two of you are Keys; would be worth making sure you don't have too much overlap, I want you both to feel useful.
*** now would be a great time to start thinking about Bonds.
****which is the most powerful House, you ask? All will be revealed...
A big part of why I wanted Batallia was their 'loyal' ability. I like having completely trustworthy people!
Will look at this in more detail later! :D
I like having completely trustworthy people!
But where's the fun in that?! Next you'll be telling me you want to know when you're being lied to... oh wait ;)
** I was going to take a couple of abilities from the Couth playbook later, but it would be good to make sure that Kyra and Violetta don't overlap too much - especially since it looks like we have the exact same actions ratings. :D I see Kyra more involved in the social aspects and unconventional approaches there, but I've put elements in her background that could have her invest more into Tinker if that's desirable.
*** Could Kyra be the contact that helped Luciana enter the House? Bringing such an important letter would either provide leverage against another house, or protect a member of her own house if that's who the letter targeted, and she would be rewarded for bringing news of it and helping broker the deal.
*** A similar situation could apply for a bond to Sasha - Kyra made use of her information brokering services and came across a precious nugget that she took to the House leadership. This may have contributed to them deciding to recruit Sasha, and to Kyra gaining a reputation as a budding talent scout for the House.
I totally missed that we were starting out at Tier 2, so thanks for pointing that out.
Here are a few possible bond ideas:
Elisabetta: Sasha believes in you more than you may believe in yourself. She's seen you with a blade and is deeply impressed with your grace and skill. Because of this she believes that you are the one she'd want to pull her out if her cover’s ever blown. In addition, you've seen Sasha slip unseen up nearly smooth walls or climb a ship's rigging like a spider crossing her web. Seeing such natural grace and physical ability wasted skulking in the shadows is a shame. The House needs Bravo's and Sasha has the spark, so you will teach her what you know.
Luciana: The Groan forges people in its dark, twisting alleys and hovels furnished with nothing but desperation and the need to survive to see another sunrise. For a child, the heat of the furnace is hotter and the pounding hammer of the smith even stronger. Just like the artisans of the finest blades are recognized in each lethal length of steel, the Groan leaves it own telltale marks of its craft. On those rare occasions when someone truly escapes the depths of the Groan they usually do everything they can to put that past behind them. But like recognizes like. So it is that despite all the various personas or layers Sasha wears despite the fact her job is to hide her true self, you can see her anyway. Of course, this is a two way street and thus Sasha often sees you not as you are, but as you want to be. It means the world to you.
Kyra: What you proposed makes sense to me. You sponsored Sasha into the House, now we both have to excel or suffer the consequences. Unfortunately the connection quickly came to the attention of Calista and now she has ordered Sasha to watch you and report back to her. Sasha doesn't know why, although she might assume it is just a mother worried about her daughter, but it doesn't really matter since she has no choice.
@Sasha: yes, Calista would absolutely take that sponsorship as an unacceptable sign of Kyra's independence. Love your twist on the bond!
I like having completely trustworthy people!But where's the fun in that?! Next you'll be telling me you want to know when you're being lied to... oh wait ;)
Strangest thing isn't it... :P
@Kyra - I've rejigged a little to focus more on Spirit, so if you lean a little more into Mind then we shouldn't cross over too much?
In terms of bonds, shall we mutual pick X and I once worked at cross purposes? It seems appropriate given our overlap! ;)
@Sasha - we could share a common enemy potentially, if my brother was somehow involved in your backstory. Otherwise I've often found myself apologising for you? Perhaps Violetta is your semi-official tutor in all things nobility? What do you think works?
@Luciana - it looks to me like you need a sponsor into the House? I can do that for you... the price will be very reasonable... :P
@Violetta - I was going to focus on Spirit in the future, in fact - since Kyra is less cerebral and more charismatic/alluring in my view. So if you wouldn't mind swapping, I'll redistribute some points to reflect that. Violetta strikes me more like the long-con, planning type, while Kyra likes to live in the moment.
The bond you suggested sounds good to me!
Violetta: Having a common enemy sounds good. Since your brother ran off to the Al Mari, I could totally see Sasha's mercenary rival and former countryman, Alaric, being a trusted Captain of your brother's. Perhaps he joined and rose in the ranks of the mercenary company your brother funded with your family wealth. Or maybe Alaric is a key enforcer or blade your brother uses for his most underhanded or deadly schemes. Either way, we'd each want to see them both taken out of the Great Game.
Kyra: ok - re-rebuild done.
Sasha: Sounds good. Common enemy it is!
Assuming Luciana is ok with the suggested bond, that gives me a full set. :)
I wanted to post a dot and I couldn't resist the pattern. :)
Violetta: Assuming that Violetta was instrumental in getting Elisabetta accepted into whichever house we decide on ...
Bond: I've pledged to defend Violetta at any cost.
Sasha: That works well, Sasha.
Bond: I see the Bravo’s spark in Sasha, and I will teach them what I know.
~~~~~
I'm very impressed with folks' world-building skills as demonstrated above. Even more so as that's not my strength at all. Consequently, I'll leave the fleshing out of our house in your capable hands.
I'm travelling over this holiday weekend - I've read your posts (great work) but haven't had time to write much. I will post something more this evening.
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On the subject of worldbuilding then...
House Corvetto has 'gone dark' in recent years. Oh, of course their hostesses still give balls, the Prince is a great player in politics and its bravos and bravas can be seen swaggering around the city with the best of them, but the truly astute have noticed movement in the background. The Prince of Corvetto is a known non-entity, gifted in neither power or magic. The bravos swagger but they rarely fight and the great displays of power and magic which used to characterise every Corvetto gathering have been replaced with more mundane displays of fireworks and artifice. Impressive to be sure but not magic.
There is no consensus as to why, or even what, the House of Magic is doing but those who observe them are certain that something is going on. Much like small ripples on the surface may foretell the rise of a mighty leviathan Something is coming. The only questions are What and When.
As Corvetto seemingly withdraws House Al-Mari has been marching forwards. House di Valori is only one of many minor houses who have fallen under their banner and the foreign invaders seem to have not forgotten their piratical ways. Their bravos fight all too often and in brawls at the head of a gang of toughs as often as in the fighting pits under the rules of civilised combat. Lovells influence peddlers are still their own and nothing moves in the city without Elanda say so, but increasingly spies are turning in inaccurate reports and the shipments that were once inviolate now carry heavy guards or pay large bribes to ensure their safe passage. Al-Mari is not declaring war. Not yet, but they clearly sense weakness amongst the other great houses and are taking advantage, grasping what they can now. Giving a beggar a fish feeds him for a day, the old saying runs, but if he develops a taste for it then he'll take your boat and livelihood too.
It may well be that only Bastien perceives the full extent of Al-Mari's activities. Who else can drawn on some much diverse (and often useless) information? Who else has members with such a(n un)healthy obsession with House Al-Mari? Regardless, they do know and one day soon that is going to matter.
Having thought a bit more about Violetta and Kyra (and Kyras stated intentions) I'm going to lean Violetta more into the 'command and control' side of things. She's Charlie more than the Angels, so I'll focus on Mind and observation. She'll be the one to see the patterns, but sheay have to rely more on the rest of you to get the job done and execute the plans she comes up with.
Hopefully that leaves Kyra with plenty of room to be the sexy, charming one who can flirt and smile and dazzle. Violetta can persuade people but it'll be more of the "every move you can possibly make ends in disaster. I've planned for them all" type of swaying.
That work OK for people? (Mostly Kyra! ;) )
Yes, those were the vibes I was getting from Violetta - the mastermind planner, the one who notices patterns and connections, and leverages them. I love your bit of worldbuilding as well, what a mystery!
Violetta di Valori == Nathan Ford
Elisabetta Filosa == Eliot Spencer
:)
On the subject of worldbuilding then...
House Corvetto has 'gone dark' in recent years. Oh, of course their hostesses still give balls, the Prince is a great player in politics and its bravos and bravas can be seen swaggering around the city with the best of them, but the truly astute have noticed movement in the background. The Prince of Corvetto is a known non-entity, gifted in neither power or magic. The bravos swagger but they rarely fight and the great displays of power and magic which used to characterise every Corvetto gathering have been replaced with more mundane displays of fireworks and artifice. Impressive to be sure but not magic.There is no consensus as to why, or even what, the House of Magic is doing but those who observe them are certain that something is going on. Much like small ripples on the surface may foretell the rise of a mighty leviathan Something is coming. The only questions are What and When.
Building off of this a little, could Corvetto have gone dark around the same time the Jeweled Cities sank into the sea? The cities were more advanced in magic than Corvetto? Could the entire cataclysm have been the result of a House plot? The goal was to just weaken the cities enough for Ilrein (Corvetto) to overtake their lead in magical knowledge and trade. However, something went wrong? The islands were utterly destroyed. What was released during this apocalypse? Was that really the intention all along, or did something go terribly wrong and now the House is still dealing with the aftermath and consequences? Did it weaken the House terribly, or did it strengthen it beyond belief? If the latter, then maybe they have not figured out how to harness or control this power? Until they do, they remain quiet. Not to mention maintaining the cover up is essential because if the truth became public knowledge it could lead to huge problems for the House and the city both internally and externally.
Might be venturing too far into GM territory here, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway. :)
Violetta and Sasha - you are veering slightly out of your lane here. Leave the other Houses Major to me, please.
If you want to world-build, the Prince of House Bastien and the majordomo whom you report to both need some construction :)
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I have been kind of running on fumes these past days, creatively speaking, but I hope to be addressing this thread more fully in the near future. For the time being:
@Luciana - it looks to me like you need a sponsor into the House? I can do that for you... the price will be very reasonable... :P
I suppose this is agreeable! In turn, however, Luciana might well be found to opine cheekily, though not maliciously, that the Twist is hard. Violetta wouldn’t last five minutes down there. ;p
@Luciana - thanks for checking in, I completely understand about running on fumes; I think we've all been there. Looking forward to your post once you've had a chance to catch your breath.
I'm now about to roll an enormous number of dice, feel free to ignore, they're nothing to do with you.
C A B L E
Interrrrrresting.
F I M S T W
M, S
S, F
F, W
I, T
W, F
Well, alrighty then.
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Here, then, is the situation as regards the other five of the Houses Major which - along with the distressing novelty that is House Bastien - make up the Esultare.
House Corvetto, the Majestic Tyrants, have been at the top of the pile for as long as anyone can remember. They are the First House and their Prince, Lux (they/them) is the First Prince of Ilrien. Their strengths are in Magic (the Scholam was founded by Corvetto and the apprenticeships the Corvetto offer are eagerly sought throughout the city) and in Supply (when your family is at least 1,000 years old you accumulate a tremendous number of heirlooms which might come in handy one day). Their holdings throughout the city are immense, but their sphere of influence is particularly notable in the Palace, the University and the Watch.
House Al-Mari, the Tower Built of Spit & Spite, have risen far in the time since they arrived within this fair city. Even now, they snap at the heels of House Corvetto with a glorious disregard for subtlety. They are the Second House and their Prince, Jassinda (she/her) is young, recently inherited the post and keen to prove herself. Their strengths are in Supply (the Al-Mari are self-sufficient. They keep, indeed) and Force (they arrived in Ilrien as conqueror-princes and their swords have not dulled in that time). Their holdings throughout the city are significant, but their sphere of influence is particularly notable in the Plaza, the Foreign Quarter, and the Garden.
House Battalia, the Old House of Martial Valour, have been a force to reckon with even before the time of the Dread Emperor. They are the Third House and their Prince, Johannes (he/him) is a Bravo whose deeds are still whispered of by those with nothing better to do than spread idle talk (did you know he once killed three people in a duel with a quill-pen? A ****ing quill-pen!). Their strengths are in Force (Battalia commands more blades than any save the Grand Council, and any duelling school of note within the city is run by a Battalia or with their oversight) and Wealth (everyone wants to learn to duel, and Battalia is willing to teach - for a fee). Their holdings throughout the city are not what they once were, but their sphere of influence is still felt in the Arsenal and the Necropolitan Hill where they keep eternal vigil over the Deathless.
House Lovell, the Gossipmongers of Wealth & Taste, are easily dismissed by the foolish as no more than strutting peacocks; yet they are the Fourth House and their Prince, Esme (she/her) is old enough to remember your grandmother's youthful indiscretions. Their strengths are in Intelligence (if you mean to keep it secret, House Lovell already knows) and Transport (it's not just what or whom you know, it's how you can provide it for them). Their holdings within the city are more limited, but their influence is strong within the Artists' Quarter and the Silk.
House Elanda, the Fist Around the Heart of Trade, has had its grip significantly loosened of late - in part by events which precipitated the rising of House Bastien. They are now the Fifth House - an ignominy which their Prince, Lorenzo (he/him), is keen to rectify before he faces his ancestors and their wrath. Their strengths are in Wealth (even now, none can match the coffers of House Elanda. They prefer it that way) and Force (caravan guards and hard-bitten mercenaries may not have the pomp and discipline of the troops Battalia commands, but quantity has a quality of its own). Their holdings within the city are now confined to the Banks and the Docks.
House Bastien, then, has at present one sphere of influence. You may select it from the following (see page 180 of the rulebook for how they operate):
The Twist
The Grand Gate
The Granary
The Theatre
The Traitor's Gate
The Arbor
The Market
The Temples
The Canals
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Here a rough idea for the Prince of House Bastien. Totally open to something else, but this is what came to me.
Constantin. His mother, was a cleaner at the university, his father a dockworker. A smart boy who learned to read, write and do his numbers from the many books his mother would 'borrow' from the university library. This learning led him some early successes in trade and other endeavors where he parlayed a few coins into a small fortune. But Constantin was not just driven by wealth as so many often are, he also had a kind heart and wished to do something more for all of those around him. Do something to ease the stranglehold of the Great Houses upon the city and its citizens. Out of this desire, he developed a dream. A dream of a city ruled not by Dread Emperors, aloof, greedy noblity, and the shadow filled fear and secrets of Corvetto and its arcane enforcers. Instead it would be a city of hope, a city of laws enforced with fairness and equality. A city where even the lowest scrubber or sailor could achieve a life that held more than simple survival. It is this dream that put Constatin on the path that would eventually lead to the rise of House Bastien. With a mixture of charm, shrewd planning, and daring, finessed use of bloodshed Constantin achieved the unthinkable by creating the first new Great House in 200 years. For this, he is either loved or hated.
Despite his success in founding a Great House, change in any culture and society happens with glacial speed. And many do not welcome such changes as this false Prince of this upstart House would embrace. Constantin grows old. The dream remains, but its fulfillment is still far off. So far in fact, that this proud champion of the common people knows the gods may take him before the work is complete. Still loved by most in the House, and he is still a master thinker and planner. But there is no doubting that age is catching up with the first Prince of House Bastien. Occasional slips in speech or wandering thoughts. A shake in his hand. These signs have set others vying for power. Jockeying to become the next Prince of House Bastien.
For now Constantin still rules, but for how long and will this new House and its founders dream survive the coming change in leadership?
The Canals make sense due to the House's alliance with the Gondoliers. It is fitting for both Transport and Intelligence - which might put us at odds with House Lovell, and that would be delicious indeed. The newcomers are challenging not just the status quo and the old structures of power, but also bringing new fashions and tastes into the city, which are becoming more popular.
As for the Prince, I envision them as a rather ostentatious matron, both calculated and ruthless (think Chrisjen Avasarala in The Expanse).
The Granary makes some sense from a purely RP perspective since breaking Elanda's hold on grain was how Bastien came to power. But otherwise, it doesn't seem as interesting.
From a straight up bonuses angle, The Canals works for all the reasons Kyra mentions. Although having the +1d for all healing rolls with The Temples is hard to pass up. (But that is probably just because my last BitD character failed nearly every healing roll he made which just exacerbated the already slow healing system.) The Theater could also be interesting for its bonus to Deception engagements, but also as a place where elite and common mix.
Violetta and Sasha - you are veering slightly out of your lane here. Leave the other Houses Major to me, please.
If you want to world-build, the Prince of House Bastien and the majordomo whom you report to both need some construction :)
First he wants worldbuilding, then he doesn't want worldbuilding. *sigh*
:P
Will do the Prince and the majordomo later. I have history based ideas! And I need to stay up cause I'm in the states now and time difference is going to translate to a 22 hour day.
First he wants worldbuilding, then he doesn't want worldbuilding. *sigh*
In terms of the House you play, you get to decide a lot of things about it.
Emphasis in bold for those who demand rigidly-defined areas of doubt and uncertainty.
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GM Wastrel should know better than to expect his players to read everything he writes properly!
As for our House.
I like Constantin and so present some options for the major-domo.
As Constantin grows older more and more of the house business is conducted through his children, Cesare and Lucretia. Since House Bastien is new and unproven it made sense that Constantin devolve power to his children, those that he can most easily trust, but as he gradually weakens and thoughts turn to the succession both children and beginning to turn their thoughts to their own power in years to come.
Cesare lacks his father's subtly but makes up for it in ruthlessness and decision. If he sees weakness, he strikes. If there is an opportunity he exploits it to the full. These traits have served the family well as Cesare has overseen much of Bastien's consolidation and it is under his leadership that the other great houses learned to respect Bastien and their claims. However, they say that when you have a hammer, ever problem looks like a nail and Cesare is the largest hammer of the lot. He favours violence as a problem solving tool and lacks the deft touch of his little sister. That said, few are those who cross Cesare because everyone knows what the result will be.
Lucretia, meanwhile, is the epitome of a fine lady. She is shrewd, manipulative and patient. Those who remember Constantin in his youth see a lot of him in cesare, but those who have only known him as the Prince cannot understand why he has not anointed Lucretia as his heir. She reflects the skills he most values - calm, a methodical approach and the courage to hold a high stakes bluff.
Unfortunately Lucretia is also profligate and easily subourned. While she is more than smart enough to understand when she is being bribed she often accepts them anyway, happy to take the easier path to profit rather than grind away at hard work. She has a eye for a scheme, which serves her well, and the timing to enact them, but what appears to outsiders to be patience is often merely inattention and those close to the Prince whisper that he fears his daughter would sell the house to the highest bidder where she offered enough wealth - and she certainly would be.
Cesare currently holds the title of major-domo, but much house business is done under Lucretia's aegis and many whisper that if you want the Prince on your side then better to go through his beloved daughter than his temperamental son. Such is the state of House Bastien, a fine and imposing edifice built on foundations more rocky than anyone would care to admit.
GM Wastrel should know better than to expect his players to read everything he writes properly!
It hurts because it's true.
The Canals it is then! That means everything else gets divided up as follows:
Corvetto - Grand Gate, Palace, Traitor's Gate, Twist, University, Watch
Al-Mari - Arbor, Foreign Quarter, Garden, Granary, Plaza
Battalia - Arsenal, Market, Necropolitan Hill, Temples
Lovell - Artists' Quarter, Silk, Theatre
Elanda - Banks, Docks
The Granary changed hands to House Al-Mari as part of the recent turmoil; part of their price for House Bastien's admission to the Esultare. The Market was acquired by House Battalia, who now levy fines to ensure fair weights and measures, rather than accepting bribes to look the other way, as was the previous custom.
House Elanda would, of course, very much like them back...
We make progress - for those of you whose thing this is not, thank you for bearing with us. World-building will shortly be at a point where the game proper can begin.
What still needs doing?
What still needs doing?
Pretty sure we still need to pick our House special ability, our two House upgrades and our second house Strength to go with our starting Transport strength.
Special ability: I think Care & Patience or Well-earned Acclaim are my top choices. Care & Patience probably is the most overall useful at this early stage.
Upgrades: The Lady's Blessing seems solid even if we just use it for that bonus on the Engagement roll. Not sure on the second upgrade, maybe Arcane Wards, Hidden Exit, or one of the Quality Upgrades (Weapons?)?
Strength: Magic, maybe, since we don't have a lot of resources in that department. I could see it being a strength as the House helps support or hide amongst the crowds, those downtrodden Knacks, hedge wizards, or wise women who don't wish to serve the almighty House Corvetto. Going another direction, Intelligence could fit as being the house of the people any servant, barmaid, street cleaner, sewer worker,etc. could willingly pass along information to our spy masters and this might enhance our already solid abilities on the social interaction and intelligence gathering side of things.
If I am not mistaken, we still need to select our coterie's Reputation as well (p. 99)? I feel like good arguments could be made for Ambitious or Daring, given the overall nature of our House. A custom reputation seems to be an option as well, though I cannot immediately think of something sufficiently poignant off the top of my head.
For our Special Ability I must admit to being partial to A Matter of Charity, while also conceding that its flavourfulness possibly outweighs its actual usefulness. The same goes more or less for The Waters in Which We Swim (though the additional coterie XP trigger might be nice!).
Concerning our second Strength, Intelligence or Magic do seem the most logical. Supply might also make some sense as it could be interpreted along the lines of knowing the right people, as opposed to Wealth being all about oodles of raw mammon.
And on the subject of House Upgrades, Open Hearts to Open Eyes would be nicely in keeping with our overall MO. The Lady’s Blessing seems like a very straightforward, fire-and-forget sort of choice. (GM question: when does the additional die roll have to be declared?) For the second upgrade, I do like the sound of Hidden Exit. Also worth considering, perhaps, is a Blade retinue for when we need some unabashedly dirty work done by a Loyal crew that won't turn against us.
Luciana's bonds still need figuring out as well – I ought to get around to that soon. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!
Ding ding ding! Sasha and Luciana between them have spotted what still needs doing.
EDIT: Your Coterie also needs a name.
To answer the question, all additions to a dice roll whether Lady's Favour or otherwise have to be invoked before the dice are rolled.
On the subject of dice rolls, every dice roll matters and will involve a discussion - before the roll - of both the Effect you are trying to achieve and the Position you are in (i.e. how badly wrong can this go?). Thus, all dice rolls will be made in the discussion thread, leaving the gameplay thread for narrative.
You will roll Action dice; as the GM, I will roll Fortune dice and Resistance dice in the event that you ever decide to Resist the Consequences of your Action roll.
I'm changing up the Resist rules slightly: a 1-3 on the Resist means you take 3 Stress. A 4/5 means you take 2 Stress. A 6 means you take no Stress and a Crit means you lose 1 Stress.
Stress starts at zero and goes up to nine.
@Luciana - in terms of Bonds, it looks like Sasha suggested you take Sasha sees me not as I am, but as I want to be. It means the world to me.
Kyra suggested that maybe she helped you enter House Bastien, so maybe This isn’t my world. I look to Kyra when I need advice.
Elisabetta has a past as a youthful delinquent, maybe your paths crossed back then? Thus, Elisabetta and I used to run together back in the good old days. Look at us now!
Special Abilities: my vote is for Well-Earned Acclaim and The Waters In Which We Swim. I like A Matter of Charity for flavour, but the use may be too limited.
Upgrades: The Lady's Blessing if we take The Waters in Which We Swim, otherwise Open Hearts to Open Eyes.
Strength: I prefer Intelligence over Magic as the more populist choice, as only a small percentage of the population has the Knack.
Reputation: Ambitious or Daring.
Luciana's bonds: Kyra is Iberican as well, so a bond makes sense through shared heritage. Perhaps "Luciana is my rock. When the plan goes awry, I can count on them" or "I've often found myself apologizing for Luciana. No matter the gaffe, I'll smooth it out". The latter would make sense if Kyra was to help Luciana learn how to do the whole "be a noble" thing.
GM Wastrel should know better than to expect his players to read everything he writes properly!
As for our House.
I like Constantin and so present some options for the major-domo.As Constantin grows older more and more of the house business is conducted through his children, Cesare and Lucretia. Since House Bastien is new and unproven it made sense that Constantin devolve power to his children, those that he can most easily trust, but as he gradually weakens and thoughts turn to the succession both children and beginning to turn their thoughts to their own power in years to come.
Cesare lacks his father's subtly but makes up for it in ruthlessness and decision. If he sees weakness, he strikes. If there is an opportunity he exploits it to the full. These traits have served the family well as Cesare has overseen much of Bastien's consolidation and it is under his leadership that the other great houses learned to respect Bastien and their claims. However, they say that when you have a hammer, ever problem looks like a nail and Cesare is the largest hammer of the lot. He favours violence as a problem solving tool and lacks the deft touch of his little sister. That said, few are those who cross Cesare because everyone knows what the result will be.
Lucretia, meanwhile, is the epitome of a fine lady. She is shrewd, manipulative and patient. Those who remember Constantin in his youth see a lot of him in cesare, but those who have only known him as the Prince cannot understand why he has not anointed Lucretia as his heir. She reflects the skills he most values - calm, a methodical approach and the courage to hold a high stakes bluff.
Unfortunately Lucretia is also profligate and easily subourned. While she is more than smart enough to understand when she is being bribed she often accepts them anyway, happy to take the easier path to profit rather than grind away at hard work. She has a eye for a scheme, which serves her well, and the timing to enact them, but what appears to outsiders to be patience...
This is good - very good - but it's not complicated enough. Plus, Kyra hit the spot when she reminded me about Chrisjen Avasarala in The Expanse.
Enter Calliope. Lady Calliope that is, and don't you forget it. It's important to stress upfront that Lady Calliope is not a bad person - by the standards of the nobility, she is progressive which is why she threw her lot in with House Bastien. The lesser Houses don't have Princes, so Lady Calliope is the Contessa of House Cagliari (yes, yes, Calliope Cagliari, some parents do dirty work at the baptismal font).
Lady Calliope is, for want of a better word, the consigliore for Constantin. Her advice pertains to matters of the upper classes and she takes her duties seriously - if House Bastien is to achieve anything by working within the system, its members must be taken seriously by the other members of the Esultare. Before Truth, the correct fork. Lucretia's posture is the result of hours of Lady Calliope's strictures, and Cesare has learned to remove his satin ruff before he beats a man to death, to keep bloodstains to a minimum. And yes, she did have a footman strung up by his thumbs and flogged for serving white wine at room temperature, but that meeting was important - it could have derailed the entire evening.
(An Ilrienne to her fingertips, Lady Calliope approves of Violetta. The rest of you are on a sliding scale from tolerable (Kyra) to deprecated (Luciana).)
With Constantin's health fading, and the two immediate heirs beset with quarrels and their own agenda, Lady Calliope represents a certain amount of stability to those within House Bastien who look at the two children and shake their heads in despair.
@Kyra - I've just noticed you have 8 dots in your actions (should be 7) and you start with 1 point in Tinker (you have none)
@everyone - I find the process of keeping track of character status is not optimal, given that you have to open your alias, click "Edit" then make the changes and then click "Save" and hope the Paizo forum doesn't eat you. I have 'translated' you all into character sheets in my alias. I will be using these as the definitive versions for tracking stress, harm, XP and so on.
I hope you at least figured out which historical figure Constantin is in my head. ;)
I'm in the USA at the moment so have no books but consensus seems to be for:
Ability: The Waters in Which We Swim (Most popular)
Strength: Intelligence (Violetta approves wholeheartedly!)
Reputation: Ambitious or Daring (They both fit well so dice it unless someone has a strong feeling one way or the other?)
Upgrades: The Lady's Favour and...(again I have no books so I'll leave the final decision to the rest of you!)
@Wastrel: perhaps a little GM fiat could be allowed here to help distinguish Violetta and Kyra? Either let Kyra not have tinker, or maybe let Vioetta have 2 tinker and 1 sway while Kyra has the opposite? Just to help with the variety.