(I haven't actually played this game yet, so this isn't gospel truth or anything, but I think the way it works is...)
Your armor's bulk imposes a penalty on agility tests but (as I understand it) you don't make a test for damage. You just multiply the weapon's damage by the number of successes on your fighting or marksmanship roll. So bulk shouldn't affect your damage. That's how I understand it, anyway.
Tyresa won't be wearing armor. The optimizer in me screams in fury, but I just don't see how she wears armor without completely compromising the "reality" of the game. So don't look to her for a lot of help in combat scenes. That's what you knights and such are for.
Not that that would apply to Jaris, a merchant could quite reasonably want some armor. As I'm sure you know. [/babble]
A few Questions for the GM:
1. Is there any problem with introducing Tyresa's daughter Kaylin Algood?
2. Is there a story of how Titus Algood died? I'm trying to decide if Tyresa killed him, but if you already have a plan for his death, I don't have to think about it.
I'm RICH:
3 dragons=630ss.
She'll have one noble's gown, for special occasions. 200ss
For general use, she'll stick to a couple sets of common courtier's garb and a set of traveler's clothes for, you know, traveling. 100ss
She has a stiletto (maybe bought from Jaris) that was smuggled into Algood Hall when she was afraid for her life. 30ss
She owns a palfrey, though she isn't much of a rider. 50ss
She has a pinch of Sweetsleep and a single dose of Nightshade that she keeps hidden in her smallclothes at all times. 220ss
30ss probably in jewelry more than coin.
I'm not sure what profit Jaris would see in Tyresa's friendship, but it can't hurt to have an ally in the castle, though a bastard niece might not be much help to him. On the other hand, she might be the only person in Goodby Knoll who is near to being his match for cynicism. He might like a friend who understands that honor and virtue are angles that you play to get a better deal.
Lucen & Tyresa:
Not much that seems to connect these two except they're both bastards. Depending when he arrived in Goodby Knoll, she may have known him before her marriage (about 7 years ago) which would make her much more likely to accept him as a friend.
Iolanda & Tyresa:
I imagine Tyresa will have pretty complex feelings towards Iolanda. On the one hand, jealousy, because Iolanda gets a whole different life because of her birth. Then, protectiveness, because sooner or later Iolanda will probably marry, and Tyresa assumes that every husband is as horrible as Titus Algood. Admiration, because Iolanda is clearly a rebellious sort, but also resentment, because Iolanda only gets away with that because of her birth.
Belneiros & Tyresa:
He turned up about a year before she was sent away. She was young, he was a knight. She had a crush on him, and probably never, ever spoke to him as a consequence. When she comes back, he's a bittersweet reminder of her innocence. Now that she is able to see him without infatuation goggles, she recognizes that he is not a hero of legend, of incomparable virtue and prowess, but a good man and a good soldier. She likes him, still, but in her pragmatic way.
Adept Negotiator - When Tyresa first came to Algood Hall, Pypar Algood was only seven, and missed his mother terribly. After an introduction to the marriage bed that was beyond traumatic, to have to listen to the little brat's threats over breakfast was almost more than she could stand. She knew that Pypar was the only person who Titus Algood felt anything like affection for, though, and she knew that winning the boy's goodwill was her best chance of surviving her marriage. She put a smile on her face and patiently wormed her way into his heart, and in doing so, was able to blunt the edge of her husband's cruelty.
Treacherous - "Oh yes, Lord Pypar, your father was a wonderful husband, seven bless his soul. I can't imagine that anyone here would have wished him ill. Do you mean that his accident could have been some sort of plot? Should I be afraid? But you wouldn't let Jarmen do anything to me, would you my Lord? No, no, I didn't mean that Jarmen would have tried to kill Lord Titus. Why would you think that? He was as kind and loving a father as he was a husband...."
Keen Senses - When she walked the battlements of Algood Hall, she noticed the mortar was cracking. Noone else seemed to see it, and when she leaned against the stone, she felt it shift. What a tragedy it would be if it should happen to fall when Lord Titus was sparring in the yard.
Bastard Born - The silk was beautiful, so pure and white it seemed to glow. It would make a perfect wedding dress. She held it against her cheek and looked in the glass. It reflected the warmth of her skin and the gold of her hair.
"Oh, you poor thing," Mistress Wickhollow said. "You don't truly think Lord Tyrick would spend that kind of coin for his bastard niece's wedding, do you?"
Tyvorst & Tyresa:
They're cousins, close in age and they both grew up in the same house. It's almost impossible that they wouldn't have played together as children. She's only gone for five years, but by the time she returns, there's almost nothing left of the girl she was. She's terribly cynical and suspicious, but Tyvorst is the heir, and she'll cultivate her friendship with him for that fact alone. At first, at least. The fact that he is so genuine and so obviously cares for her will soften her, and in the two years since she's been back, a true friendship will have blossomed between them. Though she may still tell herself she's just playing politics, when push comes to shove, she's got his back.
More thoughts:
I don't think Tyresa actually killed her husband. I don't know how he died (and I don't want to decide how he died without BK's go ahead - there may be a story there already). I do know that she regards his death as the best thing that ever happened to her, and it's certainly possible that she helped him shuffle off his mortal coil.
It also occurs to me that Tyresa may very well have a child. I hadn't thought of it earlier, but it fits, and it adds a new dimension (and a powerful motivation) to the character. Again, with BK's permission, I would like to introduce Kaylin Algood (age 3) who is a sweet child. It would amuse me greatly if Tyrick and Kaylin had a special (not creepy-Mall-Santa-special, nice-grampa-special) affection for each other, which would give Tyresa some influence, but also ties her hands a bit, as it gives Tyrick powerful leverage to use against her, should she provoke him.
Adept Negotiator - No penalty from disposition as long as my disposition is unknown.
Treacherous - Add cunning rank to deception tests.
Keen Senses - Reroll 1s on Awareness tests, add cunning rank to passive awareness.
Flaw – Bastard Born -1D on all persuasion tests to characters of
Possessions
I suppose she'd technically be Tyresa Algood, then, but after 5 years as Titus's wife she's happier going by Hill. She sure hopes whatever Tyrick got was important, because she paid a heavy price.
It also fits that the current Algood Lords are adolescent boys. She'd have been able to do a lot of damage there before she was shipped back to Goodby Knoll.
Where you were born.
Goodby Knoll
When you took service with/arrived at House Ghaele (if applicable).
Birth
Where else you served or lived, two or three if there are more.
At least two characters in the area you have a grudge with. No more than one of these should be PCs, since we don't want the group to be too disfunctional.
Tyrick Ghaele - Uncle Matchmaker, as she calls him.
Alana Wickhollow - Daughter of a local merchant who never misses a chance to remind Tyresa she's a bastard.
At least two characters in the area you have a lasting friendship with. If possible, at least one of these should be a PC.
Myria Algood - Tyresa knows the fate that awaits the poor girl, and has done everything she can to prepare her for it. Of course, given the cirumstances of Tyresa's marriage ... best to simply say that whoever Myria marries had better sleep with one eye open.
Any PC (I prefer to get along with other PCs, but don't want to impose my friendship on anyone)
The most dangerous (physically or socially) situation you've been in.
Her marriage? More likely the few days she spent convincing the relevant people she wasn't personally responsible for Titus Algood's death.
An instance highlighting each of your Benefits or Drawbacks if possible.
Coming Soon.
Any romance? If inter-PC, I'm probably looking at Tyresa being involved unless we have some more-than-brotherly companionship or Iolanda has been unusually precocious. Note that while I fully intend to fade-to-black any squishy bits, this is Westeros and different degrees of love, intimacy and seduction (air quote as necessary) are a core element in the story - and indeed, the rules system.
She's going to have a lover. It can be a PC if anyone feels the need, or an NC. It can also change. She doesn't particularly want a man to be the focus of her story, but she certainly feels that it's better to have one and not need him than the other way around.
I'll more fully flesh out her background later, but I think the broad strokes are there.
Adept Negotiator - No penalty from disposition as long as my disposition is unknown.
Treacherous - Add cunning rank to deception tests.
Keen Senses - Reroll 1s on Awareness tests, add cunning rank to passive awareness.
Flaw – Bastard Born -1D on all persuasion tests to characters of
Possessions
loot:2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12I'm rich!
@ BK - born 277 is good, I'm 21. What I would love is some old Lord from one of the neighboring houses who would have married her (ca 290ish) and then croaked in the last year or two. I'm thinking the father of any of the current Lords-of-houses, or maybe an uncle. If that even makes sense.
