My group of 4 intrepid heroes has just finished the Kopru Ruins and I will be devoting my next session to running the Demonskar Ball. Thanks to delvesdeep and others on that thread, I have a good sense of what to run.
However, one of the players has upped the ante with everyones favorite foil--the Stormblades. Specifically, he has sent an invitation to Annah [along with posting about 100 copies of the letter] inviting her as his guest, since she couldn't possibly get invited on her own. He then proceeds to talk about her reputation as both an adventurer and as a woman of means. Basically, this is about the most insulting letter she will have ever read--along with all the citizens of Cauldren.
What I need some help with is some sort of reprisals--for surely this will not go unnoticed or unpunished. If anyone could think of some suitable actions by Annah, I would appreciate it.
BTW--the character is a hexblade and his actual date will probably be Jil, although he doesn't know what she actually does.
Greg
There are several mischevious actions taken by the Stormblades at the Demonskar Ball (See the writeup done by delvesdeep if you haven't already.) that could be focused on your hexblade. Perhaps Annah and her companions could make a game of humiliating the PC. The Stormblades have likely attended the ball many times before and fit in very naturally at such high-society events, while your hexblade will be unfamiliar and awkward. You could even have the townspeople refuse to help the PC with (or significantly overcharge for) lessons in dancing and etiquette, costume rental, and/or hiring a coach.
Then place your hexblade PC opposed with Annah during the dancing competitions and make a big show of the reaction from the attendees when the PC is trounced at every event, proving his lack of skill and demonstrating just how inferior he is to them all. You may choose to do some creative die rolling to ensure the embarassment.
The end result will be that the PC will most likely be left out of receiving an award after the ball and thus no Diplomacy benefit in town. This result is fitting for the kind of slur that was aimed at Annah. There will be a natural backlash that affects the PC socially. Just be sure to make a big enough show of the embarassment so that the player understands what has happened to their PC.
I could be more specific if you want, but that could get you started. And if this doesn't seem harsh enough, just have Annah's father make a special request to Zachary Aslaxin asking that the PC be publicly removed from the ball's guest list.
Regards,
Koramado
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I haven't actually run SCAP yet; I just bought the hardbound book and began reading it; so my knowledge about who Annah is limited.
That being said - the above situation as described may steer me towards the following scenario:
Annah warms up to the offending PC (a ruse), in order to gain his confidence and trust. She fills his head with all sorts of fashion faux pax ideas that he may be ignorant to, encourage him to take dance lessons that she had previously hired the instructor to teach him wrong. When it's time for the ball, the PC will be the laughing stock of the place, dancing the wrong steps, and wearing the wrong sort of costume for the ball (whatever that may be). Sorta like wearing a swashtika at a Barmitzvah.
Robert
I appreciate the ideas. I'm running the Ball this evening--it should prove to be interesting.
The character [Azriel] is planning on being very visible--buying drinks at the taverns, etc--and boasting about his various deeds and conquests. I figure after a couple of days the town guard and a few MTA members will try to capture him.
If successful, they'll keep him jailed until the ball, where they will have him pilloried in one of the corners. I'll make a game of having the nobles trying to lob their trash at him. The tribuanl will eventually set him free, fine him, and advise him to to lay low for a while.
I'll try to post a follow up in the next few days. Thanks.
Greg