Has anyone built in romantic relationships among any of the NPCs in the story beyond what is already listed.
I ask having not read the later books in detail but feeling like there aren't many (I can only think of one) and I would like to at least make reference to some of them to restrict the emphasis
It isn't necessary I know but it could be useful
I have a love quadrangle going on, but nothing canonical.
I inferred to my players that Lictor Sabinus had, at the very least, an unrequited affection for Lord-Mayor Bainilus. He was particularly frustrated and upset by her disappearance, and I let that be the wedge that pushed him further into action with the subversive Ravens.
We're finising Book 1 now, but I do intend to have my players spark romantic connections with NPCs: Zea is developing deep feelings for the Tiefling in the party, but is far from admitting it. I'll either have her wait a painfully long time before she tells her, or I'll let her find out after Zea gets killed (but that's an *if* situation and not a *when*).
I also plan on one or two players being involved with Laria Longroad during the campaign.
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I had a few of these that I tossed into my game (all of my own invention, so nothing canon or even necessarily implied in the vanilla game):
- Hortense Lierre, who following the events of Turn of the Torrent is effectively Lictor Octavio's de-facto lieutenant, has certain feelings towards the Lictor. Octavio is largely oblivious to this, as he's too caught up in his sense of responsibility towards her to recognise her feelings as being romantic. In my game the foul-mouthed Setrona is acutely aware of her cousin and Hortense's complete romantic incompetence and may try to ask the PCs for help setting these two awkward Hellknights up together.
- Jilia Bainilus actually has a secret relationship with Strea Vestori, which is part of how the tiefling has managed to secure so many resources for the Cloven Hoof Society. This one was inspired mostly by a quote that exists somewhere (I think in one of the books where tieflings where introduced or detailed) of Jilia trash talking tieflings then very poorly refuting a claim that she has engaged in sexual relations with one. It was put in partially for laughs, but also to show a way in which Jilia had been covertly working against the Thrunes, while also giving them a reason to spend so much time together in the base.
- Belcara Jarvis and Canton Jhaltero have a possibly implied close and long-standing relationship which may or may not be romantic (it might simply be that they're good friends; I like to think they as characters are happy to leave it as ambiguous to the PCs as I do and let them come to their own conclusions).
- Sendi Vashnarstill has on more than one occasion attempted to woo Melodia Delronge, to disastrous results. This is part of why Melodia was eager to help the Thrunes ruin the Vashnarstills by taking over some of their contracts (this is a thing I pinned on the Delronges in my game, since she quickly became a character that had a strong animosity towards the party, and I wanted to fuel that in order to make their eventual need to have her join the council that much more of a challenge).
- Auxis Aulorian recently has been the subject of "advances" by Tiarise Izoni. This is actually more of a ploy on her part to get him to more readily ally himself with Barzillai, as well as a way for her to get more resources for her own plans. It's not something I did much of anything with in my game, but I kept it as a potential hook the PCs might use to influence Auxis Aulorian, mess with Tiarise, or even influence Geoff Tanessen, who would be unsettled at the implication that Barzillai and his lackeys would use such a tactic to influence a noble.
- Mialari Docur at one stage in her life spent a lot of time in Vyre with Manticce Kaleekii and the two have a history. This is why Mialari was the one to suggest Vyre as a place they visit to the party in my game. This is another case of leaving it ambiguous for the players, but leaving enough there for them to come to their own conclusions. In my game I also had a lieutenant NPC who previously worked for the Queen of Delights and now works as Lady Docur's lieutenant, but still travels between the two places frequently.
- Urora Sarini had been trying to woo Barzillai, much to his disgust. This is part of why in my game Barzy used her as a scapegoat and had her murdered on stage at the Ruby Masquerade by one of his agents disguised as a member of the Silver Ravens (just prior to the massacre, which I tweaked a bit accordingly).
I think those were all the major ones I tossed in. Everyone else I kept more or less as a potential love interest for the party, should they be inclined to go that route (Rexus ended up marrying a player PC who was the scion of the Jhalteros in my game, one player had some relations with Luculla which ended after she tried to kill him, and another player attempted to flirt with just about every lieutenant I threw their way).
I had a few of these that I tossed into my game (all of my own invention, so nothing canon or even necessarily implied in the vanilla game):
Urora Sarini had been trying to woo Barzillai, much to his disgust. This is part of why in my game Barzy used her as a scapegoat and had her murdered on stage at the Ruby Masquerade by one of his agents disguised as a member of the Silver Ravens (just prior to the massacre, which I tweaked a bit accordingly).
DEFINITELY going to use this. One player is an exiled member of house Sarini, and the timing might just be perfect. I love the idea of Barzillai being asexual for the purposes of contrasting him from the rest of the high and noble people in Kintargo, and there will be plenty of Sarini drama in my campaign.