Book 1: Crownfall, Act 1: All The King's Men

[Vardaen]

OOC

Let's just work our wat froward A1-A2-A3 pressing in and sizing up the crowd, looking for important people, showing off a bit

Finally inside, Theodrix smiles. He struts around a bit, like a peacock looking for a mate. He sizes up the ladies, but also the military style men, and any sailors he might spy. He sticks with the company at this point, they aren't in on the main goals yet so why split up. "Is that Captain Gregor d'Fontaine?" He nods at one of the naval looking nobles speaking to someone in the corner of the Arcade.

OOC

Lets try some Knowledge Local or Nobility and spot some people

[Grimbold]

Brother Bertram walks with the group, eyeing the crowd intensely, looking for anyone who looks unusual.

Action

Look for representatives of the churches (K religion) and any very old heraldics (K history).

[JohnnyWeird]

"I believe it is, sir, though if he thinks to charm the Margravine of Winterthur, his voyage is bound for stormy seas."

Unremarkable in either his ostentation or his austerity, Crichton pays attention to comings and goings. Where do servants arrive from? Where do those with secret business sneak off to? Are those canapes? Do they have lamb in them?

[Zorbeltuss]

Mercutio follows along with the sound plan of starting at the reception area and working their way inside. Predictably, he ends up seeking out ladies, young and pretty ones in particular. Showering them with every little gallant sleazy trick he knows to endear them to him, it is second nature to him, and quite simple really. The man who show any actual genuine interest in learning what a lady likes and cares about has already come much further in winning her affections than nine out of ten others are likely to ever will. Of course, he is quite aware of why he is here, so his mind is mostly focused on the task at hand. But should some pretty thing take a particular interest in him, he will ensure to take note of her name and likely whereabouts should an opportunity for leisure time arise.

OOC

Persuasion and Knowledge(Nobility) is what we're going for?

[GuyWithSword]

Aurelia immediately attempts to make an entrance in the courtyard. If she is to talk to important people later, then she can't be a nobody. And what better way to become known than to make a positive splash early on? The enchantress starts to greet and start small, polite, get-to-know-you conversations with the important-looking people here, making her presence known.

OOC

Influence the courtyard for now.

[ManWithDoor]

Theodrix and Crichton right off notice a doomed attempt at coupling. Some nobles care far less about Kingdom-level issues such as the right of succession, and are much more interested in their own priorities. Land disputes, challenges of honor, highwayman complaints ... or trying to get laid. Now fair enough, the good Captain d'Fontaine might be looking to settle down and make an honest man of himself. But given his reputation, it's much more likely that he is trying to get into the pants of the Margravine, in which case - stormy seas indeed.

Most of the superstars expected are either fashionably late, or off in the wings somewhere waiting for their grand entrance. However, that doesn't mean none of the major players are present. The paraplegic Duke Leonard Centimus has had a good spot near one of the stone railings scouted out by his people. Word is he was a waifish ladies man before he was crippled, and the last five years have not been kind to his physique. He is not morbidly obese or anything, but his expanded waistline and pouchy cheeks have robbed him of his previous attractiveness to most. However, he seems perfectly content, idly adjusting a lever on his wheelchair while gazing intently at the crowd. One of his sycophants brings him a glass of wine which he takes graciously.

Probably the most stand-out VIP is a giant of an Ulfen from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. Despite the standard courtly standards, he is dressed in heavy scale mail, and a greatsword strapped to his back. You notice that a number of the guards have placed themselves strategically near him, likely in case he becomes a security concern. He is clearly not one of the Ulfen Guard, the bodyguards of the Grand Prince, but the whispers surrounding him is that he is a standing Senator and a Landgrave, both of which he earned in the past decade. There does seem to be some split, however, on whether those titles were conferred in gratitude or as a curse. All is complicated in the endless drama of the Noble houses.

OOC

Sorry, not (yet) doing a great job setting up the court scenes. It is rather chaotic as everyone is milling about, but IC you're seeing some of the big names gather round, and hear a bunch of random watercooler talk. For the Influencing, declare the Arcade or the Courtyard again, seeing below for details.

INFLUENCING: Might be useful to look at the 'Social Combat' OOC thread, although it is pretty generic. It doesn't really specify clearly enough, but I'm going to rule that you can automatically know the Skills (although not the DC) that would be useful in Influencing an Area. I'll update the Senate Building OOC summary with the relevant Skills.

A1 (Arcade of Triumphs): Appraise, Knowledge (History or Nobility), Perception, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device.
A2 (Courtyard): Handle Animal, Knowledge (Engineering, Local, Nature), Perform (Keyboard, Percussion, Sing, String, Wind - if you have something else, I'll just raise the DC a small amount as you are a bit odd for the area).
- For Influencing an Area, after declaring the Skill you want to use, feel free to just Roll it and declare the result if you want. Could save some time.

For Influencing People, you either have to guess or use Discovery checks (Sense Motive or appropriate Knowledge, usually Nobility) to know for sure what Skills to try out, or Weaknesses to exploit.

I'll keep a running total of the "Successes" built up in each Area / Person. Rolls that significantly exceed the DC will rack up more than one Success each time. You have to hit certain numbers of Successes to hit a Milestone which gives certain rewards. I'll let you know when you've hit a Milestone, and whether there is any point in continuing to formally Influence something. No point in having you waste your efforts. The Gala is designed purposefully that you can't Influence everywhere/everyone in the time allotted. Each Social Round is a precious resource. I want you to get the most out of it you can.

[Zorbeltuss]

Mercutio makes a point of appearing rather taken with Auralia's attire, oh he does take a very good look, after all it is in character and she dresses like she wants such attentions, and leans forward as if to whisper a very dirty joke, but instead he merely calls her attention to the man in the wheelchair up on the galleries, probably someone vulnerable to her particular methods, the tone of his whispering voice would have been perfectly fit for making a very indecent suggestion. He then makes for the arcade of triumphs to flaunt about all he knows.

Action

K: Nobility

[JohnnyWeird]

Stalking through the crowd with the brisk stride of a man with a destination in mind, Crichton moves to the Arcade. He moves to a young woman in the height of fashion who is clearly astonished by one of the displays.

"The Qadiran armor is astonishing, is it not?"

Action

K/history

[Vardaen]

Theodrix dives in, he mills about for a while until he finds some senator's aide or a senator himself that seem isolated from the others (cull the week). Once he manages to find someone he strikes up a conversation with them as if he already knew them, "Senator, how good to see you again! How long has it been one, two years? Time certainly does move quickly, but you are looking wonderful. Did you loose weight?" He smiles and waves his hand, "Not that you ever needed to. Oh my have you seen the Ulfen over there? Pish-posh such a show of obvious force, I guess subtlety is dead these days." He leans in, "Have you heard about this vote? Speak about unsubtle, can you you imaging the changes, and profits it might bring? Oh we could certainly profit," he winks, " if you catch my meaning if things go our way."

OOC

Okay find some noble, Social Combat, let's Politic and learn who he is and how he's voting

BLUFF!

[Grimbold]

If Auralia decides to talk to Duke Centimus, Brother Bertram joins her, not taking part in the discussion, but observing the conversation to gauge the man's desires.

Action

Sense Motive