Community Game: Long Live the Queen XVII

Princess Fatal's Diary, Week 16

Dear Diary,

No one listens to me. Magic can't really be as bad as my father says, right? I don't think the Countess would kill anyone...important. I have to get that crystal somehow!

I am almost looking forward to the ball next week. Maybe there will be someone there I can talk to, and I hope that it isn't too much to hope that they neither want to kill me nor want to flatter me into doing something. I finally finished that list I was making. Or, rather, I stopped writing names on it. But, let me focus on the positive. Maybe I'll get another proposal! I wonder what I should say this time. I almost need someone with a dagger who has my back. I mean with the pointy end facing the other way--I still remember that one sword lesson I had. You can hardly see the scar anymore.

The players want to take double accounting.


You now have Accounting 47.31.

You passed a buttload of skill checks on this event, so the game gave you quite the info dump. Here it is:

Joslyn: Are you ready for the grand ball? All the nobles in the domain are here--here to see their queen.
Fatal: 8-0

"You descend the stairs to make a grand entrance. All around, the rich and powerful pause in their activities to look at you, the ruler of them all. (You pass a Presence skill check.) You let your eyes rest upon each of them in turn as you have been taught, impressing on them that you are not a child but a queen. Your father waits for you at the bottom of the stairs and offers you his arm."

Joslyn: We dance the first dance.

"He guides you gently around the dance floor. It is fun to dance with your father, but the look in his eyes is so sad."

Joslyn: After this, you must choose your own partner. There are a number of men who hope to catch your eye. The Duke of Kigal has brought three eligible sons near your age.

"You look around the room at all your possible partners--everyone. No one may begin dancing until you choose whomever you want and you will not be denied. (You pass a Court Intrigue + Elegance skill check.) No doubt every noble family with eligible sons has dreams of a royal wedding. Your choices will raise some hopes and dash others. Feuds could be born here. The Duke of Kigal has not yet named any of his sons as official heir, but his second son, Linley, was always kind to you at school. If you wished to show favor to Kigal, Linley would be your choice. The Duchy of Elath is currently held in regency for its young lord Adair who is only twelve and a head shorter than you are. Elath is a rich territory, and at least little Adair wouldn't try to take any liberties. Dancing with Banion, the Duke of Maree, could be quite awkward if you do not wish to marry him. He has been waiting years for a powerful heiress to accept his suit. Not all nobles are created equal. You could choose someone charming and unimportant, like the Earl of Mima, a territory too minor for anyone to consider it a threat. However, the major families might eat him alive afterwards. If you wished to distract attention from your marital prospects, you could choose someone clearly ineligible. One of your uncles, or a family man like the Earl of Ishtar, or even a woman, though that might be thought mildly scandalous."

Who do you want to dance with?

1. Linley of Kigal
2. Adair, Lord Elath
3. Banion, Duke of Maree
4. Chaine, Earl of Mima
5. Armand, Duke of Mazomba
6. Erwin, Earl of Ishtar
7. Examine the women.

The players want more information, so they choose option 7.  The game does not like explaining things, though.  It decides Fatal is a lesbian because she has glanced at the women.  Either that, or she is determined not to marry.

"As a Queen, few would dare comment about your choice of companions, but until you have provided an heir to the thron, there is great pressure on you to make an appropriate match. That doesn't mean you have to give in." (+1 Pressured, +1 Willful)

"It might be entertaining to see the reaction of Julianna, Duchess of Ursul, if you asked her to dance with you. Would she be flustered for once? Brin, the Duchess of Hellas, is an attractive and unmarried woman. What would people think, seeing the two of you dancing? (You Pass an Internal Affairs skill check.) According to rumor, she is inclined in that direction, but what does she think of you? The most important woman present, after yourself, is Arisse, Duchess of Lillah. She is married, elderly, a mother and grandmother many times over, but she might be flattered by the acknowledgement of her status. Or if you truly wanted to set the court on its ear, you could demand your first dance with a mere servant--a maid--like Alice. The assembled nobles would be outraged."

Who should you pick? (Apparently, the men are out.)

1. Julianna, Duchess of Ursul (lumen)
2. Brin, Duches of Hellas
3. Arisse, Duchess of Lillah
4. Alice the maid

The players select Julianna.

"You were hoping such an outrageous act would cause her to lose some of her composure, but she remains unruffled. At least the chorus of shocked whispers around you as you take your place on the floor is gratifying. Dancing with a real partner feels quite different from dancing with your father. You know him so well. Now every move is a mystery. (You fail a Dance skill check.) Unforunately you lose your place and trip over your own feet. Oops! Between dances, there is time for the guests to mingle, chat, and sample tiny bites of exquisite food. (Court manners + flattery success!) You interact comfortably with your peers, leaving a wise word in every ear. During a lull in the music, Banion Duke of Maree taps an elegant fingernail against a wineglass, letting the clear note ring out through the room.

Banion: If I might have your attention? I believe we should offer our compliments to our lovely hostess. Her bravery and courage keep our borders defended.

Everyone applauds politely. As the gala continues, you take the opportunity to observe the nobles you rarely see. Gwenelle, Lady of Sudbury, is only months older than you and due to inherit control of her duchy soon. Adele, the youngest daughter of the Duchess of Lillah is a fierce sportswoman. She was a few years ahead of you in school. No Briony--she said her parent were leaving her stuck at school this season. Her parents are here, dancing together. Strange that there's no sign of your cousins, though. Shouldn't they be here? You aunt and uncle are here, of course. It would be scandalous if they hadn't come, Merva being so close by. (You fail a Sense Magic skill check.) It's nice to be able to enjoy time with your friends and family, isn't it?

Your mood is now Lonely (Angry 1, Cheerful 1, Yielding 3, Lonely 4).

The players decide that the treasury must be willing to give up its secrets this time!

Me:  You get a partial success in accounting. The guards again waver but refuse to let you in. +1 Willful, +1 Angry

Player:  ********. What do they want from us?  

Your mood is now Lonely (Angry 2, Cheerful 1, Yielding 2, Lonely 4)
You have a 47.3 in Accounting. The level cap is 50. You have no other Economics skills. You have to have a 25 in all three to remove the cap.

Continuing to next week, the players decide to take the classes associated with Accounting to remove the level cap.
  
Updated Skill List:

Agility (Reflexes 31, Dance 11.86)
Animal Handling (Falcons 15)
Athletics (Climbing 10.3)
Conversation (Court Manners 16.68, Flattery 10.0)
Economics (47.31, Trade 13.67, Production 13.67) 
Faith (Divination 15, Lore 15.8)
Intrigue (Includes Bonus from Catsuit) (Internal Affairs 77.8, Foreign Intelligence 43.1, Ciphering 46.9)
Medicine (Poison 21.6)
Military (Strategy 21.8, Naval Strategy 16.7, Logistics 15.4)
Royal Demeanor (Presence 50, Composure 15.27)
Weapons (Swords 5.2)

Event: You wander downstairs to visit your father and talk about the latest events in the domain. You enter the room suddenly and too late to notice he is with a...companion.

Sirin, Countess of Miranda and Callisto: You are too kind, Joslyn. smile emoticon

Countess Sirin. A decade your senior, too old to have ever been your friend, and yet not at all old as noblewomen go. She has two minor titles, no husband, and YOUR FATHER'S ARM IN HER GRASP. (You fail a Composure skill check.) How DARE she make a move on your father?

1. Shame her with silent scorn.
2. Insult her with false flattery.
3. Trip her as she passes.

Player:  3!

Player:  If we're gonna be classless, let's at least have fun.  (NOTE:  lots of likes to this post)

You casually hook your foot around the Countess' ankle. (You fail a Flexibility skill check.) And fall flat on your face with a thud. (Aw, man. I was sure you would pass this. I wanted to see her fall!)

Joslyn: Fatal, are you all right?
Fatal: frown emoticon
Sirin: *giggle* Oh dear. She does need a bit of looking after, doesn't she.
Fatal: (You think, "Not by you!") (+1 Angry)
Sirin: smile emoticon I should go now. I hope to see more of you later.

She leaves and you raise an eyebrow at your father.

Joslyn: Don't give me that look. She's a nice woman, nothing more.
Fatal: She wants something more!
Joslyn: And it's not going to happen any time soon. You should be careful how you deal with people like Sirin. You need the goodwill of your nobles as well as your commoners.
Fatal: There haven't been any problems so far.
Joslyn: As Queen, you must be aware of everything around you.

(You pass an Intrigue skill check.)
Fatal: Isn't that what I have agents for?
Joslyn: Yes, but you must direct them. What is your greatest concern?

1. Noble plots
2. Commoner uprisings
3. Foreign threats
4. Assassins

The players don't trust the nobles.

Fatal: I need to know what the other nobles are up to, whether anyone is plotting behind my back.
Joslyn: As you wish.

Your agents will report back to you soon.

Your weekend options:

1. Visit the Royal Treasury (???)
2. Attend court (+2 Yielding, +1 Depressed + 1 Pressured)
3. Explore Castle (+1 Lonely, +1 Afraid)
4. Visit Tomb (+1 Depressed, +1 Afraid)
5. Attend Service (-1 Angry)
6. Walk in Garden (+1 Lonely, +1 Cheerful)
7.Play Sports (+1 Angry, - 1 Lonely)
8. Sneak out (+2 Willful, +1 Lonely)
9. Play with toys (+1 Yielding, +1 Lonely, +1 Cheerful)
10. Visit Dungeon (+1 Yielding, +1 Afraid)
11. Visit Juliana (???)

Your mood is now Lonely (Angry 3, Cheerful 1, Yielding 2, Lonely 4)

Player:  Eh...attend court maybe?