Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Fallen Empire Campaign Elements Part Ten: Fall


Autumntime in Port



Prince Yaroslav lay dying but breathed still.

Childless and waning was the man, eld had betook ensorcelled by some dreadful magic; and the court were powerless to wake him from his shadowed kine. In his long yearfulness did Yaroslav decline, as all men do, who liveth under God’s unslighting eye. 


Fall in Port is made for politics. The politics of Port are set up to ensure that no faction can amass enough power to challenge the Prince.

But now the Prince lay dying.

Therefore politics, while always being a wonderful spectator sport and a way to jockey for prestige, has become somewhat more serious lately. The guilds and noble houses are gearing up for blood-sport politics as well as blood-sport gang warfare in the streets. Territory and control of resources may change hands. Someone will emerge as the top rooster in the new pecking order.

In the meantime, the common people still enjoy the sport of it, and many someones make a living from lampooning the machinations and pomposity of it all.


Procedures for Fall

1.  Roll one random Rumor per PC as well as one Rumor from the Newspaper.

2.  Throw against the Hazard table for each Great Power in this season.



3.    The several players may take a Haven action.

3a.  This action includes the possibility to make an impassioned speech to raise their status among their Guild or Noble House.

       This can be fun if players like theatrics. If a player makes an impassioned speech on some relevant topic, they may be promoted in the Guild or in their House. They may even win as a sinecure a seat in the legislature. (perhaps after three such speeches).
       
       The several players might judge the quality of the speech or the Referee can throw on the Reaction table. If the latter, an 8 or better adjusted for Charisma would be a success.

    Each time a success is achieved, that character gains a stipend of 150 GP per year cumulative.

4.  Other possible actions are a town adventure or mini-dungeon, political intrigue, etc.

5.     Redraw the Map

Based on the results of the war, the fortunes of the PCs (if level 4 or better), and the political skullduggery, the Referee will redraw the territorial map of Port. He should get input from the players, especially if those players are allied with a Great Power that might have a change in fortune.

Alternatively, the players could play a years’ worth of Diplomacy on http://webdiplomacy.net and settle the years’ changes that way.

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