Fallen Empire Campaign Elements Part Eight: Springtime in Port

Springtime in Port

We turn the page to mark the start of Springtime in the city known as Port. The season starts upon the Veneralia Aphilis. Here, another year has passed and every person adds a furlong-mark to life and wrinkle to his face. The Shipping Season well commences, now with ev’ry furbished voyager’s hot thirst slaked well by Neptune’s tidal play. And in the hearts of noblemen and knaves of hale and youth, the prospect of a fortune lost to time retak’d by guile and blood spurs on these riders to partake adventure far-away.

Springtime in Port is the season most like regular D&D. Adventurers will mount an expedition to adventure during this season. Whether this is one adventure or a string of linked stories depends on the Referee and the group. But the important thing to remember is that there’s just one major go-round for the whole year. This is so there’s time for the characters to learn and grow and have regular lives, and so adventures don’t come so fast one upon another that the characters level cap out before they turn 30.

Procedures for Springtime

1.  Characters each hear a Rumor from one of the Rumor tables. Perhaps they reason something scandalous in the newspaper!

 They may also, if they wish, place ads or otherwise influence the Newspapers to print things they wish to be printed. An advertisement costs 10 GP. Influencing an editorial costs 25 GP. Buying a newspaper costs 1000 GP but then you can print what you want to.

First against the wall, they say, these knaves and pettifogging wags, upon the day of revolution, woulds’t they place the lawyers and the politicians who they well detest - in this life, do they, and the next. But wages paid to wags and wretches stain’d with ink and slanderment would otherwise betide these men of letters and of blandishments to take the place of lawyers and their masters in the Bailery: the politicians so they say create the situation whence we find ourselves today. That is to say, the common folk might rather make their mortar up from bones of newsmen and their pulp than politicians well string up!

Ten Scandalous Newspaper Headlines

Ledes  (most care of Skerples):

STUNNING DEFEAT: The ragged forces of the Hater Foreigner have inexplicably defeated the courageous forces of Port. The Minister of War must resign.

COMMERICAL CRISIS: A popular import is taxed into oblivion. It is clear that the Minister of Trade must resign.

A FOOL’S ERRAND: A well-intentioned program for infrastructure goes horribly awry. The Minister of Interior must resign.

GROSS INCOMPETENCE: The Majority Coalition is widely mocked. In the next election, any sitting Member of Peerage from the Majority has only a 70% chance of being returned.

MISCARRIAGE of JUSTICE: Criminals released! Innocent people executed! All citizens say The Minister of Justice must resign.

EXECRABLE EXCHEQUER: Fiscal irresponsibility devastates the Treasury. The Minister of the Exchequer must resign.

SLIP of the TONGUE: The now-infamous and oft-quoted remark of the Prime Minister means he must resign.

MORAL TURPITUDE: A leader of one of the Houses has been caught cavorting with a Druid or  other Barnyard Animal and must resign at the very least. Big trial!

TREASON!: The Prime Minister has colluded with the Hated Foreigner. All Ministers must resign. In the next election, any incumbent Peer has only a 50% chance of being returned.

NOBLE DISPLEASURE: The main Minister of one of the Noble Houses has come under intense scrutiny and must resign immediately.

MORE MUSH from the WIMP: Another uninspiring speech from the Mayor. He must resign.

NUT BOLTS SCREWS: A dangerous madman or strange monster has escaped the jailors. The Sheriff and Bailiff must resign.

2.      Then throw against Haven’s Hazard.

3.   Then the characters may take a Haven turn to craft something, train a henchman, buy or fortify a building, etc.

4.  Then we mount our expedition proper for treasure and for glory and perhaps for righteousness, and risk our blood and guile and our worldly stake upon it. When we make it back, we level up upon the end of Spring.

5.      Marriages happen on Midsummers’ Day, right at the end of Spring.

Finally, we turn the pretty page to Summer’s lovely season. ‘Pon the Calends of our warm July, the festival we call Midsummer Tribute will proceed, and after these five merry days, we’ll turn our hearts and steel to valor on the valor-fields of desp’rit war, for there our best men gather.