From AsenRG:
Thank you! But of course, if it seems from the conversation that you're those "reliable and discreet people", you wouldn't be approached about the granddaughter...or am I wrong here?
Probably not, but you never know - the question becomes "Do we want these people in our clan and family?"
That's absolutely what I'm looking for, Uncle!
However, a bit more detail on the NPC interactions, if I may ask for it, Uncle? I've observed that many players have some trouble approaching the NPCs that aren't from their time and place. You mentioned something like it earlier, with the guy who got thrown out of parties...and I figure some Referees might have similar difficulties, which would make them less willing to engage Tekumel.
Can you help me to give them a primer on The Social Interaction: Tekumel Style
?
I'll try.
So, can I suggest those five NPCs, and you tell us how to approach them? One restriction: no magic used, except as a purely social device - to impress, not to gather information, if you get my drift.
As a detail magic (sorcery, not conjuring) is done at parties very, very rarely; usually, only as performances by the magical puppets. Conjuring, on the other hand, is a popular entertainment and you hire respected professionals. It's great fun, as the sorcerers are usually completely baffled by how it's all done.
*The hostess. Respected worshiper of Avanthe, in her late 30ies. Looking to impress everyone above her own station, and show kindness towards those below...especially if they have interesting talents.
Secondary goal: to get laid (her husbands don't mind, of course, but she's not about to just pick anyone who has the looks).
=>How do you approach her?
=>How would the seduction work, assuming a PC determines she'd be available (or simply decides to push his luck and hope for the best, as many PCs do anyway
)? I gather just throwing his hand over her shoulders, and pretending it's an accident, would probably backfire...but what would be the actual steps?
Causal touching, except between good friends, is not a social norm in the Five Empires. It's going to be much more in the line of verbal fencing, as each person sounds the other out over the canapes and cocktails. The opening gambit would be discussing the latest from the Temple of Avanthe - keep in mind that their temple parties and some rituals make the devotees of Dlamelish and Hryhiyal blush. The usual catch phrase - like the proverbial "What's your sign" and "Come here often", as heard in 'fern bars' - is making comments on "your devotion to your goddess' and how observant she is of the rituals of her temple. Casual and modest mention of one's own connections, clan, and such will also help.
It is assumed that one had bathed, too.
*The host. Worshipper of Karakan, like the Glorious General, early 50ies. Career officer, got up through the ranks from a low post, has serious networking among the lower-ranked officers (i.e.: might make any general's life a hell). He's trying to determine whether the new general can be trusted with actual secrets - the kind you don't tell OAL, because he believes there are people in OAL who are on the pay of the enemies of the Petal Throne.
Secondary goal: he wants to know how much the general would ask for to look the other way on a scheme with military acquisitions he's got going, has the back-up of several bureaucrats and scribes (who either get a share, or get paid per month).
=>How do you approach him to get the most out of this encounter?
Ah. Mentioning the Glorious General's reputation as a 'marching soldier' and his known bravery and prowess and how one hopes to emulate him is a good foot in the door. Mentioning that one's clan has had good relations with the General and his clan will help, too. As for the wheeling and dealing, that's considered normal practice - what the General is going to be concerned with is that it's kept down to the usual percentages and is kept on the up-and-up; cheating the General or his legion is probably going to get you a visit from that Vimuhla priest he keeps around as his aide, and everybody knows just how much of a nasty bit of work that the man who helped crush the slave revolt is. Keep it on the up-and-up, and everybody's going to be happy.
*The hostess' daughter, recently came of age, also an Avanthe worshipper. Looking to snag a guy who's better than what her mother gets...you might say she's being competitive and out to prove herself!
Secondary: Of course, if she finds a suitable husband, now that might make her mom shut up and respect her! But marriage is a much more serious affair, and she needs a suitable one...meaning one that would help her temple career!
=>How do you approach her?
=>How do you present yourself as either desirable company for the night, or for marriage? (Apart from gaining the mother's attention first, obviously - that's an approach that's prone to backfiring).
Very carefully - this girl's trouble on the hoof. Stick with temple stuff, looking interested, and be polite and personable. Move oh-so-gently away from her mother, while engaging her in conversation, and sell yourself as a decent person worthy of her attention. Her ambition will do the rest, most likely. Just be careful!
*Local priest of Karakan. Of indeterminate middle age, part of the war-favouring faction, believes the legion of Karakan needs "live practice to avoid dulling their edge"...
Obviously dislikes the Vimuhla priest (sorry, Uncle!) Enjoys popular/populist support with his "fire and brimstone" speeches. Is beginning to become a thorn in his superiors' side.
Also, secretly and anonimously, is selling Zu'ur to households of Change worshippers (but recently expanded into other people he dislikes). On top of getting rich, he's planning to cut their supply once he's amassed enough support to present his plans. Talk about weakening your opposition!
(Maybe he secretly murdered the Gruganu priest two days ago, and is trying hard to get rid of the body - which he's "hidden in plain sight". Obviously, he wouldn't tell you that).
He's the only one who isn't looking to get laid, stoned or drunk - and would actively avoid the latter two. Think "a man with a mission"...
=>How do you act with that one? Do you approach or avoid him?
Once you find out his attitude, be polite and stay out of any conversations he's in; sooner or later, he's going to mouth off about all this in front of the General, who will shut him up with a few well-chosen and very cutting remarks. He's going to lose a lot of face, as a result, and probably not get invited back here. If he lips off about Chirine to the General, he's toast; while Chirine will smile and be polite if insulted, the General will pointedly remark on how his aide is a friend of Prince Eselne and of the Temple of Karakan. It will not help the guy's career prospects; the host/hostess and the General will get him transferred to the front, in a nice post with an active legion.
And, if he shoots his mouth off too much, he's going to attract Chirine's attention, and the latter will start quietly asking around about this guy. He's going to protect his general and his legion, and this guy may be trouble. And Chirine is very good at dealing with trouble so his general can get on with winning the war.
*Last on that list, an Aridani who serves in the Legion and has reached the rank corresponding to "major" mostly by skill at arms and being able to deal efficiently with sieges. Adopted in a high-ranking military clan because of those skills.
Has a reputation for judicious use of extreme violence - and for good manners when not doing that. In short, she might as well be a PC
!
Due to her fair skin and eyes, her reputation includes people whispering she might really be a demon. Partly due to this, she's acting as the unofficial mascot of the legion - the soldiers argue that as long as the Demoness is on their side, their enemies should be afraid.
(The reason for the skin and eyes: she's actually an adventurer from another world - think a Conan-like world - who fell through a one-way portal and appeared in Tekumel. After a short career as a fighting slave, she bought her freedom off - not explaining where she got the money from - and promptly joined the army).
She'd like a way to get back to her homeworld with only a fraction of her Tsolyani wealth, but doesn't count on it - and is reluctant to share.
Her main interest here - apart from getting drunk, stoned or laid, because it's a social event after all - is to size up the Glorious General, and understand whether his reputation is due to him having good aides, or whether he's a genuine soldier.
=>How do you approach that one?
=>What can you get out of a good working relationship with her?
The General and his officers are going to like her, and he and Chirine will approach her with an offer to be on the General's staff; since she's a Molkar all ready, the senior Kasi will get her post and everybody is happy 'cause they move up a step in seniority - and some new guy, most likely a cousin, will get a commission. She's going to be a very popular officer, I think.
Nobody's going to care where she came from, as she's going to be taken for a foreigner / mercenary - which the General himself was, at one point. She and the General are going to have a great time trading war stories and exchanging "Do You Know?" information. Chirine will cover his general's flanks by relating some good stories about just how good the General is, and that huge gold thing on his chest is going to have a lot to say as well. Looking forward to serving with her!
Originally Posted by chirine ba kal
. Because Fate is a system that can pretty much be explained in three paragraphs.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks